Chapter Text
“Long live King Steven and King James!” The man standing beside the kings cried, thrusting his golden cup full of wine into the air.
Everyone in the room cheered, from the head warriors at the front of the crowd to the maids like you at the back of the back of the hall. They had just returned home from a conquering raid in lands you couldn’t even imagine.
The two kings stood in front of everyone, hand in hand, and both in their best outfits. They were still wearing their war outfits, Steven’s was a dark blue fitted top with black pants, while James’s was all black and just as tight. Both of them had their black fur cloaks with the red trimming wrapped around their necks and their swords in their hands. The two of them looked the picture of royalty, even from afar where you were.
It were their crowns that were your favorite, however. Both were simple bands with red velvet at the bottom, and five thinner bands rising up to form the dome, which was left open so you could see straight through. King Steven’s was solid gold with rubies set in crystals surrounding his entire head while King James’s crown was silver with the same rubies in crystals. Both were amazing pieces of work.
Swords raised to the roof of the great hall the two kings cheered loudly causing another wave of cheers to echo around the hall.
“Our kings are back from Westcrest and have the spoils of war to prove it,” the same man gestured to the pile of treasures lining the left wall of the hall. You were sure there were more somewhere. “We all welcome you back, your majesties, and wish you all the best for future endeavors.”
You, along with the other staff, waited until they everyone else had left the great hall before you started picking up the rubbish and generally tidying.
Wanda, one of your best friends within the castle, came over to you as you started mopping the floor. “Goodness, aren’t the kings so attractive?” She asked in a quiet whisper.
“I don’t think that’s our place to say.”
She rolled her eyes, “oh come on.”
Outwardly you rolled your eyes, but internally you couldn’t help but agree with her. Both of the kings were attractive. King Steven, his blonde hair, and bright blue eyes were a picture of conventional beauty and King James, his longer dark hair and his darker blue eyes a contrast to Steven. They were both built, in your opinion, perfectly and you had never seen them look bad.
They were definitely attractive men and you could understand why people, ladies, and man alike, fawned over the two of them. However, you would never openly admit that to anyone, least of all your most gossipy friend.
You continued to wipe the floor as she continued chatting, gossiping about different staff members and their lives. Nothing new had happened since this morning’s gossip session but that didn’t stop her.
“Y/N,” the housemaid of the castle, Miss Carter, called out. “I need you.”
“Of course,” you replied standing up and wiping the dust from the bottom of your dress. Wanda took the rag off you and winked as you walked out of the great hall.
She led you into the kitchen, motioning to a tray on a bench. “The kings’ butler is otherwise occupied and they have requested food. I need you to take it to them, you’re the best bet.”
“I’d be honoured.”
“All you have to do is knock, go in when permitted, place the tray on the table, bow and leave. Don’t talk to them, don’t even look at them. Please, don’t mess this up.”
You nodded at her and picked up the tray. Two cups of coffee, both black, as well as two bowls of soup, sat on it. Your hands were shaking slightly, you breathed out and straighten your back. In all your years of working in the castle, you had never met them, been in the same room as them, sure, but never meet them.
“Do you know where their room is?” She asked, watching as you steady your hands.
“Yes, last door on the top floor.”
“Okay, thank you,” she opened the door for you and let you out.
It felt like an eternity later that you were walking up the great stairs. This part of the castle had always been your favorite, white marble columns lined the wall, the stairs split into two at the top and wrapped around to form the two hallways. The entire area seemed to shimmer in gold with the light the windows let in. The sheer size of the room left you breathless, you felt like an ant in a garden when you stood here. Giant chandeliers filled with hundreds of candles hung from the ceilings and vases of fresh flowers sat against the white walls. You were always happy to clean this area of the castle anyway.
After another set of smaller stairs, you arrived at the king’s quarters. Two guards stood on either side of the door at the end of the hall, swords strapped to their hips and looks of steel that followed your every move. This was one part of the castle you had never been in, and it was amazing. The ceilings were just as high as the grand staircase, one wall was covered in arched-windows adorned with gold and red carpet lined the floor. It was simpler than the other parts of the castle, but it still shined with elegance and beauty.
“I have the king’s-”
One of the guards cut you off with a nod and knocked loudly on the door two times. The noise echoed through the otherwise empty hallway.
“Enter,” a voice replied from the inside and the door was opened for you. Almost as soon as you were inside the door slammed shut causing you to jump slightly. “You’re not Vision,” the same voice, King Stephen, said once he saw you.
“No, your highness, he’s-” you struggled to remember what Miss Carter had said to you, “-otherwise occupied.”
The two of them were lounging on a sofa under one of the windows in their room. For a moment you stopped and looked around, surprised by how plain the room was. There was no marble, no columns dipped in gold, the carpet was a simple gray and the furniture were all muted versions of what were in other rooms. A bed, a sofa, two desks. Nothing extravagant.
“Otherwise occupied,” King James laughed. “You can place the tray here.”
He pointed at the small table beside the sofa, which was a lot closer to the kings than you wanted to get to them but you kept your face neutral as you walked over. Their crowns were also sitting on the same table, just sitting there. You were a nervous wreck, here you were, a simple maid from a poor family in the village, in the King’s bedroom, right next to them and their crowns.
You could feel their eyes on you as you moved, which didn’t help your nerves, but you were able to place the tray down without a hitch. The crowns, and the kings, were even more beautiful up close.
Dipping into a bow you turned to leave but King Steven raised a hand, “hang on. What’s your name?”
“Y/N, your highness.”
“You don’t need to call us that,” King James said. “It’s so - formal.”
You opened your mouth to reply but snapped it shut, not really knowing how to respond.
“You’ve confused the poor girl,” King Steven chided. “Tell me, Y/N, what are you doing now?”
“Uh- my chores?”
“Which are?”
“I have to continue mopping.”
King James nodded, “chores.”
“Yes, so I should be getting back to them,” you bowed again. “King Steven, King James.”
As you walked to the door you were stopped in your tracks when King James called out, “you can call us Steve and Bucky.”
You couldn’t get off the floor fast enough.