Chapter 8 (1/2)

“What are you all doing?”

“Maid Hayden!”

The maids were startled. I apprehensively turned towards the shout.

‘Oh, that’s her! The Empress’ court lady from yesterday!’

My eyes widened at her sudden appearance.

“Which maid is being jeered at?” she interrogated as she came closer.

‘I didn’t expect her to come here!’

“Oh, no. That’s not it…”

“I don’t need excuses. Everybody, get back to work!”

The court lady raised her voice.

The maids scattered like a crowd of frightened sheep at the reproach.

They were already far when I managed to react, leaving me alone in the middle of the entrance.

Leaving only their whispers in my ears as they dispersed.

‘All the other maids said that it was unbefitting of me to be transferred into the Empress’ Palace…

…what if the court lady also thought of me like that?’

I felt my mouth go dry from nervousness.

“Is your name Charlize?” Her tone was mild and gentle. Free from any judgment.

Relieved at her consideration, I bowed.

“Hello! I’m the maid-in-training, Charlize!”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“I’m new to the Imperial Palace, so please take good care of me!” I wanted to speak as clearly as possible, but my tongue seemed to have no intention of following my will.

‘Ugh, when will this body grow up?”

Then, the court lady ordered, “Raise your head.”

I carefully glanced up.

The court lady looked at me with kind eyes and spoke, “We met yesterday, didn’t we?”

“Yes…” I felt uneasy at the question.

‘Yesterday was a disaster, wasn’t it?’

She just laughed.

“Don’t be nervous, it was just hard to forget a maid as young as you.”

Well, even the youngest maids in the imperial palace were usually over 15 years old. My mother, who was a maid of the Imperial Palace, abandoned me there. That’s why I was a maid-in-training at such a young age.

The court lady spoke, “Her Majesty the Empress has asked me to take good care of you.”

“…me?” I muttered incredulously at her words.

“Yes, Her Majesty told me to help you adapt well to the Imperial Palace.”

‘Empress, why are you so compassionate towards me?’

Drowned in an indescribable mood, I subtly nodded my head.

“By the way, is that all your luggage?”

“Yes, this is all.”

I shook the bag in my hand a couple of times.

Although it was heavy for a five-year-old, it was a fairly light bag for an adult.

The court lady’s expression sank at my response.

“You have been living in the palace for five years, but that’s all of your personal belongings?”

“Yes, these are my only personal belongings!”

‘Well, how many more things could a person who’s lived her whole life as a maid have?’

I had never even seen my pay since the palace deposited the maids’ salaries directly to their bank accounts.

“How can someone live with only their clothes and shoes? Don’t you have any other possessions?”

“Um, do I need other things? The palace pays for the meals and provides me a place to sleep.”

When I tilted my head in confusion, Hayden released a sigh.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

“How come you never ran out of clothes or boots? How many pairs do you have right now?”

“Two pairs!”

The court lady gaped at my reply.

“Then don’t you have to wash your clothes as soon as they get dirty? Isn’t that too much of a hassle?” she questioned me.

“It’s okay, I’m good at doing laundry and ironing!” I answered as I tried to appeal about my ability as a maid, but instead, her face darkened at my reply.

The court lady finally declared in a determined voice, “Don’t worry, I can get you enough clothes in the future.”

“Thank you for doing that…”

‘Yeah, it’d be good if I have another outfit.’

Although I was surprised at the sudden offer, I accepted it gratefully.

At the same time, she stretched out her hand.

“I’ll hold the bag for you. Can you give it to me?”

”’No, I can hold it. Thank you for the offer.”

“You are carrying a bag as big as your body, how can I just let you be?”

“How can I leave my bag to a court lady?”

In the midst of our banter, someone’s footstep closed in to the entrance.

“Charlize,” hearing the melodious voice. My head tilted back in a daze.

Standing before me was the Empress.

My mind couldn’t help but freeze, taking in the beautiful sight of Rose in her luxurious gown, it was a shocking difference with the usual Rose in the maid outfits.

I quickly bowed my head as I forced the greeting that I had practiced saying over and over again.

“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress, the benevolent mother of our land, the noble moon of the Empire.”

People should always assume the worst case scenario.