Chapter 04
“It seems the Second Prince wants strawberries.”
While I was taking off my apron after finishing my exhausting chores and getting ready to return to the dorm, Tom handed me a basket.
Tom was a boy my age and, like me as an apprentice maid, he was an apprentice servant.
In other words, he was in the same lowly position as me, and he had no right to order me around.
“So what?”
“Go pick them.”
The basket poked my stomach again.
“You not going? I’ll tell Susan noona.”
Susan’s sharp face from earlier came to mind. He clearly knew things weren’t good between us.
Normally I would have refused, asking why I should go, but I didn’t want any more conflict with Susan, so I snatched the basket.
“If you do this again, you’re dead. Seriously.”
I spat the words out and walked away. Tom’s pale face seemed to turn even paler, which made me feel a little better.
The winter chill hadn’t fully gone yet, so the air was still cold. I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders.
Even though I said that to Tom, I don’t actually dislike going to the strawberry field.
It was a bit far from the annex, but the bushes along the path were beautiful.
Just from the fact that a strawberry field was created in the palace for the Second Prince, who especially loved strawberries, you could tell how beloved he was here.
They even engraved magic circles over the vast field so strawberries could keep growing continuously.
‘Yeah. A loved person.’
Xabier, loved by everyone, acts childish on purpose so Declen can become emperor.
Look at him making me pick strawberries at this hour. Does he think he’s pregnant or something?
‘What an idiot.’
Instead of worrying about others, he should take care of himself.
I would not live a life for others like that man or my mother.
‘Sigh, strawberries…’
I got irritated and stomped forward, but ended up stumbling and falling.
Damn it, that hurts.
My only shawl got dirty. I needed it to wrap myself when sleeping at night.
“Oh my, look at those flowers.”
“I heard new flower seeds were brought in and planted. They should bloom soon.”
“I’m so excited. I want to plant them in our estate garden too. I should ask Prince Xabier what kind of flowers they are.”
“Right, he’s so kind to girls our age, isn’t he?”
“He’s always gentle to everyone.”
Near the strawberry field, I saw maids gathered in a flower garden, looking at the flowers. Their laughter rang in my ears.
They looked about the same age as Susan.
The difference between maid and servant was one thing—but the difference between maid and lady-in-waiting was much bigger. Those girls were noble daughters. Their salaries were probably completely different too.
“Still, Bonita, he seems to like you the most.”
“Come on, that’s not true. He just gave me cookies last time because I was working hard. He even said it while putting them in my mouth.”
“Still, he pays special attention to you.”
Bonita, who was said to be especially favored by the Second Prince, didn’t seem to dislike the attention.
I looked at her soft hazelnut-colored hair for a moment, then turned away.
I should just finish picking strawberries.
“Oh, he even gave me chocolate last time as thanks. It was just a tiny piece though.”
…This conversation is getting interesting.
At that careless remark, I could feel the atmosphere turning cold even without looking. Someone next to her quietly called Bonita’s name. She seemed to be the leader of that group.
“Really? Lucky you, Sophie.”
“Oh, look over there. That tiny kid must be a maid.”
Just as I thought the topic should change, it became about me.
All their eyes turned toward me, and I instinctively straightened my shoulders.
“Oh my… how pitiful…”
“Her clothes look worn out.”
“So sad. Should I give her some of my clothes? I think I have some from when I was younger.”
“Bonita, you’re so kind.”
“My heart hurts. Where are her parents? I just played around at that age. How is she living like that? She might think death is better… so pitiful.”
Hmm. Thanks, but that’s a bit too much.
Yes, I am in a pitiful situation, but I’m not miserable. Can’t they see I’m trying to live and work?
It’s probably their kindness, but I don’t want anything to do with people like that. Even if I deny it, they would still find me pitiful anyway.
“Really? I think she’s impressive. She’s working and earning money at such a young age. We’re young too, but we’re working.”
“…Are we the same as that girl, Sophie?”
“Why are we different?”
“She’s just a maid!”
“Doing your assigned work doesn’t mean you need to exaggerate and pity her like that. Especially not here where she can hear you.”
The girl I thought was just clueless but kind—Sophie—was actually more perceptive than anyone.
Bonita, who had been glaring at Sophie for a while, turned away sharply. The other maids followed her.
“Ugh. She probably won’t want to hang out with me anymore.”
Ah, so she said that on purpose to cut ties.
I had been avoiding them, but I couldn’t help glancing over. My eyes met Sophie’s. She had orange hair tied high and sharp-looking eyes.
‘Pretty.’
Honestly, I consider myself pretty observant when it comes to looks, and she was genuinely beautiful.
No wonder they wanted to be friends with her.
She smiled brightly, waved at me, then turned and followed the others. Her steps looked light.
‘I should’ve waved back.’
I rubbed under my nose and continued picking strawberries. It felt pathetic, carefully picking fruit meant for the Second Prince.
On the way back, I walked carefully this time. Getting angry only makes me tired, so I tried to stay calm. Instead, I decided to ruin someone else’s mood.
I dropped the basket full of strawberries in front of Susan.
I ignored the shouting behind me. Tomorrow would probably be annoying, but at least it was over.
‘I hope I dream of Mom again.’
The next day, I woke up after a deep sleep without any dreams.
Thankfully, Susan wasn’t in the kitchen. That was a relief.
But strangely, not only Susan but even other servants and apprentices who usually disliked me were looking at me with oddly expectant eyes.
Something felt off.
I instinctively checked my pocket.
“…Ah.”
My empty pocket.
As I touched it, I felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart. I gasped before finally managing to breathe out.
My pocket watch was gone.
“My… my pocket watch…”
That was the only thing my mother ever gave me.
Stealing that crosses the line.
At my tearful voice, everyone looked at me—but no one spoke.
Everyone was an accomplice.
It wasn’t just a cold breeze through a broken window. It felt like a typhoon had swept through me.
No matter how much they disliked me… this wasn’t right…
Maria, who had been strict with everyone, wasn’t well-liked among the servants. And since I was brought in through her recommendation and given special attention in the First Prince’s palace, they probably wanted to put me in my place.
‘Maybe I should’ve just stayed quiet.’
In the original story, Annabella was described in just one line—as a silent maid no one even noticed.
“Wow, she can cry too.”
A boy muttered in surprise.
They were right—I wasn’t someone who cried easily. Even when I was lonely or miserable, I only complained inside.
I wiped my tears roughly so they wouldn’t see.
This was exactly what they wanted—me breaking down here.
Where should I even start looking?
They wouldn’t tell me willingly. Even as I tried to stay calm, helplessness shook my mind.
Then—
“My daughter!”
Someone rushed into the kitchen in a hurry.
Everyone turned toward the voice. The expressions of those who saw the person slowly turned into shock.
Because he was the least fitting person to be here.
