Year 1853
Thea's neck was sting and sore when the dirty water touched her wound.
Adel's eyes widened. After pushed and splashed her with water, she immediately threw the bucket in her hand. She seemed to have just realized what she had done.
"My hand slip accidentally! I didn't do it on purpose," she said, panicked. "You know too, don't you, Rose?" she was trying to justify herself when she saw a truly terrifying sight. Then Adel ran away from the place.
"Adeeellll !!! Where are you going?" Rose cursed. She turned to Thea "A- are you okay?"
"AAAAAAkkhhh! Help me! Aaaaaa, it hurts! Help me! " Thea was crying. She opened and clenched her fists, not daring to touch her neck. "Call someone. Anyone! Help me! "
Rose still stood dazed. She ran looking for someone, when she saw Miss Yerez not far from where she was standing, she shouted.
"Miss Yereeezzz !!!"
"Why are you running, Rose? A woman can't–!"
"You must immediately follow me, Miss! The new kid was injured. Hurry!"
Rose ran ahead. Miss Yerez was forced to raise her skirt a little while in pursuit, and when the two of them reached the end of the corridor, Thea was already motionless.
***
Jane reluctantly lent her the newly sewn clothes. An unpleasant aroma mixed with the smell of medicine filled the room. She looked at the girl opposite her in disgust and concern.
Thea took the clothes that Jane put on the bed, then headed for the bathroom. She slowly cleaned herself. Fortunately Miss Yerez immediately called the doctor. Thea did not know what would have happened had she lay there alone.
The pain was so immeasurable that it made her faint.
Thea walked straight into the back garden. Once finished the changed, she did not return to the room. While she was there, out of the corner of her eye, Thea caught Jane's attitude, who kept on snorting and covering her nose. It seemed that her presence was very unwelcome.
She sat by the pond. The pain and heat of the wound were not as bad as before, but her irritation and anger did not go away. She picked up a small stone and throws it. She'd never been taught to swear at anyone, but this time, as if naturally, Thea was cursing her with every kind of bad words she'd ever heard in secret. When the maids or servants and guards argued without them knowing Thea was hiding not far from them.
Whenever Thea passed the childrens, they always whispered and gossiped openly at her. The children talked about it all week. Miss Yerez began to look at her with strange looks. It was as if the gossip Adel had spread was true.
"Never mind, don't bother with them. Your ears will burn if you keep listening to that nonsense," Xander said one time.
Thea shrugged. She looked at Xander curiously several times. "Why are you so nice to me?" Thea asked him once.
At that time, Xander laughed. "I don't know, there's no particular reason to be friends, right?" he replied casually.
Come to think of it, only Xander was willing to befriend with her. The other children never stood less than five steps near her. After what Adel done to her, Thea didn't care about them anymore.
"Hey, Xander! Don't come near her! She can kill you," A boy shouted not far from them. Thea ignored him. She was stared at and treated like that too often.
"Come to the pond. We better go fishing," Xander said, avoiding them.
Thea realized that the more Xander was with her, the more shunned he was from the other children.
"Are you sure it's okay?" Thea asked.
"What?" Xander was holding his fishing rod.
"They are starting to stay away from you."
"Leave it alone. Don't mind me. Are you alone? Is your wound okay?" his chin pointed at her neck.
Thea nodded. "It's still recovering."
"Good. Nahh, let's have a match! Who gets the least fish, must take over the work from Miss Yerez. Agree?"
Thea nodded again. "Agree!"
… And Thea didn't get a single fish. She was forced to take over all of Xander's duties that day. Even though she lost, Thea was happy. This was the first time she had felt happy since arriving here. She did all his duties without exception, but halfway through, Xander couldn't bear it and stepped in to do his own thing.
"You lost, but you look happy," he said.
"Am I?" Thea didn't replied. Occasionaly, he could hear her humming.
"You are weird."
"You are the weird one."
"Why me?"
"Why are you so nice to the weird me?" Thea asked.
Sometimes, she talked like an adults and it made Xander confused. "Nice? I don't think so. I just did what I thought it should be done."
Thea glanced at Xander. She felt a kindness she had not felt since leaving her majestic house. They talked about anything not in particular and completed all the tasks without exception. Thea, with a full smile, returned to her room. Today wasn't so bad, for her.
"Are you dating Alexander?"
Thea spun around. She saw almost nothing in the dark. The room lights were off when she entered, but Thea could still recognize Jane's voice.
"What?"
"Are you dating Alexander?" Jane repeated her question.
Thea was surprised. Jane has never cared about her so far and suddenly she asked about Xander. Thea got into bed. She did not feel obligated to say no.
"Are you deaf?" she hissed.
Thea deafened her ears. But she could still hear Jane stomping and coming out of the room.
She was far asleep when she heard a commotion outside.
