The next morning, a new maid arrived at the Vale estate, the vale estate consists of 3 manors, the duke's manor, The Trial, and lastly, Ayana's Manor. Her name was Liana. She was quiet, soft-spoken, and far too kind for a house like this. She was assigned to Ayana's Manor. She knew nothing of what Ayana had suffered or been through, past, pain, nothing at all. One day she noticed a small girl who kept her eyes down and her hands folded, as if even breathing too loudly was a sin. Liana smiled, not knowing who this child was.
"Hello? Whats your name, little cutie?" she asked with a gentle tone. She raised her hand to try and pat Ayana. Ayana flinched, thinking she was to be beaten.
"A.. Ayana" Ayana answered quietly, barely understandable. Liana's eyes widen.
"Ayana!? You're the young miss?"
Liana was confused, why was a daughter of a noble treated this way? until she heared whispers, Rumors from the maids. At first, Liana followed orders like the rest, starving ayana, making her do heavy work. But after seeing the new bruises on her every day and the way Ayana flinched at every sound and every person she saw, her heart ached. She thought, how could a child become like this? Isn't it too cruel? She's just a child, for goodness sake Late at night, when the others had gone to bed, she sneaked into the child's room with tiny pastries she'd saved from the kitchen.
"W..who's there?" Ayana trembled, thinking someone is here to hurt her.
"Its just me, Little one, Im Liana" But before Ayana could ask her why was liana here, Liana cut her off.
"Here," she said with a beautiful angelic smile like an angel from the sky, pressing the warm bread into Ayana's hands. "Eat it while it's still soft."
"T...thank you" Ayana said as Liana patted Ayana's head.
Ayana was shocked, and for the first time, Ayana smiled.
The taste of sugar felt like something amazing she never ever experienced. It was the first time she felt this way, this warmth. From that night on, Liana would secretly visit her, brushing dust from her hair, humming lullabies, and calling her "little cake."
"l... little cake?" Ayan said her eyes tinged with curiosity at the nickname Liana gave her.
"Yeah, Your cheeks puffs up and it looks like little cakes, You remind me of my little sister at home whenever she eats pastries."
It turns out she was working here to pay for the girl's medicine and every coin mattered. Ayana felt concerned for Liana's sister, but Liana reassured her that her sister will get better soon.
Days passed like that, brief, secret moments of kindness hidden beneath the weight of silence. Ayana clung to them as if they were treasures. She was Happy and wanted to have this warmth forever, but good things never lasted in the Vale household.
One afternoon, the head maid discovered the truth. She dragged Liana to the courtyard, her fury echoing through the halls. After that, she had her maids corner Liana and beat her.
"You dare spoil that useless brat?!"
Liana tried to explain to protect Ayana..... but her voice was drowned by shouting. Her screams filled the air, then silence. Liana is no longer alive.
The next morning, Liana's body was carried away before sunrise. Today Ayana was tasked with the Laundry and found a small ribbon Liana used to wear, stained and torn near the laundry room. She picked it up and kept it with her planning to give it back to Liana later that night.
Ayana looked out the window. The air still smelled faintly of pastries. She kept the last pastries Liana gave her until they were moldy because she considered them treasures every time Liana gave her small pastries she would keep a little bit in her pocket. At first Ayana didn't know that Liana had passed away. She waited every night, but no one came.
While she was wandering around the halls, she overheard the other maids whispering and talking, Ayana's tiny heart shattered. Liana had stopped breathing. They said it was a lesson. Ayana cried until her eyes became puffy. Her tears fell onto the ribbon she held tight against her chest. Ayana tressured the ribbon as a reminder of the warmth Liana gave her.
That's when she realized Liana was never coming back. Her hands shook as she pressed them to her chest. She was hurt, the only person who took care of her was gone. "Why was this hapening to her?" she whispered through her tears that was streaking down her cheeks. Am I destined to be unhappy? she thought.
Due to Liana passing away, Liana's little sister had no one to take care of her, she starved, and her illness became worse until she was now reunited with Liana. Two souls were now no longer on earth.
The next morning, Ayana hid the ribbon deep inside her dress pocket. It was all she had left of Liana, the only proof, the only reminder that someone actually had once cared for her. Every night, when evryone was asleep soudly, she would take it out and whisper softly, "Goodnight, Liana," before carefully tucking it back away. She imagined liana was still with her. Every dream reminds her of Liana but she was happy, she wanted to remember liana forever even if it hurts her, she wanted to remember that warmth.
But one afternoon, while scrubbing the floors, the head maid came to inspect her work and noticed a red fabric peeking out from Ayana's pocket, It was the bow.
"What is that?" her voice sliced through the silence.
Ayana froze. "N… nothing, ma'am." she was scared, what if the head maid took it from her. she did'nt want to lose the only thing she had of liana.
"Nothing?" The woman's eyes narrowed with suspicion and annoyance that the child dare to lie to her as she yanked the ribbon from Ayana's pocket. The color drained from Ayana's face as the maid recognized it immediately the ribbon that belonged to the maid liana, it was very noticeble because liana always kwore it as it was he sister's gift.
"You dare keep this?" the head maid hissed.
"Do you think this will bring her back?!" The head maid was annoyed, that ribbon reminded her that a maid dare disobeyed her, and she didn't like the feeling of not being the boss.
Ayana shook her head frantically. "P-Please... it's all I have..of her..d..dont take it away" Ayana tried to snatch it back which made the maid more annoyed.
The maid slapped her hard with disgust vivid in her eyes. "You filthy, cursed child, Monster!" the maid spat insults that pierced the child's heart. "You bring misfortune to anyone who's near you. Its your fault why the maid died"
Ayana's body hit the floor, her small hands reaching weakly toward the ribbon now crumpled in the maid's grip.
"It..was my fault?..."Ayana wanted to get back the ribbon but thoughts flood her head, it was her fault? she was the reason why Liana was beaten to death?
The head maid's lips twisted into a cruel smile. THis was what she wanted, fear, obedience, and submission. "Yes, now watch closely."
She walked to the fireplace. The flames crackled as she tossed the ribbon in. The red fabric was burned, and then became ash.
When the fire went out, Ayana crawled to the ashes. She cupped them in her hands, her tears falling in it. It smeared her palms, and her cheeksand became dark and gray, but she refused to wipe it away.
That night, she thought to herself.
ill remember her, the warmth, the care, and the love she had given me, ill remember everything she had done for me until my last breath.