It didn’t take long for Sophia to realize that Michelle Piels was being excluded. It had been too obvious from the start. She was the only one wearing black, looked gloomy, and no one really talked to her.
Since no one openly showed discrimination, Sophia had ignored it, half thinking it wasn’t serious and half blaming her busy life.
‘Why doesn’t Miss Piels eat with us?’
‘Piels is sick.’ Or, ‘Piels never eats breakfast. Fasting in the morning is a family tradition. If you go to her now, you’ll see her kneeling on a cushion, praying on bare knees.’
The answers came so smoothly.
‘Why does Piels wear black? Ask her yourself. We’re curious too.’
‘Honestly, it’s hard for us because of Piels. We don’t know why she’s so quiet.’
‘She’s not going to be like that during the social season, right?’
‘I heard a man tried to secretly run away, so the Marquis forced Piels in here. They say the mining profit he gave to get her accepted as the princess’s maid went over thirty percent this time.’
So many words.
They sounded convincing, reminding Sophia of Anita Woodridge. Just like when she had sided with Solid over Anita, this time she chose the princess and the three maids over Michelle Piels. Or rather, she chose to abandon Michelle Piels.
—
…Life here is quite pleasant. The Duke said it would be hard, but everyone is kind…
—
There, Sophia hesitated. Everyone was kind—to her. But not to Michelle Piels. Sophia realized that except for the first time Piels guided her, she had barely heard her speak again.
Sophia slowly picked up her pen again.
—
But what should I do when I keep feeling like I’m doing something wrong? Would you say you’ve never felt that way?
There’s a maid named Michelle Piels. She and I serve the princess. She is hardworking and sincere. Honestly, it seems like she does almost everything. There aren’t many chores for maids, but most of us—including me—spend time entertaining the princess or giving her advice. But Miss Piels goes to the head maid to report the princess’s condition, or she visits the shopkeepers who come every day…
—
There, Sophia stopped writing.
Then she grabbed her hair in frustration.
“She really is being excluded.”
Sophia muttered in despair. No matter how many shameless decisions she had made in her life, this wasn’t right. Especially after waking up from five months of sleep, she thought she now understood loneliness. She didn’t know how much of what the maids said was true, but it was clear that they were intentionally giving Piels all the work and playing around themselves.
Then, a few scenes she had overlooked came back with a heavy sense of guilt.
She remembered seeing Piels crying at the fountain, and the time she had coldly pushed away Piels’s hand when she had fallen and reached out.
So the next day, Sophia tried to talk to Michelle Piels. She wanted to find time alone and help her. But every time, the other maids would cleverly call her away.
“Come here, Sophy. The princess is calling you.”
And when they waited, watching her silently until she came, their gazes felt cold and scary.
“What are you doing lately?”
Even Eve, who was a little close to her, held Sophia’s hand and asked.
It was the day they were choosing embroidery for the princess’s debut dress, so Sophia wondered if she had done something wrong and looked up.
When she did, Eve continued.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Sophy. I’m telling you this because I care. Sometimes, it’s safer to just leave things as they are, you know?”
It was clearly a warning about snooping into Michelle Piels’s business.
After a few days of thinking, Sophia made a decision.
‘I think I should tell the princess.’
At first, she had suspected that the princess might also be excluding Piels. But after observing for a while, she didn’t think so. The princess was rather naïve, believed almost everything Angelina said, and didn’t seem very interested in what the maids did among themselves.
She just did whatever she wanted.
She would say “Oh, really?” or “I see,” while dancing, reading books, or listening to music the maids played. She had so many tutors each day—it didn’t seem likely she was leading the bullying.
So Sophia decided to tell the princess everything while helping her get ready for bed.
Her job during bedtime was simple. When a maid handed her something, she would do the same for the princess. Like wiping the princess’s face with a wet towel or giving her fragrant water to swish and spit out.
It wasn’t hard. Sophia waited until all the maids left, then opened her mouth.
“Your Highness.”
Yulicias turned her head toward Sophia from her bed, surprised by the sudden voice.
“What is it?”
“I have something to say. It’s about how Miss Piels is being treated…”
“Michelle’s treatment? Are you saying I did something wrong?”
The princess’s voice was calm, but Sophia was startled. She clenched her fists and spoke carefully.
“No, it’s not that. I think the other maids are excluding Miss Piels. The clothes she wears, the work she does—it’s all very clear. Of course, I know you had no idea. But conflict among the maids wouldn’t be good for you either…”
“Not good for me?”
Yulicias asked back. Her tone sounded oddly cold.
“Come here and explain.”
She gestured. Sophia went closer, and the princess pulled her hand and sat her down on the bed. Then Yulicias sat up straight too.
“What do you mean by ‘not good for me’?”
“Exactly that. The maids should work together to serve you. If they’re fighting among themselves, they might not focus on helping you.”
“Well, I never noticed that. I was always satisfied.”
Yulicias shrugged like she didn’t understand. Sophia held back her frustration and added more to persuade her.
“Also, if someone from outside notices the maids don’t get along, it could hurt your reputation. After all, we’re your image.”
“Now that you say it… maybe.”
Yulicias finally seemed to agree a little. But the more Sophia spoke, the more anxious she felt. The princess’s face looked more like a child playing a prank than someone being serious. It was the look of someone watching a small animal walk into a trap.
Yulicias turned her head and rested her chin on her hand. Her slightly dark red hair and green eyes sparkled in the dim room like a predator catching prey.
“But Sophy, aren’t you still kind of an outsider too? So did you feel it too? That Michelle being bullied makes me look bad? Made me look ridiculous?”
“…Of course not, Your Highness.”
Sophia bowed her head and apologized.
“I know my words might sound offensive. You must be angry I talked about your dignity. But when I think of Miss Piels…”
“So when you think of Miss Piels, my dignity doesn’t matter?”
“That’s not it…”
At that point, Sophia realized she had been naïve. Yulicias hadn’t been unaware. She had been enjoying the situation, maybe even leading it.
“Oh, Sophy.”
Yulicias stood up, poured herself lemon tea, and sighed as if disappointed.
“I’m really let down. I didn’t think you were this boring. They said you made your friend miscarry out of jealousy, so I thought you’d be more interesting.”
“That’s just a rumor.”
“What is? That you were jealous? Or that she had a miscarriage?”
Sophia couldn’t say anything. She hadn’t been jealous, but it was true she wasn’t completely innocent in what happened to Solid. When she didn’t deny it, Yulicias’s eyes sparkled, and she leaned in.
“So you really did something wrong, didn’t you?”
The princess smiled like she had just found a major weakness.
