"Where is she?" asked Lady Rebecca, still trying to look prideful, but she couldn't hide her worry from Miss Nam's eyes. Miss Nam chose to ignore it, pretending not to know, letting the girl discover the answer to her own question.
"Probably preparing for her departure from this mansion, your—" Miss Nam didn't get a chance to finish her words as Rebecca had already fled.
Rebecca ran through the hall to catch Freen and stop her from leaving the mansion, her heart pounding with urgency. She knew she had to find Freen before it was too late, hoping to convince her to stay and address whatever concerns she had.
She reached the east wing of the mansion so fast that the maids looked at her in surprise. Determined to find Freen, Rebecca scanned the area, searching for any sign of her amidst the vastness of the east wing.
Finally, she saw Freen inside the maid's quarters, packing her clothes. Rebecca was about to proceed, but she backed out and fixed herself first, like she was meeting a cute guy for the first time. She wiped sweat from running around the hallway and adjusted her dress to at least be decent.
"Ehem, Ahm. Servant!" she said, head held high, as she was a lady raised with a gold spoon.
Freen smiled upon hearing the familiar voice, but then felt a wave of sadness. She wouldn't see Rebecca again, having been dismissed from her work because of her mother's alleged involvement in the king's poisoning. She didn't fully understand what had happened, but she guessed this was for everyone's good.
Miss Nam had discussed this matter with her. Mr. & Mrs. Armstrong wanted her to leave the mansion, as they desired no involvement. Freen's heart sank, realizing that Miss Nam, the head servant, would be the one to deliver the news of her dismissal. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at leaving behind the only home she had ever known. However, she understood that the Armstrong family had no choice but to distance themselves from her mother's scandal for their own safety and reputation.
Freen's mother was the most caring and loyal servant of Kirk's family since Kirk's mother was saved by Freen's mother from the brink of death after an ambush. It was then that Freen's father had just died, and her mother and she were returning to where her grandma lived, in the village of Baan Mae Kampong.
The village, nestled in the mountains of Ayutthaya, was known for its expertise in growing herbs and spices. The villagers in Ban Mae Kampong had inherited centuries-old knowledge and techniques for cultivating these aromatic plants, passed down from generation to generation. Their commitment to quality and their deep understanding of the plants' needs resulted in herbs and spices that were unparalleled in flavor and aroma, making them highly sought after by chefs not only in Ayutthaya but also in neighboring kingdoms.
They were walking by the side of the falls when they found Kirk's mother lying unconscious on the ground, her body bruised and battered. Concerned, they quickly rushed to her side and checked for any signs of life.
"Freen, let's help her; she is still alive. Sit there, for I will just help her up." Freen obliged, and her mother helped the injured woman get up. As they helped her, they noticed she was muttering incoherently, her eyes filled with fear and confusion. "Do not fear; I am here to help you." They tried to calm her, assuring her they were there to assist. However, she continued to mutter incoherently, making it difficult for them to understand what had happened. Worried about her condition, they decided to carry her to her grandmother's hut, which was only a few meters away.
They kept a close eye on her for weeks, providing her with constant care and support until she gradually began to recover. Throughout this time, they remained hopeful that her condition would improve and that she would regain her ability to communicate coherently.
Until one day, a group of individuals allegedly dispatched by the woman's family arrived. Freen, being only a child at the time, couldn't understand what the adults were saying. Her mother packed their belongings. They traveled with the woman and the people sent by the woman's family, and that's where it all began: when Freen and her mother lived with the noble family. Later, other members of her mother's family were also given a chance to work for the royals as trusted servants.
But now, who would have thought their family was being accused of treason? And her mother had been missing for almost three days since the incident happened. Other members of her family who worked at the residence of Kirk's mother's family were already in the hands of the royal guards, and there were rumors that they might be executed for their alleged involvement in treason, as Kirk's mother and her clan were allegedly the masterminds behind poisoning the king to make Kirk the next king if the king had died.
"I didn't even know Kirk was a prince until now," Freen whispered to herself, realizing how oblivious she was to the people she'd been around since she was a kid. All she knew was that Kirk lived in a different home from his mother; there were just circumstances in which the two of them met and became friends, as Kirk would often visit his mother.
