Chapter 59: Chapter 7. The Reckoning
After the heirs of the most influential families of the empire became ordinary servants in the house of Windsor, the gossip around this did not stop for a whole week.
Naturally, they were held in secret so that the owners would not hear. Not all the inhabitants of the estate agreed with this decision, but no one asked their opinion. Therefore, the servants only had to «break the bones» behind their backs.
About the same period of time, the maid returned to the manor, who left her the day before all these events, because of some business at home. She felt guilty that she had to be away for so long, and was going to report to the mistress.
Griselda had been working at the Marquis's estate since she was twelve, and felt at peace when she found herself here again. This place has become almost as important to her as her home. Especially because of her mistress, whom she couldn't wait to see…
With a smile on her face, the girl did not even waste time unpacking her suitcases, striving to greet the hostess as soon as possible. She was going to head to the third floor, where her chambers were located, but she was delayed because of a meeting with other maids.
— Zelda! — the girl was warmly welcomed by her friends, — You are finally back.
Griselda smiled even wider.
— Girls!
They embraced right on the threshold, and the joyful mood did not leave their faces. After the reunion, Griselda told them that her mother's health had improved significantly, and she was already on the mend. It is for this reason that the girl decided to return as soon as the opportunity arose.
However, after listening to her story, the girls awkwardly exchanged glances.
— We'll discuss everything later, — said Griselda, — First, I want to see the mistress.
They continued to be silent, but Griselda did not attach much importance to this at first.
«…After all, I'm her personal maid. I hope that nothing has happened during my absence.»
— Zelda… Ahem…
Her friends didn't want to spoil her good mood. But it's better if she finds out about it right away than too late.
— What is it?
It was not easy to tell the hard news, because they knew how much the girl valued this job. But the most determined maid still said:
— Here's the thing… The mistress now has another personal maid.
My heart skipped a beat.
Zelda's throat was dry, and at first she didn't believe what she was saying.
Is this a joke…?
She really wanted it to be just a prank, in order to catch her off guard. But seeing with what a guilty expression the friends looked at her, it became clear that they were not in the mood for fun at all.
For a moment it seemed to the girl that the world around her collapsed.
— What are you talking about?!
Griselda grabbed the maid by the shoulders and looked excitedly straight into her eyes.
She looked away awkwardly.
— A week ago… The owners brought two prisoners into the house, and…
Her friends had to lay out everything in front of her as it is. Zelda listened to all this with a shocked expression on her face. She couldn't believe it had actually happened.
No, she had to ask about it in person.
As soon as Griselda heard the maids' confession, she rushed to Maximiliana Windsor's chambers. Three floors flew by unnoticed in front of her, and breathing heavily, she knocked on the door.
The answer came after a while.
— Come in.
Zelda came in and closed the door behind her. Maxie sprawled impressively on a chair and ate grapes, at first not paying attention to that side at all. Then she shook her head lazily.
— Oh, it's you…
— Mistress! — the maid collapsed on her knees in front of her, — Please tell me that all this is not true! I'm still your personal maid, right?
Griselda looked at her with great hope, but she only put another grape in her mouth with a bored expression. Throwing one leg over the other, she replied indifferently:
— Not anymore. Find yourself another job.
Zelda was speechless.
Maxie sighed wearily.
«You've served me pretty well… I'll ask Father to give you a better job on the estate.»
— no!
Griselda did not even expect herself to scream so loudly. Trembling from head to toe, she crawled in front of her on her knees, unable to understand what exactly she had done wrong.
— Madam, please…! — the girl sobbed, — I want to serve only you!
— It won't work. I have another maid now.
Just a change of servants. For Maxie it was nothing, while for the maid the whole meaning of life. And when Griselda found out that someone else was in her place now, she couldn't bear it.
— But why?! The maid's tone broke into hysteria, «Mistress, how is she better than me? What did I do wrong?»
Maxie rubbed her temples. She didn't like the noise this girl was making over such a small thing.
— I just got bored.
— W-what…?
«I've had enough of your face for ten years. Can't I afford variety?»
Zelda was confused.
«A-are you firing me just because of this?»
— yes.
— Madam, please! Don't do this! I'm ready to do anything to make you leave me!
— …
— I know you better than anyone! This new girl will never cope with her duties!
Maxie frowned.
— Since you know me well, you should have an idea of what I hate the most.
— M-madam!
