The Scholar and The Crown

1

Maude

"Hiyah!" I struck my hoe into the ground with a satisfying thud, the vibration traveling up my arms. My muscles ached, but it was a familiar and oddly comforting pain.

I looked up at the clear blue sky, squinting against the sun. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my left arm, feeling the grime smear across my skin. It had been a month since Father and Maeve left. Every week, they updated us through letters. Maeve seemed okay based on her writing, her neat script always ending with reassurances.

"Grrr..." My stomach growled loudly, interrupting my thoughts. Haha, I'm hungry.

I grabbed my ivy hat from the fence and put it on, shading my eyes from the sun. As I made my way back to the manor, I saw an elegant carriage stop in front of our house.

Are we expecting special visitors today?

Curiosity piqued, I quickly ran to the manor, my heart pounding with anticipation.

"Mavis, whose carriage is at the front entrance?" I asked my sister, who was also hurrying towards the door, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"That's the carriage from the royal palace," she told me, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Huh? Are they escorting Father back here? Our carriage isn't broken; why would they use the palace's carriage?" I asked, puzzled by the unusual sight.

"I don't know either, that's why I'm heading there," Mavis replied, quickening her pace.

As we reached the entrance, we saw a familiar figure stepping out of the carriage. His posture was rigid, and his expression was grave.

"Father?" I uttered in surprise, my voice barely above a whisper. But what shocked us all was seeing Maeve with him, her head bowed.

"Maeve?!"

Maeve wasn't supposed to come home until the selection process was complete. What on earth was she doing here now?

"Honey?" Our mother approached our father first, her eyes wide with concern. "Is something happening?" she asked.

We could see the stress written all over my father's face, the lines around his eyes more pronounced. "Maeve, you must tell them," he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. Maeve had kept her head down since she got out of the carriage.

"Maeve, honey, what happened?" Our mother asked, her voice filled with concern. "Did the noble ladies bully you, Maeve?" Marius asked, his brows knitting together in worry.

Maeve slowly shook her head, her eyes fixed on the ground.

"Then what is it? Are you being mistreated at the palace?" Mavis stepped in, her voice sharp with frustration. Maeve shook her head again, her shoulders trembling.

"I-I qui..." We barely heard what she said, her voice so faint it was almost a whisper.

"You what?" I reacted, leaning in closer, trying to catch her words.

"I-I quit being a tutor," she announced, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Huh?!"

"What did you just say?" Mavis, in shock, asked again, her face paling.

Maeve hesitantly lifted her head and looked at us, her eyes filled with regret and shame.

"I quit being a tutor."

"You're just kidding, right, honey?" Mother looked at our father, her voice shaking. But he just let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

"Family meeting, now," Father announced, his tone brooking no argument.

We were all now in our father's study room, sitting on the long couch facing Maeve. The room was dim, the heavy drapes partially closed, casting shadows on the richly decorated walls.

"Maeve approached me earlier this morning with her suitcase..." Father began, his voice steady but weary. "She said she was quitting being a tutor. I asked if she was being bullied, but she said no. I tried to change her mind, but she insisted on coming home."

We all turned our gaze to Maeve, who was fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Why did you do that?" Marius asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I'm sorry!" Maeve cried, tears streaming down her face, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Father, what did the palace say about this?" Mavis asked, her voice sharp with incredulity. "They were shocked too and also disagreed, but they couldn't change her mind. In resolve, I promised them to bring another of my children to substitute for her," Father explained, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

"I will go!" Marius announced his voice firm. "You can't, Marius, you can't miss the birth of your son," Father quickly disagreed, his voice softening slightly.

It's Father's motto to always prioritize the family above all.

Then Father suddenly looked at me, his gaze intense.

Oh no, don't tell me...

God of pumpkin patch, please, don't choose me.

"Maude..." I shut my eyes when I heard my father call my name, dread pooling in my stomach.

Please, it's just my messy clothes.

"Maude, you will be Maeve's substitute," Father announced, making my whole world stop. The room seemed to tilt, and I clutched the armrest of the couch for support.

You. Gotta. Be. Kidding. Me.

I laughed nervously, the sound hollow. "You're joking, right, Father?"

"No, I'm not."

Haha. "I refuse, Father. I don't want to teach those brats. Please, just let brother Magnus teach them," I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice.

"I already put your name as her substitute."

"What the?!"

I turned my gaze to Maeve, who looked remorseful, her eyes pleading for forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry, Maude!"

"We're here," my father said, pulling me back to reality.

Now we were standing at the entrance of the palace, its grandeur looming over us, the massive doors guarded by solemn-faced sentries. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart, as I stepped forward into the unknown.

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