Allie resisted the urge to shudder the moment she was separated from the princess, feeling unsafe. Even though it was certain she wouldn’t be harmed, she still couldn’t help it. In front of her was Mera, leading her to the bath, and behind her was the knight named Rogan.

Allie uneasily glanced at her back, seeing the knight grin at her. He seemed to be quite friendly, but Allie still felt wary, she knew nothing about this man. If she did something weird, she could imagine him striking her down with no problem.

However, the princess does not want that. That was what Allie knew.

Allie looked at her surroundings, so clean and neat, and beautiful. With her utterly dirty appearance, she was so out of place, she didn’t even seem worthy to be walking here. Even some of the servants stared at her weirdly.

Eventually, they arrived right at the door of the bathroom, which Allie was familiar with. The bath for the servants, or to be specific, the bath for the aristocratic children working in the palace. It was no place for a person such as Allie to use, but the princess suggested using this place.

How kind of the princess to allow a commoner, and trash, as Allie to use a bath fit for nobles. That said, she did feel embarrassed.

Mera turned towards Allie, and Mera, her expression wasn’t exactly pleased. While gazing at Allie with a slight frown, she spoke.

“Please wait here, I will call for other maids. Sir Rogan…”

“Yeah, we’ll stay here, and I’ll keep watch.”

Mera nodded and left them with graceful steps.

Allie silently stood by the wall with her head lowered. Rogan casually looked at Allie, as if wanting to talk. And he did, unable to resist. Well, he was quite curious and interested in the fact that this person beside him was a person who actually tried to poison the princess. After seeing what the princess was actually capable of, it was almost hilarious for him.

“Mera does not seem to like you very much.”

“...”

“Well I suppose that’s obvious enough. Don’t worry, I’ll watch out if she’s about to do something terrible.”

“..”

Allie was feeling a little baffled by the knight, he seemed too casual with her. As if she was just a normal person, despite being the person convicted and tortured after trying to poison the princess loved by all. She expected that he would show displeasure being near her. If that had been the case, she would accept it whole.

“Mera may look gentle, but I can sense a bit of danger inside those eyes of hers whenever she stares at you. Were you friends before? Almost looked like she was feeling betrayed.”

“...”

Rogan stared at her face, waiting for an answer. “It’s alright to talk with me, you know.”

Allie slowly raised her head and gazed at the knight.

Rogan slightly tilted his head. “So…? Mind answering my question?” he smiled amiably.

“... We… we talked… maybe we were about to be friends…”

Mera was a noble, Allie at first never expected to be treated kindly by her. And surprisingly, she was quite friendly to a commoner such as Allie. There was not much time to talk with Mera given that she was always by the princess’s side, but whenever they had a chance, even small, Mera would talk to her as an equal.

Would it be called friendship if they treated each other that kindly? It was hard to tell while bearing in mind that Mera was still an aristocrat by birth, and Allie a commoner. However, if given more time, Allie imagined they could be friends, but she threw all the chance away by trying to kill Mera’s superior.

A question formed in Allie’s head… what if it all went differently? How would all fare?

“Oh… That would have been interesting to see. But after the sin you committed, would things still change?”

Allie does not expect such a thing would happen, ever. She knew the weight of her sin, and she knew others would not forgive her. But strangely, why does the princess, the subject of her crime, had treated her so graciously? Was that her way of saying that she had forgiven her?

How compassionate…. I am undeserving of such kindness.

Truly, the princess was the only brightest and most beautiful light in this world… to Allie’s world.

“But given that the princess has taken you under her wing, something should happen. I will gladly observe, if you need help feel free to ask me.”

He said so with a wide grin. Allie warily looked at him. This knight, Rogan, was certainly a noble. With all the experience she had with knights, she expected he would treat her coldly and harshly. But why was it that he was being friendly here?

Why was the princess surrounded by friendly people?

“... W-Why are you treating m-me kindly…?”

“Hm? What? You expect me to get all grumpy when interacting with you? I don’t go that way.”

“But I am the one… the one who tried to…”

“The one who tried to poison my lady. Of course I wouldn’t forget that fact. But… I can see that you won’t do such a thing again, would you? Will you attempt to take her life away again, Allie Jelimis?”

