DAY 41-1: OLD MAID

Scrubbing the floors have never felt so satisfying.

"Adel! Are you finished?"

Leda reels off from the ground, directing her gaze onto the elderly maid that hobbles into the room. The moment she does, her features scrunch up in insurmountable disbelief.

"What are you doing? You don't scrub floors in that kind of manner!" She scurries to her side as swiftly as a fox then plucks the cloth from her fingers. "You can simply use your magic for these things."

Leda tenses under her scrutinizing gaze. "O-oh... right."

"It makes the menial chores a whole lot simpler. You should be using your brute strength for more important tasks." Pursing her lips, Yana shoos her off. "I'll handle things here. You head to the rooftop and join Hadey in doing the laundry."

Leda feebly nods. Yana fixes her attention onto the already spotless bathroom. She surfaces a stick similar to the one Mavix had used, flicks her wrist thrice then murmurs a jargon Leda can't comprehend. Then, per usual, everything comes to life. Without lifting a single finger, the various sponges, spray cleaners, and mop wipes any existing grime off the marble floors and nearby walls.

Leda has to swallow her awe even after she leaves the area. Can everyone do that in Straeh? If so, how is she supposed to blend in?

Slipping off her gloves, Leda tosses them into the nearby wastebasket.

For something that's the maid living quarters, the area is extraordinarily large and spacious. Countless rooms occupy every turn like a complex labyrinth. Its bright colours and the stunning artwork adorning the walls only add to the beauty. Considering it isn't nearly as crowded as it was at dawn, Leda can appreciate her surroundings more than when she first arrived last night.

All the other maids had woken up no later than sunrise, scarfing down a simple meal before getting straight to work. Some went toward the kitchen, others to survey the horses. Those who had gone to light fires at the palace fireplaces had returned moments ago to grab supplies to clean from there. The head maid, Farley, insisted Leda stick around with a couple of other maids that are fairly new as well, performing chores here until she can finally get used to things. And ever since their very intimidating conversation, back-aching chores she has been doing.

Farley is stricter than any teacher and she hates slackers more than anything. Considering the amount of fear every other maid displayed towards her this morning when she was barking for them to get going, it's obvious she's someone you don't want to cross no matter what.

But regardless of how rough this work is shaping up to be, fortunately nobody has caught onto her yet. From what she's tried to gather, none of them seemed too interested in matters concerning Spades and criminals. They're not allowed to question the affairs of the royal family; their only purpose is to complete their duties to the best of their abilities.

Leda's sure it's the same for Orian off in the butler dormitory as well. But even though this means she's safe for the time being, she can't forget the initial reason she came here. She has to somehow convince Farley or any one of the other head maids to let her out of this area so she can figure out where they're keeping Nixon.

"I wonder why His Highness decided to hire a girl like her so late in the year." The whispers resound as Leda slips on the nearest coat off the rack. "The Queen usually picks her choice of servants during the fall selection."

The three girls huddled in the kitchen, working through the dishes, sneak blatant glances over their shoulders.

One giggles. "If His Highness is the one who chose her, what else can it mean?"

Another emits a titter all the same, shielding her mouth with her hand. "Ah, His Highness is such a tease."

The three, albeit aware that Leda is watching them, continue their hushed whispers. Leda can't tell if their amusement stems from envy or sarcasm. Hearts are confusing with their contrasting actions and words. Then again, if Avel has a reputation of being a flirt maybe he waves his charm on a lot of girls in Straeh, so much so they've become accustomed to cases like Leda's.

As she pulls her hair from her coat to allow it to properly hang by her shoulders, a tiny smile upturns her lips. Well, they can believe what they want. Avel is her undeniable saving grace.

When she catches a break, she has to find a way to reconvene with him. She needs to know if he's figured a way to help Ro or not.

"Girls, stop conversing and work!"

Yana's shout nearly jolts Leda from her skin. The girls hovering by the sink silence themselves at once. Hands at her hips, the burly woman grunts. For somebody who looks around her thirties, she sure carries the wrinkles of an old lady.

"Adel, are you still here?"

Leda wakes from her daze to find her glowering. She stumbles backwards as she strides forward, wagging her finger as she does.

"Work quickly and efficiently. That's our motto here. I know you're new here but the same applies to you as well!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Before she can dare yell or pursue her any further, Leda twists on her heels and sprints towards the back balcony. As soon as she heads into the open, a burst of cold air hits her face. She stares at the thin glass beneath her feet, making the height of this level as clear as can be, and has to gulp back her discomfort. Heights have never bothered her much, but it still is unnerving being so high without a proper railing.

Knowing there's no use feeling scared, Leda grabs the closest bar of the adjacent ladder. As soon as her fingers connect, they freeze. She retreats straightaway, eyeing her now reddening palm. It's way colder than it was yesterday. Why didn't she think of bringing gloves?

Only recalling the more frightening alternative of heading inside to encounter Yana again, Leda settles with climbing anyway. Ignoring the burning sensation, she clasps onto the slippery bars, hoisting herself up one limb at a time. She repeatedly tells herself not to look down but the creaks the ladder emits and the amount of times she loses her footing has her heart jumping to her throat every time.

When she finally spots the peak, a sliver of relief ripples through her. Her neck cranes up and she outstretches her hand only to have her palm skim right past the ledge. It's in the same moment the view of the cloudy grey sky rushes by her eyelids in distorted glimpses.

She's falling. The ladder has ripped from its loose hinges, tilting and allowing her plummet to an invisible grave. It's as if the world turns in slow motion—in little skitters of black and white.

"You really are bad at this all."

When her skull is to connect with the ground and crash open, like some kind of string, Leda's body bounces. Her entirety body trembles as she pries her eyelids open.

The source is a girl. Criss-crossed, she's perched on a wooden broom floating on the air itself, her chin buried in her palm. Her grip around Leda's forearm is vice-tight and with ease, she lifts Leda towards the rooftop. Then sets her onto the cold cement.

Leda hunches over on her knees, attempting to regain as much air as she can. The girl hops off her broom, landing as silently as a feather. Her purple hair is tied up in twintails at her shoulders, resting just below her heart-shaped earrings. But contrasting her smooth voice, her countenance is void of any emotion.

Once she feels like herself again, Leda flops onto her back, gasping up at the sky. That was terrifying.

She pants anyway. "I'm guessing you're Hadey?"

"Hadey Rez," she responds. The wand curled between her fingers is unique; leaves dangling off the edges of the lithe stick. With the flick of it, she gently guides the broken ladder overtop of their heads then drops it where piles of other discarded wood and wire lie. "Adel, right?" she asks.

"Yep."

Backwards for Leda. Avel suggested it'd be better to do so.

Leda hoists her torso upwards, raking over the thin posts and lines of laundry scattered across the rooftop. Though they're encased by a permeating warmth from some heater overhead, the biggest thing warranting her surprise is the large accordion surrounding them. As the keys patter and produce notes, maid and butler outfits alike are brought onto a conveyor belt. Leda watches as it goes through, bubbles and water streaming out, before being set and dried by what looks like a huge fan. Once folded, they're carried to the opposite end and placed on top of the growing pile of washed clothes.

The view is stunning as well. From the distance, the palace, like everything else in Straeh, looks to be made of ice. The top half is in shaped in an eccentric crown, crystals glimmering in the afternoon sun. From the frozen rivers and glittering trees, ice statues and tiny blots which look like sculptures—it's utterly beautiful.

"Yana said she'd send someone up here to help me." Hadey crouches onto the ground. Leda twists her head toward her but her attention is aimed at the already cleaned laundry. "But since you took too long I ended up doing it all by myself."

"Sorry," Leda says. "I was scrubbing the floors—"

"With your hands," Hadey finishes. "I heard."

Though Leda knows it's odd to feel awkward, that doesn't stop the emotion from enveloping her. Hadey brings her face close, long eyelashes fluttering in scrutiny.

"You're quite peculiar," she says. Leda stiffens, reeling away. But Hadey only continues, "And your eyes aren't a blue-green hue. Are you a hybrid?"

"Hybrid?" Leda voices the best she can through her discomfort.

Luckily, Hadey backs away. Still inexpressive, she ganders at the palace in the distance. "The Queen dislikes hybrids more than anything."

She's silent after this. Leda's hands comb through the purple wig of hers. Identical to how blue hair and amber eyes are the usual in Edaps, purple hair and blue-green eyes are normal here. Does that mean the other suits have common hair and eye colour also?

