Chapter Three

  Within the Walls

  After arriving at the castle, Ollie was given a hot bath, the warm water a rare luxury that made him feel almost like a different person, as though the grime of his past life was being scrubbed away. Ollie’s father had persuaded the king to allow Ollie to stay, to find work as a servant rather than be left to the streets. The king, perhaps seeing loyalty in his father, had agreed, but charity did not come without labor. Clean and feeling strange in the fresh clothes they had provided him, he was sent to the kitchen to begin his work—there, amidst the clatter of pots and the rich scents of the evening meal, he met Josephine for the first time.

  As he scrubbed plates, goblets, serving platters, tarnished silverware, and wooden bowls, his stomach rumbled thunderously. His eyes drifted to the counter where the royal family's leftover meal sat —a rich, roasted spread of tender chicken with golden skin, glazed vegetables still warm from the feast, and buttered bread with a fragrant crust. The scent of roasted sage and rosemary mingled in the air, making his mouth water.

  Back home, food was scarce, and when it was available, he had to work for it—or take it. His hand shook as he reached for a leg of chicken, the tender meat barely touched, and quickly shoved it into his pocket. He glanced around nervously, his eyes flicking to the door as his heart thudded in his chest. He had learned early that if you didn’t take, you didn’t eat.

  As his fingers brushed a slice of thick, soft bread, a voice echoed through the room.

  “Stealing, are we?”

  Ollie froze, heart pounding. He turned to see Josephine, one of the cooks, watching him with a raised eyebrow and a gentle frown.

  “I—” Ollie stammered, his hand still hovering by the bread. “I’m…I’m sorry,” He whispered. He knew he had no excuse, other than the fact that he was starved.

  Josephine set down her bowl, her eyes softening. “You don’t need to steal here. They’ll feed you. All the staff gets meals.”

  Ollie blinked, confusion clouding his thoughts. Back home, food was always earned, never given. “But... I thought—”

  “You thought you had to take it,” Josephine finished with a knowing smile. “Not here. You’ll have food, a bed, work. No need to steal.”

  Ollie hesitated, his mind still grappling with the unfamiliar idea of safety, of not having to scrape by for every meal. His hands, which had grown used to the constant worry of where his next bite would come from, now trembled slightly as he set his hands down. He glanced up at Josephine, who began carefully peeling potatoes at the counter, her movements steady and sure.

  Her kind eyes studied him as he awkwardly fumbled with the dishes. “Here it’s hard work, but you’ll have your meals. And,” she added with a smile, “the work isn’t so bad when you’ve got good company.”

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  Her words were like a warm blanket. For the first time, Ollie felt the weight of safety settle on his shoulders.

  The days blurred together as Ollie slowly adjusted to his new life in the castle. It was overwhelming in its size, its strange smells, and its ceaseless bustle. His village life had been simple, marked by the seasons and the passing of time. But here, everything moved too quickly, too loudly. There was always something to do, always someone hurrying somewhere. The halls were wide and echoing, filled with the heavy footsteps of servants, guards, and the occasional noble passing through. His small feet barely made a sound as he shuffled behind the women who worked in the kitchens and cleaning the halls. He began as an errand boy, assigned to the lowest tasks—fetching water from the well, washing, dusting, sweeping, scrubbing windows, dishes and floors until his fingers ached. The work was tedious, but it kept him busy.

  Eventually, he was trained to do the finer tasks—running messages, sweeping up after the nobles, mending the worn clothes of the servants.

  He learned quickly that discipline was valued here above all else—that a servant who hesitated or faltered would earn a sharp and swift scolding. He also learned that while the nobles rarely paid him any mind, the guards and knights watched him with curiosity. Some offered kind words, others merely nods of approval when he worked without complaint. A few even called him by name, something the noble lords and ladies never did. Perhaps it was because of his father. Sir Garrick was well-respected among the king’s men, a seasoned warrior who had proven his worth in battle. Though Ollie rarely saw him, his father’s presence cast a long shadow.

  Ollie's chores kept him from ever getting close to the royal family, who wore fine clothing and dined on meats he had only ever dreamed of. Looking back, Ollie realised he’d only ever been in the king's presence since the day of his arrival.

  As the days passed, Ollie began to feel more at home in the castle, though he still felt like an outsider in the vast hallways and hidden corridors. He learned the servants’ passageways, narrow halls hidden behind tapestries and secret doors, that wound their way through the castle like a spider’s web. They were the veins of the kingdom, allowing the staff to move quickly and quietly through the castle, unseen by the nobility.

  Josephine showed him these paths, and Ollie couldn’t help but marvel at how much faster they made the work go. With Josephine’s guidance, he started to feel a sense of belonging, something he had never experienced before.

  The more time he spent with Josie (that’s what he began to call her), the more he came to rely on her, and she, in turn, seemed to grow fond of him. She was older than him, closer in age to his father, but she treated him with the same care and concern. She became a figure of warmth and comfort, something he hadn’t realized he was missing.

  At night, after the work was done, Ollie would sometimes sit with Josephine in the kitchens, listening as she told him stories of the castle and the people who lived there. She’d laugh, and for a brief moment, Ollie forgot about the hunger and the fear of being abandoned. He was no longer a peasant boy lost in the world—he was part of something bigger. He was part of the castle now.

  And then, when he was ten, his life would change even further.

  Josephine and his father grew closer. Ollie noticed the small things at first—the soft smiles exchanged in the corridors, the quiet conversations at night. He didn’t understand at first, but when Josephine told him that she and his father were to be married, Ollie couldn’t contain his joy.

  For the first time in his life, he would have a mother. And Josephine—she would be his.

  The castle had become a place of safety, a place where Ollie was no longer invisible. He had a family now. A true family. And he would never have to steal again.