THE GARDEN!

Clara Diana followed Mrs. Melani's steps through the long corridor.

Mrs. Melani's steps stopped, she turned to Clara Diana.

"Wait here!" Mrs. Melani entered a room, Mrs. Melani's work room.

Clara Diana was waiting at the door.

A female servant came in carrying a box wrapped in white cloth. The maid turned to Clara Diana with a disdainful look.

Clara Diana knew herself, she took five steps back and bowed respectfully to the maid, giving the maid space to enter Mrs. Melani's study.

The female servant looked away arrogantly, then walked into Mrs. Melani's study with haughty steps. The status of a palace maid was more noble than that of a kitchen slave.

**"**

A few moments later, Mrs. Melani came out accompanied by her female servant.

Mrs. Melani said to her servant, "Give her the box!"

"Hah!" The servant was flabbergasted.

"The clothes box from Mr. Gilbert... for this galley slave?!" The female servant did not accept it.

Mrs. Melani was annoyed, her servant dared to argue with her. "What are you waiting for? Give her the box immediately!"

The maid's face turned red, she had never been scolded in front of a slave.

A moment ago, she was acting arrogantly and looking down on this kitchen slave, but now, she was serving this kitchen slave. "Oh my God! My world is upside down!"_ the female servant was in pain. This insult hurt more than being slapped.

The maid handed over the box with a reluctant face, the clothes box slipped from her hand before Clara Diana received it. Clara Diana quickly caught the box before it fell to the ground.

Mrs. Melani stared sharply at the female servant. The servant acted carelessly, she had no right to be angry or neglect her duties considering that Master Gilbert himself had given the clothes to the galley slave. The waiter bowed apologetically to Mrs. Melani.

But in her heart, the servant girl hated kitchen slaves. Master Gilbert gave the galley slave clothes, thus freeing the galley slave from slave status.

The girl now belongs to Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Gilbert's personal servant.

However, the maid managed to smile sinisterly, "This slave girl can't be happy yet, her status as Mr. Gilbert's personal servant was not official. That could change, right! the maid smiled slyly. She was determined to block the steps of the kitchen slave with status eyebrows. Mr. Gilbert had not provided any letters of slave manumission. The woman's status remains as a kitchen slave!"_ the female servant scoffed inwardly.

In contrast to her servant's thoughts, Mrs. Melani never thought about the consequences of giving these clothes as a process of freeing slaves. Mrs. Melani's mind was restless.

Mrs. Melani thought about Mr. Gilbert. She was surprised by Mr. Gilbert's attitude.

"Why does Mr. Gilbert act as if he wants to protect this kitchen slave? Is it because this kitchen slave comes from Alexa's kingdom? That's Lady Avisha's place!"_

Lady Avisha is the wife of King Alphard, ruler of the Alexa kingdom.

People's stories, Lady Avisha was Mr. Gilbert's past lover. They grew up in the same village.

"But what does this kitchen slave have to do with Miss Avisha?!"_ Mrs. Melani was jealous.

.

"Mrs...!" Call the maid to come to her senses

Mrs Melani.

Mrs Melani's face was a red, she had been daydreaming.

Mrs. Melani turned to Clara Diana.

"You… you can change clothes there!" Mrs. Melani pointed to a small warehouse next to her work room.

Clara Diana nodded obediently. She walked into the warehouse. This is a warehouse where cooking utensils are stored, the place is clean.

Clara Diana doesn't like dirty places. However, this warehouse is clean and maintained. She could change clothes here without worry.

Clara Diana opened the cloth covering the box, took out the clothes from inside the box.

"Oh my! Is there something wrong... these are men's clothes!"_ Clara Diana looked at the men's clothes in her hands.

Mr. Gilbert gave men's clothing to Clara Diana. Triple S size, fits her tall, thin body.

Clara Diana smiled. She likes to dress like a man.

"Hmmm!" Clara Diana wore her hair like men of this era who wore their hair in pigtails. Clara Diana no longer needs to cover her hair.

Yesterday she covered her hair because her hair was silver. A sacred color for witches. She used to cover her hair to disguise herself.

Mrs. Melani and Mr. Gilbert know her hair color, It doesn't matter anymore, right?

"Tsk tsk!"_ Clara Diana praised her appearance. She looks like a handsome guy. Even though his face is covered with a mask like this, it reduces her charming appearance.

Clara Diana came out of the warehouse, Mrs. Melani was surprised to see her. He was almost fooled. Confused, why suddenly a handsome man came out of the cooking equipment warehouse?

The man's clothes fit the kitchen slave's body perfectly. And it looks amazing.

"Who is that handsome man? Gosh! Isn't she... that kitchen slave?!"_

The female servant covered her mouth with wide eyes. She hypnotized. If she had never seen anyone wearing men's clothing before, she would have thought it was... someone else.

The female servant pursed her lips, pouting, hurt. afraid that her position next to Mrs. Melani would be taken over by the former kitchen slave.

**"**

Mrs. Melani continued her plan to take Clara Diana to the garden behind the palace.

The female servant followed behind. The maid's face looked angry, this was the first time in her life walking behind a kitchen slave. Become a kitchen slave escort!

"Oh God. That kitchen slave tortured me!"_ the female servant grimaced, the pain in her heart couldn't be answered.

They arrived at the garden behind the palace.

Clara Diana cast her gaze around the neglected palace gardens. Dead leaves and overgrown plants litter what was once a sacred and beautiful place.

Clara Diana took a deep breath, this abandoned garden gave rise to new feelings in her.

"Okay. I will clean this abandoned place...", a small smile appeared on Clara Diana's face. This gardening work provided a good diversion for him. At least in this place, Clara Diana didn't meet anyone. Here she can practice recovering her abilities again.

***

A glimmer of hope and relief made Clara Diana smile. Next the girl moved slowly, like a woman who was not used to working hard.

The maid smiled, she was happy to see the kitchen slave tormented with a heavy task in this abandoned garden.

Clara Diana collects leaves and cleans the garden with a broom and wood.

The sound of rhythmic movement filled the air. Minutes turned into hours as Clara Diana worked tirelessly in the garden.

Mrs. Melani and her servant watched Clara Diana from a distance.

**"**

Back in Mr. Gilbert's study,_

Mr. Gilbert sat alone, lost in thought. He couldn't let himself be influenced by appearances alone.

"I need real evidence to prove the truth of the information about that girl...!"_ said Mr. Gilbert with determination. He promised to prove the truth.The kitchen slave won, Princess Darlene. But if that's true... Mr. Gilbert was pensive.

*I can't make the wrong move.!"_realizing that his steps were not easy, Mr Gilbert had to strategize. Even though he would face serious problems later, he didn't care about the risks or consequences that might arise.

"If she is that girl, princess Darlene, then... I have to take her away secretly from this palace!"_

**"**