In the Nest of the Fallen Serpent - Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Greta turned to the maids. “Bring her meal.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The maids quickly set a meal on a small table. It wasn’t as extravagant as the dishes she had seen in the dining hall, but to Hilde, it looked incredibly appetizing.
As if her lost sense of smell had returned, the delicious aroma filled her lungs. Suddenly, she felt a pang of hunger, and her stomach growled.
“I heard you had difficulty eating properly during your long journey.” Greta gestured for the others to leave and then stood up herself. “Eat comfortably. I will instruct you on dining etiquette later.”
Hilde, surprised and humbled by the unexpected kindness, bowed her head. “Th-Thank you…”
‘She’s going to teach a slave table manners…’
Left alone, Hilde blinked in bewilderment for a moment before arriving at a conclusion.
‘It must be because I need to serve the Master.’
With this thought, she carefully picked up a spoon. Looking at the food, she couldn’t help but swallow. “I don’t know what to eat first…”
But the dilemma was meaningless. Everything was delicious. Hilde swore she had never tasted such a rich meat stew, such soft white bread, or apples so sweetly candied in honey.
After she had ample time to eat, Greta returned. Hilde was then asked a few questions: where she lived in the kingdom, what she had done, and so on. Knowing the head maid had shown her great kindness, Hilde answered truthfully and sincerely.
She explained that she had been abandoned at an orphanage shortly after birth, that she had grown up there, and that she had done laundry and dishes since she was old enough.
However, she couldn’t bring herself to speak of her twin sister. Since her sister’s passing, the memory was buried deep within her heart, too precious to utter aloud.
“I wondered why your hands were so chapped.” Greta clicked her tongue. “I’ll ask the physician if there’s any ointment for your wounds and have it sent to you.”
“I-It’s alright. This will heal in a few days.”
“Do you intend to serve His Grace with hands like those?”
“Oh…”
‘It’s not for me, but for the Master.’
Hilde nodded in understanding.
“Are you of age?”
“Yes. I recently turned eighteen.”
“That’s good. Honestly, you’re so small I thought you were around seventeen.” Hilde readily agreed, as the other maids seemed at least a handspan taller than her. In truth, she was small even for a Crozetan, due to a childhood of inadequate nourishment.
“You understand that you will be staying in the adjoining room to His Grace’s bedchamber?”
“Yes.”
“The room is vacant and will take a day to prepare. You’ll stay here tonight.”
“H-Here? This room is too nice!” At Hilde’s surprised question, Greta’s stern expression softened slightly. “You’ll faint when you see the adjoining room.” Her face became serious again. “You will encounter His Grace frequently, both while serving him and at other times. Devote yourself to ensuring you do not displease him. You have been granted undue privilege despite your status.”
It was indeed an undue privilege, Hilde thought. Tightening her grip on her hands, she replied, “Yes… I will keep that in mind.”
The tension that had seemed to dissipate crept back up from her toes. She remembered the meal she had ruined earlier: the spilled food, the soiled floor, the stained clothes, her master’s unconcealed anger… His cold voice, dismissing her as useless, still echoed in her ears.
‘If I make another mistake next time…’
‘I might not get another chance.’
The memory of his serpent-like gaze, cold and persistent, made her skin prickle.
