Bab 16: LESSON LEARNED

THUD!

Olivia had fallen on the ground after Felicia slapped her across her face. Her aura was claiming how dignified her action was despite slapping someone. She was confident with what she did towards the maid who cried because of her action.

"Tell me, are you being like this because you think that I do not deserve any respect? So you think just because I was abandoned and mistreated, you can act high and mighty?" Felicia asked as she kneeled in front of Olivia, and held her chin to make Olivia look at her.

"You're one hell of a funny maid," Felicia whispered in her ear as she leaned closer to the maid, making Olivia flinch at how chill her voice sounded. Felicia noticed that Olivia was trembling, her hands that supported her body curled into fists and she was sure that this woman was glaring at her.

"Remember, that your life may be owned by you, but I still have your contract. I can decide whether to sell you to those wild dogs, abandon you in a desert, assassinate you, and other ways just to remind you that you are stuck in this hell with me." Felicia said, chuckling at her dying state.

"You should be thanking me instead that I'm not at least fed you to the dogs. Because if you crossed the line between me and my patience, I would've done that and watched how dogs tried to rip your skin." She added.

"You wouldn't like that, do you? Let's say that if I were to sell you to those rabid and sickening men, who would save you?" Felicia asked, facing Olivia who was staring at her with fear and contemplation.

"Lady Helena will!" Olivia fought, fiercely looking at Felicia. Her expression shows how determined and confident she is that Helena would save her if ever Felicia sold her to those uncultured men, defying the law.

But her answer only made Felicia laugh hysterically which made her expression falter and change into confusion. Olivia sure wasn't expecting that Felicia would just laugh at her answer when she was so damn serious about it.

"W-what are you laughing for?!" Olivia asked irritatedly as her brows furrowed, snarling at Felicia who was laughing, her hand on Olivia's shoulder while she was laughing hard. This girl is really funny! Fancy her imagining something delirious.

"You really think that Helena will save you? That spoiled, rotten, and childish Helena? Oh my, seems like you're feeding your delusions that Helena will forever let you board into her daydream." Felicia said, wiping her tears as she stood up and went back to her seat on her bed.

"Deary, you simply haven't understood her personality that well. Assumptions and delusions can ruin one's life." Felicia presumed, looking at Olivia with a smug smile across her face.

"You think that if I were to fall into this trap that both of you have set up, she wouldn't blame you? Listen, girly and learn from me." Felicia muttered. She really needs to make this girl open up her wits and realize that Helena isn't the kind bitch that she thinks she is.

"I am still a Duke's daughter, first lady of the Dukedom and born from the Duchess herself. So if I were to fall into this trap, Helena would have been blamed since she used the Duke's name in vain. Who do you think will suffer from this blame?" She asked, putting her finger on her chin as if she was thinking while looking at Olivia.

Olivia started to turn pale, she felt like she lost her voice as it was too dry. She was trembling in fear while looking down. Seeing that her reaction was priceless, Felicia smirked and continued to ruin her mind. After all, maids who disregard their master shall be punished.

"It would be you." She muttered, enough for Olivia to hear her nonchalant voice with her smug expression, having fun torturing her with words.

"Think of this darling, since I blamed that it was Helena, Helena would surely deny but since you're the prime key of this trap, I would tell the Duke that it's you who called me instead while you reply that it was Helena who ordered you. And if that happens, who do you think will the Duke side? Of course, Helena. Since he doesn't show any affection to me, Helena would push the blame on you and that is called cutting the tail. She's using you to sacrifice yourself while she maintains her position." Felicia explained what would happen.

Of course, she wouldn't fall into this trap and she already knew about this. If not for her sharp sense of her weird action, she wouldn't have been able to figure out that it was a trap planted by Helena.

Although she thought that it might be the Duchess. Seems like she was wrong in this part.

"You really should've put an effort into picking who's your master. I'm not suggesting anything but just because that person is influential, doesn't mean that they are worth to aid. Remember, those who are innocent-looking are two-faced. Either they will backstab you, or you will be sacrificed for their sake." Felicia append.

"Well? So what do you think? Still into trying to ruin my patience and wreck me with your pathetic schemes? Or ruin yourself for someone's sake? Because either way, I'll accept them." Felicia said, wiggling her eyebrows as she looked at the poor maid, unable to reply to her.

