Chapter 13

Of course, I was indeed an insignificant figure amidst this vast palace, but still, I couldn’t stand the mistreatment.

‘I’m sure those maids also started from the bottom.’

That meant even a pebble like me might turn into a diamond one day.

‘So… I better cheer up.’

I slapped both of my cheeks.

‘Let’s get a hold of yourself, Charlize.’

‘Don’t be discouraged!’

I silently slid the door open with a firm heart.

I didn’t have to get up this early. The maids were supposed to wake up at 6 a.m.

Around this time, I would only encounter the maids who went in and out of the palace.

But those maids were my target.

‘I have to impress them.’

Determination was set within my eyes.

Help them with their works or help them clean up.

It would be alright for the maids to make me do any chores if it meant that I could change their perception of myself.

‘This time, I will work hard,’ I clenched my fists with resolution.

The maids were good people. I was sure they’d listen if I offered my help.

But I know there’s a limit to their kindness.

Besides…

‘I don’t want to disturb Her Majesty’s by causing trouble.’

To be exact, I have no desire to encounter the Empress since I hadn’t decided what to do if I met her.

As I was walking down the central stairs with complicated thoughts, my eyes glistened with eagerness.

Near the stair’s leg, a maid caught my eye. She was in the middle of cleaning the lower part of the stair.

“Hello! I’ve come to help.”

The maid raised her head when she heard my voice.

‘Who is she? I don’t think she’s one of the maids I saw yesterday,’ my eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

The maids who worked at the Empress Palace could be counted with one hand.

I knew this because I had memorized all the faces and names of the maids. It was one of my attempts to give a good impression.

Although… without the maid Webber’s help, I would’ve never been able to memorize them.

Just as I was sighing deeply inside.

“Good morning, Lady Charlize.”

The maid bowed deeply as she gave me a polite greeting.

What?

Her respectful greeting perplexed me.

Well, it’s true that the maids should call me “Lady Charlize.”

‘But where did their crassness go? Besides, who’s this maid?’

The maid asked me, who was blanking out, “Why did you get up so early?”

“Well, I’m going to help the other maids.”

“It’s okay, it’s our job. You don’t need to help us.”

The unfamiliar maid told me warmly.

Uh, huh…?

“Excuse me, but you aren’t part of the maids I saw yesterday. Am I right?”

“That’s right. As of yesterday, all the maids in the Empress Palace have been replaced.”

…she said all the maids in the Empress Palace have been replaced? Why?!

Surprised by the news, I immediately asked her.

“What?! Why?!”

“Oh, Her Majesty gave a special order,” the maid replied casually.

‘What do you mean it’s the Empress’ special order?’

I was stunned into silence.

‘What the hell is going on here?’

All the maids who were against me yesterday, they were fired?

* * *

From the maid, I found out the rough outline of what happened.

The Empress suddenly replaced all the maids, saying, “I don’t need people who can’t follow my order.”

‘…is the Empress finally turning into the villain like what she was in the original novel?

No, she wouldn’t do that…

I could feel the fluttering feeling in my stomach.

This…

‘You didn’t do it because of me, did you?’

‘Or is it just me being self-conscious?’

Eventually, out of curiosity, I asked senior maid Webber.

“I… senior maid, why did Her Majesty change the maids out of the blue?”

“Well, I wonder why?”

Webber’s senior maid just smiled, instead of giving a clear explanation.

My heart felt heavier when I heard her ambiguous response.

‘Ha… what am I supposed to do?’

Fortunately, apart from the little incident, I adapted very well to Her Majesty’s daily life.

To be honest, I’ve never felt as comfortable as I was right now in my five years of life.

Well, I was a bit upset because of the maids on the first day.

But now, the new maids were very kind to me.

Sometimes I wonder if they were angels.

‘…if this life is a dream, I wish I would never wake up.’

I squatted down as I wiped the door frame with a wet cloth.

Maybe it’s because I ate well and slept well recently, but my skinny body has gained additional flesh.

Under the other maids’ watchful gaze at the education center, I could only eat their leftover foods.

Now, I didn’t have to do that anymore.

