>>Corvina

Tracy did my hair as I thought about what to do. I hadn't called Hael in my room since I got to know why he's staying but he still comes in on his own. I didn't stop him because that would raise even more suspicion.

I wonder though, I need to escape but if I want to go and settle somewhere else, I need money. I can't start hoarding money though, I'm sure I'll get caught. I've never saved money before.

I was the type to spend all my monthly allowance. If I start saving it secretly, Tracy and Hael are bound to notice since they come to my room everyday and they accompany me on my outings as well.

Hmm~

That means, I need to buy things that will have high resale prices.

But if I'm running away, I would also need to run away from the aristocratic society, so that no one can find me. If things go the same way they did in the past, and Hael kills everyone, I can also be ruled out as murdered. No one has any reason to look for me.

...

That's actually so sad... There's no one who would bother to look for me even if they don't find my body amongst the murdered people.

I lowered my head,

It should be understandable though. My father doesn't like me, neither does my brother and following them, no one from the mansion is fond of me either. And all the so-called friends I have are just for show. My circle consists of people like me.

All there to gossip and belittle other people.

...

A sad sarcastic smile spread on my face as I realized what a shit life I have. Although I can't control my family, I could still have made better friends. But no,

"My Lady," Tracy was done combing my hair, "Your sixteenth birthday is right around the corner,"

...

Hmmm?

What did she just say is right about the corner? I raised my head to look in the mirror, where I could see Tracy's reflection while she looked back at me through the reflection.

My eyes went wide

"Wait, what!?!?!?" I shot my eyes at her as I turned my head around, "My what!?!"

She rolled her eyes at me, "You're turning sixteen in five days, you told me to remind you to write the invitations."

My heart beat started to rise as the dread caused my mind to bog up.

I'm turning sixteen in a few days? Doesn't that mean I have less time than I thought I did?!?

That means I have two years left, not three!!!

MY GOD!?!?!??!

I stood up in a frenzy

SHIT!!!!

***

I fried my brain the whole day, thinking of what to do. I needed to plan things out even faster knowing I only had limited time left.

I wrote the invitations and sent them out and had the basic necessities done. The Head Maid is supposed to look after the arrangement so I let her do her thing while I spent my time looking for a solution for my problem.

By night fall, I was so mentally drained, I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow

But the mental pressure didn't let me sleep for long.

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling thirsty.

"Water," I whispered the word as I looked for my water jug that's usually by my bedside table. I spotted it immediately but as soon as I picked it up, I noticed it was empty

What the hell?

Tracy the bitch! She didn't even fill in my water! Does she think working as a maid is a joke? Ah! She gets on my nerves so much

I should fire her!

...

But I'm not going to get another maid. Father is just going to lash out on me. And all the servants know that, that's why they act like little shits.

I clicked my tongue and thought about going to sleep again but my throat was pretty dry.

Should I call another maid?

I glanced towards the window.

No, everyone must be asleep at this time. I grabbed the jug from the table and took it with me. I'll just fill the water in myself. I went out of my room, in the dark hallway. The big windows made the corridors visible as the moonlight seeped in.

I've never been to the kitchen but there should be a water barrel there. I made my way to the first floor and walked towards the lower quarter. It felt really eerie walking around in the middle of the night. There was no person in sight and it was a little scary.

It also reminded me of how I was never scared in my house in modern times. It was a small house after all but it was so cozy. I smiled at the memory as I walked on the cobble stone but then I heard a weird sound that scared the shit out of me.

What was that!!? I had just entered the kitchen when the noise erupted out of nowhere.

Shit!

What the hell was that?!? I gripped the jug tightly in my hands.

I looked around, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so I began to walk again. I spotted the water barrel pretty fast, must be fear instincts on work but I was thankful for them.

"Ahh~" I froze again when I heard that sound, "Ahnn!"

Ah shit,

My mind cleared up and I felt disgusted.

