The morning started off suspiciously... too perfect.

  I woke up thinking maybe the world had ended overnight, because Princess Seraphina — the same girl who once made me mop the floor with a toothbrush — was smiling.

  Genuinely smiling.

  She greeted me at the breakfast table with a soft voice, handing me a plate of golden pancakes.

  "Good morning, dear attendant," she said sweetly.

  I blinked.

  Twice.

  "Who are you, and what have you done with Seraphina?" I whispered to Boris, who sat by my feet looking equally disturbed.

  Turns out, the reason for this sudden personality transplant was her "friends" visiting the palace that day.

  ---

  They arrived like a colorful storm —

  Ladies in frilly dresses, giggling behind fans, gossiping like they owned the place.

  And right in the middle of them was Seraphina, acting like she was some saint sent from heaven.

  "Oh, you must meet my darling new attendant!" she cooed, practically hugging me in front of them.

  "He's simply the best! So reliable, so adorable~!"

  I nearly dropped the tea tray.

  Who was this woman??

  She even patted my head like I was some sort of pet.

  I thought I saw the macaw pass out from sheer shock.

  Throughout the day, she praised me endlessly, gave me breaks, smiled at me, offered me snacks —

  I felt like I'd been transported to an alternate universe.

  And her friends?

  They adored her.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Oh Seraphina, you're so gracious!"

  "So kind-hearted!"

  "An angel among mortals!"

  Meanwhile, I was losing brain cells by the minute.

  ---

  Evening finally rolled around, and the guests, thankfully, left.

  The moment their fancy carriages rolled out of sight, it was like the spell broke.

  The pink smile slipped off Seraphina's face.

  She disappeared upstairs without a word, her steps heavy and tired.

  I stayed downstairs, cleaning up the battlefield they left behind.

  Broken teacups.

  Half-eaten cakes.

  A macaw with frosting on its beak.

  All in a day’s work.

  ---

  Later, while passing by her room with an armful of laundry, I heard it.

  Her voice.

  Angry, raw.

  "I HATE THEM!! I HATE EVERYONE!! EACH ONE OF THEM!!"

  I froze mid-step.

  "Meh," I muttered under my breath. "She's the most fake—"

  But then...

  I heard it.

  Soft, broken sobs.

  The kind you can't fake, even if you're the world’s best actress.

  I pressed my ear to the door, heart sinking.

  Her voice, quieter now, trembling:

  "They betrayed me... every single one of them... They only used me... They never cared..."

  The laundry slid out of my hands and thudded onto the floor.

  For a moment, I just stood there, caught between guilt and sympathy.

  Then, taking a shaky breath, I lifted my hand and knocked lightly on her door.

  "Hey, are you oka—"

  SPLASH!

  A whole glass of cold water hit my face.

  Square on.

  I stumbled back, dripping wet, blinking in pure confusion.

  Through blurry eyes, I saw Seraphina standing there, clutching the empty glass, her eyes red and puffy.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks, but her expression was fierce — a wounded animal refusing to show weakness.

  "...I don't need your pity," she whispered hoarsely.

  Then, before I could even say anything, she slammed the door shut in my face.

  Click.

  Locked.

  I stood there, dripping and dumbfounded, feeling the cool water trickle down my neck.

  Boris trotted over and sat beside me, tail wagging.

  The macaw landed on my shoulder with a fwump.

  "...Man," I said to no one, wiping my face, "this job is seriously messing me up."

  But deep inside, somewhere past the water and humiliation, a thought stuck:

  Maybe...

  Maybe she wasn’t as invincible as she looked.

  Maybe... she was just lonely too.

  And for the first time...

  I didn't see a spoiled princess.

  I saw a girl who had been hurt more than anyone deserved.