"..."
As I trailed behind the maid, the old wooden floors betrayed me at every step, necessitating me to be extra careful and walk on the worn rugs to muffle the sound at least somewhat.
*eeeeee*
A slow, deliberate pace was necessary. Carelessness would only alert her, and I had no interest in announcing my presence.
(This house has truly fallen into ruin, hasn't it? If I didn't know better, I'd think it had been abandoned for years. Then again, it might as well have been…what a fitting reflection of its occupants)
I thought self-deprecatingly as I observed my "home" which to be honest never really quite felt like a "home" to me.
The manor was rotting.
Not with the dramatic decay of a fire-ravaged ruin or the grotesque filth of true abandonment—no, it was the slow, insidious rot of something once grand losing its purpose. A slow unraveling. A death that no one mourned.
Faded carpets dulled by time, peeling wallpaper that no one bothered to replace, chandeliers left to gather dust instead of light. Even the air was stale, thick with the scent of old wood and lifeless things.
And the ones responsible for its upkeep?
Too busy indulging in their own self-importance and pettiness.
"Haaa~ the brat's becoming harder and harder to keep an eye on…honestly, why couldn't I have gotten a more deserving job for my abilities?"
A dramatic sigh echoed down the hall, coming from the maid I'm tailing.
(Perhaps because you lack the competence to perform even your simple duty? The one you were quite literally paid to do? I don't know...just a thought)
I remained silent, barely containing my urge to snark back at the disrespectful maid, keeping to the edges of the corridor, watching as she strolled ahead with an air of exaggerated exasperation.
Then—
"Haaa~ well whatever, let's see what Bernadetta's up to"
The moment she entered the room, the air shifted.
"Oh Silica? You finished checking up on our charming little burden?"
Voices coiled through the space, thick with amusement, laced with that particular brand of cruelty reserved for those who believe themselves untouchable.
I slowed, stepping lightly to avoid detection, and pressed close to the doorway to look through the keyhole once I'd made sure that I wouldn't be detected.
"..."
And I listened.
"Ever since the little incident, the brat's been acting strangely—well, stranger than usual"
Silica said with an indignant huff.
The very same maid who had oh-so-kindly "checked" on me earlier and also the one I've been tailing.
Her tone carried that insufferable lilt of someone who saw themselves as the true victim of a situation they had no part in. What a nauseatingly disgusting mindset to carry with you always, does she ever get tired of it I wonder?
(Ah yes, forgive me for my inconvenient trauma, how selfish of me...)
I snarked.
"Oh, come now, have a little pity. The poor thing nearly got herself stolen away, and even then, her own father wouldn't so much as give her a call"
Another voice—sweeter, falsely sympathetic—chimed in, it was Bernadetta's voice.
*Thump!*
A beat of my heart went up into my throat.
"Not that I blame him. I'd hardly want to claim that thing as my own, either"
Bernadetta's laughter echoed through the entire room. Muted, knowing.
"Fuu~"
I exhaled slowly.
(And yet here you are, paid to look after me. How "wretched" your lives must be, bound to someone you deem not worthy of your consideration...)
I thought sarcastically deriving a strange sense of satisfaction from their complaining. Before maybe some part of me would be hurt by their words but now? There was something VERY gratifying about me getting on their nerves simply by existing.
"Ha! I know right? Not only is the brat utterly devoid of charm there doesn't seem to be anything close to wit behind her eyes. Hohohoho!"
Silica chuckled as she said.
Their words droned on, spiraling into absurdity, their voices growing eager as they traded gossip like merchants haggling over wares.
"You know...I did hear that her mother was a gypsy wh0re"
A sneer came from Silica.
"Makes sense. It's no wonder the girl is cursed—probably tainted since birth. That kind of filth lingers in the blood, you know"
Bernadetta answered with more laughter. Cruel, giddy.
"..."
I did not react, my body as still as the wall and my mind coldly taking in their words.
(How laughable, I bet you'd do anything in your power to suck up to that "Gypsy wh0re" if she was alive and had money to spare...)
They always spoke of my mother in whispers, as though her mere existence was an affront to them, an embarrassment better left unmentioned—yet one they could not resist using against me.
As if I needed them to remind me of my station in this house.
"Honestly, I pity the Marquis. Imagine being shackled to such a wretched little spawn, all for one youthful mistake"
A scoff came from Bernadetta.
