Chapter 49: Useful
Maya sat on the wooden chair with her arms in her lap. This was the seventh time she had sat on the chair since returning to her room after breakfast. She had also lain down, paced her room, and stared out the window the same number of times.
She was bored. She didn’t think it was possible to be bored considering the circumstances she was in, but Maya feared she might start clawing at her hair the longer she stayed cooped up in this room.
In Father’s mansion, though she wasn’t allowed to leave the compound without him, there were many activities she could engage in: crocheting, painting, reading, and even dancing.
She could also ride horses around the huge compound. They also had a garden where she could walk around and smell the flowers, and fountains that birds loved to drink from. She would spend a significant amount of time bird watching.
She almost wanted to do some chores; at least that would keep her busy. Looking out the window, all she could see were children running around. She would rather go outside and explore the town, but she wasn’t so sure about that.
It felt too early to make any demands. Besides, when she had asked for clothes, these were what she got. Maya doubted that the current treatment of her would change.
She let out a loud sigh and walked toward the window again. It was going to be some time before lunch. She didn’t expect to be served, which was a little worrisome as boredom made her hungrier, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t manage.
She wondered if the guests had arrived yet. From this section she was in, it was hard to hear anything happening in the castle. Besides, she didn’t have her wolf yet, which meant she probably wouldn’t be able to hear anything even if she was placed in the middle of the building.
Barely two feet away from the window, a loud knock resounded in her room. She turned immediately, there were still at least two hours before lunchtime. No one should be bothering her yet.
She carefully approached the door, wondering who it could possibly be, while silently praying it wasn’t Alaina. The knock felt too gentle to be her, but she could have sent Bess. Her heart beat louder and she began to think she may have exaggerated her boredom.
She cautiously opened the door and couldn’t hide her surprise when she saw Palmer standing outside with an agitated look on her face. The brown-haired maid with a mole on the top corner of her left eyebrow—Maya wondered how she had never noticed it before now.
"Come with me. Agnes requests your presence. Now!" She was dressed in her usual maid attire and Maya could smell the kitchen on her.
"Is something wrong?" Maya asked with concern. Palmer’s urgency felt like something was terribly wrong.
"Just come with me."
She immediately felt nervous. She couldn’t think of a single reason why Agnes would require her presence when she was forbidden from even going to the kitchen.
"One moment," she blurted and rushed back into her room, much to Palmer’s horror.
"There is no time to waste. You have to come with me no—"
"Let’s go," Maya returned, gripping the needle and thread. She was worried she might not get another opportunity.
"Do you know why she sent for me?" Maya asked as they rushed to the kitchen.
"You’ll find out when we get there. Though I doubt you will be useful," she added with a scoff.
Useful?
Maya frowned as she thought about it. Palmer walked speedily, and Maya had to practically run to keep up with the young woman.
Eventually, they arrived at the kitchen, and Palmer burst in saying, "I have brought her."
"Took you long enough, Palmer," Agnes replied, her hands on her hips. "Lady Maya, I have seen you make chicken soup. Hopefully you won’t fail this time."
Agnes’s words were polite, but her tone and expression were not. She seemed unsettled, and the rest of the maids had worried looks on their faces too.
"Is there something you need from me?" Maya asked worriedly as she looked around.
"Can you make tea?" Agnes blurted out as she walked toward her.
Maya’s eyes nearly popped out of her sockets. "Tea? You want me to make tea?" She was almost certain she had heard wrong.
"Yes, the Alpha requested some. I do know he doesn’t mean herbal tea. I don’t know what kind of mix the royals like to drown themselves in, but as guests of Alpha Keenan, we cannot fail him. I was hoping you had some clue."
"I am sure regular tea would do fine," she mumbled, looking from one maid to the other. She was unsure if this was some kind of cruel joke.
"Very well, you may begin. Palmer, give her an apron and something for her hair."
"I also brought the needle and thread." She handed it to Palmer as she accepted the apron and mobcap. "Thank you. I don’t want to bother you, but I was hoping for a hairbrush."
Agnes frowned as Maya covered her hair, noticing that it was indeed unbrushed. "You’ll get whatever you need after. The boiling water is ready."
"Do you have tea leaves?" Maya asked as she tied the apron behind her. She walked toward the counter that separated the cooking area from the rest of the kitchen.
"Everything you could possibly need is on the counter. If anything is missing, let me know."
"Did the Alpha make any specific requests?" Maya asked as she looked at the table.
Agnes was right; everything she needed was on the table. They had true tea leaves, mint leaves, chamomile, and even other leaves she didn’t recognize. Maya could understand the confusion. Tea was something drunk casually in Father’s mansion and offered to guests; it was very different from drinking for medicinal purposes, which Agnes was familiar with.
It shouldn’t take too long, and since the hot water was ready, she should be able to make it in a very short time. Maya could imagine how hard it must be for Agnes to ask for her help, she didn’t want to fail her.
