"The northern duke attended the banquet? Are you sure Trish?" an excited girl spoke.
That made me pause. So Xior is here?
But what of it? I can't simply walk towards him and ask for food for the princess. That would be rude and embarrassing. Despite being one of his knights, I don't know how he treats Zeana the knight. But one thing for sure is that the duke trusts Zeana. Because if he doesn't then he won't send me here to protect the princess.
Or maybe it was Dria who recommended me or something. However, I'm confused as hell, because in the novel that I wrote, even though it's incomplete, I'm certain that the duke only sent Dria. So maybe Dria just brought me here to help her.
While thinking about this, my head throbbed as if someone was drilling a hole on it. But it vanished instantly, after I slowly massage my temple.
I guess I need to finish what I'm supposed to do and take a rest. Despite my calm demeanor, my mind and body are both tired from this sudden events in my life. After all, I'm just planning to ease my hunger but suddenly I'm transported into this unknown world. Even if I am the one who wrote a part of this world's destiny, there's many things that I don't know.
And that is something that I need to know after a short rest.
Though...
Wait a minute, where am I going to rest? Am I allowed to rest before our mistress does?
I'm no longer living in our house where I can sleep whenever I want as long as I finish all I have to do. This place is different from that, so is my standing. So I can't recklessly rest.
A sigh escaped from my mouth but it was interrupted when the woman who had a different hair color scolded us.
"We're already near the banquet hall. Where's your manners?"
The maids who were with me were instantly silenced. When we reach that place, I immediately grab a few desserts and hide them in my pockets. Infairness, this maid clothing does contain pockets, contrary to my expectations.
After acquiring what I need, I still blend in with the maids who were about to get another batch of food and are pushing the empty food carts. This time, it wasn't the maids of the Emerald Palace. While the maids are chatting with each other, I stay silent in the corner, planning how I'll escape later.
When we reached the kitchen, another chef was instructing another set of maids to throw away the wastes at the pit. When they dispersed to get the trash, I blended along with them and also brought a few trash to avoid suspicion.
Afterwards, I turned away from them and hurriedly returned to Racia's chamber. When I reached the front door, I was confused why it was widely opened but after seeing what's inside, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
'It was the assassin who stabbed Dria!'
But this time, it was Dria who stabbed him, as if taking revenge. However, there's no way she knew about what happened before that cat returned back in time.
"Oh, you're here, Zeana." Dria greeted me, and I nodded as a reply. My eyes were focused on Dria. Her clothes were drenched by blood and I'm guessing that it's from a wound. Although I think she's hiding them from Racia. But where's Racia?
I wandered off my gaze around the room, but skipped to the place where the dead body was. However I can't find any traces of her. That made me glance again at Dria who was wiping her sword at her skirt. I grimaced and thought, 'Does she can't feel disgust on that blood all over her?' That's definitely so gross, especially to someone who isn't used to seeing blood. And if she's not in front of me, I would've definitely vomited at the sight of the dead bodies and blood pool.
As if Dria understood what I meant, she said. "The princess is in the bathroom, she's safe. Now, can you clean this up? I have to check outside if there's more threats."
That command suddenly made me depressed. Is luck distancing from me, now? Because that's probably the only reason why I'm experiencing this.
Can't you see that I'm scared of this corpse? So why are you issuing this command?
Arghh! I want to cry but I can't.
Instead, I remained composed but that doesn't mean I want to take this command.
"But... I think it's better not to take off our sight on the princess. You know what will happen to us once she's hurt." I reasoned out. Please dismiss that command and just issue another! Just say that I should guard the princess and you'll clean the mess that you caused.
Unfortunately, as luck kept on distancing from me, Dria replied. "Alright, I'll stay here and protect the princess. Now you won't worry while cleaning this."
WHAT!?
ARGHH! I want to scream. I can't do this. Absolutely no.
But what can I do? I can't ignore her commands since she has a higher standing compared to me. So, while wearing a depressed expression, I started looking for a huge cloth to wrap those corpses.
"If only there's plastic bags or sacks here. Then it would be much easier." I mumbled.
During the process of disposing of that mess, my face is contorting little by little. After it's done, I return to the chambers and when I arrive the princess and Dria are talking about something. Both wore a serious face and when I was about to leave, Dria called me.
"Aside from me, this maid is also sent by the Duke. Her name's Zeana." Dria introduced me and I bowed.
Okay, this part is something from my novel except for the fact that Dria introduces someone and that someone is me.
"So the Duke is really sincere about our agreement." the princess mumbled while she's thinking deeply.
"That's right, your highness. The duke sent us to ensure your safety so I would like to request that you allow us to become your personal maid. That way, it won't be strange for us to accompany you everywhere." Dria said respectfully. The rude and arrogant tone around her was gone and was changed into a docile dog who likes her master so much.
Her tone is like she's thinking, 'it's an honor to serve you princess but I'm faking it you know.' Surprisingly, Racia doesn't notice it so she replied with a smile. Or maybe she noticed it and was also faking her smile.
Nevermind, that's not what's important right now. But what's more important?
As if on cue, my stomach grumbled and I remembered the food that I stashed in my pocket. Then, I glanced at the princess and waited for her to notice my gaze.
"Yes, Zeana?"
"Uh, you still haven't eaten and it's late, your highness. You have to eat something," I said and gave her the desserts that were wrapped with my clean handkerchief.
That's when I realized the she's a princess and she can't eat food that was wrapped in a maid's handkerchief. Or so I thought.
"Thank you," she muttered.
Racia, while wearing a simple dress, sat on her bed that looked kinda worn out, after she received the food. Before she took a bite, she shared the dessert to us and although we declined, she insisted that we have to get one for ourselves, especially me who brought that food.
I could only stare at her eating the desserts happily and slowly ate mine.
"Why do you trust us so easily? We might've been tasked to spy on you and poison you," Dria spoke in a serious manner. The fake tone that she conjured earlier was gone.
But what the hell does she mean? Is she playing mind tricks with Racia?
That made me pity her. My impression about Racia's character was that she was a kind princess who were ridiculed and discriminated against, and the proof is this worn out things in her room and the worn out look of the palace. Maybe the duke also pitied her that's why he suggested the contract or maybe he fall in love at first sight? After all Racia is a real beauty and she's also feisty on some occasions. But that doesn't change the fact that I see her as someone that is innocently kind and slow at grasping things.
Racia stopped eating the dessert in her hands. "Why wouldn't I?" she replied and I almost raised my eyebrows. What does she mean? Does she mean that because we're the duke's people?
The corner of Racia's mouth rose to form a faint smirk. "You even killed the assassins from the outside earlier and the assassin's who entered. How can't I trust you? And even Zeana here stopped the maid who was about to poison me. So how can I not trust you?" she shrugged while still smirking.
That made me pause. How the hell did she know about that?