Click. Clack. Click. Clack.
Sounds of two pairs of feet echoed as they walked to Elaine's room. Both of them had calm demeanours, yet their hearts were anxious. The silence of both individuals increased the tension more as they entered the dimly lit room, none of them yielding to their true feelings.
"I will prepare the bath for my lady right away." Violet tried to escape the awkwardness as naturally as possible.
However, Elaine had enough of whatever it is they had. As His Majesty said to her earlier that day, running away is not the answer to solve any problem.
"Speak your mind, Violet," Elaine said bluntly, and her maid stopped. "I do not know how long you are planning to avoid me, but you know it is unhealthy for both of us."
Violet was silent for a few seconds, trying to calm herself down. She repeated that she was a professional maid in her head. She will not let her personal feelings interfere with what was imperative for the duchy's honour. "I do not understand, my lady."
When Violet heard the news of her lady's memory loss, she thought there were beneficial and harmful effects, whether for her or her lady. Perhaps it was a chance to start over, deleting her 'mistake', though her only 'sister' would forget about her. If Lady Elaine had no memory of how tight they were, there would be no way to confirm that a respectable figure mingled with people of lowly origins. That thought lingered for days in Violet's head.
But, in truth, they were all unnecessary stress she was piling up alone.
Elaine paused as she stared at her maid in disbelief. "Is treating me as your 'master' your solution to this?
Violet breathed. She was sure that if she talked right away, her voice would be shaky. "There is no problem to provide a solution to, Lady Elaine."
"Are you telling me to forget the tears you shed when you learned of my illness?" Elaine asked in scepticism.
"...That was a mistake, my lady." Violet turned around again. "Please excuse me as I prepare for my lady's bath."
"Stop." A shiver ran down Violet's spine as Elaine's cold but authoritative voice compelled her to halt in her steps. Violet gulped nervously and faced Elaine with sweat in her palms. Of course, she did not dare to look at her lady in the eyes as fury filled them.
"Sit," Elaine ordered. Violet was reluctant, but Elaine had already cornered her, preventing Violet from escaping the confrontation.
Violet could only squirm like prey in her seat while Elaine watched her with the eyes of a hawk. Elaine did not want to resort to this tactic, but if it would make Violet talk, scaring her a little is a small price to pay.
"Let us speak as equals." Elaine finally spoke.
Violet shook her head and mumbled. "That is impossible."
"Unless I order you to?"
"...Yes." The maid answered timidly.
"No, I do not think you quite understand what I meant." Elaine pointed out. "Speaking to me on equal footing does not mean that you have to address me without a title."
Violet was confused by her words, but her eyes would still not look up.
"If you are grateful to Father, it is only right to treat and speak to him with respect," Elaine gave an example. "You would refer to him with his title as Duke and would be careful with your words to Father. However, that does not give Father the right to talk down to you. I am the same."
"We are humans who were given the same right to freedom to choose. You can give your own opinions and speak up when you think something is wrong."
"So, why is it that you act like a lower life than me?"
Violet's eyebrow twitched at her lady's question. Her actions were understandable if seen by any other commoner. Lady Elaine's words were like an alien language to her.
"I am my lady's maid." Violet thought her statement would explain everything, but to Elaine, this was another matter entirely.
"Yes." Elaine nodded. "That is your profession. As you are my maid, there are responsibilities you must fulfil. And they include cleaning my bedroom, brewing me tea, doing some errands, etcetera."
"In return for your service, the duchy provides you with the basic provisions to live, protection and pays you as well," Elaine added. "But, did anything I stated include undermining yourself?"
Violet did not know where this was going, but she knew she had to run away from this particular conversation. Her heart rate is going dangerously high. If she were to listen to more, it would possibly destroy everything she learned in her life, which scared her.
"I-I do not understand, my lady." Violet stuttered. Her legs were itchy to run away from that room immediately.
"Your answer to my question confirmed my suspicions, Violet," Elaine breathed.
"Not wanting to speak to me as equals unless I ordered you to?" Elaine was frustrated with Violet's answer. It signalled that she must question the kingdom's education. Just thinking about the countless people having the same mindset enraged Elaine. Most of all, it broke her heart.
"Were you going to abandon me when I was most vulnerable, thinking that it was for my family's benefit?"
