"For someone new, they have kept you busy today." Rose could not agree any less with Stella's words It was her first day and yet she had continued with work as if she had been here for years. "Are you okay?" Stella who had seen her stagger a little asked. "I'm fine, I am just a little diz.._ achoo!"
"You should rest, let's hope that you will be fine by tomorrow." Stella who had stood up to help her friend stated as she led her to her bed.
Once Rose got into the bed and covered her body, sleep came much faster than expected. She had tried to ignore the way she had been feeling since evening but now her body had turned hotter and her eyes teary. She had caught a cold.
In the morning, she was woken up by Stella who was humming a song. "Sorry I woke you up." Stella who had finished dressing up walked up to Rose and sat on the edge of her bed while placing the back of her hand on her forehead. "You are still burning."
Her head was lighter than the previous night and she could feel her nose tingle but even with all that she tried to sit upright with the help of her elbows. "I feel much better. You don't have to worry."
She had caught a cold so many times in the past but that did not stop her from working and today being another unfortunate day where she was sick, she would just continue with her work until the time when she would feel much better. She thought while getting out of the bed. It was just a cold after all. It could never kill anyone.
"I should tell the butler that you are not feeling well so that you can rest for the day." Stella who had already stood up so that she could leave the room said but Rose's hand on her wrist stopped her.
"I am fine, really." Those words did not convince Stella who gave her a questioning look. "I promise to come to you if it gets worse."
"Alright then. You should go to the bathroom first. I will be here waiting for you." With a nod, Rose walked out of the room.
Done with all their preparations for the day, both girls headed to the kitchen since Stella was assigned to work in the kitchen and Rose not being given a particular task decided to join her. "Oh oh! Someone doesn't seem to be in a good mood today."
Stella stated while looking towards the door and Rose who was curious turned to look at the same direction where a dark haired girl had entered. "I did not see her yesterday."
Rose whispered while averting her gaze. It seemed that most of the female servants in the palace were young and beautiful. She remarked internally. "That's Helena, she is the head maid. She thinks that she owns the world just because she receives favours from the royal family." It looked like Stella did not like the girl because she seemed to be happy seeing the girl angry.
"Where is that new maid!" Helena had gone to the king's room in the morning to draw a bath for him but the man had stopped her.
"This will no longer be your duty. Go get the new maid. The butler will give you a new task." His words were cold and distant as usual and sometimes she wondered if it was still the man she had spent nights with.
"But milord_.."
"Do you think that your opinion matters here?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at the girl. "No milord." She did not dare to raise her head even once. "Leave." Helena bolted out of the room at his words without turning back. She was hurt. Hurt that she had given that man everything she could possibly give and now she was easily replaced.
Back in the present, Rose slightly raised her hand not sure if she was supposed to use words.
"So, it is you." Not knowing what to say to the head maid, she nodded. The woman was looking at her like an insect even though the both of them were maids. Wanting to break the uncomfortable silence, she asked
"Is there anything you wanted from me?"
Helena could not see anything special in the girl. Everyone knew about the king's debauchery and being around him for years, she had seen the types of women that he used to sleep with. This girl was nothing compared to them, and her. Why her?!
"Go and prepare a bath for the king. And you get yourselves busy." She commanded and the servants who were staring at the two women continued with their work and Rose who did not want anything to do with the head maid disappeared through the door.
Her cold was getting worse and when she was told to go to the king's room, she felt like she would faint.
Her pace started to decrease when she almost reached his room. After knocking and receiving an answer from inside the room, she pushed the doors open and stepped inside. "Don't leave that door open." The king odered without looking at her but the parchment that was in his hands. He was still in his night clothes. A blue silk shirt and trousers.
Greeting him, she walked to the bathroom so that she could draw a bath for him.
When she went to the bathroom, Lucas lifted his head to look at nothing in particular. Though the girl had missed his eyes on her, Lucas had subtly looked at the girl whose eyes looked tired and teary. Her cheeks were red and her full lips had lost colour. He knew that that would happen to her but what he did not expect was to see her working in her condition. She did a very bad job then it came to taking care of herself. Lucas thought with slightly narrowed eyes. "Let us see how far you will go while pretending to be fine." He said to himself while placing the parchment back on the table and padded towards the bathroom.