I closed my eyes and refused to open them. He's not here. He's not here. He's not here.
"I know you hear me and I know you can talk now!"
"…"
"The others won't shut up about you."
"…"
"Hey!"
A boot met my arm and I toppled over onto my side. Ow! Enraged, I opened my eyes and looked up at the menace himself.
Derrick.
You fucking moron. Why are your eyes so red? Been crying?
"I thought you were still locked up."
My pronunciation has gotten much better with practice and I can speak in fuller coherent sentences now.
"Father released me early so I could talk to you. Can you guess what I have to say?"
I rolled my eyes and stared at the manor walls around me. This small courtyard behind the kitchen is the only place besides the library where I can get some much-needed quiet.
Now it's ruined. Maybe if I ignore him he'll go away.
He kicked me in the back and hurled some more insults at me. What the hell?!
"I'm talking to you fugly!"
"…" I'm not answering that.
"Second young master! What are you doing?!"
A teenager rushed out of the kitchen doors and bolted towards Derrick. He snatched him up out of the air by his armpit and away from me. Thank god.
"Are you mad?! She's a baby! You were just released! How could you?!"
"She's ignoring me."
"So you kicked her?!"
The boys bickered and I got up to go to the library. I waddled over to the door and left them behind to argue.
Halfway down the servant quarters hallway, hasty footsteps sounded from behind me.
"Wait! My lady, please! Please wait."
The teenage boy from earlier skidded to a halt in front of me and picked me up from the carpet.
"Where are your handmaid's? And your guards?"
Right on schedule, Helen rounded the corner and I groaned.
No! He just had to jinx it. My mother has become anal about my security ever since I turned six months old. I however have been able to ditch most of them.
The perks of being quiet, sly, and tiny.
Helen however is a beast. Literally. She's a werewolf who can sniff me out if you give her enough time.
"Miseria Noxcissa Duccanes."
Ooh, she brought out the full name. She marched towards me with anger in her eyes.
"Yes? What's wrong?"
"You know what. How many times have I—Who are you?"
She directed her gaze at the boy holding me and he almost stumbled back. Yeah, that's a whole lot of woman. She's easily got an entire foot on him and she's ripped to the gills.
"I'm Gillard. The tutor to the second young master."
"Him? What are you doing holding the young miss? Why is she so…?"
Her eyes roved over me and she snatched me out of his hands. Within seconds she was inspecting my tiny body for what was inevitably found.
Boot prints, bruises, dust, grass stains, and dirt. Sarabse's going to be pissed. She might take my coin this time.
"…"
Her nostrils flared and Gillard made a sharp intake of breath.
"Come with me at once." Uh oh.
Helen held me close to her and brought me to my doom. The bane of my existence. My overprotective mother and my laissez faire father.
We briskly made our way to my mother's part of the house. It's two halls and a staircase away from the kitchen and a hall away from my room.
Helen inquired as to where they were and was informed swiftly. They were having a discussion in the study that Helen promptly interrupted.
"Madam. I seek an audience at once."
"Can it wait?"
"Someone has assaulted the young miss."
"…"
Woah! Helen! What are you doing?! That sounds like it can be taken a very different way.
The door slammed open and both my parents came out of the room. Their clothes were in disarray and they smelled different. Different bad. Sour and musky. Please don't be what I think it is. Gross!
I wrinkled my nose and squirmed when my mother tried to take me.
No! That's so unhygienic! Get away from me!
She pried me from Helen's clothes that I had been hanging off of and inspected me herself. Her eyes went completely white and she growled low in her throat.
What the fuck! I recoiled and stopped struggling.
Gillard got on his knees and explained everything to the Duke who had already drawn his sword. I couldn't see his face from behind but I could hear his voice.
I think this is the angriest I've ever heard him.
He's the biggest yes man I've ever seen. Complete pushover. That's probably why he has a harem of women in his house. He just can't say no.
So finicky.
Niathe held me close to her and ordered for guards to arrive. They slipped out of the shadows and began to assemble around us.
What the fuck! When did that happen? Have they been there the entire time?
"You're saying…You witnessed my son. Kick my daughter. Behind the kitchen…because she…ignored him?"
"El."
Niathe uttered a single word.
That was all it took.
"Arrest him."
The guards in black armor moved to arrest Gillard and the Duke shook his head. His shoulders bunched together and his voice became hoarse.
The Duke bellowed. "Arrest that disgrace!"
The guards stiffened before turning around. They searched high and low for Derrick until they found him.
And they found him. Practicing the sword leisurely with his brothers who had no idea what had occurred.
Meanwhile on my side.
Mother and everyone else moved in sync to the throne room. Mother refused any of my father's attempts to hold me or her. In her eyes, I could see nothing but white. But I could tell something was clawing at her. Waiting to come out.
Something hungry and excited.
She seemed secretly jubilant to me. Like she had just caught the prey that had been eluding her.
We stalked towards a part of the mansion I had never been in. But I recognized enough of it to understand where I was.
The throne room is in the main wing of the house. Only Dorothea, The Duke, and Erichean live here. It's an etiquette thing.
Only the first wife and her children are supposed to live there.
I live in the smaller east wing with my mother and Hadrian. Meng Jialin and Druvis live in the west wing together with their children.
Everyone has a place and it's not like we're on top of each other. I've ventured into at least ten unused guest rooms in my area.
There are too many guards around here so I've never actually ventured into this particular area before. The main wing is where the Duke lives. So it's only natural that it's heavily guarded.
But this room is on another level. There are at least thirty guards in this room lined up against each of the walls.
Mother walked into the throne room with Helen guarding her back and walked up a long stairway to a black throne.
Even from afar, it seemed daunting and the entire room was filled with tension as she stood at the top.
In a single movement, she manipulated her ball gown and sat down on the throne. Gasps echoed throughout the room.
I don't think she was supposed to do that. What a hot seat.
Round tables filled with vassals below us erupted into chatter and chaos.
"Silence!"
The Duke quieted anyone who would be foolish enough to voice a complaint in this situation.
The vassals bowed their heads and the Duke ascended the stairs to the throne.
He then stood next to it and waited.
The first to arrive was, of course, Dorothea. She lives here and probably received news the fastest.
She rushed into the room in a hurry and demanded answers upon seeing us.
"Husband! What is that matter? Oh my—?!"
She caught sight of the throne and gasped in shock. Her hand clutched her chest.
So dramatic.
What? Do you have a problem with my mother sitting on the throne? You better not say anything.
"Why is the eighth covered in grass stains? What are those marks? She needs proper clothing!"
Dorothea snapped and uttered orders to one of her ladies-in-waiting. She then lifted her pale peach dress and proceeded upstairs.
"Husband, what happened?"
The Duke explained slowly in a somber voice and Dorothea's expression turned grave.
"The evidence?"
"Arriving."
The entire room waited in tense silence. Due to the echoes in the room. Everyone knew what had happened.
Great. Should I say something? This isn't a big deal.
I opened my mouth and Niathe covered it with her sleeve. I narrowed my eyes and turned to face her.
Jesus. She still looks like a demon. You know what? I'll tell her later. When she's less… possessed-looking.