The laundry maids were short-staffed, so she was called in to help. She always wore a scarf around her head. The young master said he didn't like other men seeing her hair. He was already mad enough that he couldn't hide her away from all the men in the world, so she made sure she always had it covered up nicely. As she worked, she overheard the laundry maids gossiping.
"Did you hear? Apparently, the young master is getting engaged," one maid whispered.
"What? Really?" another replied, her voice filled with surprise.
"Yes, I overheard the madam talking about it," the first maid confirmed.
Lara couldn't believe her ears. The young master had told the madam about her? He was really going to keep his promise of marrying her. A smile graced her lips, and the world seemed even brighter all of a sudden. "I knew the young master loved me," she said to herself.
"I also heard it's the second princess," another maid added.
"What? The second princess? That means the Duke's mansion is now in a higher position than before," the first maid exclaimed.
"Poor Lara, I knew she was just a pastime for the young master," one of the maids laughed. "How could she ever think nobility would stoop so low to marry a commoner?"
Their laughter stung, but Lara held her head high. She knew the truth. The young master had promised her, and she believed in his words. She continued with her work, determined not to let their cruel words affect her.
Lara was shocked. Just last night, he had promised to marry her, but now he was about to marry someone else. The maids snickered, "A duck trying to be a swan. She doesn't know her place." Lara's eyes were thick with tears. She couldn't let them see her like this. Holding back her tears, she turned to the maid Lily.
"I know you're jealous of me because the young master loves me," Lara said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Lily and the other maids were speechless for a moment before they burst out laughing. "You think you're all that? A commoner and a princess—who do you think the young master would choose?" Lily sneered.
Lara couldn't answer their question. She knew the young master loved her, but when it came down to what was best for the Duke's estate, he would surely pick the latter option. "You don't know the young master like I do. He promised to marry me," Lara said, agitated. How was she going to make them understand that the young master loved her?
The maids continued their work, but their laughter and whispers echoed in Lara's mind. She felt a wave of despair wash over her. The young master's promise had been her beacon of hope, and now it seemed to be slipping away. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him, especially not to someone of noble birth who could never understand the depth of their connection.
Lara's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see the head maid, Margaret, entering the laundry room. Margaret was a stern woman, known for her no-nonsense attitude and sharp tongue. She took one look at Lara and the other maids and immediately sensed the tension in the room.
"What's going on here?" Margaret demanded, her eyes narrowing as she looked from one maid to the next.
"Nothing, ma'am," Lily replied quickly, her tone suddenly respectful.
Margaret's gaze settled on Lara, who was struggling to keep her composure. "Lara, is everything alright?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Lara nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She knew that Margaret would not tolerate any bullying among the maids, but she also didn't want to cause any trouble. She just wanted to get through the day without breaking down.
Margaret seemed to sense Lara's distress. "Alright, back to work, all of you," she ordered, and the maids quickly resumed their tasks. Margaret gave Lara a reassuring nod before leaving the room.
Lara took a deep breath and tried to focus on her work. She couldn't let the maids' words get to her. She had to believe in the young master's promise. He had been so sincere, so loving. She couldn't let doubt creep into her heart.
As the day wore on, Lara found herself replaying the events of the previous night in her mind. The young master had been so tender, so caring. He had held her close and whispered sweet promises in her ear. She had felt so safe, so loved. How could he turn around and marry someone else?
The thought of the young master marrying the second princess was almost too much to bear. Lara knew that a marriage to the princess would elevate the Duke's estate to new heights. It made sense from a political standpoint, but it broke her heart. She couldn't compete with a princess. She was just a maid, a commoner. What chance did she have?
Lara's thoughts were interrupted once again, this time by the sound of the young master's voice. He was speaking with one of the other maids in the hallway. Lara's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to run to him, to ask him if the rumors were true, but she knew she couldn't. Not here, not now.
Instead, she continued with her work, her mind racing. She had to find a way to speak with him, to hear the truth from his own lips. She needed to know if he still intended to keep his promise. The uncertainty was tearing her apart.
As the day drew to a close, Lara finally had a moment to herself. She slipped away to a quiet corner of the garden, hoping to gather her thoughts. She sat on a bench, her hands trembling as she tried to calm herself. She had to believe in the young master. She had to trust that he would find a way to be with her.
Just as she was beginning to feel a sense of calm, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up to see the young master standing before her, his expression serious.
"Lara," he said softly, "we need to talk."
Lara's heart pounded in her chest. She stood up, her eyes searching his face for any sign of reassurance. "Is it true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you going to marry the second princess?"
The young master sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Lara, I... I don't know how to explain this. My father has arranged the engagement. It's not what I want, but I have to consider the future of the estate."
Lara felt her heart shatter. She had feared this, but hearing it from his own lips was almost too much to bear. "But you promised," she said, her voice breaking. "You promised to marry me."
"I know," he said, his voice filled with regret. "And I meant it. I still do. But things have become complicated. My father is insisting on this marriage. He believes it's what's best for the estate."
Lara shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "What about us? What about your promise?"
The young master stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "Lara, I love you. I always will. But I have to find a way to balance my duty to the estate with my love for you. Please, give me time. I will find a way."
Lara wanted to believe him, but the pain in her heart was overwhelming. She pulled her hands away, turning her back to him. "I don't know if I can wait," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't know if I can bear to see you with someone else."
The young master reached out, gently turning her to face him. "Lara, please. Trust me. I will find a way to be with you. I promise."
Lara looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of hope. She saw the sincerity in his gaze, the love that had drawn her to him in the first place. She nodded slowly, wiping away her tears. "Alright," she said softly. "I'll trust you."
The young master pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "Thank you," he whispered. "I won't let you down."
As they stood there, wrapped in each others embrace, Lara felt a glimmer of hope. The road ahead would be difficult, but she was willing to face it as long as she had the young master's love. Together, they would find a way out.