Aric woke slowly, his gray eyes flickering open to the soft morning light streaming through the gilded windows of his suite. There was no gasping breath or sweat-drenched sheets—just an unsettling weight lingering in his chest, remnants of the vivid images that had haunted his sleep.
I saw...a town engulfed in flames, faces twisted in agony, and shadowy figures standing amidst the chaos. It felt too real to dismiss as mere imagination, yet what the hell was it? Was it a memory? A warning? Or simply my subconscious piecing together fragments of guilt over Vayne's past atrocities?
Before he could dwell on it further, a familiar golden notification screen shimmered into existence beside his bed. This time, however, it wasn't just Ivy's usual avatar—it was her dressed in an absurdly revealing dog cosplay, complete with ears, a tail, and a collar adorned with bells.
[Good morning, sleepyhead!] she chirped cheerfully, tilting her head playfully.
[Had a nice dream?]
Aric groaned internally, You couldn't have picked something less… distracting?
[Woof, but this is fun! Besides, it matches your mood perfectly. Anyway, enough about my fabulous fashion choices. Your wounds will heal naturally, so don't bother using magic unless absolutely necessary. Over-reliance isn't healthy, you know.]
I-I wasn't planning to. he lied. But thanks for the reminder.
[Mhm. Don't mention it. Now sit up—you've got visitors waiting for you.]
Confused, Aric pushed himself upright—and immediately noticed the small crowd gathered at the foot of his bed. Seraphina sat regally in a chair, her silver hair cascading freely down her back, though dark circles under her blue eyes hinted at exhaustion.
Evelyn stood nearby, arms crossed, looking equally weary. Penelope perched awkwardly on the edge of a nearby ottoman, while Callista lounged confidently, twirling her hair.
"Well, look who forgot to lock his door." Callista drawled lazily, smirking at him.
I DIDN'T LOCK THE DOOR!?
"What's going on?" Aric asked cautiously, glancing between them.
Seraphina arched an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.
"Apparently, everyone wants your… toiletries."
"My what?"
Callista rolled her eyes dramatically,
"Your soap, shampoo, toothpaste—all those delightful little inventions of yours. Word spread after last night's gossip, and now everyone seems obsessed with smelling like lavender. Including me."
Penelope nodded shyly,
"Lady Callista insisted we come here first thing this morning…"
"And why exactly do you all need my toiletries?" Aric asked incredulously.
"Because they're better than anything else out there." Evelyn interjected matter-of-factly.
"Even I admit it. Plus, if you can make more, why not?"
[Also, because it gives them an excuse to invade your personal space,] Ivy added snarkily.
[Humans are weird like that.]
Ignoring Ivy's commentary, Aric sighed and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He focused briefly, visualizing the items he'd created before—lavender-scented soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and even toothbrushes materialized mid-air, floating gently toward each person.
"For you." he said quietly, handing Seraphina a separate set. Instead of lavender, these bore the scent of roses—her favourite.
Seraphina blinked, momentarily taken aback. "You remembered…?"
"It's nothing." Aric replied softly, unknowingly feeling a disturbance in his soul.
"Just thought you'd prefer something different."
As they all left Aric alone, Seraphina went to her own room and use the bathroom but she had confusion flickered across her features.
Huh. You remembered that I like roses? I thought...nevermind.
Stepping into the opulent marble bathroom, Seraphina allowed herself a rare moment of introspection as she unwrapped the rose-scented soap.
This isn't right. she thought bitterly, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
Vayne doesn't care about anyone but himself. He certainly never cared about me.
She replayed the events of the previous night in her mind,
The way he'd defended himself without retaliating, the promises he'd made to the mob, and the quiet determination in his voice when he vowed to fix things.
Her fingers tightened around the soap,
Please give me a reason to believe in you, whoever you are.
By mid-morning, the group prepared to depart Ashwick, tensions simmering anew as Callista once again insisted on joining Aric and Seraphina in their carriage. Despite protests from both parties, she climbed in with practiced ease, leaving Penelope and Evelyn to share her designated carriage instead.
