Chapter 20
As I slipped through the servants quarters, trying not to be seen, I heard a familiar chatter of voices coming.
Inwardly, I panicked. If they saw me here, they might be suspicious—especially if they were the servants on the list Edith had given me.
I immediately straightened my posture and assumed a confident air like I was supposed to be here.
As I rounded the corner, the chattering maids spotted me and froze. "L-lady Rosaria..." one of them bowed, carrying a laundry basket. "I... did not expect to see you down here."
"Just checking in," I said, matter-of-factly, my eyes scanning over their faces, which were bent low to the ground.
They were all young girls, a little older than Edith, and they looked fairly innocent by nature.
I recalled their names were Ana, Sarah, and Eliza, and none of them were on the list Edith had given me from her spying.
I still can't trust them until I know I'm sure, I thought.
"I see everything seems to be going smoothly. "
Eliza, who seemed to be the speaker of the group, nodded, her head still bowed. "O-of course, my lady," she said. The other two girls huddled behind her. Her red hair was frizzy from the humidity.
There was an awkward moment of silence as the servants waited for me to dismiss them. After a moment, I paused.
"You can lift your heads," I said to the girls. It felt incredibly awkward to have them bow at me."I have a few questions I need answers for. What are the servants opinions of me?" Eliza froze, and her body became rigid.
When she looked at me, she was caught off guard for a moment at my attire that she nearly gasped.
However, she didn't comment on it. I could see her blue eyes were laced with fear.
"I... I think you're amazing, my lady. The most wonderful in the entire kingdom, no, the entire world!
" she said nervously. I could hear the tremble in her voice.
The other girls nodded enthusiastically, voicing their support.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Of course, they would answer like that. It was clear the girls were visibly scared of me.
"That's a lie," I said. The girls all froze again, avoiding eye contact.
I could see the sweat drip from their brows.
They wanted to get away from me as fast as possible.
I placed my hands on my hips. "Now, I'll give you another chance.
If you answer me honestly, I'll give you one silver coin each. "
They perked their heads, unsure at my offer. Eliza looked hopeful as her hands trembled, and her blue eyes met mine for a brief second before they flickered away. A silver coin was a month's wage for a lowly maid such as herself.
I continued, "What is my reputation in this manor?"
"Ah..." Eliza began. There was a long pause, as she thought of her words.
I pulled a silver coin from my pocket and flicked it between my fingers, in much the same manner as I saw Rowan doing earlier.
Oh, it's so nice to have pockets! I thought with joy.
"You... well... you... um... you do have a reputation, my lady," She said quietly.
"And?" I already knew the answer. But I wanted to hear from the staff themselves. Edith, as much as I trusted her, didn't tell me the full story.
"People say you are... cold," She began tentatively, gauging my response. "And um, well... demanding, and perhaps a bit, ah, entitled?" Her voice rose an octave, as she continued. "There were rumors you had a dressing servant fired for breathing too loud."
I raised a brow, scoffing. Really, Rosaria? No wonder everyone hates you, and you're a witch in children's tales. What a vile villainess.
"But!" Eliza continued, misreading my anger at the original Rosaria as anger at her.
"Lately, since coming back from the Crown Princess selection, you've changed a lot, my lady," She said.
"I think... people's perceptions of you have started to change.
You... talk to the staff. You helped in the kitchens.
You—you bit into a wedge of cheese the other day, like it was an apple. "
The face of Sarah, a girl behind her, lit up. She stepped slightly out from behind Eliza. "The whole staff has been talking about it for days!"
I recalled the day I had casually walked by the kitchen after helping Edith with dishes, which was a welcome break after a long day of staring at ledgers and papers and planning my next move.
I'd worked up a sweat, so I was hungry. A block of cheese just looked so delectable, and it was something I did often in my past life as Tamara.
I remember Julia judging me hardcore for it.
I shifted nervously, "Ah, that's not very ladylike, is it?" I said, scratching my chin.
"That's it! That's what people have been saying of you lately. That you've changed. I mean, look at you now, wearing breeches! That's—no one does it! It's, well—" Eliza began.
"It's unheard of!" The quiet Ana finally spoke, looking mortified, but with a mix of awe in her eyes as she regarded me.
"And what's so wrong with breeches?
" I raised a brow, but I kind of knew, I just didn't care.