"If he ever tires of his solitude, I'd gladly replace the gypsy broad. I'd wager I could give him far better company than whatever lowborn filth he consorted with back then."
Cruel laughter came from Silica this time. Amused, yet laced with something more.
"Heh..."
(Pfft...sounding a bit desperate there Silica. Don't tell me you're actually JEALOUS of that "gypsy" as you call her?)
I nearly chuckled myself, barely stifling the sound as to not alert the two animated gossipers in the room.
"I agree—people of noble blood should just stick with other people of proper pedigree like us"
Bernadetta let out a sniff of disdain.
"I wouldn't be caught dead with that kind, even if my life depended on it. Also, there's simply something wrong with that girl. Absolutely a product of her dirty blood. This is what happens when nobles mingle with those beneath them. At least you certainly wouldn't produce such a filthy thing would you Silica?"
More agreement came from Bernadetta. More validation.
"Well of course! I'd snuff my child out with a pillow immediately if it EVER came out anything like that brat. Don't compare any child of mine to one who came from such a lowborn womb, it's bad luck"
More of the same mindless drivel.
(How very noble of you, considering the only thing that separates you from them is the accident of your births. As if your lineage alone elevates you beyond mere servitude)
A slow smirk tugged at my lips, though I did not let it reach my eyes.
(You truly believe yourselves untouchable, don't you?)
I tilted my head slightly, peering through the keyhole once more.
Then—
*Sparkle*
A glint of silver.
"Hmm?"
I shifted my gaze toward Silica.
She raised her wrist, adjusting something—
A bracelet.
(Oh?)
It caught the dim light as she turned it, the polished silver glinting against her skin. Delicate engravings. A small gemstone embedded in the clasp.
(Expensive...far beyond a maid's salary)
Those were my only thoughts as I examined it closely, analyzing the details with a cold mind.
And I wasn't the only one who noticed.
"Oho~? And where did that charming little trinket come from?"
A teasing lilt from Bernadetta, though there was an edge to it.
"Heh..."
Silica smirked.
She did not answer immediately.
She merely turned her wrist once more, letting the bracelet shimmer.
"Oh, this? Just a little something I earned."
She was not explaining.
She was boasting.
Enjoying the attention.
"The money was better spent on me, anyway."
She chuckled, the implication was clear.
(You stole it...)
More importantly—
(You stole it from me)
"Fuu~"
I inhaled slowly, exhaling just as quietly. My fingers curled slightly at my sides.
Embezzling.
Now that was interesting.
Neglecting their duties? My father could tolerate that.
Disrespecting me? He could not care less.
But stealing from him?
That was an offense punishable by far more than a dismissal.
(They think they can do as they please…that no one will stop them…that I wouldn't dare)
But they are wrong.
"Heh he...hehehe..."
A slow, measured smile crept onto my lips, curling at the edges like a whisper of malice. Then, a quiet chuckle, barely audible—soft, sinister.
(This is something I can use…something I can leverage)
I had come here simply to observe—to learn the best way to tear them down, to pick apart their weaknesses, their vulnerabilities. But this? This wasn't something I was expecting to find.
This was a gift.
(I didn't expect to find something this useful so soon, a golden opportunity delivered straight into my hands....perhaps my luck is finally beginning to turn)
I turned away from the door, steps light, movements precise. There was no need to linger any longer—
Yet, as I crept away, the conversation continued, their voices trailing after me for a few moments longer.
"Ugh..."
A sharp breath. A quiet shiver.
Silica's shivering.
Her voice, usually laced with smug confidence, now carried the smallest tremor.
"What's wrong?"
Bernadetta's voice—mildly interested but mostly dismissive.
"Huh?...o-oh"
Silica hesitated.
"I...don't know. I just got a chill"
There was a slight quiver in her tone.
"Heh..."
Bernadetta scoffed, the sound dripping with amusement.
"Really? Ha! Maybe it's a curse from being around the wretch too often. Need me to take over for you?"
Bernadetta showed mock concern, thick with laughter as she offered to take over Silica's duty as the main person to "check up" on me, which was Silica's main duty as the head maid.
"Haha..."
Silica forced a chuckle in return, but it was weaker now, lacking her usual arrogance.
"No, no...I wouldn't wish that misery on even you. Haha...heh..."
But the humor didn't quite reach her voice.
