A Talented Maid

Chapter 3

Cleaning wasn't all Marie excelled at now.

She finished the mountain of dishes in a flash. And she wasn't just fast: The dishes she washed gleamed.

“That's Marie, right?”

“I-I think so.”

“How... is she doing that?”

The fellow maids helping out in the kitchen watched her, wide-eyed. She had just finished the dishes and was mopping the kitchen floor. Everything she touched transformed from a war zone to a pristine showroom. She even labeled and put away the leftover ingredients.

“...”

The maids stood around with their mouths hanging open. They could hardly believe their eyes. Among them was the head kitchen maid, who always reprimanded Marie quite harshly.

Has she always been this good? she wondered, blinking hard. She could not believe her eyes. She knew that Marie always applied herself, but wasn't she the girl who was slow and clumsy? She had transformed into a different person.

Or was I very hard on her for no good reason? Watching the girl clean so well, the head kitchen maid was sorry she had scolded her so much.

“Uh, Marie?” she called after much hesitation.

“Yes, miss?” Marie, who was tidying up as if possessed, turned toward the voice that called her. “Can I help you with anything?”

“No, it's not that,” she said, shaking her head. “You're doing a great job.”

“Ah!” The unexpected comment caught Marie's attention.

Is she talking to me? Marie wondered, wide-eyed. She had never heard the head kitchen maid say anything of the kind to her. She had never heard anyone, in fact, praise her for doing a good job. She was only ever scolded.

But the greater shock was yet to come.

“You did well today. We will take care of the rest. Why don't you go get some rest before the next shift?” the head kitchen maid offered.

“No, that's okay.”

“I insist. I've never seen you work this hard before—this is your reward.”

Marie could not believe this was really happening.

I can't believe this compliment I'm receiving!

The head kitchen maid nodded and said, “Keep up the good work.”

***

Marie left the kitchen and went into the closet by the bathroom where the cleaning tools were stored. This was where scullery maids like Marie took a breather.

I was praised for my work! Marie was astounded. I can't believe it.

Her heart soared. It was just a little praise for a job well done, but it meant the world to her.

“Why is she so slow?”

“Is there anything you're good at?”

After a lifetime of being picked on, Marie had received the first compliment of her life.

“But what happened?” she muttered to herself in confusion.

She was glad for the praise, but something was amiss.

I'm not this competent.

Had she really become the virtuoso maid she saw in her dream?

Did the man's prayer really come true?

Marie gave this some thought, then shook her head.

“Oh, I don't know. I'll focus on work for now. I can always find out later how it happened.”

“Keep up the good work.”

Marie's heart filled with joy once again to recall the praise she had received moments ago. Whether this was an amazing blessing or a miracle, Marie hoped it would last a little while longer.

Thus began Marie's new life as a talented maid. She turned out to have the talents of “Viola” from her dream. Cleaning, laundry, dishes—she could handle anything.

The head housekeeper Susan, suspicious at first, pulled her aside and said, “I've misjudged you all this time.”

“Miss?” Marie looked up at Susan in surprise.

“I'm sorry I've been so hard on you.”

Marie shook her head. “N-no!”

“It can't have been easy for you. You've really applied yourself and improved so much lately. Good job.”

Marie was deeply moved by Susan's words.

“Thank you, miss. I'll continue to work hard.”

Susan nodded. Then she asked, “Marie, have you tried serving tea?

“No, I have not—”

Marie paused. She knew what Susan was about to say.

“Miss?”

“It's time you tried serving tea as well. Get some practice starting now.”

“!!”

Serving tea meant interacting directly with members of the imperial family—the job of a parlourmaid!

“What is it? Would you rather not?”

“No, miss. Thank you for giving me the chance!” Marie said with a bow. She could not believe her ears. Only a select few among the scullery maids were given the chance to serve tea. Not all maids were deemed fit for direct contact with the imperial family and their guests.

I can't believe I'll be serving tea.

Outside Susan's room, Marie pinched her cheek. This was not a dream!

And so Marie began to serve tea, and turned out to be very adept at it.

“That is marvelous, Marie! Such graceful movement!” Susan exclaimed. “Have you served tea before?”

Marie had never served tea in her life, of course.

She shook her head.

What is happening to me? Did the man's prayer really come true?

As Marie continued to puzzle over her newfound talents, she was becoming a legend among the maids of the Lily Palace as a Jill-of-all-trades.

“Thank you, Marie.”

“You're the best, Marie. I'm counting on you.”

It was as if the years of dressing downs had never happened. Like Cinderella transforming from a maid to a princess, Marie was living the dream.

Then one day, another incident came to pass that turned her life upside down again—a new dream.

***

Haze obscured Marie's vision again.

She was dreaming the same kind of dream that she had when she had become Viola the talented maid.

But in this dream, Marie was standing at the top of a castle wall with her eyes closed. A voice spoke to her.

‘What are you doing, Fiona?’

‘I'm feeling the wind.’

‘The wind?’ asked a man's voice. ‘Looking for inspiration, I see.’

“Fiona” nodded.

‘Amazing. You are already the greatest in the land and yet you never stop working.’

‘...’

‘I suppose your next work will contain the wind. I'm looking forward to your next piece, Fiona the Devotee of the Gardens.’

***

Marie's eyes snapped open.

What was that? The same kind of dream as the last one?

Like the “talented maid Viola” dream, this one was also very real, as if Marie had become the character. But there was one important difference this time: Fiona? Who's that?

Marie blinked. She could not figure out what this woman did, as this dream offered very little clues.

Contain the wind? Devotee of the Gardens? What does this mean? Was she a gardener?

Marie looked down at her hands to see if she noticed any changes, but she could not feel anything unusual.

Just because I had the dream, doesn't mean I'll have the character's ability.

And even if she did, it was hard to tell what they would be this time.

Besides, the Viola dream could have been a fluke! If everyone woke up with the abilities they had in their dreams, the world would be full of flying people.

Marie was about to get out of bed when a voice called outside.

“Marie! Marie!”

“Who is it?”

Marie opened the door to find a higher-ranking maid outside.

“How can I help you?”

“I'm sorry about the hour. Miss Susan is looking for you.”

Marie could not imagine what this could be about. Miss Susan seldom asked to see her.