— I hate it when I get into trouble.
Griselda hesitated.
«And that's exactly what you're doing right now.»
Maxie fired her without any regret, because she really didn't see anything wrong with it. For some time they had been linked by the relationship of master and servant, but it was time to complete this stage.
After all, throughout life, servants are constantly being fired and hired to new places, and this was in the order of things. There's no need to make a drama about it.
— It's just a job. Don't attach such importance to it.
Griselda stood rooted to the spot, unable to utter a word.
Maxie decided to escort her out of the room herself.
— Go away. I want to rest.
The maid looked up at her with red eyes filled with despair. Slowly she removed her hands from the clothes she had been clinging to before.
— M-madam…
She wanted to tell her that all this time, this job was not just a duty for her, but she couldn't. The lump in her throat, which appeared due to sobbing, did not allow the maid to confess everything.
She silently got up from the floor, while Maxie didn't even bother to look at her. Her mind was on something else entirely.
After bowing, Zelda quietly left and aimlessly moved forward along the corridor. The emptiness that appeared at first was replaced by anger and resentment.
Griselda faithfully served the heiress of the House of Windsor for almost her entire life, but… in the end, she was thrown out in just a week, because of a foreigner who came from nowhere. Who is she to take her place…?!
Of course, Griselda knew about the Marquis' plans to kidnap this girl, since until recently she accompanied the young lady everywhere. But she could not imagine that everything would turn out this way.
Instead of rotting in a dungeon, as befits a hostage, this girl became Maxie's personal servant. But why? Why did her mistress make this decision so suddenly?
Griselda has been attached to Maximiliana since childhood. And much more than was customary in such a relationship. In the first year, when the girl got here as a child, everyone teased her because of her appearance.
Zelda was unlucky, and unlike the other pretty maids, there was nothing special about her. Rough facial features, a thin build, and the most important drawback is the nose. It was larger than usual, and because of this, it made her face look like an eagle.
But Maxie never laughed at her about it. Moreover, in the first year of their acquaintance, she even defended her from bullying. It was then that the maid took a liking to her, perceiving more than just the mistress.
But over time, the connection between them began to fade. The older Maxie became, the more she lost interest in her maid. And as a result, by now, only Griselda kept all these warm memories. The Marquis' daughter herself has long since let go of their past.
But Zelda wasn't ready to give up so easily. Even if the mistress has given up on her, but she has not yet. The girl was going to prove to Maxie that she is the only one who is truly faithful and cares about her.
And for this… It is necessary to show that arrogant aristocrat where her place is.
Leriana Ashford was her name. It was she who stole Zelda's mistress from her.
Not noticing how she had gone down to the first floor during her thoughts, the maid stopped abruptly. Clenching her fists in anger, she intended to get even with her.
The maid's friends, who were waiting for her with apprehension after the end of the conversation, immediately surrounded Zelda.
— Well?
The girl exhaled angrily.
— I'm going to teach this girl a lesson! — she said, — Will you help me?
— what?
Those were intimidated by such unexpected determination.
— Maybe you shouldn't? She's an aristocrat after all…
The girls doubtfully accepted this idea, as well as the consequences that can be expected from it.
— I'm not afraid! Zelda challenged, «What difference does it make who she is if we're on the same level now anyway?» I have to put her in her place.
«B-but… if the Marquis or the young lady finds out…»
— She's just a hostage,» Zelda snapped, «no one will protect her even if we want to kill her.»
The maids froze in indecision at first. On the one hand, the young lady personally brought her to the house, and although no plans for their presence were disclosed, but she clearly had some value. And on the other… It was a girl from an enemy empire who had enslaved their country. There is not a single person left in Oberon who would not suffer from the power of Azeroth.
Is it possible to say that having dealt with her, they will thereby avenge the honor of their homeland…?
Leriana Ashford was the daughter of the right hand of the King of Azeroth - a man hated by all the inhabitants of Oberon without exception. Therefore, even they, simple maids, could not close their eyes to this.
After consulting among themselves, the girls decided that they really could not leave everything just like that.
The conditions that the Marquis had created for them in the manor were too good for such rotten people. Therefore, they had to add a fly in the ointment to their barrel on their own.
— Good! We agree! The group of maids said decisively, «Let's pay her back properly!» And then we'll take on this smug guy.
Griselda grinned.
This shameless girl will regret a hundred times that she dared to poke into their house.