A Favor for a Princess : An Andromeda Novelette

By Becca Fox

Elvira Marques has only ever had one goal: to start her own business outside the palace walls. But leaving the servitude of the crown is not something a Marques does. Her big brother is constantly reminding Elvira of how good they have it, how great their loud, uncomfortably close family is, how hard it is to make it in the royal city by oneself. But Elvira remains determined to see her dream become reality.

When she falls in love with Ulfric Mistsinger, the gardener's grandson and a palace lifer, Elvira finds herself having to choose between her heart and her dream. Then Princess Kylee comes to her, asking for a dangerous favor. In exchange, the princess is willing to do one favor for Elvira.

To get caught while on this secret errand for the princess would mean getting fired. At the very least. If the queen finds this offense worthy of banishment, Elvira could lose it all. Still, the potential reward outweighs the risk…right?

As a prequel to The Andromeda's Ghost, this story explores Princess Kylee's life before she met the bodyguard who changed the course of her destiny forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Becca Fox
• Release date: Dec 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201443849

Becca Fox

About the Authors Becca Fox is an awkward introvert who loves to read and write, watch anime, and play videogames next to her gamer husband. Her idea of a good time is hunting for the next great rom-com and planning trips to the exotic places where these stories take place. She has three kids under the age of five so no, she doesn't get any sleep and yes, she's in desperate need of a housekeeper.  To find out more, visit Becca's website at www.beccafoxauthor.com. 

Book preview

Elvira Marques has only ever had one goal: to start her own business outside the palace walls.

But leaving the servitude of the crown is not something a Marques does. Her big brother is constantly reminding Elvira of how good they have it, how great their loud, uncomfortably close family is, how hard it is to make it in the royal city by oneself. But Elvira remains determined to see her dream become reality.

When she falls in love with Ulfric Mistsinger, the gardener’s grandson and a palace lifer, Elvira finds herself having to choose between her heart and her dream. Then Princess Kylee comes to her, asking for a dangerous favor. In exchange, the princess is willing to do one favor for Elvira.

To get caught while on this secret errand for the princess would mean getting fired. At the very least. If the queen finds this offense worthy of banishment, Elvira could lose it all. Still, the potential reward outweighs the risk...right?

As a prequel to The Andromeda's Ghost, this story explores Princess Kylee's life before she met the bodyguard who changed the course of her destiny forever.

Chapter 1

O h, my God! Have you heard? Mariana gushed. She balanced two pillows over an outrageously thick comforter. All that could be seen of her was the bun poised at the top of her head.

No, and I don’t care, Elvira muttered, pulling tightly on the edge of the sheet before tucking it into the side of the bed. Dinis would be by within the hour to inspect her work; there would be hell to pay if there was a single wrinkle across Princess Kylee’s bed. Not that the princess herself would’ve noticed. That was just the Marques motto: if it’s in your power to make something look perfect, do it. If not, do it anyway.

Mariana leaned to the side to give her sister a chastising look. "Well, you should care because it’s about the Mirelings. You know, the alien race that threatens our very existence? Maybe you’ve heard of them?"

Yes, unfortunately, I have. Elvira plucked one of the pillows from the top of Mariana’s stack. It didn’t need any more fluffing but she fluffed it anyway before placing it on the bed.

Saleh heard from Anaura, who overheard Respen talking to one of the guards. Our spies confirmed what the Mirelings claim; they have plasma weapons strong enough to—

You shouldn’t spread that kind of gossip, Mari. It’ll only give those Mireling bastards more power over us.

Her face scrunched in anxiety. But what if—

Don’t go freaking yourself out, either. Elvira relieved her sister of the remaining pillow and then the comforter, arching an eyebrow. You don’t want to go prematurely bald like Auntie Bia, do you?

Mariana slapped her hands over her bun as if it could fall off at any moment. Her round face paled. No.

Didn’t think so. Now, help me finish so we can go on break. Elvira waited for Mariana to scurry around the princess’ bed before opening up the comforter and tossing it over the mattress. It billowed gracefully out before settling down. Mariana got to work flattening the creases she could see while Elvira did the same on her end.

The clichéd nature of her family’s chosen profession was not lost on Elvira.

Her ancestors had hailed from Portugal on the planet Earth, which had been destroyed by an asteroid a hundred and fifty odd years ago. The language was dead, the culture and religion blended thanks to inter-species marriages, but whatever genes that produced the distinguishing golden brown skin, black hair, and thick eyebrows had managed to survive. (Elvira’s siblings, like the rest of their family, had been blessed with these attributes while Elvira had not. Their mother had freckled skin, soft brown eyes, and copper colored hair; of course, one of them would take after her.) Despite the advancement of humanity and artificial intelligence, there were still rich people around who preferred humans to wait on them hand and foot.

So, even though the royal family that ruled over most of humanity was progressive enough to let their women be the figureheads, they still had (formerly) Latin American servants. How much had humanity evolved, then? Really? Not much in Elvira’s opinion. Not that anyone had bothered to ask her.

She begrudged her great-grandfather for taking a temporary job as the staff manager for the palace. Doeline was the biggest country on Jurthaan IV (humanity’s new home planet). Of all the jobs in all the cities in the entire country...he’d chosen to grow old within the palace walls and bequeath the role of staff manager to his son. This seemingly inconsequential decision had resulted in the life-long employment of almost every Marques that had come afterward, including Elvira’s father, Aurelio.

Aurelio had been born in the servants’ quarters of the palace, had grown up with Miyako (now their queen), had taken his first job as a chauffeur for Miyako’s mother, had married the palace chef. Now, he raised his daughters to be the best damn maids the palace had ever known. His son was training to take over the much-coveted role of staff manager.

The Marqueses were proud of their line of work. They were professional in every way, borderline obsessed with the cleanliness and hospitality of the palace, and passionately loyal to the crown. There were other members of the royal staff who weren’t related to the Marqueses; the Mistsinger family (also lifers) along with a handful of stragglers. But they weren’t nearly as dedicated or distinguished as Elvira’s family. This was just a job to them. It wasn’t their identity.

Elvira retightened her ponytail for the hundredth time as she led her sister out of Princess Kylee’s bedroom. Mariana tugged on the cuff of her uniform, chewing on her lips. Her thoughts, no doubt, still lingered on the Mirelings’ superior military strength. It wasn’t as if Elvira never thought about it; the impending war between the Mirelings and the citizens of Jurthaan IV was the main topic of conversation on every news program, gossip column, and blog on the planet. She just didn’t obsess about the conflict like other people