In a dark and chilly recess of the underground dungeon, Mia sat alone in her cell with her knees against her chest, awaiting her time. Three whole years had passed since she'd been confined to the dungeon. The scores of servants who had buzzed about her, catering to her every whim, were now all but gone. During the first few weeks, a few had come to see her, but their visits ended as soon as they realized she would never reclaim the throne. And so did Mia's long bout of loneliness begin... with a few exceptions.
"Your Highness, I've come to see to your hair."
The young maid with red hair, Anne, bowed politely toward the guard before stepping into the cell. Though Mia was already numb to it, the inside of her cell was no pleasant place. A foul odor, no better than the worst of the slums, hung thick in the air. Anne, however, paid it no mind and lowered herself behind Mia without batting an eye. She then produced a comb she'd been keeping in her breast pocket and ran it through Mia's blackened hair. Having gone unwashed for days on end, the hair resisted Anne's handling. Nevertheless, stroke after diligent stroke, the young maid brought the unruly strands in line.
"I'm sorry for my clumsiness, Your Highness. I was never very good with the comb..."
"...Why?" A quiet whisper escaped Mia's unmoving form. "Why do you still devote yourself to me?"
Ever since Mia's capture, Anne kept coming to see her in the dungeon, never waiting more than a day or two between visits. Sometimes she would bring snacks. Other times, she would come with water and a washcloth. Knowing Mia couldn't bathe, she would wash her as best she could and tidy up her clothes. Day after day, week after week, she came, her loyalty unfaltering.
Mia never understood why. She was the emperor's daughter. As such, there were doubtless a number of people who stood to profit by being around her. In fact, that likely described most of the people in her vicinity. Anne, however, was not one of those people. The young maid had, if anything, suffered as a result of her proximity to Mia and her famous selfishness.
To be clear, Mia was no tyrant. It was, of course, true that when Anne committed a blunder, she'd give the maid a mouthful. When she was angry enough, it'd turn into a handful, or a footful, or sometimes even a headful.
It occurred to Mia at this point that headbutts might have been behavior that was a tad unbefitting her status.
Nevertheless, she never went any further than that. She'd never taken to the whip or ordered a nearby soldier to "show this fool the blade!" After all, those all seemed to hurt a lot, and Mia wasn't a fan of things that hurt.
Still, she wasn't a good princess either. Not by any measure. No one — a small niche of fetishists notwithstanding — took joy in being abused. They therefore had no reason to like a princess who behaved as such, much less to devote themselves to her even after her fall. And yet, here was Anne. What drove her here? Was she one of the aforementioned fetishists? Certainly not. Then why?
"I've never done anything for you... Never treated you especially well. If anything..."
"Yes, you beat me quite often. There were a few times when you kicked me too, I think?" said Anne with a fond smile. "But did you know, Your Highness? Your kicks, they never hurt one bit."
"Eh? They didn't?"
"Not at all. Compared to the fights I'd have with my little brother?" Anne giggled. "I barely felt them."
She paused for a moment. A pensive silence passed between them. Then, she continued again.
"The reason I keep looking after Your Highness is actually quite simple. I just couldn't leave you alone. That's it."
Mia looked at her maid to find her smiling so, so gently.
Their moment of calm was broken by a storm of footsteps. Soldiers descended upon the cell to bring her to the guillotine. Before she was taken away, Mia turned toward Anne. She bowed deeply, keeping her head down as she spoke.
"I can do nothing for you right now, Anne, but to say thank you. I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me. Forgive the foolish princess who repaid your unfailing loyalty with nothing but cheap words of gratitude."
The next instant, Mia felt herself enveloped by a tender warmth.
"Your Highness, I pray that the gods will smile upon you. May you go with their blessing."
When she realized that Anne had put her arms around her, Mia's eyes brimmed with tears. Not once since her capture had she been embraced. The warmth and kindness flowing out of Anne seeped into her heart, filling it with joy... but also regret. The fact that she could do nothing to repay this faithful maid's kindness left a deep scar of remorse in Mia's soul. She held her hands to her chest, pressing against the deep ache inside, as she made her way toward the guillotine.
"I remember now..."
Mia walked over to Anne, who was currently profusely apologizing with her head against the ground, and quietly knelt down beside her.
"Your Highness, you'll get cream on your dress—"
"Silence!"
Mia sharply rebuked the older maid before gently lifting Anne up by the shoulders.
"Miss Anne, please rise."
"I-I-I'm so sorry, Your Highness..."
"It's all right. I'm not angry," said Mia, breaking into a kind smile. "Now, on your feet please. Are you sure you're not hurt anywhere?"
"Y-Yes. Um, thank you. Very much."
Anne's eyes spun wildly with bewilderment as she was pulled up. Mia's, however, were perfectly steady. She looked straight at the maid.
"Now... I can finally repay you for your loyalty."
Then, she straightened her posture and declared in a formal tone, "Let it be known that henceforth, you shall be my personal maid-in-waiting. You are to serve me exclusively and shall be responsible for all my daily affairs."
"...Wha?"
"Y-Your Highness?!"
The onlooking maids immediately burst into commotion.