Chapter 2

Sybil Park

 “What is your request then? To give you the opportunity to study?” He scoffed. “I can't grant your wish.”

My heart started to beat rapidly. I took a deep breath and spoke, "My Lord, my plea isn’t for me but for my dear daughter. Please have mercy for her, My Lord. We’ll make sure to repay your kindness." Like I said, I will do everything just for my child. Maximaze wants to study, so I’ll grant it for her.

"How could a mere slave repay kindness to an aristocrat when she doesn’t even have money? If you can’t give me something valuable, then I cannot approve your request." What he said left me completely crestfallen.

I was expecting this, yet I gave myself false hopes. I shouldn’t forget the fact that His Lordship is materialistic. “My Lord, I’m begging you! I . . . I will do my utmost best to give you what you want! Just sponsor my daughter’s needs!” I kneeled in front of him, asking for mercy.

“Don’t deceive me, you dumb piece of trash. I won’t trust slaves who can prove nothing like you.” He turned around to leave but I immediately grabbed his hanbok. My action made him push me without hesitation. “I couldn’t believe that I was coerced by a mere slave. I just wasted my time going here.”

I stopped grabbing his clothes and watched him walk away while my tears were falling down my cheeks. How . . . could I grant Maximaze’s wish?

"Mother?" I heard her voice.

I immediately wiped my tears and gazed at her. “Maze? Why are you still awake? It’s almost midnight.” I forced a smile. “You can’t sleep?”

"Why, Mother?" she asked.

I raised my eyebrows. "What do you mean, Maze?” Did she see what happened earlier?

“Why are you begging to His Lordship? You . . . begged him just for me? Mother, why?” She seemed to understand what happened earlier. Her eyes were teary and her forehead was furrowed.

"Y-you saw, son?" I thought she was asleep. I did not see this coming. I felt so ashamed because of what I did, but I did that just for Maximaze.

“Yes, Mother. I woke up because of the light and I suddenly heard your voice. So I went here, and saw you—begging and kneeling in front of His Lordship. I did not see that coming, I can’t believe it, Mother.” She lowered her gaze. “You don't have to do that. Everything you give is already enough. I know how to be satisfied and I hope you understand that. You don’t need to sacrifice your dignity in front of those people. I don’t want to see you being hurt.” I was stunned because of what she said. She can’t look at me.

"M-maze, you don't have to say that,” I said. My voice was trembling while saying those words.

“I need to. I know that as my mother, you will do everything for me, your child, but don't you seem to be overdoing it? You almost disregarded your dignity and ego for me. ” This is the first time hearing her scolding me, even though I should be the one to do this to her. I should have scolded her for listening to my conversation with the baron, but I didn’t.

“Mother, even if you want to raise me well and without difficulty—you should rest at least once. You don't know that I get hurt every time you sacrifice for me. I can take care of myself so don’t worry. Mother, rest first . . . or do you want me to take care of you?” I was stunned again.

She was right. She felt that I was more focused on taking care of her properly and forgot about myself. I understood what she was pointing at. Is this the sign to start balancing my care for my child and for myself?

A NEW day of staying in this hellish place. We were experiencing too much poverty, and His Lordship doesn’t even care. But even though it's hard, I had to do everything just to survive. Luckily, my daughter is there to release my stress.

The government has not yet taken any action on the oppressions perpetrated by the baron’s family of our barrio. Perhaps they were busy stealing funds or they were looking after the other barrios. I don’t know if other barons were as selfish as His Lordship.

I watched Maximaze to water the plants in our small garden. She seemed to have no problems at all. I wish I could go back to the times where I’m still young.

“My Lord, have mercy on me! Please, stop! My Lord!” I heard a voice not so far away. The baron is here, and he’s punishing one of my comrades just because my comrade can’t pay him. The slave’s clothes were torn and he was bleeding badly. He’s so pitiful, and I wanted to help him. However, I’m also afraid of His Lordship. I don’t know what would happen if I helped my comrade. History might repeat itself.

"Mother!" Maze shouted. She immediately ran towards me when she saw what was happening.

I hugged her tightly so she couldn't see what’s happening. Her eyes were still not ready for this.

“You promised to pay His Lordship countless times! How dare you not keep your promise!” the treyhovia yelled.

The slave begged His Lordship again and again while he was suffering in the hands of the treyhovia.

“Vepro ca! Whipping him is not enough. Burn his house. What is left inside will be left. Whether those are things or animals or even people, living or dead,” the Baron thundered. What he said surprised everyone, but no one dared to speak against him. All of us here were trembling and worried for our own families.

Maze let go of herself from my tight embrace. She tried to run towards the burning house, but I immediately caught her. “What do you think you’re doing, Maze?!” I tightened my grip on her arm.

"I'll help them, Mother!" she yelled. She gritted her teeth while looking at my eyes.

“It’s too dangerous, Maze! This may lead you to death—do you know that?!” I scolded her. It’s fine for me when she wants to help other people, but it will never be fine when she gets involved in His Lordship’s cruelness.

“I would rather die fighting than be silent and make us submissive, silly, and often oppressed! Mother, do not be taken to this deceptive paradise because everything you see is not true.” Stygian slowly conquered her eyes. Because of that, I was caught off guard. Then she took a wet blanket and wrapped it on herself. She ran towards the burning house.

I don’t know what was happening to her. Her eyes . . . were completely different. It felt like she wasn’t Maximaze.

A few minutes passed, I never saw her again. She’s nowhere to be seen. I do not know where she is. I never knew. I was afraid that what had happened before might happen again.

I started to tremble. No . . . Don’t leave me, Maximaze.

Suddenly, noise started to conquer the place. All of them gathered near the house. Some of them were closing their eyes, it seemed like they didn't want to watch what would happen while the others were flabbergasted.

I excused myself and tried to reach the center just to know why they were noisy. My eyes widened after I saw Maximaze. She was in front of His Lordship. She was still covered in a blanket and was carrying a baby. She shuddered as she gazed at the people looking at her. Maximaze was breathless and she seemed to be looking for someone. I couldn’t believe that she survived and she even saved a child.

I was so impressed with Maximaze because she was able to be heroic and be brave. But still, she’s not yet safe because His Lordship was furious at what she did.

“Foolish meddler!” My eyes widened when His Lordship tried to whip Maximaze himself but suddenly, someone stopped him.

I caught a glimpse of a man who stopped the baron. He’s muscular and a bit old. “Vepro ca! Baron, you're overdoing it! ” I can't figure out who this man is. Still, I thank him for saving my daughter.

"G-general ?!" The baron's eyes widened. He and his servants immediately kneeled on the ground in front of the general. All of them trembled and averted their gazes.

"You almost hurt the child and as a punishment, my guards will beat you," he said. He looked coldly at the baron. The general's voice was familiar but I couldn't recognize him.

To be continued. . .