The Note

The next day, Kaleb’s housekeeper woke Ariana before the sun rose. Three guards escorted her to the palace, keeping a close eye on her. It seemed that being a suspect didn’t stop her from doing her old tasks.

She was given to Clara. After a breakfast of lukewarm, salty barley porridge and stale rye bread, she quickly taught her the basics at the washbank.

Five minutes later, Ariana wanted to cry. Washing was hard. Is this what the servants go through while cleaning her clothes?

“Is something wrong, Elena?” Clara asked, hands beating the cloth she was washing against the flat laundry stones.

"Are you sure this is truly the duty I used to do as Elena?”

Clara paused momentarily, confusion flickering in her brown eyes. “Um, yes. Why are you asking that?”

“Because this is difficult!” Ariana snarled, dropping the soaked clothes in her hands and standing. “I mean, this is the most degrading thing I’ve ever done in my life. No, I am not washing a thing again and nothing can make me change my mind!”

The Washbank fell into silence as all eyes fell on her.

“Elena!” Clara quickly rose, her cheeks burning. “Please don’t say such things out loud," she whispered.

“Or what?” Ariana countered, her voice loud. “What’s going to happen?”

“That does it," a tall, gangly maid said, dropping her wet cloth and standing. Her beady eyes were unkind as she drew closer to Ariana.

“Deanna, don’t.” Clara tried to stand as if to shield her, but the mild-mannered girl got pushed aside.

“We have had it with your better-than-us attitude of yours, Elena," the maid spat. “You think you’re better than us, even going around claiming to be the Princess. But sorry to burst your bubble, you’re exactly like us, if not worse. I mean, we all have parents and families. But you, you’re just a pathetic little orphan who no one cares about if she dies or not. So if I were you, I’d watch my words or you’re going to get what’s coming to you. Right, girls?”

Most of the washing maids agreed, their faces showing disdain as they watched Ariana.

She couldn’t hold it in anymore; that’s what Ariana thought later. All that had happened to her—the humiliation, accusations, and threats—hit her hard. She wanted to lash out at someone since the old woman wasn’t around to take the blame.

So, Ariana punched the smug maid in the face. She went down without delay.

Chaos exploded.

—————————

The guards assigned to Ariana had to step in. When the Head Servant arrived, she saw the swollen faces of the groaning maids and a mildly bruised Ariana. Ariana explained Deanna’s provoking words and Clara’s defence, but the Head Servant blamed Ariana.

Her punishment was that she would only wash the remaining clothes and must finish before the end of the day.

Ariana had shrieked, arguing but to no avail. Worse, the guards set to watch over her supported the unfairness and now, she has no choice but to do so.

After some hours, Ariana straightened, her back cracking loudly. She winced. She stomped over to the piles of clothes left by the other maids. Then, she tried to pack as much as she could before heading back to where she had been washing.

Just you wait, Ariana thought, setting the pile down, then sat with a puff. When I get my identity back, I’ll make sure to punish all of you for this disgrace. I’ll start with that damn man, Kaleb, and—

She pulled out a thick tunic, spreading it; something fell out of the surface of the water. It was a folded piece of parchment.

Her fingers snatched the paper up. She looked back nervously. The guards were thirty paces away, their backs turned as they watched the perimeter.

Holding the wet parchment against the tunic, Ariana carefully unfolded the damp paper. Dark handwriting scrawled across it.

Elena,

You failed to finish the job. The princess is still alive, and you have put us all at great risk.

But the Rim has decided to give you one last chance to rectify your mistake.

After five days, the King and Princess Ariana will leave the palace for the Royal Hunt in the Northern Woods.

We will ensure you join the servant staff assigned to the hunting camp. Complete your mission and kill Princess Ariana during the hunt. Failure again will result in your death, Elena.

You know what will happen if you speak of this to anyone.

Ariana couldn’t breathe.

What…. 

The original Elena had been hired by unknown people to assassinate her! Or, to be precise, the Ariana of this world.

Wait, if Elena was truly hired, does that mean that now I’m involved in this as well?

But when did Elena even attempt the assassination? And failing…how did these notes even get in the clothes I was washing?

Ariana shivered. Don't tell me that someone is actually watching me?! She couldn’t turn or blink.

What do I do now?

Telling someone was obviously a bad idea, especially when she doesn’t even know who to trust with this. And if Kaleb dares to find this note on her…

Ariana quickly shredded the paper into small bits. She pressed them into the water and watched as they floated downstream.

"Hey, girl!" a stern voice barked, shocking her so badly that tears nearly filled her eyes.

She gasped, jerking to her feet. One of Kaleb's guards, the only female guard, was coming from behind her. She eyed a trembling Ariana who was trying and failing to act naturally.

“Aren’t you staring at the water for some minutes now?"

“O-oh,” Ariana cleared her throat. “I’m just tired, that’s all. The washing is quite difficult; you know it’s only me.”

The guard hummed, glancing at the washed clothes. “Leave it; you can continue tomorrow. I’ll have someone come to help you spread those you’ve washed. The Captain wants to see you.”

Oh no, Ariana’s heart was in her throat. Please don’t tell me that the Captain already knows about the letter.