Chapter 4 - Punishment

Candy look out from the window of her room. She could see people running around frantically outside the main estate.

'If it wasn't for Alicia fault! This wouldn't have happened at all." She said to herself as she continue to look at the chaos outside.

She wonder how much trouble she had caused but since no one knew it was her, she was safe. As the night went on, nobody not even Mary came to her room or brought her dinner. As the lights in the main estate were beginning to turn off, Candy knew something was wrong. But was helpless to do anything as she could not leave the tower.

"Where is Mary or the servant and where is my food?" Candy said to herself as she pace back and forth in her room. Her stomach begin to growl but Candy tried to ignore it. She went to the window to look outside but it was only darkness she saw.

"What happened? Mary said she would come but it's way past dinnertime and she's not here. Argh...it's pointless to keep on waiting. I'm too hungry and tired. I might as well go to bed for now." Candy went to her bed and blew out the candle. The mouse traps that the servants had set up earlier that day had worked and Candy was able to get some goodnight sleep.

The next morning, Candy woke up quite late. Nobody came to wake her up or get her ready. She flung her blankets aside and got up frantically. She went to look out her window but there was nothing unusual.

"Did they forget me or no...did they find out it was me who hit Alicia? But if they did, then wouldn't they have come to see me? What is happening?" Candy got dressed and went down the long flight of stairs. She bang the door and yell for the knights outside to open the door.

"Open the door! I demand you to open the door!"

Candy was met with silence. She kept banging on the door but still she got no response.

"Fine! Don't open the door but at least give me some food!!! Where are my servants?!"

Still nothing. Candy kept banging and yelling till she got tired but still no response.

"Are the knights even there? Where is Mary?"

At this point, Candy begin to worry. It felt like she was truly abandon. She slump against the door and sat down on the floor.

A few hours goes by and Candy woke up to the door opening. She had fallen back to sleep while waiting. At the entrance of the door was a maid who held a tray of food.

Candy quickly got up and went to grab the food but the maid moved the tray out of Candy reach.

"What was that for? I'm hungry!" Candy yell angrily at the maid.

"Miss, I am surprise you are up and you even got dressed but I will bring your food up to your room." The maid said solemnly.

"Fine!" Candy said and quickly went up the stairs to her room.

The maid follow Candy up to her room and set the food on the table. Candy sat down and started to eat really fast shoving the food down her throat. As she was halfway full, she looked up at the maid waiting for her to finish eating.

"Where is Mary?"

"Mary won't be coming."

"What? Why? What happened?"

"Miss, it is best not to question. Please, finish the food."

"No! I demand you to tell me!" Candy yell at the maid with an angry look. The maid sigh.

"Fine. Mary is being punished. It seem yesterday, there was a maid who had hit Miss Alicia with a book. We don't know who it is, so every maid is being questioned till we find who. I'm only here to bring you your food and that's it. Now, please quickly finish your food."

"Punished! What?" Candy said to herself. She didn't expect this to happen. What she did had caused all the maids to suffer. It was her fault, not Mary or any of the maids. Candy got up from her chair and began to pace around in her room. The maid was startled by Candy sudden movement.

"Miss, it seems like you are done. I will take the food away."

"NO! I mean no, I am not finish. I am just shock by the news. Now, tell me what is the punishment for the maid who gets found?"

"Currently, all maids are being questioned. But if found guilty, punishment would be decided by Master Crosshearts."

"Hm...What to do? What to do?" Candy whisper to herself.

"Miss, I must get back. I was only told to bring you your food."

"Wa..wait! Come here. What's your name?"

"My name is Triss. Miss."

"Ok. Triss, can you keep this a secret between you and me?"

"I..I don't know miss. I'm just a maid."

"Triss! You are not just a maid! Now, come on! Can you keep a secret?"

"Miss, I don't know what plans or secrets you have but I am to report everything to Master and Miss Crosshearts."

"Argh...Triss you are of no help! I need Mary! Why is it you? Where is Mary and what is she doing?"

"I'm sorry to hear that miss. But Mary is one of the maids who is highly suspicious for what happened yesterday with miss Alicia. So she is being held captive by Miss Crosshearts and Miss Alicia. But I do know, till someone is found guilty, you won't be seeing Mary for a while."

"Sigh...Mary I need you!" Alicia yell out in frustration.

"Miss, if you are done. I must be getting back."

"FINE! You can take the tray back but I need you to put the food somewhere. Last night, nobody came and brought me my food! I don't know when you all will forget about me and my meals! So I need to store the food somewhere."

"Will do, miss. Is that all?"

"Yes." Candy said with a deep sigh as she watch the maid store the food in a cloth and took the tray and plates away.

"Bye, miss. I am not sure if it will be I who will bring your next meal. But I can assure you, you will get your next meal delivered to you. Don't worry. If I get any more news about Mary, I will make sure to let you know."

"Thanks, Triss." Candy said as she stared outside her window.