Chapter 21

"Ria!"

Fione shook her, but Ria stared aimlessly. The chaotic room wouldn't have belonged to a lady, it was more for a woman from the slums. The beddings were thrown on the other side of the room and her clothes scattered on the floor. She picked up the spilled pills, these medicines caused a fortune, and Ria carelessly tossed it around.

Fione knew the Lady's grace for giving her personal maid. Everyone was aware that Ria was Cailina's preferred servant, but the former chose to take roads she couldn't take. She glanced at the listless maid.

"Ria, our Lady will call you to serve her again," She sat on the bed, "I really envy you, you have the servant's dream of having… and here you are…"

Ria snapped her attention at Fione. She staggered and gripped Fione's neck, "You- you think I want this?"

Her hold tightened, "The nightmares. They came back!"

Fione gasped for air, her head pounded with her heart, "Le-let go!"

She struggled to break free from Ria's hold. She knew the nightmares, but never thought that it could make a person breakdown like this.

"N-no, I can't let go…" Ria trembled as her grip loosen, "Save me Fione! Anyone… Save me!"

She looked over the person behind Fione, a faceless man staring into her soul. The man morphed into a familiar face, a smile that she longed to wash away from her mind. Ria grabbed Fione's shoulder, "Call His Grace!"

The Duke would want Ria to be silent rather than spouting nonsense to come to her rescue.

Fione patted Ria's hands, her trembling frame and ghastly face made Fione nervous. The result of sleepless nights of the little lady's personal maid was evident on her hollow cheeks. Ria hugged Fione as her dear life depended on it.

"Fione, I don't want to die yet! Take the man away, please!" Ria cried, her snot-filled face rubbed on the terrified maid's shoulder, "He's here… Behind you…"

The figure remained still, his gaze never left her. Ria's screams crept into Fione's ears. His hand slithered and caressed Ria's face. The touch aroused her horrors in life. A sinister presence pounded on her mind's doors as she tightened her hold unto Fione.

'Let us in, Ria.'

'Don't be afraid, will never cause you harm.'

'There is no salvation for a damned soul… We are willing to be with you.'

'Yes, let us in!'

"No! No! Get away from me! I'm not insane…" Ria cupped Fione's face, and her eyes widened in fear, "They won't take me away, right? Answer me!"

She prayed that anyone of divine authority will deliver her out of these nightmares.

A few maids barged into the room and held back the shivering woman. Ria scratched the faces of those who tried to calm her.

Fione took a deep breath, "Take her away."

She couldn't sympathize with Ria's predicament. It never happened to her, she took one last look at the insane woman who was once full of vitality and rules.

"You must believe me! No one is safe here… no one will be saved!" Ria's shrill voice made Fione's nerves shaken. The other servants composed themselves as though the disturbing claims were never uttered.

Cailina sipped her tea as she listened to her maid's reports. How pitiful, she never thought that her father's medicine would do such a thing. She sighed, "How is she now?"

"Ria's calmed down, my Lady," Fione said. Her misty eyes were apparent in Cailina's cold ones. The horrifying cries of Ria three days ago still played like a music box in a loop.

"Is there something else?" She tapped her finger on her ring, "Don't hesitate."

She has no time to spare for a mad maid. Aris' well-being comes first from all her toys. Wayward pets are insignificant to her eyes.

Fione choked on her words and tried to say the words that terrified her, "Ria has also said that no one will be saved. My Lady, please pardon her outrageous words… I- I beg for her light punishment."

The birds have already hidden deep within their abodes, it's time to let the troubled rest like the small creatures that once freely flew in the warmth of summer. Cailina smiled, "Your worries are far-fetched. She will be at peace after you talked with her."

Cailina paused in front of Aris' room. The puppy's shallow breaths tied her heart, she sighed and entered. The thick blankets cocooned Aris, he would occasionally gasp for air. She gripped her fists. She missed Aris' energetic state. He was her escape from the game of chess her father played with her.

"You need to get better soon," Cailina whispered, "You have to."

She stayed beside him until the moonlight slipped inside the room. The call for dinner had long passed, so she looked out the window. The moon was peaceful if Aris could see the beauty of the night of fall.

