"Girl! Girl! Can't you hear me!" The duchess looked at me with a quizzical brow.

"Yes, madam." I took the leather-bound book resting on the desk and placed it on the duchess' waiting hand.

"God, one would think you're going deaf." She adjusted her position on the couch and took a sip of her tea. "Leave. I'll call for you when I need you again." She dismissed me with a wave of her hand.

In fear that she would change her mind I hurried to the door and bolted down the hallway. My shoes skidded on the polished granite floor as I turned the corner and burst through the dining hall doors. "My God, please give me patience."

"You're going to need more than patience to deal with her." Said Mari while she polished the dining table.

My lips twisted into a grimace. "I know." 

"At least she hasn't thrown anything at you today." She moved a chair back and started polishing the armrests.

Sauntering over, I sat on the chair and batted my lashes with a teasing smile. "Thank you. I needed to take a break." 

She put her hands on her hips and huffed. "But I will." 

An overtly dramatic yelp escaped my lips when her dirty rag slapped me in the face. "I love you too." With a pout, I started to polish the rest of the chairs. "The noble ladies are coming by today, and you know what that means."

"Yes, we finally will have some spare time." She wiped her hands on her apron and placed the floral centerpieces back on the table.

After skittering into the kitchen when the noble ladies arrived, I peeked a couple of times to see who came to the gathering. Some of the faces I recognized from when I was a child.

Some thirteen years ago. A group of noble ladies stumbled into me in the hallway.

"And who is this young lady?" A blonde woman with a sweet smile asks a six-year-old me.

"What's your name? Are you visiting the duchess?" Another adds.

"Lehylany," I respond, clutching the fabric of my skirt.

"Oh, how cute." A brunette says with a smile.

"Ladies!" The duchess calls as she rushes towards the group of women. "I apologize for my tardiness." Her eyes fall on me. "I see you have met Lehylany." A smile creeps across her face, but it does not reach her eyes.

"Yes, is she one of your family members?" The blonde woman asks.

"No, she is the daughter of one of the kitchen staff. She must be lost." She grabs my arm. Her nails digging into my skin. "I'll take her to her mother. Please, go into the dining area. I'll be with you shortly." She drags me to the kitchen and pushes me into a chair.

"My mama is here?" 

"Oh shush! How many times have I told you not to go outside? To stay in your room, hm?" She frowns. "Mari!"

"Yes, madam." A young Mari responds.

"Didn't I tell you to watch her? You have been in charge of her since she was a babe, and you still can't take care of her!"

"I'm sorry, madam. It won't happen again."

"It better not!" She pushes my head with her finger and walks out of the kitchen as I start crying.

I'm jolted out of my memories by a hand, shaking my shoulder. "We've got to go now if we want to have some time to ourselves without that crone breathing down our necks." Marie folded her apron and placed it on a table.

"Yes." My apron landed in a heap at the side of Marie's neatly tucked one, and I hurried out the door. "I'm planning to go back to our room. I need some well-needed rest."

"Ok, well, I'm going to take a stroll in the gardens." She took off in the opposite direction.

Making sure to lock the door behind me as soon as I got into our room. I took out some pieces of paper, a quill, and ink from a drawer and prepared the small table in the corner of the room as my makeshift desk. 

Under my mattress were some old sheets of paper with the twenty-six letters of the alphabet written in Mari's neat handwriting. It's all I had left from the time she was teaching me to read and write some years ago.

When the duchess found out about our study sessions. She was furious, well, more than furious she was livid. She threatened to throw Mari out if she didn't stop. We did not try again after that, and the only thing Mari was willing to do from then on was read to me. Following that incident. I took it upon myself to learn to read and write in secret.

As I clumsily moved the quill on the paper. I hoped that one day, I could take a book in my hands and decipher the shapes and figures that hold the key to endless knowledge.

⚜⚜⚜

I squinted my eyes and raised my hand to shade my face. A wooden carriage was approaching. 

