An untold story

The house has been silent for hours. Mina and Beth only did what they had to do and left early thereafter after Eve told them they should go. The princess has not come out of her room and forbids anyone from entering but Eve made sure the servants take her meals to her, even though she may never eat them. Everyone seem to be going through something.

Thirty minutes before Eve would take Maidservant Ann out of the house that early evening, she sat her down and made her hair and then applied light make-up on her face, also renewing the color on her lips. She made her look like she used to and Maidservant Ann let her do everything she wanted without objecting. To her, it was one of the memories she would take to her grave; having someone care for her like this and she feeling at ease.

But to Eve, it felt like she was sending her off.

They left the house and Eve walked by her side to wherever she wanted to go. After a while, they now walked in a lonely path where tall trees lined at either sides and flowers bloom in different colors.

The wind slightly blew in every direction and the leaves moved to wherever it sent it. Maidservant Ann then stopped walking and she turned her body to face the flowers that grew at the side. She inhaled the air and closed her eyes before releasing slowly. Then she smiled.

Eve watched her and the smile felt like she was at peace…or would finally be at peace. It was saddening to watch her like that. Earlier, after leaving her room, she had spent the rest of the day thinking about her. The thought that Maidservant Ann was dying was frightening to her. Deep down, she never wants her to leave. There is so much more she could still do.

Maidservant Ann opened her eyes and let out a soft sigh before turning her head to look at Eve with a smile.

"Genevieve," she called. "Can I tell you a story?"

Eve doesn't care if it was a story or not. She would listen patiently to everything she wanted to say. Moments like this, she had wished for it for a long time, and now that it had come, she didn't like the situation it had come to.

"Yes, please tell me," Eve replied and maidservant Ann turned her head back to now stare at the flowers again.

"This story, only a few know it, because it's not a story that has ever been told," she said and after a pause, she continued. "There was once a fine young lady who had all the freedom she could ever ask of. Her parents were not that wealthy but they were respected in the society. Her mother works as a servant in a wealthy home and her father was just a hardworking man who provided for the family and bought things just to see his wife and daughter happy. This young lady would always go with her mother to the household where she works for because of the daughter of that family. They were friends and later on they became more like sisters. They would always hang out together and sometimes wear matching bracelets or hairpins. The people in the society already know them both together and they admired their friendship. Then one day, this young lady met a prince and they both fell in love at first sight. Every day she would wait to see him again and then told her friend about the person she had met. Meanwhile, the family of that friend already planned a wedding with a prince also. These two friends thought they were lucky and would both get to marry princes, as if it were fate, but all these would soon change when her friend discovered that the prince she was getting married to was the same prince the young lady had fallen in love with. The preparation continued, but her friend would not see her. Then one night, the prince came and revealed that his family had set him up with another lady, that she also lives in her hometown and he mentioned the name of her friend. The young lady was devastated and hurt because she now saw the reason her friend wouldn't see her and she felt she had betrayed her. But this young lady was already carrying the child of the prince and so, foolishly, she went to see her friend that same night to tell her she wasn't aware that the prince she was getting married to was the same person she had feelings for. Her friend never opened the door and so, she said everything at the door, knowing she would hear her. She also revealed that she was pregnant and admitted it was a mistake. Of course, she was helpless and didn't know what to do, but unknown to her that night, the family heard everything she said and the next day, her mother was told never to come back. This young lady's family was termed a traitor and the society started to turn against them. Her father was cursed at whenever he sets foot outside and people mocked her mother. Despite all that, her father would go out every morning and work like he used to. He didn't mind that he wasn't getting enough sales anymore. All he wanted to make his family happy and comfortable. This went on until one day, her father never returned. When his family heard that he had died, the mother collapsed and fell greatly ill until one day, she also died, leaving only their daughter who was heavily pregnant with no one to help. Then one day, the prince whom she later found out had become a king, sent someone to her who took care of her feeding and provided a place to stay, away from the society. From him, she got to know that her friend who had become the queen, was also heavily pregnant. The king had sent the man to protect her from being murdered because the queen already sent people to search for her. She didn't want another person having the king's child. The day she would finally deliver came and through the help of the king once again, he sent a woman who helped to deliver the baby. The young lady fell unconscious immediately after giving birth and when she would finally wake up, there was no baby. She was told her baby didn't make it and she couldn't be allowed to see her dead child. That young lady never saw what her child looked like or held it in her hands. For years, she searched for her child in her heart and hoped that she was alive somewhere. Every day, she had regrets, feeling as though she had abandoned her child, because she never believed that her baby really died that day. That young lady must have tried so hard to live for someone she didn't know existed or not instead of appreciating the people who really existed and cared about her. If there was anything she would want her child to hear, it would be to not live the same way she did and to take responsibility for whatever decision she makes."

By the time Maidservant Ann was done telling her story, Eve couldn't contain it anymore and despite herself, she began to cry.

She couldn't understand why she told her that story, but Eve had just heard her have a long talk with her for the very first time and it had moved her to tears.

Maidservant Ann turned to look at her with concern and asked, "Eve, why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry," she said between sobs. "I'm really sorry Maidservant Ann. There is nothing I can do for you. I know you never hated me, you just wanted to see me grow well. You have a lot of love to give because your heart is pure, and you are good. It's just saddening to know you won't be here for long. I pray you get all the happiness you deserve."

Maidservant Ann was moved by her words and she took a step closer before holding her hand. "It's fine, Eve, and thank you," she said to her and pulled her in for an embrace. She blinked and looked up at the sky before closing her eyes and listening to Eve's silent cries. She was hurt too, hurt that she would be leaving her behind, and leaving the rest of the things. There was so much more she wanted to do, but now, it felt there was really nothing she needed to do.

When the sky was starting to darken, they started to head back home in silence but on the way, they met Callum. Eve greeted him with a bow and when she raised her head, she wondered what he had come for. Then realizing that instant that she had made a request to the king to allow Maidservant Ann see her family outside the palace or whoever she was writing those letters to, she thought if it was the reason Callum had come to see her.

"Eve."

Eve turned her head to look at Maidservant Ann and she raised her brows slightly.

"You should head back home. I will be back much later."

Eve looked at Callum and then back at Maidservant Ann. She didn't want to leave her as she worried that she would return on her own, but Callum would not allow that to happen. She gave another bow and moved her feet forward, walking away from them.

Once Eve was out of sight, Callum broke into a smile and said, "It's been a long time."

"That's because we are all busy," Maidservant Ann simply replied. "What brings you here by the way? I don't want to take this meeting as a coincidence."

Callum took in a drag of air and said, "I just came to see how you were doing and you seem to be doing much better than I expected."

Maidservant Ann noticed the irony in his words and she pulled the corner of her lips.

"You and I both know that is not the reason you are here," she said and the smile on Callum's lips slowly disappeared.