SEEN MORE THAN YOU KNOW.

SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: DREAMY BY MEGAN WOFFORD.

"Why am I here? In your home?" That's the first thing that came out of her parted lips.

Silas cleared his throat. "We do have much to talk about, Lucinda. But let's save all that till after you have greeted Theodore. He has been anticipating your recovery."

Lucinda clenched her fists but nodded.

A knock sounded just before the door was pushed open abruptly.

Small feet raced towards them. "Papa!! Mama!!" Theodore called out excitedly, jumping up the bed into Silas's lap.

Lucinda was just recovering from the shock of hearing Theodore address Silas as his papa when Theodore pounced on her, clearing her thoughts.

She winced at the pressure, and Silas was by their side, patting Theodore and advising him to slow down lest he hurt Lucinda.

"I'm sorry, Mama," Theodore mumbled under his breath, his downcast gaze on his fumbling hands on the pristine covers.

Lucinda heard a sniff, and her stomach sank as Theodore lifted his gaze off their joined hands to reveal tears gathering at the rim of his eyes as they began to drop.

"It was frightening, Mama. I was shaking you, but you didn't wake up." Fat droplets of tears continued to trail down his cheeks.

"I-I thought… I—" With tears stinging her own eyes, Lucinda gathered Theodore into her arms as he sobbed, his small shoulders shaking.

She breathed in his clean, unique scent, and from the corner of her eye, she noticed her child reaching one arm out, his fingers making a grabbing motion towards Silas.

Silas's eyes momentarily widened at the invite to this special moment between the both of them. He was given permission to be allowed into their safe haven.

Did he even deserve such? A quick glance at Lucinda found her green orbs trained on him—not in anger, but silent acceptance.

Carefully, he moved over and wrapped the mother and child in his arms. His pretend family… felt so warm.

Away from them, Frederick stood at the entrance to the room. His gaze was trained on the sight before him. His expression gave nothing away, but something swirled in his unique eyes.

Lucinda had been fed suitable meals for her condition by Silas, much to her chagrin, but she couldn't refuse him as Theodore continued to look up expectantly at her. So, she ate the surprisingly delicious food, with a raging fire in her belly as her eyes glared daggers at Silas's warm, doting expression.

Silas had slipped away sometime in the late afternoon, with an energetic Theodore hopping around her bed but being careful not to jump on her. Soon after, Theodore fell asleep. Lucinda's fingers ran lazily through his hair as she stewed in her thoughts. She was getting agitated and needed answers, with Silas nowhere in sight.

By the time night fell, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Lucinda said, hoping it was Silas, but quickly realizing he wouldn't bother to knock in his own room. Again, why was she here?

A maid walked in, bowing down and not meeting her eyes.

"Mistress—"

"Correction, I am not your mistress," Lucinda interrupted, clearing her throat.

The maid looked up at her with wide, blinking eyes. "Forgive me, my mistress, but we have been addressed to only call you 'Mistress.'"

Not getting a response, she continued, "It would be courting trouble if I disobey the orders given to—"

"Fine! 'Mistress' would do," Lucinda relented with an exasperated sigh, her gaze trained at the fireplace as she adjusted to a dignified sitting position, trying not to wince.

She didn't know the treatment this servant was getting, and she didn't want to cause unnecessary uproar before she left.

The maid was up and by her side in an instant. Lucinda couldn't help but blink at her speed.

The maid helped her adjust to a comfortable sitting position, as much as her injuries could allow.

Seeing Lucinda stare at her, the maid stepped back with a bow.

"Speak."

Finally getting permission, the maid began, "I am here to inform you of your scheduled bath for the night."

At the mention of a bath, a sudden thought occurred to Lucinda.

"Wait. Has your master ever…" Lucinda trailed off, expecting the woman to understand, but she just blinked back at her. Lucinda hissed through her teeth as she completed her sentence.

"Your master hasn't… bathed me all this while, has he?"

The maid's eyes widened, and a blush colored her cheeks, which suddenly made Lucinda embarrassed she had even asked that question.

The maid stammered, "N-no…" and rushed to explain, "We have been the ones to clean you as you lay unconscious, my lady, but—"

"Thank goodness," Lucinda said, not even realizing she interrupted the maid.

The maid's lips pursed as she debated whether she should still inform their mistress that, though the master did not bathe her, he was very much involved in all the processes that led to nursing her to health, including overseeing how they cleaned her. Their master had been so meticulous in her care, she hadn't seen so much affection in his every moment with her. She wondered if her mistress was shy for the servants to learn of this. Well, no need to intervene in their affairs—she would keep those details to herself.

"So, your bath, Mistress?" Seeing the reluctance flashing across Lucinda's eyes, the maid said, "It is an important order for us, Mistress."

"When you say 'us,' do you mean—"

Lucinda was interrupted by two claps. The door pushed open, and in strolled three other maids, their heads all lowered in greeting as they dragged in a trolley covered with a cloth.

"Sigh… Tell your master I don't need four maids to have—"

In unison, they all looked up and blinked at Lucinda with innocence.

The fire in her belly burned brighter.

That cunning man. He must have told them to act like this to defy me.

The fighting spirit whooshed out of Lucinda, knowing with this level of persistence, she was going nowhere with an argument.

