Covering up

Callum returned after escorting Eve safely and he went in to see the king to make his report. On getting inside, he saw the king sitting up on his bed and lost in his thoughts.

"Genevieve went home safely as you requested," he reported to him and he saw the king give a small nod but he knew his mind was far from what he had just said. Clearing his throat not too loud, he asked, "Your majesty, what is going through your mind that makes you look so lost?"

Even though Callum knew what it was, he wanted to hear it from the king himself so he can free up his mind a little. He had overheard Genevieve talking to him about Maidservant Ann and he knows just what it was that she was doing.

"Do you think I was wrong for doing what I did?" the king asked him.

Callum knew what he was talking about and he answered, "If you only did it for her sake, then it is the right thing."

The king raised his eyes to look at him and he asked, "How long do you think I can keep it from her?"

Callum remained silent and he just looked at him. So much has happened during the years that sometimes, he also finds himself lost in it.

"She is breaking day by day and I know it. The smile has completely left her eyes," the king said and released a deep sigh.

"Would the king want me to arrange for a meeting then?"

*

The first ray of light entered into the room where Genevieve was, but she had been awake for quite some time now. She sat at the foot of her bed, legs pulled up and staring right ahead of her, thinking. She slowly bit her lips and then used her hand to hit her head before letting her legs collapse.

"Right! I shouldn't have said that. Why am I such an idiot?" she blamed herself as she remembered what she had told the king yesterday…

"Your majesty…" she called him back and when he turned, she said, "I don't know if you will, but I want to ask for a request."

"Yes, go ahead," the king told her.

"Will you please…allow Maidservant Ann to see her family outside the palace?" she asked with a little doubt but quickly added, "I think she really wants to see her family but can't leave this place and I really feel bad whenever I see her that way. I don't know if that is too much to ask."

Saying that, she waited for his response and when she realized he has been quiet for so long, she thought he was offended and she raised her eyes to look at him only to see that his countenance had changed.

"What do I do now?" she asked herself as she sat still, not knowing what the king may be thinking at the moment or if she had asked too much in just one meeting. Still, a part of her hopes that he would consider her request to allow Maidservant Ann meet whoever she has been writing those letters to which she never sends. The king is kind enough to do that and she knows he also cares for Maidservant Ann like he does for her.

Now, what she does not know is if she should let Maidservant Ann know about what she discussed with the king or just keep it to herself. The truth was that, she doesn't know how she would take it if she were to tell her that she spoke in her favor again.

Getting up from the floor, her eyes fell on her opened drawer and she saw the box she had received yesterday, peeking out of it. She moved towards it and gave it a look that lasted for few seconds before she pushed the drawer closed.

Eve stepped out of her room and walked in the corridors. On getting to the front of Maidservant Ann's room, she stopped and greeted her;

"Good morning Maidservant Ann. Did you get a good sleep?"

She waited a little to at least hear a response from her but when she didn't say anything, Eve gave up and moved away from there and then she went outside to start cleaning. She met few other servants on her way who had woken up much more earlier to preserve the house and she greeted them. She picked a broom and started her daily chores and when she was done, she drew some water and was about to go water the flowers when she saw Mina and Beth approaching.

Eve noticed their moods and she pulled her brows together when she saw Beth's face on a closer look. She dropped the can in her hand and asked;

"What happened?"

The side of Beth's face was swollen and red and Eve knew it must hurt a lot.

"It was a domestic accident," she replied her. "I fell yesterday and hit my face."

Her story was credible enough for anyone to believe but Eve doubted that was the case as she knew Beth to be someone who is always careful.

"Let's go to my room," she said and suspended what she was doing before following Mina and Beth inside. She closed the door and saw Beth sit on the bed where Mina went to stand in front of her and she dipped her hand inside her dress pocket, bringing out a small container before opening it. Eve saw her dip her finger inside and then applied the ointment on the swollen area of Beth's face.

A soft sigh escaped Eve's lips. Thankfully, Maidservant Ann has not come out of her room and that is the reason they can be idle like this. The princess doesn't get up early unless she is being woken up by someone and even if she awakes now, they would get busy again, preparing her bath and dressing her up.

"What do I do now?" Eve heard Beth's worried voice and she blinked her eyes at her.

"What is the problem?" she asked.

Beth looked at her and said, "I am supposed to get ink and put new brush in the tutor's study room. He will be using the study room starting today and I should have gotten those things ready before he gets there."

"You mean…in the palace?" Eve asked and received a nod from Beth. "Is it going to be a problem if you don't go?" she asked and then realized immediately that servants have no excuse whatsoever. It doesn't matter even if they are ill and unable to move.

"It should not be a problem if someone can go in my stead, but all the other servants are busy with the preparations for the princess birthday and have no time to spare. Or Eve," she called and then said, "can you not go for me?"

"Hmm, me?" Eve asked, her brows raising a little and she moved her eyes to look at Mina who also seem to be begging her with her eyes.

"I'm really sorry for asking you to do this for me. I would have done it myself but I really don't feel too good. I'm a little dizzy and I think I'll need some sleep to get my strength back."

"Hmn…" Eve hummed and before she would say anything, she heard Beth say to her;

"Thank you. I promise to repay you back."

Eve felt trapped. She had not said she would go in her stead and yet, she couldn't turn it down, considering how Beth looked at her helplessly like she was her only hope.

"But, won't you be getting ready to attend the teaching in place of the princess?" she asked in a low voice, still wearing that worried look. "Oh no, is it not too much for you?"

Eve set her lips into a smile and said, "It's fine."

She soon walked out of the room to continue with what she was doing outside and she returned after watering the plants. Not long after, she left for the palace with Mina accompanying her after leaving Beth to rest.

Eve prayed in her mind that she won't encounter Queen Opaline or Matilda; her personal messenger, on the way. Just like the king has Callum, Queen Opaline also has Matilda, but she is someone to be wary of. Encountering her is like having a bad luck and after the last time where she almost caught her attending the tuitions instead of the princess, she has been careful ever since not to get caught.

It was not long after then that she heard that the former governess quit suddenly. A part of her still feels that it was because of her that the governess lost her job. She remembers telling Isabel that she won't be attending her lessons anymore because she doesn't want to get caught and Isabel had fumed over it but eventually gone for the lesson herself, only for Eve to hear news that the governess had quit. What she doesn't know was if that day, Isabel had threatened the governess or Queen Opaline knew somehow that Isabel was not doing well and so, decided to make her quit.

But what Eve would never understand is why the princess hates attending lessons all the time.

"Eve…"

Eve turned her head to look at Mina who had called her. They already got to the palace and were taking the open passage that led to the building where they would get to the study room.

"What Beth told you isn't true," Mina let her know.

Eve looked a little surprised, even though she already knew that Beth was just trying to cover up what really happened.

"Yesterday," Mina continued, "there had been an issue with Matilda. Beth was only trying to let her know that the two of us are the only ones assigned to work under Maidservant Ann and to serve the princess directly, but she said some words and then slapped Beth across the face. Her face is swollen because she hit her face on the wooden bench after the impact of the slap."