Who the hell is having sex in the kitchen!!! And this late in the night at that!!

"Yes~ Right there!!" It was a female voice which sounded familiar but I chose to ignore it.

I quietly walked over to the water barrel but the voice only got louder.

"AH~ More! Keep going!!"

I stopped by the edge of the table where the water barrel was placed. Right by the end of the table was a big door frame with no door that led to the second kitchen.

I quietly removed the lid of the barrel, it was heavy so I quickly put it to the side as the erotic sounds filled the dark space.

GOSH!

Couldn't these people find a bedroom? Why a kitchen of all places?!?

I heard their groans as I scooped the water out of the barrel with my jug, filling it with one go.

Okay! I looked at my water jug.

Time to leave!!

"AH~ Yes, Hael!!"

I froze in my path right when I was about to make a run for it.

Hael?

There was a tingle in my heart, like a sting. And now that I had heard the name, there was no way I could stop myself from moving to look through the door frame.

Moonlight seeped in through the large kitchen windows as I stood in front of the big hole in the wall to look at the people on the other side. The maid, Tracy was on the big kitchen table, her nightgown all the way up leaving everything of hers exposed while the man was dressed, he didn't take anything of his off, he just had his pants unzipped and his 'thing' inside of her.

Something cracked inside of me. My heart plummeted like a stone sinking into an abyss as I stood frozen in the doorway. The sight before me was crushing my soul and for a moment, I felt my mind go blank.

I stood there like a ghost, the jug of water tightly in my grip as I was afraid of letting it go and breaking it.

I watched as Tracy let out satisfied moans and when they were done, she finally lifted her head up but her smile immediately dropped, "MY LADY!?!?" Tracy noticed me first and screamed out my name as she looked at me in horror, causing the man to look behind too.

Ah...

As his eyes met mine and I saw his face in the searing moonlight, I confirmed that it was indeed Hael who was pummeling Tracy.

The sight before me was a dagger aimed at the very core of my being, plunging me into a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. I may have come back in time, but I must still harbor feelings for him because a surge of anguish tore through me,

Like the raw pain of betrayal twisting like a knife in my chest. I gulped, trying my best to not let it show on my face but I'm sure I must have failed.

"My Lady," Hael immediately pulled his zip up while Tracy pulled her dress down.

"M-my lady!!" Tracy was a nervous wreck, way more than Hael who was simply shocked that I was here.

Ah,

It clicked immediately,

So this is why they chose the kitchen. It's a place where nobles never step foot in. In the world of aristocrats, a kitchen is a place only for servants. Since everything made in the kitchen has to be served and serving is only done by the lower class.

I turned around with the water jug in my hand. Thankfully, I didn't drop and shatter it, because now, I felt even thirstier.

I walked away and I heard shuffling behind me. I even heard muffled talking but I didn't hear them come after me.

I went to my room, poured myself a glass, hoping it would quench the fire in my chest but it didn't and so, I had no choice but to lay down on the bed and bear with it.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, falling down the moment my head hit the pillow sideways.

What a foolish person I am,

I pursed my lips as I closed my eyes as my heart trembled in my chest.

I was in pain,

Such a stupid little thing. I clenched my fists. This is the man who is going to kill me in the future and I still like him?

I buried my face in the pillow

I must have been too far in love with him if that's the case.

I covered all of myself with the blanket.

I'm glad at least they didn't follow me back to my room.

My heart hurt too much.

I rolled myself into a ball, crouching as I laid down and wrapped my arms around my knees.

The tears rolled down sideways, wetting the silk bedsheet under me as I tightly zipped my mouth, so as not to let a sound out.

I'm really going to leave this place.

I gulped, trying to keep my voice from coming out but I couldn't stop the tears no matter how much I tried. They kept coming out as the scene that agonized me kept replaying in my head.

I sniffled as quietly as I could,

I'm going to run away and I'm going to make sure no one can ever find me.