The Alpha Prince's Purchased Maid
Chapter 122: Important First Lesson

Chapter 122: Important First Lesson

I blinked rapidly a couple of times to check whether my eyes were playing tricks on me. However, no matter how much I blinked or stared, the two women still looked so much alike. Were they twins?

“This is Madame Alexandra. She is very well known in the palace as Madame Sand and she is the head of the Sacred Chambers and in charge of managing and taking care of all honorable maidens,” Madame Cassandra explained formally.

“I am also her older sister. Many people believe that we are twins, but we are not. I am two years older than Cassandra,” Madame Sand said as if she could hear my unasked question.

She grinned at me, and I knew right away that I must have had such a questioning look on my face. I bowed to her to show my respect.

“It is an honor to meet you. My name is Mila...” I introduced myself in short.

“I already know who you are. You are an honorable maiden now, from now on, you will pay attention to who you bow your head to. Only show respect where it is due. Bow only to members of the royal family and prominent members of nobility and no one else,” Madame Sand started lecturing me right away.

“Yes, Madame...” I replied.

It seemed like I had a lot of learn about how to conduct myself as an honorable maiden. My life had unfortunately taken another inconvenient turn and that meant that I couldn’t relax or lay low somewhere safe. I recalled the prince’s words telling me that I wasn’t suitable to become an honorable maiden and that there were many things that I could learn. Then, there were things that he believed I could never master no matter how hard I studied or trained.

I wonder what those things were...

“Come in...” Madame Sand said.

She turned and walked back into the room before I followed her inside along with Madame Cassandra. The room wasn’t large, and it was clearly Madame Sand’s office. The room was neat and seemed to have only the bare necessities without any luxurious or elaborate decorations that seemed to adorn the public areas of the building.

“Welcome to the Sacred Chamber. Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Alexandra. You can call me Madame Sand, Sand, Alexandra, Sandra, or whatever you wish. My role in this palace is simple. I manage and take care of everyone living and working within the walls of this Sacred Chamber. I act as the guardian for all honorable maidens to ensure that they have the best life possible while being loyally committed to serving members of the royal family,” Madame Sand said as she stood in front of us.

Although she looked very much like Madame Cassandra, the air about her was very different. I wouldn’t say that she was less strict, but she appeared to be warmer and more relatable. It felt like she really wanted to know me as a person, and I felt like I could open up to her even if it was just a little at the start. Her lips curved into a smile that warmed my soul. If I had to explain why I felt that way, then I guess it must be because she seemed like such a motherly person.

“It seems like my role here is over. Please take care of Mila well...” Madame Cassandra said before she turned to smile a little at me.

“Yes, you may leave. Thank you for escorting her all the way here,” Madame Sand thanked her sister.

“Madame Cassandra...thank you so much...for everything...” I thanked her before I lost my chance.

“Make me proud, Mila. I’ll send you some cute little maids just so that I can keep my eyes on you...” she said with a hint of warning in her voice.

I have to admit that I didn’t know whether she was just teasing me or if she was dead serious about it.

“Thank you...” I murmured softly without knowing what else to say.

The door closed behind me, and I knew that Madame Cassandra had made her exit. I was now left alone with Madame Sand inside her office, and it felt like the real business was about to commence. Madame Sand’s eyes were immediately on my face before her gaze drifted down my body. I knew that she was appraising me because this wasn’t my first time going through this kind of experience since arriving at this palace. She took a few steps and began walking around me while I felt her intense gaze on my body. After a complete trip around where I was standing, she came back to her original position and heaved a sigh.

“You don’t look half bad, but we really need to work on your fashion sense. From now on, you can no longer hide that fault of yours behind the use of a maid uniform. You will have to dress fashionably just like the other maidens. I think you already know this, but you have so much to learn and so much to catch up on...” Madame Sand said before pursing her lips together.

I wanted to apologize for being such a burden to her because I knew that she would be the one responsible for teaching me everything that I needed to know. However, I thought that there was something better that I could say.

“I’ll work hard to live up to your expectations,” I said with conviction.

“No, my dear. You shall not live up to my expectations. The only set of expectations that you should care about living up to are those from the princes. In your case, that would probably mean Prince Leonard’s,” the madame replied with a pointed look my way.

Prince Leonard...

“He...Prince Leonard doesn’t believe that I am suitable to become an honorable maiden...” I admitted softly as a slight pain formed in my chest.

“Then I suggest you start from this very moment to prove him wrong. This is the first and most important thing that I will teach you, my dear child. Listen and listen well. Earning and maintaining the prince’s favor is the only way that you will survive in this place,” she said before her lips curved into a cold smile.

--To be continued...