Chapter 29: Awaiting Her Fate...

  Ria: “…”

  She knew that Celia would live through that wound, but it gave Ria no comfort. It was… strange to her. The maid hadn’t even known Celia for a month, yet, watching the princess get injured, protecting her, Ria, an adult, Celia’s supposed protector, broke Ria’s heart in two.

  Waiting in a prison cell, not shackled in the least, Ria seemingly had no intentions of breaking free and running from her mistake. In fact, if Princess Carma wished for Ria to be executed, as the maid failed in her duty to protect her charge, then Ria welcomed the punishment. “Perhaps dying for Celia… will calm my soul down?” She thought with a sigh.

  Carma: “Ria… do you have any connection to the Felta Empire?” She asked with a serious tone.

  Ria: “No.” She denied without emotion.

  Carma: “So… you just mistakenly failed to protect Celia?” She replied with an angry expression.

  Ria: “…”

  Seeing her be so angry, Ria could only assume that the other princess hadn’t woken up yet. Ria knew that Celia was in a coma, which just worsened the weight of this sin on her mind, heart, and soul.

  If Celia was awake, the girl would, as you’d expect, advocate for Ria to not be given the death penalty for her crimes. Even in that case… Ria would still wish to be punished.

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  Carma: “Will you not even attempt to win my forgiveness, or… at least my leniency?” She asked, her tone turning sour.

  Ria: “Letting Celia get hurt… gives me no right to any of that, Princess Carma.” She answered, sounding empty.

  Carma: “…” “Through all of this… Ria never seemed like a spy. Her remorse is real.” She thought with a relieved tone.

  In reality, Carma couldn’t have Ria killed. Celia had gotten far too close to her personal maid for that. If she… carried out, or ordered Ria’s execution, Carma knew that Celia would be devastated by Ria's death. The worst part… is that Celia is unlikely to even scold or hate Carma for that action, all the more painful for the prideful princess.

  Whoosh!

  Carma: “Sign it.” She ordered sternly.

  Ria: “This…” She replied, awed.

  Carma: “A Soul Contract. Sign it, and then you can return to being Celia’s personal maid.” She explained, impatient.

  The terms were simple. Ria, under threat of instant death, could never directly or indirectly harm Celia. Carma was decently certain that Ria wasn’t a spy, but, this SC should… increase the maid’s vigilance to a degree.

  Ria: “I agree to most of the terms… but why have you written about me not being allowed to… seduce her, date, or marry her?” She asked with a confused expression.

  Carma: “You called her cute. Regardless of if it was in the manner of innocently calling a child cute, or you meant it romantically, I will take no chances.” She replied, tapping her foot.

  Ria: “I do not have a thing for children, Princess Carma.” She exclaimed quickly, feeling greatly insulted.

  Carma: “Oh? Then sign the damn Soul Contract... so that you can return and take care of Celia, already!” She yelled back, holding back her desire to kill Ria for failing to protect her sister.

  Ria: “…”

  Saying nothing, the maid signed the SC, with it then splitting in two, one piece going to Carma, the other entering Ria’s body. Thus, the princess ordered the guards to release Ria, and the maid was now free as could be.