I'd read my history books as a kid. But I wasn't about to let them hang me for being a witch.
I also knew that Julia wouldn't have created that kind of world.
"After all, didn't the great hero, Grace the Dragon Slayer, wear breeches? "
"That's, well..." Eliza paused, "only servants, stablehands, and soldiers wear such things. No proper lady would ever be caught wearing breeches."
Sarah nodded, agreeing with her friend. "The moment you do, people will stop seeing you as the refined woman of noble birth you are. They'll... well, they'll think you've lost all sense of dignity."
Ana hesitated, lowering her voice. "My lady, we dare not say so, not here, but if you wear that in high society, people will think you've—" she glanced around the room, then caught her friend's gaze. "Gone mad."
Eliza tsked, flapping her wrist. "You know how those posh lords and ladies are, with their noses up high.
They'll say you're—" she paused, her voice almost a whisper, "—a commoner now!
No one will take you seriously!" Ana slapped her wrist, then grabbed Sarah's as well. They knew they'd gone too far.
I considered their words carefully, and grinned.
How easy it is to get maids to gossip.
But It was true, as a noble lady, wearing breeches was scandalous.
Grace the Dragon Slayer came from humble origins, a lowly orphan in a port town.
She wasn't a lady in high society like I was.
"Perhaps I wish to challenge that," I said quietly.
Eliza looked mortified. "Forgive me, my lady. We've overstepped our bounds." She bowed.
I held out my hands, telling her to rise. I smiled, "It's quite alright," I said. "Now, tell me what else you've heard?"
I flipped my coin in front of her, and their gazes caught it like fish to a shiny bait. I had the three of them in the palm of my hands, and I grinned.
They spilled everything they knew. I think I had given them each three silver coins by the end of it, the price I'd paid Edith for her loyalty.
In exchange, I'd gotten a new perspective on the inner workings of the household staff.
Very few people respected me, and owed their loyalty to Clara, although that was changing.
They said Clara hated me. While they were all fairly new, within five years, they spoke of how my relationship with Clara seemed fairly close until I came back from the Crown Princess banquet.
"...sometimes, in her office, I'll hear her talk to herself..." Ana said quietly. She was like a little schoolgirl telling rumors to her friends, "...when I'm scraping ashes. She talks about how you've changed, how you've gotten a big head after becoming Crown Princess."
I recalled the night Clara had come to me to deliver a message, and shivered. "And... she says all these things about... shadows?" Ana shook her head.
"She can't be right in the head," Eliza shook her head and tsked. "She never sits right with me. She seems shady, and you know, the other day she told me to stack a bunch of crates by the lower level door. Crates of flour, freshly ordered! It was six months worth for the manor."
"She's always having us do that," Sarah recalled.
"It's her and the head butler, Vince. I always see them talking.
When she's not bossing us around, he is.
" She tapped her thigh. We were sitting now, in an empty room in the servants quarters, tucked back away from the other servants.
I'd been picking their brains for a while now, and they seemed to be enjoying this, like it was a welcome break from work.
Still, they really should have something better to do than gossip as a hobby, shouldn't they?
"I know! And they're always with Sir Alaric, too. And the head chef? I've even seen a few guards. Some of the senior servants, too. The ones who always turn their noses up at us."
"They're mean," Ana recalled. "I saw a bunch of papers on the table in one of the back storage rooms that looked like trash, and I was going to throw them away, but she slapped my wrist!"
"Who?" Eliza gasped.
"Yorin did! She said those papers were important, 'too important for your grubby hands,' and got really angry at me." she mimicked the older maid's voice,
"Did... did it have a dragon on the back of it?" I said slowly. I recalled the letter Julian and I had found, which was now in his office.
"Well, yes. Yes it did," She said, scratching the side of her head. "And, you know, I can't read. But I wish I did. Then I could tell you what was so important on that list, Lady Rosaria."
I smiled at Ana's pureness, and shook my head. She reminded me of Katia in a way. It was almost like I was back in high school, gossiping about a mean teacher. "I appreciate it, Ana," I smiled. Nevertheless, I was happy they started to relax around me, and see me almost as if I was one of them.
"Oh, one more thing! Have you guys seen that guy in the cloak that shows up sometimes?" Eliza asked.
I raised a brow. "Oh?"
