“No, I want to listen to your opinion,” the Empress said as she shook her head gently.
‘…whatever I want?’
My mind was clouded with worry at the ambiguous sentence.
Honestly, it seemed too harsh to kick her out.
Becky was just a commoner like me who didn’t have a place outside the palace.
But to just move on as if nothing happened…
‘…I don’t want to.’
How long has Becky tormented me… This time, I won’t let her actions slide.
‘That’s not going to happen!’
I spoke carefully, “Then,”
“Then?”
The Empress’ gentle eyes landed on me, ready to grant any of my wishes. Her warmth made my heart soften, but…
‘…you can’t be my Rose anymore, can you?’
I gulped down the bitterness and opened my mouth.
“A year.”
“Huh?”
“For a year, Becky will be in charge of cleaning the hallway.”
Becky lifted her head in surprise, for the light punishment was unexpected.
I continued, “But, the job for cleaning the hallway and the maid’s daily tasks are different. She must make sure to do both of them.”
“Are you sure you’ll be satisfied with that?”
“Yes,” I nodded assuredly.
The Empress, who was looking through me, gave orders to head maid Hayden.
“Carry out the order as Charlize said, but cut half of her salary during that period.”
At her words, Becky’s eyes quivered.
Soon, she added, “And her promotion to a full-time maid will be put off for three years.”
At this, Becky’s face paled and she went limp.
It’s understandable since the maid-in-training salary was finite.
‘If that salary is cut in half, I think I’d have that look on my face, too.’
In addition, her promotion will be delayed by three years until she becomes an official maid.
‘Most of all, Becky was just about to get a raise.’
That was why Becky was excluded when the probationary maids were punished during the laundry chores.
The Empress concluded in a harsh voice, “It’s a punishment for trying to create a disparity and for harassing your fellow maid-in-training.”
“I’ll carry out the order, Your Majesty,” head maid Hayden stated, bowing deeply.
The Empress angrily glared at Becky and opened her mouth.
“What are you doing? Still standing here in front of me.”
“…I’ll take my leave, Your Majesty.”
Becky rose from her seat as she staggered over to the hallway entrance and disappeared under the shadow.
The departure left us both under uncomfortable silence.
I couldn’t figure out what to say, so I bit my lips.
After a while, the Empress relented as she called me.
“Lize.”
“Yes.”
I raised my eyes carefully.
She was looking down at my hands with distress.
I’ve touched the water for a long time, so my hands were all wrinkled…
“It’s okay.”
At my reply, the Empress frowned.
‘Did I offend her?’ I sneaked a glance at her expression.
The Empress clasped my hands together.
Surprised at her sudden gesture, I withdrew my hand instinctively.
“…”
“…”
The Empress didn’t force me and instead put down her outstretched hand in defeat. She looked at me with downcast eyes. The Empress took a deep breath before asking me a question.
“Why does Lize always say she’s okay?”
“…”
“I’m not okay. My hand is hurting…”
With a vexed voice, the Empress looked down upon my scarred palms.
I quietly closed my eyes.
If it were how it used to be, my heart would leap from joy at her kindness.
But now…
“I’m only keeping my silence because I don’t want to worry people who care for me,” I confessed while hiding my hands between the hem of my dress.
The Empress opened her lips only to bite it hard, at a loss for words. Then she finally looked down guiltily.
At her remorseful expression, my mind was mixed up.
‘Don’t look at me with that expression.’
Why would she make such a face?
‘It’d be better if you laugh at me, mocking me as a stupid kid who couldn’t even recognize the Empress.’
But her expression was heartbreaking, making my heartache at the sight.
‘…I’m upset.’
My heart was cold, so I closed my lips.
Eventually, the Empress spoke with a somber voice.