The first maid stepped forward and helped Lucinda off the bed. Theodore still lay asleep, his small fist bunching the soft sheet over him like a stuffed toy.

Two more maids stepped up to carefully assist her, while the last wheeled the trolley inside what Lucinda assumed was the bath chamber.

As she entered the bathing room, she couldn't believe the sight before her.

Scented candles and oil lamps atop every surface bathed the room in the smell of lavender and citrus.

A chandelier, like dewdrops, emphasized its sparkles with the lit candles atop it.

A large porcelain tub sat at the side, but that wasn't what drew her attention the most.

By the large open window, a huge circular tub made of honed marble stood. It was an unusual structure she hadn't seen before. Its sides were honed into steps, a carpet leading up the paths, and sufficient candles perched at the surfaces. There were even flowers in a vase by the window, a bottle of wine, and a jar of water with glasses.

It was the ultimate relaxation spot.

The maids must have noticed her gaze on the magnificent masterpiece as one of them said, "Mistress, due to your injuries, you can't use that bath, as it's mostly filled with water, and you can't afford to get your bandages wet."

"Then where will I bathe?" she asked, disappointment evident in her tone without her realizing.

The maid nervously chuckled. "You'll be using the tub today, Mistress."

Lucinda looked towards the tub, suddenly now unimpressed by its own grandeur.

Sure! Here's the continuation of your scene while maintaining your style:

"We will be gentle when washing you to avoid your bandages, Mistress," the maid reassured, seeing Lucinda's skeptical gaze, mistaking it for doubt about their level of care.

Lucinda nodded, and they got to work.

They undressed her carefully, their hands steady and efficient as they guided her into the tub. The warm water engulfed her lower body, the heat seeping into her sore muscles, making her body relax despite herself.

One of the maids moved behind her. Lucinda's body tensed.

The air felt still.

She waited a minute. Then two. Time stretched, straining against her battered breath. But nothing happened.

"…Mistress."

"Hm?" Lucinda hummed, breaking out of the void she had fallen into.

"Your hands, Mistress," came the calm, serene voice of the maid in front of her.

Lucinda slowly raised her hand, and the maid resumed her task, gently working the washcloth over her fingers. The extremely soft material glided across her skin, taking time to clean between every crevice.

As Lucinda studied the maids around her, their faces neutral and focused, a realization settled over her.

She hadn't been treated like this in a long time.

No spiteful, distasteful eyes peering up at her. No intentional rough scrubbing to make her wince. No silent scorn disguised as servitude. Just quiet efficiency. A serene bliss…

Something she could get used to.

"Does it hurt, Mistress?" The maid's voice pulled her back to the present.

Lucinda glanced down, finding her gently rubbing around the edges of her bandages.

She hadn't even felt it.

Her tense muscles felt like liquid under their careful touch.

The calming fragrance of the candles wrapped around her like a cocoon, lulling her mind into a strange sense of peace.

"The candles," Lucinda murmured. "I've never smelled anything like them. Where are they from?"

One of the maids chuckled softly. "We wouldn't know, Mistress. It was the Master who oversaw everything for your recovery."

Lucinda raised an eyebrow.

"He personally got these candles for you. Even most of the things around us were newly purchased."

Another maid opened a vial among the many arranged on the trolley and poured a few drops onto the washcloth.

Another spoke up. "The oil, I hear, was bought from a shop specializing in healing oils and herbs. They work wonders, Mistress. My cousin used their lower grades, and even those worked well."

"You're lucky, Mistress. The Master must really adore you," the three maids giggled, while the first maid, Nora, shook her head softly at them with a half-smile.

Lucinda was baffled.

How were these young women so free with her?

Didn't they fear her?

There was no contempt, no wariness, no whispered ridicule behind polite smiles. They hadn't even once stared at her face weirdly—which, in itself, was unusual.

Lucinda was baffled on how these young women were so free with her. Didn't they fear her? no contempt, no wariness, no whispered ridicule behind polite smiles. They haven't even once stared at her face weirdly which she was in fact used to. People always having something to say about how unusual her features was. Her face makes people give a wide berth to her first before she even spoke.

 How it always seemed she was looking down at them with her sharp siren eyes, her jaws sharp and nose perfectly high and pert. A dangerous beauty she had heard.

 So threatening, too striking. Too different.

And different was always cast aside.

"What's your name?" Lucinda asked, looking down at the first maid she had met.

The maid lifted her head, meeting Lucinda's gaze directly for the first time.

Seeing Lucinda beauty under the candle light, the maid answered with a soft smile.

"My name is Nora, Mistress."

Lucinda mouthed the name, then nodded.

In their world, nobles didn't bother to know the names of their servants.

Nora, however, couldn't help but look at her new mistress in a different light.

—————

For some reason I couldn't out this in author note: Happy new month my lovelies. your poor author been bomabrded with academic works and projects these weeks (university life is hard🥲). My birthday was a few days ago. hurray me!! Anyway, its seems my finals are coming up faster than I anticipated and won't be ending till march . i'll come back with chapter updates then. wish me all the best on exams! Till then enjoy this chapter and see you all soon.

what are your thoughts about the new characters so far?