Reborn as the Villainess's Doomed Maid, I Keep Getting Caught by Her Knight Brother novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Tea

The Saint came to tea at three, in a pale blue gown, with a prince on her arm.

Mio stood by the sideboard in her best apron with the silver pot in both hands.

She had bought the sugar lumps herself that morning, from a shop three streets away, and checked every one.

The drawing room of the Sevrin house was gold and white, with tall windows over the garden.

Verena sat very straight on the sofa in crimson silk.

Caspian stood against the far wall in his black coat with his arms folded, as still as a statue.

Prince Leopold of Marenne lounged in the best chair.

He was twenty-three, with dark hair swept back and a face that had never heard the word no.

Odette Lowe sat beside him with her hands folded.

She was nineteen, with light brown curls and a worried face, and she looked as though she wanted to be somewhere else.

"My dear Verena," the Prince said warmly. "How well you look. Crimson. Always crimson. One wonders if you wear it on purpose."

"On purpose for what, Your Highness?"

"So the blood doesn't show."

Nobody laughed.

Odette's cheeks went pink.

Mio set the teapot down on the table with a very small click.

The Prince smiled at the servants along the wall, three footmen and a housemaid, inviting them to enjoy it.

"I have been thinking, Verena," he went on. "Our engagement was made when we were children."

"Children make poor choices. I am not sure you have the manners of a future queen."

"I have the manners of a future queen," Verena said evenly. "It is the future king who is in doubt."

One of the footmen coughed into his glove.

The Prince's smile thinned.

"You have the manners of your maid," he said. "She at least knows how to hold her tongue."

He waved a hand at Mio without looking at her.

"Tilda, is it? Pour."

Mio looked across the room.

Caspian had not moved.

His grey eyes were fixed on the Prince, cold as river ice, and a muscle jumped in his jaw.

He could not touch the heir to the throne, and they both knew it.

Verena did not look at her brother.

She only lifted her chin a little higher, and Mio saw her hands tighten in her lap.

That decided it.

Mio picked up the pot and walked across the room.

She poured a cup for the Saint first, carefully, and the Saint said "Thank you" so softly it was almost a breath.

Then she turned to the Prince and poured his tea.

She tipped the spout a little too far, and a full cup of scalding Assam went straight into his lap.

"Aah!"

The Prince leapt out of his chair.

Tea ran down his white trousers and onto the carpet.

"You stupid girl!"

"Oh, Your Highness, I'm so sorry," Mio said, in her sweetest voice. "My hands. They shake when I'm near royalty."

She dabbed at his trousers with a napkin, very thoroughly, until he knocked her hand away.

"Get away from me!"

"At once, Your Highness."

Across the room, Verena was looking at her teacup with great interest.

Her shoulders shook, just a little.

Odette had both hands over her mouth.

The Prince stormed out, dripping, and the Saint went after him with a murmured apology and a glance back at Mio.

It was a long glance, steady and thoughtful, and it did not seem like the glance of a girl who had noticed nothing.

When the door closed, Verena put down her cup.

"Tilda," she said.

"My lady."

"I am giving you a day's wages and a new apron."

"My lady, I-"

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