Chapter 38: Temporary victory
Stunned at the Princess's genuine concern for Antonia, a smile appeared on her face. "Well... She came down with an illness and is staying home for some time." She directed her gaze back to what she was doing.
"What's your name?" Olivia's voice went lower. One would think she was trying to investigate Antonia's twin because of the way she kept staring at that one dish on the table.
"Arya, Your highness." She answered very politely before placing the goblet of water beside the three-course meal. Arya adjusted her frock and took some steps back while she lowered her head slightly.
"Your meal is ready, My Princess. If you need anything don't hesitate to call me. I'll be your personal handmaiden for these few days." She spoke as though she was careful with her words.
Well, this woman never freaked out like the others when they saw her, so she believed her confidence was inborn.
"You don't need to worry about my needs, Arya. I think you should focus more on your sister, and get her medicine. I'll give you some money to get herbs. Don't hesitate in giving it to her, you hear me?" Olivia didn't know she was sounding more like Antonia's closest friend to the maid's twin.
Her countenance especially when she spoke was nothing but authentic. It made Arya relieved that her sister was in safe hands. But she wasn't ready to tell her of what became of Antonia for fear that Olivia might overreact.
Besides, it was better to leave the Princess unaware about it. That way, they wouldn't get too much attention from the mean headmaid.
"Affirmative, Your highness. Worry not, I'll do that once I'm relieved of my duties."
"No. You'll do that once I'm done with my meal. If anyone asks you why you are to leave so early, tell them I sent you on an errand. Besides, I'm the..." She trailed in her words, knowing what would come out should she say more.
"Never mind..." She threw her head to the side while taking out a pouch of another silver coins from her pocket.
Olivia threw it to Arya with a nonchalant look on her face. The latter caught it in astoundment batting her lashes at the heaviness she felt in the pouch.
"Don't refuse it. I want her here to show me more about the market... places I haven't been to." She shrugged and walked to her seat to settle for her meal. Olivia never hesitated.
The first thing she took a bite from was the chocolate pudding with reckless abandon. She did not care if Arya was still standing there watching.
The maid remained transfixed in astonishment. This much money could cover everything for her and Antonia!
"Y-your highness!" She collapsed on her knees and kowtowed to Olivia who paused halfway almost taking a bite from her meal.
A smile was threatening to appear on her face, but she knew it wasn't yet time to smile that wide. Once she was done clearing her name and disgracing her adversaries, she would be okay to smile.
For now, this was a temporary victory.
...
A figure was laid on the floor covered with raffia mat. A dark blanket enshrouded her being and her hair that was always held in a braid scattered like a dark contrast to the yellowish covering on the ground.
Another woman sat on her knees, with a smile on her face as she looked after her.
"She really asked about me?" Her lips trembled as she stared at Arya from the covers.
Antonia was swaddled like a baby, and her face was pale. There was a bruise at the corner of her lips that was too glaring to ignore.
"That means she still wants to see me, right?" A smile appeared on her face, while her amber eyes twinkled with ecstasy.
"She is nothing like how she was pictured. I'm really sorry I wasn't there to protect you like I should have. That wench... she'll pay for what she did. I will make sure of it." Arya gritted her teeth while her electric-blue eyes glittered with something mysterious.
She felt Antonia's soft hand caressing hers and she lifted her gaze to her sister's amber eyes.
"I don't want you to get in trouble. You know what she's capable of..." Antonia pouted her lips as though she was about to cry while staring at her identical sister.
"I won't." A grim smile appeared on her face as she squeezed Antonia's delicate hand and nodded. This was her way to assure her she would not do anything dangerous.
____
"I did it." Her voice was darker than usual. Madeline nodded her head in approval of her words of confirmation.
Her forest-green eyes twinkled with something unsettling. Something that could threaten a person's soul to crawl out of its earthly cloak.
"Well done." She clapped once and turned around in the dark chambers. The cloaked figure remained standing upright, still not showering Madeline the respect Adele had confronted her for.
The air in the room was tight and compressed as Madeline's eyes darkened with an intensity that had never be seen. She stretched her neck to the sides as her lips curled to a smile.
"I hope it would be successful." Her left brow quirked upward while her eyes darted to both sides.
The cloaked figure remained silent watching Madeline's outline. Her eyes scanned the lady's blonde hair and the beauty she possessed. She couldn't help but shake her head speechlessly.
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— In the royal dining hall —
Maids stood behind the royals who were already served their meals. King Oberon ate slow without a word, leaving the dining hall so silent.
Among the people who were eating were the guests who were waiting for the D-Day of the coronation, which was tomorrow.
Reginald ignored the gaze he received from the King, and focused on his meal. The silence in the hall was enough to break a wall.
Adele tore her gaze from the visitors and focused on her son instead. She was too stupid to realize she was to let sleeping dogs lie. As the mother of Napoleon, she wanted to lighten up the environment.
"So... have you found her?" She questioned mindlessly, making everyone at the table raise their brows.
Was the Prince looking for someone? Who was it?
Even King Oberon was curious. At the same time he assessed the situation in the table and his son's expression. The topic was really uncomfortable but Adele was too foolish to see that.
Oberon could only sigh because he saw where this was leading to.
"Found who?" One of the guests questioned. His wise eyes were on the Prince who shut his eyes for a second.
"The witch." Nathaniel answered immediately, clearing the air and views about him and creating more chaos in the table.
The air in the dining turned solemn and more like a setting of an horror story because, what followed was a screaming silence.
It proved how dire the situation was.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone