Summer 16

Summers in Malezik are long and hot.

That was why Svetlana hated Malezik. This radiant land, swallowed by the sun, was not at all suited to her. Rasrosad, located at the heart of the Empire, was especially hot. Compared to that place, with its scorching temperatures, the Summer Palace in the north was like paradise.

However, when summer ended, she had to return. Back to Rasrosad, the heart of the scorching kingdom, like a blood-drenched rose. To the Imperial Palace, where her husband and his mistress resided and gossip mongers whispered about her.

Lately, Svetlana hadn’t been feeling well, anticipating the future that lay ahead. As the nights grew noticeably earlier, she realized it was time to decide on a departure date. Her astute maids were already preparing for their return.

Dreadful.

Even while watching her son and the young maid play with marionettes, Svetlana couldn’t shake her irritation. The sight of her son reading a new fairy tale to the maid, the maid’s clumsy movements as she manipulated the dolls according to the story—these merely registered in her cold eyes, evoking no emotion. No matter what she saw or heard, her thoughts kept returning to Rasrosad. It was a tormenting thought she couldn’t escape.

Perhaps because it was time to return, the faces of those she had tried to forget during her stay in Martiera kept coming to mind. They must be concocting all sorts of stories about this summer retreat. If Iskandar hadn’t come with her, they would have spread disgusting rumors. The Empress felt a renewed sense of gratitude toward her son.

Since she was feeling uneasy, playing with the maid wasn’t as enjoyable as it had been. In fact, she seemed a little tired of it. It was understandable, considering they had been doing this for a month. The selection of clothes here was limited, and after dressing and adorning the girl, all they did was play childish games with her son.

If it had been Nadia, the Empress would have taught her something. However, there was no need to bestow such excessive kindness on a mere summer plaything. Even the Prince’s personal instruction in reading, claiming to enlighten an ignorant commoner, was an overly generous act.

Come to think of it, Iskandar seemed more absorbed in their time with the child. Although she knew he was having his attendants bring the child to them regularly and play different games with her every day, it still felt that way.

Even now, he looked pleased playing with dolls. It was the first time she had seen such a gentle expression on his face. He looked as if the lowly maid were his actual younger sister.

No, there was no need to think such thoughts. Svetlana suppressed her turbulent emotions and sipped her tea. The flavor of the lemon, added to the tea in Karsavina style, soothed her mood.

“You have to do it like this, Senita.”

At that moment, Iskandar placed his hand over the maid’s hand, which held the marionette’s control bar. Svetlana finally clearly registered her son’s actions. The scene that had been floating before her eyes was now sharply imprinted in her mind.

Iskandar guided the maid’s hand as he manipulated the marionette. The wooden doll, suspended by strings, moved its limbs naturally under his control, like a living creature. Then, the maid looked up at Iskandar and smiled shyly. Seeing her smile, Iskandar smiled back at her. Gently. Warmly. Brightly. Unlike himself.

Svetlana had seen that expression before.

Strangely, the maid facing Iskandar wasn’t as nervous as she had initially been. Svetlana realized this only now. Having grown accustomed to the prince’s kindness, the maid smiled readily. Her smile was filled with the unique joy of being loved. Just like Carmen facing the Emperor.

Like Carmen!

The moment she recalled that name, the Empress’s blood ran cold. Her light blue eyes, which had been soft, hardened like ice.

Her husband’s beautiful mistress, with her dark brown hair and green eyes, didn’t resemble the young maid at all. Apart from the fact that they both had pretty faces, they had nothing in common. Carmen was the daughter of a count who held sway over social circles; Senita was just a lowly, ignorant maid.

However, as Svetlana looked at Iskandar, she saw Carmen in Senita. She saw her. A wave of disgust washed over her, making her shudder. She couldn’t bear it.

“Iskandar!”

Svetlana abruptly stood up and shouted.

Two pairs of eyes turned toward her simultaneously.

“The game is over.”

Looking at the marionette sprawled on the floor, Svetlana declared angrily. Her voice trembled with fury.

“Mother.”

Noticing her unusual behavior, Iskandar approached her. Aware of how she must look, Svetlana turned her head away, avoiding her son’s eyes.

“Let’s go. It’s time to return to Rasrosad.”

Then, Svetlana glared at the young maid, who wore a dumbfounded expression.

The child she had adorned with her own hands was very lovely. With her neatly combed golden hair, eyes as blue as the sea, and pearly white, transparent skin, she looked more like Svetlana than a Malazik native.

Nevertheless, the child was a little Carmen, bewitching Malezik. An impure, filthy Carmen who could never rightfully stand by Malezik’s side.

“Send that child away. Now.”

After issuing the firm command, Svetlana turned and left the Prince’s drawing room.

As she left, Iskandar sighed and rubbed his forehead. He looked irritated, but his gaze was still somewhat gentle as he turned to look at Senita.

“It’s alright, Senita.”

His voice was soft as he soothed the bewildered child. Senita smiled awkwardly.

“She’s just tired; she’s not angry. So don’t worry about it too much. Alright?”

She nodded at his words, which demanded a response. Though it was a difficult request, she wanted to obey him.

“Good girl.”

Iskandar smiled briefly and patted her head. Then, he turned and walked in the direction his mother had left. He was fulfilling his duty and showing courtesy as a Prince towards the Empress.

Only after he left did the Prince’s attendant lead Senita out into the hallway. The suite door closed heavily behind Senita. The sound echoed in her ears as if the door would never open again.

The wind entered through the window and filled the space beside Senita, who was now alone after the Empress and Prince had departed. The cold wind no longer belonged to summer. Wrapping her arms around herself to warm her exposed skin, Senita realized that time had passed.

Summer was finally over. An abrupt but undeniable end.

***

The Empress and the Prince had decided to return to Rasrosad.

With their departure date set, the servants were busy preparing. Those from Rasrosad were busy packing, while those from the Summer Palace were preparing to see their masters off.

Senita worked with them, too. This time, Senita wanted to work. She knew that in order to stay at the Summer Palace, she had to resume her duties as a maid. After a few days, Gaspar finally allowed her to work, sensing that her role as a playmate had truly ended. However, he sternly instructed her not to do anything too strenuous or that might injure her, just in case.

Everything returned to normal. Senita spent her days as she always had: waking up at dawn to prepare tea for the senior maids and cleaning and tidying up until late at night.

There was one difference: Melissa’s absence. And Julia, the maid who had been with Melissa that day.

When Senita asked Nora about their absence, she was simply told that they had quit. At Nora’s words that she shouldn’t worry about it, Senita simply agreed. The things she wasn’t supposed to worry about continued to pile up and cling to her heart like wet sand.

Meanwhile, the preparations for sending their masters back to Rasrosad progressed smoothly. Senita was assigned to help organize the items to be loaded onto the carriages. Today, her task was to wash the dishes that would no longer be used at the well behind the palace, dry them, and pack them into boxes.