IT was night, and finally, after everything, the day was coming to a close, and Cesia’s time serving as a maid for Juliette was almost over for the day. As she heated water and prepared Juliette’s bath with the other maids, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at Juliette’s lady’s maid, combing the princess’s hair as she sat in front of a mirror, about to take a bath. The lady’s maid combing Juliette’s hair was Rosary.
Far from just slacking on every bit of work, the maids Juliette had brought with her were even making the maids Emeroade had provided care for them. Like mistress, like servant. Both had poor reputations. Oddly enough, those Gwylltian lady’s maids were grinning at each other.
They were identical to their mistress in all the worst ways. They behaved pompously around the Emeroadian servants and took their mistress’s authority as their own, and Juliette approved it.
Did something happen just now to incite them?
Looking carefully, Cesia saw that the comb Rosary was holding had gotten caught on Juliette’s blonde hair. As a strand of her hair was pulled taut, Juliette shouted in anger.
“That hurts! Are you even incapable of combing my hair?!”
“My deepest apologies!” Rosary instantly apologized, but Juliette, even angrier than usual, brushed Rosary’s hands aside and pushed her to the floor.
“Ah?!” Rosary’s eyes widened in surprise, and an expression of fear appeared on her face. She had probably never been treated so violently before.
“You Emerodian servants are truly useless. You and that woman,” Juliette said.
Could she mean me? Cesia carefreely thought, picking up the comb that had fallen and slid across the floor toward her. Looking at the comb, she noticed it had been tampered with so the hair would get caught on it.
They went this far just to frame Rosary? She was skilled, and Juliette often praised her, but it seemed that had displeased the Gwylltian lady’s maids. Do your jobs and quit the harassment, you incompetent slackers.
Having thought Rosary was relatively useful, her failure displeased Juliette immensely and caused an even greater fit than usual. If it had been Cesia, whom Juliette didn’t expect much of, it probably would’ve ended with only some verbal abuse.
“Lady Juliette, I’m truly sorry!” Rosary begged for forgiveness, kneeling on the floor.
“She won’t forgive you.”
“That’s right! You harmed Her Royal Highness’s hair, you know.”
Seeing this as their chance, the Gwylltian lady’s maids eagerly chimed in. Because her subordinates behaved in that way, Juliette had to give out such harsh punishments to keep face. What a vicious cycle. Her hair only got caught in a comb!
“I’m a guest, and you harmed my hair. This deserves a whipping.”
Cesia sharply inhaled, stopping just short of a scream as she looked at the princess and her lady’s maids in sheer disbelief. Luckily, nobody heard her. You’re whipping someone over something so small? That’s going way too far.
Even if she showed Juliette the modified comb, she couldn’t imagine anyone on the Gwyllt side would acknowledge it.
“P-Please, forgive me…” Rosary said from the ground, her face pale.
Cesia unthinkingly grabbed the basin of water they used to adjust the temperature of the bath.
Don’t be reckless, a grim-faced Layne implored her inside her mind. Even if I get fired here, it’s better than just standing by and acting like nothing’s happening. Good grief. No matter how much I train, deep down, I haven’t changed, Cesia thought, fed up with herself. She did think of one way she might not lose her job, which she supposed was a sign of growth.
Firmly grasping the basin’s edge, she heaved its contents onto Rosary in a single, clean motion.
“Aah!”
Splash!
Rosary froze in surprise, looking up from the floor in blank amazement at Cesia.
Using magic, Cesia had made sure that not even a drop of water landed on Juliette or her lady’s maids. Holding the basin in one hand, she quickly exchanged a look with Rosary. With speed reserved only for times like this, the lazy lady’s maids had already brought out an elaborately ornamented riding crop. Whip in hand, Juliette stared in surprise at the soaked Rosary and the inundated floor.
“What do you think you’re doing, you idiotic maid!” she quickly snapped out of her amazement and yelled at Cesia.
Hearing Juliette’s familiar, scornful voice, Cesia quickly bowed.
“My apologies, Lady Juliette. It would be dreadful if you caught a cold, and the bath is ready, so please, allow me to guide you to the bathroom.”
“I’m completely dry. I asked you a question: what sort of idiotic thing are you doing, you idiot?” Juliette irritably bent the whip in her hands.
Trying to whip a person with something like that was nothing more than violence, plain and simple. Cesia couldn’t forgive her for treating a human like an animal.
“My apologies. Rosary behaved insolently toward Your Royal Highness, so I threw water on her to make her reflect on her actions.”