As the breakfast concludes, the Lord, his sisters, the handmaidens and Xe’Reth stands by Malinda’s staircase in the throne room. But only one is aggravated – Madelyn. Her legs are killing her, though she doesn’t show it. She’s as composed as she can be with arms crossed.

The others listen to Maldoran with fixated eyes.

“Your handmaiden Recina will find Xe’Reth and escort him to the blacksmiths in due time. And I’ll also be there for the fitting of the armor. While you two my sisters. You’ll go on your merry way to prepare everything for Reconon’s arrival. He’ll get Madelyn first, then you Malinda, since you’ve business with the DLO which are coming with the bear cubs shortly. So be prepared when it’s time.” Maldoran steps closer to Xe’Reth as he puts his heavy hand on his shoulder, smiling with such proudness, “I’ll meet you there my boy. It’ll be a grand sight indeed.” Switching his head side to side, he finishes with eyes narrowing, “You two got what I said?”

“Yes brother,” both of them reply with nods.

“Then I’ll see you all later at dinner after you return home. Take care for now. And see you in a bit, my boy,” Maldoran says, turning to boom his feet on the marble floor towards Madelyn’s staircase. He goes past around it as he disappears into a corridor.

The handmaidens remain hushed, waiting for the silence to break between everyone.

“Well… as I’ve already seen to my mother before breakfast, I’ll go to your garden Malinda,” Xe’Reth says, giving her a kiss on the cheek to not piss Madelyn off. He shouldn’t need to, but having the two sisters being friends works out better for him even though Madelyn is just putting on an act. A performance that Malinda wholeheartedly believes in, or does she?

“All right. I’ll go and wait at the courtyard for the arrival of the DLO after I’ve seen to some business in my wing,” Malinda says, putting a hand on Xe’Reth’s chest, but with blinking eyes, she switches to Madelyn. “Mady, do you want to come with me? We still have a lot of time until we need to get ready.”

“I decline,” Madelyn scoffs, uncrossing her arms to wave a hand while rolling her eyes. Then turns around to walk to her part of the stairs where her brother vanished. “I have my own duties to take care of, so I don’t have the luxury of watching those animals arrive. Goodbye…” But she stops in her movement, whipping her head to Liriana. “What are you just standing there all aloof?! Come!”

Snapping into motion, Liriana runs to her Mistress with head low, not wanting to meet those chilling eyes.

They disappear when they reach the second floor, making Malinda gasp out a sigh of relief, “That… That went much better than I had hoped… But… she hasn’t forgiven me, has she?”

“Unfortunately… your sister most likely hasn't. But don’t worry,” Xe’Reth says with hands on Malinda’s shoulders, giving her such a reassuring smile. “I’ll keep my guard up around her, and tell you if she tries something. Yet be cautious, for Madelyn might change her way of thinking once more. She’s just putting on an act to get you closer… which has worked it seems.”

Gazing away from those critical eyes of his, Malinda stutters while lowering her head, “She… She’s my sister, Xe’Reth. I-I can’t help but love her.” As she raises her head, she has wrinkled eyebrows. “I don’t want to ever witness such an event as yesterday… Never again… So please get along with her. For my sake.”

“I… understand. However, for now, let’s part ways. Those servants that handle all the expansions in the Citadel must be waiting for me in your garden. So I better get there before they think I’m keeping them waiting on purpose,” Xe’Reth decides, kissing Malinda once more but on the mouth.

Unlocking their lips, Malinda only nods as she turns to walk up on her side of the stairs with Tanya and Cerinn, leaving Xe’Reth there all alone.

Finally reaching the second floor, Malinda spins to blow a kiss, then she too disappears, while Xe’Reth, he heads straight out the Citadel’s large front double doors which stand wide open; the grand hall emptying of all life.

……

…

Liriana and Madelyn, they stride through corridor after corridor; no words, nothing. Only the thudding footsteps on the carpet that goes all around the Citadel. On every level, in every hallway to make it as ornate as possible.

The walls and ceilings, as always, gorgeous paintings telling of long passed family members and chandeliers of wealth prettying the place up.

But Liriana, she fiddles with her hands under her petite breasts. Her eyes blink too much for comfort, for her Mistress isn’t acting like she usually does. No words of anger, only this painful silence.

They don’t even go to Madelyn’s main quarters. Instead, they head toward the tower stairs on the northwest side.

‘Why aren’t any servants cleaning…? They were when we left…’ Liriana shakes her head from the disorder, gazing at every door that should be opened to air the rooms out. ‘I heard of no meeting from Velyn or Verelin. Has Mistress ordered something without telling me…?’

At last, as they arrive at the large spiraling staircase that reaches all levels of the Citadel, even to the pinnacle of the tower, two servants curtsy on either side of the entrance, turning Liriana’s expression vile. She knows those two women – two horrible criminals that shouldn’t even be allowed to remain in the service of this great household.

They bully the younger ones who show any difference of opinion than what their Mistress desire; they demand obedience, and they remove those that disobey. However, since Liriana has only recently joined, she doesn’t know the depth of how much power those two have.

Jessica… Madelyn’s soon-to-be handmaiden.

Through her, a former handmaiden of the great mother herself, they can bend the rules. Because, even Velyn and Verelin, they hold much respect for Jessica just for that very reason – being a handmaiden to Matilda Tertin, their Honored benefactor. Liriana may not know how Jessica was allowed to join such a high position at that time, but she despises both her and these two women for their vileness.