"..."
A pause.
"Ughh..."
Something unsettled her.
(Oops. I might have let my ill intent leak out...)
I quickened my steps, slipping deeper into the shadows.
I had only just begun manipulating Mana—barely grasping its intricacies, still fumbling with control—but already, my emotions had started to bleed into the air around me, altering the colorless flow of Mana.
(Strong intent, when left unchecked, can subtly disturb the Mana in the environment...noted)
I thought, learning something new about my abilities.
My emotions had caused a ripple. A shift. A whisper against the senses.
Silica was hardly skilled in the supernatural—she's certainly no master of Mana or Prana. But despite not being anything more special then a common second or third daughter discarded into the servitude of a house with higher standing—she was still raised with the luxuries of a noble which meant that she must've went through the ceremony of awakening like everyone else while she was 12 years old, opening her senses to the supernatural.
Her instincts were dull without training, but not entirely dead, she felt it.
"I'm lucky she's too incompetent to understand what her shivers meant..."
I muttered, sighing in relief after getting far enough away from the room where no one could hear me.
"Still...pretty embarrassing for a noble that's supposedly "above" the common folk"
I snickered at Silica's expense.
Silica and the others had been here for years, and not once had I seen them perform a single feat beyond that of common men.
Not a spell, not a body reinforcement, not even a flicker of energy.
Nothing...
Her family must have decided she was useless—an embarrassment not worth the cost of keeping. And so, they had sold her off to my household.
(No matter how much she looked down on me, at the end of the day she is nothing more than discarded trash herself...)
I smiled, allowing myself a final glance back toward the room where they were in.
"How careless of you, Silica"
My voice was a mere breath of sound, swallowed by the emptiness of the corridor.
But my smirk remained.
(Continue laughing while you can...I'll have the last laugh)
Silica would be the first.
And soon, the rest would follow.
A few hours later, that evening...
"Ok good work everyone...feel free to retire for today"
Silica with an unmotivating voice, thanked the other servants for their work before dismissing them for the day.
They were too few and far between to be maintaining such a large estate with just themselves, that much was clear as I observed hidden in a corner.
"Yes ma'am"
"Aye.."
A few tired voices answered her before they all scattered in various directions.
"Hmm?"
"...!"
I nearly got spotted by a steward, but luckily he didn't see me and just walked away.
The manor was sinking into its usual evening hush, though silence never felt quite as peaceful here as it should. The air held a quiet unease, like something fraying at the edges. The halls emptied quickly in the evening, leaving only dim candlelight flickering against the peeling wallpaper and dust-coated finery.
Most of the household had already begun preparing to retire—what little of it there was. The Marquis, my "esteemed" father never really steps foot into this dreary place, and aside from myself. The handful of maids too insignificant to note had dispersed without so much as a murmur.
All except for one...
"...Ok, they're all gone"
Silica, she was acting strangely.
Fidgeting, shifting glances toward the corridors whenever she thought no one was looking.
She hadn't even bothered to scold the other maids before they left, nor did she drone on about how exhausting it was to oversee everything by herself.
No, tonight she was preoccupied.
(Already planning to spend what you stole I'm guessing? It's almost laughable how easy it is to read you)
I watched her from the shadows, keeping my distance, it was easy to read her like an open book, the slightly nervous but assured body language said it all, this wasn't the first time she's doing what she's about to do.
The moment the last of the lights dimmed and the manor settled into slumber, Silica made her move.
I had already prepared for this.
*Rustle* *Rustle*
Beneath the folds of a modest gray cloak, my attire remained that of a well-dressed young lady—casual, yet unmistakably refined.
A white linen blouse, delicately embroidered at the cuffs, tucked neatly into a navy-blue skirt of fine wool, its pleats falling just above my ankles. Over this, I wore a fitted vest, dark and understated, with silver buttons fastening the front. My boots—practical, yet elegant—were polished leather, designed for both form and function.
Clothes chosen not just for comfort, but for purpose.
This wasn't the lavish, impractical finery people of my social standing expected of a noble girl—no, this was something meant to blend in.
To disappear into the streets without drawing eyes.
The hood of my cloak draped low over my face, casting a shadow that concealed my features as I moved soundlessly through the halls.
But most importantly for today, beneath my cloak, inside a pocket laid a particular tool. My own personalized orbment. A tool that would be useful for today's little "operation" we'll call it...
