Chapter 4 Indecent Proposal

Her knees almost buckled but she tried to walk with her head held high. Pride is her only refuge at this time when everyone seems to conspire against her. She failed to protect herself and she felt bad about it. Her ability abandoned her when she needed it the most.

With her trembling body, she slowly walked toward the kitchen, and relief washed over her upon seeing a familiar face. Her tears struck earlier, now threatening to flood her eyes.

Erra hurriedly went to her side upon seeing her in a miserable state.

"Erra…" she suddenly burst out crying, clung, and hugged Erra tight to the surprise of everyone.

"My lady?"

Everyone was worried but Erra hurriedly pulled her to the back where no one could see them, in case anyone from the shameless family came looking for Narrah.

Erra just let the girl cry, holding her tight and gently rubbing her back. She gave her the time to pour everything by crying. She could feel the girl's body tremble.

"This is too much, Erra…I don't deserve all of these…" she painfully whimpered as she hiccuped.

"What did they do this time, my lady?" Erra nervously asked, dreading to hear what the girl would say.

"She…she let that filthy old man touch me…" she whispered, tightening her hold around Erra as if by doing so, she could erase the horror that happened in the study.

Erra clenched her jaw as she subtly took a very deep breath to loosen the tightening of her chest and gulped hard the lump in her throat. She could imagine how terrified Narrah was.

"As payment for Merlin's debt…" she continued with her grim tone, despite her tears. Erra tightly closed her eyes, Narrah doesn't deserve any of what the family was doing to her.

"I failed, Erra. It's not working even though I tried. Why can't it work when I need it the most? How could I fight back if I'm this weak?" disappointed by her inability, she angrily raves.

"Calm down, my lady. You are just distracted by your fears You have to master your ability. It's the only way you can protect yourself at this time" Erra pacified the troubled girl seeing her frustration.

"Where is that brat?!"

They were startled by the thundering voice coming from the kitchen. The voice they were so familiar with.

"The Duchess"

Narrah's eyes widen in horror as she turns to look at the door.

As expected, Merlin appeared at the door, her face full of rage as she sharply looked at Narrah.

"You stupid brat!" she roared.

Before Narra and Erra could move, Merlin has Narrah's hair, dragging her out.

"Your Grace!" Erra exclaimed, begging upon seeing Narrah's pained face.

"You want to help!" Merlin abruptly stopped and angrily turned to Erra. Her eyes seem to shoot fire, causing Erra to be dumbfounded.

"Whoever helps this brat will be punished!" Merlin bellowed while glaring at everyone.

Erra together with all the servants bowed hopelessly. Tears formed in their eyes as they silently watched Narrah being dragged by the hair away from the kitchen.

"Argh…let go of me…" Narrah tried to struggle but she got a strong slap from the woman.

"You insolent brat! You made me a fool in front of Baron Crane! You will pay for what you did!" Merlin barked at her every word as she dragged Narrah away.

After the two women were sufficed with their anger towards Narrah, they just left her lying weak on the floor, her face all bruised and bloody. Almost unconscious from crying and from the pain inflicted on her body.

For several days, Erra and Gert nursed Narrah after Merlin and Charlotte repeatedly hurt her.

"Lady Narrah…" Erra whimpered as she stared at her still swollen face. It's been days after the incident, but the evidence of Merlin and Charlotte's cruelty is still visible in her beautiful face.

Erra could still remember how Narrah's body trembled from anguish, hopelessness, and pain. It's the first time she saw Narrah break down. She nursed not only her bruises and wounds but most of all she carefully nursed her broken spirit. She is just a child but she had already experienced the worst inhumane act in the place she called home.

The family is slowly breaking Narrah and soon she will just be a dull girl who will be a slave to her own kingdom.

"Do I still look awful?" Narrah bitterly smiled, seeing Erra's face while looking at her.

"You are still as beautiful as the newly bloomed flower, my lady" Erra gently countered, trying not to shed tears from the pity she felt towards the girl.

"Stop lying, Erra. I know I look awful" Narrah smiled sadly but sharpness laced her voice.

"Nothing could dim your beauty, my lady. You're still the envy of Charlotte or any woman" Erra whispered, giving Narrah her gentlest smile.

"But… I can't just be beautiful…" she softly retorted, staring blankly at the floor. Mulling her situation.

"You are strong, Lady Narrah. Please don't forget what Duchess Margo and Duke Draco taught you. Don't fear the unknown, embrace what you are, by then, you will overcome everything. This is just a speck of what you were prepared for. Please, my lady, embrace your true side" Erra pleaded, her voice soft but earnest and convincing.

"Don't fight what you are. It will help you become stronger. No one could help you now but yourself. Don't be afraid to explore what's buried deep. Let it out, my lady. I know Duchess Margo taught you how" Erra continued. Her tone is firm but not imposing, more of begging the girl.

"Do you think I'm not trying? I'm trying, Erra, but I'm constantly failing. I don't know what to do" Narrah argued, her voice quivering from desperation.

Erra became quiet seeing the hopelessness on Narrah's face.

"Pardon my persistence, my lady" Erra bowed and apologized.

