Chapter 141 - The Maid Game

The tour ended, and everyone went back to their proper places. It was the most excruciating moment for Verone. She should find a way to send a message to the Left Minister or the Ninth Prince. The remaining spy that the Ninth Prince had planted in the Palace of the Crown Prince should've come to her already. But, it was turning dark and there was still no sign of that spy.

'Does the Crown Prince already know? Did they eliminate her already?'

Verone began nibbling at her fingernail, something that she would unconsciously do whenever she was nervous. The Left Minister and the Ninth Prince told her that they got everything covered. They told her that she could rely on the spy at the Palace of the Crown Prince. 

She began to worry about her safety. It was only her first day. The maids serving her felt something was off with their mistress.

"Your Highness, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" The young maid whom Verone had slapped before was the one who noticed her anxiousness.

The young maid had decided to address Verone as  Your Highness  since they were the only ones in the room. She knew that Verone would appreciate it.  

"I am fine. I just hate not being in control. Why is that spy not here yet?"

"Your Highness, maybe that spy is not a servant of the main residence. I heard that only a limited number of servants are allowed to enter the main residence. These servants had been serving the Crown Prince for years now. Let's wait a bit more."

Verone calmed down a bit when she learned that the spy could be having difficulty getting inside the main residence. 

She turned to the other maid and gave an order, "Go look for an opportunity to look for that spy when you go to the kitchen. I heard that she is someone who knows how to cook. I bet she's assigned in the kitchen."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The maids who were supposed to deliver Verone's dinner heard everything. They looked at each other and nodded. They left in a hurry and followed the path leading to Zenia's room.

Zenia was busy planning for the things that she should do to Verone for the next few days of her stay in the main residence. She wanted to instill fear in Verone without making her breakdown to prevent the left Minister or the Ninth from suspecting anything. 

"Crown Princess!" The two young maids were gasping for breath when they reached Zenia's room.

The young maids were still carrying Verone's meal when the maids attending to Zenia at the moment came in with sweet snacks that Vaughn ordered to be delivered to his wife. Their dinner would be late since Vaughn had to finish signing some important doc.u.ments. Zenia promised him that she would wait for him to eat dinner together.

"Behave yourselves! You should observe proper conduct all the time." The older maid who was attending to Zenia reprimanded the young maids.

They both bowed to Zenia and said in unison, "We apologize, Crown Princess, but we heard Ms. Verone was still waiting for the maid spy to find her."

Zenia looked at the two young maids who were still holding a tray of food.

"Put down those trays first and tell me exactly what you heard."

They narrated the conversation they heard between Verone and her maids. The young maids had no idea about the presence of the spy among them. They thought that the Crown Prince and Princess were still not aware of it.

"That's all we heard, Your Highness. We are afraid that Ms. Verone's maids might do something in the kitchen."

"Good work you two. Remain vigilant. Rosalie, see to it that Mirza and Serra will be properly rewarded."

Zenia walked to her dresser and have a maid brush her hair. The young maids and the older one looked at one another and smiled. They never thought that the Crown Princess knew their names.

"Thank you, Your Highness." The two young maids bowed their heads to Zenia's direction and walked out of the room with their trays.

Zenia tried to recall the names and faces of the maids that were assigned in the kitchen. She still did not know that Vaughn already  dismissed  the maid in question. That maid would not be able to return any more. 

The young maids finally delivered Verone's dinner. No one in Verone's side had suspected anything. The two young maids observed the behavior of the other maids and Verone. They also took mental note of the things that could be found in Verone's room. They should report everything they saw to the Crown Princess.

Vaughn finally arrived, and the servants began to serve the dishes. It was quite late, but Zenia waited for her husband patiently. She even got dressed for the evening.

When Vaughn saw his wife, he was mesmerized by her beauty. But when she saw her smile, he knew that his little devil could be up to something. 

"My husband, you're back."

