"Your Highness, your tea" the maid said softly placing the cup on table with some snacks. Kashmin looked at the tea and felt satisfied. She grabbed the cup and took a sip. Yesterday she couldn't attend the birthday feast and recieved a news that Vaibhav is cured but her mother assured her so she felt relieved.
"It's good" she mumbled and smiled "what his majesty doing this days?"
The maid looked at her "these days his majesty and empress seems to come closer. His majesty even visit Rose Palace 3 times a day"
The finger holding the cup suddenly clenched as the smile on Kashmin's face stiffened. His majesty visiting Rose Palace 3 times a day? How come that happened. Is not it said that Manik married just to fulfil the oath of his father?
Clenching her hand she smashed the tea cup on ground. That woman used her power to confine her in Lily Palace then enjoying time with the emperor. Her heart felt hot and her body filled with anger. No, she can't let it happen. If they come closer they might start new life and even consummate the marriage too.
"That woman is too vicious. She is using everything like a chess piece. And his majesty is falling in her trap. What should she do to stop it? She was thinking when suddenly a main ran inside.
"Your highness Empress's maid is here to deliver something"
Kashmin's lips curled with a smirk. Good, it is a good opportunity. She waved her hand and instructed to let the guest in.
Atropa walked inside holding a tray. She saw Kashmin reading a book.
"Greetings to Princess,my lady instructed to give these herbs to use in food. She is worried that eating Vegan foods might effect so this herbs will help nourishing the body" she said and placing the tray on table before retreating back.
Kashmin looked at her and smile "empress is kind. I will personally thank her after the confinement ends" then she looked at the tea pot on table before looking back at Atropa "since you are here, I would also like to ask you something. You are serving the empress so how much reward do you get often?"
Atropa frowned "I don't need any rewards to serve my lady. It's my responsibility to take care of her every need"
Hearing this Kashmin clenched her fist. A maid think serving is a responsibility towards her master. How many maids had such loyal attitude in the palace. Every maids works to get reward but this maid.. directly refused?
"I am really impressed seeing your attitude. You can see I am a princess and in future my position will be high. Besides I don't have such loyal maid. Why don't I request to empress to let you serve me. Don't worry I will reward you time to time for your satisfaction" Kashmin smiled.
Atropa's face turned cold. She looked at Kashmin for sometimes but did not replied anything. Kashmin took is as agreement then smiled widely.
"Since you are willing, come here and make a cup of tea. I will send someone to request the empress' she waved her hand but Atropa did not moved an inch.
"Forgive this servant Princess but my responsibility is only towards my lady and I do not wish to serve anyone other than my lady. I don't take instructions fr others, it's not my nature" Atropa bowed.
"Impudent" Kashmin get up angrily "you are just a lowly maid but refused my order. Who do you think you are? I am the princess of this Palace and yet you insulting me like this? This is what your master taught you?what did she gave you that made you refusing such good offer?"
Atropa frowned "princess loyalty comes from heart and I don't wish to be loyal other than my lady. Even if you kill me here I won't agree to your offer"
Kashmin clenched her fist so tightly that her nails almost cut her palm. How could a maid even don't have any respect for her.
"You dare to insult me like this? Someone come" Kashmin shouted with anger. Immediately 4 maids rushed inside.
Looking at Atropa who has poker face Kashmin smirked. Though she couldn't take the maid on her side but she can ruin her. She looked at the 4 maids.
"What are you waiting for? Tie this lowly bastard and beat her until she forget her own name, let alone serving her lady"
The 4 maids grabbed Atropa and pushed her down on ground in kneeling position "how dare you disobey our princess. You have got a huge gut to refuse our princess" one of the maids said harshly before slapping Atropa's face hard.
But Atropa did not even showed a panic side. Instead she raised her head and laughed at Kashmin.
"Princess Kashmin, you can torture me to death but let me remind you one thing you will regret today's action so much that it will make you think why did you even thought of such thing. You will know why my heart and body devoted to my lady, even if I will die today, I will be too honoured to regret. I will reach to heaven with my devotion to my lady"
Hearing her Kashmin's anger increased and instructed the 4 maids to beat her while she watched the show sitting on chair.
At the same time in Rose Palace, Nandini placed her book on table and asked Ageratina "where is Atropa?"
"My lady she went to deliver the herbs you prepared to Lily Palace"
Nandini turned her head to look at hourglass "it's already late. Delivering a tray of herbs won't take an hour"
She thought for something then sudden stood up making Ageratina frighten. The calm expression on Nandini's face suddenly changed into panic one. Ageratina's heart skipped a beat.
"That woman" Nandini gritted her teeth "if she dare to lay fingers on Atropa I will tear every inch of her body part" then she rushed out and Ageratina hurriedly followed her.
Between the two, Atropa is weak one. She is skilled in cooking and other things but when it comes to physical strength it lacks in her. While Ageratina is trained physically so bullying her won't be easy. But if it was Atropa then it will be hard for her. Thinking this Nandini's heart clenched tightly and anxiousness filled her body. Her legs comes faster towards the Lily Palace. If something happens to Atropa how she is going to live?
In Lily Palace Kashmin watched the maid on ground with blood and her heart felt satisfied. She can't lay fingers on Nandini but dealing with a maid is common in inner palace. This is not a biggest case. Even if Nandini want to justify it will be worthless.
"Princess the maid is covered with blood. She might die any second" one of the maids informed.