However, what bothers Liriana the most, are their faces. All smiles and gentle eyes peering straight at her. They must certainly remember her scolding them, and the pure dread that she had felt coming from their eyes. But why is she getting such gladness from them now?

Placing her first step on the staircase that leads up to the third floor, Madelyn says without turning, “I’ve thought that you shouldn’t stay in your parents’ house anymore. For you’re old enough to live on your own and you’ve proven your dedication to me.”

Stunned is what Liriana shows on her flickering eyes and opened mouth. But she follows her Mistress one step at the time, traveling to a place that shouldn’t be opened. Yet, the barricade of wood has been removed. And on the other side of the now visible staircase, dust.

It’s full of it. Liriana winces at the unclean environment that her Mistress is treading in.

What she doesn’t realize are the two following servants who don't remain at the entrance to the spiral staircase. They are just a few cases below Liriana, with such peaceful ambiance exuding from both of them.

“Liriana, you may be surprised by my recent cold behavior towards you. But it was only to not show how much I’ve prepared for your ascendance into womanhood. A handmaiden should never live with her parents. Nobody has ever done that. And I want to continue such traditions,” Madelyn reveals but doesn’t move her head one bit, only down to watch her steps. Her voice, passive and collected. Not how she spoke before with such annoyance.

As the third floor’s corridor comes into Liriana’s sight, she gapes, for a statue, so grand and so beautiful stands erect just outside the staircase’s entrance. It’s stationed at the rounded corners of the two corridors that lead east and south. So much uncleanliness, but Liriana can’t help it. She actually is in awe.

“My mother in her great beauty,” Madelyn recollects while she bows in longing to the statue of a woman that has both her arms outwards, welcoming a hug. A statue without flaws. Only the dust and cobweb taints it. A mother that Madelyn misses with all her heart.

The darkness going down both of the hallways dawns on Liriana, snapping her out of her reverie, for Velyn and Verelin have lanterns in hand on either side of the statue, lighting the place up with shimmering flickers.

“Come, Liriana. I’m going to show you where your room will be for the remainder of your service,” Madelyn says, starting to walk again, eastward. None of her real excruciating fatigue is showing in her movements.

Going in front of their Mistress, the twins guide them down the hall until they reach the double doors of Liriana’s new quarters. From the darkness, Liriana has become even more nervous because the rooms on the left side of the hall had illuminated only a speck of light through the cracks, coming from the windows.

She goes to Madelyn to ask with such desperation, “D-Do I really need to have my room on the third floor…? Why can’t I have a room in your wing…? Like them?” She points to the twins.

Madelyn outright ignores Liriana’s plea as she snakes her arm around her handmaiden’s shoulder. And with the red-headed twins opening the scraping double doors to Liriana’s new abode, Madelyn guides her into the room. A room with all the furniture moved to the walls to make the center clear.

What terrifies Liriana the most are the shackles that hang down from above the ceiling by chains where a chandelier is supposed to hang; a wheel to lower and raise a victim, and the small table of various instruments by the side.

As Liriana’s head turns to her Mistress, what awaits her, Madelyn’s pure dread, total anger on her contorted eyebrows and in her blue squinting eyes.

“You betrayed me…” Madelyn growls with twitching lips, not able to control her fatigue and rage any longer. Her one hand goes to Liriana’s throat to choke her while her little handmaiden only gawks in fright. “After everything I’ve done for you… you betray me so easily…?”

“I… Mistress… I-I-I…” Liriana can’t find her footing from those horrifying eyes, gazing with such hatred at her.

Turning Liriana to hold her by her shoulders instead, Madelyn shakes the living out of her, “You whore! You dared to do this to me?! To me?!”

“W-W-What have I done…? M-Madelyn…? What have I done…?” Liriana cries out, having her fisted knuckles under her jaw as her lips tremble. Her eyes are watering up, while her grimace just turns Madelyn even more furious.

At a slim chance of being saved, Liriana stares at both of the twins to ask them for help. However, she gets their deadset, cold eyes directing straight at some creature that their Mistress is holding. Her.

“What have you done… you ask?” Madelyn replies as her body shakes, looming over the shriveling girl. Such audacity. Madelyn just wants to see this girl beg for her miserable life. A traitor. “You’re a little spy, that’s what you are. A spy for your mother. I should’ve known when they put you into my service that it was… suspicious… But as I didn’t get any council…” Madelyn shoots her gaze at Velyn and Verelin who lowers their heads immediately. “…I simply agreed to take you in.”

Madelyn removes her hands off Liriana’s shoulders as she waves into the air as if giving some kind of signal, which she does. Not to Velyn nor Verelin, but to the other two servants that followed them. They, without a second thought, launch and grab Liriana’s arms to hold her still, squeezing so hard that the poor handmaiden lets out a cry.

“Aw! Aw! What are—! Stop, stop it! It hurts! Please make them—!!”

Madelyn’s hand whips to Liriana’s cheek. And making contact, such a sound echoes forth as saliva spurts from the handmaiden’s mouth, rotating her head sideways from the force.

Only a quiet whimpering escapes from Liriana now that she knows her current predicament. Nothing but a traitor in Madelyn’s eyes. Sure, she did forgive her for telling her father, but hundreds of times to her mother? She’s dead to Madelyn. An insect, a slave to do what she will with.

