In the deep stillness of the night, the creaking stable door revealed the intrusion of two ominous figures. The ailing stable boy lay on the cold floor, his frail form shivering from a relentless fever. As moans of pleasure echoed through the stable, the boy struggled to open his eyes, attempting to discern the source of the disturbing sounds. Weakly, he uttered, "W-Who?"
A surge of anger sliced through the silence, accompanied by an authoritative voice that brooked no opposition. A forceful kick landed in the boy's stomach, causing him to cry out in agony. "Did you just question me?" The words dripped with contempt as Adrian, the young lord, stood before him, the pungent odor of alcohol clinging to him. The stable lamp flickered to life, casting eerie shadows that danced across the scene. Unseen in the shadows, Charlotte observed the unfolding cruelty with a sinister smirk.
With each merciless kick, the young lord vented his rage upon the defenseless stable boy, reopening wounds that had barely begun to heal. The cold, unfeeling eyes of those in the stable bore witness to the brutality, creating a tableau of suffering that unfolded beneath the dim glow of the lamp. "Please forgive me… have mercy!" The desperate plea escaped the boy's trembling lips as he clutched his battered feet. The young lord, fueled by a twisted sense of pride, prepared to deliver another blow. He seized the boy by his ragged clothes, ready to unleash his rage again. However, in the heat of the moment, an unexpected revelation halted his violent intentions.
A sudden realization flashed across the young lord's face, his eyes widening in astonishment. "You are a girl?" The anger that had gripped him transformed into a disturbing glint of lust. With a callous disregard for the suffering he had inflicted, Adrian released the shivering figure, no longer seeing a helpless boy but a vulnerable girl who had concealed her identity in a desperate attempt to escape his depraved desires. The atmosphere in the dimly lit stable shifted as the young lord's predatory intentions now turned more sinister.
"No… Please, there's a misunderstanding! I'm a boy!" The frightened child vehemently denied her assumed fate, yet the hyena-like menace remained poised to unleash harm. His predatory gaze fixated on her, and he callously suggested, "Prove it, strip, and show me," closing the menacing gap between them. Charlotte, though seething with anger and defiance, stood her ground. Before the situation could escalate further, a resounding bang echoed through the stable as the door was forcefully pushed open. In strode Lord Malachi, accompanied by Isabella and an entourage of guards, interrupting the impending brutality.
Lord Malachi's rough voice sliced through the tense air as he glared at the trio. "What is transpiring here?" he demanded. With an air of disdain, Isabella retorted, "Brother, do you have even the faintest Idea of what is happening in the house?"
Ignoring the familial tension, Adrian cut to the heart of the matter. "Father, were you aware that this foul-smelling slave was a girl?" His tone sought confirmation amidst the unfolding chaos.
The Lord, peering down at the small, wretched figure with evident disgust, hesitated before responding, "Ah… yes. I forgot about her. Two years ago, when I acquired her from the slave market, they did inform me that she was, indeed, a girl."
Adrian, incensed by the revelation, turned his ire towards the deceptively disguised enslaved person. "She dared to hide it from us?" he accused.
In defense, the Lord explained, "I instructed her to masquerade as a boy. I didn't want you parading around, mistreating a defenseless child. It's disgraceful."
Adrian's frustration was palpable, but Isabella, on the contrary, couldn't contain her delight at the revelation. She approached the Lord and whispered in his ear, "Father, what if we do that?" A wide grin spread across the Lord's face as he glanced at his guards. "Well then, take this body inside the house. I believe I've found a perfect solution to our problem."
The nameless child, now caught in the unexpected turn of events, began trembling as the guards seized her. Panic set in as she struggled against their grip. "My Lord! Where are you taking me?! I don't want to go!" she protested, her tiny voice filled with desperation.
Malachi responded with a harsh slap across her face. A sharp pain surged through her body, forcing her to cease her resistance. In a threatening tone, Malachi warned, "Go against my order, and I will chop off your tongue." The slave silenced herself, fear gripping her, as the guards carried her towards the ominous fate awaiting her inside the house.
When the child opened her eyes again, she found herself in the old attic of the main house. Bandages covered her wounds, and she wore almost new clothes. A basin of water awaited her for cleaning. Before she could grasp the situation, Isabella entered with her personal maids.
"My sister!" Isabella exclaimed, embracing the girl with joy. "I missed you so much. You were separated from the family because of your greedy mother, but now you're finally back!"
Confused by the twisted turn of events, the child questioned Isabella's intentions. "W-What do you mean?"
Isabella's expression shifted. "Ah… right. Listen, kiddo. I've received a marriage proposal from Viscount Reynard Stirling, an infamous womanizer and domestic abuser. He wants to invest in Father's business, and we can't refuse his proposal. So, instead of me, you, 'the illegitimate child,' will become his new wife — or rather, the 10th wife."
"But I'm not the illegitimate child of the lord…" the nameless slave stammered in response.
"From today onwards, you are Elena. Remember that name. In two years, you'll have a grand wedding with the Viscount and live a luxurious life. Charlotte will be there to ensure your comfort, so enjoy your stay." Isabella smiled before turning to Charlotte. "Clean that dirt off her," she ordered, then walked out.
To be continued....