Chapter 21: CHAPTER 21

EMILIA

"You don't look happy," Agnes noted as I picked at the vegetables absentmindedly.

I sighed, giving her a little smile.

"Agnes is right. You have picked more than is required for any day's meal," Lucy added.

Lady Katalina was now back in the kitchen, wiping her arms on the apron she had on, with a pitiful smile on her face.

"Emilia, dear," she stated, coming closer as she cupped my face in her cold hands. "Give yourself a break," she added, dragging me from the vegetable spot to an extra table in the kitchen.

"Just because the boss' fiancée said you will now work in the kitchen doesn't mean you shouldn't rest," she exhaled slowly, checking my temperature, her hands moving from the sides of my neck.

"Lady Katalina is right," Lucy said with a smile as she passed me a glass of water. "You need to rest."

Oh, that's right. I'm sorry I didn't have enough time to inform you all. After that morning, Michelle made it clear that I was to work in the kitchen, serve their meals, make her bed, and wash her clothes. Classic, right?

I took a gulp of the water, dropping the cup. "It's fine," I muttered with a weak smile. "It's not as if I'm complaining or something."

They said nothing as they gave me the same pitiful look I hated. It wasn't their fault I had such a terrible fate.

"Emilia," Rosa's voice resounded. She looked at me the way a friend would. "It's time," she added.

I nodded as I walked past the ladies slowly, adjusting my new uniform. I arranged the food I was meant to serve Andrea and Michelle this morning, careful not to spill anything.

I admired the hallway as I rolled the trolley. The mansion's beauty was just something I couldn't get over.

Their laughter hit me first as I approached. Andrea was seated, a newspaper in his hands, his eyes fixed on Michelle, laughing at something she had just said.

I stopped the trolley when I got to the dining room. "Your breakfast is ready," I said in a robotic tone.

"I hope the meat is cooked just the way I like it?" Michelle said in her usual tone.

"Medium rare, ma'am," I replied, wanting to serve and leave.

Andrea tried to focus his attention on the paper he was holding, but he was doing a terrible job at that. I don't know why he opted for a newspaper these days. And today, the newspaper he claimed to be reading was upside down, and I bet Michelle was too engrossed in herself and whatever she had to say to even notice.

"And the eggs?" Her voice cut through again.

"Scrambled, just the way you like it."

She nodded with a wide grin. "What are you waiting for then? Serve."

I moved quickly, placing everything the ladies and I had prepared on the dining table. When I was done, Agnes came forward. She was the one who usually tasted their meals.

She tasted a bit of everything and nodded with a smile.

"You may leave," the ginger-haired witch, who was wearing an elegant two-piece blue outfit today, added.

I rolled the trolley, following after Agnes, when a glass dropped to the floor, shattering the quiet that had existed in the hall.

"Oops," Michelle exclaimed with a sly grin only I seemed to notice. "It broke."

Agnes was already making her way back when Michelle stopped her. "No. That stripper would get it cleaned."

I smiled at Agnes to allow me, though I could see clouds of anger forming on her face. I walked towards the cleaning equipment, dragging it into the hall as I swept the broken glass.

"I hope you weren't hurt?" Andrea asked as he neared her, his cologne slapping against my nose.

"Not really," her voice lowered as he inspected her hand. He returned to his seat when he was done.

There was a piece of glass that seemed stuck to one leg of the table, and I bent down, using my bare hands to try to move it away, when I felt a heel press against my hand, sending the glass straight into my flesh.

A loud scream ripped from my throat as I clutched my bleeding palm, watching as blood rushed out.

Andrea's eyes widened as he turned to Michelle. "I... I didn't notice her hand there," she said. "She's just clumsy."

He looked at me for a brief second, exhaling slowly. "Next time, be more careful."

Michelle resumed eating as if nothing had happened. I stayed there, tears running down my face.

"Let me finish up," Mama Rosa interrupted the scene, helping me to my feet as Agnes helped me back to the kitchen while Rosa cleaned up.

"Arghhhh!" I screamed as Lady Katalina helped take out the large broken piece stuck in my flesh, while Lucy and Agnes held me tight to stop me from moving. The more Katalina pulled, the more blood gushed out.

"How can someone be so wicked?" Katalina added as she successfully pulled it out.

"That's an understatement," Agnes added, frowning.

"I don't get why she's so mean," Lucy joined in. "I feel like bashing her head against a stone," she added, her tone aggressive.

"Lower your voices," Rosa said as she walked into the kitchen with a white box.

She opened the box, taking out an adhesive bandage, cotton, and a bottle of white liquid. She placed my hand under the sink, water running over it, washing away the blood. It was then I realized how deep my cut was.

I bit my lower lip as I tried not to cry, not knowing the worst was yet to come. "This may sting," Rosa said before pouring the transparent liquid over my bleeding palm.

"Arghhhh!" I screamed louder now. Lucy held me while Agnes whispered words the pain I felt made hard to hear.

After a while, the pain subsided as Rosa wrapped the adhesive bandage around my hand. I had never felt this pained in my entire life like I did today. Not even when the hospital declared my father dead.

This is one point for you, Michelle.

You wouldn't like it when I strike back.