HER BACKGROUND

"This isn't good. Retake."

"TOO SWEET, RETAKE."

"TOO BITTER, RETAKE."

"NO. RETAKE."

"RETAKE."

"TOO ORDINARY. RETAKE." I spill the coffee on the floor as I release a heavy sigh.

"I'm being nice in here by not spilling the coffee all over your dress. Now clean this mess and prepare another coffee for me. You're ruining my mood." It's just her first day and yet I'm already whining first thing in the morning.

"Don't you think, you're being rough with her?" Father intercepted.

"Father, I am going easy on her. If you think that's rough, you're only seeing the tip of the iceberg. I'm not a goody-two-shoes like your daughter, you know that." If Serina wants to stand by my side, she must strive to be beyond adequate.

"You don't even think of them as a human, but as a PET." Lithia drank her tea, shooting leery looks towards me.

"Whatever I think of them is not your business, Lithia." I said while chuckling.

"Stop fighting. Mind your manners, we're at the dining table. Finish your meals and settle this later." Mother said as she eats her breakfast.

I can still see Lithia shooting glares at me. Still upset, Fluttershy? Serina entered the dining room once again with the coffee I asked. I tasted it as the word irritation can be seen on my face.

"You didn't even pass. This was the one you serve a little while ago. You just add a bit of sugar and serve it again." I stand up as I bow to father.

"Thank you for the food." I look at her as I feel irritated. I looked at Serina embedding my irritation on her. "And you. Come with me."

The smell of the coffee she served me wasn't mine, I am sure of it. It was too bitter that I could smell the strong taste. It must be father's coffee.

There're labels in the kitchen. How come that she can't see—

Oh. Helvetica, how come you forgot. You did not include the Imperial Language on her lesson. Well, it was common knowledge, at least if you wanna work in the palace. And in her case, she didn't undergo on any workshops and was hired on whim.

I guess this is a mistake on my part. I stopped as we arrived at my room. I faced her and she looks frightened, but still composing herself as she stands straight.

"Did someone give you a black jar?" She shook her head. I stood up and walked towards her. She closed her eyes shut as if she's waiting to be hit. "That coffee jar wasn't mine. That's father's coffee." She opens her eyes slowly as she looks at the coffee that she made.

"Retake. This time, get the bottle with Peach color. The coffee bean must be brown. Then you should brew it." She nodded firmly.

"Pour warm water just half a cup, add 2 teaspoon of sugar, stir it up before adding 1 teaspoon of powdered white cream. Don't rush."

"Meet me at the garden. Serve me 2 coffee at once. Also get a tray of cupcakes and cookies." She was about to speak, but I cut her words. "Obey me at once." She bowed and left hurriedly. Leaving me in the room alone.

I should hire an Imperial Language teacher for her. And also buy her some new clothes and jewelries if she does a good job later.

In fact, I did treat my servants well, giving them the luxury they desire, but their performance just doesn't really exceed my expectations. It felt like they're just staying because they want the luxurious life of a maid.

Compared to Lithia, I don't need any knights. Just one maid would suffice. The one who can stand by my side are people that're almost close to perfection. Including Luna. Who's not just pretty, but also has this manipulative nature.

"Here's your coffee, Your Highness." Now that I think about it, should I introduce this woman to Luna?

...

I guess it's too early for that. "Average." I said as I look at her. "I have a lot of time in my hands and I'm getting bored." As I don't plan anything than to stay in the palace for a while.

I've been going out for the last 5 days. Staying for 1 day wouldn't hurt me. She started to lift her dress as she looks at the other way.

"You don't entertain people like that." She closed her legs as she looked at me. I have attitude problems, I know. But I will never use someone for pleasure.

That's not how I work.

"Entertaining people is to sit along with them. Eat and talk about things even if they don't respond." I can see her eyes widen as I sip my coffee.

Those people who she used to entertain are nothing, but a non-biodegradable things. "Does your highness hate her sister?"

A sarcastic smile curve of my lips as I placed the tea cup on the saucer and looked at her straight in the eyes. "I do hate Lithia. I despise her along with our father." Not because they did something awful to me, it's just plain hatred in their presence.

The only important in my life right now, is none other than, my mother. "If there will come a time that you think of me as her—"

"Can Your Highness not do that? If you hated her, you might hate me too." The fact that she has the same attitude as Lithia and determination as that knight..

"Alright." Easy request deserves an easy answer. "Come to think of it. If I stare at you for a long time, you're actually more beautiful than my sister." I added as I eat the cookies. There's no lie about it. The only thing that they both similarly have is that attitude. For me, Serina has a face of a royalty than Lithia.

Lithia has a face of—

...

Let's not talk about the things who wouldn't benefit me in the future.

"If the time comes that you wanted to throw me out or doesn't have any need of me anymore, please give me a heads up. I want to save up some money and get ready to live without being on your side." I raised an eyebrow and gave her a confused look. Why does it feels like I'm bullying a kid?

"You mentioned a while ago you wanted to meet me in your room. You were glaring at me so I was scared because I was quite sure that I might get hit." Oh, yes that time. That was a mistake on my part.

"And I think that Your Highness is really a nice person inside." I raised an eyebrow as I looked at her again. I didn't speak and continued listening to whatever nonsense she's spouting. I was nice.. she said.. I killed tons of people already.

I also burned the chef's hand, I cut a maid's tongue, and almost kill my father.

"You see, I was born in the capital. My father was a known baron in his times and was arranged on my mother, who's a famous dancer in town. And later on, they had me. Their first and last child." Everybody knows that already. What is she? A broken record or something?

"We were a happy family back then. I was spoiled by father and mother. They gave me warmth that I deserve."

"Until my father became addicted to gambling and drinking. One day, father started to sell our things as mother can't do anything as she's also in debt because of father's doing."

"I was 16 back then when that happened."

"But the carriage accident, wasn't really a carriage accident, Your Majesty." She looks straight in my eyes waiting for me to respond.

"Because I killed them."

"I killed my family."