3. The Blackmoore

It was not new news that Helena was an adopted daughter. Her biological father passed away when she was young. Helena and her mother fell into poverty after his death. They worked as maids from one house to another house. On a cold winter, her mother got employed by a noble. The Count was a single parent, lost his wife during childbirth and lived with his only daughter. He was mesmerized by her mother and married her. Helena and her mother rise from poverty into nobility. They eventually got the respect they deserved despite the rejection at the beginning of their stay.

Helena owed her mother, knowing how hard it was raising a child in poverty. That woman could have abandoned Helena in an orphanage or on the street but decided to live for her daughter. She held a soft spot for single parents because she raised Helena herself. It might be one of the reasons why the Count was also interested in her.

Having a meal together was the tradition of this family. Everyone gathered in the dining room for breakfast. Helena had no appetite, but she forced herself to eat. She would need the energy for the whole day. When Helena ate her appetizer salad, her mother complained about her behaviour yesterday. "Helena, never run away from the house again! You almost gave me a heart attack yesterday."

His stepfather nodded. "I agree with your mother. The street was getting dangerous nowadays."

Helena stared at her beautiful mother. Astrid Blackmoore was an attractive woman. No one would think she was in her forty with her youthful look, shining soft black hair, refined jaw with ivory skin, steel blue eyes and sensual red lip. Her beauty alone was enough to enchant nobles and high society, making no one oppose her marriage to the Count. Although a bit vain, she was known as a generous and friendly woman. She was popular among servants since she always listened to their hardships.

"Mother, you are gorgeous."

Lady Astrid was a bit taken aback by her daughter's words. She coughed to hide her flushed cheek. "Flattery will not appease my anger."

Next to her side was Count Melvin Blackmoore. He received tasks regarding imperial land and finance of the realm. He was a trusted man and never corrupted the citizen's taxes. That man had the same limelight green eyes as Ethel. His short golden-brown hair was slicked back. He kept a moustache above his mouth to make him look older and wiser toward his subordinate.

Her father was right. There were cases of missing people of different ages and sexes. Some were found dead in the street. The authority that investigated this case still pursued the murderer. This happened in both of her life. She remembered reading the news of a little girl found dead in the gutter. Helena could not forget it because they put her living portrait in the newspaper. They did not put her family name, but she was a pretty little girl named Daisy.

"Can I at least go to the church? I will go with the guards."

Her father sighed. "Fine, you can go as long you bring the guards. However, they will watch you. You cannot disappear from their sight."

Helena's face was bright when she heard it. "Thank you, Father!"

He smiled at her stepdaughter. She might not be her biological daughter, but Count Melvin cherished her. Ethel only ate in silence, but she was angry. Helena ignored her deadly glare and continued eating her green.

After having breakfast, Helena prepared to go to the church. When she stepped into the carriage, she remembered Adham. "I almost forgot. His reward is still in my room."

Helena ordered the coachman to wait for her. She went upstairs to her room to take the gold pouch on the table. Helena opened the door and was surprised. She saw a maid rummaging through her jewellery set. The maid was panicked when Helena found out about her misdeed.

"Please forgive me, my lady! I need to-"

Helene slapped her without bothering to hear her reason. Everything the maid said would be a lie. Helena caught her on first life doing the same thing. She said the money was for her brother's treatment. The naïve Helena believed it and let this go. She later found out that the maid did not have any siblings. The maid joined in harassing Helena after her mother's death. She even stole her heirloom from her mother.

What should she do to the lowly maid? Should I cut off her finger? Pouring hot water until she received a third burn degree? Giving her a permanent scar on her cheek? Whipping her until she was paralyzed?

Helena had done all of it in her second life to different maids. They treated her horribly during her first life, and Helena punished them for it in her next life. She prevented the maids from resigning, even blackmailing them to prolong their stay pain.

"Lady Helena, are you going to the church? The coachman is still waiting- What is going on in here?"

Violet saw a maid kneeling on the floor with a red cheek. It was clear that Helena had slapped her. The guilty maid was terrified since Helena never used violence. She was known to be a gentle and timid person. Every servant used Helena's weak personality to their benefit.

Helena wanted to torment the maid further. However, she gritted her teeth and turned around. This was not the right time to torture the maid. "Violet, tell my father that this girl is stealing from me. I will let him choose the right punishment."

The maid was surprised and begged her. "My lady, please have mercy! If I was fired from this household, I would not be able to find a job!"

Helena sneered and kicked her. Her gaze toward the thief was cold. "Then you should think twice before stealing from me. This is my mercy to you. If I'm the one who punishes you, you will regret it."

Helena left the place without looking back. What she said was the truth. The same maid killed herself in the summer because of Helena's abuse. She ended up hanging in her room.

That time, Helena only laughed hearing it, allowing the story of wickedness to spread over the kingdom.