"I'll end my classes sooner, so I can accompany you in this boring room," She smiled, "Oh, and I've greatly improved with my dancing…"

Aris' eyes were still closed, and his struggle for peace continued. Cailina sighed and stood, a small hand grasped hers. She looked at his soft grip, her eyes welled up. Her lips tugged upwards as she gently patted his hand.

"Focus on getting better," Cailina said.

"Lady, let's go fishing," The puppy whispered, "and… eat cakes, strawberry."

Cailina smiled, "Alright. Eat until you can't."

She wanted to stay longer, but her father's attendant has been waiting outside of the room. She sighed and headed towards her father's study. The room warmed her icy hands and feet. She waited for whatever matter her father wished to talk about. It was late at night and Duke Grandis was still working. She admired the dedication of her father has for his work.

The silence danced around the room. Cailina has drunk a cup of tea and her father has yet to speak. She glanced at the documents piled on the table that was supposed to be her future, buried underneath paperwork and dealing with noblemen. A pity that she ended up marrying into the royal family.

"Cailina," Duke Grandis called out, "How is… your pet?"

"Who's pet does father refer to?" She asked. She has plenty of pets, her father needed to be specific.

"Right, the favored one."

Cailina let out another breath, and played with her ring, "Aris is still in bed, sick. Father, can I request another doctor?"

She wanted her puppy's liveliness back. If her father can summon a skilled doctor, all will return to its place.

Her father nodded, "Alright, he will come after a few days."

Seeing his daughter's mood plummeted with each passing day, he could at least do this much.

"Father, is the man behind the show caught yet?" Cailina asked. The sooner that rascal was found, her worries will cease.

"The matter dove a little deeper into the noble circle. There are people we can afford to offend, but the monarch doesn't want us to offend." He sighed.

"Oh…" Disappointment flashed in her eyes, "Then, the debt will be settled later?"

Her father's smile gave her assurance, "Yes. No one messes with the Grandis."

He tapped his fingers under his arm, hidden from her daughter's sight. Cailina would've known the reason, but he would reveal everything in their right moment.

The little lady grinned, "I will be the one to…" and gestured beheading.

"Indeed, my precious. Alright, I will hand the honor to you."

They smiled, and plans formed into the father and daughter's mind. The silence broke as her father cleared his throat.

"Your mother will also return from her trip. Make sure she won't hear about what happened," Duke Grandis added, "You may retire for the night."

She curtseyed and bid her goodnight, "Remember my daughter, a pet will always be a pet."

Cailina understood her father's warning. She knew well what those words meant. A pet will for eternity remain that way, a line she never thought of crossing.

-

A laugh echoed in the dimly lit hallways and stairs of the dungeon, a woman clanged her chains as she backed away. Ria faced the faceless figure that followed her anywhere. The torches flickered and made the man's silhouette vague.

"What do you want from me?" Ria shouted, "I have nothing to give! Leave me be… I beg of you."

She believed that the medicines caused the appearance of the man. It was the doing of the people she saw as her salvation. Despair and pain were etched on Ria's face. The faceless man tempted her with the very weakness her heart has, love.

Her laugh drowned the silence of the man. She rattled the bars and frightened a few like her, "No one will be saved! Unless… unless the Faes shower us with their grace."

"None will escape… Listen to me!"

Fione heard the former personal maid's howls of pain. She used to be her Lady's favorite pet, but she ended up being consumed by jealousy. Ria was the perfect pet, silent and obedient.

Ria's cell was the only one that sounded in the entire dungeon. The others' existence never bothered the persons that managed this divine-forsaken place. Once entered one of its cells, only a miracle could save them.

Ria has everything a servant wanted, and yet she decided to throw it all out of the window.

Fione tapped the bars, "Ria…"

The woman reacted with a scream and she tried to grab her collar. She chuckled, "Now, why would you try to hurt your fellow?"

Her smile vanished, the pity she felt for Ria disappeared and replaced by a mocky gaze, "Ah, no… How are you feeling?"

Horror showed on Ria's face, "You! I was tricked by that child and her father!"