Lucy continued to hug Ruby because she missed the warmth and love from this woman as her own mother had failed to provide her with the assurance and safety that she wanted to feel. Even though she lived in the castle that provided her delicious food, beautiful view and abundant wealth, it continued to feel hollow.
“I wish things were different,” responded Lucy, and the woman patted the back of Lucy’s head.
“I know. It will get better,” the woman pacified Lucy’s mind, and after a while, they finally pulled away from each other. “How about I make your favourite dessert today. I will have it sent to your room, and once you eat it, you feel better. Yes?” the woman placed her hand on Lucy’s cheek.
Lucy nodded her head, “I know I shouldn’t say this, but…sometimes I wished you were my mother.”
The elderly woman offered Lucy a warm smile, “Take care now. I will see you later.”
Lucy was the first one to leave the room, and when Ruby had left the room and had continued to do her task that she had been given with, one of the servants appeared near her, “Ruby, Queen Morganna has summoned you right now.”
The woman furrowed her eyebrows, not knowing what the Queen wanted from her. Leaving her work unfinished, she went to meet the Queen. Ruby had worked here in the castle for several years, and until now, she had never been summoned by Queen Morganna, at least not since the time she had been assigned to look after Lucy.
The other servant knocked on the door, and then they entered the room where Queen Morganna sat down on one of the plush couches and another side, Lady Samara was seated, delicately holding the teacup while sipping the tea.
“Good evening, my Queen! Good evening, Lady Samara,” Ruby offered them a deep bow before raising her head. “I was told you wanted to see me?”
“Yes, Ruby,” said Queen Morganna. The older vampiress gauged the woman from head to toe, while Lady Samara didn’t look at the servant who had just entered the room. “An important matter has reached my ears, and I thought it was better that we resolve it today.”
Ruby held both her hands together in front of her, waiting for the Queen to speak. “I heard that Samara has reassigned you to work for her, while appointing the governess to handle my granddaughter Lucy. But for some reason, you are having trouble following it. Is that right, Ruby?” questioned Morganna.
“My Queen?” Ruby looked slightly perplexed, “I do not understand-“
“There is nothing to understand here,” said Morganna, “Just because Lucy is attached to you, have you forgotten your place and decided to think that you are her mother and not Samara?”
The maid quickly shook her head, “I would never make that mistake, my Queen. Lady Samara is the princess’ mother. I am just a maid here.”
“And a lowly one,” commented Lady Samara, placing her teacup on the saucer that was on the table.
Ruby didn’t reply to the comment and instead accepted what the lady said to her.
Lady Samara said, “I told you to stay away from Lucy, but you don’t listen do you? I know that you both meet each other in secret. She prefers to spend more time with you than with me.”
The maid shook her head once again, “That’s not true, milady.” She offered a polite smile and said, “Lady Lucy loves you very much and she-“
“Shut up. I didn’t ask you to give your explanation,” news had reached Lady Samara’s ears that Lucy had been visiting this lowly maid’s room in the servant’s quarters. She had ordered both her daughter as well as this maid, but it seemed like both had chosen to ignore her orders. “Lucy is still a child, but you Ruby. You could have that you wouldn’t meet her anymore. How hard is it to follow the orders?”
The maid didn’t know how to answer Lady Samara’s questions. It was only today that she had gone looking for Lucy as she was worried about how the princess was doing. If she told it wasn’t her, the blame would fall upon the young vampiress, and Ruby didn’t want Lucy to get into trouble.
Seeing the unwillingness of the maid to answer the question, Morganna said,
“As you are one of the oldest maids in the castle, we have tried to overlook the amount of work you have done here, but an attitude like this,” Morganna clicked her tongue in distaste. “It is not only going to set a bad example to the other servants, but Lucy’s mother worries where you will brainwash her daughter into doing something she is not supposed to do.”
Ruby could already see where this was going, and she quickly knelt on the ground on her knees and she pressed her forehead on the cold floor.
“My Queen, forgive me, but I haven’t done anything that would cause Lady Lucy to misstep and not know what is right or wrong,” apologized the elderly maid.
“Your right and wrong is different from what we think is right or wrong,” came the sharp tone of Lady Samara, looking down at the maid who was trying to replace her motherly position in her daughter’s life.
“Lady Lucy is your daughter, milady. I would never dare to do anything-” Ruby’s words were interrupted by Morganna, who said,
“Lucy listens to you. All you had to do was not to cross your lines, but you took advantage of it. Ruby. It is something that cannot be allowed and Lucy’s mother is not happy with you or your work. Not to forget, you have turned quite old…” Morganna let out a loud sigh, “Guards!”
The maid looked alarmed, and she looked behind her to see two guards come to stand on either side of her.
“My Queen, please. I have done nothing, I swear to God. I have not sullied Lady Lucy’s mind,” beseeched Ruby in panic.
Morganna didn’t want to waste her time on the lowly human, and she waved her hand at the guards, “Take her to the village and have her executed.”
