IT SHOULD'VE BEEN ME

- SERINA -

"Your Majesty? Aren't you taking a break?" Something must've happened in the Empress' garden. The Lady won't even take a sip of her coffee and her cake hasn't been touched for a while.

She used to rest after one hour of work, but here she is, sulking herself to all of the paperworks. She won't speak even if I'm trying to appease her.

I remain in silence for a while as she puts down her quill and started to trace the lip of the cup. "Make it warm." I've already squandered three cups of coffee, but she won't even take a sip. And now she's doing it again for the fourth time!

I looked at the clock hanging on the wall as I decided to speak. "It's already lunchtime, Your Majesty—" I was cut off when someone suddenly knocks at the door. "Your Highness?" As soon as I heard the voice, I knew it was Her Majesty's fiancé.

She walks into the room, bowing slightly to Princess Helvetica. "I have to inform you that it's lunch already." Lady Camilla said with a smile on her face. I touched my cheeks as I tried to imitate her smile. But it's far different from mine.

"You should eat your lunch, but I won't take mine. I'll rather eat in this room. I have too many things to accomplish." Lady Camilla curtsied as she looks at me.

I was wondering as to what Her Majesty saw in her when she's just as average as me. "Can I borrow your maid then?" I sigh as another trouble will come on my way.

"Do as you wished." She stares at me, curving a little smile on her lips as her eyes tell me to follow her which I don't have any choice because the Princess agreed already.

As we were walking down the corridor, she pauses for a moment while her head was slightly tilted besides me. "I just happened to cook some food in the kitchen, can you lend me a hand?" I gave her a puzzled expression. Why would she even cook if there's a food served already?

"Don't worry, the other maids helped me as well as the chef in this palace. I just wanted to impress Her Majesty." She'll just breathe and Princess Helvetica will start to be fond of her already. While I'm here, attempting to please Her Majesty using my ability.

"We're here. Good work everyone!" She utters as the other maids were eating with their bare hands. Isn't this sight disrespectful? If Her Majesty saw this scenery I can predict what'll happen next.

She'll undoubtedly chastise them while wearing her disgusted grimace. "Try to take as many food as you can. You haven't eaten yet because you're staying with Her Majesty, right?" How nice of her to think of me when I'm just a mere maid. She's just as nice as Lady Helvetica.

"I understand, Lady Camilla." I assisted her in serving several plates on the tray as I began to push the cart. "Do you think she will like it?" Just by thinking of this too many served meals, "She will not be able to eat this all." I chuckle.

"But I haven't eaten yet; I'm waiting for her in the dining room, but then the Emperor let me to have a lunch with her. So I decided to cook some foods before coming in her chamber. Genius, aren't I?" She said while letting out a little laugh. A mix of Lady Luna and Lady Lithia's personality, indeed.

I've been serving her Majesty for about a month now, and all I can say was Princess Helvetica is peaceful to be with. She was fun to put it bluntly. She spoils me a lot during my stay here in the palace as if I'm not her maid. She might've been ordering me around, but she doesn't forget about my existence.

"Your Majesty?" I knocked as we reach the Empress' chamber. "Come in," A voice inquired. As soon as we walk into the room, the princess, who is sipping her coffee, glances at us with such interesting expression in her face.

"You've really brought an entire kitchen into this room." She said as she puts down her cup. "Are we going to have a feast?" She chuckles as she stands up.

I prepared the utensils and foods as they sat besides each other. It reminds me of that one time when we ate in the middle of the night. I was seated next to her, and she started fixing my hair because it's a mess. "Why aren't you eating with them? Are you scared?" Lady Helvetica said in a jesting manner as she looks at her fiancé.

"I was waiting for you, but the Emperor suggested that I should join you for lunch, so I decided to cook." Her Majesty examines the food as she returns her gaze to her. "Did you make this?" Lady Camilla nods in response to her question.

"Is this safe to eat? You know that looks can be deceiving." The Princess chuckles as she takes out a fork and pokes the meat to test whether it's well cook or not.

"You should be grateful. I only cook for my siblings." We started to eat as soon as they finished talking. But I have to admit, the Lady is a fantastic cook. Certainly suitable for a wife.

"What are you reading?" Lady Camilla asked, breaking the silence between the two of them. "Just some petitions coming from the citizens. It was supposed to be done by The Grand Duke, but I guess he's been so busy that he forgot his own duty." By the range of her voice, she's indeed irritated.

"Some nobility also aspired to leave Ethereal in the hopes of starting a fresh life in another Empire as if they're going to be successful just by migrating. They didn't even think that they should improve their selves first. Pathetic little creatures." I smile slightly as I could sense her frustration.

"Here," I took a glance at Lady Camilla as she was holding a spoon with small amount of parfait. "Sweets can relieve stress, you should try it." I sat quietly as it was like a Deja Vu.

It was the princess who did it to me back then. Telling me that I should eat more so I could be healthy. But now, how can I ever forget her kindness if her affection towards me was kept in a special piece of necklace?

When Her Highness took me in, I assumed she'd utilize me the same way those people treated me, but I was wrong. She showed me what it feels like to live freely. I thought I already achieve the word HAPPINESS. But staying by her side doesn't even satisfy me as if I'm yearning for more of her attention.

I must be getting insane. I shouldn't feel this way in the first place.

The lunch ended as soon as it started. I clean the table as they started to work on the unfinished papers.

As I was ready to shut the door, their smiles began to upset me. I should've been that lady seated next to Her Majesty.

And not Lady Camilla.