Inside, Aric already dreading the inevitable chaos. "Why must you insist on riding with us?"
"Oh, darling, where else would I go?" Callista purred, stretching across the seat.
"Besides, I find our conversations far too entertaining to miss."
Seraphina rolled her eyes, "Entertaining for whom, exactly?"
Before Callista could respond, the carriage rattled forward, signaling the start of their journey.
The rhythmic clatter of hooves against cobblestone roads filled the silence between Penelope and Evelyn as they travelled toward Callista's estate. Unlike the explosive tension brewing in the lead carriage, this space was quieter—though no less heavy with unspoken burdens.
Penelope finally broke the silence, her voice hesitant but tinged with curiosity.
"Ms. Evelyn… what would you say is the hardest part of your job?" she asked softly,
"For me…" She paused, blushing deeply before continuing.
"…well, you know. Being… a pleasure toy for Lady Callista."
Evelyn's expression softened, "That's not something anyone should have to endure." she said firmly.
Then, after a moment's thought, she added,
"As for me? There are two things that weigh heavily on my conscience."
Penelope tilted her head slightly, encouraging her to elaborate.
"The first," Evelyn began, her tone measured but laced with frustration, "is making decisions I know are objectively wrong—but necessary to protect House Arkwright and Lady Seraphina's legacy. Sometimes, protecting the estate means compromising morality. It's not easy, and it eats away at me every day."
Penelope nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of such responsibility. "And the second?"
"The second," Evelyn sighed, leaning back against the plush velvet seat, "is dealing with… well, Vayne. "
Penelope asked curiously, "But… he seems different now, doesn't he?"
"That's true." Evelyn admitted, her gaze distant as if recalling memories long suppressed.
"Over the past month, he's been… tolerable. More than tolerable, actually. He cleans his own room instead of demanding maid service. He created toiletries for all 250 staff members—a small gesture, but one that made life easier for everyone. And then there's the renovations he spearheaded alongside Thorin's dwarves. The air conditioning systems, heated floors, fluorescent lights—he revolutionized the entire estate without expecting anything in return."
She paused, her lips pressing into a thin line,
"But before the amnesia… oh, Penelope, you wouldn't believe the chaos he caused. Financial ruin nearly destroyed House Arkwright. Debts piled up so high that we had to make morally questionable choices just to keep the house afloat. Every single staff member—from maids to cooks to clerks—was forced to cover for his mistakes. Lies, bribery—we did whatever it took to fix his messes."
Penelope's eyes widened in disbelief. "That sounds… unimaginable."
"That's exactly who Vayne used to be." Evelyn replied bitterly.
Penelope mulled over her words,
"It must've been hard for you—to see House Arkwright dragged through the mud because of him."
"Hard doesn't begin to describe it." Evelyn muttered.
"But if I had to choose between dealing with an insufferable moron who committed nearly every crime under the sun—or being used as a pleasure toy 24/7—it's not exactly a clear-cut decision. Both are degrading in their own ways."
Her tone softened as she turned to face Penelope directly.
"Which brings me back to my offer, Penelope. If you ever feel like you can't take it anymore—if Callista pushes you too far—just ask Lady Seraphina. Despite everything, she has a sense of justice. She'll understand your situation and help you leave."
Penelope blinked, startled by the sincerity in Evelyn's voice. "You really think she'd do that?"
"I know she would." Evelyn assured her.
"There's a maid called Claire. She endured years of torment under Vayne's rule, but once Lady Seraphina found out about it, she gave Claire the option to step down multiple times but she never left,. Well, Claire chose to stay out of her own free will, believing she could endure it for the sake of stability."
Penelope swallowed hard, her chest tightening with a mix of hope and fear. For so long, she'd believed escape was impossible. But hearing Evelyn recount Claire's story—and knowing that freedom might truly be within reach—ignited a spark of determination deep inside her.
"Thank you, Ms. Evelyn." she whispered, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
"I don't know what I'll do yet, but… thank you for telling me this."
Evelyn reached out, patting Penelope's shoulder gently.
"You're stronger than you realize, Penelope. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."