The Cold Rules

Dragging her injured leg, enduring sharp pain, Elara took twice as long as usual to finally clear the pile of damp branches Isabelle had deliberately left. By the time she limped back to her tower cell, darkness had completely fallen.

The cuts on her knees and arms, after rudimentary cleaning (she could only rinse them with limited clean water and bandage them with strips torn from the inner layer of her tunic), still throbbed painfully. What unsettled her more was Knight Kaelen's unusual action and the venomous look in Isabelle's eyes as she left.

Elara knew Isabelle wouldn't let this go. Kaelen's "interference" today would only infuriate her further. Next time, she would surely use a more covert, more vicious method against her.

This couldn't continue! She couldn't just lie there like fish on a chopping block, letting Isabelle torment her!

After much hesitation, Elara finally made a decision. She had to find Frau Helga!

Although Frau Helga was cold and ruthless, she was the enforcer of the castle's rules. Isabelle's actions, regardless, were blatantly breaking the rules, even potentially threatening the safety of her, the Duke's "object." Clinging to a sliver of hope, Elara thought perhaps Frau Helga might intervene to maintain order in the castle, or perhaps... from the perspective of protecting the Duke's "property."

The next day, during meal delivery, Elara summoned her courage. In the humblest, most inconspicuous way possible, she expressed her request to see Frau Helga to the expressionless serving maid. She didn't dare state the reason directly, only saying she had "important matters to report to the madam."

The maid remained silent, merely glanced at her, then left wordlessly.

Elara waited in anxious trepidation. She didn't know if her request would be relayed, let alone if Frau Helga would agree to see her.

Surprisingly, not long after, Frau Helga herself appeared behind the small hatch in the door.

"Object Seven, what is it?" Frau Helga's voice was as cold as ever, her sharp eyes scrutinizing Elara.

Elara took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm yet appropriately aggrieved. "Madam, forgive this servant's presumption. Yesterday in the courtyard... Lady Isabelle, she..."

Carefully, trying to be objective (omitting the part where Kaelen moved the branches, emphasizing only the harassment and her fall), she recounted the previous day's events. Finally, she pleaded in a low voice, "This servant's status is lowly; I dare not offend Lady Isabelle. But... this servant is His Grace the Duke's 'object.' If... if I am damaged due to these disputes, I fear... I fear it might anger His Grace. I implore Madam... to maintain order within the castle."

She placed herself in the lowest position, using the Duke as a shield, hoping Frau Helga might show some consideration.

However, after hearing her account, Frau Helga's expression remained unchanged, her eyes as cold as before. She paused for a moment, then spoke slowly, her voice devoid of sympathy, filled only with an almost cruel indifference:

"Object Seven, it seems you still haven't fully understood your place."

Elara's heart sank.

"Lady Isabelle is a guest of the castle (or some other vague but high-status identity)," Frau Helga stated coldly. "And you are merely an object. The purpose of an object is to please its master, or... to endure whatever is permitted within the master's domain."

"Whether Lady Isabelle's actions were 'excessive' is not for you to judge, nor for me. Only His Grace the Duke is qualified to decide."

"As for whether you might be 'damaged'..." A minuscule, icy curve seemed to touch Frau Helga's lips. "If you cannot withstand even such minor 'accidents,' it only proves that you, this object... are inherently flawed, unworthy of His Grace's attention."

"Remember your rules: maintain silence, absolute obedience. Do not try to understand, much less try to change anything. Do what you are supposed to do, endure what you must endure. Otherwise, you bear the consequences."

With that, Frau Helga gave Elara no further chance to speak. The hatch slammed shut with a bang.

Elara stood stunned, feeling utterly cold.

Frau Helga's words were like an icy dagger, completely shattering the last shred of illusion in her heart.

Rules? Order? In this castle, the only rule was Duke Reinhardt's will! And Frau Helga was his most loyal, and most ruthless, enforcer!

Expecting Frau Helga to stop Isabelle? Utterly foolish! Frau Helga might even... enjoy seeing Isabelle "polish" this unruly "object"!

Elara finally understood. In this den of demons, she had no allies, no rules to rely on. All she could rely on was her own heart, struggling in despair.

She looked out the window at the sky, fragmented by iron bars. Her eyes became unnervingly calm, almost... deathly still.

Since the rules couldn't protect her, then perhaps... she should learn how to use the rules, or even... twist them.

But how? Facing Isabelle's next, potentially more vicious trap, how could she respond?

A vague thought, like a will-o'-the-wisp in the darkness, flickered in her mind.

Knight Kaelen... that silent, cold knight... yesterday, was he truly just following orders?