The door creaks open, and Thana takes a whiff of something mouth-watering, enough to bring her mind into a whirlpool of desire. Her stomach growled aggressively in response to the delightful smell that welcomed her. She has been reminded that she hadn't had a proper meal while she went through absolute torture and recovery after ending up in this world.
She's so hungry that she could eat a whole horse. There's glee in her sparkling cobalt orbs, thinking about the meals prepared for her.
But an eager smile plastered on Thana's face was quick to drop into a fearfully surprised expression when she saw an unfamiliar individual standing by the kitchen.
The person who stood with mouth agape in shock upon seeing Thana's presence was neither the kind lady she remembered nor her obnoxious son. She was someone far younger than that, maybe only a couple of years older than Thana.
Might Thana add the almost perfectly tanned complexion the young lady possessed if only her hideous dress had not covered the quality this woman had to offer? Her face is gorgeous, with freckles on her small, tall nose. Her wide brown eyes held curiosity within them.
The woman is dressed, similar to how she remembered badly commenting on how Teresa dressed. The gown she wore looked like it came from medieval times, a maid-like simple garment.
It takes Thana many times to be reminded that she has jumped into some sort of an unbelievable time machine. She is now living in some time from the past. The time is when slavery probably exists along with endless wars and the unfair treatment of women.
Thinking about it, Thana would have appreciated reincarnating in the future rather than the past.
This story is a bit too common, isn't it? The author could have thought this story through and made it much more interesting by placing her characters in a possible outcome in the future. Maybe talk about robots and the evolution of technology.
But who was Thana to intervene when she's now only a character of this novel?
"Who- who are you?"
Thana lifts an eyebrow at the stuttering woman, "no, who are you?"
"Pardon me? I asked you first. You're inside Madam Teresa's quarters; are you a relative?"
"Why would I be here if I wasn't a relative? What do you think?" Thana grinned.
The woman's face gloomed, "I don't remember Elias telling me about a visiting relative. Your face isn't very familiar to me, and I've already met his surviving relatives not very long ago. You weren't present. What is your name?"
"How could you doubt me instantly. Are you a relative too? Why would Elias have to tell you anything?" Thana covered her mouth when she gasped, "Oh, you're probably his girlfriend!"
"Pardon?" The woman shrieked while Thana broke into a peal of short, amused laughter.
"That guy could manage to date? He looks like he could piss his pants for staring at a woman."
The young woman was taken aback, "you're speaking nonsense!"
The front door bursts open, and inside came Teresa. Her face burned a bright red while she tried to catch her breath. Thana looked over worriedly and asked, "my goodness, it's as if you've run a marathon. Are you okay?"
"Madam Teresa, why did you rush here? You must be careful of your health, or Elias will be so worried when such unfortunate event might occur again," the woman hurried to help Teresa without sparing Thana another glance. She held Teresa up by her waist and slowly led her to the nearest wooden stool.
Thana observed quietly and could see that Teresa was starting to calm down, so she changed her attention toward the freshly baked muffins on the clean table. Her stomach growled, coming alive and ready to pounce anytime.
Those muffins look delish!
"Thank you, Jade. I'm alright now. So, I see you've already met my friend's daughter, Thana."
"Y-your friend's daughter?" Jade repeated, eyeing Thana.
"I am her friend's daughter," Thana claimed with a proud smile, but her eyes still glanced at the muffins of temptation.
"Oh."
"As of today, she will be working as a palace servant," Teresa adds, breaking the short silence and instantly waking the fury inside Thana. She looked at the two furiously.
Thana grabbed the roots of her hair and screamed, "WHAT!"
"Jade, would you do me a favor by giving her a position with the kitchen maids? I would really appreciate it. Her mother is in a terrible position, and she needs to work hard to buy her medicine," Teresa ignored Thana's outburst and looked sadly at Jade.
Jade could never decline anything that comes from Madam Teresa's mouth. She adores the lady so much to say no. And Teresa had helped Jade on many occasions, especially during her first time in the palace. It was not easy, and there was no chance of survival if it wasn't for Teresa.
"You can put your trust in me. I'll take good care of the lady the same way you did for me," Jade replied, kind and genuine until she looked at glaring Thana. She jumped slightly at the sight of a raging bull.
Thana's eyes widen dangerously, "you're making me work as a maid?"
"Didn't you want to find a way to help your mother, who is poorly suffering from her illness? This is the only way, Thana. Working in the palace is a privilege."
"And a pain," Jade scoffs, "but they pay you quite a good sum of money. Just make sure you stay on the good side."
"You have no other choice," Teresa firmly stared at Thana, hoping to communicate how desperate her situation is with her eyes. Thana stared deeply and frowned when the signs had reached her. Perhaps the lady is somehow correct, especially when Thana still has no plans.
And she recalled that she would carry out missions. Thana has no clue what those missions could be, and as much as she'd like to stay in one place to ponder about it, she's still only a human being with necessities. Money is one thing that can really help her survive in this world.
She wouldn't want to be slumming by the unknown historical streets.
"Alright, I'll work as a maid," Thana proclaimed.
However, she had forgotten about the most crucial part of her new job. She would be working as a palace maid. She would work in the palace where the royals would be.
And God forbids what looms at a distance.