On the first day of the competition, Miranda joined the other maids outside the maid quarters. She was surprised by the large turnout; Maison Mirage Manor seemed to have more maids than she had anticipated. The area was abuzz with excitement
Miranda stood alone, patiently waiting with the other maids for the chief maid's announcement. Before them, a dozen desks and chairs were neatly arranged, each equipped with everything needed to make tea. The competition seemed well-prepared, and Miranda was determined to win.
As she stood in place, two maids behind her began whispering to each other. Miranda overheard their conversation.
"Is Namarie joining the competition?" one maid asked nervously.
"How can a senior maid participate in this?" the other replied. "But I've heard other senior maids are competing too. Apparently, the winner will serve Prince Kael personally and won't have any other duties."
The first maid whispered enthusiastically, "That would be amazing! Serving Prince Kael exclusively would be a dream come true."
The second maid scoffed, "That's just a fantasy. A low-grade maid like us can't beat someone like Namarie."
Miranda's interest was piqued by the conversation. It took her a moment to realize that Namarie was standing right beside her, seemingly unfazed by the maids' discussion.
As Miranda's attention returned to the front, she pondered. The name Namarie seemed familiar, and rumors circulated among the maids that she was extraordinary. Namarie could be a formidable competitor, but Miranda wondered why a senior maid would bother entering the competition.
As memories flooded back, she gasped loudly, startling Namarie beside her. She couldn't believe she was face-to-face with the notorious maid of Maison Mirage Manor.
"Is this really Namarie?" she wondered, her eyes widening in shock.
In her novel, Namarie was the spy Lyrian had planted within Prince Kael's manor. Pledging loyalty to Lyrian until death, Namarie served as Prince Kael's personal maid, sparking curiosity about how she gained his trust.
Despite Prince Kael's kindness, Namarie's loyalty remained divided between Kael and Lyrian. Her devotion to Lyrian was unwavering, yet she couldn't suppress her forbidden love for Kael.
When Giovanna, the female protagonist, entered the picture as Kael's betrothed, Namarie's bitterness grew. Under the guise of aiding Lyrian, Namarie caused trouble for Giovanna, revealing her cunning nature.
In this competition, Miranda planned not to let Namarie win, allowing her to become Prince Kael's personal maid. This would create tension between Kael and Giovanna, hindering their love story.
To expedite the novel's conclusion, eliminating Namarie was Miranda's top priority. With Namarie out of the way, Kael and Giovanna's love story could unfold smoothly, sparing Giovanna from suffering.
The sudden arrival of Prince Kael silenced the room. As announced, he would personally judge the competition. Miranda's heart raced, recalling her promise to win.
Prince Kael took his seat, accompanied by Abel, whose serious expression was unwavering. The chief maid approached, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere.
"Everyone, please take your seats," she instructed. The maids obediently sat, awaiting further instructions.
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Miranda selected a desk at the back, preferring to maintain a distance from Prince Kael. She knew that being too close would make her nervous, and the back seat offered more space to focus without distraction.
As she settled in, Miranda's gaze fell on Namarie, who had chosen a front-row desk directly before Prince Kael. It was clear that Namarie craved attention. Miranda's thoughts turned bitter as she contemplated her rival.
Before the competition commenced, the chief maid made her way down the rows of seated maids, carefully inspecting each workstation for any signs of cheating.
"I will announce the rules only once," the chief maid declared, her voice firm. "Your task is to create a tea using the ingredients provided. You must prepare it neatly and present it to Prince Kael. Any mistakes will result in immediate disqualification. If your tea fails to impress the Prince, you will also be disqualified. Winning this competition will grant you entry to the next round. Do you understand?"
The maids responded with a unanimous affirmation.
The chief maid approached Prince Kael, bowing respectfully before turning back to the contestants. "The competition will now begin."
With the announcement, the competition commenced without further ado.
Miranda scrutinized the ingredients on her desk, determined to create something exceptional. To surpass Namarie, she needed to think innovatively and produce a truly outstanding tea.
Before her, Miranda saw an array of tea herbs: chamomile, lavender, rooibos, lemon balm, and more. These excellent herbs filled her empty heart with inspiration as she pondered what to create. Prince Kael was a busy man, and something to calm his mind while working would be a valuable offering.
Miranda decided to make a chamomile tea. She measured out one tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers and added them to her jug. Then, intrigued by the fresh mint leaves she found among the ingredients, she added one tablespoon of them to the jug as well.
As she boiled water on the tiny stove beside her desk, Miranda glanced around, noticing everyone engrossed in their tasks. Suddenly, a stuttering glass shattered, and a lady whimpered as she was declared disqualified. Undistracted, Miranda added honey to her jug and poured the boiling water over the herbs, allowing the flavors to meld.
The competition allowed thirty minutes to complete the task. By the end of the time frame, most participants had finished, and those who hadn't were disqualified.
When the time came to present the teas to Prince Kael, the maids' creations were collected and taken to him in order. Namarie's row, including four participants, was first. Each presented their tea in a small cup.
Miranda watched as Prince Kael took the first cup, sniffed it, and set it aside without tasting. She wondered why he didn't take a sip. How could he judge the tea's quality without tasting it?
The chief maid clarified, "Don't be surprised by Prince Kael's actions. A good tea should delight both the nose and the palate. Any tea not meeting this standard will result in disqualification."
Miranda thought the competition had an excessive number of rules, making disqualification a looming threat. As she watched from the front, only Namarie's tea was accepted in the first row, followed by a select few from subsequent rows.
When it was time for Miranda's row, she nervously carried her tea tray to the front, anxious about two things: potential disqualification and facing Prince Kael.
As the judges tasted the teas, the first and third were promptly disqualified. Miranda was the last one left. Prince Kael took her tea cup, inhaling the aroma, and paused. Miranda's heart skipped a beat, wondering if she had made a mistake.
However, to her surprise, Prince Kael took a sip of the tea, his expression unreadable. He then placed the cup on the table. Miranda assumed the tea's scent had impressed him, but she remained uncertain about its taste.
"It's sweet," Prince Kael murmured, startling Miranda.
"The tea is different from the last one you made. Why?" he asked, catching her off guard. Miranda recalled the previous tea she had made for him, which he had praised. This tea was indeed distinct, but was it good enough?