"What are you doing up there?" asked Maximillian in a sharp tone.
Edna looked down and swallowed hard.
"I-I was…."
"Get out of my sight! I'm not in the mood to see a single human before my eyes!" Maximillian's snap made Edna even more frightened.
Edna rushed down the ladder. With her legs trembling out of fear, she accidentally slipped her foot on the last two steps, causing her body to fall backward. The ladder she was using also swayed and was about to fall on her body.
Edna closed her eyes tightly, preparing to feel the ladder falling onto her. However, no matter how long she waited, nothing fell on her body. When she braced herself to open her eyes, she saw her master's outstretched hand holding the ladder.
"What are you doing down there!? I ordered you to get out of my sight! Not being a clown!" he yelled at her.
Luca helped Edna to get up.
"Sorry, Eden. tonight you don't have to make dinner."
Edna nodded then left with a limp as requested by her master.
BAM!
Edna peeked behind her and saw the ladder she had used earlier, the same ladder Lord Maximillian had been holding on to keep it from falling on her body, now flung far across the room. Crashing into the wooden table that Edna was cleaning this morning. The table was now shattered.
"Those damned humans! I hope they become extinct soon. What a disgusting creature."
"My Lord, Eden is our servant. It will be difficult to find someone who can work like him again. I hope you act more gently."
Edna felt goosebumps when she heard her master's curse. It sounded so full of hatred. Edna quickly locked herself in her room. She didn't dare to leave the room, afraid that she would accidentally bump into her master again like the first night she arrived here. Even though Edna was hungry, she endured it until morning.
All night Edna thought that perhaps this was one of the reasons why so many servants had left. If it wasn't for Luca's promise to take her out of this kingdom, Edna might as well have done the same. However, she had to endure all of this, at least until she could exchange all of her jewelry and get past the security check at the border to start a new life.
The next day, Edna started doing her tasks like before. Lord Maximilian, her master, was also looking much better and brighter this morning. The man looked relaxed while eating his breakfast. As usual, Edna could only stand silently at the back to wait for Mr. Maximillian to finish his meal.
After the man was done, Edna returned to the kitchen, and Luca was already waiting for her with an apple in his hand.
"Hi," Luca greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning, Luca. Would you like to have breakfast too?"
Luca shook his head.
"Come here, I want to talk for a moment."
Edna suddenly became nervous. She placed the tray containing Lord. Maximillian's leftovers on the table, then sat in the chair prepared by Luca.
"Are you okay?" Luca asked.
Edna looked at the man again.
"I… am fine."
"I mean, you didn't sprain your leg or anything, did you? I saw yesterday that you fell in a bad position and you have a limp."
"Oh, no-no. Everything is alright. It's because I just fell… I didn't sprain my legs at all."
"Um… you… are still going to work here, right?"
Edna frowned in confusion. She didn't understand why Luca would ask something like that. Would she be fired? Was Lord. Maximilian irritated because she raised her voice a little yesterday? Did seeing her ugly face make Lord Maximilian uncomfortable?
Ah, Edna should have hidden better yesterday. If only she could hide her ugly face, perhaps she would still be allowed to work longer at the mansion.
"Did Lord Maximillian not like yesterday's incident and now fire me?" she asked in a trembling voice.
Luca suddenly stuttered. He was surprised to see the boy in front of him suddenly burst into tears.
"Y-you misunderstood. Hey, it's not like that… I'm worried that you will leave."
"Me?"
"I mean… you were able to last longer than all the servants before. Apart from that, Lord Maximillian has never voiced any complaints. So, I think you can serve us well. It's just because of yesterday's incident… I'm afraid Lord Maximillian's emotions made you uncomfortable and want to resign. Apart from having to let a servant as good as you go, I also have to get my hands dirty… You remember our agreement, right? You are not allowed to open your mouth about what happened to the church at that time."
Edna now understood. She was needed here... Because of last night's incident, she did think about resigning, but she remembered her initial goal of leaving this kingdom. Edna wanted to start a new life so surviving under a master like Lord Maximillian was the only way she could do it.
"Ah, I'll still stay here. Because this is the only way for me to leave this kingdom. I wanted to start a new life, but I did it the wrong way. I accidently killed someone before running away and the fear of the troops hunting me down also terrified me. At least, here I can hide well and you also promised to help me. I have no other choice but to stay in this place."
"Ahahahaha, you're right. But I want to convey some unpleasant news as well."
"What is it?"
"We seem to have to stay in this place a little longer. The person we are looking for suddenly disappeared and we have to start our search again."
A little longer? Edna wasn't sure if she could last long in this place. Yet even though it felt heavy, she still nodded her head.
"I'm fine. I'll just always stay in the mansion, so I don't need to go out."
Luca patted Edna's head gently.
"You are a good boy. Thanks for staying."