CHAPTER 1.3

*Eveline pov*

"Finally,"

I murmured under my breath, feeling the weight of the ordeal lift from my shoulders.

The three of us let out exhausted sighs, drained from our encounter with Michelle. It felt like we had just escaped from a suffocating trap, our energy depleted.

Saerom suddenly, grip on my shoulder. Startled me, I turned, meeting her fatigued eyes

"Finally we escaped from Michelle's office."

"finally,"

Reem added softly, her voice trembling, as if we had narrowly escaped a horror movie.

As the door opened, I met Lexi's gaze, her eyes filled with animosity.

I returned her glare with one of my own, tilting my head and offering a defiant smile.

You won't see me lose in a glaring contest, I thought defiantly.

"You girls were lucky this time, but we'll see next time,"

Lexi`s tone dripped with empty threats, as she walked past us. Her subordinates followed obediently behind her, like ducklings following their mother.

I exchanged a knowing glance with Saerom, sensing her visibly disdain for Lexi.

"Who does she think she is, acting like she is something?"

Saerom exclaimed, her frustration evident.

"UGH! How much I loathe her,"

I agreed, nodding in solidarity.

But deep down, I couldn't help but wonder:

Why is Lexi like this, especially toward Saerom and me?

But one thing I couldn't forget was what Michelle said something about the owners coming to the Westallia estate.

I don't know why, but his name sounds so familiar... that duke.

I closed my eyes, trying to think harder.

"Hey, Eveline, let's head out to Robert."

That name.

"Eh... Eveline..."

So familiar... but where?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realise, Saerom, who stood beside her, struck a nerve.

Out of nowhere, Saerom's voice cut through my reverie, snapping me back to reality.

The same time, she made my ears bleed.

"WHAT,"

I answered, a trace of annoyance lingering in my tone

"Did you pay any attention to what I said?"

Saerom asked.

Bluntly, I replied.

"Nope."

"I'm gonna kil–"

"She said...that you two should head out to Robert,"

Reem interjected, She knew all too well how chaotic we can be.

Before heading to our duties, All of us must approach a box located beside Michelle's office.

It was where we stamped our work cards, recording when we clocked in and out of work. It was an important routine to follow every morning and night before heading to the Westallia estate.

This system was mandatory for every employee at Westallia Palace, serving as proof of our income for the bank and ensuring our accountability in our roles. After we stamped our cards,

Reem approached the outside door, opening to reveal.

A beautiful scenery. Before us stretched a path flanked by two small, meticulously trimmed privet hedges to the sides.

Each hedge burst with an array of vibrant of red and white roses, their petals swaying gently in the morning breeze.

In the Center of this picturesque scene stood a magnificent Parisian fountain, its intricately carved marble adorned with delicate water spouts that tinkled melodiously as they cascaded into the basin below. The fountain was a masterpiece, a symbol of elegance and refinement.

To the left and right of the fountain, the hedges continued leading different paths of the outside estate, forming a lush corridor of blooms that seemed to beckon us forward toward the main estate. The air was perfumed with the sweet scent of roses, and the morning sunlight danced playfully on the dew-kissed petals.

I paused for a moment to take in the serene beauty of the sight

I never get bored, watching this scenery over and over

I feel a sense of calm washes over me, but if only the moment, could be longer.

"Hey Eveline... you coming?"

Saerom's voice interrupted my moment of tranquility, pulling me back to reality again.

I glanced up to see Saerom and Reem already heading towards the backdoor of the main estate, where the staff usually enters from.

"Coming,"

I replied, quickly catching up with them.

As we entered the kitchen, Saerom sat on her usual charcoal velvet kitchen stool that complemented the brown wooden bench-top perfectly in the midst of the kitchen.

"Hey Teddy, you there?"

Saerom called out, but there was no immediate response.

After a brief moment, Theodore suddenly appeared, holding a bowl and whisking something vigorously. His sudden appearance startled me, and I jumped slightly, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

"Oh my! I'm sorry, Eveline, I didn't mean to frightened you,"

Theodore apologized, his voice carrying a sweet and caring melody like honey.

"No, it's okay,"

I reassured him, placing a hand over my racing heart.

Despite his gentle demeanour, Teddy's imposing figure suggested a strength one wouldn't expect from a kitchen chef.

As I settled for a seat next to Saerom. The corner of my eye noticed Reem diligently carrying out her duties as a kitchen maid, grabbing her apron from the ivory kitchen cabinet.