"I know your intention Erra, and I'm trying. I've been working hard just like how my mother taught me" Narrah's voice became softer as she pleaded.

"If you are finished with your drama, the kitchen floor is waiting to be cleaned"

A sharp and mocking voice of Merlin interrupted their hushed conversation while they were dusting the displays.

"Yes, your Grace" Erra abruptly turned to the woman, followed by Narrah, both bowing their heads.

Merlin's sharp gaze stayed at Narrah who was staring at the floor, waiting for the woman to leave or to rant at her again as she would usually do after she ran away from the Baron.

"You are an eyesore" the woman sneered instead before turning her heels to leave. Not even hiding the disgust she has for Narrah.

After working in the kitchen, she is walking back to her room when she was startled after a hand grabbed her arm.

"Ahnarrah can we talk?" a gruff voice fanned her ear after she was pinned against the secluded wall.

She turned to stare at Philip's pleading eyes and stared at them calmly.

"Ahnarrah, I'm sorry. I can't do anything" Philip whispered while she remained quiet.

"Please tell me what I can help you with, Ahnarrah" Philip continued when Narrah remained silent, staring deep into his eyes.

"I need no help, Philip" she muttered calmly. Philip intently stared at her and she stared back with the same intensity.

"Your arrogance is still as high as the pedestal you were once at, Ahnarrah" Philip mumbled as he scoffed, but got no reaction from her.

"You are no longer on that pedestal. I am offering you help, be wise enough to accept it" Philip added as he clenched his jaw. The girl is still as brazen as he can remember.

"Believe me, Philip, I am wiser than you think" she smirks arrogantly, making the man grit his teeth. His gaze darkened with anger.

"You will just be a servant of this estate, Ahnarrah. You are no longer the young lady who could be haughty with everyone" Philip smirked as he glared. His words made Narrah's anger boil inside her.

"I will never be a servant to my own kingdom" she muttered coldly, making Philip scoff sarcastically.

"You just did. You are now a servant. Scrubbing the floor and serving the tea are works of the servants. Until when will your maids help you? They cannot do it all the time. Eventually, you will be among them" Philip retorted mockingly.

Narrah huffs as her breathing became heavy from the rage deep inside her. If gaze could kill, Philip would be laying on the floor, lifeless.

"I am just stating the obvious, Ahnarrah. Who do you think you are to defy the duke and duchess? Your arrogance will be stripped away. In no time you will bow to all, including me" Philip gave her a sardonic smile.

"You have no one here but your powerless maids and loyal servants. How far could they help you?" Philip scornfully asked but Narrah remained silent with her boring sharp glare.

"I am offering you help. You can escape this messy situation through me. Charlotte is a dumb girl, I will marry her for her title but you will have my affection. I've been dreaming of your beauty forever, Ahnarrah, but you are just too prim and proper. Not to mention your loyal dogs around you, I can't get a pass on you" Philip muttered huskily as he tried to caress Narrah's cheek which she avoided. Philip grit his teeth seeing how Narrah flinched from his touch.

Philip suddenly cupped her chin, hurting her but she showed no reaction. She stared at the grim look in Philip's eyes.

"Being my mistress is better than scrubbing the floor, my dear Ahnarrah. No one could touch you but me, even the dumb Charlotte could not lay a hand on you. You will have my protection and my affection" Philip gritted as he forcibly made her look at him. His tight grip on Narrah's chin is digging into her sensitive skin.

Narrah meets his sharp gaze with her cold one before she scoffs.

"I don't need your sloppy protection, Philip. You can have Charlotte all you want, I never envy what I am not interested in, in the first place. Save your filthy hands for Charlotte, you deserve each other" Narrah sneered, making Philip's grim look darken from pure rage.

"You still dare to be snobbish despite being powerless. You can't be persuaded by peaceful negotiation, so let's see when you can keep up with your act. You will be mine, Ahnarrah, you will be on my bed, waiting every night to pleasure me, put that in your smart head" Philip smugly muttered.

"Better be dead than be touched by you..." Narrah coldly retorted, making Philip lose his anger.

He grabbed her face and devoured her lips. She was startled but she tried her best to struggle away from his tight grasp. Barely reaching Philip's shoulder and with a slender body, she can't nudge the man away. He is devouring her, forcing his tongue inside her clamped lips.

Philip squeezed her cheek forcibly to open her clamped lips while she was trying to push him away. He succeeded but Narrah continued to struggle.

"Le...t...go..." Narrah can't avoid his attack even with how hard she tried. She can even feel the iron taste of blood in her mouth.

Philip continued with his assault on her body with his crazed look, already mindless of wanting to taste Narrah for the first time.

"What the hell are you doing?!" a voice thundered which made Philip abruptly stop.

Philip's heavy breathing fanned Narrah's cheek while they both remained unmoving. Narrah was so stunned that she abruptly stopped struggling while Philip was pressed against her body. Anyone who could see their position would readily assume their very intimate relationship.

"What are you two doing?!" the duke angrily asked.

Philip straightens and faces the group who are all gaping at them in disbelief.

"Ahnarrah, seduced me, your grace. She is offering herself to be my mistress" Philip unceremoniously announced, making Narrah gape in pure shock.

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