Chapter 34 – Trisha’s Sorrow

By the time Trisha arrived home, the rain showers had started to pour. The autumn is fast approaching, and there is no doubt that the climate around the evening could get exceptionally rainy. Trisha headed into the back door, worrying more about her precious dress that was soaked in the rain than her swollen cheeks.

“Where have you been?” A familiar voice echoed in the background.

Their place was nothing compared to the imperial palace. Inside, water was leaking from the roof, and the dark and dull atmosphere spread all over the area like moisture.

“Father, I told you that I am now working as a maid in the imperial family. Today I was off for a holiday.”

“What? Did I say you’re not?”

Baron Blanc was already drunk, and it was evident with the way he raised his voice. Trisha swallowed a sigh, and went to where her father was, and bowed her head.

“Did you get anything useful?”

Trisha shook her head. Then, Baron Blanc crumpled.

“What a useless bitch. Where did you get those clothes you’re wearing?”

“I did get this…but.”

“Bring what’s worth instead of that futile dress!”

Baron Blanc drank as soon as he got money and immediately resorted himself into gambling. But then he was so unfortunate, that he would lose everything at the gambling table. Whenever that happens, he’ll try to get more drunk, and the things that can be sold in their house would slowly disappear.

“You’re as useless as your mother, anyway! Get the f*ck out of here, you’re stinking.”

Trisha was lucky to have stopped at this point and quickly disappeared from Baron Blanc’s sight. She barely had a holiday. When she got home, she had tons of housework waiting for her.

Trisha climbed the creaky staircase and hung the beautiful dress in her attic, then changed into her casual clothes. She could hear the sound of her mother’s dry cough at the end of the hall, so she decided to warm the soup and took it into her mother’s room.

“Mother, I got a holiday today.” Trisha softly announced.

“Then, why don’t you come home straight? Nicola is already asleep.”

No one has ever asked me how my day went. Trisha felt the sorrow of having no one to console her and her swollen cheeks.

“Eat some.”

Trisha’s mother, Sarah, shook her head to express her loss of appetite. Trisha had to put the lid on the bowl and put it by her bedside.

“How much does the imperial family pay you? I hope it’s as good as I got from the Duke of Carl.”

Trisha bit her lower lip. She was devastated, but there was no one to listen to her. Her mother had been bedridden for so long, and she had no one else to take care of her. It might be one of the main reasons why she seemed depressed by her long illness.

“You have to do well, and remember to thank Lady Diana for her love and support.”

When she saw Trisha’s swollen cheeks and burst lips, her mother didn’t bother to ask. For her, it was a typical incident for Trisha, who was often beaten by Baron Blanc when he was upset.

Trisha was a self-contained child, even from her parents. It was useless to tell her mother that she was beaten somewhere, and she had her legs opened and had her virginity examined in the palace. Trisha couldn’t stand the atmosphere in this house, because even her life seemed to get moldy.

“We’re friends. I’m not Diana’s maid.” Trisha spat out her stubborn words. That was the pride of the girl.

“Yes. I’m grateful that you two are friends, I mean…I’m also glad that you’re an imperial maid now. You need to make your work better. Just memorize the book so you won’t forget it. ”

She didn’t expect to see what life was like as a maid, whether it was hard or not. But even Trisha was despondent, saying, “I’m so sick of what you always told me.”

“I said…”

Her mother always forced her to memorize the books even when she’s doing her chores. Trisha’s small hands have already toiled. She thought it was natural until she met Diana. The feeling she felt when the soft white hands of Diana held her hand was more of a shame than envy.

“Why aren’t you answering me? Cough…how many times your sick mother has to tell you, cough…”

“Okay,” Trisha answered reluctantly.

Even if they were nobles, poverty wasn’t selective. Trisha’s mother used to work for Carls’ family when she was young, and now it was Trisha’s turn to make a living in replace of her sick mother.

No, instead, my mother wouldn’t understand. Trisha’s mother was a commoner. Her father was such an indolent nobleman, to the extent that he let his woman do the job of making a living.

But Trisha was not a commoner like her mother. At least she thought to herself.

But it didn’t work. Trisha was often criticized for being an aristocrat and often put to shame because of the medicinal herbs that made her mouth water. She was often bullied as a witch’s daughter because of her red hair that resembles her mother.

It was never a noble job for a woman to know medicinal herbs and to deal with herbs in this era. The fact that an aristocratic woman does such a thing was a point that allowed her to see how low her life was.

“Well, mother. I met the Crowned Prince.”

“What?”

It was a delight in the imperial palace. From the despicable existence of a temporary handmaiden, she became awakened by Lucas’ eyes. At least this story would make her happy.

“His Majesty knew that I am Diana’s friend. He asked me to send Diana a letter.”

“Really? Did Lady Diana pay you for the hard work?”

But coming back was the bare face of her mother, exhausted by illness and poverty.

“No.”

I received it, but I didn’t want to tell the story of how it was being taken away by the duchess.

“But Diana’s love is generous, if you stay with her, something good will happen.”

It was no use talking to her mother anymore. It was also as expected. Trisha stretched her shoulders and headed for the kitchen. But now she has a vivid memory. Trisha was a friend of Diana. Although the origins of their mothers were different, she can still be identified as a noble.

“Yes, I shouldn’t be here.” Trisha talked to herself as she stirred the pot of medicinal herbs.

“I’m not meant to live here like my mother.”