Forgotten Blade

Chapter 6

The Invitation

* * * * * * *

When Victoria bought Li's clothes and headed back to her carriage, the coachman stopped Li from following his mistress. "Who are you?"

"She's my maid. Let's go back to the Duchy now," Victoria said as she climbed into the carriage and took a seat inside. When the coachman heard that, Li went past him with a smirk on her face and also climbed inside the carriage. Victoria didn't mind Li smelling bad inside the carriage; after all, she remembered how much worse she was compared to Li back then. As the carriage started, it passed by a small parlor which caught Victoria's eyes, but she decided she would visit it next time.

As the carriage rode away, two pairs of eyes watched from above. One of them, a man with a cunning smile, looked at the beauty within the vehicle and murmured, "Interesting...."

By the time Victoria returned to the Duchy, Lady Remillia was enraged when she found out about Victoria buying a slave from who knows where.

"I have already provided a maid to assist you. Why did you have to buy this one? It looks horrendous!" she exclaimed, while Victoria rolled her eyes in annoyance and answered, "Then, I will also take her. Is there a problem with having two maids?" Lady Remillia thought Victoria would refuse, but to her surprise, she didn't.

"Hah!"

"No, no, not at all. Please take care of Marithe. She's very loyal and an obedient maidservant who's dedicated to serving her master," Lady Remillia said with a dry smile as Marithe appeared from behind her and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Milady. I am Marithe, and I'll be in charge of feeding, clothing, and bathing you," she said with a smile to Victoria. But when Marithe's eyes met with Li's, a sudden eerie feeling gave her goosebumps and a shiver down her spine.

._.' Marithe

'Already giving me a watchdog? Oh, this will certainly be put to good use.'

"Then thank you, 'Step-Mother.' I will now head upstairs. Let's go," Victoria said, emphasizing the 'Step-Mother,' leaving the Duchess fuming in anger. Never once had that stupid girl actually addressed her as 'Your Grace,' which only meant that Victoria never saw her as the Duchess of this household. "Urrgh!" Once inside her office, Lady Remillia slammed the door shut, returned to her chair, and sat down.

But when she noticed the golden envelope placed on her table, her eyes sparkled as she took it and opened it quickly to read the contents of the letter.

"You are hereby invited to the King's Ball in celebration of the Second Prince's 15th birthday...." A smile appeared on her lips.

She put down the letter on the table and rested her chin on her hand. "This will teach you a lesson...."

* * * * * *

Back in Victoria's room, both Marithe's and Li's eyes grew wide in shock. Li could not believe how they treated her mistress, forcing her to live in an old, rickety, and smelly room. This was just bullying! But Marithe thought otherwise, 'I forgot she's the least favorite daughter in this house, ugh! That smell is awful, I can't believe she lives like this, eww!'

Marithe pinched her nose and followed Victoria into the room. "Go and clean yourself in the bathroom, Li."

"Yes, Mistress," Li said shortly as she excused herself from the room, leaving only the two of them. Victoria took a seat in her chair in front of the drawer. "Milady, what can I do for you—"