"Phew~ ok nobody's looking right?..."
Ahead of me, Silica hesitated at the doorway to the servants' quarters, peering left, then right, her fingers gripping the handle just a little too tightly.
"...Fuu~"
She lingered there for a moment, her back pressed against the doorframe, breathing shallow, ears pricked for any sign of life in the manor, I had to hide as she took one last look around to make absolutely sure no one was watching her.
She found nothing...
Then, with a quiet exhale, she muttered to herself.
"The brat's probably asleep at this point...no need to check on her again"
And with that, she moved.
*Eeee*
I watched as she stepped lightly across the floorboards, careful to avoid the creakiest spots—a skill learned from years of sneaking off to do as little actual work as possible. Even so, her nerves betrayed her. Her fingers twitched slightly as she reached for the key tucked into the folds of her apron.
She turned it in the lock with the slow, deliberate caution of a thief, holding her breath when the mechanism gave a faint *click!*.
A pause.
"..."
She listened again, shoulders tensed.
Satisfied that no one had stirred, she eased the door open, slipping through the narrow gap like a stray cat darting into the night.
(How careless...at the very least check if I'm still in my room first before heading out, I even prepared a bed dummy. Haaa~ well I guess I shouldn't expect too much from her)
I scoffed internally.
Neglecting her duty—her one job, to make sure I was if not happy at least functioning in my proper place—all so she could go out and reward herself with the money she stole.
She didn't even bother checking my room. Didn't stop to confirm that I was, in fact, asleep.
(If this is how she's been watching over me all this time, then perhaps my attempted kidnapping wasn't such a surprise after all...)
My thoughts wandered back to that fateful night where I was kidnapped and then subsequently saved by that strange hooded boy.
"..."
Without wasting another moment, I followed.
I moved swiftly, keeping low to the ground as I approached the door she left through, after looking through the keyhole to see that she was far enough away. I put my own key in and turned the lock with a *click!* before slipping past the door, I let the cold air wash over me as I stepped into the night, my cloak blending into the dark as I trailed after her.
*Clop* *Clop*
Silica walked with hurried, determined steps—too fast for a casual evening stroll, too purposeful for simple wandering. She had somewhere to be. Someone to meet.
A secret she thought no one would uncover.
But she was wrong.
"Let's see what my oh so thoughtful caretaker's been doing outside of work shall we?"
I muttered to myself, adjusting the cloak around my shoulders, I stepped further into the shadows—my presence unseen, my footsteps soundless.
And I followed her into the evening light.
Twilight draped over the city of Carnea Darwinia like a royal mantle, streaking the sky in deep violet and ember gold. The city, lively as always, was beginning to wind down as night approached. The scent of freshly baked bread lingered from nearby bakeries, mixing with the distant fragrance of burning incense from noble estates. Carriages clattered over cobblestone streets, vendors called out last-minute bargains, and the well-to-do strolled through the fading daylight, their presence a reminder of the wealth that dripped from Carnea's finest districts.
Carnea Darwinia, much like the flower it's named after was the finest flower in the garden of my father's domain, our most affluent city. Even the poorest person living here could afford to raise their families, for all his failures as a father I had to begrudgingly admit that Marquis Rosewood was a great governor.
"Hmm hmm hmm~"
Silica hummed a happy tune as she moved through the streets like a cat that had just stolen a treat—fast, but not hurried, her posture no longer stiff with caution as she strutted around puffing her chest out.
"..."
I followed at a comfortable distance, my steps light, my presence nothing more than a passing shadow amidst the evening bustle.
She led me to an upscale boutique—"Belrose Jewels & Finery"—a place that stank of polished wood, expensive perfume, and desperation.
(This is the kind of place noblewomen visit when they desperately want to convince people they mattered...what are you up to Silica?)
I thought taking a moment to stare at the storefront from afar, I approached it and ducked down to the side peering into the store from behind the slightly ajar door.
The moment Silica stepped into view, the shopkeeper's face twisted into something between contempt and amusement. He recognized Silica instantly.
"Ah, Lady Silica. What a pleasure to catch you on this fine day. I was beginning to think you'd stay in that decrepit manor to steer clear of me...either that or fled Carnea entirely to avoid your debts"
He said, folding his arms.
"Tch!..."