Year 1863 The commotion around her suddenly disappeared when Kay left her. Oh come on! Thea didn't want to be left alone with this strange looking man. "So you are Kyle's cousin?" Thea furrowed her brows. Didn't Kay tell you that earlier? "Yes," Thea still replied politely. After all, she was here on behalf of Thea Wilkess, the distant relative of the Earl. At least, Thea had to behave without embarrassing Blake or Kyle. Rupert led her aside. Thea followed him reluctantly. Her body straightened. Thea's neck even stiffened. The summer afternoon wind could not ease her restlessness. Several people began to look curiously as soon as they arrived at a table full of pastries. With her keen hearing, Thea could hear the people whispered about her. "For you, my lady," Rupert raised a glass of white wine and handed it to Thea. "Thank you." Thea immediately took a sip of her drin
Year 1853Thea's thin body jerked.In the quiet night, something happened.Suddenly, something or someone pulled the blanket violently. She couldn't see well as she turned off the light before going to sleep. Her body was dragged off the bed. Thea tried to rebel. But she couldn't fight many people. She was dragged and paraded out of the room."What is this? Let me go!" Thea struggled."SHUT UP!" They didn't expect Thea to fight.She managed to escape from their grip.Thea turned her head in a panic and crawled to save herself. She had no idea what happened. Her instincts told her to run, so she did. But there were five or six people blocking the way and grabbed her back. They kept dragging her like a trash to the backyard."Let me go! What do you want? "They threw Thea on the ground. She tried to stand up. The bigger boy pushed her shoulders down."You witch! Killer!""Shut up!""Don't pret
Year 1863 "Are you all right, Miss?" A man looked at her worriedly. Thea shook her head. "No. I am fine. Thank you." Thea welcomed the man's helping hand politely. "Do you want me to take you somewhere? Somehow you look lost." Thea was silent. Her brain still trying to digest what she heard earlier. Is it possible the talk earlier...all about her? "You are very beautiful, Miss." Thea was stunned. "Erm, I'm sorry if I'm being rude. You seem unwell, but I really want to say it, " the man bowed slightly, feeling guilty. Thea smiled awkwardly. "Thank you." Aware of the discomfort of the woman in front of him, he let go of her grip, bowed and bid farewell. Thea tried to shake her thought. She walked without paying attention to her front when a man appeared around the corner, making herself startled. "Oh! I'm sorry, young lady..." Thea suddenly got her
Year 1853Thea's breathing echoed in the silent room.The two of them fell silent when Xander, who returned from taking the first aid kit, stared at the bloodstained stone that Thea had thrown."I didn't do it! I swear!" she said with wide eyes. She really didn't do that. Who would have thought that her foot touched something liked evidence of Jane's attack.Xander looked at the stone on the floor. He sighed and then told Thea to come closer."Sit here. I will treat your wound first."Thea obediently sat beside Xander, who immediately did his job."Is the wound really worse? I mean, Jane?" she asked, hesitantly.Xander muttered. He was sure Thea didn't do the evil deed even though he didn't know how to explain it. It happened so fast. Someone sneaked into the orphanage and Jane happens to run into the culprit. Thea, who was in her room couldn't possibly know what had happened.The other kids only took their ange
Year 1863Thea peeked out from under her blanket."Kay?""What?"Thea turned around, her head slightly raised. She observed the man who so-called cousin who sit beside her."Let's talk until I fall asleep," she pleaded. She choose to keep talking to distract herself from unnecessary things."Do you want me to sing a lullabies?" Kay asked.They used to tell stories before bed or chat about everything. He also sang her lullabies. Sadly, that had not happened since he was busy at the hospital. They didn't know how much they have lost their life stories about each other.Thea muttered. "No. How about you tell me about your long list date?"Kay stared at her in surprise."Why do you suddenly ask me that?""I'm just curious. Your friend –that white shirt man– said you are quite popular among women."Thea had never been to a party and heard about it in person, but as soon as the party w
Year 1853Some kid tried to cheat her when doing their chores. They always make Thea finished anything for them.Now when she sleeps, Thea locked her bedroom door tightly. Either she had privileges or the other children kept her away, she occupied the room alone.Jane asked the Sister to move her to another room. Even though her condition improved, Thea couldn't get any worse. The kids who bullied her always came back when Xander wasn't around.But Xander couldn't stop them all the time, like now."Oh, Witch! Do you have anything to burn today?" Ben came in while Thea was on duty in the kitchen.The other children stood guard at the door, monitoring the situation if Sisters or Miss Yerez came."Just go!" Thea returned to mopping without giving him any attention.Ben kicked the bucket and spilled its contents, startled her."Get lost, Ben!""Ha! How dare you say my name. So what? Are you going to curse me
Year 1863Thea pretended to sleep. She was still awake when Kay left her room. She couldn't sleep at all. The conversation between the two man before was still looming in her head.Something had happened, and she didn't know what it was. Without thinking, she took her coat and sneak out. London in the middle of the night is a good time to make a move. Thea rushed towards Mister Mild's residence. Maybe she could find something there.Mr. Mild's house was getting dusty after being left by its owner. Thea picked up the candle on the table. She had to light a candle because she didn't know what to look for. She returned to the study room, where Thea had last seen the old man.Thea started checking all over the place.On the desk, in the jar, behind the painting, in the drawer, one by one. Thea did it slowly and to no avail. Nothing important. Thea shifted to the desk drawer. Her hands fumbled in every part of the drawer. Just found a pile of u
Year 1853In this small world. Thea felt alone.She woke up, ate the hard bread, worked like a slave and went back to sleep. There's nothing better than this lousy routine.Maybe she should be grateful to be able to live with all this suck. But this suck-thing seemed to be a shackle that would not be broken in a long time.Perhaps, no one knew what it was like to be a noble who fell from her position.No one serves her anymore.Instead, it was her who served and carried out the others works as a form of isolation from the people around her.Her brain was trying to accept all of this. But her little heart rebelled.She wanted to burn them all, as they had accused her of. Thea wasn't a little angel who didn't hold a grudge for their treatment.They avoided her openly like the plague.Only Xander didn't care about it all.Thea thought of him as an angel that God sent to comfort her. The boy did nothin