The maids put down the dishes and left the room in a hurry. They knew that the Crown Prince and Princess did not want anyone to disturb their alone time together. The guard quickly took his position in front of the door to prevent an unwanted visitor  from disturbing the couple.

Vaughn removed his mask and sat down across Zenia. As usual, he began putting food on Zenia's plate.

"How was your day? Did you have fun?"

"Oh, I did. But, it's still not enough. She's a tough nut to crack. I think she's smarter than expected. I thought she only relies on her beauty to get her way, but she uses her brain sometimes too. How about you? Did you finish your work?"

Vaughn shook his head. He already had a hunch that Zenia was trying to break Verone – mentally and emotionally. He was glad that he was not Zenia's enemy.

"I finished signing the important doc.u.ments. I also received a report that brother-in-law and Ruvin could be here tomorrow. I am expecting Harnen and that girl to arrive tonight."

"That's good then."

They talked about random things, and Vaughn knew that his wife was looking for the best time to tell him something. When they finished their meal, Zenia asked Vaughn if they could take a walk. Vaughn agreed. They put on their face covers. He knew that Zenia had something important to tell him, and she could not risk any information leakage.

The full moon was illuminating the night sky. Hundreds of stars provided a breathtaking nightscape. Zenia and Vaughn were walking while holding hands. Zenia stopped near the pavilion and looked up at the gorgeous scenery.

"I wish to see this type of painting every night."

"Won't you get tired of looking at it?"

"I don't think so."

Vaughn sighed. He knew that it would be best for him to be the one who should begin.

"What's on your mind? What do you want to do next with Verone?"

Zenia smiled. She liked her husband more and more. 

"I will go straight to the point. Have you taken care of the maid spy who works in the kitchen?"

"Yes."

"Are there any of the Ninth Prince's spies left?"

"None."

"What's the name of that maid?"

Vaughn looked at his wife. He couldn't guess what was on her mind.

"I don't know her name."

"What does she look like?"

"I don't know."

"Hmm, you're such a capable leader, aren't you?"

"Hey, what's that suppose to mean?"

Zenia chuckled lightly and said, "You need to know everyone in your palace from now on so you can easily identify if someone is a spy. Make it a habit to interact with them once in a while. Wear a disguise."

Vaughn suddenly felt something ominous.

"Don't tell me that you are going to disguise as that maid spy?"

"Bingo!"

"I don't approve of this!"

"Why not? Verone doesn't know what that maid looks like. I'll just check tomorrow who is missing in the kitchen."

Vaughn widened his eyes, "You already know everyone in the kitchen?"

"Not just the kitchen," Zenia winked at Vaughn.

He could not believe that his little devil was so capable. He never thought that she already memorized the names and faces of the people in the palace.

"Look, this kind of skill is nothing in the military unit of Ishelon. We have been training to do this since we were young. It can help us to easily detect if a spy already infiltrated us. I admit that we are still powerless against those who suddenly decided to side with the enemy."

"Just what kind of training do you guys do since you were young?"

Zenia just shrugged her shoulders, "You won't understand even if I tell you."

* * * * *

When Zenia woke up in the morning, she ordered the maids attending to her to bring in a maid uniform of her size. The maid somehow guessed what the Crown Princess was trying to do. She left hurriedly.

After a few minutes, the maid returned.

"Here is the uniform, Your Highness."

"Help me put my hair in a bun. Rosalie, you will accompany me in the kitchen and tell them that I am a maid of the Crown Princess in Ishelon coming for a visit. Madam Anisen was afraid that her daughter is still not used to the dishes in Tissuria."

"Yes, Your Highness."

When Zenia was finished with her disguise, she walked together with Rosalie and went out of the main residence. No one suspected them, not even the two maids who happened to came out of Verone's room.

They bowed their heads, and they all went on their way. Verone's maids tried to strike a conversation with the other maids in the main residence. Zenia observed them from the corner of her eye.

Zenia smirked, 'Trying to befriend the other maids… Is this your plan? Let the game begin.'