Chapter 05 The Third Prince
When the noons came, Mellisa's already finished cleaning the windows and can be seen rested near the library viccinity to wrap up todays job. She cant read this world words but thankfully there's no language barrier; Mellisa could communicate just fine.
Opening the library door, Mellisa eyes spotted Mrs. Haley at the counter; sorting the new books which was arrived yesterday night. She's dividing it for each shelf by marking it with similar color.
"Oh you're here." She turns her head, thick lenses with gold eye-glasses frame stands out too much besides her facial wrinkles.
"Please be quiet because there's still his highness inside, Just arrange it based on the color mark. Will that be alright ?" Mrs. Haley continued almost whispering, while pointing to the stacked freshly book at the table.
"Yes, Mrs. Haley. I'll be carefull."
From what she heard, Mrs. Haley was a noble vassals appointed by one of the duke in this kingdom. She's in her middle-age, has a noble figure, a little bit strict but nice nevertheles. She wasnt unreasonable.
Mellisa's moving the book into the cart and push it inside the row of bookshelf. Its size was enourmous for a small palace near the Imperial walls, you can see the entire room from the 2nd library floor. There's a wooden stairs with a wheel on each foot, making it easy to placing the book to the high shelf.
She start to put it in, while checking the cover and sometimes its contents. Although she doesnt understand, However she could guess that the book was about politics, goverment, history, and war strategy; Some had their illustrations and several of it just filled with text.
She knew that majority of people in this kingdom are illiterate; except for goverment official and noble lineage. Having ability to write and read was an achievment in itself. No commoner she found outside could read, even if they can; they wont teach you for free.
Education is expensive, now that she understood why every parents always nag whenever their children cant do well in their study. It takes effort if not; we wont mastering any of it.
Sigh- Of all the things she didn't feel particularly gratitude towards it; was her environment where she needs to look for a neddle in the barn full of haystack. Once her stroke of luck spent because she's choosen as one of the imperial maids, she roughly feel that but the even now the inner working maids isolating her.
'Do they raising a conspirasy ?' She inwardly think, because she faintly remembers there's a grouping maids in between the workers. While she didn't belong to any of it; just stay as the common maids that cuddling together with the outer workers. After all, the jobs at the library which was assigned to her by the Head Maid mainly because of the lack human resources; She could be changed anytime in a moment of notice.
Stroking the paper surface from an unknown letter, Mellisa who lost in thought was jolted awake by the sudden voice.
"Do you wish to learn how to read ?" A man questioned.
Low baritone voice filled with dignity she once heard before; A forest scented from the vine tree essence often used as one of so many parfume at the earth came behind her back assaulted her nose.
Black hair, towering figure, and overflowed presence that she identified it as his true self. A selfish man; Cunning; Clever; but he was quite charismatic in his own way. She knews a man who shared similarity with him.
"Greetings to Your Royal Highness Alexander, this is Mellisa at your service."
He was Alexander the third prince.
"I saw you before, someone with severe malnutrition who attending me when i arrived at Garnet Palace after the celebration party for the first time. It was you right ?" Alexander tone wasn't angry nor annoyed although quite rude, most noble's speak that way; when his pair of golden eyes clearly scrunitying Mellisa complexion; What he was doing was studying his opponent, just like what Mellisa did unsconsciously.
"... Yes, Your Highness. It was me whom attending you that day." Answering a beat late, Mellisa bowed her head according to the imperial ethic as a maids.
"I don't like to talk with people who dont see their opponent while talking." He stated; his way of speaking was overly friendly, constrasting the laced threat beneath his words. "You can lift your head." He continued kindly.
Mellisa was nervous, as she hurriedly look towards the prince. He was just like what Mellisa imagined to be, a person with gentle smile but appear colder. Gulping the dry throat, Mellisa forced herself to talk.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Moving her corner lips, giving the most harmless smile she ever had while she hides her uncomfortable feelings.
"Moving on, this is the second time we met since last time. Did you actually stationed at the library ?" Leaning on the one of the book shelf, he began to reach the newly bought book.
"...I was temporary stationed here, Your Highness. I worked mainly at the garden and training field for knight, and we're changing shift every two days in a week."
Its not wrong assuming that way, since the Head Maid said it herself.
"That's reasonable, what about my first questions ?" Alexander change the book he was holding after turning the page randomly. His back facing Mellisa whom stiffly stood still. "Your answer ?" He continued.
Unsure about the reasons as to why the third prince asks her about it, Mellisa choose to answer it truthfully rather lending him her neck to be cut because of offending royals charge. She naturally realizes that the third prince was shrewd inside and which choices would save her; He might became a natural born tyranny with good brain nonetheles better save her neck away from the trouble.
" (Gulp) About that, It might be presumptuous of me for a former slaves want to be able to write and reading; But if Your Highness asks, my answer is 'Yes'."
Mellisa stopped when Alexander seemingly listening to her, as she clenching and unclenching her palms; she choose to keep speaking when the oppenent didn't respond.
"The reason is, I don't want to be misled by words on paper; if there's unforessen accident in the future. Benefically, I can gain more knowledge to learn; while being a former slave made me realized that my life would be easy to be trampled on, I want to raise my value as a person."
'I did need it to gain information its not that I was dumb; I was hired by the large company even if the outbreak nullified all the effort I built. Accurately it made me frustated when i can't even read the menu in the restaurant and always asking the nearby waiter to explain their signature dish.'
Then, after the long speech end; The third prince eventually face her. His corner mouth slightly lifted as he seems to be in a good mood.
Mellisa was glad that her choices to answer it as the way she thinks hit on the spot, except for the growing bad feeling she sensed blurred by the gentle smile from the prince as she believe it to be sincere feeling just to make her feel good; and it truly make her mind calmed.
"A value ... Has ever someone told you that you're quite a good speaker ?"
He casually asks, in a relaxed manner he gaze at her small face; for a maid she has equisite appearance. The previous malnourished body was cured and its improving her weight. Not a sunken eyes he sees before but a clear and healthy eyes, even her lush eyelashes fluttering like a butterfly wings could make any man heart weaken.
Alexander had to admit that when he looks cold and eerily entrancing; Mellisa soft feature was close to the forest fairy or an elf that rumoured to be a beautiful races. It was impossible for him not to notice such figure inside the slightly dark library.
There's no doubt that her appearance more resemble a noble gait, but deep down inside her radiant eyes bore such a cautious minds. Like animals who hides before its predator, he knew that Mellisa was trying to read him openly.
She's wary of him.
"... No, your highness. Please forgive my rudeness."
"Its allright, ah... there's something that i want to ask. Where are you come from ? Your background story was rather blank for a palace maids, not that everyone here had a high status but a low ones nonetheles you and everyone just similar."
"I... dont know, your highness; I can't remember who I'm except for my name." Cold sweat strikled down behind Mellisa back was caused by Alexander question, she didn't have the body memories.
The girl probably died at the day she opened her eyes inside the cage; there's trace of abuse from the unknown offender but she guessed that the slave trader henchmen did it.
She probably died because of starvation.