"Reem, you know we must hurry, since today is a special day,"

Theodore reminded her.

"Yes, head-chef,"

her eyes gleaming with determination.

"So, Teddy... Do you have the good supplies?"

Saerom's tone, laced with suspicion as she raised one eyebrow inquiringly.

Eager to join in, I chimed in.

"You know, the good supply."

Theodore glanced around cautiously before replying, his response only adding to the air of mystery.

"The supplies are in the refrigerator."

"Then bring them out, Teddy. We're ready,"

I concluded firmly.

With a slight nod, Theodore retrieved the requested items from the refrigerator and placed them before us.

To our delight, it was none other than our favourite fruits, meticulously prepared by Theodore himself as part of our ongoing agreement.

"Mmm, I could never get bored with strawberries,"

I remarked, reaching for a juicy one.

Saerom shared my sentiment, albeit with a preference for watermelon.

Together, we savoured the sweetness of the fruit, relishing in the simple pleasure it brought us.

Our moment of blissfulness was interrupted by Reem, who reminded us of our meeting.

"Girls, shouldn't you be meeting Robert? It's been a while."

After realising we were supposed to meet Robert a long time ago, Saerom and I exchanged wide-eyed glances before springing into action.

We dashed out from the kitchen through another door, which led to the renowned gardens of Westalia estate.

As we emerged,

The magnificent garden sprawled out before us like a vibrant tapestry unfurled beneath the sun.

It was a breathtaking sight, filled with an enchanting array of flowers where roses mingled with lilies and daisies danced in the breeze.

At the heart of it all stood a huge tiered fountain, a shimmering oasis amidst the sea of petals.

To the side was a beautiful botanical glass house, where exotic blooms flourished under the skilled care of the palace's head gardener, Robert.

Standing before him, Saerom and I caught our breath, feeling a bit foolish for our tardiness. We stumbled over our words, offering excuses that tumbled out in a jumbled mess.

But Robert raised his hands, cutting through our babbling.

"Enough,"

he said with a sigh.

"I'll forgive you this time, but it's the last time, alright?"

We nodded in agreement, feeling relieved at his leniency

"Now,"

He continued, clapping his hands together,

"Let's get to work."

Robert reminded us of the importance of the day and assigned tasks for us to complete. Saerom and I parted ways to tackle our respective duties.

I returned back to the kitchen, as my mind buzzed with ideas for the decoration of the mansion's stretched hallway. As I stepped into the grand space, I marvelled at the wine-red carpet that ran down its Center, leading from the main door to the living room. Above me, a golden crystal chandelier sparkled, casting a warm glow over the elegant surroundings.

With a confident stride, I made my way down the hallway, my eyes scanning the area for the perfect flowers to adorn it. Flowers and plants are known for being my forte, and I knew exactly which ones would complement the luxurious ambiance of the hallway.

Lost in my thoughts, beside me, I suddenly caught a familiar scent drifting through the air. It was a scent I couldn't quite place, but it stirred something deep within her memory. Glancing to my side, I spotted the back of a mysterious man and his black hair, as he disappeared into the living room. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't recall where I had seen him before.

Before I could dwell on it further, Saerom approached, with a quick slap on my shoulder.

"Eveline, let's go,"

she said, her voice breaking mine reverie.

"Everyone is meeting in the living room."

With a nod, I followed Saerom.

As we made our way towards the living room, Saerom and I noticed the other maids already gathered there, with Reem among them. Saerom leaned in close to me, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Psst. What do you think the dukes look like?" 

I couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the question.

"Probably two men with huge beer bellies and their hair receiving backwards,"

I replied, barely able to contain my amusement.

"Pfft—"

Saerom almost burst a laugh, but quickly covered her mouth with her hand, trying to suppress the sound.

"They probably stink too,"

she added with a mischievous grin.

Before we could continue our banter, Michelle's voice rang out, drawing our attention to the front of the room.

"May I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen,"

she announced.

"It is with great honour and privilege that I stand before you today as the head of the housemaid to introduce the distinguished owners of the Westalia palace. Please give a big applause to Duke Akai and Duke Zella."

The room erupted into applause, and Saerom and I exchanged amused glances, recalling our earlier conversation.

As Saerom turned her head to catch a glimpse of the dukes, I watched her expression change abruptly.

Her eyes widened, and her jaw seemed to drop in disbelief. Curious, I followed her gaze and instantly regretted it.

There, standing before us, was a man I had recalled where I met him, and now is

My employer.