A week had crept by since Eliana was imprisoned in her room, denied even the basic necessities of food and water. She struggled to stay conscious as she lay on the cold, unforgiving floor. Her muscles ached from the lack of movement and her throat burned with thirst. With every passing minute, she felt weaker and more desperate, wondering if anyone would come to her rescue. The walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating and isolating her from the world outside. Time had lost all meaning in this dark and lonely place, leaving Eliana to suffer in solitude.
As the week drew to a close, Elise, the oldest sister, marched into the room and abruptly threw a bucket of ice-cold water onto her stepsister, jolting her awake. "Wake up, you useless woman," she sneered. "All the food in the house is gone and the maids are busy cleaning. You need to get yourself ready and go to the market." Her voice dripped with annoyance as she looked down at her stepsister lying on the ground like a lifeless corpse.
The room was dimly lit, with only a small window providing a sliver of daylight. The air was thick with the smell of dampness and neglect. Elise's footsteps echoed against the walls as she paced around impatiently, waiting for her stepsister to get up. The cold water trickled down her body, leaving her shivering and soaked. She knew there was no use arguing or complaining; this was just another task she had to endure as the stepsister and least favored member of the household. With a heavy sigh, she slowly rose from the ground and began to prepare for her trip to the market.
Eliana's voice was devoid of any emotion as she responded, "I will get right on it." She quickly stripped off her wet clothes, revealing a once curvaceous and beautiful body that was now gaunt and bony. A week without food had taken its toll, leaving everything from her breasts down looking painfully thin and showing the signs of torture endured without sustenance. Her skin was pale and stretched tightly over her bones, accentuating every rib and hollowed out cheek. It was clear that she had been through severe deprivation and suffering at the hands of her captors.
As she finished putting her last piece of clothing on, her sister grabbed her hand and jerked her out of the room. Her feet were still weak from exhaustion, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. "What the hell are you doing? Stand up, we have no time for this," Elise scolded with a stern voice, impatiently gesturing for her to get up as she walked downstairs. Despite feeling embarrassed and frustrated, Eliana slowly pulled herself up and made her way downstairs.
As she descended the stairs, she could see her stepfamily and father sitting at the large living room table, chatting and laughing over a meal. The warm aroma of fresh bread and savory meats filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension that hung between them all. She felt like an outsider in her own home, forced to live among strangers who showed her no kindness or compassion. But she knew she had to keep up appearances and play the part of the dutiful daughter, even if it meant enduring their constant scrutiny and disdain.
Eliana's stepmother, the Duchess, was the first to notice her presence, her eyes narrowing as she saw her disheveled state. "What is the meaning of this?" she bellowed, slamming her fist on the table. "You call this presentable, you ungrateful wretch?" Her voice echoed throughout the room, making her cringe inwardly.
"F-Forgive me, Stepmother," she stuttered, dropping to her knees in deference. "It won't happen again, I swear."
"See to it that it doesn't," she growled, waving her hand dismissively. "Now go and do as your sister tells you. We don't have all day."
With a shaky nod, Eliana followed Elise out of the house and into the bustling marketplace. The Ravenwood market was a whirlwind of activity, with merchants and customers alike haggling over prices and bartering goods. The smells of freshly baked pastries and roasted meats wafted through the air, making her empty stomach growl loudly. She clutched her stomach, trying to quell the hunger pains that threatened to consume her.
"Hurry up!" Elise snapped, her voice laced with annoyance. "We don't have all day."
Eliana quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest as they weaved their way through the crowd. The list of items they needed was long and, judging by the dwindling pouch of coins in her pocket, the budget was tight. She knew she would have to use her wits to stretch the supplies as far as possible.
As they stopped at the first stall, a particularly snooty-looking merchant eyed her up and down with disdain. "What can I do for you, milady?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"I need a sack of flour, a bushel of apples, and a side of pork," Eliana said, keeping her head down and her voice low.
"That will be ten silver coins," the merchant said, his eyes lingering on her body.
Eliana's stomach dropped. They had only been to one stall, and she already knew they would be short. "I'm sorry, sir, but that's more than we can afford," she said, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
The merchant scoffed. "Well, then, perhaps you should have sent someone else to do your shopping," he retorted, waving his hand dismissively.
Eliana's temper flared, but she knew better than to retaliate. Instead, she forced a smile and said, "I understand. We'll gladly take our business elsewhere."
"Fine, fine," the merchant huffed. "Maybe i can do something for you what do you need?"
The merchant let out a gruff huff, clearly annoyed by Eliana's long list of requests. She could tell she would have to make some sacrifices in order to stay within her budget. "Can you give me some apples, grain, and bread?" she asked, scanning the list once more.
As she continued down the list, she couldn't help but wonder how much it would all cost. "How much will this all be together?" she finally asked the merchant.
He took his time checking off each item and looking at the normal prices, but then something seemed to catch his eye. He glanced up at Eliana's worn clothes and tired expression before nodding and offering her a discounted price. "For you, it's 35 gold," he said with a small smile.
Eliana beamed and quickly paid the merchant as he began to pack up her items. Behind her, she heard the murmur of other customers discussing the transaction. As she turned around, she couldn't believe her luck - a carriage full of food had arrived just in time. Her stomach growled like a wolf ready to hunt its prey at the sight of all the provisions.
The worker left the carriage to assist in the front, leaving Eliana alone for a brief moment. Her sister was preoccupied with browsing for new clothes around the corner, and the shop owner was occupied with packing up his goods. The carriage sat unattended, tempting Eliana's growling stomach. With hunger taking control, she dashed towards the carriage and snatched a piece of apple pie from within. She devoured it like a ravenous animal, savoring every morsel.
Suddenly, voices from the front began to draw closer. Panicked, Eliana grabbed some extra food and fled from the carriage towards the safety of the nearby shop where the merchant awaited their arrival.
Breathless, she glanced back to make sure no one was following her before exhaling in relief. "I'm safe," she whispered to herself, finally able to satisfy her empty belly with stolen food.
With a firm grip she grabs the supplies, and made her way back through the bustling marketplace to where Elise was waiting. The vibrant colors and enticing scents of various goods filled the air, making it hard for her to focus on her task. But she persevered, carefully selecting each item they needed before paying the merchant with a handful of coins. The weight of their purchases dragged at her arms as they made their way back home, the warm sun beating down on them and the chatter of fellow shoppers echoing in their ears. Finally, after what seemed like hours of navigating through the crowds, they arrived at their destination, ready to unpack and make use of their new supplies.