Jessica did reveal everything involving Liriana, Linadra, and to some extent, Celyssa.

Information was given to Jessica by her own little moles. Because nobody in this Citadel can be trusted. One may support someone while being in league with another. It’s complicated matters. But someone as amateurish as Celyssa?

Jessica laughs at her tries to beat her or the Matriarch. They’ve been doing infiltrations for many more years than the Madam, while the Madam only gives orders, never being the one to do the dirty work, which Jessica in her youth did.

“What are you two waiting on…?” Madelyn asks as she opens her palms, shaking her head in disbelief at them for not doing anything, only holding the dead silent Liriana who’s completely dumbfounded. “Remove her clothes and put on the shackles, then raise her up, so she tiptoes. Heh.”

“But be careful to not damage the clothes, they’re valuable… to me. Ah, by the way, you’ve done an excellent job arranging this so quickly… I’ll be sure to reward Jessica for her commitment. Of course, if you two please me enough, I might give you some prize too,” Madelyn says with a smile, grinning down at Liriana’s silence. She even caresses her red cheek with such pleasure, causing Liriana to shiver away from her touch. “Begin. I’ve business to take care of so I don’t have much time.”

“Yes, Mistress…” Both of them bob their heads, dragging Liriana to the chains. Before they shackle her, they undress her. Removing every piece of clothing. While Liriana tries to remain silent. Though a sobbing does sound out as she attempts to cover her soon exposed teenage bosoms as they unbutton her dress, one button after the other.

Pushing the dress down, her body comes into full view.

Her unflawed skin, her nakedness pleases Madelyn. She has never actually witnessed her handmaiden like this before. Such innocence, such pure complexion. No outstanding birthmarks, nothing. Which oozes out Madelyn’s urge to damage her even more since it’s healthier skin than hers.

The two servants grab Liriana’s arms to lift them up to the shackles, disregarding her pleading whines.

Cuffing her, they lock them in place as they step to the sides; one goes to the wheel that controls the height of the chains, the other goes to the table of various instruments which Madelyn have no knowledge of. Only the black bundled up whip is what she recognizes.

They spare no time with the orders they got. The one by the wheel starts to push forward, making the chain roll inwards from below, lifting Liriana up into the air. But with the other one thrusting forth her hand, she stops the wheel in motion, causes the handmaiden to tiptoe.

Madelyn’s wanted altitude.

For the weight of Liriana’s thin body will be enough to deal excruciating agony on her shackled wrists. She’ll try to balance with her toes, but it will be hard for her when she has kept on doing it for hours upon hours.

“Madelyn! Mistress, please! You’re scaring me! I’m sorry! I-I was forced by my mother! I didn’t want to spy on you!” Liriana shouts, her words being too fast with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Is she secured?” Madelyn asks as she ignores Liriana completely.

“She is,” the wheel handler says with a bob of her head.

“And these… unknown tools you’ve brought? Where did you get them from?” Madelyn inquires with a fascinated raised brow while puckering her lips.

“From the outside, Mistress,” the table handler responds, forwarding the black whip to her. But a lie nonetheless. For not only has there been Tertins like Madelyn, but even worse ones with such deprived minds have also existed.

The weight of the whip in her hands and the naked girl tiptoeing as her face screams pure horror warms Madelyn’s breath in excitement. As she licks her upper lip, Madelyn orders, “Leave.”

Without responding, the four women walk out the room through the double doors, leaving lit candles to brighten the place up. But before the last one heads out, Liriana whimpers out, “Velyn!” causing her to turn to gaze at the strung up handmaiden. “P-Please… Help me…”

A grimace appears on Velyn’s face. However, not a grimace of sadness nor pity, but total disgust.

Liriana had spent the most time with Velyn for she was her trainer – as Tanya is to Cerinn. And from their time together, Liriana wants to use that bond that they’ve formed. Nevertheless, it’s a relationship that was never linked together in the first place, for Velyn has just put up with Liriana since both of the twins were ordered by Madelyn to treat her as the same rank as them.

Scoffing, Velyn’s cheek raises to form a smile, throwing away her real emotions for Liriana, “I’ve never liked you nor your personality. Your caring ways disgust me. In the first place, you shouldn’t have been in our Mistress’ service… And well. You’re a traitor, and will be treated as such.” Velyn switches to Madelyn with a bowing head. “Forgive me for interrupting. Please continue, Mistress.”

She backs out with her upper body bent while holding both of the handles down to close the doors.

Hearing that clicking, Madelyn smiles as she unfastens the whip’s curled up form. She flows with her hand and arm outwards to make the strap extend to its maximum length.

“Please don’t… Please… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Mistress, I’m sorry…” Liriana implores but gains nothing from Madelyn in return. “Y-You can… You can go to jail from doing this Mistress… So please, I beg of you, don’t do what you’re going to do.”

“How many times have you reported to your mother…? To Celyssa…?” Madelyn interjects, walking up to Liriana as she traces the whip on her naked stomach. Madelyn’s eyes display her pleasure in seeing her beloved handmaiden so defenseless. But with no answer coming from her, Madelyn, without any warnings, spins Liriana around to have her delicate back towards her.

Raising her red palm into the air, she cascades down on Liriana’s left butt cheek, causing such a scream, “Aaaaaaahhh!” to sound from her.

