Chapter 7: Cold ( II )
Viria was unbearable. It was not the physical abuse that lead her to this calculation. Lumielle had endured enough physical abuse to not even blink an eye at the pain. It was her patience that made Viria a menace. The slow grating wheels of her patience were slowly coming to an end.
"That's a very pretty necklace," Lumielle said as the female looked at the necklace around the head maid's neck. That was her own. There was no way that a young maid would be able to afford it.
It amused her to some twisted degree. So was this where all her gifts were going? Straight into the pockets of those that abused her. Was this the very reason that she had never been able to dress lavishly? After all, she remembered those around her asking if she had seen the gifts that they had sent. All of it was done out to debauchery. After all, they were trying to buy her favor.
It didn't upset her that Viria was taking her own jewels. She would get her own in the near future. But, it was tasteless.
Viria's eyes grew clouded, "Are you trying to insinuate something?" Indeed, the flashy necklace didn't suit the plain maid's uniform that she wore. It felt rather odd to see the two together. It was as if she was trying to make a statement on how corrupt she was.
Lumielle gave a smile, "Not at all." It was a simple observation but to see her grow irate over it? It gave her an iota of pleasure.
Viria snarled at her. This girl was smiling at her, and there was something wicked about it. Walking towards her, Lumielle simply remained smiling. Viria's eyes were narrowed as the young female was slapped across the face, "You should respect those that take care of you."
The Head Maid wanted to slap that smug look off her face. That smile grated her pique. How could she act so pretentious despite it all? It bothered her.
Lumielle's fingers dug into her palm. There was not an apology that dripped from her lips. She would no longer beg or plead. She had used to grab onto Viria's leg begging her to stop hitting her and she saw that it only fueled her sadism. Lumielle would take it. She had too much pride. Bowing her head, Viria grabbed her hair, "Are you not going to say anything?!" She yelled.
It was laughable. Lumielle Castillo was the Princess of Endora. The only daughter of the Emperor and the Empress. Yet, this was how she was being treated? It made her almost laugh. There was something ironic about this situation. Did Viria realize that this was a crime? Yet, was a crime, a crime if no one was punished for it?
No. It wasn't.
No one had punished those that had treated the Imperial bloodline like this. Thus, they ran rampant. Being shoved to the ground, Lumielle placed her gaze on the marble tiles. Viria slammed her foot down against her as she raised her arm in defense. A footprint was placed across the pattern of her sleeve.
Her arm ached. Heaving heavily, her entire body ached. The maid huffed expansively, her lungs burning from the effort. Finally tired, Viria scoffed as she left. It seemed her fit of rage had ended.
Looking up at the ceiling, she realized that this posture did not befit a Princess. The door opened again to show Leo. Instantly, the blue-haired male rushed in front of her, "Are you alright, Princess?"
"Princess," Lumielle uttered as she took his hand and stood up. Wincing slightly as she extended her arm. Did a Princess get treated like this?
"There's no reason for you to ask a question you know the answer to," Lumielle said, her words were breezy. She didn't seem very interested in it as she sat down on the couch. A slight plush exhale pressing past her lips.
Leo stood behind her, his eyes looking at the sleeve and battered eappearance. Her arm ached from underneath, "Go train. I'll be fine by myself."
There was hesitance but the blue-haired male bowed his head and left her alone. Lumielle gritted her teeth. In the silence of her own room, she felt all the more exhausted. She felt absolutely powerless. Yet, she needed to wait. Looking outside, she could still feel the warmth of the sun.
"It's still quite warm," Lumielle mumbled to herself as she walked up the window. Pressing her fingers against the glass, the princess couldn't help but give herself a slight exhale. "I wonder when it'll get cold," Lumielle whispered, her eyes glinting maliciously in the light.
"Mielle?" A voice queried as the door opened to show Aris. A bright smile on his face as Lumielle quickly patted her arm down to smudge the mark that remained on her clothes.
Grinning, she sat down on the couch, "How is training with Sir Rowan going?" She asked as Aristele smiled. It was a blinding grin.
"Are you alright?" Aris asked. Indeed, she looked like a bit of a mess.
Lumielle gently petted his hair, "I'm fine. Tell me all about what you've been learning with Sir Rowan."
. . .
The dresses that she wore were all old and the one that she preferred the most had a hole in it. Sitting down on the couch, she brought a needle and thread. Lumielle had already mastered embroidery in her past life. This would be very simple for her to do. Sticking the needle inside, she pulled the thread through.
The door opened and she looked to see Viria. Lumielle let out a sigh. Was she allowed to enjoy a moment of peace in this forsaken mansion? She despised the Ruby Palace more than ever.
"What are you doing?" Viria asked as Lumielle looked down at the dress. Was she moronic? What did she think that Lumielle was doing?
Grabbing her hand, Lumielle flinched slightly, "Is there an issue? I was just fixing up my dresses." Her words were kind but she couldn't help but feel all the terser. There was annoyance hiding beneath her smile.
"Let me help," Viria exclaimed but she knew that it was just another insistence that would lead to Lumielle's misery.
"I would be honored," Lumielle stated. Yet, all she wanted Viria to do was leave her alone. Then again, what else would this woman do? It seemed she found some twisted satisfaction in torturing the two children of royal blood.
Did it make her feel as though she had some type of power over the royal family?
Viria's hand was clasped near her own as Lumielle felt the needle prick her finger. Blood lacquered the color of her dress, the soft blue hue becoming a rosy sanguine. Once more, she tried to move but her other finger was stabbed by the slender needle. Droplets colored her dress as Lumielle gave a smile, "I think I can do this part by myself."
Lumielle was pretending that her fingers didn't ache. She was keeping up the facade that this was alright. She didn't even flinch as Viria dug the needle inside of her skin. It hurt. It ached. Yet, the pain was temporary. She didn't need to worry about this anymore as long as Viria was gone.
Thus, she could pretend that she was fine.
"No, it would be good to have experienced hands. You aren't neglecting my help are you?" Viria asked, her grip tightening around her wrist. Lumielle's hand trembled from the sheer force. Still, she was a child and Viria was an adult. Wasn't this a bit too much?
Indeed, she was just cruel. Did Aris also endure this type of agony? It all made sense. The fact that he feared adults must have been only furthered by this woman. It made her blood boil. She wanted to strangle this maid. Yet, she knew that her suffering could not simply be made by a mere ending.
She would make this girl struggle.
Fingers bled red, small pinpricks being forced into her skin as she looked at her hands. It was almost as though she had clenched the thorns of a rose and it dug deep inside of her palm.
"It looks like the dress got dirty," Viria hummed. Her words were soft as Lumielle looked down at the baby blue dress. Indeed, crimson blots were seen. Blood saturating the silk.
"I'll have to dispose of this dress," she mumbled snatching the garment from Lumielle as her golden eyes viewed her with a certain apathetic nuisance. "Is that alright with you?" Viria asked, a smile curving upon her face.
Lumielle returned the smile, "Of course. It's unusable now."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone