The Handmaiden knocked on the door. After hearing a "Enter," they walked in. Immediately, they picked up on the Countess's expression. It was as if she had a sour taste in her mouth but was trying not to draw attention to it.

The Handmaiden feared that the Countess's act for her parents was finally taking a toll on her.

"I was ordered to see if you were prepared."

The Countess does not respond. She is sitting by the vanity mirror, staring at herself. After a moment, she asks, "Do I look okay?"

Does she look okay? Is she completely unaware that her beauty causes my heart to nearly jump out of chest?

Without missing a beat, the Handmaiden responds:

"You look stunning, milday."

It was true. While the Countess's formal dress did bring attention to her beauty, it was wholly unnecessary. To the Handmaiden, it was the Countess's mannerisms that made her beauty. It was the grace she held even outside of her performance in front of her parents. It was how she held herself, how she exuded beauty by simply existing as herself.

The countess frowned slightly in response, but then nodded.

"I'll believe you."

The countess failed to notice Handmaiden's fluster. Thank God.

-

They gaped. How dare those people speak about the countess in such a way?

Their shock was unidentifiable unless one was a self-proclaimed "Handmaiden expert." The only person who used such a title was Countess, but in private only.

Handmaiden valued their work ethic and their accuracy more than anything, so they did not drop the plates, like more clumsy maids would. Instead, there was the slightest of tremors on the tip of their index finger. They refused to let it affect them further. The slight gape they had on their face was more than enough.

"Drink, sir?" Handmaiden asked, attempting to appear attentive to distract themself. The man grabbed one and took a swig without acknowledging them. He was continuing his story of how he beat a longstanding blackjack champion of a pub despite being completely wasted.

"So I told him, I have the Jack card, so I win! But obviously, that's not how the game works." The surrounding crowd guffawed.

It wasn't that funny, they thought.

-

After the countess whisked Handmaiden behind a corner, they both held their breath and listened closely.

"I don't think anyone saw us."

Handmaiden nodded. "I don't think so. I'm guessing you wanted to sit in the garden?"

Countess affirms this and lets out a happy sigh.

I absolutely adore how she knows what I'll say beforehand. It's as if we were tuned to each other, even if she was 432 Hz and I was 440 Hz. The translation ended up perfect, somehow, despite how the sound differs.

-

"Have I said before that you're one of my favorite people?" "Today, you have said it three times. All in the last ten minutes." "I was afraid of that."

"Do you think we will remain together for a long time?" "Until death personally takes me into his clutches, I will never leave you, Countess."

"I think I am a little too attached to you." "The rumors would say so, my lady."

She finished her apple and placed it on the table. It promptly fell sideways, which she ignored. Standing up, she licked her fingers and wiped her hands on her skirt. "Let's go!" She said, grabbing handmaiden's hand. "Gross, your fingers are all sticky. At least wash them." Handmaiden made a disgusted face, but walked with the royal, anyway. In reality, they didn't mind. It was definitely gross, but it was the Countess, and they weren't a germaphobe.

(Written Sun, Dec 6, 2020. Unfinished scenes)