Does that mean that Nop is also a royal? What is really going on with her? Why didn't my mother tell me anything about this? Is this why the other servants her age weren't as friendly to her as they were to others, because she was friends with a prince?
"Hey servant, are you hearing what I am saying? You are not going anywhere; you will stay!" Lady Rebecca's voice cut through Freen's thoughts.
Freen just looked at the lady beside her; she didn't understand what Rebecca was saying. Her mind raced with confusion and questions. If her mother had kept this from her and she was friends with a prince, it would explain the strange behavior of the other servants towards her. Freen wondered if there were more secrets she had yet to uncover about her mother's past and the reasons behind her silence.
"What the heck happened to your face?" Lady Rebecca asked, concerned, noticing the bruises on Freen's face.
Lady Rebecca touched Freen's face, shaking it, which sent a shiver down Freen's spine. Freen winced at the touch, trying to hide her discomfort. Lady Rebecca's concern only deepened her curiosity about what happened to Freen, but then...
"Oh my god, you are burning up!" Rebecca panicked as Freen fell to the ground.
Could it be that her mother really had some involvement in the treason that happened? Freen's heart pounded in her chest as she contemplated the possibility. The thought of her mother being connected to such a grave crime filled her with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Is this why Nop beat her last night with his men? Is this lady, Rebecca, also one of them? These were Freen's thoughts before she lost consciousness.
"Help!! Please!!!" screamed Rebecca as Freen totally blacked out in her arms.
"Lady Rebecca, what happened here?" Miss Nam asked, concerned, as she heard the lady shouting from her office.
"Please, help her!" was the only thing that came out of Rebecca's mouth, her tears streaming down as she sat with Freen in her arms.
Freen was shaking on her bed inside the maid's quarters when the door suddenly opened. She was supposed to pack her things, but she was unable to because of her high fever and her foot injury. As the door creaked open, Freen's heart skipped a beat. She desperately wished for a moment of respite from her current predicament. However, her hopes were dashed as she realized she couldn't fulfill her duty of packing due to her debilitating fever and the throbbing pain in her injured leg.
"I am sorry, Miss Nam. I promise to move out when my fever subsides and my foot heals." She felt a wave of frustration and helplessness wash over her as she watched the open door, knowing she couldn't do anything about it in her current state.
"You are lucky today, young girl," a man's voice said.
Freen was taken aback by the unfamiliar voice. "Who are you?" Freen covered herself with her blanket and sat up, thinking it was the royal guards who would carry her away to be questioned and punished, just like her mother.
"Don't be afraid, Freen. He is a physician requested by Lady Rebecca to attend to your injury." Irin came into the room too.
"She's not here," Irin said when she noticed how Freen's face fell at the mention of Lady Rebecca. The absence of her presence only amplified Freen's feelings of helplessness and isolation.
The kiss they shared on the grass field was still a big question mark in her head: why would the lady do that to her? Was the lady really just playing with her? Like she always did when she picked on her? And also, when she fell from the stairs and got injured, the lady never showed remorse, even punishing her by watching her cut grass in the middle of the day. Freen couldn't help but wonder if Lady Rebecca's actions were deliberate, a cruel game meant to torment her. The memory of the incident on the grass field haunted her, leaving her questioning Lady Rebecca's true intentions and whether she was merely a pawn in the lady's twisted games. The lack of remorse after Freen's injury only deepened her sense of isolation and vulnerability, as she struggled to understand why she was subjected to such mistreatment.
Freen screamed when the physician tried to lift her. "Holy Mother of Mary, what happened to her?"
"She fell off the stairs, sir," Irin answered.
The physician looked doubtful. He examined Freen's injuries with a furrowed brow, his skepticism evident. He lifted Freen's leg, and both he and Irin were shocked to see the bruises and swelling that covered her entire leg. Freen winced in pain as the physician gently probed the tender areas, his concern growing. It was clear that her injuries were far more severe than a simple fall down the stairs could account for.
