Camille Fernandez had been waiting for news since this morning.
Leriana was to be auctioned off yesterday-and the slave-trader had promised to report back to her as soon as anyone bought her. But she still hadn't heard from him.
The girl beca involuntarily nervous.
If anything goes wrong… That maid will surely pay!
— Your Highness, the insolent maid still won't admit her mistake! — Douglas reported.
Camilla humd.
— Then keep hitting her.
linda received another lash on her back. There was no more life left on her body-but the crown princess wouldn't let up. She was obliged to punish the reprobate servant properly.
Two days ago linda had committed an unpardonable sin. As the queen was about to embark on a business trip — the reason for which she had not spoken — the maid suddenly ran out in front of her. She begged for her lady's salvation, and that the crown princess was not who she claid to be.
She hoped she could tell Rachel the truth. But… What she didn't consider was that Camilla herself was just around the corner.
When the crown princess caught the scene-her expression twisted with anger.
— How dare you…! — What nerve!» the girl burst out, «What blatant impudence toward Her Majesty?!
But the maid was tired of tolerating injustice and decided to speak out.
— Your Majesty! — linda dropped to her knees in front of Rachel and began to cling to her clothes, — You can't do this! You cannot marry Lady Fernandez!
Rachel looked at her incomprehensibly.
— What do you an? — She spoke coldly.
— My lady… Only you can save her! In fact, your bride was not Her Highness at all, but…
— THE GUARDS!
Camilla scread before the maid could say her last words.
— Take that impudent girl away at once! — The viscount's daughter pointed at her with a trembling finger.
linda was grabbed under the elbows and led away from the palace hall in spite of her resistance. She scread sothing about her mistress to the last. Rachel followed her with a strange look.
— What was she saying…?
— 'Your Majesty, don't listen,' Camilla strained a smile and approached, 'Just the ramblings of a servant girl unworthy of attention.
— «Delirium?»
— The servants have been completely out of hand lately. This maid even dared to slander the princess… I will surely punish her properly.
There wasn't much ti left before she left, so Rachel didn't argue with her.
— As you wish.
So ti had passed since then and Camilla had indeed punished her severely. The girl was barely conscious when she was taken to the princess' chambers-where she refused to admit wrong to the last.
Agitated, Camilla paced back and forth across the room all morning. But now she cald down a little and sat down in her chair.
linda collapsed on her knees in front of her. While Douglas — who had beco the head maid — stood over her with a whip.
— You won't get away with this! — Choking on her own blood, the maid assured her.
The princess watched her with interest, her head propped on her fist.
She'd had enough of torturing the wretched maid in recent days, and now she just wanted to know her motives.
— I'm touched by your loyalty,» she said graciously. «Rarely have you t a servant who would do anything for his master. Tell , did that bitch do sothing to bribe you?
The maid was deeply offended.
— Mistress is not like you…! — linda spat with hatred…» Unlike you she would never have fallen for such tricks!
Camilla laughed involuntarily.
— Ha… You call that «tricks»? Just a survival tactic.
— Don't talk as if you were the victim here! — The maid resented, «You can't even pay for your transgressions in the next life!
— «The next life…?» — Camilla repeated with a chuckle, «I don't need one. If I can live this one well, that will be enough.
— You could live it without taking soone else's! — The maid objected.
These words struck the girl as naive.
— Alien? Who said so? Or does Her Majesty have to belong to Lerian Ashford?
linda stamred.
The princess rose from her chair and grabbed her by the chin. She looked contemptuously straight into her eyes.
— Of course you only see the good in her,» she threw in sarcastically, «But you don't even know the effort I put into this place.
linda tried to pull away.
— That doesn't justify your inferior actions!
Camilla grinned sarcastically.
— What, then, justifies your mistress? Or, is she the only one allowed to do as she pleases?
— …
— Ha… either mistress or servant. You both annoy equally.
The girl finally let her go and stood up.
linda remained silent. She had been beaten so badly in the last few days — that she no longer had the strength to speak.
— I know you hate . I hate the bitch, too,» the princess continued, «But you made a mistake when you went against .
Camilla poured herself a glass of champagne.
— You'll only be lucky if… if everything goes smoothly. Otherwise I might not be able to hold out.
In fact, she already had enough reasons to get rid of this maid.
Camilla was no idiot, and naturally she could not leave Leriana's faithful maid unattended. The crown princess's n had been keeping an eye on her for the past months.
Thus, she knew everything.
Camilla knew that all this ti linda had been looking for evidence against her. But she didn't want to get her hands dirty on the servant again — so the girl held back. At least until that day.
No longer could she tolerate the presence of a «rat» in the palace.
And the key to this decision was the sudden visit of the servant in the next couple of minutes.
— Your Highness, a letter for you!
The young knight broke the silence in the crown princess' chambers. Handing over the urgent ssage he left at once.
Douglas took it and gave it to Camilla. She imdiately opened the envelope and read the contents. The anger in her eyes grew with each line.
Douglas looked at her apprehensively-when Camilla was silent for several seconds.
— Your Highness…?
The princess laughed unexpectedly. And a mont later she tore the letter to shreds.
— To think… That trash is lucky again!
Douglas beca indignant.
— Do you an to say she has escaped?!
The girl shook her head negatively.
— It's worse than I imagined. Her Majesty is investigating toward the slave market.
The maid was frightened when she heard about it. If that old slave-trader gives them up, then…!
But Camilla had already anticipated her thoughts on the matter.
— My man works in the imperial dungeon. He'll make sure that worm dies before he says a word.
Douglas exhaled more relieved.
— Still, I'm very disappointed… My plan failed.
Hearing that, linda was over the moon. The thought that Lady Ashford was safe made her happier than anything else.
Camilla watched the reaction on her face and grinned. She was actually very angry, though she hid it behind a fake smile.
She felt the need for revenge.
— Fine,» the princess said in a frightened voice, «Since it's co to this, I'll just let you go to the other side first. You'll be sure to et in the next life.
linda's pupils dilated as the girl picked up her sword herself.
— Ha… Great! — repeated again,» Since you're so devoted to her, you'll prove it with your life!
Right now Camilla was so angry that she decided to pour out all her anger on the maid. She wanted Leriana to experience anger and despair after this news as well.
«How I hate her…!»
linda squeezed her eyes shut with fear, while the princess swung her sword over her following these words.
«Mistress, whatever happens…I regret nothing!» — Those were the last words that flashed through the maid's mind.
In the next instant, the crown princess's quarters were awash in blood.
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