This time, the prince was bringing only his escort knights and administrative aides with him; there was no need for his personal attendants to follow.
Before Arlan climbed his carriage, he turned towards Oriana. "Till I return, I expect good progress with the work I gave you. Do not slack."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Oriana continued to look at the departing carriage even after it passed the gate of the Palace of Thistle. Something was different, she felt different. Even when he was cold to her, it didn’t feel bad but...she could not find the words to explain what she felt.
Upon returning inside the palace building, she went to have a morning meal with the other servants. She greeted some of them by name.
As she started eating, she recalled her previous thoughts about her master.
’He works so hard and is always busy. Is he really the black sheep of the royal family? A good-for-nothing prince? That doesn’t seem to be the case. That perv—wait, what was his name again?’
Her eyes widened as she discovered something embarrassing.
’I can’t believe this. Why can’t I still remember his name?
’I know his butler’s name is Roman Chadwicke, his friend is Arthur Clarence, his most trusted knights are Rafal Ahren and Imbert Loyset, the former primary attendant was Neil Lionheart and there’s also the other servants... I can even remember the names of the Miltons, but the prince himself...A-something Cromwell?
’Aaron? Adam? Albert?
’Unbelievable! Ugh! This is so embarrassing! Stupid Ori! Stupid!’
Her face flushed in shame and she tried to cover up that fact by gulping down a glass of water.
’I should at least know the name of the one I am serving. I can’t let everyone know how ignorant I am, not knowing anything about the royal family. Asking one servant should be enough, right?’
After she finished the meal, she started small talk with the servants around her, trying to find the chance to bait them into saying the prince’s name. When most started to leave the dining hall, she decided to ask the kitchen servant who yesterday praised for the incident with the Miltons.
"Jack, right?" She cleared her throat. "Thank you for the praise yesterday."
The manservant smiled. "You deserve it."
She nodded. "Umm, can I ask how long you have been working here?"
"Two years, I guess," he replied as he continued eating.
She pulled out a light smile. "It’s good to work here, isn’t it?"
He nodded while chewing the food in his mouth.
"His Highness treats us all well."
When she went downstairs, she saw servants talking among themselves in the foyer, their expressions filled with delight—the kind derived from another person’s misfortune. Oriana had often seen that expression from gossiping neighbors. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Devil's Betrothed