“I don’t believe they’re calling me because they miss me,” Odelliana continued, her voice softening. “There has to be another reason.”
A shadow of despair crossed her features. Of course, I wouldn’t know. The inner workings of the Duke’s family are a complete mystery to me. I have no memories, not a single one, that could offer any clues. The original owner of this body might have harbored warm feelings for them, but I don’t.
“And until we get permission for Matthias to accompany us, I refuse to leave.”
Odelliana attempted to rise, but Matthias reached out to steady her before Blair could react. In a steady voice, Matthias addressed the bewildered Blair, “I will escort her to her room.”
Blair, rendered speechless, watched their retreating figures with a look of stunned disbelief. ‘It’s as if she’s a different person altogether,’ he thought. The docile, quiet child who never displayed defiance was gone.
‘The change began even before this incident,’ he mused. ‘Could memory loss also affect personality? Adella mentioned no seizures or aggression, but if the memory impairment is a symptom of some madness, then a personality shift wouldn’t be out of the question.’
Blair sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. He couldn’t reconcile himself to his sister’s transformation. It felt like she was a complete stranger now, and the unsettling feeling of alienation wouldn’t fade easily.
“What course of action do you propose, sir?” Adella inquired, her voice laced with concern as she met Blair’s somber gaze. The image of Odelliana’s battered form flickered behind Adella’s face – a child neglected and abused. A bitter laugh escaped Blair’s lips.
Well, anyone would change after enduring such treatment.
“Given Odelliana’s determination,” he replied coldly, “what choice do we have? We must comply. I’ll send a separate telegram.”
With that curt response, Blair turned and abruptly left the room. Adella, alone now, bit her lip nervously. A surge of panic washed over her. Between Blair’s cold demeanor, Odelliana’s metamorphosis, and the unexpected summons to the main house, her once simple and peaceful life had been shattered. Uncontrollable anger simmered within her.
***
In the quietude of a modest two-story house, too small to be a mansion yet too warm to be just a dwelling, the day began with a strained silence. Since Matthias’ arrival as a squire, Blair had assigned him chores alongside Adella to learn the ropes. Though the thought of parting with Matthias gnawed at Odelliana, the skeleton staff left behind after Blair’s dismissal gave her no choice.
As a consequence, Odelliana found herself face-to-face with Adella far more often than she’d like.
“Miss, wake up,” Adella’s voice grated. “Breakfast is ready.”
“Seeing you first thing in the morning isn’t exactly how I like to greet the day. Where’s Matthias, and why are you the one waking me?” Odelliana countered, her voice laced with annoyance.
Adella’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Have you forgotten already? Since you got all the staff dismissed in a fit of pique, I have the delightful duty of attending to you personally.”
Odelliana bristled. “You probably saddled Matthias with a mountain of pointless chores.”
“What can I say?” Adella shrugged. “There’s simply no one left to handle the heavier tasks.”
“Apparently, not entirely true, is it?” Odelliana retorted.
“Oh, I’m here,” Adella drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Here to take care of you with the utmost…devotion. Surely you weren’t planning to have that boy help you dress, were you? How utterly uncouth.”
With a flourish of mock courtesy, Adella approached Odelliana, her grip rough as she began to undress her. She deliberately dragged her long nails across Odelliana’s skin, leaving faint scratches in their wake. The act spoke volumes of Adella’s simmering temper, no wonder she’d mistreated Odelliana so readily.
“Your arrogance is truly astounding,” Odelliana spat. “Do you really believe your insufferable behavior will be tolerated indefinitely simply because you hold favor with Mother?”
Adella’s response was a cruel laugh as she hoisted Odelliana with surprising strength and practically threw her onto the wheelchair. “And you, Miss, seem blissfully unaware of your true standing. How much help do you think that young master can offer once we reach the main house? You won’t even have his meager protection there.”
Odelliana’s eyes widened in shock as the weight of Adella’s words settled in.