That morning the duchess announced that Duke Adelysia was returning to the estate. So following her orders, the servants waited at the manor entrance to greet him.

My jaw clenched, and through gritted teeth, I grumbled, "Why can't we just wait inside and come out when he is actually here?" 

"Shush!" Mari uttered.

"But what are we trying to do? Apart from getting a bad sunburn, he's like two miles away."

"Stop complaining. You know it's tradition."

After several sweltering hot minutes, the carriage pulled up to the mansion. An overweight, stern-looking man climbed out with a scowl on his face. He chided the driver for being too slow for his liking, and without sparing a glance towards the servants, he walked into the house.

When he was out of sight, I turned to my companions. Teeming with an overly dramatic air, I placed a hand over my heart. "He was so touched." The comment made a couple of people chuckle.

Following a whole day of chores and nagging from the masters of the house. The servants—looking tired and hungry—sat around the table in the kitchen as they waited for dinner.

"That's so scary." Whispered one of the chambermaids.

"Yes. My cousin heard it from one of the noblemen he works for." The stable hand tossed a look over both his shoulders before continuing. "His son is one of the knights fighting in the war, and he told me that the Supreme Commander has been wreaking havoc over there. He eradicated a whole village in half a day. Without pity, he killed everyone. Women and children included. And just like that, with his hands still dripping blood, he went back to his tent to have lunch. Like nothing had ever happened."

The chambermaid shivered.

Gurgling coming from the pot placed on the stove was the only sound in the room after that. So, when the sprung bells mounted on the wall suddenly rang, it made everyone jump in surprise.

The servants groaned in unison, and Mari winced as she rubbed her temples.

"Your Grace commands our presence," one servant said while rolling her eyes. "Well, who's going to go?"

After some minutes, I sighed. "I'll go."

I left the kitchen with a sense of dread. What do those two want now? My feet dragged as I headed for the office. The door was ajar; the duke and the duchess's voice came from the other side.

"So, in other words. We were able to secure the contract. We will start trading with them in a month." Stated Duke Adelysia.

"Good." After a minute of silence, the duchess asked in a cutting tone. "And did any lapses of judgment happen during this trip?" 

"You know I'm not answering that question anymore. If you have nothing else to say, you may leave."

I stood at the door, going to and fro, trying to find the ideal opportunity to go in.

"What have you done to reassure me that you won't do it again?" The duchess accused. "That you won't cause more problems than the one we already have. Because of you, we have to live with the consequences of your little accident. Thanks to you, we have to walk on eggshells every day. Trying to prevent anyone from finding out your dirty little secret."

I stepped a little closer to the door. What are they talking about?

"You clearly know that if anyone finds out, we will be forced to make her one of your heirs. Even though she's not legitimate, the law says she has a right to inheritance. What will happen to my children then, huh?"

"We're not going over this again, Lidya." Grumbled the duke.

Her? W—What? My heart threatened to rip out of my chest.

"I just don't want to one day open the door and find myself another one of your bastards waiting for me on the front steps!"

My trembling legs faltered, and I dropped into a crouch. My hands fisted into my hair as memories started to arrange together like puzzle pieces allowing me to see the bigger picture. Is it? Am I―. It makes so much sense now. My chest started to feel constricted and hot. It felt like a flame in my heart had become a roaring fire.

"Lidya, lower your voice!"

The duke's sudden outburst fanned the blaze that propelled me out of stillness and through the door. "Who are you talking about?, Are you talking about me?"

They stared at me wide-eyed and speechless.

My voice mimicked the duchess' irksome voice. "Lehylany, you're just a runaway maid's daughter." Then I shouted, "Was that a lie?" 

The duchess finally found her voice. "H―How dare―"

"Shut up! I haven't finished!" I roared.

People started gathering at the door after hearing the commotion.

My feet paced in front of the door. "You know what? It makes sense now. I wondered so many times. Why does she hate me so much? I didn't go through with anything I thought about doing to you, so it wasn't anything I did. But now I know." Disgust distorted my features as I looked at the two people who caused so much pain in my short life. "And you know what? I'm going to tell everyone about it. Just to piss you off." 