She continued, "I saw him once, when I went to get a glass of water in the middle of the night. He was outside, behind the manor. And there was a woman there, talking with him. I think it was Clara. And he... he handed her a piece of paper."
I leaned forward. "Eliza, did you... happen to catch his face?"
She shook her head, "No. But it looked like he'd been here before. That was... maybe two months ago now? I haven't seen him since." I nodded, understanding.
After a few moments, I stood up. I heard the servants getting more busy outside, and I knew if these girls were gone too long they would get suspicious.
"Thank you, girls. I really enjoyed talking with you, and you were really helpful," I smiled.
"Keep it up, and there's more silver where that came from. "
As I got up, they looked a little disoriented, as if I'd forgotten I was the Lady of the Household and not just another servant. Respectfully, they all curtsied, "Right. Thank you, my lady. Apologies for taking your time," Eliza said.
"I will let you get back to your work. But when you get a chance, go and find Edith. You know her, right?" Eliza thought for a moment, and a look of recognition crossed her face. She nodded. "Good. Tell her I sent you."
"Yes, my lady." She said. I turned to leave, but looked over my shoulder.
"Oh, and girls?" I said, and they paused.
"Don't let a word of this get to Clara or the other household staff.
I appreciate your honesty today, but I am not a fan of loose lips.
If I hear of this getting out, I will not be merciful.
" I lifted my tunic, letting them all see the sharp glint of my dagger's hilt.
Their eyes widened, and Eliza gasped, but all three of them nodded. "Yes, my lady!" They said in unison.
As I turned to leave, Ana called after me. "Be safe, my lady...!"
I paused for a moment, looked back at her, and smiled. "I will."
_____________
I had spent nearly two hours talking with the servants.
It was a very fruitful encounter, but it left me with more questions than answers.
So far, what the girls had told me lined up with everyone I had on "The List" Edith and I came up with.
That was good. But what troubled me was not only the missing supplies, but the man in the cloak.
How are they moving that much supplies to and from this Manor without anyone noticing?
I grimaced, Well, that's not hard.
I recalled how easy it was for me to sneak out to the town to meet with Rowan, and for four injured knights to sneak back in unnoticed with their horses.
My next order of business would be to investigate this, see where it's going, and throw some sort of wrench in their plans, but it would have to be discrete.
The smell of dirt, must, and horse sweat filled the air around me as I walked. The livery boys did a double take as they saw me walk by, with my flowing blond hair and, well, breeches. I could hear their whispers.
"Boys, get back to work," I said, and they scurried off, continuing on their work. Eventually, I made my way to the barracks, where the knights were training in the courtyard.
Immediately, Gareth saw me and came to greet me. "My lady!" He said, his eyes bright. Sweat slid down his weathered face, and his shirt was damp from practice.
"Gareth, it's good to see someone around here is pulling their weight," I said, looking around at the lazy knights and guards in disappointment.
It looked like Planet Fitness in here. It looked like they had been doing drills, although haphazardly.
They were filling their time with ale and cards rather than protecting the manor.
Gareth gave an easy laugh, "Well, you'll have to take that up with Alaric, my lady.
It's not how I would do things around here, but I don't get the final say," He sighed.
He, Barca, and Jon had all proven their unwavering loyalty to me the other night.
Right now, they were the only ones in this entire yard that I trusted.
"Do you have that list I asked you for?" I raised a brow.
I was glad that he didn't comment on my attire.
It seemed that was all people were doing today.
They'll get used to it, I sighed.
The first day was bound to be the hardest. But if I want to get rid of this Rosaria "stigma" they have going on, I'll have to do things differently.
"Of course, my lady," he pulled the list from his pocket. I'd told Edith to tell him I was showing up today, so I was glad he had it ready. "It has my recommendation of all the knights and guards I fully endorse."
I opened the list, looking at it with disgust, not at him but in the sheer disrepair our knight order was in. We were a duchy, we should have grand knights... with principles. Not ale-drinking, traitorous bastards. "There's not much."
Gareth shook his head. "I apologize, my lady.
But if it serves a difference, there's few I don't think can't be whipped into shape with a little discipline.
Those others I wrote in are the ones I'm... worried about," He said.
I noticed Reginald, the guard who had almost caught Julian and I in the warehouse, was on it.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I just don't trust them. My lady, they are not loyal to this duchy.
Most of the guys around here sit around drinking ale all day, but some of them disappear every once in a while.
