CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
By the time Tatiana entered her room, it was all cleaned up and Manuel was not there anymore. Instead, she saw a note on the table that read.
'Ring a bell if you need me. Best wishes, darling! '
It was written with beautiful penmanship and had a kiss mark on the side. A smile appeared on Tatiana's face, and she shook her head. The day was long and she wanted to relax for the rest of the night, so after her night bath, she sat down took her table, and took out the pieces of paper from its drawer.
"Morgan is kind," she whispered to herself as she placed a check beside the boy's name. "and funny too."
It was awkward that she got caught while she was bawling, but the knight gave her a laugh. These last few days were not easy for her at all, but if she counted the good things that happened instead of pondering the bad things, maybe it could make her feel better.
The incident at the tea party will make the ladies hate her and their husbands too. But the image of the previous Tatiana was already tainted, so she had nothing to lose. Although she felt like what happened was refreshing and lifted a heavy weight off of her chest.
"Your highness, it is William."
"You may enter."
The door opened and William entered the room. Tatiana got up from her chair to greet him.
"William, a lot of things happened at the tea party and the queenâ"
She froze. William entered the room with someone behind him. It was Emma.
"Oh my gosh."
Emma awkwardly said, "Good-good evening, your highness." She gave a courtesy. Tatiana looked at William with wide eyes, like she was asking him what all of this was about. William briefly closed his eyes and nodded at the princess.
"What-what brings you here?" the princess asked.
"May I have permission to say something?" Emma asked, lowering her head and staring at the floor.
"Yes, you ma-may."
"I have discovered something today."
"A-and?"
Tatiana's anxiety was already hitting the roof. Emma had her own ways of making Tatiana feel nervous.
'Why doesn't she get straight to the point?! She's making me nervous about everything!' She thought to herself.
Emma hesitated to tell her as she might get beheaded for being so thick-faced, but Tatiana's anxiety, is already at its threshold.
"I-Iâ" Emma stuttered, unsure if she would continue to say it.
"Yes?" Tatiana's heart was beating so fast. A lot of things were happening on her mind as well as questions like what she wanted to say? Does she know? Did she tell the queen? Am I going to get beheaded? Does she know that I'm not the real Tatiana?
William cleared his throat, which almost made both of the girls jump.
"What Emma is trying to say is, if you would let her become your personal servant," William stated. Emma covered her face with both of her palms in embarrassment.
"What?" Tatiana squeaked.
"My apologies, your highness! I know it is bold of me to request it but I can't help but be drawn to your bravery. I want to be of service to you!"
"Hu-huh?"
Tatiana was completely baffled by Emma. She expected that she would be reprimanded or warned because of the incident of fake Maria but instead, she wanted to become her personal servant? That was weird.
"I discovered from Sir William that you needed a personal servant, aside from your lady in waiting, and I wanted to grab that opportunity."
"But why, though?" The princess could not understand why Emma wanted to be her personal maid when she was happy with where she belonged. "Do you realize that what you're asking for will put you in danger? You do know that I was poisoned, and if people know that you are one of my people, they will come after you too."
"I don't mind," Emma said, finally looking up at the princess. And just as she thought, even in her nightdress, the princess was breathtakingly beautiful. "I think that you are a good person, and I want to be closer to you."
"Besides," she continued, "I have nothing to lose. I have no family and I only live for myself. If your highness would allow me to, I would gladly work under your grace."
"What is that?" Tatiana whispered, her cheeks turning red. "Why are you so good with your words? You are making my heart flutter."
Emma hid a smile and swayed her body slightly from side to side. She was definitely acting bashful.
"You do realize that I pretended to be Maria, right?" Tatiana told her, and Emma nodded. "And you still want to work under me knowing that I lied to you?"
"It was fun." Emma said, "You made me feel comfortable around you. But I do apologize for making you run errands."
"Nah," Tatiana waved her hand. "But sure, if you want to work for me, then you can. William will help you with it."
She gestured her hands to William, and he bowed in response.
"Then," he said, "you shall start tomorrow. For now, the princess should rest. It has been a long day for her."
Emma and Tatiana exchanged smiles, then Emma left the room. Soon after, William and Tatiana were left in the room.
"I heard the commotion that happened during the tea party, princess," William started. "The queen will try even harder to dethrone you or possibly get you killed."
Tatiana slumped back on the sofa and hugged the pillow beside her.
"I know," she groaned, "but she was really getting on my nerves. I couldn't help but retaliate against her. She was pushing me to a corner. What did you want me to do?"
"You did well," William simply told her.
"I told you I'm sorryâWhat?" Her sleepiness disappeared and she shot a look at William. "Did you just compliment me?"
William cleared his throat.
"Though Emma is a kind girl, you should not give her your full trust." He warned her, "royalty is always surrounded by people. You pretend to love them but will stab them in the back at the end of the day."
Tatiana sighed and stared at the ceiling.
"I know."
After her encounter with the queen today, she felt braver. She felt that something would soon change after that.
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END