"What is going on here?"
Tatianka glanced up, barely sparing Zhanna a full look."And who are you supposed to be?" she said, her voice smooth but laced with disdain.
Zhanna scoffed inwardly, You don't know who I am?
Tatianka expected a response but was rudely ignored. Wanting to teach this unknown girl a lesson, she turned her attention back to Vika."I was just explaining how things work around here. Seems a few of you still think you're above the rules."
Her eyes flicked back to Zhanna with mild amusement."Best remember your place before someone reminds you. And by that someone, I mean me."
"Let her go," Zhanna said, looking at Vika.
Tatianka laughed briefly and gave a solid answer: "No!"
Zhanna smirked inwardly. Did Tatianka really think she could intimidate her?
"Vika, get up," Zhanna said, looking Vika straight in the eye.
"You can't just walk in here and tell a maid I punished to stand up!" Tatianka snapped, clearly annoyed. Who was this girl? And gosh, the audacity she had to demand a punished maid stand up right in front of her!
Vika, on the other hand, didn't need to be told twice. She willingly obeyed- not because she wanted to fight, but because she didn't want trouble. But with Zhanna here...
Vika stood tall and proud, towering slightly above Tatianka. The look in her eyes was intimidating, and for a brief moment, Tatianka felt a chill in her bones. Then, out of the blue, Vika delivered a slap to Tatianka.
The other maids beside Tatianka were shocked and froze.
"For the record, I am not a maid!" Vika said, then left with Zhanna, leaving the trio behind in stunned silence.
"What just happened?" one of the maids whispered.
"How did I do?" Vika asked.
"Great! For a moment there, I thought you'd lost your mind," Zhanna said. "I've crafted a plan for our stay here. In a few days, a tribunal will be held to decide who will be the next king. As a prince's wife, I will be there. I want to frustrate Boris so much that he loses his cool in the throne room and gets thrown out. And that's just the beginning."
"Ah! So where do I fit in this plan?" Vika asked.
"Good question. You'll deal with Tatianka- seriously. She needs to pay for her trespasses. But first, I want you to meet someone," Zhanna said and led her to the palace's kitchen.
"I'm looking for Annette," Zhanna told the chef.