Emma's POV
"But I did get to see you," she let out, her voice filled with a mix of amusement and triumph. I couldn't help but pause in my cleaning, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow. "Oh really?" I replied, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice. But instead, she still grinned, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Yep, caught you in the act. Cleaning has never looked so captivating," she teased, playfully nudging me.
Gulping hard, I forced myself and turned to look at her before looking away. "Alma... you were supposed to go back to the slave quarters," I said in a serious tone, my words cutting through the air like a sharp blade. I couldn't help but wipe those smiles off her face, determined to maintain my distance.
"I'm sure the old matron still has tons of work packe
