Maid’s Night - Chapter 14

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The second night was better than the first. However, just because it was better didn’t mean it was okay. On the first night, her whole body ached as if she was beaten everywhere, today it was just stiffness.

Perhaps she was getting used to this pain. Evely gave a short sigh and wiped the railing diligently.

‘From now on, when the princess goes for her night walks, I will hold you instead. Get used to it.’

Evely recalled the words in her mind. If he held her like this several times, will she get used to this relationship like a pain? Evely, who was deeply in thoughts, shook her head in disbelief. She could only hope that the princess would not run away any more. Pondering this and that, Evely’s hands gradually slowed as she rubbed the railing. Just then, a loud voice rang.

“What are you doing? Last time you were late, and now you’re preoccupied with something else.”

She turned around and there stood Charlotte with a sour face. She was always hateful towards Evely ever since Evely came to this house. She enjoyed taunting how thin Evely was and how she couldn’t work sufficiently.

“Can’t you work faster?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ve taken in a child without parents and you don’t even know how to be grateful.”

Evely, who was bowing her head, paused. It was a spiteful remark, but it penetrated her heart more clearly than any other. Evely raised her head in tears.

“Why does it matter if I have parents or not?”

In a flash, Charlotte’s eyes widened as she burst out laughing as if it was ridiculous.

“Are you confronting me now?”

“You’re only choosing bad words!”

Not to be outdone, Evely replied frankly. Charlotte has worked in this family for generations, and has the highest rank among maids except for the head maid. She was proud to lead the family to glory as a member of this family. Sometimes she was so proud that she was mean to the maids who came in from outside.

Evely had never been obedient. She did what she was told to do, but very occasionally she would do everything she could to vent her anger on a bad day. Charlotte hated Evely, who wasn’t respectful, and Evely hated Charlotte, who was always mean. The two regarded each other as enemies.

“Oh my God!”

In her frustration, Charlotte raised her hand and hit Evely on the head. Evely, whose eyes were on fire, raised her voice.

“Why are you hitting me!”

“Because you deserve it!”

“I’m as big as you are!”

Charlotte grabbed Evely’s wrist and pulled her towards her. A moan escaped from Evely’s mouth at the powerful grip.

As Evely was frowning in pain, Charlotte whispered coldly in her ears.

“Do you want to starve?”

Charlotte was never fair with the food.

“You think I’d let you starve alone? Perhaps, having your friend Brianna to starve with you will help to get your senses back.”

“Why do you do that to her?”

“If you behave then Brianna won’t starve.”

“Leave Brianna alone!”

“If you beg, I’ll think about it.”

Charlotte spoke and laughed. It was an evil laugh.

Evely bit her lip. She was horrified at the thought that Charlotte would starve Brianna because of her doing. In fact, she didn’t want to fight. She just acted out of frustration.

Charlotte, who saw Evely’s eyes shaking, continued in a quiet voice.

“Are you sorry, Evely?”

Evely didn’t want to beg a person who talked about her parents, but….

She clasped her hands together, trying to suppress her anger. She finally opened her mouth, just wanting this frustration and insults to come to an end.

“Ah, I’m…”

“What?”

“Sorry….”

But at that moment, an unexpected voice intervened.

“What’s going on?”

Alec Bernhardt, her master.

As soon as she heard his voice, Charlotte dispelled the cold expression on her face. Then she greeted him politely with a demure face.The words she spat out had a calmness to them that was different from earlier.

“I was teaching my subordinate a few things.”

Charlotte smiled as if what she had done was something reasonable and natural.

They were all in the same servant’s condition, what subordinate? If one heard what she said, they would think Charlotte was a true member of this family.

Evely sighed inwardly, but she kept quiet because Charlotte’s status was indeed higher. Instead, she just rubbed her still dizzying head with her hand and breathed.

Alec, who was still listening to Charlotte, glanced at Evely as if wanting her to do some explanation. However, Charlotte opened her mouth, saying it was nothing.

“I was just saying a little something to her because she wasn’t paying attention when working.”

“Did she try to get back at you?”

“Yes, she did. When I told her to work faster, she suddenly said, ‘What does this have to do with me?’”

At least as far as she knew, Alec had never taken an interest in disputes between servants. Usually, no matter what happened, the chief maidservant or butler would be called in to settle the matter, or the hostess would come out and crack down on it.

But why did he interrupt and side with Charlotte?

While she was aware of the situation, what Charlotte said still made Evely gasp and chuckle. But it didn’t matter what Evely thought, Charlotte began to rattle on her poor face for what seemed to be the time. She pretended to be innocent, but she hit Evely just a moment ago.

Eventually, Evely turned away, she didn’t even want to look at Charlotte any longer. Then she bit her lip a little harder. She felt sad for no reason.

“Was she really trying to be disrespectful?”

Alec’s gaze finally went to Evely, and she felt even sadder, because Charlotte’s words seemed to reprimand him. She glanced away, only to see Charlotte standing behind him, smiling triumphantly. Eventually, Evely calmly opened her mouth, suppressing the sadness that was building up.

“It’s true that I talked back, but I tried to control my manners as much as I could. First….”

Evely wanted to tell more about what happened but Alec did not want to hear. Then, in a decisive tone, he sorted out this whole situation.

“One small maid makes a lot of noise in the house.”

As if satisfied and agreed, Charlotte nodded. Instead of the pent up frustration and unfairness, Evely gripped her skirt tightly. And Alec stared at her small hand.

Small hands, small build, but her voice was so loud and got on his nerves. Despite the fact that he would have passed it normally, Alec stopped walking for some reason.

“Lock her up, she needs time to reflect.”

“Yes, as soon as I’m done…”

“Right now.”

Charlotte’s momentum faltered at the sound of Alec’s calm, but stern voice.

“Oh…., then I’ll lock her in the basement.”

“No. Isolate her in a separate room.”

“What? Which room….?”

Charlotte asked back somewhat puzzled at an unexpected answer.

“Give her the second room on the fourth floor. Let her stay there from now on.”

The second room on the fourth floor…?

Evely and Charlotte’s eyes widened at the same time, but Alec had already turned away as if nothing happened.