With zero delays, Madelyn repeats with such calmness displaying in her demeanor, “How many times have you reported to them?”

Gaining no answer again, Madelyn raises her hand high as Liriana’s teary eyes gawks at her with a turned head in complete horror.

*Smack*

Another shriek escapes Liriana while she rattles the chains or more like shaking horribly from the pain.

“Mo-More… More than hundred times…” Liriana cries, still trying to hold her balance with her toes. Because for a second, she felt the strain on her wrists if she were to relax. The sharp corners of the shackles that dig into her skin. She can’t take it. It hurts too much. “I report to my mother almost every—“

*Smack*

“Ahh-Ahhh! I answered! I answeeered!” Liriana screams in agony, but another spank comes immediately after. “Ahhhh! M-Mama…! Please… I answered… Mistress, please…”

“It’s truly a shame… I kind of liked you…” Madelyn reminisces, almost as if she doesn’t want Liriana to hear. “But such perfect skin…” She caresses her handmaiden, running her hand from the scarlet handprint, up the back while making Liriana shiver. Arriving with her hand to Liriana’s hair, Madelyn grabs and tears backward. “You’ve given me so much work to do… Hmm… About three hundred lashes I guess. Though that’ll have to wait until I return home. For now, I’ll give you one to test this thing out.”

Liriana stares straight into Madelyn’s caring eyes. She’s enjoying this. Because she does need to let out her pent up fury. And what better way than inflicting pain onto someone else?

“You… You’re insane…” Liriana utters with trembling lips. “Y-Y-You’re… M-My mother… will… will…”

“Your whore of a mother will find you when I’m through with you. Or she might not. I haven’t decided yet. And let me tell you, I won’t be done with you for many days… weeks… even months… Because do you know what?” Madelyn whispers into her ear, making the breath warm her skin. “Because your mother handed over your rights upon signing you over to me. I own you. Your whole body is mine to do whatever I will with. It’s different with servants. But with handmaidens? They’re my property.”

“Hm, if I had known last night… I would’ve taken your purity, too, haha. But since I won’t be in bed with Xe’Reth for such a long time, I might as well enjoy myself by torturing you. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

Throwing Liriana’s head forward, Madelyn positions herself further away to get a good angle.

“Wish me luck,” Madelyn snickers, which blasts Liriana’s mouth open, “You’ll not get away with this! When I get out of here, I’ll have you thrown in jail! Everyone will know! Everyone!”

“Ohh…?” Madelyn flickers her eyes in shock. But she can’t help but laugh at what she said. “Oh, my dear Liriana… You don’t honestly think you’ll ever get to tell your tale, do you? Because well, even though I won’t kill you, I’ll change you into what I desire. A faithful dog, a bitch.”

“Now then… One!” Madelyn readies the whip, “Two!” she raises her hand, “Three!”

“Aaaaahhhhh!” Liriana howls out before the pain comes, which doesn’t even come.

“Ha-Hahahaha!” Madelyn laughs while covering her mouth, “You should’ve seen your whole body tense up! Heh-Hehe… Ah… Such a sight.”

“You monster! You villain!” Liriana yells, not even having the courage to face her. For her teary eyes and twitching lips is something that shouldn’t be seen by a narcissistic and sadistic woman who enjoys the agony of another person.

“For real now…” Madelyn grins, taking another step back…

……

“One!” Madelyn yells through the double doors for the handmaidens and servants to hear.

“Two!” The handmaidens cringe with their brows and close their eyes to await the whipping, to listen to that slashing force connecting onto Liriana’s bare skin. While the other two servants have no care in the world, even smiling in absolute joy. Though they know nothing will really come of it since Madelyn is an amateur in handling such an instrument of pain.

But then it comes, without warning. Madelyn doesn’t say three, only the echoing of a whip branding skin.

“Aaaahhhhhhhhh!”

……

…

Minutes later, Xe’Reth strides in between hedge after hedge. Turn after turn until he finally takes a corner to catch with his alert eyes three women by an entrance. The scream of Liriana? Not heard even by him since a lot of sounds resonate in his ears.

“Master Xe’Reth,” Inatriss, the bath servant greets, bobbing her head to acknowledge his presence as he comes walking with hands behind his back. So gentle is his posture.

As he arrives at the entrance of Malinda’s garden, he nods to the other two bath servants who’re currently curtsying to him. The labyrinth of towering hedges should be hard to navigate, but since there was a map at the entrance, he had memorized it. All of the gardens, all of the hidden areas that display in plain view; the tombs of long past Tertin members, and the small streams that flow throughout the labyrinth.

The bath servants had rushed to bathe him before he went to breakfast, so all four of them have a rather intimate relationship already. But there is still that boundary of him being male. And washing someone like him does make them get flushed cheeks. However, they know their position in life. While he doesn’t allow them to scrub certain parts of his body, which would just make him uncomfortable.

“Breakfast went accordingly?” Inatriss asks in worry since she had heard, no, everyone had heard of what occurred in the dining hall that day. Peaking their interest, the other two bath servants gaze up to witness his smiling mouth.

“Actually, everything is settled. Madam Celyssa and I forgave each other because I did go a little too far last time. So did she. But today, the family will have dinner as usual. I’m rather looking forward to it,” Xe’Reth reveals as his peaceful mood exudes from him more than ever, never removing his smile. A contagious smile. Yet he raises his brow, “Are they waiting inside? And did they bring everything I asked for?”

