PHEMOLRIA

4. FIANCE

My jaw dropped. Hell no. Should I just back out? Since I am confident and sure that I can get out of here, maybe in the next few days, but what if not? And surely, Ald would kick me out of his house if I did not find a job to pay him, but I won't just let myself be that arrogant prince's maid!

Damn, I want to go home! Just wanted to go home!

I was close to losing my balance when Ald pushed my back for me to bow without a single notice.

I forgot that we need to bow our heads to 'our' cold-hearted Majesty.

"Your Majesty..." they greeted in chorus.

I held my loosened dress. It's a pale blue dress, the length is just below my feet. This dress is from Ald's late mother.

Yes, I am wearing a dress that a dead person once owned. I didn't have any choice anyway, he repeatedly called me a harlot when I refused, so I just accepted that I was bound to wear this dress, rather than slapping him in irritation.

The prince's posture didn't even change, but his eyebrows met when he saw me.

I simply tried to avoid my gaze.

Surely, he recognized me!

The woman who talked to me faked a cough because of the awkward atmosphere, and I think she's highest in position among the maids; a headmistress.

"What do you want to have for breakfast, Your Majesty?"

That was the only time he stopped glaring at me, to face the headmistress.

"The usual," he answered.

I thought the food that a prince like him should be pre-prepared by now, like what I watched in the movies. It turns out that it isn't. I bet... he's picky.

Finally, I can now breathe properly when he left. I stood up, fixed my posture, and rolled my eyes in the air.

I can't believe this!

I am becoming nothing in this world! If this is my punishment, isn't it too much?

I looked at the headmistress.

"Go ahead and change your clothes and go to the kitchen, prepare the Prince's breakfast!"

I wasn't able to move for an instant.

Now right away?

"Why are you still standing?! Move, faster!"

I frowned.

Did she just shout at me? Me, the daughter of a well-known businessman, who owns five-star hotels nationwide?!

Ald hit my shoulder with his.

"Go ahead," he said.

A maid approached me and pulled me into a room.

"Here change faster. The prince will scold you if he loses his temper."

I immediately grab the maid's uniform and wear it. I frowned, being a maid doesn't suit me. I'm a Jimenez!

I put myself in a hurry to reach the kitchen. Belinda had already shown me the directions, but because of the size of the palace, I was still confused. I gasped for air when I got to the dining room.

It feels like a meter of a run!

I got back to my senses when I saw the prince raise an eyebrow at me and the maids grinning.

I mentally rolled my eyes and smiled a fake one.

I bowed my head. "I'll serve your breakfast, Your Majesty."

He looked at me like he didn't want me to be in front of him.

"What are you doing here?"

I frowned.

He does remember me. The woman he almost killed.

Can't he see?! I'm in a maid's uniform. How stupid.

"I'm your new personal maid." I smiled bitterly.

His stare ran down my body, then upwards. It stopped on my face.

"You aren't lost?" It sounds plain but insulting.

I raised an eyebrow, I couldn’t help it. "Of course, Your Majesty. I am one hundred percent sure."

I feel like every time I smile my teeth will break because of the suppression of annoyance.

"A simple bread and cheese for breakfast are enough."

Bread? Do they have anything in stock here?

I smiled to myself. If this was the only food that the prince would eat, then I wouldn't have any trouble with preparing it.

"Our cook is in the market along with the maids," he said.

The headmistress looked at the prince in surprise. "He has just arrived-"

"He's in the market," he said, firmly.

The headmistress bowed her head and chose not to talk back.

Does it mean...

"You'll bake." A serious deadly smile appeared on his lips.

I don't even know how! I got nervous.

This is serious. He's a prince and I should obey him or else...

"Thrysia, proceed." It's Ald.

I answered yes, stuttering. I even saw the Prince's satisfied smirk before I left.

I stopped when I entered the wrong hall. I went back, embarrassed. Because the maids almost laugh, except for Ald, who looks worried, and the Prince, who's still smirking.

"That way, Thrysia." The headmistress strictly pointed the way.

I immediately followed, still embarrassed about the stupidity that I had made.

This book seems like the medieval period. The tools and equipment are raw and old, but I know, the casts inside this book view everything here opposite to mine.

The ingredients are complete, but I just really don't know how to bake even a simple bread. How much flour to add or should I put sugar and salt?

I tried to search for vocabulary in my mind, but I just couldn't think of anything. I can't remember anything that could help me, because all that I do my whole life is study like a robot.

"I hate this world!" I repeatedly hit my head with my hand.

Should I escape? No. That's a bad idea.

"Stop remembering things, Thrysia! Just think and focus, okay? You need to cook!"

I breathe out deeply. I need to calm down.

Now I need to make a fire. I kneeled and did it successfully. I didn't have a hard time because we had already done this a few times back when I was a girl's scout.

I placed the pan and then poured it on the cooking oil. I turned to the side of the kitchen and arranged what I was going to cook. When I was already satisfied, I put it in the pan. I look like a warrior in my appearance. I squatted while holding the spatula and the lid of the casserole I made to protect myself from the hot oil.

I sifted it into the other pot of casserole with leaves for tea. As far as I know, the tea should taste something.

Then I put them on the tray and laid them out in front of the prince with a smile.

I saw how the eyes of the servants lined up behind him got bigger. Now the prince, whose forehead was already furrowed, furrowed even more.

What? Are they impressed with my masterpiece?

"What garbage is this?!"

I close my eyes because of how loud his voice is. Even the maids behind him bowed.

"It's food, Your Majesty," I said wryly.

"You're calling this food?!"

I looked at what I cooked. It looks like food. The bread is hard but bearable. The tea is nice, I seasoned it with sugar!

"You wasted the supplies." He murmured as he reached for the tea and drank it.

I'm pretty sure that it's quite good. I put everything in there just to have a taste. Like sugar, vinegar, and salt—

I recoiled when he spilled the tea he was drinking.

"You!" His face flushed in anger as he pointed at me.

"Your Majesty..." The maids immediately approached him holding a tray with a white cloth and... a perfume ?! Wow! Is that what being royal blood feels like?

He took it and wiped his lips.

"What's happening here, Your Majesty?"

My eyes widened when I saw the headmistress enter with the two soldiers and wait! Its Ald!

He's staring at me like saying, "What the hell have I done?"

I bowed... nervous.

"You have no shame!" The headmistress approached the table and looked at me wickedly before turning to the prince. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will take her right away. Take her!" She ordered the knights.

The knights were about to take me when he spoke, "Don't fire her."

I looked up after hearing that. Even the others here were as surprised as I was.

"A-are you sure, Your Majesty?" Confused and startled, the headmistress asked.

"Are you questioning me?" He asked.

You will feel the authority whenever he speaks.

"N-no Your Majesty..." She looked at the ground in embarrassment.

The prince's expression was still bad when he stood up. I smiled wryly when he looked at me.

"You..." I pointed to my chest. "Yes, you. Follow me. Ignorance is not an excuse for discipline."

My eyes widened. I just stared at him as he walked away from us. The atmosphere also changed, everyone seemed shocked and looked worried like Ald.

Wait... did he just say discipline?!

The beat of my heart becomes irrational. I remember what Kelly and Gina told each other. In fairytales, punishments are scary, like tortures or worse — beheading!

I swallowed. I ran, trembling as I followed the prince.

He didn't even look at me, even though it was obvious that I was following him.

My eyebrows rose when I saw the place where he had taken me. This doesn't look like the place where they beheaded prisoners, because the place where we stand today is full of flowers. There's even a fountain and a bench.

I swallowed when he stopped. I immediately bowed.

"What are you?" He turned to me slowly. "You are a maiden and yet you don't know how to cook. Do you think I should believe that?"

I didn't know what to say, so I remained quiet.

"Who are you? Where are you really from?"

I breathed deeply. "D-do I have to answer you... Y-your Majesty?"

"Of course, you are now my maid. I'm not saying this to assure you that I'll trust you. I won't ever, but if you have some respect and loyalty left to this kingdom, show me."

Okay, so now he acknowledges me as his new personal maid. Funny.

And what am I gonna say? I am Thrysia Jimenez, the daughter of the owner of a five-star hotel branch in Manila. Live in the Philippines with my brother, Jhysua Jimenez, a bachelor. A dean lister who wants to be a lawyer someday?

"Why didn't you just fire me? I could put your life at risk—"

He laughed. A laugh like he is impressed and irritated at the same time.

"And now you're making me more curious about you. Who do you think you are? Didn't your parents tell you that you should be respectful to us? The royals? How can you be this ill-mannered?"

I bit my lip. When is this going to stop?

"You can't even answer any of my questions." He released a soft and sarcastic chuckle.

I played with my fingers. I thought, in that way, I'd lessen the nervousness I was feeling.

"Tell me who you are."

I was about to answer, but a palace guard appeared behind us.

As everybody does, he bowed his head to the Prince.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Your Majesty, but the king, Your Highness, is looking for you."

The prince looked at me for a moment before walking with the soldier out of the mini garden.

I was stunned.

What a conversation!

I rested in the garden for a few more minutes before going back. With the size of the palace, I no longer knew where the way back to the kitchen was. If I hadn't paid attention to the prince earlier, I would have remembered the path that we took.

I also don't know if I am now allowed to leave, but maybe I already am. After all, he had already left as well. What else am I going to do there?

I almost got caught. I don't know why I felt so afraid earlier. What could happen if he knew what and who I was? Earlier, I suddenly felt that I would be in trouble if he found out. Good thing that a knight appeared to call him.

I decided to run so that I could come back faster, but...

"Ouch!" I cupped my bottom.

That hurts!

I collided with something so I fell on the slippery marble floor of the palace and it was freaking hurtful!

"Oh my..." I uttered as I saw a beautiful girl in a baby blue gown.

Like me, she was sitting on the floor. I did my best to reach my hand to help her and smile. She accepted my hand and smiled too. His perfect set of white teeth showed and his blue eyes sparkled.

Like a princess in a fairytale...

"That was a bad fall." She gracefully laughed. "Thanks for the help and I'm sorry."

Do you know the feeling of fear and surprise at the same time?

"Hey, are you alright?"

I nodded in answer.

"So you are one of the palace maids?" She looked at me from head to toe.

I nodded for the second time. "Y-yes.."

"Oh, by the way, I'm Guimea and I am—"

"She's my fiancé..." His eyes were on fire as he looked at me.

That's why I can't manage to speak earlier. The prince is just behind her, looking at me madly. Now I know why, because of me, his fiancé fell off the ground.

"Three hearts: one love story. A picture of a love triangle, with a Prince, a Princess, and a girl from the other dimension. The strings that are tied in the Prince's and the girl that doesn't believe in fairytales' hands are now, little by little, cut by the boundary that the Prince's fiancée made. What a life."