Womanish Lady

Chapter 10:

Upon Queen Veronica's order, Fuyaiyah was bed-ridden for a few days. Outside of the nurse, only Carleigh visited her a few times. And once did she see what she thought was Winter lingering by the door.

One day, when she was feeling normal, she went into the room the other maids worked in. The first thing she saw was how everyone was handling one project but on Carliegh's station, there were three extras in que.

"Are you feeling better, Fuya?" smiled Carleigh, who now looked like the one who was sick.

"Of course I am - but what's this?" she rested her hand on the projects in que.

"Nothing much. I just need to put finishing touches on those."

Fuyaiyah inspected it closer.

"Carleigh. These look like different maids' projects to be completed this week. Why do you have them?" then it dawned on her.

"Wait - is stuff like this what the other maids would make you do? Making you do their work?"

The maids started to notice the two. The three maids who had made the extra load stared the longest.

Carleigh saw them getting up and turned to Fuyaiyah.

"Lower your voice, Fuya! It's okay - they were-" she paused. "-wanting to cheer me up."

Fuyaiyah got upset.

"Really, Carleigh? That was a terrible lie." She looked around and eyed the maids who were coming to them.

The maids responsible for Carleigh's extra load stood by her.

"It wasn't a lie. We felt bad because the Queen made her feel like her designs weren't good enough, so, to make her feel appreciated, we just asked her to finish our projects with a design of hers. Got a problem?"

Fuyaiyah looked at Carleigh again. They were both displeased with each other, but Carleigh's kind of gaze was stronger than hers. She wanted Fuyaiyah to leave.

"Shouldn't you be worrying about the Queen?" said another maid.

"I am, technically, not due to make her cloak until next week. Here, let me help with the designs."

This time, Carleigh smacked her hand down on the extra load.

"Fuyaiyah! I'm okay. This is nothing. I do this often and I somehow get through it each time. You can stop worrying about me now."

"But you don't have to do this anymore! How can I just leave? You're being overworked."

"You're the only one making me overwork! Seriously! You're making me stressed out!"

Fuyaiyah gasped. Her heart throbbed. Meanwhile, the maids around them were amused.

"I told you already, trying to do good deeds here only means suicide! I really just want you to stop trying to help everyone! You promised me you'd be better!"

"How can I just let you do this?"

"If you really want to do good by me, you would just go!"

Fuyaiyah was very frustrated. But above all, she was very sorry that she pushed Carleigh to such limits. Fuyaiyah ignored the maids' sounds of amusement and left.

That same night, when the maids were all bathing in one big tub, Fuyaiyah swam to the corner Carleigh was. She wanted to make peace with her best friend.

"Are you okay?"

"I would be, if you can stop trying to beckon death to you."

"I want to live quietly and peacefully here too! But I just can't! You're my dear friend! Why would I just let them treat you like that!"

"I love you too, Fuya - that's why I just want you to lay low so you can be okay and stay with me longer. I was so alone and scared in this Palace, then you came and was a comfort, but now you're only troubling me. I feel like I can see your death approaching. Do you know how scary that is?"

Fuyaiyah was surprised at her words, and bowed her head.

"I'm truly sorry about that, Carleigh. I just can't. I can't accept this situation like everyone else."

"Who is accepting this situation? We're all suffering, and have been oppressed here, none of us like it, but we want to live! We want to see the dawn of the day of our freedom - we don't want to rush to our deaths!"

"You keep saying 'rushing to my death.' Is that what you think I'm doing?"

"Rushing to trouble or to death - you've done this ever since I met you."

Fuyaiyah was distressed that her efforts were misunderstood by the one she loved.

"I'm not like you! I'm not able to stay quiet as I'm getting trampled upon! I can't stand to watch misfortune befall those I love!"