Twisted (1)

Before becoming the duchy's head maid, Susan Noils was a normal country girl. Duchess Elicia was not Elicia back then, but Eli Jones.

Their families were neighbors, and the two girls were best friends growing up. Unlike most girls in their village, Eli was beautiful and slender. Her appearance made the usual route of becoming a farmer and housewife unsuitable.

It was not like Eli wanted to go down that road, either. As someone closest to her, Susan also knew that fact very well.

To Susan, Eli was someone cheerful and polite. Everyone from their village loved her - who wouldn't love an obedient and intellectual girl? The sight of a young, pretty maiden with books in her hand had become something familiar to them.

Eli and Susan treated each other with sincerity. Susan also knew all of the girl's secrets - her dreams, hopes, and ambitions.

Eli was extremely ambitious. She dreamed of becoming someone of higher position to the point of obsession. She craved books day and night; according to her own words, she needed more knowledge to achieve her dreams. She couldn't be a pumpkin forever.

"I will get what I want myself" was something unheard of in their village. Women were never expected to be independent, yet Eli made that her motto.

Susan smiled helplessly at her words. She supported her, of course, but she knew the dream itself was unlikely to come true.

But it didn't matter. Aren't dreams supposed to be something unrealistic?

Be it Eli's cravings for power or anything else, as long as they were together, nothing else mattered.

Everything after that was a blur to Susan. Somehow, her dear friend Eli became the new Winford duchess. Their village belonged to Duke Winford's jurisdiction, but no one thought he would marry a commoner.

To most people on the land, Winford Duchy's power was so big and unfathomable, an untouchable existence similar to a king. Marrying a normal Baron was already something unimaginable to them, much less a Duke.

Her best friend Eli Jones was no longer Eli Jones. She became Elicia Winford. She became a noble. Even the duke looked at her with love in his eyes.

"Truly a fairytale", they said.

Susan thought Elicia's dreams had come true. She was genuinely happy for her. However, she underestimated her friend's obsession with nobility.

Similar to how greed has no bounds, obsessions are dangerous.

Elicia developed something similar to an inferior complex towards her new stepchildren. She hated the fact that her etiquette wasn't as good as the kids' and had to take lessons. She despised being teased and picked on by those noblewomen at tea parties. The duke said she could just not go if it was uncomfortable for her, but Elicia felt her position being threatened, so she gritted her teeth and endured the obstacles.

Commoners admired her, but nobles looked down on her. It was one thing if she was a talented woman, but Elicia was not exceptional. She was hard-working, but that was it. From the outsider's point of view, all she had was her looks.

Slowly but steadily, her character started to change.

At first, it was only some simple harsh words. But as time went on, her boldness increased along with her capability.

She did not dare mess with the heir who received utmost attention and protection from both Winford and Avarua(*). But the young lady was different. She was no heir.

(*In case you forgot, Avarua is the capital of the Empire.)

As someone closest to the new duchess, Susan was conflicted. She knew she would never turn her back on Elicia, but she felt bad for the innocent Adelaide. Her conscience was seriously pricked every time, but her heart ached even more when she tried to convince Elicia otherwise.

It was because of her expression of utter disbelief. With tears streaming down her face and hands gripping Susan's dress tightly, Elicia looked as if she had been abandoned by her own mother.

"Are…are you leaving me, Sue? I'm sorry, I really am, but I just c-can't. I just c-can't, Sue. How could they…"

She couldn't hear anything else afterward. All she could do was soothe Elicia. Her emotions were all messed up. As she got used to being the duchess, Elicia's acting had developed exponentially.

What if the tears she shed were all for show? So that Susan couldn't leave her?

Susan knew of the possibility, too. But she could not step back. She could never turn her head away, as she had lost to this girl from day one. In fact, as despicable as it was, she was even secretly happy.

The situation before her was the same. When the poor girl was whipped, Susan could not do anything but grit her teeth. Familiar guilt overwhelmed her like waves.

When the young lady was beaten and finally uttered the word "Mother", Susan saw Elicia's satisfied smile. She herself also let out a sigh of relief. She did not know exactly why she felt that way. Maybe it was because the young lady could finally stop suffering.

Or, maybe it was because of Elicia's beautiful smile. Maybe, no, it must be the truth. All she did was give herself reasons after reasons for her own peace of mind.

'I really have a twisted soul. My affection for Eli had no bottom line. No, I am a monster. Letting that happen and feigning ignorance, then convincing myself that it wasn't my fault but something uncontrollable.'

'Standing still and feigning ignorance. What am I? I'm mad.'

'The young lady is just a poor girl who lost her own mother since birth.'

Or so she thought.

When the device on Linda's hand was turned off, nothing happened. Duchess Elicia still had that satisfied smile on her face.

But then it fell down and shattered. Susan thought Elicia would at least react to what just happened, but her smile was still there.

No, her eyes were full of surprise. Only her smile froze.

'Why isn't anyone doing anything? Eli will get mad.'

It didn't take long for Susan to realize she could not move. She was not completely unable to move, but Susan could feel her body becoming stiff. Not because of some kind of power or external force, but more like an instinct.

Like when a rabbit froze in fear in front of a predator.

Her own body was under some sort of pressure, and it seemed like the others were also experiencing the same thing.

'The young master came back?'

That thought was the first thing that appeared in Susan's head. Their work was usually so easy back then. No matter how much of a genius he was, young master Alfred was not omnipotent. He didn't know because no one dared reveal the information to him. Plus, the Duke was someone madly in love, so he covered all of Elicia's acts.

He did not know exactly what Elicia did, but it was not like he cared. He was busy, after all.

The young master only came to know what they did to the lady after she was kidnapped, and it only happened because he took the first steps in establishing his own force. No one expected him to succeed so early. Unlike other heirs, he did not let the duke know who was on his side. The duke, as arrogant as he was, did not mind either.

Obviously, Duke Charles had his own reasons. To him, the little, minor force was anything but a threat. However, to Susan, it was not only a threat but also a big danger.

She did not know how he had managed to exert such pressure on them without his presence, but she knew Alfred must have some cards up his sleeve. Worse comes to worst, he could have already infiltrated the duchess' key personnel, which was heavily guarded by the Duke.

Imagining a scene where one of the maids in front of her was actually young master Alfred's people and was observing and waiting for a chance sent shivers down her spine.

However, what happened next was even more absurd.