The Devil's Temptation!

236 Think Before You Act

~

Anna was heading back up the stairs when Agnes approached her. The maid was already waiting at the top of the stairs when she spotted Anna making her way up. Keeping her head in a bow when Anna stood before her, she asked.

“You seem tired, Milady, I’m done re-adjusting the bed, should I make you something warm to help your system relax a bit?”

Anna kept mute as she looked at the maid. Indeed, she felt tired for some reason, but she had managed to pull it off without letting anyone know about it, so how did the new maid figure it out with just a glance.

Was it her face?

Anna shook her head, politely refusing her kind offer, “I am alright, I had to check out a few arrangements for my wedding, but I never expected that I had to go through a long list, I guess I’ve over-stressed my mind again. I’ll just get some rest.”

“Then allow me to make you some soup, you’ll feel warmed and sleep comfortably after taking it, it’s very medicinal and you’ll like it.”

“I don’t want to stress you.”

“I’m a maid, I may be incharge of the chambers but your health is also my priority. His Highness asked me to take good care of you until he returns, so please don’t refuse and let me get them for you.”

.....

She sounded earnest, her tone was even more relaxing, and since she insisted, Anna didn’t think she had the right to refuse any longer.

“Alright,” she smiled faintly, “I’ll be in my chamber in case you’re done making it.”

Agnes’s face brightened, she appeared to be in her late thirties but still looked young in a mature way. But Anna couldn’t rid the feeling of knowing her from somewhere.

“I’ll go make some for you.”

“Hold it there.” Came the voice of Lady Odette as she strolled through the corridor to come meet the two women. As always, she held her head with pride and carried a look of displeasure and obvious irritation, enough sign for Anna to realize that there was going to be trouble with her presence.

“Good morning Matriarch.” Anna politely bowed her head, showing her signs of greetings to Lady Odette before raising her head up.

“You there.” She ignored Anna’s greetings, turning her attention to the maid who still kept her head in a bow.

“My room is untidy, and since you appear jobless to be having unnecessary discussions on the stairs, go and clean it up.” She strictly ordered, but to her surprise, the maid didn’t flinch.

“I do not wish to disrespect your orders, but His Highness has made it clear to my ears that I shall attend to his future wife and no one else.” Agnes relayed the message of Roshan to her, but Lady Odette felt aggravated by it, embarrassment seeped into her bones that a maid had refused her.

This is the first time a maid has dared to go against her orders.

“Are you disobeying me??”

“I am just following His Highness’s orders since I’ll be at the risk of losing my job, and I was just about to go make some soup for Milady here.”

“Do you have any idea who I am??” Odette wasted no time in raising her voice at the maid, “how dare you refuse me for a simpleton like her!” She lashed, “I asked you to go tidy my room, go do it now! And know this, it must be sparkling neat or else that would be the end of your job.”

“Forgive me for interrupting but It is not necessary to send her to do it,” Anna intervened, “there are many other maids who are capable of getting your chambers cleaned up.”

“And when did I ask you to speak, you witch!” She cursed, startling Anna who blinked at what Odette referred her to.

“W_what?”

“I’m not a fool, because everyone else has fallen under the spell you put on them, doesn’t mean I’m also weak to fall directly into your trap.” She clarified, “first you dared to accept Roshan’s proposal, and now he’s let you bring another human into the palace, what are your plans? Cause I won’t fall for your act.”

Agnes, who listened to how rudely Anna was being treated by Odette made her a bit angry. It’s not like Anna did anything to deserve such words from her. Plus, Anna is currently weak at handling all this morning drama, and she could tell the old lady was doing it on purpose.

“When will you believe me when I say I have no ulterior motive against anyone.” For once, Anna really wished Odette would kill this hatred she had for her, else how will they live as a healthy family if this keeps going on. It didn’t surprise her Lady Odette outrightly ignored her greetings, but Odette is still an elder to her, and greeting her will always be the right thing to do.

“If you really want to prove that to me,” Odette clasped her hands behind her back, “then leave this place, leave Viscarrian without looking back, exit Roshan from your life and then I’ll believe you.”

Anna was willing to do anything to get rid of her hatred, but the request she had brought was too difficult for Anna to blindly accept.

“I’ll accept other conditions, but certainly not this one,” she firmly refused, “I love Roshan and I won’t leave him to please your biased wishes.”

“Then my attitude with you won’t change,” eyeing Anna, she turned her attention to the maid who stayed by Anna’s side.

“And why are you still standing here?!”

“Forgive me.” Agnes kept her head in a bow, “but I can’t displease his Highness.”

“You.. indigent!...” She raised her hand, wanting to deliver a slap to the maiden’s face and making her aware of her place, but a look of shock displayed on Odette’s face when Anna caught her wrist on time, stopping her from hitting the innocent maid who’s eyes were already sealed shut as she expected the slap.

Odette’s eyes widened when Anna glared at her. She looked at her wrist that was still held in Anna’s tight grasp before meeting her eyes again.

“Don’t let the little bit of respect I have for you crumble to the ground, cause you won’t only hate me then.” She threw Odette’s hand away, making her stumble back a bit, not realizing the amount of energy Anna had used in throwing her hands away, and she looked like a ghost caught in a headlight.

Did Anna just..????

“There are many maidens who are willing to tidy up your chambers, Roshan has personally assigned the Chamberlain to me, so it’s not actually Roshan’s, but my choice if I want her to go ahead with it or not, I get the last say.”

“You dare throw my hands away like that??” Odette was enraged, “I see, becoming a member of royalty must be quite entertaining for you, since you’ve begun to grow livers.”

“Before you judge someone I advise you work on your manners first.” Anna shot back, “she’s a living being, not your toy that you can hit whenever you feel like it. It’s the respect I have for you that hasn’t made me retaliate, but that doesn’t give you the right to mishandle it.”

Anna has had enough of it, her cup has been long filled but she didn’t want to disrespect an elder since she wasn’t taught to behave that way. But today, it was crossing the limits.

She looked at Agnes who appeared surprised that Anna had saved her from getting hit, “go, get me the medicinal soup you talked about and bring it to my chambers.”

“Yes milady.” Agnes quickly left to go make it. Meanwhile Odette could do nothing more but watch the maid go, obviously taken aback by Anna’s other side she hasn’t witnessed before.

“I’ll give you my respect when you earn it,” Anna continued, turning her attention to Odette, “until you learn to treat people the right way they should be treated, no one will value you, because she’s a maid doesn’t mean she’s a rag you can step on, you have no idea what she might be in the future, or what help she might render to you in the future, so think, before you act.”

Odette was speechless.

“If you’ll excuse me.” And Anna bowed her head before taking her leave.