Ominous words

POV: Serena Laratje

With a veiled expression, I watched the girl straighten heavy curtains final and now turned in my direction with a shallow smile.

"Good morning, Princess."

She bowed.

"I was not aware that you had already been awake."

She continued. It wasn't an apology. Just a half-hearted excuse.

"Get out."

I didn't dignify the girl with another look. Instead, leaned back in my big pillow again and closed my eyes.

"Arrange everything correctly again, as if you had never invaded my room."

With those final words, I pulled the blanket up to my shoulders and tried to fall asleep again. At least until Isabelle would throw me out of bed.

I heard muffled footsteps, also fabric which was being moved. I ignored everything and concentrated rather on finding a reason why suddenly a strange servant took the liberty to simply march into my bedroom.

I straightened up again a few breaths later, since the unpleasant start to the day didn't let me rest any longer.

Grumbling, I tossed the covers aside and marched towards my door moments later. Turned back immediately, however, to throw on my robe. Proper footwear seemed to make sense, too.

My mood continued to sink as I ignored the stares of the surrounding servants. I at least remembered to comb through my hair a few times so it didn't look too bad.

At least my appearance was halfway respectable.

Based on the number of staff and a quick glance through one of the windows in the hallway, I could also at least roughly estimate the time.

Very likely, the entire Laratje family was in the dining room having breakfast.

In contrast to me, they did this nonsensically early. At this time of day, I had no appetite for a long time.

I raised my hand harshly when a servant tried to stop me in front of the main entrance. Unannounced, I opened the door with far too much vigor and momentum. It inevitably thundered against the innocent wall.

Possibly the wall and even more so the wallpaper had to suffer. I couldn't care less.

"Serena!"

I understood the indignant exclamation, of course. My behavior was disrespectful, but I ignored that too, complacently.

Instead, I looked from narrow eyes at Freya, who sat therefore even straighter than she already did. Her reaction was understandable.

After all, I ignored her most of the time, or at least rarely addressed her of my own accord. Even my responses, when she started a conversation on her own, were always more than curt.

"Serena."

This time my father's voice didn't sound as loud. More controlled. Again, I ignored him gracefully and instead regarded his wife next to him with a more than scowl.

"Why are strangers invading my bedroom without my consent and behaving in a manner that is more than just presumptuous?"

While it had been insolent, it still didn't justify my behavior.

However, I wanted to show more than clearly where my limit was, and I drew it, among other things, at my personal spaces.

"Please sit down first Serena."

Freya sounded controlled as usual. Her face, which had been tense a moment ago, was still stiff, however she gave me a small, cautious smile.

I ignored her gesture and just approached the table.

"I'm waiting."

For a few breaths, there was just silence. Even the staff didn't lift a finger, watching everything silently.

"I have assigned you new servants."

A simple statement.

"I didn't demand an obvious fact but an explanation.", I hissed.

"You go too far, Serena."

I was moderately surprised that Eric, of all people, dared to say something first. He was probably also just doing it to protect his mother.

He was right, after all. But I was also protecting mine.

"You only have one personal servant.", Freya's voice rang out.

Another fact. Nothing more, nothing less.

"And what was the reason for the sudden change of heart?"

Already for years there was just Isabelle, who was responsible for me.

There was no reason to suddenly change that.

"It was at my instruction."

I wasn't surprised that now Reuben Laratje raised his voice.

It would have been more than surprising if Freya had crossed that line all by herself.

True, all authority over servants fell to her, but I had always been an exception.

"Really?"

"Don't overdo it even more."

To my father's retort, I answered him only with a bitter look.

"I just need Isabelle by my side."

I instantly frowned as my father's angry look lost a little of its intensity. He even seemed to be avoiding me now. Avoiding my gaze.

Seconds later, he had caught himself again.

"That will no longer be possible."

I fell silent at his ominous words.

"Isabelle no longer works for our family."