"Honey, this is why the servants will never learn from their mistakes," she folded her arms, glancing at his direction. "An example must be made for such mistakes to never occur again, darling."
The maid comes closer and a smirk lifts on the side of the Marchioness's mouth as she parts her lips, "Kneel."
She brushes her long green hair back and starts pouring the wine on the maid as it drips down her face. The maid squeezes her eyes shut, lowering her head even more.
"I wasn't gone for long. How could the servants dare to make mistakes using my absense as an excuse?" She calmly voiced her thoughts showing a manacing grin.
"Huh?" She seemed disappointed as the last drop of wine fell from the glass even though she made sure to take her time pouring it on her.
Regardless, she held her expression and called out for another maid to come to her. She told her to hand her the bottle of wine.
After the maid did as she was told, the Marchioness shaked the bottle to her heart's content before pointing it towards her, "Need I say more?"
The maid quickly removed the seal while the Marchioness held the bottom on her hand and as soon as it was off, she didn't waste a moment, changing the direction as the wine started to fizzle it's way out.
She purposely made sure to direct it towards Sici since she had made the maid kneel down beside her.
As Sici got drenched in wine, the Marchioness acted to be surprised as if it was a mistake.
She covers her grin with her hand as she starts talking in a worried tone for her, "Oh my. Melina!"
"I am so sorry," she said now approaching her.
"Why are you good for nothing servants not doing anything?!"
"Sorry, m'lady!" The two maids near her rushed off to get something to wipe her with.
"I just want to go back to my room," Sici thought as she was unable to tell the maids to not to bother with and rather just prepare a shower if they could.
Kayser sighs out loud at the unnecessary commotion early in the morning, "I told you to leave it."
She replies without taking a look at his face, "And I said to let me handle it."
Sici stands up forcing a smile as she can't handle much more of this nonsense. Her freedom of speech was restricted but at least not her freedom to move around freely.
"Melina? Where are you going?" The Marchioness asks in a worried tone.
"I beg of you. At least let me respond somehow!" Sici thought. A white text box appears before her and she instantly chooses to go with the first option, without even taking a look at what her choices were as a response.
Even though this body was in her control, it also wasn't at the same time as the words that come out of her mouth felt unknown to herself as if it wasn't her voice or mouth or motion. As if she was silent and yet words were coming out of her. A feeling she didn't like to feel. Something she will never get used to.
"To my room, mother. I believe you can tell why I have to leave so soon," the reply sounded nonchalant.
The Marchioness didn't seem happy by her choice of words. The side of her mouth was twitching a little and yet she held onto her so called polite smile filled with no positive intentions at all.
Since Kayser was still present, she couldn't just treat Melina as she pleased. Not until Kayser is absent.
"Ah! Yes, of course. You're excused," her smile slowly faded away as she spoke the last words, "my dear daughter."
....
"Family breakfast, family celebration, family bonding," she continued listing the things she had and has to do in the name of 'family', "Fucking bullshit, I tell you. Everything is bullshit!"
Layla gently continued to wash her red hair followed with a slow head massage. Sici's frustration slowly died down as she started to accept the massage.
She usually tells the maids to leave her alone as she bathes alone but today she couldn't so the maids accompanied her as they normally used to serve her.
Another maid with braided brown hair was busy scrubbing her hands as it got sticky from the wine as it dried while waiting for the bath.
While another maid with short sky blue hair massaged her feet gently. Her body started to relax so much, she forgot to get embarrassed like she usually is when they take care of her like this... like robots..
She slowly started to get drowsy as the frustration left her system due to the warm water and massage. The heaven like feeling was cut short as Layla started to dry her hair meaning it was time to get dressed and she got up.
A new idea popped up into her head to relax her mind even more. No point in worrying about things you have no control of so might as well just survive through it in your own unique way.
"Layla," she calls out.
"Yes, m'lady?" She replies instantly.
"Dress me up in a similar way as yesterday. I have something to do in the town."
Layla nods and proceeds to do as she is requested to, without asking a single question. Though it is what is to be expected from a maid. But it is somehow the thing Sici loves about her the most, her indifference.
As if even if she were to kill someone and asked Layla for help, she would oblige her without questioning it. Making her wonder, where was this devotion or loyalty coming from to begin with.