The Name She Hates

It had been a month since Nora began working at the mansion, and April had crept in silently, bringing with it an air of awakening. The weather was warmer, yet Nora's heart remained cold—unchanged, untouched by the bloom of spring.

In the servants' quarters, Nora was folding linens when her closest friend among the maids, Elise, walked in with a playful smirk.

"Nora," Elise said, "you know what next week is, right?"

Nora didn't lift her eyes. "No."

Elise rolled her eyes. "Your birthday! Don't tell me you forgot."

Nora's hands froze mid-fold. Her voice came out low, nearly a whisper. "I hate my birthday."

Unbeknownst to them, Lady Aveline—the lady of the house and Zayan's mother—stood just beyond the slightly ajar door. She had been walking by when she caught the mention of a birthday, and something about the sadness in Nora's tone made her pause.

Inside, Nora continued, still not meeting Elise's eyes. "It's the day I was left at the orphanage. Every year, it reminds me of that moment—standing there alone. I never celebrated it. Never wanted to. It's just… a painful reminder."

Her voice faded into silence. Elise, softened by her friend's vulnerability, reached out gently. "You've never talked about it before. Nora… what's your full name?"

There was a pause. Then, quietly, Nora said, "Lilith. Nora Lilith."

Lady Aveline's breath caught in her throat.

Lilith? she thought, her eyes widening with disbelief. Her gaze dropped to Nora's arm as she recalled something—a mark, a scar.

Nora brushed her hair back, and in that instant, a brown scar just below her shoulder came into view.

Lady Aveline's heart pounded.

A birthmark. Just like hers.

She staggered backward from the door, breathless. "It can't be… Could it be—?"

Her trembling hands reached for her phone. With a rush of urgency, she dialed a number she hadn't called in years.

After the second ring, a voice answered brightly, "Why, hello, my darling friend! What a surprise."

Aveline didn't waste a second. "Where are you right now?"

"Home, why?"

"You need to come to the mansion. Now."

The voice on the other end grew serious. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Aveline said, eyes still fixed on the door Nora had just walked through. "But you need to see something. It's… very important."

A pause, then, "Fine. I'll be there the day after tomorrow."

"Be fast," Aveline said urgently, her voice nearly trembling. "Please."