These two chapters are dedicated to Valerie_2542. Thank you for the review as it made my day and is highly appreciated.
"Carlos," Julian called the woman's name with irritation, not liking her uncouth mouth that easily spoke whatever came out of it. "You should look before you speak. Not everyone is your maidservant," came his rude reply to her. She didn't even apologize.
And just as he said it in his head, she spoke up, "I am very sorry, Sir Julian. I would take your advice."
"I could care less if you didn't, just don't ever repeat such imprudence with me," Even a little child could hear the arrogance in his tone as he raised his chin in pride, his right hand coming to settle on his upper chest while he looked down at the chief maid.
Carlos bowed, "Yes, Sir Julian." she said and paused to look at him before stammering, unsure whether to state it.
"Err...so w-what brings you here, sir?" She tried to go straight to the point because she was rushing somewhere but knew she couldn't be rude to an elite so she did her best to maintain her composure.
Julian sized the woman before complaining, "I have not received any maidservants to attend to me for the night. Is there any problem?" he raised a brow at the woman.
"Oh...a-about that, I assessed that Prince Leon called a court meeting this evening after he returned from the camp. So I thought to wait till it was finished before assigning maids to your rooms," she explained unnervedly.
"If that is the reason, then you should get your information right. The court meeting ended a while ago and all chieftains have been dismissed. Not to forget, the day is already turning dark." he expressed as he looked at the sky where the sun appeared to have disappeared. "Do you want us to stink to high heaven-?"
"Oh not at all, sir. I would send the maids now" she quickly countered ready to turn around and do just so when he stopped her.
"Yes sir? Do you still need anything?" she asked, now looking slightly frustrated.
The woman had no patience for this.
"I want a specific maid in my room tonight. She has red hair. I saw her in the garden this morning." he said, describing the girl he was talking about.
Ms. Carlos's eyes subtly widened at his statement, a crease formed between her brows but went unnoticed by him because of her glasses.
"I do not want two maidservants today. Just one will do, I barely smell any bad," he said in addition, still referring to that specific maid.
Of course, Carlos was not stupid to not understand what he was talking about now. She knew exactly what this man was scheming in his head and she had also heard rumours of a maid spending the night with an elite this morning. News spread quickly in the palace. She didn't understand why he thought to prey on such young girls when there were enough courtesans for the job but she knew she had no say in it as it was a reputable person that had done it.
When she confronted the mere girl, the girl told her he had forced her to stay and chased the other maid, leaving her at his mercy as she couldn't refuse him and Carlos understood, perhaps was even grateful because she knew if the maid resisted, it would be all on her. That one was compliant.
But this...
This one he was asking for...
The redhead wasn't an easy catch like he thought. She knew how obstinate and uncompromising that one was and If she sent her to him, there would be some serious nuisance because she wouldn't give in easily.
Melina had caused her a lot of heartache already, she wasn't planning to give herself another one and leave the elites to think ignoble of her ability to train novices so she cleared her throat again, pushing the glasses lower this time to look at him with her bare eyes.
"Erm...my apologies Sir Julian but that one has been assigned another task for the night. If you want, I can bring another-"
"Did you possibly not properly understand what I said? I was not asking if you could provide her for me. I was demanding her, I don't care how you plan to dispatch her for my usage" he interrupted the woman insolently with a look of disapproval on his face and Carlos felt a sweat droop from her forehead. Things could turn out grave if she let this happen.
She tried again, "I understand that milord but she has already been assigned, please let me give another maid to you," she offered hastily so he wouldn't cut in again.
"I already made myself clear-"
"I don't think it would be easy to find her again, considering her quick legs. She should have gone to her assigned destination by now." The woman's nervousness slipped through, caught by Julian.
Julian hissed in annoyance at Ms. Carlos's reluctance to give him the maid and to be certain, he said,
"Fine, since you are too adamant to offer me the maid, I would summon her myself. Where is she working currently?" he inquired.
Carlos now realized this elite was hellbent on finding the girl and knowing she couldn't lie on this one she truthfully replied,
"I sent her to clean the library, Sir Julian. It hasn't been cleaned-" However before she could finish, the man dashed away from there following the sundeck before leaving the quarters through the other passageway.
He didn't have time to waste on the woman and would preferably do the job himself. When he was done with what he intended he would deal treacherously with the useless chief maid that couldn't carry out a simple order. For now, he would pass, he told himself. Anticipation filled his body.
After all, he would be the one benefiting from it, he thought.
..
Melina, however, already arrived at the library a while ago. When she saw the piles of unarranged books and the dust situated on them, she began to feel a headache. This was her work for the day...
She picked up the rag and slowly started cleaning the books, hanging the already cleaned ones on the shelf. Honestly, it helped that there was no one inside the room. At least, she could rest for a while before continuing the strenuous work.
At some point, she coughed and sneezed because of the dust that now filled the air. Exasperated, she dropped the rag on the untidy books, provoked.
"Maids are not body systems to carry out trash labours for you. They don't even give us a break from all this, what nonsense?!" she said aloud, taking advantage of the fact that there was no one there to listen to her as she vented her anger to no one in particular.
After a while of contemplating, she picked up the rag again and decided to sprinkle water on it to reduce the dust.
At least, she was clever...
She went to the deeper parts of the large library, looking through the books in it with a thrill as she ran her hands through the shelf.
Even though she wasn't taught how to read and write, from the little Aunt Paloma had educated her, she had an idea of what these books meant and she truly wished she had the opportunity these elites had. She sighed with sadness.
Life was so hard for some while others had it extremely easy. The irony of the two worlds was unfathomable. And though content, her heart ached to know what life was like for the elites.
To wake up at whichever time they wanted, be taken care of by others, eat good and healthy food some can only dream of having and live in comfortable places while also having the privilege to read and write, some of them even dared to be rude to others and say nasty things, all of which were opposites to servants.
Suddenly, she snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a presence lurking behind her and whipped her head in the direction of the person.