Chapter 3 – Decided Fate

Right then, the echo of footsteps was heard near the door. Edna was breathing hard and forced her stiff body to move, but the bucket of firewood slipped away and fell from her grasp. As soon as the loud ‘thump’ rang out, the head maid Lotta suddenly opened the door and said, “Won’t you look at this? I knew you’d be here, all absent-minded, like this again. I should whip you senseless, but the eldest lady is summoning you, so hurry and get going.”

“What for?”

“How many times do I have to tell you not to talk back? Do as you are told! Oh, the smell. You really reek with a stink that makes a person’s nose rot. You’re so lazy despite being young, there should be some use to you.”

Edna’s face was sporting all kinds of bruises. Yesterday, she had another bout of tussle with Gilbert, the Knights’ Head in the castle, in order to protect her chastity as if she were the daughter of some aristocrat. She didn’t even bat an eye despite being beaten bloody to the ground. Lotta was very displeased with Edna’s haughtiness. She didn’t like her clumsy labor akin to that of a person who had never worked a day in her life, nor her stupid look resulting from her unfocused self.

Edna picked up the fallen firewood piece by piece and went to Anna’s room.

Leaning against the window, Anna frowned at Edna as she entered with her head bowed. “Do you bathe at all? The nasty smell is so pungent despite you standing over there. My nose feels like it’s going to rot.”

“…I apologize.”

“Whatever. I should have you bathe first before teaching you. I can’t stay in the same room as you for the life of me because of the stink. Lotta! Lotta! Hurry inside.”

Lotta soon entered as if she had been waiting outside, and right after, Anna pointed her chin toward Edna and coldly uttered. “Take her out and have her wash with hot water first.”

“Yes? You want me to make her take a bath? Then we can just get water from the pond…”

“You think her filth will come off if you do it like that? Heat up the water, wash her thoroughly until her skin is about to peel, then bring her back.”

“Yes, miss.”