I didn't miss the way her fingers twitched, or the slight tightening of her jaw before she forced a syrupy sweet smile onto her face.
"How quaint of you to remember"
She said smoothly. Then, with a dramatic flourish, she reached into her pouch and pulled out far more coin than necessary, setting it on the counter like it was nothing.
"Ho?"
The shopkeeper's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that. He thought she'd make excuses, beg for more time, slink away embarrassed—but no.
She was using my family's money. Money she had no right to. Money she had stolen.
"..."
I watched with cold irritation.
"Consider the debt settled"
Silica said, flicking a hand as if brushing away an inconvenience.
"Now, bring me what I ordered."
I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to say something, do something—but I didn't need to. I had something better.
When Silica entered the store I brought out the tool tucked beneath my cloak, hidden from view, it was a small, ornate orbment. A gift from my father, though "gift" was a generous term. It was less a present and more a leash—his way of keeping tabs on me without having to leave the main estate. I resented it. Hated it. But right now, as I quietly activated it the moment she entered the store anticipating that I would be able to get quite a scoop, letting it record every single word, every sneering boast, every stolen coin exchanged…
(For the first time I am glad I have this thing)
I thought grinning like a madman while holding the orbment in a clear angle to record EVERYTHING, I could use as leverage.
"..."
The shopkeeper hadn't moved to fetch Silica's order. He was still staring at the pile of coins she'd tossed onto the counter. Not just silver, not just a handful of gold, but gold in excess—and at the very top, gleaming under the boutique's warm light, a platinum coin.
His fingers twitched. His eyes flicked up to meet hers, calculating.
"My, my…that's quite the sum, Lady Silica. Our lord maybe generous but I don't recall the Rosewood maids being paid quite THIS generously"
He murmured, voice heavy with suspicion.
"Ohohohoho!"
Silica laughed. A sharp, high, condescending sound.
"Oh, please, do you think I'd be satisfied with being a mere maid forever? If I were relying on the pittance they call a salary I'd die of shame in a week"
She scoffed, waving a manicured hand.
"..."
(And so the snake sheds her skin...)
I kept my expression neutral, watching and recording from outside of the store, but inside, I was VERY annoyed.
"Then, if I may ask…where did all this come from?"
The shopkeeper arched a brow, intrigued but cautious.
Silica's lips curled into a smug, self-satisfied smirk, and she leaned in, voice dropping to something conspiratorial, as if this were all a grand joke.
"A bit of clever financial management, of course. As the head maid all the money sent from the main estate of course goes through me first"
She said it with such pride, it almost made my stomach churn.
"You mean you embezzled it...haaa~ quite a dangerous game you're playing madame Silica"
The shopkeeper sighed resignedly, she didn't even try to deny it.
"Oh, don't give me that look"
She huffed at the shopkeeper's widening eyes.
"What, did you think those spoiled Rosewoods would even notice a few missing bags of coin? Hahahaha!"
She let out another laugh, this one dripping with scorn.
"That insipid Marquis hardly pays attention to his finances—he has too many estates, too many investments, too much wealth to keep track of...why would he ever have time to check on the table scraps he sends his rotten daughter?"
I was trying to hold onto my composure, the faint whirring of my orbment barely audible in the back of my mind as it captured every word.
"So what if the mansion is a little less polished?"
Silica continued, gesturing wildly, her voice rising in arrogance.
"So what if the servants are stretched thin? And really, does it matter if the "precious little lady" has to do without a few luxuries?"
Silica tossed her blonde hair back, her laugh ringing through the shop as she basked in her own superiority, completely unaware of the growing unease in the shopkeeper's eyes.
"Oh, please"
She scoffed, waving a hand dismissively.
"The Rosewoods won't even notice. That money was just sitting there, wasted. I'm sure Sophia can manage without a few books, or a new winter coat—she's had worse"
Her voice was thick with disdain as she continued, her words becoming increasingly confident, almost like a secret she was proud to share.
"And honestly, I've got much better use for it"
Silica said, her grin widening as she picked up the platinum coin and twirled it between her fingers.
"You see, I've got plans. Big ones. And they involve the Marquis himself"
She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if revealing something intimate, though she still didn't seem aware of her surroundings.
"Ho? Ambitious are we?"
The shopkeeper indulged her fantasies with a tired roll of his eyes.
