Maximus looked at them as they left the room. A day's sacrifice wasn't bad as long as he would have Robellia all to himself. He wasn't in the mood for breakfast; he had only asked that it be brought to him so he could get some time with his little bunny.
He opened the book he was reading earlier. He wasn't actually reading it as he couldn't understand the language; all he could do was browse through the pages, trying to at least get a word he could understand, "Damn it, Pammy." He shut the book in frustration. This was going nowhere. He sighed only to hear a knock on the door. "Come in."
The door was open, and Liam walked in. He bowed, "Good morning, your highness."
"Mhmm," Maximus responded with a nod, "Do you have any luck in finding the translator?"
Liam sighed, "Not yet, but the men are searching."
"Very well. I believe we must be on our way."
"The carriage is ready. Pardon my curiosity, your highness. This book, what is so special about it, you would spend months searching for its whereabouts, and now that you have it, its language is foreign to most." Liam couldn't help but ask.
Maximus stood up and put on his coat. Fixing his cufflinks, he spoke, "Liam, there are things that I myself wonder why I do. This book was recommended by a dear old friend. She seemed very adamant about its ability to clarify my doubts on a matter we had once discussed."
Liam followed Maximus out of the room as they walked out to the carriage. George stood by the carriage, leaning against it casually as he read his book. Sensing eyes on him, he raised his head from the book and took off his glasses, "Good morning, Brother."
Maximus grinned, "What a glorious day to go cause mayhem and distraction, don't you agree, brother?"
George chuckled, "I do agree."
Liam bowed, "Your highness."
"I've told you, Liam, no need for such formalities." George rebuked,
"He is a stiff fellow, brother. Let him be." Maximus commented on Liam's serious demeanor.
Soon, the three men left the palace.
Meanwhile, Genevieve and Robellia were having their measurements taken for their new maid's clothing. The maid's status was defined by their dressing. And a Personal attendant was a high-ranking status third after the butler and head maid. This gave her power over the other maids, except the Personal attendant of the King, of course.
Robellia stood there in silence as Mrs. Piper took her measurements. This was bad, really bad. This wasn't in her to do plans today.
"Your mother would be so proud of you, child." Mrs. Piper chirped as she took the measurements.
That's when it clicked, shit, her mother must have already gotten the news. After last night's argument, she was sure her mother was not going to take this lightly.
Your highness, if she comes as a bother to you, I can take care of her for you. Shadow was ready for action.
She is my mother, shadow. I can handle her. And not every problem is solved by murder. Robellia replied, already used to Shadow's casual mention of murder.
Yeah right. Genevieve scoffed. Life would have been so easy.
After the measurements, Madame Sino took them to her office. Both of them were made to memorize their duties. Robellia was to escort Maximus everywhere, and Genevieve had to help Robellia with all the little things. "Genevieve, your job is simple; there has never been an assistant to the Personal attendant, but most of what you could do is to fill in Robellia's post if she were to ever fall ill."
Time went by fast the two had even forgotten to take their lunch as they kept busy reading the documents on Maximus's schedule. Genevieve groaned, "For a Crown Prince, he sure is busy. I thought his job was to just look pretty and arrogant."
"We still have a lot of work to do, Gene," Robellia commented without looking away from her files.
"We need a break, Liya." Genevieve persisted.
Robellia put down the files and sighed, "Fine, we can sneak out and be back before Madame Sino catches us."
"That's my Liya." Genevieve grinned as she pulled Robellia up and they walked out of the office. They went into the servants' dining hall and asked for some food before heading out to a secluded area in the garden.
Genevieve sighed with pleasure as she took a bite of her meal. Robellia chuckled at Genevieve's cute reaction as she also ate her food.
"It's a shame you can't eat shadow," Genevieve loudly exclaimed.
Such worldly pleasures do not entice me, Mortal. There are far greater pleasures.
"Yeah, yeah! I am the great fear in the void." Genevieve mimicked.
How dare you make fun of me? Such mockery should be punished, Your Highness. Shadow boomed in anger.
"You know the fun of annoying arrogant people like Shadow and his highness is that they always get super pissed, but you can't harm me, unless you want to go through my best friend."
"So now you are using me as a human shield to annoy people," Robellia stated the facts.
"That's what best friends are for, and besides-"
Someone is approaching. Shadow felt the presence of another person approach them.
"Hello," Felix greeted the girls.
"Felix, it's been a while. Care to join us?" Genevieve joyfully responded.
Felix looked at Robellia. Robellia smiled, "You should join us."
Felix sat next to Robellia on the bench.
"No offense, but you look beat down." Genevieve had to say it.
Felix let out a small smile, "It seems so, Gene."
Robellia could notice he wasn't looking himself, "Are you okay? Are you ill?"
Felix stared at nothingness as he took a deep breath, "She is dead, Liya. She died." The tears he had been holding back fell.
Robellia seemed confused and worried, and so was Genevieve. Robellia put away her plate as she placed her hand on Felix's bent back, trying to console him, "Felix, who are you talking about?"
"Elenor." He managed to say between his sobs.
Robellia's hand paused as flashes of memories filled her head, "No," she whispered, tears already hindering her sight as she slightly trembled. "No," she repeated.
Genevieve was also taken aback. Elenor was Felix's younger sister. She was around seventeen. Genevieve wasn't especially close to the young girl, but she did spend a fair amount of time with the girl to get to know her. Robellia, on the other had was extremely close with the girl. She was practically like Robellia's young sister. During her breaks from palace duty, Felix would take Robellia and Elenor out to the market, and the three of them would spend hours having fun.
"When? How?" Robellia asked in a shaky voice as tears smeared her face.
"We buried her yesterday. She committed suicide, Liya." Felix gathered himself.
"She wouldn't." Robellia shook her head. "You are lying to me. She wouldn't."
Robellia looked at Genevieve, "Tell him she wouldn't." Robellia hugged Genevieve as she cried. "She was so full of life. She wouldn't do it." Robellia sobbed.
Genevieve gently coaxed her. Felix reached out and patted her back. "In the letter she wrote, she said she was glad to have you as her sister, and she wished she had told you about the baron's son before things had escalated the way they had." That only made Robellia cry even more. She tried to collect herself to ask why she did it.
"What is the meaning of this?" Maximus' voice boomed. It literally made Genevieve jump. It was good that Robellia was holding on to her.