He examined Freen's arms too and was convinced that Freen had experienced more than a simple fall; she had been beaten and subjected to physical assault. Her leg was a little dislocated. He did what he needed to do with Freen's leg, carefully realigning the dislocation and providing immediate relief. As he continued to assess her injuries, the physician couldn't help but wonder who could have inflicted such harm on Freen and what she had endured leading up to this moment.
"Holy Mother of God!"
The physician was stunned by Freen's beauty; he had never noticed her face earlier because he was focused on the injury and thought this was just a random patient. He had so many questions but remained silent.
What makes this servant so special to the daughter of Lord Armstrong to call their family physician and request that he come here just for a mere servant?
"Ehem," a familiar voice cut the physician from his observing gaze at Freen, who was too weak to notice his look of awe.
"Oh, Lady Rebecca, I believe you are the one who summoned me here." The physician's gaze switched from Freen to Lady Rebecca, who stood beside him, expressionless. He had always admired her grace and brilliance, and he was now wondering what function she played in Freen's life that required his immediate attendance.
"And I believe your duty here is done; you can go now. Miss Nam will make the payment. And please do be quiet about this." The physician creased his brows at hearing such a request from the young lady but nodded.
The physician started to leave the room; he wasn't far when—
"Mr. Levi Graham!" The physician turned around to face the lady.
"Yes, Lady Rebecca?" The lady looked around and made sure they were alone before speaking. "I want you to keep this visit between us. It's important that no one knows about Freen's condition or my involvement in her care." The physician nodded understandingly and assured her of his discretion.
"Even my parents." Mr. Graham looked at her with hesitation. Lady Rebecca got something inside her dress and smoothly gave it to the physician's hand.
Mr. Graham checked the pouch and found gold coins inside. He closed the small bag of coins again and looked back at Lady Rebecca.
"I am not accepting bribery; whatever she did is not my concern. Same as whatever concerns you with her is not my concern either. So, thank you, but no thank you, Lady Rebecca," he said, giving back the coins to Lady Rebecca.
Lady Rebecca nodded, her expression a mix of disappointment and understanding. She tucked the pouch of gold coins back into her dress and took a step back, her eyes lingering on Mr. Graham for a moment before turning away. The tension in the room was palpable as both individuals silently acknowledged the unspoken boundaries that had been set between them.
"I apol—"
"I didn't say I wouldn't follow your instructions, my lady. I'm attempting to say that you are not required to pay for such a request." He added with a smile, "My only responsibility to your family is to heal illness, not to intervene or interfere in areas that don't concern me."
Lady Rebecca, in relief, nodded and replied, "I appreciate your understanding, Mr. Graham. Rest assured, I will not burden you with any unnecessary requests in the future." With that, the tension in the room began to dissipate as they both realized they were on the same page. Lady Rebecca felt a sense of trust and gratitude towards Mr. Graham, knowing that he would prioritize his role as a healer without crossing any boundaries. They continued their conversation as Lady Rebecca accompanied him through the door until he got into Miss Nam's office.
"Lady Rebecca, Freen was now transferred to the guest room, as you requested. Is there anything else you want for your comfort?" Irin asked.
"Thank you, Irin; you can go and rest," was Lady Rebecca's only response.
Irin complied, left the lady, and headed back to the maid's quarters, despite her misgivings and questions about how Rebecca cared so much for Freen after being a bully towards her.
Rebecca stood in front of the guest room where Freen was transferred. She was about to open the door but hesitated. She started walking toward her own room. But then, when she was halfway to her room, she stopped.
Miss Nam was done with her rounds all around the mansion to ensure their safety. On the way to her room, she heard footsteps along the hallways on the left wing of the mansion. Curiosity getting the better of her, Miss Nam decided to investigate. As she turned the corner, she saw Rebecca standing outside the guest room with a conflicted expression. Miss Nam couldn't help but wonder what had caused this sudden change in Rebecca's demeanor and if it had anything to do with Freen.
"Lady Rebecca," Miss Nam laughed as she saw Lady Rebecca leap in terror when she spoke her name.
Rebecca gasped, clutching her chest. "Bloody hell, Miss Nam, you scared the crap out of me!"
