_ This is no joke

The other girls had already positioned themselves in readiness to carry out the matron's order. Meanwhile, Afina remained still in a spot, ruminating about why they were graced with the luxury of having a maid.

However, she knew that conspicuous question ravaging her mind would get its answers most definitely.

The more pressuring issue was that never had she ever thought she would have a maid who works for her. Her mama Xylia was a maid.

It was she who was used to being a maid, not getting one. She even came here in readiness for any meager job but turns out the term meager in the high house was luxury in hers.

The other girls were graciously making their pick. The green qi girl was the first to pick. Strangely, all the other girls had paused and allowed her to make the first pick.

Afina thought within herself that she would wait to pick whoever amongst the maids that were left and hadn't gotten picked. She couldn't bring herself to pick one amongst so many.

They all looked good and presentable.

Moreover, they were humans, not artworks. The fact that the matron had presented them as though they were placed on an exhibition platter, asking them to make their pick did not quite sit well with her.

After the unnecessary and most prideful picking binge, the girls had gotten a maid each and Afina was who was left with none.

The only maid who remained to wait with no— no...Whatever they were to the maids onward glanced Afina's way.

Obviously, the match was unavoidable. Afina was the only one left in line and so was the skinny maid.

With a gleeful nod of her head, Afina went to take the hand of the maid, unlike the other girls who only tapped their shoulders lightly.

"Good. Now that you have all picked a maid, I will go on to explain to you why you have one. The first piece of your training requires you to be familiar with the high house. To know where to enter and where to not. To know and recognize each wife of the prince until you get to meet them while they pick you just the way you have picked these maids." she spreads her hands over at the maids.

"You all have a month to get these scholars to know everything there is to know about the high house. I don't want any complaints or clumsiness when you start to serve under the high-house mothers"

High house mothers? Afina wondered who were those.

As though her thoughts were written on her forehead and the matron had read them...

"The high house mothers are Prince Cargan's wives. During the course of the period you serve under them, I want perfectness in doing so for as a high-house scholar, you need to get on the high-house mothers' good sides. It will help boost your profile." she paused to gaze at the girls just to see if her words sank in or not.

The matron removed the first leg she had crossed over the other in her speech-standing position then placed a hand on her hips.

"Those who are lucky and haven't gotten themselves expelled would proceed to the next segment of the training after the one-month training with the maids and the two months of serving the prince's wives. Now answer me, understood?"

All the other girls including Afina chanted, " Yes matron Valentina!"

The pretentious composure and the imitative manner in which she said that to match the other girls' amused Afina.

She had to strap her upper lip over the lower one to not giggle out loud.

"Good" the matron sang. It had become her signature in Afina's eyes– the word 'good'

"This is your suite. You will share a room each with your maids." Matron Valentina provided.

While Afina was in awe that they were going to reside in such a massive duplex when the other girls gushed out.

"Share a room with a maid?"

"How do I survive if I am to share a room with a maid!"

Blaring and slacking were Afina's eyes and jaw.

Of all the things that could be marveled about, the girls chose to whine about having to share a room with a maid.

These maids in all sincerity looked none less than elites to Afina but these girls thought the other way around.

Vividly, she could see why they saw and were treating her like a polluted pest.

Matron Valentina was angered. Quick to anger that woman was!

"I have a high allergy to girls who are nothing but brats!" she snapped. Her countenance now was a total contrast to the ones she carried formerly.

For once, Afina gave matron Valentina a second thought. She could concur with her anger this time.

These girls were just too impolitely unruly!

Silence prevailed as the girls all had to bow to water the blaring flame of matron Valentina's anger.

"I see what I have previously said did not get into all of your brains. Perhaps, you thought of my words as mere dust on the lid to be blinked away." Matron Valentina roared.

Humph! Talking nonstop since. She just doesn't get tired, does she? Afina scoffed.

Nothing would make her dislike the matron any less. Not even if her actions now were justifiable as to how the girls had behaved.

One of the girls dared to speak without the matron's permission.

"I'm sorry matron Valentina but I am not used to sharing a room with anyone. Not to mention a maid." she spewed.

Her head was bowed in respect still but that motion carried no weight in matron Valentina's eyes.

"Come child, come" she had motioned for the girl to step forward.

Abruptly, albeit her fate was unpredictable, the girl took a step forward.

It was at that moment that Afina had seen the girl well. It was the very tall girl with a stature like a runway model's. The one Afina had noticed for her height the other day in the waiting room.

Matron Valentina placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Remind me of your name, dear," she demanded.

"Eillie of the Pennywhistle family, dear matron Valentina" answered the girl.

What?

The Pennywhistle family?

The family who had many awards for the being the king of the entertainment industry.

"Are you with your cellphone?" Matron Valentina asked the girl.

This was an unnecessary question because it was clearly stated in the form that cell phones and PCs should be dropped at home for the training did not permit those.

It was written that the internet would be a distraction for them during the training when in actuality, the high house was but protecting the high house's secrets.

With cell phones flying around, pictures could be taken. Voices and conversations could be recorded.

They were only allowed to write mails to their family when they could. It was all written in the application form and their consent was questioned.

If you could not meet up, do not sign the form.

It was easy for Afina though, she had no smartphone!

With a perplexed look. "Of course not." the tall girl answered.

"Good." matron Valentina nodded.

There goes her signature anthem!

"For a girl of the pennyWhistle family to have to give up her social media life, cell phones, PCs, systems, and all of those– then you should understand how grave this is. It is no joke and no child's play. We are trying to raise future leaders who will lead under Prince Cargan. Do you think this is all a joke? That our prestigious prince Cargan is a joke?!" Matron Valentina hollered.

Less confidently, the Pennywhistle girl shook. "No matron Valentina."

"Good" calmly said, matron Valentina. "Now, go home. You are expelled. Tell your parents that Valentina sent you home just so you could have your massive room with King king-size bed to yourself."

Holy moly -what?!

Gasping and clearly shaken, the girl fell under the matron's feet. "My family will be greatly scarred and subject to public embarrassment if this happens. They have already announced on all our channels my entrance into the high house. Please do not do this to us. Forgive me!" she cried out.

Was this a conglomerate daughter?

How could such a girl from that wealthy a family fall under her feet to beg?!

If the wealthy ones placed the post on such a platter, who was Afina to stand a chance?

To Afina's surprise, without moving an inch from where she stood, Matron Valentina pressed a headset that Afina hadn't noticed she wore in her ears. "Security!" She called out.

Five seconds were yet to pass when three agile-looking security officers ran inside the living room of the duplex.

"Throw her out!" Matron Valentina ordered and swiftly, the girl was lifted.

Yanking and crying for mercy, she was taken out of view.

That broke Afina's heart.

The girl was expelled over such a petty offense. Just how long could she survive here?