Cordelia bustled around the kitchen, careful not to run into other workers as she prepared her lady's breakfast. It was one of the highlights of her day, making sure that Parisa had an enjoyable meal. Cordelia took pleasure in watching the girl's dark eyes light up at the sight of the food, even if it wasn't as extravagant as what the baron and his family ate. It was clear that her lady enjoyed even the simplest of things.
Cordelia hummed, chopping up some fresh tomatoes, making them into perfect cubs and sprinkling them on top of the small salad she'd made. She had noticed that Parisa enjoyed the red food, so she made sure to add a little extra.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself."
She looked up, finding her lady's knight standing over her, his eyes focused on the meal rather than her face. When she didn't continue working, Xavier's gaze lifted to Cordelia and she quickly dropped her eyes to the meal.
"Yes, well, I suppose I am." she said, setting the small bowl of salad on her carrying tray. She was still waiting on the chef to prepare the eggs and small sausages as he was busy working on the baron's breakfast first. "Shouldn't you be at your station, Sir Xavier?"
"I woke up a little earlier, so it's not quite time for me to switch with the other knight. I thought I'd drop by here and get something to eat."
A few giggles caught Cordelia's attention and she glanced at a few of the maids who waited on lady Maria, the baron's daughter. She'd known that Xavier was popular among the women at the estate, but she had never known just how much until she'd begun working closer with him. The young maid glances at him from the corner of her eye, finding the man grinning and waving at the giggling maids. A small smile tipped the corner of her mouth. It amused her how some people could fawn over someone so much without ever speaking to the person in question.
As she turned to prepare her lady's tea, she caught sight of a few other maids whispering. These ones weren't smiling or giggling. Their eyes were following her and each gaze held a look of curiosity and accusal. Cordelia's smile fell away and she lowered her gaze, erecting the iron walls she'd been carefully building since coming to the Astri estate.
"Are you alright?" Xavier's voice drew Cordelia's attention and she turned back to him, pouring the cup of black tea and adding sugar and milk, just the way Parisa enjoyed it.
"Perfectly fine." she said, though despite this, she knew Xavier had caught the whispering maids. He was a fine knight. One who was highly praised even for his young age. She had no idea why someone with such potential would have been assigned to Parisa. While she was a lovely and kind girl, she was still just a mistress who'd been bought from a neighboring enemy kingdom. Many at the estate had been curious about her when she was brought because of this.
Cordelia's heart stung and she felt a bond of camaraderie building between her and her lady. Both were in a place they didn't belong.
She sighed and looked up to Xavier, meeting his steady gaze. She forced the smile to return as the chef placed Parisa's breakfast on the plate.
"Truly, sir Xavier, there's nothing for you to concern yourself with." she picked up the tray and started walking before he could respond, her back straight and her shoulders rolled back. Cordelia may be different from others, but she wouldn't let their prejudice weigh her down. They could whisper and point and gawk at her all they wanted.
"Are you ok, sir Xavier?"
Cordelia heard one of the braver maids approach the knight.
"You shouldn't speak to her. She might place a curse on you." Another chided, the fear clear from the quiver in her voice.
"A curse? I wasn't aware Cordelia knew magic."
Cordelia ground her teeth together and tried to block out their words, but she couldn't. Not when she heard what they said next.
"She's not magic, but she's dangerous. Didn't you know? She's from the Dark Continent. They're all savages over there!"
She could feel Xavier's eyes on her as she left the kitchen, but she didn't dare look back to see his expression. Cordelia had enough of the fear and hatred and judgement. She endured it all on a daily basis. Now, it would only be heightened. She dreaded the day her lady discovered the truth, too.
***
Xavier watched as the maid scurried from the kitchen, carrying Parisa's tray. When he'd first come to the baron's estate, he hadn't thought much of Cordelia. They'd only ever seen each other in passing, though she was one of the only maids who didn't giggling and whisper about him like a young school girl. He respected that about her. It certainly made his job as Parisa's knight easier since he didn't have to constantly deal with childish emotions.