Leda's gaze roams towards Hadey and she gnaws on the inside of her cheek. She seems like a conversationalist. Maybe she can get some information out of her.

"About... the Queen," Leda says. It piques Hadey's interests at once and her focus returns. Suddenly, forming the words becomes difficult. "What kind of person is she?"

Hadey doesn't respond at first. She stares at her, as blank as before.

"That is a joke, right?" she finally says. She turns her head, as if acknowledging the idea. "For a hybrid you have quite the sense of humour. Unless, of course, you aren't kidding..."

She hesitates to glance Leda's way.

Leda's shoulders stiffen and an awkward laugh shoots past her lips. "Oh, uh, of course I was!" she says. "Kidding, I mean. Every Straeh citizen has to know who the Queen is, obviously."

Hadey doesn't look too impressed. Well, she doesn't look too much of anything. Her poker face is crazy good.

"Were you perhaps raised in the slums?" Her next question is just as baffling as the last. "Considering you're a hybrid that must be the case."

"Slums?" Leda asks.

Hadey cocks a brow, but doesn't elaborate. "That would explain why you're terrible at magic. You poor thing."

Internally, Leda's grateful she's decided to take over. But her words are hard to ignore.

"This conversation has piqued my curiosity quite a bit," Hadey continues. "If you are one of those failures His Highness must've invited you here out of pity."

"Pity... Why do you say so?"

"Why don't I say so? Those who aren't true Hearts from both their mother and father's side are failures. And Straeh doesn't need them."

"Even if they're half-Heart?" Leda asks.

"Half-Hearts are weak. They're failures in magic and are ostracized for not being born a full-blood. They're a blemish on our otherwise godly race." Her red lips flatten. "You act confused. You should know best, shouldn't you?"

Leda presses her lips together, dodging eye-contact. Her eyes are almost as soulless as those Heart guards—the ones who attacked their ship.

"Maybe that's why His Highness brought you here." Hadey's the one doing all the talking now. "He always enjoys teasing hybrids."

Goosebumps skitter across Leda's arms. She knows Avel's a flirt—a tease—but the way she's putting things is rubbing her the wrong way.

"Avel isn't the type..." Hadey's eyes bulge and Leda slaps her hand over her mouth. Idiot! You're a maid now; you can't address someone from the royal family like that! her mind rebukes. "I-I mean," she tries again. "His Highness doesn't seem too bad of a person. I've only just met him but he is very kind."

"His Highness isn't kind." Hadey's words leave her frazzled. But there isn't an ounce of falsehood in her features. "He fools around a lot despite his genius mind, but he isn't kind. No resident of Straeh needs 'kindness.' It's a weakness every Heart, and more so him as the prince, have long abandoned. He most likely even brought you here for his own amusement. The palace life is extremely boring to him, if you couldn't already tell."

Leda's mouth is rigid when she shuts it. She can't help the unease that wrings her gut. Avel, not kind? But he is! Could his servants not tell through a facade he's built up?

And who exactly did he build a facade for? her mind shoots. Avel wouldn't show a new side of himself to a stranger before servants that have served him their entire lives. He wouldn't risk his princely status—his life—to help people like them. Traitors from an enemy kingdom.

Leda's breath hitches in her throat. Ro. Does he even intend to save Ro? The reason he decided to bring them to the palace in the first place... Had he been lying? No, but Valentina showed him their sketches when they first got here...

"Is everything all right, Adel?" Hadey asks in her monotonous voice, turquoise eyes oddly piercing. "You're looking a little sickly."

She forces back the bile rising in her throat. "I-I'm fine."

"Hadey, Adel, come down here!" Yana shouts from below. "We've been summoned by Her Highness Valentina."

"Yes, Madam Yana," Hadey calls, ascending to her feet. She spares Leda one last perplexed look. "Adel?"

She blinks awake from her daze but even as she clambers onto her toes and more so as Hadey assists her down to the main floor on her broom, her mental state runs haywire.

Was Avel lying when he told her what he did? It doesn't make sense how easily everything had fallen into place—him and her bumping into each other and him promising to help Ro. But does that mean he's been giving her false hope this entire time?

"His Highness isn't kind."

Leda has to grab onto her arms to stop them from shaking.

It can't be true. It can't be.

What exactly is Avel planning to do with them?