{Elira}
~**^**~
"Miss," the maid's voice pulled me from my spiralling thoughts, soft but urgent. "Please follow me. I will escort you to the tea garden."
I nodded slowly, releasing a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
I stepped out, shut my bedroom door behind me, and fell in line behind her.
With every step, the sound of our feet echoing against the polished floors made my heart beat just as loudly.
The maid passed the tray to another servant without breaking her stride. I followed her as we turned down the back hallway, where the walls became warmer with filtered sunlight. The back door came into view.
Still, I kept glancing behind us, hoping that maybe one of the brothers would appear and save me. But no one came.
I sighed and kept walking, adjusting the puffs of my dress to steady my fingers.
Outside, the path welcomed us with a rush of clean air and fresh grass. The stone walkway curved through neatly trimmed bushes and potted plants bursting with colour.
A breeze danced across my cheek, and then I saw the tea garden.
Two women sat with their backs to us, framed by sunlight and roses.
The one on the left was Luna Gwenith. And the one on the right—my breath caught in my throat.
No.
No, it couldn't—
Lady Maren.
My steps faltered as pain bloomed in my chest, sharp and sudden. Then I reached for the maid two steps ahead of me.
"Wait—" I rasped, breathlessly.
She stopped instantly and turned, her alarm evident. "Miss? Are you okay?"
"Please, don't speak loudly," I whispered. "And I need a little time."
She looked around nervously, then back at me. "You must hurry. The Luna won't like to be kept waiting."
"It would only take a moment," I said, doubling forward slightly, pressing a hand to my chest, as if it would suppress the pain.
She fidgeted, her eyes flicking between me and the two women in the distance. "Make it quick. Please. I will be punished if we are late."
I nodded quickly, my face tightening.
From here, I could see the side of Lady Maren's sharp jawline, the tilt of her smug smile and the smooth sweep of her styled hair. She was perfectly composed, as always.
A dozen theories tumbled through my head, but none of them made sense.
Was she here to take me back?
The maid shuffled awkwardly beside me.
For the sake of not getting her into trouble after giving my word, I straightened slowly, forcing my breath to even out.
"You can return," I murmured. Though the pain was still here, I no longer felt like dying.
She blinked. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "I will go the rest of the way myself."
She hesitated, then dipped her head quickly and turned to leave. I stood alone now, facing the garden, with nothing but dread in my throat.
I took one step. Then another. The grass shifted beneath my feet as I walked toward the women, my heart thudding like war drums.
They didn't notice me at first. They were talking with their heads leaned close. But when I came within a few feet, they turned to look at me.
Both faces hardened instantly.
Whatever softness or civility they had shared before vanished.
I stopped and bowed. "Good day, Luna Gwenith. Lady Maren."
Neither of them answered.
Just them, Luna Gwenith stood gracefully. And Lady Maren stood faster, with a pleased glint in her eyes.
Luna Gwenith faced Lady Maren, her tone perfectly clipped. "Send Regina my greetings. I hope she recovers well. She's welcome to visit any time."
My stomach turned.
Lady Maren's smile widened. "Of course, Luna. I will tell her, and she will be so happy. Thank you."
And then, without sparing me so much as a final glance, Luna Gwenith turned and walked away, her long gown brushing the stone path behind her.
My heart sank.
Now I was alone with her.
Lady Maren did not waste any time.
"You're really settling in, aren't you?" she said with a bitter laugh. "Wearing perfume, a new dress and living in luxury after ruining my daughter's life."
I immediately lowered my gaze, but she commanded me;
"Look at me."
I obeyed.
Her gaze sliced me open.
"You think you're clean now, don't you? You think expensive lotion can cover the filth you came from? Let me remind you—you crawled out of a gutter, and you still stink of it."
My throat tightened.
"I suggest you step back from whatever illusion this is. Give up this fake position and remove yourself from the light you stole. Or I promise you…" She leaned in slightly, her smile tightening. "I will make the rest of your life a slow, ugly death. And if you force my hand, I will end it early—so you can join your useless parents under my feet."
Then my breath caught, my eyes shimmering with tears I refused to let fall.
The sting came from those last words. She brought my parents into it.
I could take insults. I could take humiliation. But not them. Not my mother's laughter or my father's strong hands. Not the memories I kept alive in the quiet corners of my heart.
Unfortunately, I could do nothing because I remembered the last time I stood up for them.
Lady Maren had made sure to shatter my confidence into shards.
She struck my face again and again, until her own palm began to hurt.
My left ear buzzed for three consecutive days. I recalled the migraines, the blood in the bucket, and the punishment that never ceased.
Lady Maren's voice yanked me back to the present.
"You're not listening to me," she snapped, pulling my ear.
I swallowed back my scream, seeing her standing inches from my face now, her nails now digging into my wrist.
"How dare you zone out while I'm speaking to you?"
"I-I'm sorry," I stammered.
"My precious daughter has been crying since last night, and is sick because of you worthless leech! You will rectify the mess you caused through whatever means necessary. But first, you must apologize to her."
She leaned in closer, her voice darkening. "And you have twenty-four hours."
Her grip tightened, and I whimpered as her nails sank deeper into my skin.
I looked up directly into her eyes. There was nothing but hatred present, and it was something more intense than before.
Lady Maren wasn't bluffing with her threats.
If they had punished me before for simply existing, what would they do now that I had taken something?
They would devour me whole.
But it was the Moon Goddess who made this fate. Why was I the only one taking the blame?
"Don't forget your place!" she hissed. "You belong with the wild dogs."
Then she shoved my wrist away like it disgusted her and turned. Her heels clicked against the stone path, fading into silence.
I stood there, rooted to the spot.
My hand still stung, but it was my heart that hurt more.