Erythro: The Prophecy Unveiled

The plight of Julia became the talk of the castle the next day, with the maids eagerly discussing her unfortunate situation. Whispers of her name floated through the corridors, and some even speculated that Rose might soon share the same fate.

As dawn broke, a group of low-level servants gathered in the garden, diligently cleaning, weeding, and tending to the lush greenery. Amidst their work, they observed the bustling activity of various castle attendants, including the ever-watchful butler. Carriages came and went in a steady stream, their drivers distributing invitations for the upcoming royal ball. The air buzzed with anticipation and gossip, the excitement of the ball mingling with the curiosity about Julia's fate.

"I can't believe Julia was gone," one servant lamented, shaking their head in disbelief. "I remember her jokes and playful pranks," another added, a wistful smile touching their lips as they recalled the memories.

Theresa listened to the conversation as she planted a rose in the garden, her hands covered in dirt and mud. She paid it no mind; gardening was her passion, a talent she was proud of. Her fellow servants often remarked that she had a green thumb, for nearly everything she planted thrived under her care.

Madeline, on the other hand, was quite different. The young girl had neither the passion nor the talent for gardening. Instead, she preferred training with her bow and arrow and riding horses. Thinking about it, Theresa sighed deeply. She wished Madeline shared her love for the garden, but she understood that each had their own path to follow.

She glanced around the garden, searching for her daughter, and spotted her pulling weeds at the edge. Madeline was working alongside Emily, both of them focused on the task at hand. Madeline's brow was furrowed in concentration and sweat trickled down her forehead and the sides of her face. The little girl appeared frustrated as she struggled with a particularly stubborn weed.

"She deserved it," another servant remarked coldly. A collective gasp echoed among the maids at the harsh comment. "Don't say such awful things about her," one servant admonished. "What happened to her was already tragic. All we can do now is remember her with kindness."

"But it's the truth, isn't it?" another maid interjected, her voice rising with indignation. "She didn't follow the palace rules. Maybe she wanted to be like Rose, climbing to a higher position by using her body! And look what happened!"

Murmurs filled the garden as the maids discussed their opinions on the situation. Emily, who was quietly removing weeds, softly murmured, "I think it's best not to comment on her if we don't really know what happened in the first place." "Enough with that solemn talk. Tonight, is the royal ball, right?" Karina, another low-level maid, asked with a smile.

"Yes, I really hope we can catch a glimpse of the celebration," another maid gushed. "Did you see the castle's grand hall?" someone added excitedly. "The decorations are already finished, and it looks so beautiful and magical!"

"How do you know about it? We're not allowed in there," one maid questioned skeptically. "I snuck around and saw it myself," the maid replied with a proud smile, earning laughter from the others.

Emily shook her head in response. "They never learn," she muttered. She then glanced at the child beside her, who was too engrossed in weeding the garden to pay attention to the conversation. Emily smiled and thought to herself, 'I hope you don't end up like them.'

Madeline clumsily grabbed one of the weeds, not noticing the sharp thorns hidden among its leaves. "Ahh! Ahhh!" she cried out in pain, clutching her bloodied hands. Startled by the sudden clamor, the maids rushed over to check on her. Emily took Madeline's hands and inspected the wounds. "There are thorns still embedded in the cuts," she said. "We need to get you some medicine."

Theresa suddenly stood up and hurried over to Madeline's side. "Are you alright? What happened?" she asked, her voice filled with concern as she saw the tears welling up in her daughter's eyes.

Meanwhile, the butler, Larry, was finished inspecting the grand hall and walking on the hallway when a maid came running up to him. Larry narrowed his eyes at her and demanded, "What is it?" "A maid was hurt in the garden. She needs medicine," the maid replied breathlessly. Larry regarded the maid with a passive expression and asked, "How severe is her injury?" The maid looked confused and stammered, "I don't know, but her hands are bloody."

