XXIII: Broken Maid

"I don't know, she doesn't seem too happy." One of the other maid had said as she continued her embroidery.

This group of maids — which were in a circle all doing embroidery — consisted of five maids, with Judith making up the fifth maid as she was more infatuated by the craft than gossiping or playing games.

Of course she wanted to learn how it was being done, but her thoughts had gotten the best of her and she fell into deep thinking, not even realizing Tsai had left her side until her name had been mentioned in a third person.

"If you wanted to gossip, you should have joined the others." The older maid said without looking up.

Judith just now realized the older maid had joined them while she was in a daze.

"We're not gossiping grandma Chu." One of the maids had defended.

"Yes we're worried, she's been acting off ever since…" The maid said, then she halted and dawned a grim expression.

This expression alone communicated everything she meant.

"She's just asleep, why are you making this a big deal?" Another maid spoke, feeling genuinely curious why a mountain was being made out of a molehill.

"No," The older maid had said, causing everyone to go silent. "It's true, she has been acting off since." The older maid likewise did not complete this statement, it didn't need to be completed.

"What do you think you we should do?" Another maid chimed in and silence had followed for several moments.

The older maid had stopped her embroidery, but she still didn't lift her gaze from the material.

"Someone should talk to her." The older maid said, somehow relaying years of wisdom with her words.

Once she had said this, everyone began to scoff in anxiousness.

And when silence had ensued for far too long, one of the maids spoke.

"It's not that we don't like Tsai or anything, it's just…I don't really like confronting people in such a state."

"Yes me too."

"Same here."

The other maids had spoken their minds, leaving only Judith and the older maid.

Nothing had to be asked of or said to Judith, before she rose from the ground and made her way to Tsai.

Before Judith could dwell on Tsai's downcast demeanor, a swift thought regarding the older maid crossed her thoughts.

'She seems kinder.' Judith had thought, before shrugging it off and fixating her sights on Tsai, who she had discovered upon getting closer, was sobbing silently.

A sob that had and was still hidden by the chatter of the maids which filled the air.

Judith felt her heart pulse upon hearing this sob.

This had caused her psve to hasten. So that within the second she was beside Tsai and slowly squatting.

"Tsai?"

***

After Judith had a talk with Tsai, she had lied to her that she wanted to relieve herself, only to be directed to a latrine built outside the manor, which was situated at the far end of the outpost.

This didn't come as a surprise to Judith, who kept her gaze betwixt the setting sun and the latrine not too far off.

Her thoughts were taken back to the pages of her novel, and she remembered the liberate design choice for this maid-only latrine being situated so far from anyone, was for the captain's nefarious purposes.

This was how he caught so many maids, in the dead of night.

"I know the killer has been caught," Tsai said without once slowing her pace or even turning to Judith. "But I would prefer it if you remained cautious and do not visit this place this night. I...still don't feel easy around it." Tsai said.

"I understand." Judith said with a wish that the maid-killer really had been dead, but of course he wasn't.

The walk to the latrine didn't take too long, and when they arrived, Judith stopped at the front door and turned to Tsai.

"You're not going to wait for me are you?" Judith asked, which caused Tsai to smile.

"What, are you embarrassed?" She asked jokingly. "Does your feces usually cause you to grunt like an old man?" She smiled, and caused Judith to chuckled because of her commentary.

Judith's chuckle overturned into a laugh, which, in an instant, had died down. This was because from this distance, she spotted the captain and a couple of Tethereds and Cultivators making their way out of the manor.

What killed Judith's laughter the most was when the captain had turned a gaze to them, and stared for several seconds before being whisked away by his associates.

Judith had stared at him intently, she saw him placing something into a satchel across his chest, but did not think on it as her being had suddenly become alert and anxious.

Tsai's laugh likewise had died down when she noticed Judith acting off. She made to look over her shoulders to get a clear view of what it was Judith was staring at, only to be halted by Judith.

"Tsai." Judith had called out, so Tsai turned her sights back to her. "I'd honestly prefer it if you went back in, I just want to be alone for now." Judith said, speaking more honestly than she would've liked.

Though Judith's words had bitten into Tsai a little, she shrugged it off with a smile, feeling the need to respect Judith's decision.

"I understand, just don't get lost in the manor okay?" Tsai said with a smile, which Judith had returned and then followed up with a nod.

When Tsai had taken a few steps away, Judith had entered the latrine, and peeked out through a hole so she could watch Tsai leave.

After a few minutes, Tsai had disappeared into the manor, and after a few minutes more, Judith was sure she had returned to the maid's quarters.

At once Judith exited the latrine and made her way into the manor whilst trying to keep her heart from breaking out of her chest.

She eyed the manor as she kept a steady stride forward, and she prayed that she wouldn't get caught inside the captain's room.