When I asked that, the maids looked at each other and then faltered in their answers. Behind them, another maid lay face down on the floor, kneeling down.
“She touched your majesty's jewelry.”
“My jewelry?”
When I asked again, they all pointed to the girl kneeling on her stomach.
“I saw it with my own eyes!”
"It's Delfina's business. She must be sent away immediately!"
I silently observed them. Each person's face was full of pride, seemingly without fear. There is only one thing evident in that attitude: disrespect.
At this moment, I pointed towards the brown-haired maid, who stepped forward. Her outfit looked the most noble, proving her higher status than the others.
And I ask directly:
“You standing there, what's your name?”
“……Elda.”
When I pointed at her, Elda pretended to be surprised, but quickly regained her expression and adjusted her voice.
I put on a lazy and arrogant expression and remained silent for a moment. Looking at my face, Elda blushed with embarrassment.
“I… I'm the head maid here.”
Finally, she said her name and position. I spoke slowly and clearly:
"Okay, Elda. So what's all this commotion about?"
The maids behind immediately said in unison:
“Delfina already!”
“She did it!”
I had to raise my hand to stop them from speaking further.
“Elda, tell me.”
"This morning, while cleaning, Sara saw Delfina touching His Majesty's jewelry. That's why she came here to report."
“Um.”
Once again, I looked closely at their faces. Many things can be read in their eyes.
It's interesting. This is just a kind of reporting ritual. Whether my jewelry was actually touched by Delfina or not, it's impossible to say yet.
I understand the animosity between the maids. When I first entered the Flores house, it was exactly the same. They looked at me with disdainful eyes, thinking:
‘This is the illegitimate son of Duke Gasparo…’
‘She even got intimate with maid Annalisa in the kitchen…’
They don't want to acknowledge my existence. In particular, they were angry because half of my blood also came from them.
What about Celestina, my stepmother and the duke's wife?
‘These eyes are exactly like your vile mother.’
Celestina never accepted the child as proof of her husband's guilt. That was my first impression of the castle.
As a bastard without support and hated by my master, my fate was even worse than that of a maid. If I became a normal maid, it would probably be even better.
Maids who work for a long time will be promoted and increase their influence. Some even save their salaries to open a store or find a better job.
But I'm not allowed to enjoy that.
Everyone despises and oppresses me. Butlers and head servants also contribute to bullying. It seemed like the fact that I was a girl of the same blood as them made them uncomfortable.
I live almost in the same misery as the servants. Even more miserable than them.
Sometimes I had to starve and be beaten when no one was looking. Mùa đông, tay tôi vẫn phải giặt quần áo bằng nước lạnh đến nứt nẻ, bất cứ lúc nào cũng phải lau dọn thay họ.
That's why I clearly understand their psychology. What do they do it for, what are they afraid of?
“Elda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
She just stared at me, but as the silence lasted, she seemed genuinely happy.
“I don't have any trusted maid from my house to bring with me.”
At that moment, I read the pride in Elda's eyes. She thought that, at least, I was on her side.
"You are the head maid, so please answer. Do you manage the female maid at the Emerald Castle?"
“Yes.”
Her smile lingered, making it difficult to turn off. It's curious how long that smile will last.
“But Elda.”
I lowered my voice, deliberately.
"You're so rude. Very disrespectful."
"Yes?"
Her smile broke, revealing surprise. Soon, she realized:
“Where did you learn to dare to enter before the master left the room?”
“T-that's not what I meant……”
If she dared to argue with her boss, if she were at the Flores house, she would definitely have received an immediate slap in the face.
Elda was confused, pursed her lips a few times, then came up with an idea and pointed:
“Ah, that's right. Delfina, Delfina was—”
Trying to blame others, looks ugly. I just smiled softly.
“I was asking you.”
The whole room was silent for a moment, the maids looked down at their shoes, embarrassed. But clearly they still despise me. It's natural. A monstrous Prince without his backing, with a new Queen, who would be afraid? They just vent their anger aimlessly.
"The Emerald Castle opened suddenly yesterday, Elda. So you don't belong here?"
“Yes…”
I don't care about your habit of lengthening the last word.
“Where did you belong before?”
Elda paused. I repeat again, seemingly urging:
“Elda, where do you belong?”
“I… I am in charge of jewelry at Stone Moon Castle…”
Maids in charge of jewelry are treated well, as they handle precious clothes and jewelry. In addition, Thach Nguyet Castle is where the Queen resides.
Moving from there to the Emerald Castle to serve me must have been a demotion in their eyes.
Now I partly understand the commotion this morning.
“Dù trước đây cô là hầu gái Lâu đài Thạch Nguyệt, giờ cô đã dưới quyền tôi. Cô phải xem tôi là chủ nhân.”
“O-of course!”
Elda immediately changed her attitude, trying to flatter. Still not fully awake.
“Who were you assigned by?”
“By Lady Count Elvira.”
This servant is appointed by the Queen's courtiers. Obviously, they belonged to the Queen. I raised my chin and looked at her.
“Hmm.”
I scanned Elda up and down, noticing the tension in her face.
“You disobediently have disgraced the name of Countess Elvira's wife.”
"…Yes?"
Mentioning the Count's wife, Elda was startled. Not only her, the maids behind her were also panicked. The atmosphere immediately changed. In the end, they feared the Queen more than they feared the monstrous Prince. Unbeknownst to me, that fear also made me angrier.
“I will specifically inform the lady about you.”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Elda was shocked, kneeling at my feet, crying.
“Get out.”
Even though the order was clear, she still did not move, tears flowing from her eyes.
“Your Majesty, I was wrong.”
If fear is not for me, then just creating more fear will be enough. Mentioning the Count's wife, Elda admitted her mistake. Everything is because of you, just a normal mistake.
Errors, mistakes... actually it all started when she came to me this morning, demanding to handle it immediately.
Whether Delfina touched the jewelry or not, it doesn't matter.
This is not the master's decision, but the servant's duty. Elda's only mistake was ignoring and challenging her master.
I evaluate their attitudes and arrange their ranks. If there is an opening, they will climb on top and trample me right away.
'The bride getting married on a rainy day often sheds tears...'
Mistake. Perhaps from the early morning of the wedding day, when they saw me sitting quietly as if dead, they had already committed a crime.
Even though this small revenge is just to remove an old humiliation, I still have to respond.
To maintain order, to survive in this sign.
"Do you still want to make a scene? I don't want to see any more embarrassing scenes. From now on, avoid me and leave here."
"Sire!"
“Suspected of stealing jewelry…”
I have jewelry, including my dowry and that given to me by Queen Celestina, just enough to be dignified, not too extravagant.
To me, jewelry is not important. What's more notable is:
'Delfina touched your majesty's jewelry.'
Suddenly, the memories of last night's dream came rushing back. Coincidentally or not, the content is identical. The crying maid, Delfina.
Delfina's name rang in my mind. Apparently, I heard it in my dream last night. Is it just a coincidence, or not...