New Maid

The sky appeared to be dazzling because the clouds were not obstructing the light. The violas in the garden were in full bloom. Layla wanted to see them with the others. Maybe have a picnic in the garden.

But instead, she was stuck here with Mei.

Mei had instructed Layla to wipe the hallway floor. She was doing so. She was woken up by Mei's knocks on the door in the early hours of dawn.

Last night, Layla barely slept. When Layla visited Henni after finishing her work, she had woken up. She was covered in bandages, and she was not able to sit properly, so she laid on the bed.

After what her father did to her and how she was helpless to defend her, Layla believed Henni may hate her, yet despite everything, Henni laughed and joked with Layla as usual.

'You better treat me to some expensive dessert after I get better' was all Henni said when Layla asked her if she hated Layla for not being able to protect Henni.

Somewhere in her heart, Layla felt guilty. It was because of her that one of her good friends got hurt. Because she changed some of the events that led to this.

"Oh, my, what do we have in here?"

Layla looked up at the source of the voice. She clenched her mop tightly. This was bound to happen since they all lived in the same house. Though her blood was boiling, she still managed to force a smile on her lips.

"Good morning, stepmother."

Her stepmother wore a stunning yellow dress embroidered with various flower patterns, and behind her was Beth, who was snickering.

"Why would a noble lady such as yourself be doing the servant's work?" the woman asked with a condescending sneer. She very well knew why Layla was doing this work.

She was in no mood to entertain her. Layla fixed her gaze on her feet.

"Father gave me a punishment."

"Haha. Is that so? Then you better do a good job then. Since your mother must have taught all of this work before hand," the woman said, and she walked away with Beth following behind her.

Layla sighed. This woman really likes to torment her with her biological mother. Now that Layla has the mature mind of an adult, she can see through the insecurity of her stepmother.

She looked out the window. The sky appeared to be clear. Her stepmother seemed like she was going somewhere, maybe to some type of meeting.

"I hope it rains," Layla mumbled to herself.

She was about to turn around and resume her work, but stopped when she spotted a familiar face through the window. The girl with the copper hair from yesterday and another new face.

White hair and a frail, thin body. That person was dressed in a dirty collared shirt and loose-fitting pants. It must be a new maid.

The copper-haired woman was towering over the new maid. She was being pushed around by the woman. And yet the girl was standing there, being defiant.

Layla looked at the scene from inside the window. It seemed like the woman was bullying the newcomer. Layla debated whether she should go help the newcomer or not, as doing so might change the future. Because she was aware of the consequences of straying from the course of events, she doesn't want to generate more trouble.

Nah, she can't risk changing another event, and moreover, it was not her problem.

As she was about to leave, the girl's eyes caught Layla's. Layla was taken aback by it. She then turned around and left.

"Huh? Just because you are a newbie, you think you are better than us," the girl with ginger hair said, grabbing the girl's collar. The new maid simply looked back at the crimson eyes, appearing nonchalant, as if she didn't care at all. And that infuriated the aggressor.

She grabbed the new maid's collar more tightly, pulling her up from the ground, as the new maid was struggling to breadth. The new maid was struggling to free herself. "Now who's in charge, huh?"

The ginger-haired maid grinded her teeth. "First that bitch made fun of me, and now you too."

And then splash.

"Calm down, it's only morning."

Both of their eyes focused on Layla, who had splashed the woman with copper hair with water.

The woman threw the girl on the ground, and gasped as she inspected her wet soaking clothing. The woman's initial confusion turned into rage.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Layla raised her hand to stop her.

"Before you do anything, I should let you know the head maid is calling you in her room."

The woman's face dropped. "W-why? D-did you say anything?"

Layla shrugged: "How am I supposed to know? You should go and see for yourself."

The woman's face paled, and she quickly scurried away.

Layla scratched her head and said, "Ah, now I have done it". Her eyes fell on the girl, who was coughing hard.

She avoided looking at the girl on the ground. She had no clue why she went out of her way to help a stranger, whom she had never met before. Even lying about the head maid calling the maid, she had to get out of here before that maid got back.

"Are you alright?"

The white-haired person gazed up at Layla, who had extended her hand for help. Layla gave the girl a smile. The girl averted her eyes as she nodded.

Layla helped the girl get up.

Upon closer inspection, the girl's hair was not white but instead had the lightest pink hue. The pink was so pale that people thought it was white. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. Her bangs hid half of her feminine face. She was all in all beautiful.

As Layla was staring, her eyes met the golden ones, as the girl finally looked at Layla with a strong intensity. Layla broke eye contact, embarrassed to be caught staring at the girl.

Layla's cheeks slightly reddened. She tried to change the topic. "Are you new here?" The girl nodded her head.

"Then let me give you some advice. Try to avoid people in this mansion, both servants and the masters. And if something happens, say sorry and run away.

Layla doesn't know why she was giving such advice to a new girl. Maybe because this girl reminds Layla of herself and how much she wished someone would have helped her. She just hoped she would survive in this mansion.

Layla smiled and patted her head. "Alright then, good luck. New maid"

The golden pair of eyes stared at Layla until she went out of view.