"W―What are you staring at!" She yelled to the servants standing at the door. "Restrain her! She has lost all sense!" Immediately two stable boys jumped in and grabbed me by the arms. 

"Lock her in the wine cellar while we figure out what to do with her," ordered the duke.

My feet dragged on the floor as they half carried me into the cellar. They threw me inside, and with the click of the lock, I was left alone.

Throwing a couple of wine bottles to extinguish the last sparks of rage, I sat on the floor with my back to the door.

"Leyla." My name came as a whisper from the other side.

My ear pressed close to the door. "Mari?" 

"Leyla, please, when they let you out. Apologize to the madam." She pleaded.

"That's not going to happen," I leaned back against the door with a pout.

"Please, Leyla, you don't know what they might do to you."

"No. Besides, did you know about this?" I snapped.

Silence. Is she gone?

"Please, Leyla, you know how the madam is. I don't want to see you get hurt." Marie insisted.

"I said no."

Some minutes later. The sound of footsteps came from the other side of the door. A glass shard from one of the broken wine bottles cut my palm as I gripped it behind my back. 

The door swung open, and two men walked into the room. "Don't touch me. I don't want to hurt you." I brandished the bloody shard at them.

They looked at me with pity in their eyes and stepped aside. I ran out of the cellar and was almost out the back door when I heard the duchess' yells. "Grab her! Don't let her get away!" A manservant tackled me before I could get out.

 All the way down to the basement, I kicked and screamed until the lock of the empty storage room clicked in place.

The space was dark, and it smelled stale. A pillow, a quilt, and a bucket were placed in the corner. I turned towards the small rectangular opening on the door and looked out. "What are you doing? Get me out of here!"

The duchess walked into my line of sight. "I'm sorry we can't. You're out of control."

"So, you're planning to keep me here?" Incredulity raised the tone of my voice.

"Yes, sadly, you've gone mad and need isolation." She turned and yelled at someone out of sight. "If you know what's good for all of you. No one would let her out. Let alone come down here without my permission, understand?"

"Yes, madam." A group of people replied in unison.

"Mari. Mari, are you there? Don't let her do this to me!" 

"Well, I have to prepare for the arrival of some guests. I need to get going." She left without looking back.

Sorrowful sobs tore me down to a heap of tears on the floor. My nails scratched my arms, leaving angry red marks on my skin. A show of the resentment I felt towards the blood that tied me to this insufferable family.

⚜⚜⚜

I felt so neglected and alone. Like, my childhood doll that lay worn and ignored at the back of my dresser. No longer worth anything to the people I once served.

Not even my so-called friends cared about what had happened to me. I guess she really didn't want to see what the duchess did to me. The thought reeked of resentful bitterness.

Days merged together down in the basement.

It must be fall already, I thought one morning. I imagined the brown, red, and yellow leaves on the trees, painting a beautiful landscape. I visualized gusts of wind scattering the leaves around, covering the ground like a carpet. I wish I could be out there to see it.

Trying to lift my spirits and break the endless silence. I recalled the books and stories Mari read to me in the past and recited some words to myself.

Months merged together down in the basement.

I scratched another line on the cellar wall a long stretch of time later. "How long has it actually been?" Thirty-six clusters of seven tally marks adorned the wall at the right side of the room. I think I lost count. If only I had a way to see the sun.

Nineteen clusters later. A servant told me that Duke Adelysia died of a heart attack.

From that day on. Instead of getting three meals a day. I started getting one. "It seems the duchess thinks I'm to blame," I said to no one.

Fifteen clusters later. I stopped writing on the wall. Maybe, I will end up dying here. This thought chilled me to the bone.

Then some days ago. The sound of jingling keys and hurried steps broke the silence.

I looked out the small opening and saw Mari running towards the door. "Mari? W―What?" I rasped.

"We need to hurry" She yanked the door open, grabbed my arm, and led me out of the basement.

