In the third month of the 382nd year of the Imperial Calendar, a rumour began to circulate within the social circles of the aristocrats.
It was about the emergence of Duke Gertrude's secret lover. It was only a month after Hevelia's body was buried, so the nobles were no less than appalled. They weren't welcoming of the fact that the Duke had been unfaithful to the former Duchess.
The subject of the rumor was no other than Viscountess Sorsiana Hamlin, the first daughter of Count Hamlin. At that time, she had just received her noble title and was well on her way to assume her father's seat. For certain, the rumor would be detrimental in her legibility to be capable of inheriting the County.
However, Sorsiana wasn't at all bothered.
As a matter of fact, she started to pay several visits to the Gertrude Dukedom to establish her position as the Duke's lover. At first, the nobles found it difficult to be accepting of her actions. But as time went by, they silenced themselves upon witnessing Sorsiana's abilities.
Sorsiana never ignored her duties as a noble and an heir. There was a reason why she was chosen to inherit the County. Governance and Politics were not an issue, considering that those were her most favoured fields of interest.
Not less than a year later, the Duke of Gertrude finally took her in and married her despite the interference of the Bismarck County, the former Duchess' family. The Duke even accepted the two children Sorsiana conceived with her former husband.
Because of the entrance of Sorsiana's children -- a boy who was three years older than Ilya and a girl who was of the same age -- Ilya was pushed out of the succession. In the first place, she wasn't even a prospect to inherit the Dukedom.
At present, the Gertrude Family consisted of Duke Brahm Gertrude, Duchess Sorsiana Gertrude, the Duke's two step-children, and the youngest son who was three years younger than Ilya.
They had been already introduced to the society at the royal banquet five years ago, an event that Ilya had no chance to partake in.
Ilya would be lying if she said that she didn't want to get acquainted with her siblings. She wasn't jealous of them for being able to experience the things she should have been entitled to.
The young lady could care less about the happenings outside of her room. What she longed for was the companionship of her family. Though, it's not like she can just voice out her desires.
Having had enough of sitting in silence, Ilya finally stood up. She then picked up the bucket of dirty rags, and slowly, she made her way back to the building. Far from the calm she felt earlier, Ilya's heart was anxious as she passed through the forest she cherished. She couldn't put a name to the feeling, making her all the more bothered.
'What is this? Am I heartbroken? Am I mad? Am I annoyed?'
The lady kept on asking herself for the rest of her stroll. Her eyes were focused on her feet, helping her concentrate. Unbeknownst to the lady, someone was watching her movement with a curious gaze.
'No, I don't have the right to feel any of those emotions. I am not familiar with them in the first place. I might be tired from waking up this early. I'll sleep right awa--'
Ilya's dazed contemplation was interrupted when she bumped into someone. She quickly took a step back and looked at the person in front of her. Her mouth went slightly agape upon recognizing the man. Even though she had only seen him once, Ilya knew who he was.
"What are you doing outside at this time of the day?" The man asked in an imposing manner.
The lady immediately lowered her gaze and knelt on the ground. She remembered the matron's order, prompting her to regret her decision to go outside.
"Didn't I ask you what you were doing?"
No matter how many times the man urged Ilya for answers, she would never utter a single word. The matron's order echoed so loudly in her head that it was the only thing in her mind.
Furious at her adamance to respond, the man stepped on one of her hands, grinding his heel on her fingers. Ilya suppressed her whimper as she felt her skin being peeled.
"You've been quiet for years. Why don't you just continue living like an imprisoned slave? Are you planning something? Do you think that your dead mother will come back to life and help you come out of the gutter?"
Ilya easily ignored his remarks by putting all her attention on the pain she was receiving. Insults could no longer affect her when she didn't even consider them as one. In the meanwhile, the man clicked his tongue as he hampered his desire to reprimand the lady. If he dared cause chaos among the servants, the Duchess would surely be enraged.
"You're disgusting. No one will think that you were once the only heir to the Gertrude Dukedom. It was a good thing that the title was revoked from you. The Dukedom will look pitiful."
The man bent down and grabbed a handful of Ilya's hair. He then pulled her head back, forcing the lady to look at him straight in the eyes.
"A week from now, there will be a celebration for my coming of age. That's the time when I'll be proclaimed as the heir to the Gertrude Dukedom."
The man gritted his teeth as he pulled Ilya's hair with more force.
"I'm begging of you, do not show your face in front of anyone from now on. The celebration will certainly be ruined because of your presence. Spare the guests from your filthy smell and crude appearance."
Once he was done giving his warnings, the man violently let go of his grip on the lady's hair. He went on and stood up, grabbing the handkerchief in his suit thereafter. He wiped his hands with the cloth so hard that his skin reddened. He was repulsed, knowing that he had touched Ilya.
"Young Master Horen, so this is where you are." The maid approached the man until she was only a meter away from him. She then bowed and said, "The Hamlin family is preparing for their departure. The Duke requests your presence."
Without looking at the maid, Horen addressed her, "Pick up that bucket. You know what to do to that creature."
There was only one bucket near Horen, and by creature, the maid knew that he was pertaining to the lady grovelling on the ground. Absent a word of complaint, the maid did as she was told. She was a bit taken aback at the odor coming from the bucket, but she pushed through.
Horen Hamlin, now Horen Gertrude, was the Duchess' eldest child from her first husband. Merely a year after his mother remarried, he was proclaimed to be the future heir to the Gertrude Dukedom. Even if he became arrogant from being sentient of his position, it was backed by his skills.
By virtue of that, Horen's command shouldn't be answered with an opposition -- that's what the servants were told.
Sympathy was nowhere in the maid's eyes as she watched the rags land on Ilya's frail body. Thereafter, she dropped the bucket in a haste and cleaned her hands with her skirt. Horen didn't want to stay in the same area as Ilya any longer, so he began to make his way back to the main mansion.
Ilya was left there bathing in vomit. She couldn't muster the energy to stand up, much less move her arms. Soon, the rims of her eyes were filled with tears but she didn't know the reason why.