TOK TOK TOK.TOK TOK TOK.
A knock on the door startled Olivia awake. Half-asleep, she sat up, stretched lazily, then shuffled to the door. She turned the knob and opened it.
And blinked.
Standing in front of her was a boy , younger than her, staring at her with sharp,unimpressed eyes.
"Oh my gosh, why is this boy here so early in the morning,"
she thought, keeping her face perfectly innocent.
"Good morning. Do you need anything?" she asked sweetly, blinking both eyes like the most harmless 11-year-old in existence.
The boy's eyebrow rose. He stepped closer, lowering his head to her ear.
"When you go outside tonight, make sure to leave no trace. Unless you want to get caught," he whispered, then pulled back with a smirk.
Olivia understood immediately. She smiled and bowed anyway.
"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean?" she said, tilting her head, finger resting on her chin with the most confused expression she could manage.
The boy's smile went tight.
"This lowly maid," he muttered.
He stepped closer, fury barely contained.
"Not understand ...or pretending not to?" he whispered sharply, eyes scanning her face for a reaction.
Olivia kept smiling.
Then she said....
"Why don't you look at yourself first? Even if you are a prince, you still behave like a 7-year-old child. And even though I am just a maid, my manners are still prettier than your trash mouth."
Then she closed the door.
PAK PAK PAK.
The sound of furious stomping faded down the corridoralong with his cried.
Olivia leaned her back against the cold door and exhaled slowly.
"Well. That happened."
_______________
Four days ago, Olivia's peaceful life ended.
Duke Herold returned home with Ophlia, and trailing behind her was a small boy with blonde hair and white eyes, looking like the most harmless child in existence.
Awwww
Olivia thought
.
"He looks so timid and cute."
She regrets that thought every single day now.
His name was Avelvion. The 7th Prince. Same age as Ophlia, one year younger than his brother Avvion, who was the male lead of the original novel. His nanny came along with him.
Olivia had smiled happily when she first saw him because she liked children.
She deeply, deeply regrets that too.
________________
CRASH.
Olivia turned around just in time to watch Ophlia's favourite vase explode across the marble floor.
Avelvion stood there. Completely unbothered.
Ophlia burst into tears.
And then , so did HE.
"WHY ARE YOU BOTH CRYING,"Olivia screamed internally, pressing both hands to her head. Beside her, Celine stared at the scene with the dead eyes of someone who had given up on life.
That was day one.
Day two was worse.
He began calling every maid and butler in the residence lowly people. He destroyed anything that caught his eye. Even Ophlia , the Duke's own daughter ,was not spared from his words.
The nanny apologised constantly, her face permanently apologetic. But the moment Avelvion stood before Duke Herold, he transformed. Sweet. Quiet. Perfectly behaved.
Olivia and Celine spent most of their days separating the two children. Their workload had tripled. Their patience had halved.
"What did I do to deserve this,"Olivia thought, staring blankly at the ceiling every night.
__________________
Every two days without fail, she would sneak out at night.
Medicine. Food. Wrapped carefully so nothing would spill.
The boy in the basement still didn't fully trust her. He never said thank you anymore, just took what she brought and looked away. But he never refused either.
To Olivia, that was enough. For now.
You'll trust me eventually,
she thought, smiling to herself in the dark.
"Just wait."
But last night, in her rush to get back before anyone noticed, she had dropped one of the cookies without realising.
Someone found it.
And that someone sent Avelvion to her door this morning.
"I'll just leave it to fate if the Duke calls for me," Olivia whispered to herself, leaning against the ice-cold wall.
"There's nothing I can do about it now."
She scratched her head, deeply frazzled. Then got up and got herself ready for work.
_____________________
As usual she went to Ophlia's room to help with breakfast and dressing.
But every time the door opened , Olivia's head snapped toward it immediately.
Ophlia noticed.
"It feels so peaceful without those kids around, doesn't it Olivia?" she said, leaning back comfortably against the sofa.
Olivia nodded and smiled.
That's exactly what worries me,
she cried internally.
Celine noticed too. Olivia was usually the loudest one in the room, but today she was completely quiet.
"If something's bothering you, we're here," Celine said gently, smiling.
"Ah, it's nothing!!" Olivia said, smiling her brightest smile. Pure smile like always
Inside she was screaming.
Ophlia and Celine exchanged a glance. They knew something was wrong. But they nodded anyway and let it go.Ophlia and Celine exchanged a glance. They knew something was wrong. But they nodded anyway and let it go.
________________________________
Time passed quickly. Soon it was time for bed.
Olivia threw herself onto the mattress and stared up at the ceiling.
"Where did he go today?"she wondered quietly.
"Were my words too harsh this morning?"
She replayed every word she had said to Avelvion at the door. Then winced.
"I need to apologise tomorrow. Tch !!that child,"she muttered, laughing a little despite herself.She tried to sleep. But couldn't.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling, drifting somewhere far away.
Suddenly ....
"Hello."
Olivia's heart stopped.
Every muscle in her body locked up instantly. Her hands gripped the sheets. Her back pressed against the cold wall.
"Who is coming to my room at this hour?"
The door handle turned. Slowly.
Outside, a shadow lingered...unclear, unmoving. Olivia's mind raced.
Open the door? Hide under the blanket? Pretend to be dead??
The room felt impossibly silent. The kind of silence where your own heartbeat sounds too loud.The room felt impossibly silent. The kind of silence where your own heartbeat sounds too loud.