It was already dawn when Leah and Ruela arrived at the Queen’s Courtyard.
Diane was standing outside, waiting for them, exactly as Mistress Sisi had instructed. The order had been given the night before, and although the raccoon head maid harbored deep misgivings about Leah’s placent, she had no grounds to protest—especially after what Mistress Sisi had said when Diane delivered the requested garnt sheets.
" choosing Leah as my personal maid is not without reason," Sisi had said calmly."She is the perfect example to teach all of you whom not to trust in this palace. You will learn to sharpen your eyes."
Diane didn’t understand what was so special about Leah. If Sisi needed a personal maid, Diane could have recomnded anyone—or even herself as she had years of experience as a maid in her tribe. But the Mistress had been firm on her decision.
So Diane waited at the courtyard’s gate for the new sweeping maid and the mistress’s personal maid
When she finally saw Ruela and Leah approach, her expression remained neutral, void of any servitude, as she knew that Ruela was not a concubine anymore.
Ruela imdiately lowered her head in sha. This was her first day as a sweeping maid.
Leah, however, lifted her chin and spoke first.
"Mistress told to be here at dawn. Where is she?" Leah asked confidently. "I’m sure she’s eager to be attended."
"The Mistress is inside," Diane replied coldly. "She has indeed been waiting for you. You may go in first. I’ll brief Ruela on her duties."
"Really? I know a thing or two about disciplining a new maid," Leah said with a smirk while glancing at the ek Ruela.
"Go," Diane ignored Leah’s suggestion. "Don’t keep her waiting."
Leah snorted and left. She didn’t even acknowledge Diane as the head maid.
Why should she?
She was now the personal maid of the woman who would soon beco queen. A re head maid was beneath her.
With that thought, Leah strode toward the inner building, leaving Ruela behind.
Diane turned to Ruela and handed her a broom.
"You’ll be sweeping the area around the front gate," she said. "Do you understand?"
"I... I—yes," Ruela replied, lowering her head further.
Her awkward grip and clumsy movents made it obvious that she had never done this kind of work before.
Diane sighed as she kept observing Ruela.
Though she had never liked the forr concubine, watching her in this position was undeniably humiliating.
The raccoon maid pitied her a little, so Diane chose not to press her further and walked away.
Inside the Mistress’ chamber, Sisi had already been awake for so ti.
Her body clock had always forced her to rise before dawn, and since she was no longer tending fields, an orphanage, or surviving in the forest, she chose to work on sewing instead.
Kael had been right about one thing: she needed more than a single set of clothes.
Because if this one tore, she would have nothing to change into.
Just as the needle slid through the fabric, there was a knock.
"Co in," Sisi said, not lifting her gaze.
Leah entered and bowed deeply. "Mistress, Leah is here at your service."
"Good," Sisi replied calmly. "Prepare my morning tea. After that, clean the bedroom."
Leah froze.
She had expected a greeting. Perhaps praise. Maybe even a gift, like jewelry or gold, as token of favor.
Instead, she received nothing but orders.
Her fingers clenched briefly before she forced a gentle smile."I’ll do it imdiately, Mistress. Please excuse ."
"And tell Ruela to co in," Sisi added without looking up. "I have sothing to discuss with her."
Leah’s lips twitched.
’So she really intends to humiliate her further,’ Leah thought with satisfaction.
"Of course, Mistress."
Once Leah left, Sisi finally lifted her eyes toward the door.
Her lips curved faintly.
"Do you truly believe you can move freely with all those little sches?" she murmured."I’ve already seen through you... and your ambition."
Ruela was summoned shortly after.
She dragged herself toward the Mistress’ chamber, every step heavy with reluctance.
In her heart, Sisi was still that ragged woman from nowhere, soone who shouldn’t have been allowed anywhere near the Queen’s Courtyard, let alone rule it.
Yet here she was.
"You called for , Mistress?" Ruela asked.
There was grievance in her voice, and she didn’t even bother hiding it.
Sisi finally set her needle aside and looked at Ruela directly.
Ruela’s breath hitched as their eyes t.
Sisi was wearing a yellowing tunic, and she had an unclear background. Yet she carried a suppressive presence that demanded obedience. Her gaze was gentle, her smile soft, but Ruela felt an instinctive fear, as though kneeling would be the only way to keep her head attached.
But since Sisi didn’t tell her to kneel, Ruela tried to steel her courage and kept her posture straight.
"Ruela," Sisi said calmly, "do you want to know why I made you a sweeping maid, and chose Leah as my personal maid instead?"
Ruela swallowed.
"B-because you hate ?" she guessed. "I... I am your enemy after all. I might poison your tea..."
"But I never saw you as an enemy," Sisi replied, smiling faintly. "To , you are less of an enemy, and more of a hindrance."
"A... hindrance?" Ruela asked as she didn’t understand.
"Yes, because you’re the one who brought calamity to this palace through that servant girl of of yours."
Ruela tensed, "I-I don’t understand..."
"Of course, you don’t," Sisi’s gaze sharpened. "You’re just an idiot who has been played by a re servant girl."
Ruela’s eyes widened, she had never been called an idiot in her life!
Her fists clenched, nails sinking into her palms, but she couldn’t retort. Not with the Beast King standing behind this woman’s authority.
Sisi glanced briefly at Ruela’s clenched hands, and pressed further.
"Did you notice Leah’s behavior this morning?" she asked."Did she suddenly beco arrogant?"
Ruela’s heart skipped as the accuracy of Sisi’s words sent a chill down her spine.
She nodded hesitantly."D-did you tell her to treat that way?"
Sisi chuckled softly, but the disdainful tone in her voice was undeniable.
"I didn’t do anything to her," Sisi continued. "She rely showed you who she has always been. The Leah beneath the mask."
Ruela shook her head desperately."N-no... she’s been with since childhood. I... I treated her like a sister!"
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