“...”

“You look like a delightful girl… well originally I think. I don’t want to strike you down when you have a chance for change.”

“... A chance for change?”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“The princess had given you such, don’t waste it.”

“...”

He was right.

Allie lowered her head as that notion was engraved into her mind.

Moments later, Mera returned with a pair of maids following behind her. One hid no emotion and her blue eyes gazed intently at Allie with a raised eyebrow, her curly golden hair bouncing at her every step. The other maid, one with short black hair, gazed at Allie with displeasure, her brown eyes scanning her from top to bottom as if irritated by how dirty Allie was.

“Ellie, Macey, she is the one who you’ll be cleaning,” Mera said.

“By the gods… she’s extremely dirty, that’s gonna be one hell of a clean-up.”

“Ellie, she’s… she’s the one that tried to poison the princess, isn’t she? Is that alright…?”

“Well, as madame Mera said, we have to.”

“What’s with the ‘madame’? Don’t call me that.”

“Yeah well, the way you just dragged us out and gave us an order was pretty bossy of you.”

“...U-Um, I’m sorry. But it’s the order of the princess. Besides, I will be assisting you.”

“What’s up with the princess ordering us to clean up this complete stranger anyway?”

“And isn’t she a commoner…? I… we would be cleaning her?”

The blonde girl, Ellie, fixed Mera with an annoyed face. While Macey seemed to be feeling displeased at the prospect of cleaning a mere commoner.

“You two have no choice but to join me in this task, as I chose you, and is the command of her highness.”

“Ugh, why you gotta pick me… Macey should have been enough.”

“W-What? Her being a commoner aside, don’t you see how dirty she is? We need your rough and strong hands to rub off all the smear.”

Ellie furrowed her brows. “Seriously? That’s the reason you could think of that I should be included in this thing?”

“W-Whatever, Ellie, you’re with me, and so you can’t just run away! Don’t just leave me alone cleaning a commoner while Mera is being bossy all of a sudden.”

“I said I was sorry…”

“Alright, alright, no need to be so worked up. Not like I have any other choice. That aside, who’s that good-looking guy right there? A sword on the waist, a knight?”

The knight stepped to the side and waved his hand with a smile. “Hello there, fair lady. Mera failed to mention she has such a pretty friend,” he said while looking at Ellie.

Ellie giggled. “Oh my, Mera never mentioned she’s always with a knight so charming.” she pulled her hair to the back of her ear.

Macey gave Ellie a disturbed look, the way Ellie changed her tone into a soft and lady like was something she didn’t expect. And indeed, it was pretty disturbing for her to see the crude Ellie shift attitude this instantaneously.

“Allow me to formally introduce myself. You may call me Rogan, fair lady. How may I call you?”

“You may call me Ellie, Sir Rogan.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Rogan extended his hand for a shake, and Ellie accepted. The two stared at each other with bright eyes, one could imagine butterflies flying around them. But the two other maids, namely Mera and Macey, frowned, bothered by it.

The two of them knew there was nothing special going on here, no first love at first sight or something similar. The two were just playing with each other. How did they know? First, Mera knew Ellie, and she often gets flirty with men she found eye catching. As for Macey, she knew Rogan as he was friends with her childhood friend Alan. She knew how playful Rogan was.

Macey pulled Ellie away. “Alright that’s enough! The two of you disturb the depths of my soul,” she said as she glared at Rogan.

Rogan smirked as he looked at her. “Oh Macey, I didn’t realize you were here. Grow a height will you?”

“I so hate you.”

“At least you feel something towards me. Hehe, you should express some feelings to Alan as you have expressed your feelings to me. Hehehe.”

Macey’s face contorted as she glared at Rogan. “... I-It’s none of your business! So shut up!”

“It may be so, but it’s kinda annoying you know, seeing no progress to your castle. Want the help of dear skilled knight Sir Rogan here?”

“Hah?! No way I’m taking any help from you.”

“Really? Well, whatever you want. Don’t come crying to me if things won’t go as you wanted. And oh, your ladylike mannerism just disappeared after all that shouting.”

“Guh.... Right, I shouldn’t have lost my composure…” Macey took in a deep breath.