.. and they're always with Alaric. Shady guy," He spit in the dirt.
I knew he was probably angry that Alaric got the position as the head of the Knights and the guards instead of him.
Gareth deserved it, obviously, and being a friend of my fathers, but it looked like Clara had pulled some strings.
She really did have the manor under her thumb.
I nodded grimly. "Thank you, Gareth. This will help greatly. I assure you, things are about to change."
Gareth regarded me curiously, with a wise eye. He knew, as did everyone, how much I myself had changed. "Thank you, my lady. Is there anything else you require of me?"
I nodded, "Could you get me the shifts? I want to see exactly who is posted where."
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yes, yes, I can get you those."
"Good. And Gareth," I leaned in close, my voice barely a whisper.
We were in a hidden part of the courtyard, so nobody could really see us.
Even so, I didn't trust prying eyes and ears.
"I've heard of suspicious activity going on.
I want you and some trusted knights to investigate it.
You know of the abandoned warehouse at the edge of our territory, correct? "
He nodded. I continued, "Good. They're not so abandoned anymore.
I want you to watch it, have someone there as often as you can.
But be careful, I just want you to report the movements back to me.
How they are coming in and out." I let the words sink in, and continued, "And I've received reports of Clara meeting with some.
.. shady, individuals. Keep an eye on her, and the back of the manor at night.
Report any suspicious activity to me, or Julian. " I said.
Gareth took in my words slowly and carefully, as gears turned in his head. "Yes, my lady."
I flashed a silver coin out of my pocket, and handed it to him.
But he refused it, giving it back to me.
"My lady, I need no extra wage. Being able to work toward the changes I've wanted to make for years as I've seen this manor fall apart is payment enough.
I give you my word, I will help you restore the honor of the duchy. "
This left me speechless, as I regarded the man in a new light. At least I wasn't the only one around here who had noticed things had been going wrong. "I see..." I said. "Well, you should expect to see an increase in your wages regardless. You can treat your wife to something nice later," I winked.
He smiled at me, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening. "Much appreciated, my lady," He laughed. Then after a moment, he said, "How is that mercenary of yours doing?"
I thought for a moment, tapping my chin. "He's fine, I suppose. His wounds were pretty deep, but I think he'll be back on his feet soon enough." I sighed, rubbing my temple. "It's been hard to keep him hidden, though."
Gareth nodded in understanding. "Even so, I think you've made a rare find with that one," he said quietly.
"He may be a cheeky bastard, but skills like that are hard to come by, even by Royal Knight standards.
I've crossed swords with many people, but that man is strong.
He's no ordinary mercenary, I am certain. "
"So, you think I should keep him around, then?
" I asked, my tone playful but edged with curiosity.
Nevertheless, his words described the exact feelings about Rowan I hadn't been able to put into words.
I knew he was a strange man from the moment I met him in the blacksmith's shop, but last night's encounter with the Black Dragon only confirmed my suspicion.
Gareth's tone shifted, becoming more serious. He leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing as if weighing his words carefully. "A word of advice, if you will, my lady," he said leaning in, "If you've got a man like that in your debt, It'd be best to keep him close."
"So you're saying I should make him my personal guard?" I raised an eyebrow.
"For the sake of your own life, yes," Gareth replied with gravity.
"Someone like me, who is supposed to be the best our Dukedom has to offer, could not defend you against them.
But I am confident he can." I didn't take Gareth's words lightly—I trusted them.
They were wise. After all, he'd crossed swords with the Black Dragon himself last night.
And only Rowan was able to take down more than one. That wasn't just luck or coincidence.
He continued, "He is someone you should keep by your side at all times in the future, my lady.That type of skill either comes from being trained by a noble, or years of battle experience. Either way, that boy Rowan has an interesting past."
His words lingered as I walked out of the barracks, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting the sky in a warm orange glow.
There was much to consider. Julian, Rowan, the maids, and Gareth.
.. there was a lot going on in this Manor that was about to change.
It's for the sake of my own life, I thought.
If I want to avoid certain death, I must secure my future.
That's right, I had a goal I was working towards—and that meant ridding the Dukedom of any pests, including Clara and her goons.
That night, I sent Missy, one of my attendants, to the library. "Find every book you can on the knights and soldiers of the Kingdom," I instructed her. "Especially those who've left their posts recently. I want to know everything about them."