"This is so heartwarming, my cousin. I can't believe you have a heart for unfortunate people. Since when did you become a philanthropist?"
"Nop, what are you doing in my room without my permission? And didn't I tell you to get out of this mansion?" Lady Rebecca was starting to get annoyed with her cousin. She didn't understand what his deal was.
"So, you're kicking me out, while that criminal girl will stay here, enjoying special treatment from you?" Nop said, with a disbelieving face. "What has happened to you, Rebecca? Have you gone mad? Keeping a criminal in your custody and treating her better than your own family—I never thought I would see the day when you would prioritize a stranger over your own blood." Nop's words cut deep, leaving Lady Rebecca questioning her own judgment, but she knew better than to let a person die in her custody.
"Who are you referring to as a criminal? Freen hasn't even been questioned about her role in her mother's accusation of helping to poison the king. If that is the case, it is still incorrect to accuse her of a crime without first providing evidence."
"True, but the system doesn't work like that, and she is still the daughter of a criminal living freely inside the earl's mansion, and what's worse, being treated more favorably than other servants," Nop said with a smirk.
Rebecca was furious as she defended Freen, and her voice quivered. Her eyes narrowed, desperate to shield Freen from unfair judgment: "We cannot jump to conclusions and label someone a criminal without due process. It is essential to gather evidence and conduct a fair investigation before making such serious accusations."
Nop was speechless at what Rebecca said; he couldn't believe it. Nop's face turned red with anger as he struggled to find a response. It was clear that Rebecca's logical argument had caught him off guard, leaving him unable to defend his accusation without evidence. The room fell silent, the tension between them palpable.
"Why do you care too much about that woman? She is but a mere servant, a lowlife," Nop sputtered, his voice filled with disdain. The words hung in the air, reflecting his deep-seated prejudice and arrogance. However, Rebecca remained composed, refusing to stoop to his level. She calmly replied, "Everyone deserves fairness and respect, regardless of their social status. It is our duty to treat others with dignity and not let our biases cloud our judgment."
"You are just being too idealistic, Rebecca; this is reality. And you are just being naive; life isn't fair, and what you are doing isn't being fair; it is being insane. It might be fair to you, but in your servants' eyes, it will just be favoritism towards another coworker, and others may think you are an accomplice to a criminal. Everybody has a different idea of being fair, and you are not being fair. It's important to acknowledge that fairness can be subjective and varies from person to person, inclusive and just society. And what you are doing is exposing yourself to potential criticism and judgment from others. It's crucial to consider the consequences of your actions and how they may impact your reputation and relationships with those around you."
"No, I don't easily forget that she saved me from my ex-fiancé, and I am the reason why she was injured, and I can't bear that fact. I can't just let her die in the middle of nowhere without feeling any remorse. She deserves better than that, regardless of her status."
"I thought you liked those ideas. You enjoyed playing with her, right? That's why I helped you make her suffer. What changed, and I don't accept it just because of what she did before."
"What do you mean you helped me? Help me with what, Nop? What idea?" Rebecca asked, confusion evident in her voice.
Nop hesitated, realizing the weight of his words. "The idea of making her suffer, like you always do during her stay here, is that you should let her go; why bring her back here? Her dying outside is better than having her here." Rebecca's eyes widened in shock as she processed Nop's words. She couldn't believe what she was hearing—the person she trusted had turned against her and was advocating for something so cruel. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, leaving her speechless and betrayed.
"What have you done to her?" Rebecca's forceful voice quivered with a mixture of rage and concern. Nop's face hardened as he described the events. "I made sure she'd learn her place," he confessed, his voice devoid of remorse. Rebecca's eyes widened in horror as she strained to fathom Nop's brutality.
"Get out of my room!" Rebecca said, her voice full of disgust and incredulity.
"So this is it? You choose to side with that lowly servant rat rather than me, who has been with you since we were children. I am always on your side; all I do is want you to be happy, and this is how you repay me?" Nop was now standing tall and delicately near Rebecca.
His eyes were filled with rage and pain, and his fists were clenched at his sides. Rebecca could see the pain on his face, but she couldn't ignore the terror welling up inside her. She took a step back, unsure what Nop was capable of in this state of heightened emotion.
She was imprisoned between Nop's arms on the wall on Rebecca's two sides until she had nowhere to go.
"What are you up to now?" Rebecca responded, her voice shaking with fear and indignation. "You're creeping the hell out of me." She attempted to remain calm, but the tension in the room was evident.
