The entrance to Muege Castle was bustling with princesses attending their lessons, accompanied by their maids. After the princesses entered, the maids, as was customary, gathered separately to spend their own time together.

In the dining room located in the western hall of Muege Castle, a separate tea table was set up specifically for the maids.

Though not as elaborate as the princesses’ regular tea parties after classes, the servants of Muege Castle made a commendable effort to prepare a tea table for the maid’s gathering.

There was an unspoken rivalry among the maids, just as there was a hierarchy among the servants within the Plante region.

Everything that happened in Muege Castle would eventually be passed on to the servants through the maids.

Fourteen maids filled the long rectangular table, a bit cramped, but no one complained about the space.

Their serious and solemn expressions while accompanying the princesses into the castle relaxed in this secluded space. The tablecloth, embroidered with bright and cute flowers, softened the atmosphere.

Sara, the maid serving Princess Annet, sat at the head of the table with an air of superiority. The position of a princess directly influenced her maid’s status.

“Princess Annet has specially prepared this for us, so please enjoy yourselves,” Sara said, flaunting the gold ring Princess Annet had recently gifted her.

“It seems Princess Annet really adores you, Sara.”

Envy was evident in the eyes of the other maids as they admired the well-laid table and Sara’s ring.

Some looked on with displeasure, but given Princess Annet’s strong position within the Plante region, no one openly grumbled.

Many even believed that if a queen were to emerge from this region, it would undoubtedly be Princess Annet.

“When Princess Annet first arrived, I helped her a lot. Though she had other maids, none knew this place as well as I did,” Sara said with a modest laugh, her small diamond ring twinkling on her finger.

“That ring was also a gift, right? It’s really beautiful.”

“Yes. I told her it wasn’t necessary, but she insisted. It fits my finger perfectly,” Sara said, spreading her fingers and smiling contentedly, making sure the diamond in her ring was visible to her colleagues.

As the angle of her hand changed, gasps of admiration echoed simultaneously.

Sara was confident that she would be the fastest to advance among the maids present.

Her regular reports at the weekly meetings consistently earned her high ratings and pay. Being fortunate enough to serve Princess Annet, who wielded significant influence in the area, it was natural for the other maids to envy Sara.

Relishing in the envious and jealous glances of others, Sara’s gaze fixated on Mila, sitting at the end of the table.

Mila, dressed in a dull brown dress, sat like a brick wall, not envying or resenting Sara like the others.

When Mila was demoted to the dungeon following the death of the princess she served, Sara thought no one would surpass her anymore.

Yet, Mila returned from the dungeon when Princess Stella from Amalun arrived. Learning that Princess Stella’s treasure was merely a gold tea set, Sara felt a surge of superiority.

Sara wished Mila would continue to stay unnoticed, tucked away in a corner.

“Mila, what’s that brooch? It’s really pretty!”
At that moment, someone exclaimed in admiration, causing Sara’s face to crumple. The maids’ attention collectively shifted to Mila.

Sara, with widened eyes, scrutinized what brooch Mila was wearing that had caused such a fuss.

“My goodness! It’s a pearl brooch!”

“Look at the size of the pearl in the center. It’s huge!”

“Are all those around it diamonds?”

Sara gripped the hand with her ring. The diamonds in Mila’s brooch were far larger than those in the ring she had flaunted.

“Did Princess Stella give that to you?”

“Yes.”

“Really? She gave you something so expensive? Princess Stella really thinks highly of you, Mila.”

Instead of replying, Mila gently smiled and sipped her well-steeped tea. She felt Sara’s killing glare but had never cared about how Sara treated her.

Sara was not important to Mila, and Mila’s life wasn’t soft enough to be bothered by Sara. However, today, for some reason, Mila found it pleasant that Sara was irked by her.

Mila set down her teacup and turned to face Sara, ensuring that the brooch was more visible from the front.

After the emperor-praising lesson and the subsequent tea party, Stella couldn’t shake off the feeling that the other princesses were subtly avoiding her.

Before Princess Annet spoke to her, they acted as if Stella was invisible.

They ignored her greetings, looking away or engaging in loud conversations with others farther away.

This atmosphere was too familiar for Stella. Compared to the humiliation she endured in Amalun, this was trivial and insignificant.

However, it didn’t mean it was any less hurtful.

Deciding to leave early, Stella was stopped by Annet.

“Princess Stella, leaving so soon?”