Chương 23: Injustice

When she got to the main dining room, she was surprised to see everyone seating in different corners with their own separate tables. Yet there was a perfectly usable long table in the center.

She did not think much of it at first. Looking around the room, Sierra could not see Myra. Though they had only known one another for less than a day, they were becoming fast friends.

"Maybe she'll be here shortly," she muttered to herself.

Sierra took a seat at the long table. As soon as she settled down, a kitchen maid came up to her, to offer her a drink.

"Water would be fine, thank you," Sierra said with a smile.

She noted the initial surprised look on the maid's face but did not think much of it. It seemed as if everyone was simply not used to her thanking them for the work that they do.

Her father taught her to respect everyone, especially the people who served them.

"Everyone has a role to play, Sierra. We should treat everyone with the respect no matter what class or hierarchy and especially the people who work to serve. Their livelihoods depend on it and it is never easy."

She was all too familiar with the way those of the higher classes treat those of a lower class. She could never stand to watch them being bullied. that part of her would never change.

As the kitchen maid served Sierra her first dish, a loud crash rang throughout the dining hall. It was loud enough to cause almost everyone to jolt in their seat.

"You clumsy little wench! Do you know how much this dress cost? It's more than you can ever earn in three lifetimes!" one of the princesses yelled.

She was almost certain the person who yelled was Agnes. But when she turned to see, Sierra was surprised to see that she was wrong. It was a blonde-haired princess, someone she did not recall seeing before.

She was sure she had not seen her at the archery grounds. But after some thinking, Sierra realized she was amongst the chosen during the Queen's announcement.

She furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to remember her name. Whispers from the other tables helped her to figure it out.

The blonde-haired princess was Princess Cassandra of the Sumera Kingdom. They were one of Drakin's strongest allies, one of the largest kingdoms too.

Sierra slowly remembered why she had not seen this princess or had any conversations with her. In Princess Cassandra's eyes, Sierra was simply not worth her time.

The same could be said for the poor maid who had accidentally spilled the bowl of soup on Cassandra's dress. Sierra was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a resounding slap that resonated throughout the dining hall.

Everyone was looking in the direction of what was happening. Sierra felt an anger brewing within her. she curled her hand into a fist.

The poor maid collapsed onto the ground, clutching her bruised cheek in tears. No one dared to help her. No one dared to defend her.

"You dare look up at me? You need to be taught some respect!" Princess Cassandra got up from her seat and walked over to the maid who was still looking up at her.

The maid tried to back away in fear, but there was nowhere to run and no one to save her. She squinted close her eyes, waiting for it to happen. Princess Cassandra raised her hand.

Just as she swung it at the maid, she was stopped by Sierra. She could not sit there and do nothing. Sierra held onto her wrist tightly while glaring at Cassandra.

The aura she exude would be that of a knightess on the battlefield, ready to cut her enemy down where they stood. Cassandra was monetarily at a loss for words.

"What do you think you're doing?! Let me go!" Cassandra squealed as she tried to wriggle her hand out of Sierra's grasp.

Though she was not holding on to her tightly, it was a strong enough grip that the princess could not wriggle out of. Sierra turned to the maid and signaled her to leave immediately.

Though she was afraid of Cassandra, she knew this was her chance to leave. As such, the maid quickly scurried to her feet and left the hall.

Sierra released Cassandra from her hold and turned to return back to her seat. But how could it be that simple?

"Stop right there!" Cassandra yelled while pointing her finger at Sierra.

She was tempted to continue walking. But out of the habit of her old role as a knightess, she stopped to turn and face her. Cassandra already had her hand raised, ready to slap her across the face.

With a simple sidestep, Sierra dodged it.

Princess Cassandra lost her balance and fell to the ground. Everyone gasped in shock. Everyone was stunned. Even Cassandra's maids took a while before they came to their senses and scrambled to bring their princess to her feet.

"I think you're the one who needs to learn some respect, Your Highness," Sierra declared while doing a curtsy before returning to her table to continue her meal.

While all the royals in the hall began to discuss what Sierra had done, most of them disapproved of the way she stood up to Cassandra. After all, it was up to a princess how she wished to educate the servants and maids around her.

But for the maids and servants in the dining hall, all of them had never felt more seen or heard. None of the royals or nobles they had served ever stood up for any of them like Sierra did.

Needless to say, Sierra became instantly famous and admired by many throughout the castle from that day forth. Cassandra was seething with rage. She had lost her appetite shortly after her altercation with Sierra.

Agnes saw everything. She grinned to herself as she continued to eat the food on her plate. She now had a new ally she could work with. When she saw Princess Cassandra leaving the dining hall, she quickly caught up with her.

"Princess Cassandra, may I have a word with you?" Agnes asked as she caught up with her in the corridor.

Cassandra stopped in her path and turned to the side to see Agnes.

"I am in a foul mood, Princess Agnes. So I advise you to speak clearly and quickly," she said in an annoyed tone.