Nop smirked at her. "But with her, you don't feel uncomfortable at all?" Rebecca's eyes widened upon hearing such a thing.
Remembering the same scenario in this area of her room with Freen, her cheeks felt hot from just a mere memory of the night.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Rebecca said, denying whatever Nop was trying to imply and trying to escape from Nop's persistent questioning. However, Nop blocked her path, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, come on, Rebecca. I've seen the way you two interact. It's obvious there's something more going on between you." Rebecca's heart raced as she realized Nop had caught onto her secret, leaving her with fear.
"I saw how you look at her. In this exact position. I didn't know you were that kind." Nop sniffed her neck, which made goosebumps on Rebecca's face. "Is this why you protected her from George? Willing to get hurt just for a mere servant, tell me, are you attracted to her? Rebecca glared at him. "Does she taste good, huh, cousin?"
Blags
She pushed him hard, and he fell to the floor.
"What the heck is wrong with you?" Rebecca exclaimed, her voice filled with anger and disbelief. "How could you say something so disgusting? I can't believe I ever trusted you." She turned away from him, unable to bear the sight of his face any longer.
"Disgusting? I see the way you looked at her. And it is not disgust that I saw." Nop stood up. "And you will not look at me the way you look at her." Nop said, which made Rebecca dumbfounded.
"I said, Get out!" Rebecca screamed at the top of her lungs, her face turning red with fury. As Nop walked away, Rebecca's anger intensified. She clenched her fists, feeling a surge of betrayal and hurt. How could someone she once trusted turn out to be so heartless?
Freen's POV
I had been bedridden since the day I woke up with Irin and the physician. I know they brought me somewhere, as I had woken up a little, but I was too weak to protest.
Am I being detained? I highly doubt it. Who would detain a servant like me with special treatment?
After what happened that night, I had only a few memories. I really thought I was going to die, but some miracles did happen as I woke up in a room with Irin and the doctor. I don't even remember how I got back to the mansion; all I remember is that I was walking my way back to Grandma's place to assure her that I was okay and also to find the truth about what really happened to my mother. I know she isn't capable of such treason, and I understand what Miss Nam meant when she requested my leave from the mansion. And my mother's disappearance has only deepened my suspicions. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something sinister going on behind the scenes, and I was determined to uncover the truth no matter what it took.
The door creaked, and I had to close my eyes and pretend I was asleep again. This was my favorite part of my stay in this room.
I had been staying here for almost a week, as I counted the days, and this mysterious lady had been attending to my injury and scratches. She never failed to visit me at night. She prepared a damp cloth and wiped me clean. Ever since the incident between me and Lady Rebecca, I have confirmed to myself that I am not like other ladies who normally like men. I prefer women, and unfortunately, I have fallen in love with the most impossible person to reach, none other than the goddess of all brats, Lady Rebecca, who is also a foreigner, so the reasons for not being able to reach such a person are multiplied. However, despite the obstacles, my feelings for Lady Rebecca only grew stronger with each passing day. I find solace in her presence, even if it is just through the brief moments she spends causing me injury, as she enjoys putting me in danger.
I admit to myself that it is impossible for her to like me the way I like her.
The woman again cleaned my wounds, and I would be lying if I said her touches didn't affect me at all.
Every morning, a servant would always bring me food and medicine to take. We talked, and I asked about the woman who was assigned to attend to me at night, but the servant said no one else was assigned to me more than her.
I wonder now who this woman is.
Her face was also covered with clothes; she talked differently, like Lady Rebecca. I even mistook her for the lady on my first night here. But it was impossible. Why would a daughter of an earl attend to a servant, especially a daughter of a person accused of treason who is now also a target of the royal guards? The situation was perplexing and raised many questions. Could it be that Lady Rebecca is disguising herself to secretly protect me? It seemed unlikely, considering the risks involved. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but wonder about the true identity and motives of this mysterious woman who attended to me at night.
I will find out. It's easy to find out, but why am I pretending not to know? Maybe it's better this way. Perhaps pretending not to know allows for a sense of security and plausible deniability in case any unwanted attention is drawn. It could also be a way to maintain a level of trust and secrecy between the two of you, ensuring that your true intentions remain hidden from those who may be watching.
Or I am just afraid to lose this opportunity I am having with her.
Again, she left at dawn and left a flower, a very familiar flower.
I wonder if she has found out or if she has always known it was me.
