~Her Backer~

"What exactly are you trying to do?" The chill in Oris' voice was vicious enough to make the eunuchs know that they had been caught red-handed, guilt flooded their formerly blank expressions but before anything else could said there was a ruckus outside.

"Who dares disobey the order of the Young Miss?" someone yelled.

Mayree frowned and leaned towards her mistress to whisper, "That seems to be the lady-in-waiting of the Lady Anastasia. Her first rank maid. Perhaps. . ."

Perhaps that person is determined to end Seline's life today, Oris completed the sentence in silence. Outwardly, her face showed no change but her grip on Mayree's hand tightened.

"You," the first rank maid charged into the woodshed with a group of others and the already small space shrunk even more, "who are you?"

Now, Oris turned towards the disturbance, her gaze drifting over the scowling maid and proud-faced matron that stood beside her. The rest of the servants could simply not enter her eyes.

No matter how many people were here, she was taking Seline away. On this one thing, she could not compromise.

Seeing this scene now, she realized that Seline must have heard something that should not be heard. Why else would this Anastasia be so eager to dispose of her?

You four have suffered for me, she looked at Seline, her gaze spilling with affection, thank you.

"Why did you stop beating?!" The maid took advantage of Oris' distraction to chastise the eunuchs, reminding them that her mistress was more powerful than this woman that stood in front of them. The glint in their eyes returned and one of them—eager to please and be rewarded—raised his staff and struck down with all his strength...

The sound of wood slapping flesh echoed through the small room, but this killing blow didn't land on Seline.

"Mistress!" Andrea cried out but Oris' countenance remained the same. Her eyes stayed clear, with only a slight hint of pain diluting them.

The hand that had taken the hit of the staff wrapped around its girth and pulled it from the grip of the stunned eunuch. "You dare?"

The other eunuch trembled, he and his staff fell to the ground.

Oris paid no attention to them, loosening her cloak and draping it over Seline with her uninjured hand. That spurred everyone else into action.

Andrea and Keziah took Seline off bench and cradled her body between them.

At the same time, the first ranked maid took a step forward. "My Young Miss said—"

Oris swung the staff and the maid fell to her knees instinctively, letting it pass harmlessly over her head. It hid the doorframe of the shed with a terrifying bang. "I am still ranked in the Emperor's Selection, where did a maid get the gall to speak directly to me?"

On hearing 'the Emperor', the other servants and the matron fell to their knees suddenly remembering who truly ruled the palace.

This time, there was no benevolence in Oris' gaze. She could not allow nonsense to be spoken when Seline's life was still on the line. If she had known that things would be this bad, she would have let the physician accompany her.

"You dare hit my person," she said resolutely, "this humble one has no choice but to ask the Empress Dowager to judge this matter."

As though she had heard the most relieving words, the maid's fear slowly dissipated. Her frown eased up. "This servant only punished an unruly maid. It is proper law. This servant is not afraid to be questioned."

When the other servants, and even the eunuchs chimed along, Oris only nodded and walked to Seline's side. "Let us go then."

In unison, they rose and quietly filed out the woodshed. Not minding the eyes around them, Oris pulled Seline into a one-armed embrace.

The moment she did, the maid quivered and opened her eyes. "Mistress," she whispered, "I. . ."

Oris didn't let her say any more, seeing the tears welling up beneath her lashes.

Mistress, I did not betray your trust in me.
Mistress, I did not beg those villains to spare me.
Mistress, I am not afraid of death.
Mistress, I am innocent... Do you believe me?

She heard it all through the girl's soulful stare. "I believe you," she said quietly, wiping away the wet streaks on Seline's face. "Don't cry anymore, Mistress will give you justice."

Before, she had only planned on freeing Seline and taking her away using the power of the decree. She did not even want to punish the corrupt matron but that all changed the moment that maid arrived. Now she wanted them all gone, every fawning servant and eunuch that had conspired together in this matter, every set of eyes that had seen Seline's bloodied garments.

This Anastasia had been informed about what happened and sent her trusted maid to make sure that the deed was carried out to completion. It was no longer possible for Oris to quietly take Seline away; Anastasia's maid would not let go without a fight.

Even if Seline could leave peacefully, all those people still thought of her as an eyesore. Since they were determined to get rid of her, if they couldn't succeed now they would make another attempt it in the future.

To protect Seline's life and reputation, Oris decided not to waste time fighting with Anastasia's maid. To have the Empress Dowager judge this, was the fastest way to end this matter.

Anastasia's people were relieved because their mistress was one of the Empress Dowager's people, but they did not know that Oris was someone Wei Wei could not afford to touch right now. In order to rid Anastasia of her involvement in this matter, they could only be disposed of. Even if it was Wei Wei who wanted Seline dead, the opportunity had already passed.

Hermes had already become her backer.

With a conclusion like this already set in stone, Oris didn't see the need to struggle when she could just borrow Wei Wei's hand to get rid of these people while preserving her reputation of being benevolent.

She ran her fingers through Seline's tangled locks and pressed her to her shoulder. She stared at the welt rising on her palm, feeling truly helpless. These schemes were easy to see through, but she really didn't have anyone apart for her four maids.

The other women already had most of the eunuchs and maids and servants in their pockets, it was too late to try to sift through the muddied waters to carve out a faction for herself. Even now, she only had the maids Wei Wei had given her. She didn't even have servants to carry Seline back to the room. If Hermes had not given her a physician, she would have needed to treat Seline's injuries herself.

"Just bear with it for now," she told her, "after this next test, things will be different."

Seline nodded against Oris' shoulder. "I can still walk. Don't worry, Mistress."

Oris said nothing, but her mood had fallen. Seline was careful and meticulous, always referring to herself as 'this servant' irregardless of being in the presence of strangers or not. If not for the pain being too much, how could she speak so freely?

"Andrea, go and get the physician."

Andrea grabbed Seline's hand then with a solemn nod, rushed out of the shed. Oris supported Seline up to the door and watched the girl burrow deeper into the laundry halls, evading the sights of Anastasia's people.

Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief. Andrea knew the workings of the palace better than any of the others and had also been raised by the Empress Dowager for a time. If anyone could successful bring the physician into the inner palace, it was her.

With this in mind, she stepped out of the woodshed. Seline leaned all her weight against her so they moved slowly and trailed at the end of the procession but no one dared to rush them.

After they had walked for a while, Seline suddenly stood on her own. Shock made Oris slow to react, and before she knew what was happening, Seline had always staggered away.

Oris was about to shout for her to come back, the memory of Andrea trying to commit suicide in the Great Hall flashing in her mind, but her voice died in her throat when Seline collapsed on a spot a few steps away from her and began to dig.

~