CH 43

There was no head maid in Lewicia's palace. It was because before Yulia came in, Coco was the only maid of honor. So, everyone thought that Coco was the head maid of the Prince's palace.

"Newcomer, you will work as Lady Yulia's exclusive maid starting from today. Even if she is a commoner, it doesn't make sense that a maid of honor directly appointed by His Highness the Prince does not have an exclusive maid."

"Yes, Lady Coco."

Trudy was sociable and became fairly close with the other maids within a few days of entering the palace.

When she was assigned as Yulia's exclusive maid, the other maids came over to congratulate her.

"Good for you! Lady Yulia is a really nice person. She is kind and diligent. You will probably be the most comfortable maid in our palace."

"Since she likes sweets, she might give you snacks often."

The maids gathered and chatted. Coco listened to their conversation with her arms folded and said with an evil-looking smile.

"It's strange... Why do your words sound like 'Lady Yulia is kind and nice, but Lady Coco has a dirty and picky personality' in my ears? Until now, have you been comforting my exclusive maids for having the most difficult job in the palace?"

The maids shook their heads, saying that it was not like that.

"Pardon? Lady Coco, why are you saying such a thing? When did we do that!"

Coco glared at each person with a villainous smile. Then, the maids stealthily pretended not to know what she was talking about before using work as an excuse to step away.

"Oh, I should go and check if the laundry is dry."

"I forgot to water the plants..."

"Should I clean the hallway? Or the windows?"

After the maids scattered to perform their respective tasks, Coco nodded at Trudy.

"Follow me."

"Yes! Lady Coco."

Trudy smiled and walked behind Coco.

She was a young and bubbly kid. Aside from her friendly personality, if she didn't do a good job, there is no way the shrewd maids would dote on her this much.

Coco glanced sideways at the window glass and examined Trudy's expression, attitude, and gait.

"As you may already know, we don't attach importance to Yulia's social status in our palace. Just remember that she was chosen and brought in by His Highness the Prince himself. Moreover, since she is one of the only two maids of honor in the palace, attend to her to the best of your ability."

"Yes! I will keep that in mind."

Trudy replied with a smile on her face. Despite her obedient and gentle demeanor, her voice was strong and powerful.

Coco stopped observing Trudy and stood in front of Yulia's room.

"It's me."

“Are you here?”

Yulia smiled, and opened the door. Her gaze moved behind Coco. Trudy kept her head slightly bowed, trying to appear calm.

When Yulia opened the door wide for them to come in, Coco quickly walked into the room. Trudy, who was trying to grasp the situation, followed Coco into Yulia's room.

"Sit there."

However, there was only one chair in front of the round table. Trudy looked at Yulia and Coco alternately, embarrassed for a moment.

"Should I sit down?"

"Yes, I put this chair here for you to sit on."

"But, you two..."

"Sit down. Don't talk too much."

Coco was annoyed. Although she was as fiery as usual, she didn't seem to be in a bad mood, but Trudy gulped nervously at Coco's sudden hostile gaze toward her.

"Sit down."

There was no trace of a smile on Yulia's face either.

Trudy sat on the chair. She clasped her hands together on her knees, and looked up at Yulia and Coco like a frightened rabbit.

At that moment, Coco smiled with one corner of her mouth raised.

"Would you look at that. Isn't she quite good at acting?"

"Excuse me, maids of honor... Why are you like that? If I did something wrong..."

Yulia gave Coco a sympathetic look.

Trudy was putting on a good act, trying to maintain a moderately nervous and moderately scared expression. Even so, she diligently made eye contact as if she didn't want to miss the two maids of honor's reactions.

This time, Coco made a sign to Yulia with her eyes. It meant to tell her to get to work.

Yulia nodded, and asked Trudy.

"What is your name?"

"Pardon? My name... is Trudy."

"I am asking your real name."

"Lady Yulia, why are you doing this? My name is Trudy. Please, tell me what I did wrong."

Trudy was flustered as she couldn't grasp the situation.

Yulia thought she had been doing very well so far. A maid must have this much guts to serve as a spy in the palace.

"The person who assigned you to the Prince's palace must be an official of the Department of the Royal Household, right? As soon as I went out, you would have contacted the hyenas, and... Trudy, I want to know the whole process."

Trudy's eyes widened. She opened her mouth and looked at Yulia with a face that seemed unable to understand what she meant.

Coco sneered, and chipped in.

"I told you she was good at acting."

Yulia didn't take her time trying to convince Trudy. That kind of method was worth using when it was necessary to make the other person an ally and build mutual trust.

However, in this case, intimidation is better than persuasion.

"I almost got killed by hyenas a total of three times. The third time, it was thanks to you. Now, I can't let it go anymore."

"Lady..."

"I can drag you to the Royal Knights or the police. After talking to His Highness, we can lock you in a dungeon and torture you or execute you. And I will inform the Department of the Royal Household and the hyenas."

Trudy held her breath briefly. Yulia did not miss that shift.

"Or I might spread rumors that a spy named Trudy was caught trying to kill Prince Lewicia's maid of honor together with a hyena."

"Lady, I..."

"And say that all of this was ordered by the Marquis of Marjoram."

"You're wrong!"

Trudy cried out in a sharp voice.

"It's not like that. I grew up in the countryside... I don't know anyone in the city. I entered the palace because my father worked for a small local lord, so he recommended me to the lord saying that I was smart and hard-working!"

"Spies always have well-prepared backgrounds."

"Since I was young, I have been wanting to work in the royal palace. So, I took the test six times. Being from the countryside, it was very difficult to memorize complicated royal rules, but my final score was good. Trust me!"

"Trudy, the hyena that pursued me yesterday is probably dead now", Yulia said in a monotonous voice.

"Since he couldn’t kill me, he must have been eliminated. You will suffer the same fate."

Trudy's breathing started to quicken. She was fairly good at weaseling out of it, but Yulia was not the kind of person to be fooled by that.

Yulia spoke again.

"When a spy is eliminated, everyone involved with them is also removed. That's the basics. I don't know how much they offered you, but as soon as you're caught, you and your entire family will be killed without seeing a single coin."

When a spy is planted in the royal palace, most of the time, their family is held hostage as well. It was to prepare in case of betrayal.

Yulia learned all of this from Coco. She looked at her for confirmation; and Coco nodded firmly.

"Trudy, tell me whom does your loyalty belong to?"

"No. This... is unfair. I didn't do anything, but the maid of honor is..."

It was then.

"I can't take it anymore."

Coco, who had been standing silently, stepped forward and stretched out her hand. Then, she grabbed Trudy by the hair and pulled her closer to her.

"Argh!", Trudy shrieked.

Glaring at her from a very close distance so that Trudy's vision contained only her eyes, Coco said.

"Why does a clever kid like you act so dull? What we're saying is that what you gain and lose depends on who you're loyal to. Why do you think we brought you here secretly instead of getting rid of you cleanly?"

Trudy's eyes widened. She put her brain to work as she carried on with her acting.

'How can I get out of here? What should I do if I can't escape? Whose hand should I hold if I want to survive?'

Coco let go of the hair she was holding and brushed her hands off, giving Trudy time to think.

"I, I..."

In fact, since she was already exposed as a spy, there was only one option left.

A clear light returned to Trudy's eyes, which had been shaking miserably.

"Please, spare me."

After she was done assessing the situation, she bit her lip hard enough to bleed, and lay down on the spot. Then, she begged Yulia and Coco.

"Spare me. I know it's shameless, but... I couldn't help it either. I had to do anything to protect my family. I was told to work diligently here for a few years and keep an eye on the Prince and the maid of honor Lady Yulia. That's all."

"Trudy."

"The contact was made through an errand boy. There is an errand boy in the palace who carries news outside, so I asked him to do it."

"Who is it?"

"A provision merchant. He visits the palace frequently, and delivers eggs and vegetables. The person who told me to enter the second Prince's palace was from the Department of the Royal Household, but it was the assassins to told me to watch Lady Yulia."

"So you're saying you did it knowing that Yulia would die because of you?"

Coco's lips twitched. When she tried to pull Trudy's hair again and Yulia suddenly stopped her, she let out her frustrations.

"You almost died because of her! Do you not care at all? If it were me, I would grind her down to the bone!"

"We won't gain anything by being angry. Let's think rationally."

"Don't you know what it means to be human? Sometimes you judge with your heart, not your head. That's why God created the heart! So, it means that at times like this you can grab this girl by the hair, shake her, slap her on the cheek, and strangle her while telling her to try and go through it too!"

As Coco shouted, Trudy looked at Yulia with a frightened face. She seemed undecided as to which solution was better between clinging to her and begging for her life, or keeping her mouth shut.

Yulia wasn't satisfied with either of those. There was something else she wanted.

"Trudy, tell me their names."

"What?"

"The one who gave you the order, the one who brought you here, the one who chose you, the one who ran your errands, every single one of them."

"Lady Yulia!"

"Then, I'll give you this."

Yulia put a heavy pouch down on the floor. Trudy, who was lying face down on the floor, noticed that it was full of glittering gold coins.