The sudden chaos overwhelmed me. Servants ran in the hallways, and shouts from unknown people came from outside.

We ran towards the front door, but a fleeing duchess and a tall, burly man in armor intercepted us.

"In here," whispered Mari, pulling me towards a room.

A sense of freedom flowed into my veins. When I saw my captor pinned to a column with a sword to her neck. I'm free. I'm finally free. "Kill her! Kill her!" I screamed with my whole being, "Do it!"

Cold, steel-like eyes locked onto my face while I struggled against Mari, who was trying to pull me in.

"Child! Please!" Mari beseeched.

Unable to hold on any longer. I squeezed a scream out of my lungs as Mari pulled me inside.

"Leyla, calm down." She tried to restrain my flailing arms.

I went limp, all my energy spent.

"God, do you know who that is? That's Supreme Commander Nubilus." She said, sending a worried glance to the door. "We are not getting out of this alive." Her face turned somber. She sat me down on a chair, and we waited. The rest was a blur to me.

By the time I came to my senses. All the servants were ordered to climb out of the wagon into a makeshift campsite on a small plaza.

⚜⚜⚜

It was nighttime. We all sat by our tents and ate our food. My plate was already empty since hunger has no need for good manners.

With nothing else to do, I looked up. The moon illuminated the sky. It greeted me back into the outside world in the company of the myriad of stars who shone just as brightly. It brought a smile to my face. When was the last time that I looked up at the sky? I don't remember.

Movement coming from one of the alleyways caught my eye. It was the same tall, broad-shouldered man from the manor. He crouched by the alley to coax three young boys out of hiding. The boys approached him, and he unwrapped the cloth covering a bundle in his hands, revealing three large pieces of bread. Their boyish faces lit up.

My smile grew at the sight, and after a long while, I turned to the woman beside me. "Mari, why are we here?"

"The duchess has been accused of treason," Mari whispered.

I sighed. "Well, why doesn't that surprise me?"

"I'm sorry for what happened to you." She hung her head.

"I'm sorry too," I responded without emotion.

"I was a bad friend to you. I just let you suffer."

"I loved you like a sister. You were always there for me ever since I was little." After a deep breath, I continued, "You also lied to me and left me to rot in a basement."

"I'm so sorry." Her shoulders slumped.

"You have to make it up to me."

She straightened her back and looked at me, "I will do anything."

My eyes locked into Mari's, "Tell me what happened."

"Sorry?" She furrowed her brows.

"Who was my mother? How did I end up at the Manor?". I looked down at my feet. "How long was I down there?"

She sighed and spoke after a while, "Two years. You were there for two years." She continued, "About your mother, I don't know who she was. All I know is that your grandmother showed up one day on madam's doorstep. Claiming that the baby in her arms was the duke's child. Master got drunk on one of his trips to the islands, and well, you can guess about the rest. She demanded that he take care of you. Apparently, your mother died in childbirth, and your grandmother was too poor to care for you. They let her stay in a room at the far end of the house for a while. Then suddenly, one day, the duchess told me I was in charge of your care. I didn't see your grandmother again after that..."

"So, she just left me there." My bitterness spilled out through my words.

"Maybe, she thought you were better off staying with the duke," Marie suggested. Her eyes searched my face as she waited for a response, "Leyla?"

I looked up at the moon again and didn't speak for the rest of the night.

⚜⚜⚜

What in God's name possessed me to do that? I asked myself for the hundredth time.

I looked out the carriage window and watched the dwindling capital in the distance. I could have been killed right then and there. Isn't that man the bloodthirsty Supreme Commander? He could have had me executed just for daring to touch him. The image of his petrified face comes to the forefront of my mind. Isn't he that man? I chewed on my nails. Why did he offer to take care of me? He doesn't even know me. I thought about the young boys back in the village. Maybe, he isn't like they say he is.

After several hours we arrived at his estate. As I got off the carriage and into the manor, I prayed to the heavens, hoping I made the right choice.