บท 15: His Expensive Purchase
“Umm…you’re looking for me?” I asked softly.
“Madame is asking for you. Go to her office, she’s waiting for you there,” Claudia replied curtly as her eyes glared at me.
“I’ll go now. Thank you for coming to get me,” I thanked her before bowing my head a little to excuse myself.
“No need to thank me. I didn’t come here because I wanted to…” Claudia muttered darkly as her eyes narrowed dangerously at me.
She turned on her heels and quickly made her way out of the garden before I could say anything else. The three of us watch her leave. Claudia truly stood out from the other maids. For one, she was very beautiful. Her long honey brown hair was curled into neat locks, and she had brightly colored make up on, especially her cherry red lipstick. Although she was supposed to be a maid just like the rest of us, something about her made her feel like an important person.
“I have to go first. I’m so sorry about this,” I quickly apologized.
“Don’t worry. We’re almost done here anyways,” Jessie said before flashing me a reassuring smile.
“Umm…good luck,” Salena said timidly.
“Thanks,” I thanked them both.
I may be needing some luck because I had no idea why Madame Cassandra had requested to see me so suddenly. Hopefully, it wasn’t about something bad.
…
“How was your first day?” Madame Cassandra asked the moment that I entered her office.
“It was fine…” I replied honestly.
“Come and stand here in front of me,” she ordered as she waved her hand for me to approach her.
“Ok…” I said softly.
“You speak so impolitely. You’re supposed to say ‘Yes, madame’. Do you understand?” she snapped.
“Yes…yes, madame…” I said while trying to keep my voice from shaking.
“Come closer…closer…” she urged impatiently.
I thought that we were already close enough, but apparently, it wasn’t close enough. After taking another step forward, I was standing right in front of the older woman. My body tensed at our close proximity and how her eyes squinted and stared right into my face. The tension was too much, and I felt extremely uncomfortable as her eyes stared at my face as if appraising it closely. I had to shift my gaze away from her.
It wasn’t just my nervousness that caused me to shift my gaze away. It was fear.
I didn’t want her to see it. I didn’t want her to realize it.
“Your skin is fine. You have a nice nose…” the madame complimented me and her voice was surprisingly gentle.
“Thank you…” I whispered as I tried to keep my eyes away from her face.
“Don’t look away. Look at me,” she commanded strictly.
I can’t do that…
“I…” I murmured hesitantly.
“I told you to look at me!” she snapped loudly at me.
Her loud voice made me jump and fear started to quickly take over. My eyes darted all over the place but I just couldn’t bring myself to face her. A slight stingy pain pierced my chin as she captured it in between her fingertips before she forced my face to look at her. I gasped in shock as my eyes met hers.
“I didn’t notice it at first that your eyes are a different color from one another…” Madame Cassandra said as her eyes narrowed at me.
I nodded without knowing what to say as shame swept over me. My eyes had always been like this. I was probably born with this defect. Although the colors of my eyes were not outstandingly different at a glance, the different becomes quite apparent when seen up close. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been teased and bullied for it my entire life. People spread rumors that I was cursed or that I would bring bad luck. Some said that my condition was an infectious disease.
After I grew up, I learnt that none of the things they said were true. However, their mocking words had a real impact on me when I was younger, and some scars inflicted by their hateful words just didn’t quite heal right. Even now, I felt extremely uncomfortable about people find out about the colors of my eyes.
“I wonder what prince Leonard sees in you…” she said solemnly.
“Excuse me?” I murmured in a whisper.
“I know that he paid an exorbitant price for you at an auction. Despite that, something must have changed his mind and he put you in my care to be a mere maid instead. I mean, who would pay a price like that for a maid when we have endless applications for the position from far and wide…” Madame said followed by a sigh.
Madame looked at me with a mix of pity and confusion before she shook her head while I wondered why the prince bought me in the first place. Speaking of the prince, I haven’t seen him at all since that day at the auction. Now that I think about it, I don’t even know what he really looks like…
“Since the prince placed you in my care, I will take care of you. Tomorrow, an afternoon tea party will be held in the gardens that you just cleaned today. The honorable maidens will be there, and it is the perfect opportunity for you to serve them. Who knows…if one of them takes a liking to you, she may ask for you to serve her,” Madame said with a small smile.
“I see. Thank you…” I replied before trying to smile at her.
I thought that I shouldn’t tell her that I wasn’t looking for a chance to climb up the ranks. With my upbringing, I had no idea how to serve the nobles of any socialite. Cleaning and cooking would suit me better any day.
“Good. I’ll send the other two new girls as well. Don’t worry, there will be many experienced maids there to help you should the need arise,” Madame Cassandra said before she nodded.
“Thank you…” I thanked her again politely.
--To be continued...
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