Chapter 18

"if you love me most, then you love mother second, right?" she asked.

A flash of complicated emotions flashed in his eyes. "it's a different kind of love." he pat her head.

"the kind between mommies and daddies?" she asked.

"... Yeah."

"but, daddy, you don't treat her like you treat me." she spoke matter-of-factly.

"because I like you differently." he repeated.

"you don't talk to her often and you don't treat her like a wife. "

"well, as the emperor, I shouldn't showcase my affections publicly. "

"then, do you like someone else?" she lowered her voice.

"... Rosabella, is your dinner not good? Here, eat the strawberry cake."

"daddy." she looked him in the eyes. "do you have a...mistress?"

The emperor was shocked to hear those words coming from his baby daughter's mouth, he dropped the fork. "where did you hear that from?"

"a book."

"what book?"

"um, that, that book about um, a knight and a maid. They fell in love but he was married. A political marriage. So they plotted to get rid of the evil wife and get married. But she found out she was pregnant, so she ran away with her knight. But then—"

Bam!

Startled by her father hitting the table, her heart started beating faster.

" who did you hear that from? " he grit his teath.

" I overheard the maids talking. "she gulped.

" which maids? "

" I'm not sure."she whispered."... The knight didn't like his wife because he had a mistress...so I thought—"

Bam!

She trembled when he smacked the table again. He rang a bell and Mal scrambled in. Usually, the apprentice maids would come, but since the emperor was here, Mal came out.

"...the princess is tired and needs to rest. " he stood up and walked out.

***

"what do you think happened?" one maid whispered.

"who knows? But he was angry." another Whispered.

"the princess had been acting strangly ever since she fell ill, we better rise our vigilance." the third one warned. "we can't be discovered or we'll be doomed."

"You're right, let's meet again after we get useful information. "

With that, they all disappeared in different directions.

A young girl who was eavesdropping, or actually, sneaking snacks and didn't want to get busted, overhead their conversation. She covered her mouth with trembling fingers.

***

In another place, another girl was dealing with her own problems.

"miss, what are you doing?!"

"searching for treasures!" she wiped her forehead with the back of her dirty hands.

"miss! Your hands! And your clothes! They are so muddy!" the maid gasped.

"they're shabby either way." she shrugged.

"miss are you still ill? Please have a rest inside, you'll feel better after sleeping." the maid insisted.

"I'll feel better after shopping!"

"but, miss...you have no money."

"that's why I am searching for —aha! Here it is!" she pulled out a small box.

"what is it?"

"my life savings!" she opened the box in excitement.

"..." the maid stared then said. "miss... it's empty."

"yeah, I can see that!" she rolled her eyes.

"then—"

"I thought I was the Duke's daughter, then why am I broke!" she yelled at the sky.

"uh, miss... You can take my money." the maid offered. "I still have two tales of silver left from my salary."

"a maid's leftover salary is more than my whole life savings..." she didn't know if she should laugh or cry. "how can I, a duke's daughter, not have enough money for donuts?"

"miss, what are donuts?"

"they are...cake that look like this," she drew circles in the mud. "it's delicious!"

"yes, miss." the maid didn't understand but still nodded. "I will go bring lunch."

Her miss has been acting more and more strange ever since she fell in that pond.

After her maid left, Victoria washed her hands and face in the pond. "come out!"

A little boy came from behind the big oak tree and dragged his feet until he reached her.

So cute!

Even if there's dirt on his face, he's still so adorable. She wetted a handkerchief and came closer to him. He bowed his head ready for a slap when she lifted his head and started cleaning it.

"why is your face so dirty?"

The boy stayed quiet, shocked because she was the only one who never hit him or yelled at him.

"do you want to play with me?" she asked. "Let's play hide and seek! I will count to ten and you hide, okay?"

The boy reluctantly nodded and walked away.

"one... Two... Three... Four... Fi—"

"miss, bad news." her maid came rushing to her. "miss, the eldest miss is here!"

"why do you have soup all over your clothes?"

"no time to explain, you should hide?"

"Where, Bessie, in the empty shed or behind the tree?" she said sarcastically. "there's no where to hide, and we can't always let them bully us with our heads low. We have to stand up for ourselves!"

"but, miss—"

"no buts. Look at yourself, Bes...do you trust me? "

"... Yes, miss."

At her words, a little girl dressed in expensive clothes walked in, making Bes immediately cower in fear.

Standing face to face, one looked like a spoiled princess, while the other like an orphan from the streets, skinny with tattered clothes.

"what brings you to my humble abode, sister?" she smiled sarcastically.