It's not that he hated the feeling of being desired or admired. He was quite flattered and, if he was being honest, it did wonder for his ego, but dealing with it every day became tedious and tiring.
"Xavier, will you be taking your lunch in the kitchen today?" one of the brunette maids asked. He couldn't remember her name.
"That depends on my lady." Xavier said, giving the maid a smile. She pouted, look making her brown eyes appear larger and dewier. The made his lower stomach contract. Damn if she wasn't his type.
"You know she's not really a lady, right?"
Xavier's smile faltered for a moment before he forced it to turn wolfish. He reached out and took the maid's hand. Lifting it to his lips, he gave the slightly rough skin and gentle peck. The maid gasped and swooned, her eyes taking on a hooded look. Xavier looked at her through his lashes.
"I think it's all a matter of perception, my lady." He winked and the woman's breath caught in her throat. Her entire face became crimson and the knight stood back at his full height. "Now then," he said, grabbing a piece of fresh baked bread from a copper tray. "I'll be taking my leave. Have a wonderful day, ladies." All of the women squealed as he left while he heard the men grumbling. It only caused him to chuckle and wave over his shoulder.
The hallways were blissfully quiet as he walked. He was finally able to hear his thoughts, and he turned each one over as he chewed on the fresh, warm bread. The dough practically melted in his mouth.
- The Dark Continent, huh?
He'd heard of the Dark Continent before. Everyone had learned about it at least once while growing up. It was a pice of land surrounded by water where only the foulest were birthed and grew up. The people there were savage with no sense of law or justice. The took what they wanted and cared for nothing but themselves.
When Xavier thought about it, he couldn't see Cordelia, the kind and gentle maid with an occasional snarky remark coming from such a place. Cordelia, with her brown locks and amber hue, and smatter of freckles over her cheeks and nose. She didn't seem like she had it in her to harm a fly let alone murder a person for the hell of it.
Xavier snorted, finishing off his bread and rounding the corner. The very focus of his thoughts stood at the other end, leaving from his lady's room, no tray in sight. She was looking down, thumb pressed to her bottom lip and running over the smooth skin. It was a movement he caught her doing whenever she was in thought. He found it distracting whenever she did it in his presence, though he never told her such things.
"Sir Xavier," she said, startling him. She hadn't looked up from where her gaze was focused on the floor. He thumb was still pressed onto her bottom lip. A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"Cordelia," he responded, taking his position at the side of the doorway. "Is our lady well?" that drew Cordelia's green eyes to him and his smile came out in full. As expected, she didn't bat an eye.
"She's well," Cordelia said, dropping her hand to her side. "She plans on going to the stalls later to sit by young master's horse and," she crinkled her nose. "Read."
Xavier tilted his head. "Is something wrong with her reading?" Though he figured there'd be more 'trying to read' rather than actual reading. Cordelia simply shook her head.
"No, of course there's nothing wrong with it. I just didn't think she could." Before either could continue the conversation, the door opened and both servants turned in unison. They bowed and Xavier said,
"My lady, I trust you're well?"
"I thought I heard you, Xavier." Parisa said, smiling at the knight. He returned her smile. The knight couldn't deny the beauty of his lady, though it never excited anything in him. For one, she wasn't his type. Secondly, she was much too young for his preferences. He enjoyed his women more mature and, while his lady had certainly seen her fair share of the darkness the world had to offer, she was still an infant in many things.
"Your hearing is superb."
"Do you need anything, Parisa?" Cordelia asked and Parisa smiled at her maid, her eyes softening with emotions that most nobility would never show their workers.
"Not from you, Cordelia. Xavier is teaching me to read and I need his help with some things."
Cordelia's head whipped around, eyes landing on the knight. Xavier's grinned turned Cheshire when he looked at her. The sight only seemed to ignite a spark within her green eyes.
"You're teaching my lady how to read?"
Xavier shrugged and stepped into the room when Parisa moved aside. "What can I say, Cordelia," he shot her a wink which brought a lovely shade of red to her complexion that only brought out her freckles. "I'm a knight of many talents."