"Wow, I must admit the dress would be a little big on me."
Dannep commented after changing; today was her first day of work at the castle.
The maid dress of Drakmorya Castle was a slightly darker emerald green. Dannep didn't like the color green at all, but she had to admit it made a good contrast with her pink eyes.
Although it was a bit big on her, due to her slimmer figure it wasn't uncomfortable. Silvia had said they would adjust it later.
Despite having ingested a poison that was killing her, her body felt no discomfort while resting, and in fact she felt better.
"I slept well after all," she reminded herself.
If she had been at Viremont Castle, she would have had Cythian going to her room just to bother her, eat cheese with her, or any of the thousand things that happened and kept Dannep from sleeping well.
After leaving the room, she chose to go down to the servants' dining hall. She was a little hungry and then would get to work.
"I want Lady Ilyss to see how good I am," she thought, forming a smile at the corner of her lips.
Upon entering the place, she saw the other maids eating. Dannep was surprised by the variety of food on the table.
"I didn't know maids could eat more than bread for breakfast," Dannep thought as she approached the table.
"Good morning everyone, I hope you're all well," Dannep said, trying not to bow.
"Good morning, darling! God, the dress looks perfect on you, you're such a gorgeous woman. You look so beautiful!"
Silvia was the first to greet her, flashing that smile like sunlight.
"Come on, Sil, don't be so optimistic, it's still a bit big on her," Zafiro said, looking at Dannep with a smile.
"Don't worry, this can be fixed easily," Martha added, taking a bowl and starting to fill it with fruit.
"Let's feed her until she bursts."
After saying that, the woman handed the bowl to Dannep.
"Good, perfect, let's turn our beauty from Viremont into a supermodel!" After saying that, Silvia filled a cup with hot milk and gave it to Dannep.
Zafiro didn't say anything but added a plate of bread, eggs, and bacon and handed it to Dannep as well.
"What the hell is wrong with them? Are they making fun of me? Are they giving me all this food because of my weight?" Dannep wondered.
She had forgotten what genuine displays of affection felt like, and this was making her uncomfortable.
"Thank you," she limited herself to replying, forcing a super fake smile.
"Pugh."
"Hahahahaha."
"Haha, come on Dannep, if we're bothering you just say it, that smile looks more like a cry for help than joy."
Dannep pressed her lips together as she blushed; apparently she had overdone her fake smile.
"I see, when I finish breakfast what should I do? Clean the windows? Wash the dishes? Help in the kitchen?" Dannep asked as she began eating.
"Ah, your first task of the day will be to go shopping with Yumi, that way you can see the kingdom, and if you want you can waste some time out there."
Dannep couldn't help being surprised. On her first day as a maid in Viremont she had to complete nine different tasks, and she had made a mistake in all of them.
"But I only have to take a walk? Are you exiling me from the castle? Don't you want me here?" she thought, drinking milk so she wouldn't choke.
The women noticed Dannep's expression and looked at each other, somewhat concerned.
"Come on, Dannep, did you think we'd make you work like a mule on your first day? Do you think we're vampires or monsters?" Silvia asked without losing her smile.
"No, it's not that... I just want to be helpful to the others and to the queen," Dannep excused herself when she realized she had been found out.
"Of course you will. Your help today is going shopping with Yumi, eating a delicious pastry at Mariposas Bakery, and coming back here to tell us how beautiful the gardens in the town center were. That's your task," Silvia said in a bossy tone.
Dannep decided not to speak and chose to enjoy her breakfast with the others.
The topics shifted from chores to stories and gossip. Martha seemed to love all of it, because she had a piece of gossip for every villager who was mentioned.
Dannep couldn't help feeling melancholic as memories of the past returned to her, together with her sisters.
With Layla when she was healthy, how they all ate and laughed like a family, just as these women were doing now.
"If only they hadn't left..." Dannep thought as she ate the last piece of fruit from her bowl.
•••
After breakfast, Dannep headed toward the castle gates. According to Silvia, Yumi always slept in late and didn't eat breakfast.
"Where could Lady Ilyss be?" Dannep wondered, having nothing better to do. The woman had poisoned her and almost killed her yesterday. But she had a good reason, or at least that was what Dannep believed.
She could still feel how she had cleaned her face, how she carried her to her room... She still didn't trust her, but she couldn't forget the feeling of her skin.
"Ah! Sorry I'm late!"
Dannep's thoughts vanished when she heard a shout behind her.
When she turned around, she saw a woman with blonde hair and emerald eyes. If she hadn't known Cythian and Ilyss, Dannep would have said she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
"Let me introduce myself, we didn't see each other yesterday. I'm Yumi. They tell me you're Dannep, right?"
The woman offered her hand so they could exchange a handshake. When she did, Dannep felt how gentle her fingers were.
"Come on, we're short on time and I'm hungry. I want to eat some delicious pastries, we'll catch up on the way."
After saying that, Yumi skipped out of the castle.
Dannep took a few minutes to process what had just happened. She thought Silvia was the most energetic one in the group, but it seems she was wrong.
She followed the beautiful woman outside the castle; apparently they would be walking.
Yumi kept skipping like a little girl until she was far enough from the castle.
"Alright, can I ask you a question?" she turned to look at Dannep.
"Of course, how can I help you, Yumi?"
"You know, when I heard that Ilyss was going to bring someone else from the kingdom of Viremont, I found it strange. She had always been satisfied with just the four of us."
Dannep remained silent; she didn't understand where Yumi was going with this.
"So I'm worried that you'll take her away from me."
Dannep shuddered instantly. Yumi's face still held that warm smile, but her feelings were not the same.
"Take who away? I'm sorry, Miss Yumi, I don't understand you," Dannep replied.
"Who else? Ilyss." Yumi stepped closer to Dannep and moved her dress slightly so she could see. Right at the base of her neck, Yumi had a bite mark stained with red lipstick.
Dannep shuddered.
"She is only mine, and I am only hers. Do you understand now?"