CHAPTER ELEVEN: LADY ALICE
WRITERS POV
ROYAL PALACE
Stephanie woke up the next day feeling refreshed she went to her bathroom to take her bath since Freya usually fill up her bathtub even though father had relieved her of her duties as her personal maid.
Once she entered the bathroom she ditched her clothes and walked into the bathtub she had always felt free and relaxed in the water or near a fireplace, after an hour she came out wearing a red coloured dress which was simple but beautiful and walked to her mother's room which was a few rooms away from hers she saw that her mother was still asleep she decided not to bother her as she was ill, she left for Mrs Aria's shop and on her way she told Lydia where she was going to so that she could relay her whereabouts to her mother.
She walked into the shop and she saw Mrs Aria siting on the chair with furrowed brows as she stared at the heap of clothes before her and the glass chest beside it, she looked up to see Stephanie "Anie thank goodness you are here early I wanted to send the Coachman to your place, here these are the clothes, we will have to place them in the glass chest" she said as she pointed at a beautiful chest and a heap of newly made luxurious clothes "I will do just that" Stephanie started arranging them and place it in the chest neatly and Mrs Aria joined her and once they were done they stood with a satisfied smile on their faces " finally, what can I do without you Anie" she said gratefully "you're helping me alot as well my lady maybe we are lucky to have each other" "that is right dear and I don't regret staying back else I wouldn't have employed you" she said staring at the girl before her, she didn't have a child but with Stephanie she felt like a mother and she will do anything to make her happy, she smiled and continued their work. After successfully closing the chest they carried it to the carriage where the Coachman was waiting already "Anie take good care of yourself and once you are done delivering the clothes come to my shop and get your money ok" she said "I will Mrs Aria take care as well, I will have to be on my way now bye" Stephanie said and entered the carriage waving at the elderly woman who looked at her dotingly, the carriage started moving away from the shop and disappeared into the alley and the woman sighed and walked back into her shop and started attending to other customers.
On reaching her destination Stephanie stepped down from the carriage taking along with her the glass chest containing the clothes she was asked to deliver to queen Ruth with her.
she thanked the coachman and cautiously walked into the palace admiring the beautiful sculptures and the gigantic doors with unique carvings even though this was her third time coming to the palace she couldn't help but gaze at the beautiful palace, once the maids spotted her they began to murmur amongst themselves,
Stephanie knew that they were talking about her obviously but she decided to wave it away as she has gotten used it,before she could take a step inside she heard a maid beside her say with admiration in her voice
"my lady good day, how may I be of help to you" Stephanie thought she was talking to her and she was surprised as they never referred to her that way except Hope who genuinely respects her, but her doubts were cleared when a girl walked past her with an air of arrogance, she replied the maid
" show me to my room quickly" she said and turned to leave but she stopped and turned back not following the maid
"hey and you take my chests inside as well" she said but Stephanie didn't know who she was talking to untill she got annoyed "hey you white haired dumb maid can't you hear me or do I need to slap you to reset your brain so they could work" she said,
Stephanie was surprised and displeased as well even though she wasn't treated well by her father that doesn't mean that one would come and do the same.
The maids were shocked and they thought within themselves if the young lady has a death wish, because she is to be feared, she might even curse the young lady but they never dared to step in and clear the misunderstanding one is a rude pampered daughter of a Duke and the other is an abomination who is capable of killing them.
"Am I not talking to someone" she snapped again "I am Alice daughter of the northern Duke Dominic how dare you snub me" she flared again,
'oh Alice huh no wonder she is so rude, she might be dumb as well not to recognize me ' Stephanie thought, everyone knew that duke Dominic's last child was over pampered and she was rude to everyone.
"Me?, well I am not a maid so you don't have the right to speak to me in such manner, and to think that you're blinded by your arrogance that you didn't notice that I wasn't dressed as a maid makes me want to know if you're are really smart, daughter of Duke Dominic" Stephanie said stunning her, no one below her class had ever spoken to her in such manner,
Alice took a closer look at her clothe and noticed that she truly wasn't a maid but she didn't look so wealthy either, she was embarrassed she had to tame her rude attitude
"you, you how dare you speak to me in such a manner even though you aren't a maid you don't look wealthy too and it seems you are here to deliver those chests right?" She asked, trying to hide her embarrassment, just then a maid stepped in between them facing Alice.