Kashmin waved her hand "it doesn't matter, besides she is just a lowly maid. Whether she die or live won't effect anyone"
"But princess she is Empress's personal maid. In Rose Palace there is only two maid that served the empress" the other maid said.
"What can she do?" Kashmin frowned "it's only a normal matter. There are thousands of maids to choose for. She can choose anyone if she want. It's just a maid. What's there to fuss about it?"
"Princess that-" before the maid could completed the door of the room forcefully opened. Kashmin jumped on her seat and looked at the door.
Nandini walked in and the fist thing she saw was Atropa lying on floor with blood. Behind her Ageratina nearly shouted and rushed towards her. Nandini's heart clenched at the sight. She rushed towards Atropa who is now lying her head on Ageratina's lap.
"Atropa" Nandini patted her cheeks "can you hear me? Atropa" she continued to pat on her cheeks. Exhaling she pressed the certain point on Atropa's throat and suddenly Atropa coughed a little before half opening her eyes.
"M-m-my l-l-a-d-y" Atropa felt relief when she saw Nandini and hold Nandini's hand tightly.
"Shhh... don't talk. It will be painful" Nandini whispered and cleaned the blood on her face with her handkerchief. The maids looked at the sight and felt their hearts clenched tightly. They thought Atropa is fortunate enough to be able to serve the empress. No master ever show such care to their personal maids. But today empress herself took care of her maid like sister. This kind of care is rare to find between master-servant relation.
"Bring her back" Nandini whispered to Ageratina. Ageratina nodded and scooped Atropa up before walking out of the room. Nandini get up from floor and turned to face Kashmin who was frowning.
"Princess Kashmin you really have a big gut to execute such action under my nose. You were confined to reflect on your mistakes but now I think you have not learnt anything" Nandini said coldly.
"It's just a maid empress, it's not a big deal. Besides she was the one first refused to serve me so I just taught a lesson" Kashmin replied with smirk.
"You can't even learn things yourself properly yet you went forward to teach my maid. I should reward you for that" Nandini replied with serous face then shouted "guards"
Few guards rushed inside making Kashmin startled. She looked at Nandini with wide eyes.
"Grab these 4 maids. Their actions are too fast after following some certain person" Nandini gazed at the trembling maids "behead them immediately"
The maids looked up with shock. They can't believe is it the same empress who was so gentle to her maids and next second ordered to behead them? In exchange of one life the empress is going to take 4 lives?
"Your highness, please spare us" then fall on floor crying.
"What are you waiting for? Do you want me to write decree to take action?" Nandini roared to the guards. The guards jumped in shocked before dragging the maids out of the room. No matter what they can't ignore the empress's words.
"Empress you can't do that? They are my maids" Kashmin was so shocked that she come into her sense after the guards dragged the maids out. Nandini turned to her.
"Oh, you can beat my maid the way you want and I can't even kill your maids. Princess Kashmin who do you think hold the power here?" Nandini's voice turned chilly "you are so bold that you dared to beat my maid without any reason and now made an excuse of her refusing to serve you? Tell me one thing without my permission who gave you the right to ask my personal maid to serve you? You are just a princess and you take actions agains me?" She stepped forward and Kashmin felt scared for the first time. The cold gaze send shiver in her whole body.
"If anything were to happen to Atropa, Princess Kashmin don't blame me for being vicious. You don't have any idea what can I do. You better not test my patience" Nandini gritted her teeth "for today's action be prepare yourself. You dared to lay filthy hands on my maid, I will rip your heart out" with that she turned around and left the room. Kashmin stood there with shock.
Kumeka was coming towards Lily Palace and suddenly saw Nandini walking out with a serious face and felt her heart beat faster. A kind of expression that seems to have killing intent. She rushed inside the room and saw Kashmin standing there in daze. There was also blood on floor.
"Why did the empress visited here? And where from this blood come?" She asked walking forward. Hearing Kumeka's voice Kashmin come into her sense.
"Mother, you have to help me" Kashmin said with trembling voice.
"What happened this time?" Kumeka suddenly felt something is wrong. With shivering body Kashmin narrated everything to her.
Kumeka's eyes widened with shock as she stepped back. Her body felt weak and she hold the chair to support herself.
"Mother, you have to help me. The Nandini is so scary. She might-" before Kashmin could complete a hard slap landed on her face.
"You dumb fool" Kumeka shouted with her top lung "what the hell you were thinking to do such thing? Have you ever thought of the consequences before doing? Who gave you such right to hurt the maid who is serving the empress? How come I gave birth such a useless daughter? What sin I have committed?"
Kashmin stood there with shock. She couldn't understand how come things has changed like this.
"You have committed the biggest mistake and want me to help you? Did you discuss with me before committing it?did not I tell you not do anything until your confinement is done?" Kumeka screamed and pinched Kashmin's arms "how come you have become such idiot Kashmin? That woman will not leave this matter. How can you forget that she is the empress and you are just a princess. You don't even have any official title related to Samrat. How could you do such foolish thing?" Kumeka felt her heart is about to explode. Anxiety filled her body. Now the only thing playing in her mind. What going to happen?
"What should we do now mother?' Kashmin grabbed Kumeka's arm.
Kumeka answered without expression "I don't know"
I felt bad for Atropa. She had to bear all the sufferings. Kashmin's roughness has finally exploded like lave. But our empress is still here and she's not gonna let Kashmin go so easily. So now tell me -
What do you think about Atropa's loyalty?
Any guesses what will be Empress's punishment for Kashmin?