Beneath the castle lay the main area where the servants worked. Morning sunlight streamed lazily through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the wooden dining table. The air was filled with the scent of baked bread and fresh jam.
The maids sat around the table with Cook Amane, engaged in a heated discussion.
Cook Amane was the undisputed commander of this domain. Slightly plump, her neatly combed short hair was tucked behind her head, revealing a stern, sharply contoured face. Though she was in her forties, time had left few marks on her features.
Head maid Karsanna sat at the table, arms crossed over her chest, brows furrowed, her face full of displeasure.There was a spark in her eyes.
In a shrill voice, she said, “Hmph, guess what I heard first thing this morning? That new girl, Su Ling, was chosen by Her Highness to be her personal maid!” Phil, sitting next to Karsanna’ echoed her indignation.
“Exactly! Su Ling hasn’t even been here long. How could she possibly compare to us? Her Highness must be blind!”
Amane sat at the other end of the table. A seasoned and composed cook, her face always wore a gentle smile. She listened to the complaints without interrupting, only shaking her head softly. Seeing that Amane wasn’t responding, Karsanna only became more emboldened. She stood up, hands on her hips, and raised her voice sharply.
“See? Even Sister Amane isn’t saying anything. What does that mean? It means Su Ling, that newcomer, is nothing special!” Phil also stood up, gesturing wildly.
“Exactly! Karsanna’s right! Her Highness must’ve picked Su Ling just because she’s pretty. She’s terrible at her job—how could she ever be a personal maid?” Their words drew the attention of the other maids, who gathered around, their chatter rising in a growing storm.
The atmosphere in the kitchen turned tense. At that moment, Amane finally spoke. Her voice was calm and gentle, like a spring flowing into the noisy kitchen.
“Everyone quiet down and let me say a few words.”The room fell silent.
All eyes turned to Amane. Smiling, she said, “I know many of you are upset and feel it’s unfair that Su Ling was chosen as a personal maid. But we shouldn’t just judge by appearances. Even though she’s new, Su Ling is diligent and sincere. We’ve all seen that with our own eyes. Maybe those are the very qualities that caught Her Highness’s attention.”Karsanna curled her lip dismissively.
“That’s just empty talk! And don’t forget all the mistakes she’s made. How can someone like that be a personal maid?” Duli chimed in, “Karsanna right! Su Ling’s always dropping things and messing up—how could Her Highness ever be satisfied with a maid like that?” Amane’s brows furrowed slightly as she listened. She took a deep breath but said nothing more.
“What’s going on? Why’s everyone sitting around here?”Tii walked into the kitchen just then, sunlight spilling through the window onto her red hair, making the ends gleam softly.
Karsanna’s face flickered with a complex emotion when she saw Tii. She stood and walked over to her, tone laced with complaint.
“Tii, perfect timing. We were just talking about Su Ling being chosen as a personal maid.”
“Ah, really?” Tii looked surprised.
“Of course! You worked hard for an entire year to get chosen, and then you were disqualified over one little mistake. But Su Ling? She’s new and constantly messes up, yet somehow she got picked by Her Highness?”Tii blinked, then gave a soft smile.
Shaking her head, she said, “Karsanna, I understand how you feel. But you have to realize, things in the palace aren’t always as simple as they seem. Her Highness has her reasons. Who are we to question her choice?” Karsanna frowned deeper, clearly dissatisfied.
“But Su Ling isn’t even special. Why would Her Highness choose her?”Tii smiled again, her voice carrying a quiet meaning.
“Maybe Su Ling has qualities we can’t see. And as the mistress, Her Highness has every right to decide for herself. We just need to focus on doing our jobs and respecting her decisions.”
Though still frustrated, Karsanna didn’t press further. She nodded slightly and returned to her seat.
Pom, who had been silently listening, finally chimed in cautiously, “Tii… is right. If Su Ling was chosen to be a personal maid, there must be something special about her.”
Karsanna, clearly still unconvinced, turned to the cook again.
“Sister Amane, what do you think?”Amane smiled faintly.
“Everyone has their own fate and opportunity. Perhaps Su Ling was destined to be chosen. We should simply wish her well and hope she fulfills the role with honor.”
Tii nodded in agreement. No one noticed the silver-haired girl standing in the shadows by the door—the very one who had just finished delivering breakfast. It was Su Ling.
She could still feel the faint chill of the porcelain tray in her hands as she stepped wearily toward the kitchen doorway.
She was lost in the quiet of the morning when faint voices drifted to her ears.
Quietly, she moved closer and pressed her ear to the door, trying to make out the conversation inside. The dim light leaking through the gap cast broken shadows across her face, and her bright eyes peered anxiously through the crack.
She heard Karsanna’s sharp voice, full of jealousy and resentment; Phil’s echoing support; Amane’s calm attempts to diffuse the tension; Pom… and—always speaking up for her—Tii.
Silently, she listened, her heart filled with complex emotions. She knew being chosen by Lady Sista as a personal maid had stirred up quite a storm among the other maids.
She understood her arrival had upset the existing balance, leading to resentment. As the voices faded and work time neared, the maids began to disperse.
Amane moved on to clean up the kitchen. Su Ling sighed in relief, thinking she could finally leave. She gently pushed the door open, ready to slip away. But just then, someone suddenly rushed out from the corner and grabbed her arm.
“Ah—!” Su Ling cried out in surprise.
“Su Ling, you heard us, didn’t you?” Phil’s eyes sparkled with suspicion.
“You were hiding behind the door, eavesdropping on us, weren’t you?”