Chapter 7

Indeed, I had always lived with fervor. In the shadows of a forsaken childhood, I wandered the streets in search of sustenance. As I matured, I learned the art of survival, evading squalor and hardship. Eventually, I found a mentor to whom I pledged unwavering loyalty, vowing to lead a dignified life.

I’d sooner embrace death than endure this wretched body any longer. There was no spark of motivation to live recklessly; rather, my second chance at life proved only marginally less miserable. Looking back, it was a sorry existence squandered on one person, despite my utmost efforts to make the most of it. Yet, even after expending all my strength and striving to live fully, the will to fight fiercely had deserted me.

But what did my desperation to live reap? It culminated not in a bitter death after dedicating myself to a beloved spouse, only to be betrayed and slain by a trusted disciple. Having already tasted death once, I felt a profound reluctance to embrace life anew. What purpose was there in living a life bound for death?

Yet, trapped in a body incapable of even standing, death remained an elusive choice. Instead, I was condemned to pass my days under the watchful eyes of maids, in the company of Blair.

Blair’s devotion to his sister was deeply moving, almost bringing tears to the eyes of those who witnessed it. Each morning, he tenderly lifted her into a carriage for their daily stroll, ensuring she was fed with meticulously prepared fruits along the way. He tirelessly aided her in rehabilitation, guiding her unsteady steps weaker than a toddler’s.

Every day, he showered her with declarations of love, both before she woke and as she drifted to sleep. His unwavering affection, coupled with reassurances that she was the most cherished presence in his world, imbued her with a sense of unparalleled significance.

“Do I not inconvenience you, oppa?” I would sometimes timidly ask.

“Inconvenience? I cherish every moment spent with you,” he would respond with genuine warmth.

For me, an orphan, it was a novel yet delightful sensation. Merely beholding Blair, who cared for me with boundless love as if I were his own blood, stirred within me a profound guilt for ever contemplating death.

Do I have any right to inhabit this body? It was a belated realization.

If Odelliana were a living being, where had her soul wandered off to? Did Lelusha exist in this timeline as well? Was it possible that, in some twist of fate, the souls of Lelusha and Odelliana had traded places, resulting in this current predicament?

If that were the case, would it be justifiable to entertain thoughts of suicide? What if the rightful owner of this body yearned for its return? I resolved to uncover the truth of her existence in this timeline, and to ascertain the whereabouts of Lady Odelliana’s soul.

I couldn’t bear to disrupt another’s life for my own selfish desires. Despite the ruin that had befallen my existence, I couldn’t help but wonder if Odelliana might perceive things differently.

Reflecting on the surreal reality of inhabiting another’s body, it appeared almost inevitable that others might encounter such an anomaly. Instead of entertaining fleeting thoughts of death, I resolved to embark on a quest to locate the original inhabitant of this body and perhaps even Lelusha, wherever she may be.

Yet, this seemingly modest pursuit of purpose was thwarted by a formidable obstacle: the incessant surveillance imposed by the maids who held dominion over me day and night. Before addressing the discomforts of this foreign body, I needed to confront the oppressive presence of these attendants.

While Blair remained by my side for now, his impending departure back to Duke Gruegelbart’s estate loomed large. Once he left, I would be ensnared within the confines of that wretched place, a livestock in a pen.

To effect any change, I needed to overturn the current order. The roles reversed, with maids assuming mastery and masters reduced to mere chattel, demanded correction. The sole avenue of reprieve from the maids’ tyranny lay through Blair’s intervention.

However, in my present state, any entreaty to Blair risked being dismissed as the delusions of a distressed sister, afflicted by what would be perceived as mental malaise. None would lend credence to the pleas of a noblewoman seemingly besieged by madness.

The most viable course of action necessitated firsthand exposure to the maids’ transgressions. But how could I orchestrate such a revelation? How might I unveil the true nature of these attendants before Blair, who regarded them solely as dutiful servants?

For nearly a week, I pondered this dilemma, devising strategies to unveil their atrocities and create a pretext for securing Blair’s undivided protection.

“Oppa,” I began, my voice a soft murmur.

“Yes, Odel?” Blair responded, his gaze softening.

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“Always,” Blair replied without hesitation. He leaned in slightly. My arms snaked around his neck, drawing him closer. With a conspiratorial smile, I whispered my request in his ear.

Blair listened intently, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Yeah, okay,” he finally agreed. “Let’s do it.”

***

“Phew, that was a close call,” a maid gasped, heart hammering in her chest.

“Yeah, seriously.” Another shuddered. “To think of him stuck here for a whole month!”

“But why did he leave so suddenly?”

“He mentioned some urgent business and had to leave immediately.”

Blair’s abrupt departure came as a surprise. With him gone, she found herself swiftly expelled from the premises. The annex, once an old warehouse designated for miscellaneous storage, now served as her dismal prison. The door remained bolted, the lock securely fastened.

In Blair’s absence, the maids reverted to their true nature, reveling in their newfound freedom. They celebrated the departure of their unwanted charge with a lavish party, uncorking expensive champagne and indulging in extravagant meat and seafood dishes. Meanwhile, she languished in the annex, subsisting on meager rations of hard bread, pungent cheese, and dried jerky. It became apparent that the funds and provisions allocated for living expenses vanished into their own pockets.

While they caroused, she toiled tirelessly, scrubbing the filthy room and practicing standing and walking alone, enduring countless stumbles and falls that left her bruised and battered. The maids paid no heed to her plight, providing only the bare essentials before locking her away each day.

For a week, she endured this cruel confinement, her clothes stained with filth, the room reeking of decay, infested with vermin and insects. The squalor surpassed even the dire conditions of the stables and huts she once sought refuge in during her days of destitution in the slums.

As she gradually adjusted to the harsh reality of her surroundings, a tumult outside shattered the eerie silence. Desperate cries mingled with frantic voices, drawing nearer with urgent footsteps. Among them, a familiar voice pierced through the chaos.

“Where has the poor child gone?”

“Well, milady stepped out briefly…”

“In this pouring rain, with her delicate condition?”

“Well, you see…”

Blair’s voice, fraught with concern, resonated through the air. His footsteps echoed as he combed through the mansion in search of her. Sensing trouble, he confronted the maids, coercing them to reveal her whereabouts. With a click, the lock on the annex door was undone, and the creaking wood heralded Blair’s arrival.

Odelliana huddled on the floor, meeting Blair’s gaze as he beheld her pitiful state with a mix of disbelief and dismay. His voice trembled as he uttered, “…What has happened here?”