Olivia's head hung low, she wasn't speaking anything. She stayed still, kneeling on the ground with a red mark across her cheek because of the slap. Her hands were still curled into fists. Her physique was trembling and Felicia thought it was because of her mind break.

"If you stand in my way, remember what I said, Olivia. Your choices are either getting eaten or having a slow-burn death. Both are satisfying anyways." Felicia said, grinning maliciously.

Her tone was authoritative, commanding, and full of threats Olivia thought that she was underestimating Felicia's abilities to do all of those things that she mentioned to her. Just the thought of being in those situations, Olivia teared up, crying as she didn't want anything to happen.

"I-I just followed Lady Helena's order... Please, My Lady, let me live... I want to live, I'm begging you..." Olivia cried. It seems that her intimidation has reached her mind's full capacity and she starts to beg for Felicia's mercy.

Olivia didn't stand, she crawled onto her legs, holding onto them as she cried heavily while begging for her mercy. Yet Felicia remained indignant and nonchalant. Her stoic face was looking at the woman who cried, begging for her that she wanted to live.

Her cries were so loud and scared that you could figure out that she had carefully thought about it. Fear had consumed her head as she resorted to begging, which Felicia didn't think about. She thought that Olivia was too headstrong and it would be hard to break her mind.

But look at her now, crying and pleading to her pathetically. Felicia sighs, looks like she unintentionally gained a follower by hitting her realisation. That wasn't even her plan. She just wanted to break her after all.

"Why are you crying? I was only telling you about your fate. Nothing's wrong with your fate after all. Simply put, it's everyone's fate for those who aren't born with a diamond spoon in their mouth." She said, shaking her head.

Why does she need to be bothered over this trifling matter?

"Please... I'll do everything! Just let me live! I'll serve you well! Please!" She continued to plead for her life into Felicia, wailing over her life as she sobbed loudly that it irked Felicia's ears.

"Serve me? What for? Don't you think that you did so much to me? Do you think I will accept you after you abused me just because I was abandoned? Deary, I don't give second chances."Felicia snorted, rolling her eyes.

Ultimately, Olivia abandoned her too, mistreating her instead of taking care of her. She stole some jewels and left her in that musty atmosphere. She let her grow sticks and bones and bullied her constantly. For what reason would she give her a second chance after the things she did to her?

If she was the old Felicia, of course, Felicia would still be under constant abuse and mistreatment and it's impossible for Felicia to live along with everyone who's filled with malicious intent.

But she's not Felicia...

"Young Miss! Please! Forgive me! Please forgive me I beg you! I will serve you with honesty! Just please protect me! I don't want to die yet! I want to live! Young Miss, I'm begging you!" Olivia cried. She can't just die yet!

"Serve me with honesty? Isn't that what you're supposed to do? Serve me with honesty and full responsibility. But what did you do? You chose to ignore me and join them. You rip what you sow, Olivia. And I hope you're not disappointed with what you got at the end. Seriously, it's because you did it and I'm out of it. That's none of my responsibilities anymore." She said as she opened her fingers and looked at her nails.

"Oh... Look at that, my nails are filled with dirt. I really should cut it. Isn't that right, Olivia?" Felicia said, grinning ear to ear as she stared at Olivia, mad as the hatter. It's fun toying with someone.

"I'll do whatever you want, Young Lady! I apologize for my rudeness and incapabilities! I really shouldn't have done that! Please! I don't want to die... I want to be with you!" Olivia yelled in frustration and desperation.

Her eyes flash with despair, clinging to Felicia her face looking deprived and looking insane. She was getting out of her head because of this ploy that Felicia started. She was stuck with anxiousness and paranoia, thinking about her own death.

Felicia went silent and made her heart freeze in fear. She felt like the time had stopped and favoured Felicia who was looking coldly at her. She was getting desperate, craving Felicia's attention and answer.

Her heart was beating rapidly, her eyes trembling as her lips started to quiver. Tears were falling like streams as she clasped her hands, praying that Felicia would accept her apology and start their relationship once again. But her silence was alarming and her anxiety was rising.

"M-master..." She cried.

"Sure... Sure thing... I will accept you." Felicia said with her face full of seriousness. But inside, Felicia was laughing and mocking Olivia for having a weak mind. Such a feeble person! So weak in the guts!