"Freen is too weak to open the door for you; you've got to do it on your own, my lady," said Miss Nam with a hint of a smile.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Miss Nam," said Lady Rebecca with a face like a tomato.
"Well, I'm just giving a little advice here; maybe it won't be too much if you try to admit once in a while what's really in it," Miss Nam said, pointing to Lady Rebecca's chest. Rebecca was dumbfounded by what Miss Nam had told her.
Before leaving Lady Rebecca more perplexed than ever, Miss Nam tapped her shoulder and muttered, "Your secret is safe with me, my lady." Rebecca couldn't help but wonder what Miss Nam meant by "what's really in it" and why she seemed knowledgeable about things that Rebecca herself wasn't. After the incident, Lady Rebecca was uneasy and intrigued by the secrets of her own heart.
The lady clutched her chest and decided to hold the doorknob and slowly twist it. Slowly, she opened the door without making a single noise so as not to wake the sleeping Freen.
Delicately, she walked in like a thief in the night, tiptoeing towards the bed where Freen was sleeping soundly. Lady Rebecca's heart raced as she observed Freen's peaceful slumber. I wonder if she is dreaming as she smiles while sleeping.
Later, Freen shivered and moaned, seemingly in a cold sweat. Concerned, Lady Rebecca reached out to touch Freen's forehead and realized she had a high fever. Panic overwhelmed Lady Rebecca as she quickly retrieved a damp cloth to cool Freen's forehead. She contemplated whether to wake Freen up or call for medical assistance, hoping to make the right decision in this moment of uncertainty.
Lady Rebecca walked long distances back and forth from the room to the kitchen just to prepare the necessary ingredients for a homemade remedy. As she frantically searched through her pantry, she recalled a family recipe that could potentially help reduce Freen's fever. With a sense of urgency, Lady Rebecca started boiling the ingredients, praying it would bring some relief to her dear friend.
It was a good thing she had the list of prescriptions that the physician gave her earlier. Lady Rebecca carefully measured out the ingredients, following the precise instructions on the list. She knew the physician's guidance was crucial in ensuring the effectiveness of the homemade remedy and hoped it would provide much-needed relief for Freen's fever.
She couldn't help but feel a mixture of guilt and longing, her emotions conflicting with the rationality that had always defined her. The sight of Freen's serene face stirred something deep within her—a desire to be closer to her and to understand the connection they shared.
Her heart broke when she saw the bruises on Freen's shoulder, especially on her swollen leg. Did I really do this to her? Guilt consumed her as she questioned her actions and their consequences for Freen's well-being. She vowed to do whatever it took to make amends and ensure that Freen's pain would never be caused by her again.
Wiping her sweat after she finished changing Freen's clothes, which were wet with sweat, she gently brushed Freen's hair away from her forehead and placed a cool cloth on it. As she watched Freen's peaceful expression, she couldn't help but hope that her homemade remedy would bring down the fever and provide the comfort that Freen needed.
"What did you do to me?" she whispered as she saw that Freen's fever had finally subsided.
"I think I am falling in love with you, my servant. I am your slave now, and I can't fight this feeling anymore. I don't care if you feel the same way or not; all I know is I can't afford to lose you." With that, Lady Rebecca slowly leaned her face close to Freen's, aiming to kiss her lips.
The sound of a rooster crowing woke Rebecca up. Particularly after she noticed that Freen moved while still lying on the bed.
Rebecca grew pale with anxiety, but she was able to breathe easily, unaware of holding her breath, when she noticed that Freen hadn't fully awakened and had returned to a deep sleep. Rebecca straightened herself, getting to her feet.
"It's already dawn; I didn't even realize it," she said. She yawned and looked at Freen, who was still in deep slumber.
"I can't believe I have fallen asleep beside her." She looked at Freen again and smirked. "What an interesting dream I had."
"I knew I wouldn't say such things. I am happy it's just a dream," Rebecca said, leaving the room before her servant totally woke up and saw her there.
She made her way down the hallway, feeling a sense of relief that her strange dream had not become reality. As she walked, she couldn't help but wonder what had caused such vivid and unsettling images in her sleep.
She dismissed the thought and found herself in her own room. She was exhausted.