The Princess and Curdie · Character

The Servants

The palace servants who are complicit in the corruption and mistreatment of the king.

minor

Also known as the servants

First appearance: XVIII: The King’s Kitchen

The Servants's tie to Curdie is one of the pressures that moves The Princess and Curdie—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

The housekeeper and menservants attempt to block Curdie's entry but are thwarted by Lina.

In the storyVIII: Curdie's MissionOpen this moment free

See The Servants in VIII: Curdie's Mission Book page

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With Curdie (professional): Curdie interacts with the servants as a fellow worker in the castle, but they are often complicit in corruption. With Lina (rivalry): Lina is often hostile toward the corrupt servants, who…

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The fuller portrait of The Servants sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See The Servants in XVIII: The King’s Kitchen

Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how The Servants sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Loyal and Corrupt Court
Mystical and Corrupt Forces
Allies and Antagonists
Protagonist

+5 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the decisive reversal where the king, previously isolated and bet…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Curdie
professional · ambivalent
Curdie interacts with the servants as a fellow worker in the castle, but they are often… How this plays out →
Lina
rivalry · negative
Curdie
professional · ambivalent
Curdie interacts with the servants as a fellow worker in the castle, but they are often… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See The Servants in XVIII: The King’s Kitchen

In the story

The Servants appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

VIII: Curdie's Mission
The housekeeper and menservants attempt to block Curdie's entry but are thwarted by Lina.
XVII: The Wine-Cellar
Accuse the butler of being drunk and dismiss his story, showing their distrust and lack of concern for the king's safety.
XVIII: The King’s Kitchen
Found asleep and drunk in the hall and kitchen, with animal-like hands and paws.
XXII: The Lord Chamberlain
Suspicious and quarrelsome, they search for missing food but find nothing.
XXIII: Dr. Kelman
The housemaid is truthful and cooperative; others are negligent and cowardly.
The Prophecy
Mock and assault the chambermaid for delivering a warning.
The Avengers
The housemaid helps Curdie, having been imprisoned for her loyalty. She shows him a secret way to the king's chamber.
The Vengeance
The corrupt staff of the palace, who refuse to repent and are ultimately driven out.
XXVIII: The Preacher
Dismissed from the palace, leading to speculation and unrest in the city.
The King's Army
The housemaid, loyal and brave, helps saddle the horses and follows the army on the great red horse.
The Battle
The maid on the red horse who seems to control the pigeons with her arm.
Judgment
The page is made a knight, and the housemaid is revealed as Princess Irene.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for The Servants unlock in the free preview.

See The Servants in XVIII: The King’s Kitchen

See The Servants in VIII: Curdie's Mission