“Well… they only just arrived… Because…” Inatriss grimaces as she forces a smile on her lips. “They… got lost. But we found them and brought them in time. If you were to come a little bit earlier, we wouldn’t have been here. But yes, it seems they’ve brought what you asked for. A table, sheets of paper, something to write with, books of different materials, and some weird tools.”

“And did you bring my things from my mother’s quarters?” Xe’Reth asks, tilting his head while raising his brow.

All three of them freeze up, but Inatriss takes the blame as she lowers her head in shame, “I’m sorry, we weren’t allowed entry into your mother’s chambers. It seems you told them to not let anyone in if they’re not with you… Or so they said...”

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot!” Xe’Reth exclaims in shock. Not really, he just wanted to see if they could come up with a way to get through the servants who’re watching his mother, for he did tell them to not let anyone in if they’re not with him or if it’s not someone trustworthy.

The bath servants didn’t join him when he went to check up on his mother, only Malinda. So it’s perfectly understandable for them to fail in bringing his already prepared schematic.

However, such a sheet of paper can be replicated within a span of a couple of minutes. All of the drawings are in Xe’Reth’s head. Hence the obvious joke on these three to see if their wits were good enough to gain entrance to his mother’s room. But since they couldn’t, no harm was done.

“Forgive me, it’s my fault,” Xe’Reth apologizes with a chuckle, scratching his scar. “I had told them last evening to not let anyone enter if they don’t trust the person. I feared Madelyn’s wrath because of what happened yesterday. But since we’ve now made up our differences – meaning that she’ll not fight over me with her sister – we’ve forgiven each other.”

“Those women don’t trust… me? I… I’ve been in the service of Malinda for so many years… How dare they not?” Inatriss grumbles in disbelief as the other two also nod in agreement, for those caretakers were rather strict on them for even trying to gain access to Theresa’s quarters. “Wait a moment…” She blinks excessively, remembering what Xe’Reth just said. “Did you just say that Madelyn agreed to let go her love for you?”

“She kind of did, but I don’t really believe her,” Xe’Reth confesses with a snicker, making the three speechless. Madelyn isn’t someone to pass off something she wants. But nodding, they come to terms with what he says. “Only time will tell if she really does let me go.” Xe’Reth flicks his hand, changing subject, “Anyways, shall we head into the garden?”

“Ah! Of course, after you,” Inatriss says as she swooshes an arm to the entrance; an opening where a rectangular hedge stands a bit inside the garden to cover the sight, but as they take the left walkway, Xe’Reth puts on his most heartwarming smile.

The garden, extensive and extraordinary as one would expect. A large pond in the middle with stone-peddle walkways around it. Fish of various species swimming around in the water while the greenery can’t be missed; a single vast Ellen tree, flowers riddling on the outskirts beside the hedges and spread across the ground, and the built veranda with outdoor furniture, no ceiling.

A square garden, a secluded one too, like her sister’s. But this one is located furthest inside the labyrinth, almost bordering the Citadel’s wall. It’s difficult to get too, but an ideal place for keeping animals… and secrets. It just needs a barrier, a strong one also with steel bars pointing inward so they can’t climb over. Because when those Ebon cubs grow up, they’ll be able to put so much strength into their bite that they can gnaw through metal. Unlike their kin.

…

“I can’t believe we actually followed your stupid lead… You incompetent pig! You said you knew the way! It’s just embarrassing, and you should be ashamed of yourself, you little swine. Just wait until we get back to the dorms,” an older woman scolds a single girl that’s surrounded by a half a dozen servants, not noticing the four individuals who step into the garden at the other side of the pond. For they’re at the moment on the veranda.

“But-But none of you looked at the map when we went inside the maze… I-I only caught a glimpse of it,” the defender says with a lowered head, almost afraid of her coworkers’ wrath. And so she should be. “Though… I got us close enough for Lady Malinda’s servants to find us… So-So why are you b-blaming me? Always… me…”

She puts up some resistance as she glares up at her senior, but her body perks up as Xe’Reth arrives at the veranda since the footsteps from the bath servants sound out as stone peddles press to the sides under their feet.

“Ehem!” Inatriss declares with her throat, showing Xe’Reth her utmost seriousness since their behavior when she found them were nothing like this – trying to throw blame at one of their youngest initiates.

However, Inatriss can’t act out of her depth because her rank is just a mere bath servant, after all. Only gaining permission to escort Xe’Reth for she did such an excellent job yesterday.

“S-Sir…!”

The servants bow instantly upon gaining sight of Xe’Reth. But the oldest one, she raises her head in pride and crosses her arms, squinting at this young man who won the daughter of Matilda Tertin.

A mere peasant defiling one of the daughters of this household. At least that’s what the majority knows.

The oldest one can’t stand the sight of this disgusting creature. But, work is work, and as the most senior among these… women, her own pride is at stake. Nothing will stand in her way when work is involved.

She forced herself to throw out a curtsy with her head and a slight bend of her upper body.

“As all of you know, this is Lady Malinda’s lover, Sir Xe’Reth. And you’ll speak to him as you would if you were in the service of a Master or Mistress. But as you’re all in a neutral faction, I’ll remind you: any insubordination will lead to harsh—,” Inatriss shuts her mouth as Xe’Reth puts up his hand to silence her with a scowl.

