A Rumor, Her Hope

"Wh-what? But it is illegal! We should report them!" Seira countered.

"No one will believe or help us, Miss. We are the dirt of this kingdom, remember? To the people in Arcadis, we have no right to demand anything or even speak about injustice"

"That's not true Gemma! Stop making stories" the man next to her countered.

"It is true!"

"Gemma, don't make the lady hate the capital. They are even helping us by giving us money in exchange for serving them. We must be thankful for that"

"That's true!"

The people in the compartment started to argue with the middle-aged woman. No one seemed to take her side but she ignored it as the words of the woman played in her mind.

Seira defeatedly sits and hugs her knees. She didn't know if she would believe what the woman said. But at the back of her mind, she knew that it was probably the case. The people in Arcadis were nobles or high-class families and clans. She once heard a rumor that most servants were abused by those families. Some didn't make it out alive or went crazy. She has no idea why but she has no plans to discover it either. Serving any families in that place was surely a nightmare of people like them. She hadn't heard anything about the palace servants, and that makes her shiver more.

"Consider yourself dead as soon as we enter the capital" the woman added when the compartment became quiet and everyone calmed down.

She wanted to protest but she couldn't bring herself to do it. At the back of her mind, she knows that it was maybe the case. Just how stupid she is to think that begging and shouting can make her free. How could she forget the reality and the deviant mind of humans?.

"Why did I end up here?" she mumbled to herself.

"I don't know why you're so worried but maybe there's still a way," said a soft voice behind her.

Seira raised her head. The woman earlier was now sitting next to her, looking at her with a smile.

"What way?"

"I don't know if this is true and it can get you out of the place" the woman contemplated; scratching her head. "There was a tradition in the palace that one month before the celebration for the goddess Silvra, the King would give a servant the right to wish anything. You can also try to talk to the head of maidservants there, I heard the head there was strict to rules. I'm sure she will throw you out in the palace."

"Really?"

A little hope filled her heart. The knowledge that she can actually talk to the head of maidservants made her relieved for a moment. At least she knew that there was still a chance for her to escape and get out of this big misunderstanding.

The woman glanced at her then nodded reluctantly.

Seira hugged the woman in happiness.

"Thank you for that, it makes me feel a bit of hope. Because……. this was really a big misunderstanding"

"Don't thank me. Talking with the head may not work so I just give you some information that all of us here knew and aiming for that one chance for you to have another way of getting out"

Seira's smile faltered. "What do you mean?"

The woman leaned on the wall and stared at the people around the room "Everyone here wants to take that chance, so be careful and trust no one"

"But why did you tell me that?" Seira asked. If every servant wants to grab that chance, isn't it logical to keep that information to yourself rather than informing others?

"I don't have any intention to take that chance. I don't want anything"

Seira waits for the woman to add something but there's nothing that comes after that. Sighing, she leaned her head against the cold wall. She wanted to ask why but she held back herself.

It is only then that she takes notice of the appearance of the woman. The woman has brown hair and a beautiful face with her gray-colored eyes; wearing a tattered dress and a cardigan with holes on the side, same with the other people.

Seira unconsciously glanced down at her dress. Her appearance was no more presentable than theirs, she was actually the worst. Her white dress earlier was full of dirt and bloodstains. Gashes of wounds were all over her body; her face and arm were badly swollen and bruised. The nails in her feet are bleeding.

All of sudden, the woman held out her hand. "I forgot to tell my name, I'm Hannah"

She take her hand; shake it lightly "Seira"

"By the way, if you didn't sell yourself, why are you here? I mean, if this wasn't an offensive question, what leads you to Parton Station looking like that?" Hannah asked with her head on her hand that was placed on her right knee, supporting her hand.

Seira sighed "Someone abducted me and I woke up in the woodland so I ran in the Parton Station but a guard hold my hand and accused me of escaping when I am absolutely not"

"You're abducted? By whom?"

That's the question she didn't know how to answer because even she was so tired and completely dumbfounded at the turn of events in her life. All of these mishaps were pure accusations for goodness sake.

"I don't know" is all she managed to say.

"Then you should consider staying in the palace as your temporary safe house. That place was greatly guarded"

Seira didn't answer or made an effort to react. Arcadis, much less the palace, was not a safe haven for her. Her place of safety was anywhere outside the capital.

Silence envelops the two of them after that. It is better though as her body starts to ache again. It is then that she got the feeling of someone watching her. Frowning, she glanced around. The people in the room were staring at her. Some look away and pretend that they are not looking but others remain with their brows furrowed.

"Don't mind them, it is the first time that they saw someone with white hair, even me actually and…….beaten to this extent" said Hannah. The people in the room were looking at Seira and kept on whispering about her hair color and condition which was horrible since she was thrown in the vehicle by the guards earlier. Even though it was covered with dry mud and dirt, her white hair was still visible. She was also surprised to see her hair color. Not to mention her wounds and bruises all over her body. It was unsightly but despite her appearance, her undeniable beauty can still be seen.