Chapter 30 First Give a Date, Then a Slap
The four maids exchanged glances.
Zola said, "Let Echo and Orla go. Those two are reliable and won't embarrass Ms. Hamilton."
But Echo said, "Better let Zola and Vida go. Those two are quick and efficient."
The four of them kept passing the buck, each praising the others instead.
Cressida's gaze fell on Vida.
"Vida, you're the youngest. Emma usually says you're the most diligent one. In that case, I'll take you. As for the other person, you decide."
A flattered expression appeared on Vida's delicate face.
She lowered her head slightly. "Thank you, Ms. Hamilton. May I have half a day to think it over?"
"Of course." Cressida nodded.
Then, in front of the four maids, she instructed Emma, "Get some fashionable fabric to make Vida an outfit, and give her two hair ornaments. After all, she's going to a banquet at Princess Palace - we can't have her looking shabby like last time."
Emma immediately brought out a tray. The fabric had a lovely pink hue - they'd only seen maids around Rose wear such material before.
The smile on Vida's face became more genuine.
"Thank you, Ms. Hamilton!"
Cressida dismissed all four of them.
When the four maids returned to their room, Lika had already been waiting for a while.
Learning that Cressida wanted them to recommend each other, Lika immediately said, "She's trying to turn us against each other. You four mustn't fall for it!"
The chance to go to Princess Palace was so precious - countless maids never got that lucky in their entire lives.
If you were lucky enough to catch the eye of someone important, your status could change in an instant.
After hearing Lika's words, Vida immediately handed over the fabric and jewelry she'd received.
"Ms. Hamilton gave these to me, but I'm not greedy. I'm on your side - she can't drive a wedge between us."
Lika said, "Ms. Cressida Hamilton has caused quite a bit of trouble since returning to the estate. Mrs. Clio Hamilton wants to teach Ms. Cressida Hamilton a lesson, and when the time comes, we'll need you all to help from the inside."
During the evening meal, Vida came in and told Cressida, "Ms. Hamilton, I've decided. Orla is honest and dutiful. She and I will accompany Ms. Hamilton to the banquet at Princess Palace."
Cressida nodded. "Good. Then tomorrow you two will come out with me."
January seventh was a big day when the entire Hamilton family gathered to honor their ancestors.
Cressida wasn't allowed to attend, but she wasn't in a rush to push her way in either.
Instead, she took Emma, along with Vida and Orla, to the bookshops in town.
First she bought Emma some simple books for practicing writing, then went to a jewelry shop and picked out three slender jade pendants.
After returning to the estate, Cressida had each of them take one.
"Starting today, Orla and Vida will learn bookkeeping together with Emma."
"His Majesty granted me some shops. I've hired new managers who'll be coming shortly. Emma, take Orla and Vida to meet them. From now on, whenever they come to report the accounts, they'll see your jade pendants and know you're my trusted people."
Orla and Vida were quite surprised to hear this.
"Ms. Hamilton, you want us to help manage the storehouse?"
Emma said irritably, "What, you don't want to?"
Cressida said, "Emma is the only girl by my side - she can't handle everything alone. Once you're trained, I'll have much less to worry about."
Orla and Vida immediately expressed their gratitude.
Before long, a servant came to report that two managers had arrived.
Cressida had Emma take the two of them to meet them.
Emma didn't return until four hours later.
"How did it go?" Cressida asked while practicing calligraphy, not looking up.
Emma walked to her side and said quietly, "They both seemed very eager and serious. I didn't compete with them for attention, which made Vida work even harder."
Everything was just as Cressida had expected - Orla and Vida would definitely try to gain her trust right now.
So they hadn't suspected at all that Cressida hadn't brought real managers, but people Mabel had randomly found to play the part.
The real accounts - no one but Emma had access to those.
Meanwhile, Orla and Vida returned to the side room where the four maids lived.
Echo and Zola, who hadn't been able to go out, had been cooped up in the room all day.
They'd planned to ask about the situation when Orla and Vida returned, but they hadn't expected to see them in brand new clothes, holding account books and abacuses, with jade pendants hanging at their waists.
"You two - did Ms. Hamilton buy you off with benefits?" Zola asked urgently.
Orla quickly removed her jade pendant. "Ms. Hamilton said these are tokens, only to be used in our courtyard."
Vida added, "To gain Ms. Hamilton's trust, we have to go along with everything. Ms. Hamilton is about to trust me and Orla completely."
Before they could finish talking, Emma arrived, and the four quickly fell silent.
Emma said, "Orla, Vida, you two move to the room next to Ms. Hamilton's quarters. Echo and Zola will take over the night watch duties."
With one sentence, she'd separated the four of them by status.
Only trusted confidants could live next to Cressida's room.
Orla and Vida exchanged glances, then quickly packed their things and left with Emma.
After they left, Zola angrily kicked the table.
"What does Ms. Hamilton think she's doing? Does she really think she can turn us against each other?"
"We need to keep a close eye on Orla and Vida. Don't let them be fooled by a few small favors," Lika said.
In the blink of an eye, it was January tenth. The banquet at Princess Palace was coming up on the fifteenth.
But Vida hadn't expected that when she went to pay her respects to Cressida that day, Emma would block her at the door.
"Hand over the token Ms. Hamilton gave you. You won't need to manage the storehouse anymore." Emma's tone was cold.
Vida was shocked. "Why? Emma, what did I do wrong? Please tell me."
These past few days, she'd even started walking with her head held high.
As a maid by Cressida's side, she was almost on par with Emma, which made Vida really feel the importance of being trusted by Cressida.
Emma glanced at her and sneered, "You know what you did! I'm not wasting my breath."
Before Vida could figure out what had happened, Emma yanked the jade pendant from her waist.
Just then, Orla came out from inside, now wearing an additional bracelet.
When Vida saw it, her eyes went wide.
That evening, Cressida was having her meal when she heard a commotion and shouting in the courtyard.
She put down her utensils. "Emma, what's going on outside?"
Emma went to the window and looked out, then immediately laughed.
"Ms. Hamilton, Vida and Orla are fighting."