Surprised by the voice, the head maid and I turned our heads in a hurry.
Your Majesty the Empress, we imdiately gave a bow while saying our greetings.
It was Rose, no, the Empress.
She waved her hand at our greetings as if our formality was tiring her.
Thats enough. Im not asking you to greet .
Her dark green eyes were fixed on .
Charlize, is it true that you cleaned the fireplace? the Empress sternly asked .
Yes, Your Majesty
Well, I was a maid. Wasnt it natural for to do so?
I looked at the empress in turmoil.
Why didnt you tell ! No
The Empress shook her head before she breathed a long sigh in exasperation.
You dont have to do that here, she said seriously.
But
Until youre over fifteen, youre not allowed to do such a dangerous thing. Do you understand?
The Empresss severe expression compelled to forsake any reason, so I could only give her a nod.
She looked at my face with a complicated look. Her cherry red lips partedbut in the end, she turned around.
If you have sothing to say, just say it.
Looking at the fading back of the Empress, I suddenly rembered the ointnt the Empress had given . I ended up not applying the balm and left it to collect dust in the drawer.
Whenever I see her acting like that, I cant help but mistake her for Rose. Just like Sister Rose, she would care for from ti to ti.
I managed to swallow in my sigh.
At the sa ti, the head maid looked back at with a rarely seen stern expression.
You heard what the Empress said, right?
Yes?
Until youre older, you arent allowed to do such a thing.
She sighed heavily.
Why did they order a child to do those kinds of chores? she muttered under her breath.
Head Maid Haydens hand was gently stroking my head while murmuring that.
My cheeks couldnt help but warm up at her soothing touch.
Every ti I was treated like this, I simply couldnt keep my emotions at bay.
anwhile, a peculiar question crossed my mind.
How did the Empress catch the conversation at such perfect timing?
* * *
Although my life at the education center was like hell, my five-year experience living there did pay off.
I beca pretty quick-witted as a result!
Its not a big thing, butits still better than being tactless, right?
Maybe thats why I could get a rough idea of the maids in the palace. After conversing around, I found out that all the maids had sothing in common. They all admired and looked up to the Empress.
While we were walking down the hall with the laundry, Senior Maid Wember started talking.
Actually, the Empress helped .
Helped you?
Yes. Frankly speaking, the Wember family is impoverished, she said, laughing mischievously.
Senior Maid Wember continued on while taking care of the laundry.
Thats why the Empress deliberately made a senior maid.
When you beco a senior maidwas there any difference between being a common maid?
Yes. Once you beco a senior maid, youll be one of the closest aides to the Empress.
One of the closest aides to the Empress
It was just wishful thinking on my part.
Senior Maid Wember smiled.
Its an honor for a lady; it can also help you find a good family to marry into. Besides, the salary is substantial.
I see
Dont worry, Charlize will also be a senior maid one day.
I laughed awkwardly.
Well, I wonder if I would ever get a chance
The Empress was nice to now, but what would happen in the future?
I didnt know what the future held.
FurthermoreI was in a dilemma as to how I should treat the Empress.
Sister Rose or Your Majesty the Empress.
My heart felt heavy while thinking of the two conflicting nas.
Huh?
I looked back when I felt a gaze on my back.
Lize, whats wrong?
It felt strange. I could feel soones eyes on
I narrowed my eyes in suspicion as I scanned my surroundings.
Am I being too sensitive?
its nothing.
Well, maybe its a mistake, I thought as I laughed the odd feeling off.
But the strange gaze did not end there.
The second ti I felt the gaze was when I was with Head Maid Hayden.
Her Majesty has been famous for her intelligence and beauty ever since she was young.
Wow, is that so?
Yes, if you go out, there are n from all over the land who have flocked to et Her Majesty.
As if she was reminiscing about the past, the head maids eyes softened in her daze.
Apparently, the head maid had served the Empress for a long ti. Shes been the Empress nanny ever since she was a child.
I nodded.
Its understandable since the Empress is the most beautiful woman in the world.
I didnt need to force myself to say those words for what I said was not a lie.
And in front of her closest aide, theres no reason to refrain from giving out praises.
well, its not like I hate her.
I was just a little uncomfortable with her presence.
In order to earn the favor of the head maid, I subtly praised the Empress when I had the chance.
But thenI turned my head instinctively.
Huh?
That look! I felt it again!
I raised my head as I searched for the source of the gaze.
The head maid was puzzled by my behavior, Whats the matter, Charlize?
That!
Soones been observing since a while ago!
I almost answered that reflexively, but my words caught in my throat when my gaze landed on a certain figure.
Behind the leafy flower pot in the hallways corner, the hem of a dress was sticking out.
Impossible!
I stared at the shadow near the pot with wide eyes.
Among the green leaves, a few strands of red hair was seen through the rose.
Only then did I realize why the Empress was able to join the conversation at such a perfect ti.
Was it the Empress who was following ?!
No, Im sure Im hallucinating.
I stiffly turned back as I couldnt believe my eyes.
As if to deny the evidence laid before my eyes, I asked the head maid a question.
UmHead Maid Hayden.
Whats wrong?
Her Majesty the Empresswhat do you think shes doing right now?
Now?
Lady Hayden asured the ti for a mont before she smiled.
Its three oclock in the afternoon, so she must be looking at the docunts, she answered as she patted on the shoulder.
Docunts?
Of course. Charlize is still young, so you dont know, but the Empress is a very busy person.
Well, I guess so.
When I heard about the Empress daily routine the other day, I thought that even ten of would not be enough.
I knew it.
The Empress has a lot to do, thats just how busy Her Majesty is as the Mother of the Empire.
Oh, is that so?
Of course. Moreover, Her Majesty is a very responsible person
Once again, a long string of complints for the Empress followed.
I tried to refrain myself from sneaking another look at the flower pot.
Then who is that beautiful woman I see?
Then, the head maid asked ,
But why do you ask that?
The responsible and faithful empress seems to be hiding behind the flowerpot now.
Theres no way I can say that, so instead, I squeezed out a smile and spoke as if there was nothing wrong.
Well, since Im the maid of the Empress
Yes, but whats the relation with
Well, of course. Isnt it expected that I, a maid, know my masters schedule like the back of my hand?
This is what we are, a maid and a master.
My back faced the Empress as I was currently turned away from the flowerpot.
But at the sa ti, I could feel a sad gaze on my back.
Am I being too cold?
I unconsciously questioned myself, before realizing it wasnt my place to do so. I pulled myself together and forcefully reminded myself, Her Majesty is the Empress, and I am her maid.
I might cross the line again, but I mustnt let myself mistake the Empress for Sister Rose. Its best if I do it this way.
I must ingrain this fact in my mind.
We couldnt go back to the old days.
Deep down in my heart, it felt as if countless needles were piercing it, but I ignored the pain I felt.
***
During the night
Head Maid Hayden who was brushing the Empress hair began to speak. Her voice unwavering, as if she had made up her mind.
Your Majesty the Empress.
At the call, the Empress looked at the head maids reflection.
She furrowed her brows as she asked the Empress.
Until when are you going to stop following Charlize around?
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