A kiss on the forehead again, like always.
I woke up because I had a strong urge to urinate, but it was dark, and I felt so weak. I recalled having a vomiting dream earlier.
And did I mention that my bed was big, oddly quiet, and cool? It was so dark in here that I scanned my surroundings.
"Irin?" I called, hoping she would help me. But no response. Thinking she was the girl from the night.
"Irin," I called again, and this time I was lucky enough to grab something to clutch near my bed and hold on to, in order to try to rise up.
However, just as I was about to walk, I felt an ache in my leg, causing me to lose my balance. I tried to grab something but still fell because all I could grip was a candle stand.
I writhed on the floor in agony. My leg hurt so much, but then I had to curse myself for forgetting I had been seriously injured. I'm curious how much Nop despises me enough to go so far as to pick on me.
"Oh, my god. What are you doing on the floor? Come here; let me help you up." I lost my sanity when the lady who always filled my thoughts with her enchanting presence walked into the room. Her eyes widened in concern as she rushed to my side, extending a delicate hand to lift me from the floor. In that moment, all doubts and insecurities faded away, replaced by a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for us beyond societal expectations.
She put my arm around her neck, which led to our faces being an inch apart. I was immobilized by the way she looked at me. But then she looked away, and her hands grabbed my waist, and I was completely swept off my feet, both figuratively and literally. The strength and tenderness in her touch made me feel safe and cherished, igniting a fire within me that I always felt whenever our skin touched. As she struggled but still managed to carry me towards the bed, I couldn't help but groan when both of us fell on the bed, her on top of me.
We stared into each other's eyes as she fell on top of me. Here it was again—her eyes, which carried the beauty of the universe, staring right back at me. In that moment, time seemed to stand still as we lost ourselves in the depths of each other's gaze. It was as if our souls were connecting, intertwining in a silent understanding that words could never capture.
But her eyes suddenly dilated and went wide, realizing I had caught her. Her face flushed with embarrassment, but a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
I caught her disguised.
She quickly got up, trying to run away, but I caught her hand.
She came to a halt with her back to me. We were only there for a few seconds, yet it felt like a lifetime. I could feel the tension in the room. I was gripping her palm tightly, refusing to let her go, but honestly, I wasn't sure why I stopped this lady. All I knew was that my heart was content. My heart was content. She had arrived. My heart was content. She's the one I'm thinking of. I hope she is. My heart sang with joy. She was probably concerned as well. My heart rejoiced because I saw her. But my heart was happier now that she was here and I was holding her hand, feeling the warmth of her touch. Everything else slipped away in that instant. It was so silent yet so loud, as if the world had stopped just for us. The only sound I could hear was the beating of my own heart, echoing the love I felt for her. In that moment, all my doubts and uncertainties vanished, replaced by a profound sense of peace and certainty.
And then I heard her sob. I was about to comfort her, but I stopped when she held my hand tight.
I just stayed silent behind her, allowing her to release her emotions, until she stopped sobbing and wiping her tears with her sleeves like a child would. And then she faced me, looking so pissed. I guessed we were back on our game again, so I smiled widely at her because, even though she didn't want to show it, I now knew she at least cared. No. She cared. It led me to smile unconsciously.
Bogsh
"Ah!" I was knocked down by a punch in the face. I stumbled back from the unexpected punch, my hand instinctively reaching up to touch my throbbing cheek. Confusion and surprise filled me as I tried to comprehend why she had suddenly lashed out at me.
I curled up on my bed and closed my eyes, trying to process what had just happened. The pain in my cheek served as a constant reminder of the unexpected turn of events, leaving me feeling hurt and bewildered.
I was not yet finished reacting to the pain when she suddenly got on top of me and pinned my hands above my head. I gulped hard when I saw how beautiful she was on top of me.
But my fantasy hadn't started yet.
"AAAaaah." She bit my neck so hard.
I looked at her in disbelief; she was still on top of me but now with a grin in her eyes. The pain from her bite mixed with a strange exhilaration, leaving me both startled and strangely aroused. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation and what it could possibly mean.
"Don't scare me this much again," she whispered as she exited the room, leaving me perplexed and yearning for more. The ferocity of the moment lingered in the air, leaving me eager to discover the secrets beneath her alluring attractiveness.
I wouldn't mind if she had just cursed me to death; I don't understand her language anyway.
But one thing I know is that I love the way she gets pissed.
And I totally forgot the reason why I woke up in the middle of the night.