14. Emilia
Chapter 14
Emilia
I slept well for the first time in over a year. Spending an evening relaxing with Timas did something to me. It gave me comfort and peace, but it also gave me a sour feeling in my stomach. I had a wonderful evening being romanced by the King of the Day Court while my father was living in who knows what kind of condition, waiting for me to save him. I shouldn’t be entertaining the idea that I can find love when the first man to have loved me is being held captive.
“Good morning, Emilia. How was your night?” Sigrid is already up and nearly dressed as I wipe the sleep from my eyes and climb out of bed.
“It was… wonderful.” Grabbing my uniform, I pull it over my head and tie it closed.
“If it was so wonderful, why do you sound so sad about it?”
“It’s not that I’m sad, I just… I am thinking about my father. I miss him.” She gives me a sad smile. She knows nothing of my family, in large part because I don’t talk about it, but she has often comforted me when I was homesick or missing family .
“I’m sorry, dear.” She comes over and gives me a warm hug. She has that mothering presence about her, which has always put me at ease. Squeezing back, I relish the feeling of being cared for. Unfortunately, the hug reminds me of the hugs my father would give me, so I try to control the emotion I show when we pull away.
“Now we need to get to Lady Dahlia’s room. She is planning on eating breakfast with Lady Jules today.”
Quickly, we get ready and head to her room. Lady Dahlia isn’t awake by the time we arrive, so we prepare a bath and set out her clothes. Once her tea is dropped off, I bring it over to the side of her bed, where she starts to rouse from her sleep.
“Emilia, where were you yesterday?” As I look towards Sigrid, panic sets in, and I realize I forgot to ask her what excuse she gave Lady Dahlia for my absence last night. Sigrid jumps in before I can answer.
“Emilia wasn’t feeling well last night, like I mentioned.” Illness again, a familiar alibi at this point.
“I must have eaten something for supper that didn’t sit well with me.” Lady Dahlia swings her legs out from the bed and walks over to where her white robe hangs.
“This is becoming a recurring problem, Emilia. Twice now, you have vanished due to some illness. You have become extremely unreliable.” She walks over to the small sitting area by the large window. Out of habit, I grab the tea and walk it over to the small table beside the chair .
“I beg your forgiveness, my lady. I will try harder to watch what I eat moving forward.” My heart is racing. She hasn’t often called me out on being late or missing something, but to be fair, I don’t normally do it so close together. She stares at me for a long while. I fidget with my apron under her scrutinizing gaze.
“I have to wonder if your loyalty lies with the Hemmet house, Emilia.” My heart is beating so hard I hear a whooshing in my ear.
“It seems to me that you have often not been where you are supposed to be. You have been late and have become increasingly distracted. How did you come into the service of the Hemmet house, anyway?” My palms were sweating. This was my worst nightmare coming true. Her direct question as to my whereabouts was the first step in her realizing I hadn’t always been where I was supposed to be.
“My lady, I promise it won’t happen again. I am loyal to the Hemmet house, of course.”
“You never answered my question, Emilia. Father has said to look out for spies. Are you a spy?” My entire world is crashing down around me. What am I going to do?
“I-I heard about the position through a family friend. When I arrived at the Hemmet household to interview for the position, I was hired, my lady.” The bottom of my face feels numb. This is undoubtedly where I will be found out and killed for spying, and I’ll never get to see my brother or father again. I may never get to see Timas again .
Lady Dahlia tuts at me, taking me in from head to toe. “You’re too pathetic to be a spy, anyway. You barely know how to mend a dress, let alone spy on one of the greatest houses in the Kingdom.” Relief floods my system, but the smaller breaths I have been taking have made me feel lightheaded.
“That being said, your professionalism and work ethic are unfit for the Hemmet house. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before, but your tardiness and lack of consideration for my time are unfitting to be my lady’s maid. I no longer need your services. Pack your things and head back to wherever it is you came from.” She waves her hand, dismissing me. I’m shocked and stuck in place as she walks by me and heads to the bathing room.
I just lost my job. I just lost the one thing that has been keeping my father alive. Tears well up in my eyes and pour over my cheeks. Sigrid runs over and wraps me in her arms as I cry softly into her shoulders.
“Shh shh, dear, you head back to the room. I will be right there. Everything will be okay.” She squeezes me one last time as Lady Dahlia yells for her from the bathing room. Utterly numb, I leave the room and head back to the room Sigrid and I have been staying in.
I collapse onto the bed and weep into my pillow. Everything I have been holding on to for the past year spills out. I don’t know how much time passes before Sigrid kneels beside me, pushing my hair out of my face and telling me it will be okay. But she doesn’t know–she can’t possibly know that this is a death sentence for my father.
“I know this is hard, Emilia, but you’re better than this anyway. I have always thought you deserved more than waiting on stuck-up nobles.” Finally able to move, I sit up with my feet on the floor and hands holding the edge of the bed. Where am I to go? Taking a deep breath, I pull in as much strength as possible. I need to find Garrick and tell him what happened. He’ll know what to do.
“I’ll be okay.” My voice is raw from crying, but I manage to say it loud enough for Sigrid to hear me.
“I’m so sorry, Emilia. I have a friend in another Duke’s house if you need a job. I can send a letter to her, and she can maybe get you an interview for a position there. It won’t be a lady’s maid position, but it’s a job.” I smile weakly at her. She has always looked out for me. I’m not sure I can explain to her how much it means to me.
“It’s okay, Sigrid. It’ll be okay. Thank you so much for being so compassionate with me, treating me with kindness and helping me navigate this job. It means so much to me that you welcomed me into your life. You deserve better than serving nobles, too, Sigrid.” Her eyes have become watery, which makes mine water in kind.
“I’m too old to hope for more, but not you. I love you, dear Emilia. Wherever you go, please keep in touch?” She wipes a stray tear from my eye as I nod in agreement. She nods once in return and stands .
“I better get back. Lady Dahlia will likely be done soaking.” Then she is gone. Looking around the small room, I figure I should start packing. Then I can go and find Garrick. Someone knocks on the door after only putting a few items in my bag. On the other side of the door stands Milori, and he doesn’t look happy.
“What happened?” he demands. I tremble with nervousness, but I’m also so emotionally drained that I can’t seem to care.
“I got fired.” The message is delivered with little emotion, not because I don’t feel it but because I am so tired I can’t seem to cry again. That will probably change the moment I see Garrick. It might even happen when I see Timas, but right now, it’s all so overwhelming that my body has shut down.
“I’ll kill her.” His face contorts with anger. Somehow, that makes me feel a little better–maybe I’m not as alone as I thought I was.