Chapter Three.

Sorah’s POV.

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I kick the torturous heels off my aching feet once I get in, not caring whatever direction in the dimly lit living room they fly to, and I scamper towards the kitchen.

Along my gait, I notice something in the dim place and stop to squint my eyes to see a distinct dark mass occupying a spot on the rug in the living room.

Oh, it’s just Upma. It can only be him anyway, no one else enters here.

I continue to the kitchen where it’s a little brighter from the light of the moon outside that filters in through the open white curtains. I have to manage the poor lighting to search for the herbs and find them alongside the fresh blueberries on the counter close to the back door.

I must’ve dropped them when Mei had dragged me off to go get ready for dinner earlier. I quickly pick the roots up and beat around the top cupboards to find the plastic bowls, but my dress is restricting my movements and the discomfort makes me bump into things.

“Ow,” I accidentally hit my temple against the edge of the cupboard where I find the bowls to fill them halfway with water.

Wincing, I rub the spot tenderly and set the stack on the counter and close to the sink.

I’m filling up my second bowl when I hear heavy trudging footsteps and I freeze. My fingers hover above the bowl with running water overflowing as I gulp with fear.

No one is supposed to be in here. Or is the figure I saw in the living room not Upma but something else?

“W-who’s there?”

My body whips around on impulse, my fingers clutching tightly onto the protruded edge of the countertop while I regard the shadowy tall figure in the doorway of my kitchen. My chest is already palpitating and tremors are spurring around my body.

I wait with alarming tension, running a horde of options on what to do as I keep my eyes keen on the shady figure that begins to stir and proceed forward.

What hits me first is the pungent smell of the wine being served around dinner, and my face scrunches as the hard soles of shoes scrap the tiles of the kitchen.

“S-Stella?” A hoarse voice croaks in drunk vocals. “You were taking so long...so I had to...”

Oh no...what’s he doing in here? How did he know to come here?

The moonlight casts a slant across the face of the figure and I make it out instantly to be none other than Eliot’s. I frown effusively and he sways forward, entering further.

Wasn’t he Stella before? I saw them leave the hall together. Why is she not with him?

“I-I’m not Stella...”

My voice is timider than intended and he halts, about to stagger forward when he promptly gains control and stands still. His face scrunches, and I can see his blue eyes looking hazy and depicting his confusion.

This leaves me wondering how much he’s had to drink to get him this unstable.

“Oh...I’m sorry- Then you are?” He slurs his words, looking at me with squinty curious eyes while scratching the back of his neck.

Why does he want to know that?

Ah, this means no one mentioned me, so he has no idea who I am yet. How convenient. I free half of my tension and straighten. Averting my gaze, I turn back to face the counter and turn off the tap.

“I’m a domestic worker here”

Right, how do I explain the exquisite dress I'm wearing?

Even saying those out like that makes me nervous. The only men I’ve had to speak to are the males in my family and a few male workers at the mansion. And even then, I can never shake off this meekness. It’s deeply ingrained in me and won’t go away no matter how hard I try.

Maybe it’s because men scare me. My father and my older brothers are not kind to me, so I’ve grown to learn how to fear all men thanks to their unfriendly dispositions.

So right now, I’m even more anxious than normal because of the unpleasant identity of the man behind me.

I hear the trudge of soles in approach and stiffen reflexively to hear a voice speak right behind me. “You’re not a domestic worker here...I know who you are. The outcasted daughter of the Strauneuffs, isn’t it?”

A cold chuckle forces the hairs on my neck to stand erect so painfully that I wince and shudder, crumpling into myself as the bowl slips out of my hands and splashes water upward to wet me. I’m unable to feel the stings from the wetness as crippling fear starts to curl up my spine.

“Contrary to what you expect, people are dead curious about that fractured little girl hiding in the old cottage of the Strauneuffs...” His voice comes as a deadly poison, aiming to destroy my soul as I shiver and tears prick my eyes.

“...and I’m here to adjust those rumors and expose your identity to the rest of the world” His voice tones down to a dreary whisper that brushes my ears and scares my soul.

With hot tears scalding down my face, I act on impulse, driven by emotions, and make a swift turn to deny those unjust clams.

“I’m not broken- Ah!”

Swiftly, a large hand clamps down my mouth and Eliot shoves me against the counter with his body. I wince from the impact and shudder with fear when I feel him pressing intimately against me. My quivering eyes elevate to meet his wild and sure ones.

W-what is he doing? He’s not drunk, right? I mean...he’s aware I’m not his fiancée, right? So why is he looking at me with those corrupt orbs?

“When I do take a closer look,” Eliot dips his head lower to inspect my face and I fidget to get away from him who smirks, “You’re way more beautiful than that ugly sister of yours”.

How dare he say such a thing about my sister- About his fiancée?!

“Had I known you were this much of an allure, I wouldn’t have settled for that leftover” He grimly brings his face closer to mine, rancid hot breath fanning against my face as I squirm in my desperate need to get away.