“All of you… Were you actually blaming this girl for losing your way in the maze…?” Xe’Reth asks with a raised brow while pointing at the now ogling servant. He switches to the oldest one, “How old is she compared to you? Almost the same age as me? And shouldn’t you’ve already memorized the paths? I came here by myself, and I’ve only been here once before.”

“H-Honestly… Sir. This garden hasn’t been build upon since it was finished years ago under my superior's supervision. So obviously, I don’t know the way through the maze as I used to,” the woman scoffs with such haughtiness for a servant. Putting her voice on an another level than Xe’Reth’s. She isn’t afraid of this boy just because he’s the love interest of Malinda which can change at any moment, though afraid she should be since she hasn’t seen Malinda’s feelings for him. “We’re mad because this little fat swine said she knew the way. Then when we’re half way through! She put out excuses… which she will be reprimanded for when we get back.”

“But she said none of you looked at the labyrinth’s map right as you went into the maze? Only she did, isn’t that right? So why does she solely need to get the blame?” Xe’Reth asks while the girl’s head spasms up and down. Which, from all of their wide-eyed expressions, tells him her words are right.

‘How in the Divines did he hear that…? We weren’t speaking that loud… Were we…?’ the oldest one becomes stunned, just staring at Xe’Reth that waits with open palms, seeking her answer.

“Well? Care to tell me the truth about what happened instead of hiding it?” Xe’Reth questions the other eye-avoiding servants since the oldest one is at a loss for words.

He's rather strict because these women are one of the teams of construction workers of the Citadel. He needs to get their allegiance. To achieve that, he requires to take out their leaders, one by one. Well, at least to show who’s really in charge. Though, he has never seen women having this kind of job before.

For women, they’re somewhat muscular, indicating through their uniforms, which’s a surprise for Xe’Reth because it’s clothing that could easily fit a man. Compared to him, most of them are the same height. But the girl who got scolded is almost too short, also a bit overweight. Hence the mean remarks.

‘I wouldn’t want to be ganged up on by them… They’re almost like Maldoran in a woman’s body. But they’re still way thinner than him…’ Xe’Reth just smiles, waiting for some of them to respond. ‘Though… will they turn on her is the question…’

Inatriss and the other two, they remain tightlipped with blinking eyes, not expecting him to scold them so soon. Not even they could hear what had been spoken on this veranda.

“…S-She always does this with the newly Chosen girls… S-Sir Xe’Reth…” one of them gets out but retracts her statement mentally because the oldest whips her head to stare at her with death discharging from her wide open eyes.

“She does, Sir Xe’Reth! I’ve also gotten the same treatment…!”

“Me too, Sir Xe’Reth!”

“Same, Sir Xe’Reth!”

‘Heh. That answers that question. What a beautiful bunch of women,’ Xe’Reth muses as his eyes travel to the oldest one. Her haughty presence, nil. Her mouth, moving with nothing escaping between her lips. And hearing Xe’Reth’s gentle voice, “What is your name?” her heart sinks to the bottom.

She’s indeed old. A woman in her late middle years. Even she has gotten the same treatment as her subordinates have. But through such conduct over the years, she has, in turn, inherited the same ideals as her predecessors.

Never in her life has she been talked down to by a man, for the single reason being that she’s a servant of the Tertin Household. None dared to act fulsome when she went out to the City to get materials.

None dared to question her.

They’re dirty peasants in her eyes. While she, a pure maiden. However, only now that she’s on the spot does she realize what her own arrogance has brought. She can actually suffer the greatest punishment ever. Just a little bit does she need to act out of order. Showing such superiority over Xe’Reth can doom her for life. Sure, she might not be thrown out, but since she’s neutral, the other servants may banish her themselves. She’ll be an outcast.

Being the bully can sometimes turn out that the bully might be the bullied. It has happened many times over the years.

Just thinking about it now, that she might be shunned by her fellow maidens, scares her.

“Sir Xe’Reth asked you for your name! Answer him!” Inatriss shouts, wanting to join the fray to see that this woman pays for what she did to these servants.

Some of them are apprehensive but gladdened, while others are so afraid that they might too be punished for having joined in on the bullying.

Knowing no other option, the oldest one throws away her pride in an instant, falling to her knees, “S-Sir… Please, I apologize. I was wrong, I shouldn’t have treated her like—No, everyone else, too. I’ve only… Yes!”

She whips her head up to smile with desperation, but what awaits her are his dark looming eyes, staring into her soul. A subtle stare, but a horrifying one nonetheless since she gains no response from him.

“I’ve only… Only… On…ly…”

“You’ve only what…? Tormented people? Making them miserable in your presence?” Xe’Reth asks, squinting down at her this time. “Just like how the city guard have handled this City’s poor people? Like they’ve done to me, for several years while I lived in the slums of the City?” He crouches to almost be on the same eye level. “Do you know what has happened outside of these walls, just yesterday?”

She nods, averting her gaze from him in shame.

“Indeed, the City has and will be purged of the disgusting filth. The garbage is getting removed to bring out the clean folk, while you just minutes ago, still treat your fellow members of this household like them – the city guard,” Xe’Reth utters, but his voice, still as composed as always. “Now give me your name. For Malinda and I have decided that no one should live in such anxiety which I’ve felt every time the city guard came to beat me, rob me, question me while I protected my sick mother from their contaminating touch. And for what reason could they do this to me… you ask? Because… they just could, without any retribution coming down on them.”

