*Tap tap tap...*
"..."
"Lady Alia... are you alright?"
Edith stood at Alia's door. The usually familiar door now gave her pause in the dark hallway. Her question felt silly the moment it left her lips. Was that really necessary? Anyone could see that Alia wasn't okay.
"..."
Edith slowly crouched down and leaned her back against the door. What could she do for Alia? Countless thoughts flooded her mind, none of them leading anywhere meaningful.
"Lady Alia, I'll be right here. Please let me know if you need anything."
"..."
There was no reply. But she hadn't expected one anyway.
"..."
Edith remained by the door for quite a while, running through possible things she could say to Alia. She was well aware that no words could truly make a difference. Still, she hoped, just a little, that she might find something that would bring Alia some comfort.
When had it all begun, really? Edith, born in a distant corner of the kingdom, was the first daughter of a knight. Raised in a relatively decent family, she was trained from a young age to become a royal servant—an ambition driven by her father's dream. Though the odds were slim, her father had convinced her so thoroughly that she believed serving the royal family was her destiny. She received a wide range of training: cleaning, cooking, etiquette, table manners, gardening, even animal care. Yet she often doubted whether any of it would amount to anything. As she grew older, she began to think it was all a waste, that her life had been misled. Then, a miracle happened. Somehow, she was accepted into the royal household. She probably owed that miracle to her father. She left her village with pride and joy, beginning her new life in the palace.
The early days were harsh—looked down on by the other maids as someone of "low birth" who didn't belong.She was the only one outside two noble lines to ever be accepted. But in time, her perseverance paid off, and she earned her place.
Her main duty in the palace was cleaning. It wasn't the most prestigious position, but she was deeply content with what she had achieved. Over the years, the royal family continued to grow—one child after another, until the fifth child was born: Alia Muriel Lindre.
Alia was an affectionate and outgoing child. She would talk to everyone she encountered in the palace, even the lowliest servants and guards. To Edith, she was the first and only princess who had ever spoken to her.
One day, a terrible incident occurred— an incident that deeply affected the entire royal household. The news didn't take long to reach even the lowest-ranking servants. Like everyone else, Edith was devastated the moment she heard. All palace staff were strictly instructed to keep the incident a secret within the palace walls.
Edith continued working as a regular servant even after the incident. Weeks later, she received unexpected news—she had been assigned a new position. When she learned of the reassignment, her face showed both surprise and sadness. She had been promoted to a role that someone of her status could hardly ever hope to attain. Yet, instead of joy, she felt unease. She had been appointed as Princess Alia's personal attendant.
Nervously, Edith went to Princess Alia's room on her first day of duty. When she saw Alia, she was shocked. The lively, cheerful child she remembered had been replaced by a distant, silent child. It didn't take long for Edith to understand the situation. They had been left together, two outcasts in the royal palace. Perhaps that was why Edith felt such affection and empathy toward Alia.
Lost in deep thought, Edith's attention was suddenly diverted by a sound. A faint rustling came from the other side of the door in the late hours of the night.
"Edith.."
Hearing her name, Edith quickly sprang to her feet, straightened herself, and turned towards the door.
"I'm here, Lady Alia."
"..."
"I'm fine, Edith. You may return to your room."
"Could you at least open the door, Lady Alia? I'll return to my room right after seeing you."
The words escaped Edith's lips without thinking. Perhaps it was an inappropriate thing to say. A servant should never set conditions for their master. Yet, in moments like these, Edith couldn't control the words that slipped from her mouth.
After a brief wait, the door creaked open slowly. Alia appeared on the other side, looking far from her usual self. Her clothes were dirty, her eyes puffy, and a sad smile lingered on her face as she gazed at Edith.
"hgh... What are you doing?"
As soon as Edith saw Alia, she rushed to her. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms tightly around Alia's body. The act was completely impulsive. As tears rolled down her cheeks, words escaped her lips silently.
"Don't worry, I am here with you..."