Violet's eyes widened at her lady's interpretation. It was then that she immediately lifted her head.
"You thought you were only a commoner working for me, and I was a noble's daughter." Elaine read Violet's mind. "Therefore, a relationship more profound than that of an employer and employee is prohibited."
Violet was speechless at Elaine's preciseness. "But, if others were to know that we had a sisterly bond, they would mock my lady."
Elaine wasn't sure if their relationship was what she assumed, but Violet confirmed her suspicions when she finally admitted it. She felt relieved upon hearing it directly from Violet's lips.
"Mock me for what reason?" Elaine questioned, her face softening as Violet finally faced her on equal footing. "The insults thrown towards my face are not justified in the slightest."
"Humans created what we call status," Elaine told Violet. "For some reason, they separated these two groups of people: the people and those who work for those same people, the nobles."
Elaine's explanation absorbed Violet's attention. It was her first time hearing that nobles are people who work for the people, or as she liked to say it, her 'kind'.
"To be granted a noble title by the king, in whatever era, meant that we were trusted with a heavy responsibility to protect the kingdom and its people. Nobles are supposed to be leaders of the domain, where ranks exist, just like an army. The higher the rank, the higher the authority and power because His Majesty trusts the leader that much. It does not mean we can exploit those of lower rank."
"However, the nobles grew arrogant due to the rewards awarded by the Royal Family, and they segregated the two groups by using status," Elaine told her. "They redefined what being a noble is."
"Not only the people, but even some nobles think that their purpose is to live in luxury while flaunting their wealth, ordering commoners around as if they own them." Elaine scoffed. She thought it was funny that nobles believe they exist for such a stupid and meaningless reason.
"The glory of nobles diminished tremendously due to how poorly they act." Elaine sighed. "Even I am ashamed that I was born a noble in this era. I would not want to be called that, just to be grouped with those shameless and selfish people. I have my pride too, you know."
Violet smiled at Elaine's words.
"I just want you to understand one thing." Elaine moved forward to the edge of her seat. "Without the people, there would be no nobles nor a King, or even a kingdom."
"Is it so wrong to form a close relationship with the people who gave my family one reason to live?" Elaine tilted her head with a small smile.
"..." Violet was enlightened by Elaine's speech. Maybe, it wasn't so bad to see her world crumble if it meant she could see the light.
"No," Violet said with a smile, a little embarrassed.
Elaine grinned at her answer.
"I chose to form a relationship with you," Elaine told her. "I do not care if others disapprove of it. All I know is that I like you, and becoming friends with my maid is not illegal."
Elaine stood up and walked over to Violet. She, then, offered her hand. "Will you be my 'sister' again, despite my memory loss or the hungry hyenas out there to get me?"
Violet brought her hand up and placed her palm on Elaine's, chuckling lightly at her choice of words. "Yes, my lady."
Elaine realised that the kingdom she thought was beautiful after a bit of sightseeing was rotten to its core after her talk with Violet. King Kelvion might be a good and wise ruler, but that does not entirely reflect the nobles or people of the Athelis Kingdom. Even when the ruler tried to change how the kingdom is run, societal norms passed down for centuries cannot be changed immediately.
There is no possibility of dreaming of a perfect world when the seven deadly sins are the only things occupying the human heart.
"Would you brew me some tea, Violet?" Elaine asked with a small smile. "My throat is dry after the lecture I gave you."
"Of course, my lady." Violet immediately prepared a warm cup of black tea for her lady.
"I would also prefer if you call me Elaine--"
Lady Elaine suddenly felt light-headed, and a dream-like scene flashed before her eyes.
"We are sisters starting today, so call me Elaine when we are alone." The corner of her lips lifted as she held hands with a young Violet hidden under the shades of a large tree. The sun shone brightly that day as the two girls made an unbreakable pact.
"--when we are alone..." Elaine shook her head slightly when the scene disappeared, her words turning to a whisper. A frown appeared on her face when a soft voice spoke.
'Do you want them back? Your memories?'
A headache surfaced when she wanted to accept the offer, so she refused to avoid the pain.
'...No.' Elaine answered, resisting the temptation.
The presence disappeared instantly, and she was alone with her thoughts once more.
"A memory...?" Elaine mumbled to herself while glancing at Violet, humming happily with her back facing her. maids
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