Chapter Eleven: Maid Catherine (1)
“Isn't this what a nanny is supposed to be able to handle?”
To be honest, I didn't know the exact position of the governess in the palace hierarchy, but since she was the governess of a prince, I assumed she had at least that authority.
(And based on her reaction... I wasn't wrong.)
The butler stared at me angrily, her face turning red.
“You have only been in the Imperial Palace for less than a month.”
Her voice was sharp and full of annoyance.
“We cannot entrust the prince's care to someone who has not yet been adequately examined. Do you understand?”
“This is strange. It seems to me that it is not me who needs to be examined, but the maids who are taking care of His Highness.”
"What did you say?"
“It's not as if you were the one who ordered cold water to be brought to His Highness, is it, butler?”
She was silent for a moment, unable to respond. She kept staring at me with sharp eyes before a sarcastic smile appeared on her face.
“Hah, now I understand. It’s no surprise that you were able to enter this place on Madame Conrad’s recommendation, and you are just a bastard adopted by a nobleman.”
She deliberately said it loud enough to reach my ears.
(So, the real Rachel Brown was an adopted daughter of the Count's family?)
(What's even more surprising is that there's a count's family that I don't even know... perhaps they were recently given the title and I'm... dead.)
She said coldly, regaining her composure:
“Okay. How about this then? From now on, everything related to His Highness will be your sole responsibility. Is that okay with you?”
She had no intention of apologizing, even if it meant her death. Then she turned and left grumbling.
Then I thought it might work in my favor...until I later realized the weight of her words.
The next day, in the morning.
“What do you mean by that?”
I understood the true meaning of her words. No maid came to wake the prince or prepare his food. When I asked, one of them answered stammeringly:
“The butler said that you are in charge of everything related to His Highness from now on. I am only following orders...”
Then she quickly left before I could say anything.
“Huh...what a trouble.”
I ran my fingers through my hair tight.
(That woman planned this from the beginning.)
As for the maids, they seemed to avoid looking at me, as if I were an intruder.
(There is no difference between this imperial palace and the dirty alleys.)
(To them, I'm just a stranger who insulted their leader. I have no allies here... not between the prince and princess, not even Rachel Brown herself.)
But, no matter how bad the situation is, I cannot leave the prince without food.
(But if I cook for myself, I might poison him before I'm satisfied.)
I was about to take some of the servants' black bread when I heard a noise from the open window.
I quietly approached and saw the scene: a group of maids surrounding one of them.
“Didn’t I tell you to wash the curtains this morning?”
"Why do I do your work every time? I'm not your maid!"
“What did you say? How dare you, you insolent—!”
Slap!
A maid fell to the floor. She had ivory hair, pale hazel eyes, and a slim body that made her look like a beautiful scarecrow.
The other shouted, raising her head loudly:
“You, the fake noble, dare to answer a count’s daughter?!”
Then she stepped with her heel on the fallen maid's dress.
"Madame Conrad has spoiled everything here! The annex's maids have become so daring! She even brought in a girl from an unknown place with her to become a governess—!"
(Apparently she means me by the girl of “unknown origin”. How smart.)
But, no matter how “unknown” I am, it is not appropriate for a maid to insult me. Respect for the nanny is respect for the prince himself. Since I will be here for some time, some order must be imposed.
“Were you talking about me?”
I leaned my elbows on the windowsill and spoke coldly.
They all froze in place, their faces pale.
“W-Nanny?!”
“If you mean me, let me join the conversation.”
Then I jumped out of the high window flexibly and landed in front of them. Maybe because my reputation spread after I poured cold water on one of the maids yesterday, they didn't dare to speak.
“You have enough free time to gossip here?” I said sarcastically, and their faces hardened.
But the maid who claimed to be the count's daughter raised her chin defiantly:
“Do you think you have authority to blame us, Nanny?”
“Of course not. I am not the one to judge your actions.”
A feeling of victory prevailed among them, before I continued coldly:
“But I have the right to confront those who attack me in my absence.”
Their steps retreated a little, but the Count's daughter smiled contemptuously and approached me.
"Huh. That's how lowly people always are. When you get some attention, they think they're important."
Then she tapped my forehead with her finger.
"Who do you think you are? Just an orphan adopted by a count. What puts you above us?"
I grabbed her wrist and turned it forcefully behind her back.
“Ahh—!”
She screamed loudly, and her face changed from red to white.
“Didn’t they teach you in your father’s palace that pointing at others is rude?”
I approached her ear and whispered:
“Dear, thank God I don’t know your last name.”
“W-what?!”
I continued in a cold voice, like a night fable:
“If she had known him… perhaps all her servants and people would have died tonight of poisoning.”
The girl trembled madly, almost collapsing. Then she released her with a bright smile.
“If I hear about idle gossip again… it will be really annoying. Understand?”
She nodded quickly, then fled with her two companions.
I then turned to the poor maid who had received the slap, and who was still sitting on the floor, staring at me in amazement.