"I will send you a letter to pick up the money once I settle it out of my pocket. Maybe this week it's already complete and ready to use." Rachelle said as she hugged the woman, bidding her a final goodbye.
It was already late, maybe around 5 in the afternoon so the lady decided to go home. All of those talks they engaged in were about fake concerns, hidden intentions, victim blaming, and a lot of things that are sensitive to Rachelle's ears.
"Please don't let me down, dear. I trust that you are very helpful and kind, yes?" Baroness Norwagen said, smiling as she pulled away from hugging Felicia. Her eyes expressed how easy it was to fool the naive girl.
Rachelle could see it.
"Of course, Nanny Hilde. Of course."
"Well then, I'm off. It's great to see you after years of no communication. You grew up as a lovely lady, Felicia darling. I'm so proud." She once again tried to compliment Felicia to get into her good grace, cupping her cheek.
"Todoloo, darling. Until next time!" She finally bid her goodbye, turning her back and climbed inside the carriage, waving her hand to Felicia who was still standing, waving back at her with a fake smile on her lips.
As the Carriage started to move, Felicia turned her back and wiped off the expression on her face. It was an exhausting day, imagine she had to pull off an entire day just to fake her expression.
And she thought she finally had an ally outside of the Dukedom and the Marquisate. The Madame only approaches her for her greedy needs. Reminds her of visiting that one particular guild to ask for more information and counterfeit money.
She can't just give her own money, can she?
She went back to her room, expressionless and didn't mind everyone staring at her for the change in her behaviour. It's as if they had finally accepted that she's no longer the naive woman from the past.
"How was the reunion?" Someone asked what made Rachelle stop from climbing the stairs. She turned her body, only to find Alexander approaching her with his curious expression.
"Reunion? I barely know her." She said and continued to walk fast, not trying to initiate a conversation with him. She's already exhausted from that woman, what more could he want from her?
"Barely? That woman basically raised you like her own daughter." He said, trying to catch up with her stride. Felicia rolled her eyes, that's false. There's something in the storyline that doesn't connect.
Aren't Nannies supposed to stay inside? The Duke's salary being the Nanny can make anyone rich immediately. But why did she leave if she was supposedly the one who raised Felicia? Why was there no information about that woman?
"What do you mean? I really don't know her." She argued back, annoyed with him. "Don't you remember her? She suddenly vanished after Mom died... You know..." He expressed.
That's when Felicia stopped taking further steps and looked at Alexander whose face was filled with guilt and misery. Oh how guilty he is after he blamed her for things she didn't do.
And if there are ways to return favours or at least to get back to her because he messed up badly, he will do anything to regain her trust. Felicia smiled, It looked like he was already falling into her spell.
"Vanished? She wasn't fired?" Felicia asked as she was hooked on the story. Seems like she wouldn't need to ask for any information about the lady since Alexander knew something about it. Save her for like half a million of gold there.
"I heard she submitted a resignation letter and walked away after Mom arrived. That's when the mistreatment started to happen." He said in a quiet tone, trying not to make a sound or else others may hear what they're speaking of.
"Oh... I see. But it doesn't change the fact that I had forgotten about her, much less knew her now that I am all grown up. It's been years, after all, one cannot assume that she knew everything since then." She replied and took another step.
"Especially after the traumas you've all inflicted on me. do you think I had the pleasure to think about that one person whom you think that she truly cares about me?" She asked and continued to climb the stairs until she reached the floor above, leaving Alexander who was left standing alone in the stairs, dumbfounded.
Just so he knows, she will keep on rubbing the salt into his face so that he will always remember how their treatment has changed her for the worse. It's not her fault, it's theirs. They moulded her into something that turned out unexpectedly.
Felicia had this smirk on her lips as she continued to stride to her room, opening the door with such a wide entrance, shocking Olivia who was sitting on one of the chairs. Looks like she's resting.
"Master, you're back... How was it?" She asked as she stood up and bowed her head. She doesn't dare to meet her gaze as she might end up just like the last time when she slapped her hard.
"Boring. Same thing. Nothing interesting." Rachelle replied as she closed the door behind her and started to walk to her bed. "Olivia, fetch me a comfortable sleepwear and prepare my bath." She commanded, slowly untying the laces that were tied to her dress.
"What about dinner, Master?" Olivia asked as she looked up and started to do what Felicia had told her to do. "Bring it here, I don't want to face the four of them there. I might throw up in front of them." She responded, stepping out of her dress as soon as it fell on the floor.
It took her a lot of courage to adapt to this life where everyone wouldn't care if she was naked or not. Of course that is only applicable to her exclusive maids and not to everyone else.
"Yes Master," Olivia responded shortly, giving her a towel to cover up herself. Rachelle accepted the towel and wrapped it around her then followed Olivia inside the bathroom to refresh herself after all the stress she encountered.
"Reminds me of something," she suddenly mumbled as soon as she stepped inside the bathtub made of expensive tiles. "Olivia, are you familiar with the Tutor who accompanied me earlier?" Rachelle asked as she laid her body comfortably on the marbled bathtub.
"I personally have not heard about her nor know her. But some maids who have been here since the very beginning knew her." Olivia replied, brushing off her arm while Felicia relaxed.
"I need you to do something relating to that woman, girl," Rachelle mumbled. "I want you to gather information about the Baroness. Why did she resign after the death of the official wife, or things related to her? I need something from her." She informed.
"But that would raise suspicions, Master. Especially that they have believed I am now one of your cronies. Which is true but that would be no good." She said, expressing her worries about gathering information.
"Then you're going to pretend that you hate me or not pretend at all. You basically hate me anyway, tell them that you and I shared none other than an employer and employee relationship who hate each other. Or you could tell them that it was Helena who asked since she's curious about the Tutor, or just tell them that you are curious about the woman who's very friendly towards me. There are various moves you can think of, Olivia." She spoke, her tone was tinged with annoyance.
Olivia then bit her bottom lip. Shit, why is she not smart.
It was clear that Felicia was mad at her after she spoke in such a harsh tone. But Felicia just sighed and ignored Olivia's scared expression on her face. "Just do it, I need information. I'll give you till tomorrow night if you can't do it then I will sell you for a hefty price. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
"No Master, I will heed your order." She immediately replied. She's just afraid that she will face her anger.
"Good Job, I know you will."
—
After her bath, her dress was already prepared, been laid out on her bed and all she had to do was to dress herself. After dressing herself with Olivia's help, she requested Olivia for her dinner, making Olivia walk outside of her room without uttering anything.
As soon as Olivia left, Felicia looked left and right and called Noctua. "Noctua..." She called for him, looking from every corner to find the bird. The bird who emerged from the deepest corner of her room started flying towards her, landing on her lap as it fiddled with its own feathers.
"What do you need?" Noctua asked in a nonchalant tone, seems like not interested. "What an attitude but anyway, I need your help. I can't just trust Olivia with something such as giving me information." She said, chuckling while petting its head.
"Really, woman? Just so you know I'm not a bird specialising in being an informant right? I am a messenger of God." The Noctua glared, pecking her skin but gently just not to hurt her.
Felicia just rolled her eyes, "What use are you if you're not going to accept my favour? Might as well adopt some doves instead. I get it now why Churches prefer doves over you." She said, teasing the bird who once again glared at her.
"Fine. Fine! What's your request?" The bird sighed in defeat, accepting Felicia's favour. "Make it quick, time is gold." It even added while flapping his wings. Rachelle just shook her head, this bird has really no patience at all.
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