“This City has had enough of your kind’s behavior. Thinking that you’re above others while you don’t even have the position to feed yourself if it weren’t for this family. Now, your name,” Xe’Reth finishes as he stands up to look around him.

He’s giving no mercy to this woman.

Though what he said about himself was a little exaggerated, but powerful since all the servants’ eyes gaze at him with pity yet joy. He has suffered from the hands of the city guard is what he wants them to believe. To make them think he wants what’s best, for their sake. That’s why he's so harsh on her. Throw away one, to catch a dozen in his grasp.

“What’s her name!” Inatriss shouts at the startling servants, fuming with anger and sadness because she hasn’t heard of his past that much. To know that Xe’Reth has suffered to this extent, while even caring for his mother? ‘Not only does the City outside these walls need purging, but also the Citadel itself... Poor boy…’

The other two bath servants stare at one another, but upon switching to the groveling servant, they scowl, also gaining such hate for people like her. And remembering how Xe’Reth’s handmaiden was treated by Madelyn, makes them want to throw the Lady out into the cold night.

To never be seen again.

They should’ve joined with the others late last night to bring Madelyn to justice for what happened. However, Inatriss harshly stopped them from doing something so foolish since they share the same bedroom. They’ve avoided talking about it since Xe’Reth didn’t bring it up. But now that it reemerges into their minds, they can’t help but frown with upper lips rising.

One of the servants bravely gets out, “It’s—.”

“No! Don’t say it, I beg of you! Please, I’ve done wrong! I’ve done wrong! Sir, please! I will never do it again, I promise! I’ll be good from now on, I swear on my life! So please, don’t report what I’ve done! I swear! I swear!” She crawls on all four to Xe’Reth, but she stops as his head turns to Inatriss.

“Annettria should deal with this,” Xe’Reth declares, turning the woman’s whole face white from even more shock.

“Ann-Anne-Annettria…?” she stutters, starting to shake in fright.

“You don’t know?” Inatriss asks with pleasure while her face has turned vile but thankful to see that this woman will pay for all the misery she has caused. “She’s Sir Xe’Reth’s newly appointed handmaiden… How can’t you know? Oh… right… It hasn’t been widely announced in the Sanctuary yet. But now you know how serious this has gotten. And all the blame points to you. Sure, it isn’t a significant discovery. However, I stand with Sir Xe’Reth. There are too many of you in this Citadel. So say your grace to the Divines, for your behavior is not wanted here!”

The uttering of Annettria’s name spells doom to the woman. Her shaking intensifies, her eyes water up, and her mind screams at Xe’Reth for forgiveness. Everyone knows who’s next in line to take over for the Matriarch. And merciful? Annettria has none of it for those who betray one’s household with anything that can be considered rebellious. She likes perfect order, which does the Matriarch.

“…Sir Xe’Reth…” she whimpers with tears running down her face. “My… My life is in your hands… I submit… The Divines… I’ve failed them as I've been unable to act with a proper frame of mind. I can only ask for your mercy, but I don’t deserve it…” The woman mumbles as if her life depends on it, which it does. Her life is indeed in his hands, to do whatever he will. “But… But if I can gain your kindhearted forgiveness, I swear on the Queens to be a proper lady of this household. Just give me one chance. I swear I’ll… I’ll… Pleeaaaseee…”

Her whole upper body cascades down while her cry sound.

‘What should I do?! What should I do?! What should I do?! What should I do?!’ Her mind is in complete panic. A grown woman crying on a wooden veranda with forehead pressing and tears staining it, making it darker the more drops drip.

The others gaze in pity, waiting for Xe’Reth’s next order which will sentence her to something none in the Sanctuary want. Total banishment of all relationships, since angering a Master or Mistress causes all of the servants to completely ignore the chosen victim if there aren’t other circumstances for that anger like in Cerinn’s case. The Matriarch has tried to remove it, but somehow, it’s the servants themselves that haven’t complied. Even the seniors follow that belief of banishment by ignoring.

“Sir—Master Xe’Reth… let me take her to Annettria to tell her of what she's done,” Inatriss offers, stepping forward to be in Xe’Reth’s turned view. “While you remain here, of course. To continue with your business.”

As she doesn’t gain any response from him, she takes matters into her own hands, bending down with arms stretching to drag this disgraceful woman away. But with Xe’Reth’s hand placing on her shoulder, she stops to stare at him.

Shaking his head, she smiles at his compassion, which makes her curtsy while returning to her position.

Xe’Reth kneels down which gains him full eyes from everyone.

‘Is he going to drag her away by himself?’

‘What is he doing…?’

‘Sir! Don’t contaminate yourself!’

The women riot in their own heads, not understanding why he isn’t letting Inatriss drag away this waste of space. Everyone has turned on their leader, even those who’re in her good favor.

Such ambiguous loyalty…

That loyalty which Xe’Reth needs to receive from everyone in the Citadel. Though the ambiguity needs to be replaced with absolute faithfulness. But he has years to work on that unless something happens on the way to his magnificent legacy.

He puts his hand on the woman’s bent down shoulder, making her head raise to shudder a stare at him, expecting such anger. What greets her? A smile and closed gentle eyes.

