The door creaked open, and for a fleeting moment, her heart fluttered with hope that it might be Duke Lucian. However, her anticipation turned to disappointment as the head maid entered, her stern expression unchanged.
"Good evening, my lady. I'm here to assign servants to attend to your needs," the head maid announced in a tone devoid of warmth. Elena nodded politely, acknowledging the formality, but the cold atmosphere in the room lingered.
The servants filed In, their eyes avoiding Elena's gaze as they stood with rigid postures. Their silence spoke louder than words, revealing their resentment toward the unexpected arrival of their new mistress.
As they assisted Elena in preparing for her bath, their demeanor remained frosty. The head maid, unable to conceal her disdain, couldn't help but notice the marks of torture that marred Elena's fragile body. A gasp escaped her lips, and the other servants, catching sight of the bruises and scars, recoiled in horror.
Elena, accustomed to the harsh treatment, bore the silent judgment with a stoic expression. The head maid, however, couldn't contain her revulsion. "What kind of creature are you?" she spat, her words dripping with disdain. The other servants joined in, muttering insults and harsh comments under their breath.
As Elena submerged into the bath, the servants exchanged furtive glances, their whispers escalating into audible condemnations. The air in the room thickened with animosity, and Elena felt the weight of their collective contempt.
The head maid, unable to contain her repulsion, finally voiced her thoughts, "You bring shame to this castle. Duke Lucian's decision to protect you is beyond our understanding. We won't tolerate your presence here."
Elena, though wounded by their words, remained silent, her eyes fixed on the water's surface. The bathwater turned crimson as she washed away the physical remnants of her torment, but the emotional scars ran far deeper.
The servants, their disdain evident, completed their duties with haste, leaving Elena alone in the chilling silence. As the door closed behind them, she couldn't shake the feeling that her newfound refuge might become a gilded cage, trapping her in a life defined by cruelty and rejection. The castle, once a symbol of hope, now echoed with the haunting whispers of a darkness that refused to be forgotten.
The room was enveloped In an uneasy silence after the servants left, leaving Elena alone with her wounded pride. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating an atmosphere of both solitude and foreboding.
As Elena, still nursing the emotional wounds inflicted by the servants' cruel words, prepared to retire for the night, a chilling breeze swept through the open window. Before she could react, a group of masked men stealthily entered the room, their sinister intent evident.
Panic gripped Elena as she scrambled to defend herself. In the dimly lit room, the struggle between her and the intruders ensued. The men, fueled by malice, overpowered her fragile form, and Elena felt the searing pain of their vicious attacks.
The desperate cries for help echoed through the castle halls, but it seemed like an eternity before Duke Lucian, alerted by the commotion, arrived at Elena's chamber. His eyes widened in alarm at the scene unfolding before him.
Without hesitation, Lucian drew his sword, his movements swift and precise. The masked assailants, caught off guard by the unexpected intervention, now faced a formidable adversary. Lucian's blade cut through the air with deadly accuracy, forcing the attackers to retreat.
In the aftermath of the skirmish, the room bore witness to the chaos left in its wake. Elena, battered and bruised, lay on the floor, her eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and gratitude. Lucian, his sword stained with the blood of their assailants, surveyed the room with a steely gaze.
"What in the hell happened here?" Lucian demanded, his voice a low growl, as he approached Elena with a mixture of concern and suspicion. The pain in her eyes spoke volumes, but words failed to escape her trembling lips.
Lucian, sensing the urgency, gathered Elena into his arms. "You're safe now," he assured her, his voice a rare whisper of reassurance. As he cradled her fragile form, he surveyed the room once more, vowing to unravel the mystery behind the orchestrated attack.
The night, once calm, had been shattered by the intrusion. The castle, though guarded, now harbored a threat that extended beyond its walls. Lucian, his protectiveness amplified, carried Elena away from the scene, determined to unveil the forces conspiring against them and to shield Elena from the shadows that sought to consume her newfound sanctuary.
To be continued....