He only mocks my feeble attempts with his roar of laughter and a cold shudder rakes down my spine when his other hand begins to feel my thigh through my dress.

I break into cold sweat and instant panic, squirming and defiantly hurling my body to push him away. But it appears I’m pushing in vain and he rips his hand off my face to clap the back of my neck and jerk my head up.

An involuntary gasp breaks out my lips and soon after, I feel the tip of his nose tracing over the tender skin of my neck.

Haa...no, someone...anyone...help me!

“Eliot! Eliot, where are you?”

The wave of relief that washes down my being is tremendous that it rattles my legs and quells the turmoil in my chest.

That’s Stella’s voice, she’s right outside the cottage. Eliot’s invasion is brought to a stop and he growls deeply with disapproval.

“Eliot!” Her call rings again and Eliot detaches himself reluctantly from me, leaving me to fall back and catch myself by my frisk hands clutching the edge of the counter.

“I’ll leave for now” I hear him state in promise and my limbs rattle from the invasive fear still raiding my being.

“But I’ll be back for you”.

The moment he crosses the threshold and his ominous presence vacates the cottage, my knees give in and I collapse into a shivering mess on the cold floor. With trembling fingers sliding off the counter along my fall, my tears surge down my face in unappeasable torrents.

I bury my face against the door of a cupboard, shoulders shaking like they’re going to snap, and sobs choking me.

I feel...afraid.

That man scares me to my jittering bones. I don’t wish to ever be near him again. Please….

“My lady!”

I receive a startle from the familiar shrill call, and I only cower into myself as I listen to Mei’s racing feet and she comes to kneel next to me. With frantic hands pulling me away from the cabinet door, “Oh my word! What happened to you, My lady?”

“I saw Sir Eliot leaving this place just now, did he do anything to you? My lady?”

“Mei...please take me to my bedroom”

I have Mei prepare a warm bath for me and I tell her to excuse me so I can be alone as I slide into the tub. A rumbling blast of thunder explodes just then, causing a blinding flash to splash over the bathroom momentarily.

I hiss, gripping the edge of the tub and carefully immersing my body in the soothing warmth.

I can still feel him...staring down my body, the ugly sensations I felt that time begins to stir across my skin. His touches were rough and unpleasant. I feel like worms are crawling over my skin.

It’s so filthy.

I snap at once, looking up and darting forward to grab my sponge and soap and begin to scrub my skin with gritting teeth and tear-bubbling eyes.

I scrub my skin while sobbing quietly as the heavy rain unleashes outside, as if mourning with me. By the time I step out, Mei is quick to pull me into her arms and I appreciate her show of comfort as she leads me to my bed.

“I hope you’re able to have a fine night, My lady. I informed the Mistress you suddenly felt ill and needed to take rest. Thank goodness it’s raining as well, you won’t be summoned”

I say nothing to what Mei says despite how assured and thankful I feel. It’s been a frightening evening for me, and I’ll love to just cast it all away to being a nightmare as I fall asleep. I don’t even know when I fall asleep or when Mei leaves for her room next to mine.

Next I’m waking, it’s to the soothing scent of coffee beans wafting richly into my nostrils and tickling me out of bed. I see Mei setting a saucer and steaming cup of coffee on the bedside table and as I stretch a weak hand to get it, I notice the unhappy look on her face and stop my advancement.

“Mei,” I call questionably, “Is something wrong?”

She hesitates, not inclining to tell, but soon gives in as she responds bitterly, “Sir Eliot proposed to have lunch today, and insists you attend”.

Can my day get any worse?

Thanks to Eliot’s invite to lunch, I keep a ruminative mood all morning as I carry out my tasks of sneaking out into the woods with Upma to search for herbs and returning to the cottage to process them into useful medicines.

I take my muddied shoes off and step into the kitchen through the back door, only to stop at the sight of someone scrutinizing my kitchen with scorn on her face.

Stella?

I halt in my steps, sheer shock displaying on my face as she averts her gaze and sees me. The scorn on her face worsens and she turns her body fully to face me. Impulsively, I hide my stuff behind me.

In two long strides, she’s closing the gap between us and scrutinizing me from the muddied hem of my skirt to the messy curls of my hair draping down my back.

With her lips in a twist, she sighs aside and says with distaste, “It would’ve been satisfying for everyone if you could sit this one out. But since it’s to uphold the good image of the family, you have no excuses to miss lunch”.

That’s all she says to me before she swirls and stomps out of the cottage, leaving me blankly staring after her.

I guess this is goodbye to fabricating a lie to sit out.

I hasten to my bedroom after putting my tools and herbal plants away and meet Mei already holding up a dress for the afternoon.

Mei has to help the other workers to put things in order, so I stroll through the lush parterre to get to the mansion while festering in a mulling mood. I’m still dragging my feet when suddenly something darts out from behind me and wounds tightly around my loin, lifting me off my feet.

“Gotcha”