Was this how it felt like to see the sun after countless cloudy days?

I didn’t know this day would come!

‘Although I’m afraid if I keep gaining weight, I won’t fit into my maid’s attire.’

Jubilant yet anxious feelings enveloped within my heart when I measured my hands.

Albeit being very well managed, there was dust in several corners where adults’ line of sight won’t reach.

For example, the dust near these door frames.

Unless you lower your head, you wouldn’t be able to see this dust. This was where my height came in handy.

“Huff, I’m done.”

Satisfaction filled me when I looked at the shiny door frame.

But then.

“Oh my goodness, Charlize!”

Lady Hayden has come to me with an appalled expression.

She let out a sigh in exasperation and spoke, “Charlize, you’re still young. You don’t have to do this job.”

“What? But…”

I was puzzled.

When I was a probationary maid, I did more than this.

The Head Maid narrowed her eyes.

“First of all, you need to get up.”

She reached out her hand to me.

I unconsciously reached out but retracted my outstretched hand right away when I saw its state.

Uh, my hands were dirty.

But the head maid did not mind. She took my hand and lifted me.

‘Ouch, my legs are numb.’

I stumbled a little as I tried to steady myself.

I’ve been squatting on the floor for a long time, and my legs have been sore.

The maid entreated me.

“Oh, my God, are your legs alright?”

“Don’t worry. My legs are alright!” I answered with the most gallant voice possible.

I couldn’t show my weak side because of this!

When she scanned my appearance, she reached out and shook off my skirt.

“Oh, my God, there’s dust all over your clothes.”

“Head maid, don’t touch it. It’s dirty!”

I was startled and instinctively tried to avoid her hands.

Then Head Maid Hayden looked towards me with sad eyes.

“It’s okay, it’s dust, isn’t it? What if there’s a little bit of dust?”

“…but I’m very dirty….”

“It’s all right. I can wash my hands late. Charlize is more important.”

“…”

I bit my lips as an attempt to suppress the fluttering feeling in my heart.

‘I’m just a commoner maid. Why is everyone so nice to me?’

The people of the Imperial Palace were so kind. Their kindness even buried the nightmare I faced in the education hall.

If I get used to their kindness….

‘…that can’t happen.’

I took a deep breath.

‘I shouldn’t be presumptuous.’

Then, the head maid asked me a question.

“By the way, did Charlize say that you are five-year-old this year?”

“Yes, it’s true!”

I set my worries aside and answered with a flattering smile.

The head maid’s eyes darkened as she complained, “How can a five-year-old be so meticulous in cleaning every nook and cranny?”

How should I interpret the head maid’s words-

I honestly didn’t know how.

All I knew was I needed to prove my worth.

I opened my mouth with my fists clenched.

“I can do it! I did a great job before in the education hall!”

“Really? What did you do?”

“I can clean the fireplace, do the laundry, and wipe the floor until it sparkles!”

At the answer, the Head Maid Hayden revealed an astonished look.

She held me by the shoulder and questioned urgently.

“Charlize… Did you clean the fireplace yourself?”

“Yes, I did…”

‘Huh? What’s wrong with Head Maid Hayden? Did I do something wrong?’ I groaned in my head.

The head maid continued in a stunned voice, “The fireplace is too hot and it’s full of soot! If you made a mistake, you could’ve gotten hurt!”

Of course, it was hard to clean the fireplace. There were so much soot and dust in the fireplace. When I scraped the burnt firewood, the dust would choke my airways and caused me into a coughing fit.

Besides, there was a time when other maids rushed me into the wall stove, which had not cooled down.

Although, that time, I ran away.

‘However…’

I wriggled in my place, as I sneaked a glance at the maid’s expression.

What I was doing at the training center was replacing what everyone hated.

“A child like you as a substitute…!”

Head Maid Hayden couldn’t continue her words to the end, and pulled her lips to ask.

I was at my wit’s end so I could only cast my eyes down.

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Oh no, the head maid must be angry.

Was it such a big problem?

‘I’m worried…’

“Charlize, is that true?”

A voice intervened.