章 12: Chapter 12

The little girl went to the bakery shop. She sat down on the cold pavement. Waited for something that will never arrive. Peace. The little girl dreamed for her family to return. The sky darkened, and she decided to lessen their burdens. She patted her dress and stood with determination in her eyes that she could take on anything. Foolish, as Ria watched from the sidelines, she saw the little girl's moment of conviction.

'It's hopeless.' Ria thought.

The little girl was long gone and a young woman had walked out of a mansion. Ria knew well the nightmares she had suffered in that place. The young woman's uncle was a merchant, she dealt with the provocative words and actions of her uncle's friends. A caged bunny with beasts of all kinds encircled her.

She walked towards her safe place while humming a low tune, it was her way of maintaining her sanity.

The busy streets made her lost in thought, a man suddenly bumped into her, "You should've looked at where you're going!" The man patted his vest and left in a hurry. It seems that the mister was running for his life, the young woman chuckled. How fortunate to be able to run for your life.

She snapped out of her thoughts, a moment of a loud voice triggered the uneasiness she hid. What can a frail woman like her do? It's been years since her father sent her to her caring uncle. After seeing her mother's cold eyes as she left, she never sent a letter or asked about their well-being. Her uncle once bragged about having his brother lower than him. Both of him and his wife were out in the streets working their lives away. They ended up surrendering their title because the debts of her father ate all their beloved fortunes.

The young woman's skin hugged her bones, years of staying in the capital as someone below a maid had cost her to lose her vibrant looks. The young woman's lips tugged upwards into a broken smile. She headed towards her secret place. Although she served her uncle, they would occasionally let her out of the residence. They knew that the young woman wasn't brave enough to run away.

She passed deserted alleyways and arrived at an abandoned house. The young woman lifted the ragged cloth that served as a barrier from the intruders. The broken furnishings greeted her sight. It was her haven in the midst of her nightmare. She sat down near the window, observing the empty streets.

A few drops of rainwater would occasionally drip, and squeaks of lively rats would join her. A loud crashing of crates disrupted the young woman's moment of peace. She flinched as it was impossible that cats could cause the commotion. She reached and before she got in contact with the ragged cloth, it was flung open and ended up at the end of the street.

A man dressed in noble clothing met her eyes. His lips tugged upwards sent shivers down the young woman's back. She froze as she looked up at the man that appeared to be from her fears.

The young woman backed and tripped over a stool. The damp floor caught her bottom. The man chuckled at her attempt to escape. She greatly amused him by acting like a caged bunny. He closed their distance as he squatted down. The young woman's eyes widened and her heart was attempting to escape her body.

"What are you afraid of?" The man asked.

It wasn't a mere question; it was a knife pointed at her neck. Her words drowned in her throat as she gulped, the fear spilling out of her face.

The man laughed, "What are you afraid of?"

She couldn't answer. She knew well her fears, the feelings that bloomed in her heart when she was first invited to her uncle's party. The mocking gaze of the women who knew what she did at night. The young woman remained silent. She became one with the eerie silence of the run-down house.

He saw the little bunny trembling for dear life. His smile grew wider, "Do you want to be saved?" He touched the delicate face of the prey in front of him. His hand froze the young woman's cheek. The indescribable pressure he omitted made her breathless.

"Go to the Imperial Duke Grandis, he will help you. You will be part of the grand play!" The man smiled. The pleasure in his eyes was the kiss of death for her.

He offered his hand, "I know you will not disappoint me."

The young woman trembled as she grasps the light of hope being offered by him. She didn't care if the Duke would shun her away, but it was her last straw from escaping. She would gamble with everything to pay back the people that dirtied her. The grievances she suffered; she would return every nightmare they gave.

Before the young woman touched him, the man vanished. She was left alone in a dark room. The water dripped, and the shuffles returned.

Ria remembered the scenario played in front of her. She knew the feeling of being cornered, the desperation that she prayed in her heart to not die from then. Ria slapped herself and laughed, she almost forgot her benefactor that enlightened and led her into the light.

The market burst with life, sellers bargained with their buyers. The young woman straightened and patted her cheeks. The etiquette lessons that she was taught by heart during her childhood came back as help to attract the attention of the Duke.

She waited until the sun passed noon. There was still no sign of her target. She was sure that the Duke would conduct his inspection in this part of the capital. The young woman has enough information about what the Duke looked like if he went out for his official work. The children from the slums described him vividly. She felt that she had missed the opportunity of a lifetime. The status of being one of his women made her determined to lower her dignity until it was buried seven feet underground.

The young woman lost all her will and turned back, in the corner of her sight, a man dressed in common clothing stood silently as he observed the exchange between the market. A man whose presence felt non-existent accompanied him.

She brightened her smile and approached the Duke, "Excuse me, Sir?"

"Yes?" The Duke raised his brow.

"Would you care for tea?"

He nodded and the young woman led them to a nearby café. The man sat a table away while the Duke was opposite of her, wearing an expressionless gaze. The tea grew colder and silence kept lingering in the air.

Duke Grandis cleared his throat and said, "If what you are thinking is unlikely for a lady, I am not interested."

As he was about to leave, the young woman grabbed him by the arm, "N-no Sir, I…"

"I will not understand you if you speak like that."

"I… I am Ria, a baron's daughter, and I'm aware of who you are."

He raised his brow and scoffed, "If you are well aware of who I am, may you please let go of my arm? I am a married man."

"Then, p-please take your seat once again Your Grace." Ria retreated in a hushed voice.

Duke Grandis sat and tapped his fingers on the table, "Well? You are disrupting my schedule, lady."

Ria bowed her head, "Please give me work sir… I…" She looked up with desperation present in her eyes, "I could do anything! Even if His Grace needs company at night…"

The man sitting a table away stood up, "Disgraceful! How dare you suggest such vulgar ideas?"

The cafe was rarely packed with people, none heard the thunderous voice of the man. Ria trembled and kept her head low, "Your Grace, I beg of you to let me take care of this indecent woman." The man knelt.

"You don't need to be on guard too much." Duke Grandis waved his hand.

"But…"

"Let the lady talk, Mark." He brushed off Mark's opposition.

Duke Grandis looked at Ria with a cold stare. The tapping of his fingers became audible, his brows furrowed, "Talk."

Ria fell on her knees, she clasped her fists until it turned white, "Please give me work… Anything, I'll do anything. Please."

"Before asking for something, you should've stated your background."

She banged her head on the floor and cried out, "I am a baron's daughter, sold to my uncle to pay off our debts. They treated me with maliciousness and was less than an animal. Please save me, Your Grace!"

Duke Grandis smirked and stood, "Tomorrow, come to the Grandis' residence. I assume you know where it is." He tossed a small coin, "Show this to the butler, tell him you're the new pet."

The mansion in front of Ria appeared daunting. Majestic gates that scare off the faint-hearted. She took a deep breath and walked towards the gatekeeper.

"Hol' up lady, what is your purpose? Why are you carrying a case?" The gatekeeper asked.

"I've come as… as…"

"What are you stuttering for?"

The words caught up on her throat as she steadied herself, "I've come as the new pet."

The gatekeeper nodded and the gates opened with a resounding creak. Ria walked for a few minutes. A carriage was the usual means to enter the inner gates of the Grandis's residence, unable to rent transportation she could only traverse on foot. She passed by vast flower beds, and statues crafted with the delicateness of a master.

An old man with a pocket watch on his hand welcomed her sight, "Late for three minutes.