"I'm going to make sure he forgets all about his dirty common-blood daughter. If I have to spend every last coin to get him to focus on something better—like me—so be it"
Silica laughed softly to herself, as though relishing the thought of seducing the Marquis away from his family. "I'll make sure he's completely distracted. And what better way to do that than with a bit of extra charm and wealth to sweeten the deal?"
Her eyes sparkled with malicious excitement as she let the coin slip through her fingers, returning it to the pile on the counter.
"This money is going to make me the woman he can't stop thinking about"
She continued, voice full of smug, delusional satisfaction.
"I'll elevate myself, and his mind will be off all the petty nonsense. No more caring about his "daughter" or whatever nonsense he wants to cling to"
She straightened, smiling at the shopkeeper with complete confidence in her plan.
"And that's why I'm here"
She concluded with finality, as if the matter were settled.
"Because if the Rosewoods are too blind to see the worth of this money, I'll use it to make myself the center of his attention"
The shopkeeper was silent, watching her with an increasingly wary expression, but Silica was completely absorbed in her scheme, not sensing the weight of her words—or the recording orbment quietly capturing every bit of her confession just outside the door.
"Now then, bring me my order. I have a future to build."
She said with a dismissive wave.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say…"
The shopkeeper shook his head, but in the end, money was money. He complied, his reluctance outweighed by the weight of the coins on the counter.
*Pip*
"..."
I'd heard enough. I clicked off the recording function of my personalized orbment.
"Haha…thanks for the great material, Silica"
I muttered, unable to hold back a bitter chuckle as I turned away from the shop's door.
*Clop* *Clop* *Clop*
With each step I took away from the boutique, I felt a small surge of triumph. My pace quickened, and there was a new lightness in my stride as I made my way back to the mansion. There was something exhilarating about taking control, about gaining the upper hand for the first time in years.
(What should I do with this recording, I wonder?)
I mused, the weight of it in my pocket a constant reminder of the power I now held.
(It would be easy to ruin Silica's life. One press of a button, and this could be sent straight to Father. But…that's too easy. Not to mention too short sighted...)
I frowned, turning the orbment over in my hand.
(Even if Silica was gone, Father would just find another fool to replace her. I can't count on him changing. The next one could be just as bad, if not worse. No, I need to think bigger...)
"Phew~"
I took a slow breath, letting the thought simmer in my mind. And then, as I walked toward the mansion's gates, an idea began to take shape, creeping in like an ambusher in the grass.
(What I need now…is a pawn)
The thought struck me like a sudden burst of clarity.
(Nobody in my own manor is on my side. But if I had someone I could control, someone to do my bidding, that would be a definite improvement. At least then I'd have an asset, someone who could help me change things from the inside)
"Heh..."
A small, satisfied smile tugged at my lips as I considered the possibilities. I could finally start to turn the tables, make sure that the next time Silica tried to make her move, it would be on my terms.
(I could blackmail her...)
The idea was simple, but effective. A sharp tool in my arsenal.
I allowed myself a brief moment of satisfaction before turning my thoughts to the finer details.
(Now… how should I go about putting this snake under my thumb?)
I paused, considering the situation, my mind already spinning with options and tactics. This would require finesse. This would be my first real move, and I needed it to count.
"Hehe I think I have a great idea..."
I muttered to myself before sneaking back inside the mansion.
The mansion was quiet, the kind of silence that only comes with the late hour of night. I had everything set. The orbment was tucked safely in my pocket, and I was ready. With each passing minute, the anticipation grew. Silica would be back soon. And when she did, I would have everything I needed to take control.
The clock on the wall ticked steadily, and just when the stillness began to feel suffocating, I heard the faint click of the backdoor. Silica was home. I couldn't help but smile as I waited patiently in the shadows of the stairwell.
*Click!**Eeeeee*
The door creaked open, and I knew that Silica was trying her best to slip in unnoticed. Her footsteps were soft on the wooden floor, but even they couldn't hide the unease in her step. She had no idea I was waiting for her. She thought I was asleep.
I didn't bother to conceal the recording. Instead, I let the sound of her own voice fill the room.
"So what if the servants are stretched thin? And really, does it matter if the "precious little lady" has to do without a few luxuries?"
"What the-?!"
I heard her pause. Her breath hitched, and then came the unmistakable sound of her turning sharply toward the stairs. For a brief moment, there was nothing but the sound of her shallow breathing.
