ANNA's POV :
" I cheer for them, they have all my support!"
" Look how good they look together! I'm an exclusive fan, I tell you!!"
" I wish I could meet someone like the marquis, haaaah!"
"you wish! hahhahaha!"
The maids' chattering went on and on about how her highness and the marquis looked like a couple straight out of a fairy tale.
"What's wrong?"
Their excitement dimmed a little bit when Laura, a kitchen maid and a good friend of mine asked me.
She wasn't supposed to be here in the first place and if found out, Laura would be severely punished, but she still took the risk and went out with me to see the rumoured couple's lovey dovey interactions.
that's why she was confused I didn't show much excitement while watching.
"Nothing. It's just that I like the duke better." I answered with a shrug.
to my surprise, much of the other maids were interested in our conversation and overheard my words. not that it was a secret anyway.
"What are you talking about Anna? that cold blooded duke?"
"really? I don't think he's good enough for our princess. I mean surely he is quite handsome and comes with a nice body too..." the maid giggled for a bit. " But I think a man like the marquis, warm and kind hearted, suits the princess better. just like a flower and a butterfly!!" she said, to which others agreed to.
I didn't bother reply. none of them would understand anyway. none of them witnessed what I did after all.
true, the princess shines at the mere mention of the marquis. and the marquis, too, looked very happy around her.
But for some reason, I couldn't think of the marquis as a kind hearted man. He did have warm smile and treated us kindly, but behind that warm and friendly smile, were very cunning and calculating eyes that never looked at her highness in a romantic way.
On the other hand, the duke ....oh the duke .
when I was still in the crown prince palace in my first years as a maid, and although I wasn't a service maid, thus less chances to encounter any nobles. But I could still take a few glimpses at him whenever he visited the crown prince, since I was assigned to dusting the stairs and corridors.
And so, what the maids said wasn't wrong. Even I myself thought of him as a heartless noble man. he didn't bully or mistreat the servants like some nobles often did. But that was more out of a lack of interest than kindness. His eyes were always devoid of any feelings and he looked always detached, even to his lovers at tea parties and gatherings.
But what I saw this past two days was a totally different duke from the one I knew.
The way he looked at the princess. how his gaze changed completely from one of coldness into that of longing the moment it landed on her highness was exceptional.
how he gulped today when he looked at her, taking in her appearance. the marquis never had that kind of look towards the princess no matter how breathtakingly beautiful she was.
And, the kiss they shared in front of the palace gate was so.... deep. and contrary to the peck he left on her lips when she was lying down after she fainted, even the duke didn't know I witnessed their lustful kiss this time.
'is this how scholars feel? having knowledge no body has. it's so refreshing '
I thought to myself with a triumphant smile I couldn't hide.
' it would be just a matter of time before her highness and the duke get together !'
"Anna!"
I turned around at that voice with a frown . it was a male servant I had a bad relationship with. No good was bound to happen whenever he's involved.
" what? " I replied sternly, more than I intended to.
" You cleaned the receiving room her highness used a few minutes ago right? " he asked.
his words had a purpose for the first time.
"that's right. "
"have you found a pocket watch by any chance? Duke Krams is looking for it."
" I didn't see anything...wait, you said the duke is looking for it, not a servant?"
"No. He came here in person to find it. that's why I came looking for you."
I unconsciously gulped in panic. he came back personally to get it. that means it is something special and important to him. Which means not finding it was not an option.
"Let's go then. "
I hurried up the stairs from the garden and through the corridors. The receiving room wasn't that far so I got there rather quickly. once I was there, I found a man with Auburn hair standing still at the door of the receiving room, someone I have never seen. he didn't look like a servant, but neither like a noble.
From his appearance, his pale complexion alone, I could tell he is a southerner.
'He must be one of the duke's people then.'
feeling my presence, he turned around, looking at me warily. I could feel him checking me up and down, but he soon donned a polite gaze and nodded at me in greeting.
" Are you the maid who cleaned the room?" he asked to which I nodded.
"That's right. don't worry I will find it right away if it's here. otherwise it might have fallen somewhere else."
he looked worried for a reason, so I said that in a attempt to put him at ease.
As i was taking a step forward into the receiving room, I felt something blocking. it was his hand.
"sir?" I asked, confused.
"I don't think it's wise to go in right now." he said and tilted his head to the left, gesturing to the receiving room.
"Anna."
Inside the receiving room, I could see duke krams standing still, looking out the window.
"come here."
I subconsciously flinched at his call. As I walked further across the room, I felt a dreary atmosphere lingering around. It gave me goosebumps.
"your grace." I said, as respectfully as I could.
Though I had my head down in a bow, my eyes peeked discreetly up to the lord in front of me.
He was as charming as ever. with his tall stature and well built body. taking in the sight in front of me, I noticed his hands, and my eyes went wide involuntarily.
One of his hands was resting on the window frame, while the other was put to his side, balled into a fist.
Red droplets trickled down between his fingers and onto the ground.
'....blood..' I gulped at the realisation.
"Do tell me, Anna. What is those two's relationship?"
instead of answering, I found myself blinking stupidly. The duke's voice was surprisingly gentle, as if to sooth me into answering. But instead of feeling at ease, it made me feel trampled.
"The princess and marquis Istria. What's the relationship between them?" He asked again with a more assertive voice than before, making me realise I haven't answered his question yet.
Come to think of it, the receiving room we are in now overlooks the garden her highness and the marquis were walking in.
'...Agh..he's jealous...'
I groaned at the realisation.
The duke was jealous.
why did he have to come right now of all times. the relationship between the duke and her highness was just developing but the marquis had to show up now!
" Anna."
Oh!
His mpatient voice reminded me that I rather worry about myself at the moment.
"It's...They are lovers, your grace."
The room after that was as quiet as a courtroom waiting for the judge to announce their sentence.
Only to be perturbed by the loud sound of glass shattering.
It was the window.