The Author And Her Protagonist

“The room is directly ahead. Come on, hurry up, the Marchioness can’t take it any longer.” Mithreene’s voice sounded as if she was being chastised.

“What exactly do you mean?” Beth flinched slightly as she slowed her pace. Mithreene’s words made the 29-year-old maidservant frown.

Mithreene, on the other hand, didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with her words. She even smiled lopsidedly and continued walking until she came to a stop in front of a beautiful carved door.

Mithreene motioned for Beth to bring Cheryl in and opened the door.

“Bring the Marchioness in so she can rest,” she said as she issued orders.

Mithreene’s tone really bothered Beth. But when she noticed Cheryl drooping on her shoulder, she realized the Marchioness had fallen asleep. Beth sucked her groan and led the Marchioness into the restroom.

She carried Cheryl’s body to the only king-sized bed with lavish ornaments on all four corners.

“Can you both assist me in getting some snacks and drinks for the Marchioness? I can’t bring myself to do it.” Mithreene stopped the two maids who were about to assist Beth in putting Cheryl down.

“But…,”

The two servant girls hesitated and looked at Beth for approval for a moment.

Mithreene said it again, perhaps sensing their hesitation “Will it be just a moment? Bring some water for the Marchioness to refresh herself later.”

Mithreene’s words rang urgently.

Beth finally nodded after considering that they would need some items later if the Marchioness awoke.

“All right, don’t take too long.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll only take a second,” Mithreene reassured.

Mithreene and the two servant girls exited through the front door.

Beth threw Cheryl on the bed as soon as the door shut, pulling the blanket up to cover half of the petite body underneath. Beth then took a silk handkerchief from her pocket. Slowly, she wiped a few drops of sweat from the young woman’s drooping brow on the bed.

“It’s odd, the weather isn’t that hot, but why does the Marchioness keep sweating?” Beth mused.

Beth was startled when her fingertips brushed against Cheryl’s skin, and she instinctively pulled her hand back.

“It’s scorching! Is the Marchioness feverish? Why the sudden change …? When it seemed fine earlier,” Beth mumbled as she wiped sweat from the Marchioness’s face and removed the blanket that had been covering it.

Cheryl is sleeping, but she appears to be having a bad dream. The young woman was constantly on the move. Crystal beads clung to her brow and neck. Her lips opened and closed, becoming parched like a thirsty person.

“Hot…” Cheryl mumbled between conscious and unconscious panting.

Beth overheard Cheryl’s low voice.

When Beth noticed the woman on the bed was agitated, she looked around for something to cool her mistress down.

Beth’s gaze was drawn to a hand fan on a table near the bed. She grabbed it without thinking twice, intending to use it to fan Cheryl.

The hand fan is partially made of peacock feathers, with a white and green base and a distinctive peacock feather pattern on top. It’s quite lovely. Beth deduced that it belonged to the third Princess.

“There is no other option; I can only borrow this,” Beth explained.

A strange fragrance wafted from the hand fan as soon as Beth opened it. It smells nice, but it doesn’t smell like perfume. It also has an odd odor.

“What is this odor?” The smell made Beth suspicious. She held the fan up to her nose and sniffed it several times. But nothing came of it. She had no idea what the odor from the fan was.

While the Marchioness next to her was sweating profusely, Beth pushed her negative thoughts aside and fanned carefully.

Cheryl, on the other hand, appeared to be even hotter than usual. Her face was flushed, and she moved awkwardly. Her hands were moving around, and her fingers were even attempting to pull the collar of her dress off her body.

“What are you doing, my Lady? Are you feeling particularly hot?” Beth screamed in terror.

Cheryl, of course, did not respond; she simply continued to move restlessly.

“Even so, the two servant girls have yet to return! Why did it take so long to get a small amount of water?”

Beth fanning Cheryl with one hand while holding Cheryl’s fingers back. Beth was working so hard that her head was beginning to feel heavy and painful.

The woman shook her head, attempting to alleviate the pain. However, the opposite occurred. Her body felt shaky, and her eyelids were heavy, as if she were sleepy.

Beth was about to lose control of her body when she noticed the door open and someone coming inside. The footsteps were heavy and echoed in Beth’s ears, as if they were piling up, and her vision was blurry.

“Who… are you…?” Beth only had two words to say before collapsing to the floor.

–

Mithreene slowed her pace after exiting the restroom and instructed the two servant girls from the Baldwin Mansion to walk ahead of her.

“On the other hand, you’re the one leading the way, and we don’t know where we’re going,” one of the girls pointed out.

Mithreene was used to being respected by all servants of lower rank than her as the princess’s personal maid. There had never been anyone who disagreed with any of her decisions. She instinctively disliked hearing the words of this servant girl in front of her.

“Just go, why so much made up nonsense?” sneered Mithreene.

The two girls were forced to retract their remarks.

The three maidservants walked past the guard stationed at the entrance to the hall. Mithreene sent a secret signal to the guard by nodding twice.

The guards immediately understood and pointed their spears at the two Baldwin Mansion servant girls.

“Eh? What’s the problem? How come you’re getting in the way?”

“We were just passing through; don’t you recognize us? Look, we’ve even got Miss Mithreene with us-”

Mithreene smacked the talking girl across the back of the head, knocking her out instantly.

When the other girl saw this, she trembled uncontrollably. Her eyes widened in horror at the icy Mithreene.

“Miss Mithreene? Miss Mithreene?” What exactly are you doing-”

She was also knocked out by one of the guards.

Mithreene cast a condescending glance at the two servant girls who lay on the floor.

“Get rid of them as soon as possible. Then one of you will follow me because I need assistance carrying one more.” Mithreene gave the order, her tone arrogant and devoid of politeness.

“All right, Miss Mithreene.”

The two guards who had been standing on opposite sides of the passage separated. One dealt with two unconscious girls, while the other followed Mithreene back to the restroom.

Beth collapsed to the floor when Mithreene opened the door.

Mithreene motioned for the guard in front of her to take Beth with him.

Cheryl was left alone on the bed, drenched in sweat, her white skin glowing.

“You are quite lovely, but you are no match for the Third Princess. Perhaps you wouldn’t have had this experience if you hadn’t thrown yourself between the Princess and the Marquess of Northland. Now all you have to do is wait for the Princess’s vengeance, hm?” Mithreene snorted venomously.

Before closing the door, she gave Cheryl a cold look.

Mithreene then quickly found a random maid and gave her a secret order.

Mithreene found a maid who was an ordinary lowly maid, so she agreed to take over Mithreene’s duties without hesitation.

Mithreene stood there watching the young maid approach the crown prince, Eugene Laverty.

–