“You two know each other?” Mera asked.

“Yeah, we met when she was having a pleasant time with Alan.”

Macey lowered her head, but a blush shone on her cheek.

“Oh, I see…”

“Alan, huh. Hey, Sir Rogan, mind telling me about him?”

“E-Ellie? What are you planning to do?” Macey asked worrily.

“I’m just curious. I want to know more about who this Alan is that my friend is always so flustered about.”

“No, don’t do i—”

“Sure, I’ll tell you!”

“No!”

Mera sighed and palmed her face, this was getting out of hand. She noticed Allie merely staring at the spectacle with a blank face, but it was apparent that her full attention was on the whole interaction. She should stop this.

She clapped her hand loudly.

“Alright, that’s enough. No one’s talking about anyone today. Time to work, we don’t have all day.”

“Aaaaw. I was about to have more to tease Macey about.”

“I knew it! It was for that! T-Thank you Mera.”

“It was not my intention but….okay.”

Mera pushed the maids into the bathroom before telling Allie to enter. She didn’t have that soft and warm eyes when she looked at the other maids. It pained Allie’s heart a little upon seeing this cold distance between them, but it was to be expected, and she deserved it.

On that thought, would that be changed in the future? Would the change that the knight, Rogan, said she had a chance with, ever come?

Allie upon seeing the friendship between the maids, and how the knight easily made friends, almost blinded her. The way they interacted was so brilliant, and she felt envious. Her crime will forever be engraved in this world, but could she have friends again? Or perhaps restore the past ones?

She had no idea. She was not sure if there were such hope.

“Looks like I’ll be staying here.”

Rogan said before leaning his back on the wall. It was common courtesy to do so. To be honest, Allie would be so embarrassed if there was a man watching. There would be a question of danger, but he was just right by the door, one could easily call for help. Besides, not like Allie could do anything dangerous.

Allie glanced at him for a moment, then he smiled. She on the other hand, couldn’t respond and stepped into the bathroom. As she perceived the chamber, she held down a gasp. The bathroom that was always used by the cooks in the kitchen was already luxurious, but this one here was so much more.

The decorations on the walls and columns were made with the most expensive of metal, made with so much detail that they must have been made by skillful and expensive craftsmen. The floor was made of fine marble, they began to glisten the moment the maids lit up the chandeliers on the ceilings.

On the sides there were what appears to be several private rooms, maybe bathrooms when the maids wanted to take a bath privately. In the middle of the chamber was a pool, filled with clear water. Allie was almost overwhelmed by the sheer luxury enjoyed by the maids.

“We obviously shouldn’t use the pool for this,” Ellie said.

“We’ll do it here then. Commoner, sit down.” Macey placed a wooden chair right by the pool.

Allie meekly followed what she said.

Ellie suddenly pointed at her. “Ah take off your clothes. Going to throw away those disgusting things.”

Allie slowly removed her clothes while feeling hesitant. She didn’t want them exposed, but she had no choice. She removed her shirt, gradually, her skin was revealed, which caused Ellie and Macey to pause.

Her shirt fully removed, her skin laden with scars were revealed. Scars from whips, slashes, pierces, torn from punches, such scars were all over her body. Allie fidgeted for a moment, feeling uncomfortable.

Mera upon seeing those scars slightly looked away. “...Healing spells should have been able to erase them, but it would appear they didn’t properly cast them.”

“Um, should we cast healing spells on her after cleansing? They’re not exactly good to look at.” Macey asked, disturbed.

“...That was not part of the order.”

“Should be fine, right? Macey can cast it pretty easily.”

“...For now, don’t. I’ll talk to the princess later.”

“But…”

“Ugh, whatever.” Ellie scratched her head. “Let’s just do our task.”

Ellie left and shortly brought a water filled bucket, while Macey went to grab the soaps, and Mera grabbed a few cloths. Given how extremely dirty she was, after warning her, Ellie dumped the entire bucket.

“This gonna take a while. Oh yes, remember to brush your teeth after this.”

Macey and Mera rubbed the soaps in their hands on Allie’s body, before using the cloths.

Allie felt terribly embarrassed and ashamed. But those she must bear. She ended up here due to the princess’s kindness after all.