“You want repentance for what you’ve done… is that it?” Xe’Reth asks, still holding his eyes closed to wait for her answer.

“Yes, Sir, please. Don’t tell Annettria of my doings… S-She’ll—Please! Everyone knows that the Sanctuary is run by supporters of the Honored Malinda, your lover… So, please, I’ll be ruined if I gain Annettria’s ire. Anything! I’ll do anything to repent for what I’ve done over the years!” she weeps, falling again to the floor with her forehead.

“And what exactly have you done over the years…?” Xe’Reth questions. His hand still placed on her shuddering shoulder.

“S-Sir…” the woman whispers, “Might… Might we speak in private… instead? Away from everyone?”

Inatriss right away intervenes, “There will be no such—“

Again, Xe’Reth raises his hand for her to silence herself.

“Everyone, please leave us for a moment. I want to decide on my own terms,” Xe’Reth says as he stands up to walk past the groveling maiden, past the other women, and reaching a table that has all the equipment he asked for, he waits with hands behind his back, being as serious as he can be.

Almost gaining such an atmosphere about him, which screams retreat.

They do leave. Well, after Inatriss – as stunned by his decision as she can be – waves for everyone to follow her down the steps of the veranda, leaving only the shaking woman and Xe’Reth who scans the table, even trying out the quill pen on the sheet of paper.

With Inatriss stepping onto the peddle walkway, she wrinkles her eyebrows because embarrassment hits her hard. She acted out of her element by pushing her own agenda onto Xe’Reth.

As the group of women gathers up a bit further away to not hear them, Inatriss bites her lip. ‘I hope he isn’t displeased with me… Why did I talk so outrightly to him, as if it was my own decision and not his? Oh, I must apologize for my irresponsible behavior after he’s finished with… her…’

Her two companions place their hands on her shoulder because her whole contorted face tells them of how she’s in distress. They have turned backs to the other women so they can’t witness her in such anguish.

But everyone perks up as the oldest woman finally gets off of the floor to walk with a limp upper body to Xe’Reth. Yet, all of them frown, since none can hear a sound.

Inatriss squints, seeing Xe’Reth’s mouth opening to deal whatever punishment is needed. However, the woman nods as her own mouth flaps open to spew out her defenses and all that she has done.

It takes a couple of minutes before she shuts it tight again while sinking her head in absolute shame, awaiting her sentence. Then it’s Xe’Reth’s turn, which makes Inatriss worried since her eyes can’t believe it. He’s so calm. No reprimand from him at all. ‘Why aren’t you shouting at her? Please… you’re only making me more ashamed of how I acted. I really hope he isn’t mad at me. I don’t want my chances to be a handmaiden to disappear in the next Choosing…’

Somehow, Inatriss has this tugging at her heart, as if she has disgraced the Divine Queens themselves. Sure, she’s a gentle person normally, but just minutes ago, she threw out her real maddening thoughts like it meant nothing. She wanted that woman to pay, even with her life for what she has done. That’s what scares her the most. She actually acted like those servants from Madelyn’s wing who escorted Cerinn.

“Triss, you need to calm down, you’re sweating. Here,” the quiet bath servant says who wasn’t the one that fainted when they saw Xe’Reth’s guarded treasure. Giving her a handkerchief, she wipes off her forehead. “Don’t worry, you didn’t do anything wrong. I agree with you. She needs to be punished—“

All the women can’t believe what they’re witnessing; the woman on the veranda keeps nodding and nodding as Xe’Reth’s unheard words flow out of his mouth. Xe’Reth comforts that waste of space, putting his hand on her shoulder, again, while the woman covers her mouth in relief, almost ready to hug him for what he had just sentenced her to.

Then without notice, he turns to the table as he begins pointing at the various equipment that the workers had brought. The woman, now smiling, answering whatever he needs with newly restored gratitude. None of her arrogance remains. And remembering the other servants, he spins around to wave them over with such a beam, making the women stride to him, like if they don’t, they’ll suffer from it.

As they step up onto the veranda, Inatriss is the first to arrive; her face in total upheaval, followed by everyone else who stare in shock, curiosity, and disbelief. What did they speak about? Why is that woman giving such a relieved smile? Why, why, why?

“She has told me everything about her… crimes,” Xe’Reth says, smiling. “I’ve decided to offer her a chance to prove to be a better person than her current self. So from now on, you lovely ladies will report on her transactions that can be considered… villainous. But don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean you can act towards her as she acted towards you. There must always be a hierarchy, unfortunately. I won’t tolerate lies. However, be assured that I’ll know who tells untruthful words. I have the full support of my lover.”

“Just find these three women—,” Xe’Reth flows with his hands to the bath servants, giving them a new secondary job, “—and they’ll forward your message to me.”

Pleased, Xe’Reth claps his palms as loud as he can to snap the women out of their bewilderment. “Now then, does anyone object to anything regarding my decision?”

All of them remain silent as mice, only giving baffled eyes directing to the forgiven woman. Even Inatriss holds her tongue, for she’s still in turmoil, more so now that he has pardoned her. Rather, this whole incident has been blown out of proportion entirely; a forced event by Xe’Reth.

“No? Excellent,” Xe’Reth concludes as he stretches out his arms as though welcoming them into his embrace, “Then let’s return to what we’re originally here for.”

………

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