Chapter 34: Gap between the books
The kitchen area was busy when evening came, as an extravagant meal was being prepared for the royal family and the guests of the Blackthorn Palace. Anastasia and Theresa were in the kitchen when Mr. Gilbert arrived and ordered,
"Anna. Follow me."
Theresa looked slightly worried at the thought of the young woman being in trouble, and shared a look with Anastasia before she stepped out of the kitchen with the man. When they stepped into the inner side of the palace, she wondered why and who had summoned her.
Approaching the large double doors, Mr. Gilbert knocked on the door before the doors were opened. When Anastasia stepped inside the room following the man, she noticed the walls were painted red and cream, the furniture, like the couch, had red cushions, and there was a carpet spread at the centre of the room.
"Queen Sophia, I have brought the girl," Mr. Gilbert bowed to Queen Sophia, who sat in the centre of the long couch while the two princesses sat on the other side. She felt the members of the royal family stare at her.
Alarm bells rang in Anastasia’s mind about whether she was brought here to be interrogated. After all, Princess Niyasa had stared at her the entire time. The room was quiet, except for a maid who was softly playing a harp at the corner of the room.
"Raise your head, girl," Queen Sophia ordered Anastasia, and the latter gingerly looked up to meet the woman’s eyes. She said, "I hear that you are very obedient and cannot speak, which is what I am looking for. My daughter is short a personal maid, which is why you will fill the empty spot."
Anastasia’s face had a subtle frown, as she had never guessed that she would be assigned as a personal maid because of her false disability.
Mr. Gilbert quickly asked in a hushed voice, "What are you doing standing there quietly?"
Anastasia quickly offered a deep bow as if to show her gratitude. Though she had already received clearance to allow her to step outside the palace, this was not a bad turn of events, she thought to herself.
Queen Sophia took a sip from her tea while Princess Niyasa said,