"Her hands?" the butler asked, raising an eyebrow. "Once you've finished tending and weeding the garden, make sure it is finished before the afternoon. Tell the maid to wash her hands and get back to work. No slacking!" he reprimanded sternly. "We shouldn't waste precious and expensive medicines for a lowly servant," he added. The maid nodded and hurried back to the garden. Upon returning, she relayed the butler's message to her fellow servants. "What a jerk!" Emily muttered under her breath, clearly referring to the butler.

Theresa caught Madeline's arms, helping her to stand up. "You may resume your work," she told the other maids. "Don't worry about Madeline; I'll handle this." Theresa scanned the garden and picked some weeds and herbs nearby. Some of the maids looked at her questioningly. Emily, observing her actions, softly murmured, "What are you going to do with the herbs?" "Medicine for the wound, so it won't get infected," Theresa replied.

Emily was surprised. "You know how to create medicine?" she asked. Theresa averted her eyes and clutch Madeline hands, "Let's go". She said to her daughter who was crying. Emily observes the two and thought, 'Theresa must be from a wealthy family before. But I wonder why her family didn't look for her'. 

In the servant's quarters, Theresa gently cleansed Madeline's injured hands before applying an herbal mixture. She then wrapped the wound securely with a cloth. "I'm returning to the garden," she announced. "You can rest here or lend a hand in the stable. Just be careful not to overwork your injured hand, alright?" Madeline responded with a cheerful, "Yes, Mother," and embraced her warmly before dashing off towards the stable. Theresa was taken aback by her daughter's sudden enthusiasm but returned her affection with a smile.

Having finished her gardening chores, Madeline sought refuge in the castle stables. Her intentions were twofold: to tend to the horses and engage in some archery practice. Secretly hiding her bow and arrow within the stable, she eagerly anticipated a chance encounter with Prince Sebastian, who she knew had a horse-riding lesson scheduled for that day. A hopeful smile graced her lips as she imagined their meeting.

Madeline entered the bustling stables, where servants were diligently cleaning. After greeting them, she retreated to the quieter back section. There, she cleared away hay with her bare hands, revealing a hidden box. Inside, she retrieved her bow and arrow, slinging the quiver over her shoulder. Cautiously scanning the area to ensure she wasn't observed, the young girl slipped out the back of the castle, into the adjacent forest.

Finding a large tree, she placed a marker at its base and assumed a steady stance. After a moment of concentration, she released the arrow. However, a startled exclamation interrupted her focus, causing her aim to falter. The arrow missed its target, embedding itself in a nearby tree. Her heart pounding, Madeline braced herself for the identity of her unexpected observer, hoping fervently it wasn't royalty or nobility.

Madeline peeked behind her and saw a figure atop a galloping horse. A smile spread across her face when she recognized the familiar horse and its rider. "Prince Sebastian," she greeted with a curtsy. Prince Sebastian dismounted and stood beside Madeline. "It seems your aim is getting rusty, but I've been getting good at archery. Haven't missed a mark since last week," he boasted playfully.

Madeline smiled at him and replied, "I haven't had the chance to practice." "Where is your teacher?" she asked, looking behind him. "He's not here today, probably preparing for the ball since he's invited too," the prince replied. "Honestly, the lesson was postponed because of the ball, but I just wanted to ride Duke," he added, patting the mare's head.

"Are you going to attend the ball?" Prince Sebastian asked. Madeline laughed and replied, "I'm not allowed there." Prince Sebastian looked at the smiling Madeline and said, "It's unfair, isn't it?" Madeline looked at Sebastian questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"Being a maid at the palace," the prince replied. Madeline's smile faded as she thought about Julia. "I don't understand the rules, but as long as you want me to be your friend, I will always be here, Your Highness," Madeline answered softly.

Prince Sebastian smiled at her response and said, "Don't call me 'Your Highness' when it's just the two of us. You know, you're right. I don't understand their rules and regulations either. They're always telling me what a prince should and shouldn't do. But I promise, I'll change these rules when I become king," he declared with determination. Madeline smiled at his remarks.