The Scholar and The Crown

2

Maude

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

As soon as we entered, we were greeted by a distinguished-looking man who appeared to be around my father's age. He had neatly combed brown hair, wore eyeglasses, and was dressed in an impeccably tailored butler's outfit.

"Greetings, Count Maven and Lady Maude." His formal tone almost irked me when he addressed me as 'lady,' but I managed to keep a neutral expression. "The meeting is about to start," he informed us.

"Father..."

"Don't worry, it's just an introductory meeting for you. The council will brief you about what you need to do and continue what Maeve has already started," he explained.

"This way." The butler led us through the elegant and stunning halls of the palace. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries and portraits of past rulers, and the floors were polished to a gleam, reflecting the grandeur of the place. We walked for almost five minutes until we reached a particular door.

The butler opened it, and I was momentarily blinded by the light streaming in. As my eyes adjusted, the beautiful interior of the room came into focus. However, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious as I sensed the gaze of every person in the room on me.

I seated myself next to my father, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. As I looked around, I saw that most of the people sitting around the table were in their mid-life. They all looked distinguished, and their clothes screamed wealth and status.

"Aurelia Maude Baker Robinson, 25 years of age..." An older lady suddenly spoke my name and age, holding a piece of paper. Her voice was firm and authoritative.

"Graduated from Silverlight Conservatory of Histories at the age of 23. Entered the Conservatory at the age of 13 and completed her studies at the graduate level."

"Oh, she didn't attend Aetherion Academy like her twin sister?" an older gentleman with white hair asked, raising an eyebrow.

Maeve was the brighter twin, and requested to attend Aetherion Academy in the capital because of her exceptional intelligence. Meanwhile, I, the more average one, attended Silverlight, the school near our town, just like our other siblings. Father always said that no matter which school we attended, we were still scholars because it was in our blood.

"Duke Hem, my other children also attended Silverlight, except for Maeve, who was requested to go to Aetherion Academy," my father explained.

Another man cleared his throat. "Duke Hem, you sound like you're downgrading Count Maven's daughter."

"No, I'm not. I'm just curious."

"Look, the Robinsons have been providing the palace with their best scholars for ages, so questioning their capabilities is not a good idea," another council member chimed in.

They're fun to watch, I thought, almost amused by their bickering.

After some more exchanges, my father stood up and pulled a paper from his suitcase. "I'm briefing you now about your job, Maude."

"Your job title is History Tutor. You're here to educate and mentor a select group of noble ladies participating in the prestigious selection of the Crown Princess." My father handed me a piece of paper detailing my responsibilities.

"You are the only History tutor, and you will be tutoring thirty noble ladies starting tomorrow."

Thirty spoiled noble ladies, I thought with a sigh of disbelief. If it weren't for my cowardly twin sister, I would still be at home, plowing the field and planting my pumpkin seeds in a few days.

"Every week, you and the other tutors will visit the crown prince to report the week's results of each candidate," Father continued.

Speaking of the prince, I had never seen him personally, even though my father worked at the palace. I had only seen his picture in the newspapers when the selection was announced last year.

After half an hour, the meeting, or rather the briefing, was done. The same butler escorted us out.

"As usual, Lady Maude will stay at Kaye Manor for the duration of her teaching. She will also be living with the other tutors there," the butler informed us.

While we were walking, we passed a large painting of the current royal family hanging on the wall. The king, with his famous black hair and amber-colored eyes, stood in the middle, behind a couch where the two princesses and the prince were seated beside him. It must have been painted a long time ago, as the heirs were still children.

I glanced at the prince, who was a spitting image of his father. The only difference was a mole near his left eye, clearly inherited from his mother. He looks annoying to me, I thought, quickly looking away from the portrait.

We exited the main palace and made our way around it until we spotted a manor.

"Are you going to be okay now?" my father asked, his concern evident.

Haha, I don't know. "I guess," I shrugged off. The butler opened the door, and the beautiful entrance of the manor greeted us again.

Stepping inside, I was immediately struck by the beauty of the interior. The grand foyer was illuminated by a stunning crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, casting a warm, inviting glow over everything. Polished marble floors gleamed underfoot, leading to an ornate staircase with intricately carved wooden banisters. Artistic paintings adorned the walls, depicting scenes of historical significance, while elegant furniture upholstered in simple yet elegant fabrics added to the atmosphere of refinement and sophistication.

Wow.

But besides that, a crowd of people was there, seemingly waiting for me.

"It's Maude!" a familiar voice shrills my name. My eyes widened in surprise as I realized who it was.

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