"I'm going to make sure he forgets all about his dirty common-blood daughter. If I have to spend every last coin to get him to focus on something better—like me—so be it"
Her feet shuffled nervously as she tried to process what she was hearing, but she didn't yet know where it was coming from.
"Where is that coming from?!"
She took a hesitant step forward, eyes scanning the lobby, looking for the source of the voice, before her eyes caught the sight of me standing on the stairs holding the orbment up high.
And then, I spoke, calmly, deliberately.
"Surprised, Silica?"
She froze mid-step. Her wide eyes slowly turned toward the stairs, panic creeping into her features. She couldn't quite place me. I could see it in her eyes—she was trying to figure out how I was there, how I had the recording. And then it clicked, just as I knew it would.
"What the hell is this? Yo- did you follow me?!"
She demanded, trying to sound confident, but her voice cracked slightly as she glanced around. She had no idea what was coming next, and the uncertainty was eating at her.
I didn't answer right away. I let her stew in it for a moment longer.
"Quite bold of you Silica...my father tolerates a lot of things, I would know. But embezzlement? Tsk tsk..."
Her expression twisted for a moment, and I could see her calculating her next move. But she wasn't as composed as she liked to pretend.
"That doesn't matter"
She shot back with a sneer, her arrogance flaring up like a flame she tried to hold steady.
"The Marquis won't care. He doesn't give a rat's a$$ about you, you think this recording will mean anything to him? The money I took was table scraps to him"
My voice was unwavering as I cut through her attempt at mockery.
"If that's the case...you wouldn't mind if I sent this to him, would you? I'm sure he would love to hear just how much you've been helping yourself to his "table scraps" as you call it"
I said smugly smirking.
"Why yo-!"
Her face went pale. I saw it—the fear crept in, but she tried to force it down, her eyes flickering to the door as if to flee.
Silica shifted her weight, her hands clenching into fists as she took a step toward the stairs.
"Enough of this! Give it to me! This childishness will only hurt you!"
But I wasn't done. She needed to understand who held the power now.
*Click!* *Fwoosh!*
"..."
I raised my hand, letting a soft blue flame flicker to life in my palm. It wasn't much, just a small candle-like flame, but it was enough to send a shockwave through her.
Her eyes widened. The color drained from her face as she stumbled back, nearly tripping over her own feet.
"You—"
She gasped, her voice failing her for a moment.
"You can't—children under 12 can't use magic! What is this?!"
I watched her sweat as her face twisted in panic. The small flame in my hand danced, flickering softly, but it was all I needed.
I let the sarcasm roll off my tongue like honey.
"You said it yourself, Silica. My mother is a cursed gypsy, remember?"
The moment the words left my mouth, I could see it—the shift in Silica. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She was lost.
"Guh!"
She took another step back, her knees buckling beneath her.
(Well I can't exactly do much more than call up a small torch right now...but worst case scenario I'll scream for help)
I thought to myself calming my fraying nerves while putting on a brave front.
"Please...please don't—I-I'll do anything!"
She whispered, her voice breaking as she fell to her knees.
The power I felt was intoxicating. For the first time, I wasn't the helpless child. I was the one in control. And I took a moment to relish in it, letting her despair wash over me like a tide.
"Listen closely slave..."
I said coldly, my words carrying the weight of someone who knew exactly what they wanted.
"From now on, you will do exactly as I say. If you so much as look at something without my permission, I'll ruin your life. If you breathe the wrong way, I will make you regret it"
She was on the ground now, trembling, her hands pressing against the floor as she pleaded.
"Please—please, I—I won't do anything wrong again! Just don't—"
I looked down at her with disgust. I didn't need to listen to her pathetic begging anymore. This was it.
"Good, now get up. Go prepare me a midnight snack and bring it to my room. And don't make me wait"
I said, my voice icy and unforgiving.
"Hu-huh? A snack at this hou-? HEEEK! Yes milady!"
She hesitated for a moment, still trembling on the ground, but one look from me—one sharp, unforgiving look—and she scrambled to her feet. She practically ran out of the room, desperate to please me, to avoid further punishment.
"Heh..."
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as I watched her scurry away. I had control. She was mine to command.
"Hmmm hmm hmm~"
I made my way up to my room, humming a tune to myself as I went. I couldn't stop smiling. This was just the beginning. And I was going to enjoy every moment of it.