She awoke the next morning safe in her bed. Her body was sore and tired, the skin of her buttocks was still inflamed, but she felt wonderful for the movement of the baby inside her swelling belly was what woke her.
"Good morning, Princess Romina," a girl's voice said upon seeing the pregnant woman was awake.
Romina blinked several times and tried to focus on the maid who was in her apartment. It wasn't unusual for a maid to be there in the morning, but most simply went about their duties and hid from the nobles. This one was obviously waiting for her.
"Morning," Romina mumbled, kicking back the bedclothes and stumbling to her feet. The girl was immediately there to assist her. She was pretty enough, though plain and unremarkable. Her brown hair was tightly bound back into a braid that nearly reached her waist. She wore the typical uniform of the palace maids, but there was something different about her. Maybe it was the way she carried her self or her attitude; it didn't bother Romina. "What are you doing here?" she asked, swaying unsteadily and bleary-eyed. She was nude, as was her usual habit in sleeping; because she spent so much time now unclothed it didn't even occur to her to pretend modesty in front of the maid.
"Queen Sefayia sent me. Members of the Society of the Weeping Rose get their own personal attendants."
"What if I don't want one?" Romina was generally cranky in the morning.
The maid smiled. "That doesn't matter." She pulled up her skirt and pulled down the cotton panties covering her quim. It wasn't a sexual advance, she was displaying an elaborate tattoo of a black rose placed next to the crease of her leg and abdomen, located low enough she was forced to keep all her pubic hair shaven to display the thumb-sized rose. "I'm a member of the society as well. A common member; I serve, I don't participate, but it is still a high honor for one not noble-born. I don't know why the Queen brought you into the society, but I'm honor sworn to defend the society's secrecy. Do you understand me?"
It took Romina a moment, but she understood exactly what the maid was implying. Unfortunate deaths occurred all too frequently among the nobility. "When do I get a tattoo?" she asked.
The maid laughed. "Noble members don't get tattoos, this is only for a commoner." She indicated the elaborate red and black tattoo once more, then pulled her undergarment back into place and dropped her skirt. "You've been given jewelry to mark your membership." She indicated Romina's ankle.
Surprised that she hadn't notice the fine chain adorning her leg previously, she tried to twist her leg and foot around to admire it. It was simple enough to be unremarkable, but elaborate enough to be the decoration of a noblewoman. She could just make out the links weren't simple circles, but instead each link was a rose connected in a series by the stems. "It's pretty. Does every member get one of these?"
The maid started to roll her eyes, but remembered her place and stopped herself. "Of course not. If every member carried the same symbol, the society would be revealed all too easily. But every member has to carry a rose symbol at all times. Mine is obvious. So is yours. I'm sure you'll get more as time goes by. Now, would you like a bath this morning?"
Romina was still admiring the anklet and absently answered, "Yes, that would be lovely."
The maid exited the room and opened the taps of the water for the oversized tub in the adjoined bathroom. She returned with a chamber pot. "Shall I assist you?" the maid asked.
This was unusual for Romina. Although she was noble-born, she wasn't used to a maid taking care of every intimate personal need. "Yes," she agreed and squatted above the porcelain bowl. She let loose a stream of urine that quickly filled the bowl as the maid watched. Romina couldn't tell if the girl was fascinated by Romina's lack of inhibition or was disgusted by it. She was a good servant and gave no outer indication of her opinion either way.