In the Dungeon
The head maid sat trembling in the corner of her cell, she was burning with rage with a mix of panic. Why was this happening to her!?
Executed? For what? For that brat? She thought angrily while she bit her nails. Why now? Why does the Duke suddenly care about that kid after all these years? That cursed child… its all her fault!! She's the reason why I'm in this state!
Her thoughts were cut short as doors to the dungeon creaked open.
Footsteps echoed down the hall. The Duke appeared, his expression was unreadable, and his eyes were cold.
The maid froze. The anger she once felt vanished instantly, replaced by fear
"Y- Your Grace!" she stammered, falling to her knees. "I was forced! I swear, I was only following orders! Please... please spare me!"
But the Duke said nothing. He merely stared at her like she was some kind of disgusting insect.
Without a word, he turned to the guards. "Take care of her."
The maid's screams echoed through the dungeon, they were desperate and loud until it became silent.
That was the last anyone ever saw of her.
Meanwhile, with Ayana…
[1]It had been several days since the incident in the garden. Ayana now had new maids, gentle and kind ones, carefully chosen by the Duke himself. They spoke kindly and treated her with respect, but their kindness only made her more afraid.
The Duke had been busy with estate matters and political stuff, leaving Ayana in their care. Yet, despite their warm kindness, Ayana couldn't bring herself to trust them.
Whenever the maids offered to help, she would shake her head and insist on working herself. She swept the halls, folded linens, and polished the floors until her small hands blistered.
"Miss Ayana, please," one of the maids said, trying to reason with her softly, trying to take the broom from her hands. "You don't need to do this. it's our job. Let us- "
"I… I'm sorry," Ayana whispered, shrinking away. Her trembling fingers clutched the broom tighter. "I'll do a better job next time, I promise… Please don't tell him" she thought. They were trying to do it because she wasn't doing a good job because Ayana's past experiences had left her scared.
The maid's heart broke at the sight. She knelt beside Ayana, but the child only stepped back in fear, her body shaking like a leaf.
The maids exchanged glances, showing pity and helplessness. None of them knew how to comfort a child that had faced mistreatment and cruelty.
Later that night, when everyone had gone to rest, Ayana wandered into her new room.
It was large and beautiful, it was so extravagant, with a bed big enough for three people and a big chandelier that glowed super bright. She stood at the doorway, staring at it all in disbelief.
This isn't mine, she thought. Someone must have made a mistake.
She hesitantly stepped closer. The blankets were soft as she trailed her fingers on top, and the pillows smelled so nice, like flowers. But something inside her twisted painfully.
I don't deserve this. It's so beautiful..a cursed child like me shouldn't have this.
She looked at the corner of the room as she lay down on the floor.
Curling up on the cold tiles, she mumbled to herself, "This is enough for me."
Even surrounded by comfort, Ayana couldn't help but feel uneasy. just because. because her mind whispered that every kindness she had received was fake and all this could vanish in an instant and she fell asleep with this thoughts.
The Duke returned late that night.
He was tired, he was exhausted from work and from the weight of memories of his wife and the mistreatment of ayana that he could never escape. As he passed through the corridor leading to Ayana's new quarters, he paused. The door was slightly open.
Something inside him told him to look.
He stepped inside quietly, trying to make less sounds. His eyes immediately fell on the bed, it was untouched, no one was there. Then, his gaze moved to the corner of the room as his gaze went lower to the floor.
There, on the cold floor, was Ayana.
She was curled up, her small frame trembling slightly. It was obvious that she was cold.
The Duke's chest tightened. He didn't expect to find her like this. After everything, after punishing the maid, giving her new maids, and even picking and arranging the room with care, she still chose to sleep on the floor.
He sighed. as he stood there in silence, the moonlight cutting across his features. The shadows under his eyes deepened as he knelt beside her. Slowly, he reached out to carry her but stopped midway, hesitating. His fingers stayed above her hair.
Why am I hesitating? he thought to himself. She's my daughter.
But his hand shook. He had faced armies and gone on battlefields and never once trembled, but now, he couldn't even bring himself to touch his daughter.
He finally tucked away a loose strand of hair from her face.
For a moment, he saw Eveline, the same long lashes and that soft curve of her lips that was slightly pinkish. The sight hurt him more than anything.
"You even look like her when sleeping…" he whispered. His voice cracking.
He sat there for a long time, watching her sleep. Each small breath seemed fragile, like it could stop at any moment. The Duke lowered his gaze and exhaled shakily.
"I failed you," he murmured. He said it as if speaking to both his daughter and his late wife. "Both of you."
He reached out again, this time he carried her to the bed while grabbing the blanket from the bed and carefully placing it on top of Ayana. She stirred slightly, and a soft voice escaped her lips.
"I'll be a good girl…" she mumbled in her sleep. "so please don't hurt me…"
The Duke froze. His breath was caught in his throat.
Her words echoed in his mind like a fly that won't go away. Slowly, he fell to his knees, his hand gripping the bed.
"No one will hurt you again," he whispered. He promised silently, it was more like he promised himself than her.
He stayed like that for a while. Then he quietly stood up.
Before leaving, he glanced back one last time at Ayana, who was now beneath the blanket.
As he stepped outside, into the hallway.
"Eveline… I'll do better. I swear i'll protect our daughter with my life"
As he walked away towards his room.
[1] All the old maids that used to take care of ayana are all fired and Ayana's Manor is now completely demolished.