A sudden, raucous voice hit their ears sharply, causing both Cixi and Anna to flinch. Caught off guard, they turned in the direction from which the noise came, only to see an older man in a perfect dark grey suit striding toward them.
"Mr Bist," Anna immediately nodded her head in a bow to show respect to the butler of the palace.
Instead of returning the greeting to Anna, he scolded her. "You are not paid to stand here chatting!" His eyes flicked briefly to Cixi before returning to the maid. "You are paid to work!"
Anna bowed her head once more in a way that showed she accepted her mistake and then straightened at once. "Mr Bist, I was only informing Miss that if she needed anything, she could call room service and—"
"That is not your part of the job. She is not yet part of the Crown family, so you are not obliged to assist her; instead of focusing on your assigned duties."
"But—" When Anna attempted to speak, Mr Bist interrupted her before she could complete her thought.
