The ointment concocted by the court physician was extremely healing, and after only one day I could not see a single scar on my face. But my heart still ached vaguely, and I shut myself up in my room, refusing to take a step outside. I was afraid to face all the people in the court, and I did not want to see their strange eyes. Sometimes I wonder if rumors of my fornication are already circulating, if even the servants are discussing it in private. Am I now branded a slut in everyone's eyes! The more I think of it, the more I am disturbed, and the more I am frightened! For the first time, I felt so close to death. All my pride and self-conceit gave way to fear. Turns out I was not so brave as I thought, I chickened out, I shrank into my shell like a turtle and pretended not to hear anything! I know I am making a fool of myself, but it is the best I can do. The fear that King Nick had given me had taken its toll on my psyche! I hate him, but I hate myself even more! Because I chose o

Lola led the way to the castle gates, where a gleaming golden chariot was drawn up in front, and on either side of it a dozen soldiers in black armour stood in a line. The duchess, who was sitting in the carriage, with a veil of black lace over her face, gave me a slight nod when she saw me through the window. I was lifted into the carriage by Lola, and Catherland sat across from me. She whispered to the footman standing by the carriage, "Let's go!" "Where are we going?" The carriage moved slowly, with the clatter of hoofs on the floor. I glanced round the window as the carriage picked up speed and the view flashed before my eyes. A sense of uneasiness came over me, and I looked at Catherland. Beneath her black veil she seemed remarkably calm. Her violet eyes stared back at me as if she had something on her mind. "We're going to Rose!" There was resignation in Catherland's voice, "That's Princess Madeleine's estate!" "So we're going to meet Princess Madeleine?" I frowned, "Why?"

It was at this point that I realised that I was actually being played by Cuthland. You can imagine how mad Madeline must be now that she has left me like this, especially after what she said to Madeline just now. I am here to be Madeleine's punching bag. I was to be Madeleine's slave for the next three days, and whatever torture I was about to face I could not refuse. For the safety of my family was in the hands of Catherland. She took me by the throat and choked me, and I had to comply! "Fear not lamb!" Madeleine's fingers gently stroked the strands of hair that hung from my forehead as she told me in a sweet, cruel voice, "I won't kill you!" My lips trembled uncontrollably, and Madeline's penetrating gaze went to my heart; she could sense my fear and uneasiness. It made her feel even more smug. Perhaps she was already plotting how to abuse me. I was like a lamb waiting to be butchered, facing the fear of the unknown. What would she have done to me? Bring a pan of hot water to t

Maddy's face almost contorted as she saw me still in my tattered maid's dress. Mandy pushed a tray of grapes into my hand in resignation and urged, "Get in there!" With that she opened the door to the banqueting-room, and I felt a sharp shove in my back. The door closed noiselessly. I stepped into the dimly lighted, perfumed hall. It was a small banqueting hall, in the centre of which were draped curtains of gauze, behind which topless men and women were fondling each other's bodies to the soft music of ambiguous music. Accustomed by this time to Madeleine's habitual debauchery, I quietly laid the grapes on the table as if I had not noticed them, and quietly searched for a place of concealment for a moment. "Lamb!" Madeline's melodious voice dripped with a vague magnetism as she ran a hand through the layers of gauze until her red forefinger pointed directly in my direction. "To come over!" Her beautiful yellow eyes stared back at me from behind the veil like prey. I turned and

He saw Leon rush into the room and seize Madeline by the wrist, and when he saw my bruised body on the table, Leon flung Madeline to one side in anger. The old maid, Mandy, who had followed, quickly dropped her lantern and ran to Madeline's side to tend her master. "Emily, are you okay?" Leon picked me up as he looked me up and down, "Tell me who hurt you!" "It's Madeleine!" I said weakly and held up the letter, "She's the one who spread the rumors about Jack and me!" "You?" Leon set me down, his purple eyes suddenly full of murder. "Don't you dare touch my men!" "You read my letter?" Madeleine screamed, still staring defiantly at Leon, "Don't you dare kill me, you'd better think about the consequences for a lowly commoner!" Leon sneers and walks over to Madeleine, "I kill without thinking about the consequences!" Before Madeline could react, Leon's hands were around her neck, holding her up against the wall and lifting her into the air, while Madeline flailed with her hands b