1.7

"Good morning, my lady."

"Good morning..." Liliana yawns, blinking open bleary eyes. "What's the weather like today, Amelia?"

"I'm not Amelia."

"Hm?"

Liliana looks at the owner of the voice and instead of seeing the familiar face of Amelia she sees one of the other maids. She was slightly on the bigger side, with a rounded face encompassing her beady black eyes even though a greasy black bun pulled back her face. "Hello, Bertha," Liliana smiles, trying not to sound disgruntled. "Where is Amelia today?"

"An accident occurred at her mother's last night so Amelia immediately set out. She wanted me to let you know," Bertha informs as Liliana's eyes widen. What could've happened?

I definitely need to find out...

Liliana lets out a mild cough as Bertha turns around to give her mistress some breakfast, ignoring the cough. This cough needs to be much worse...

Glancing at the croissants, Liliana imagined their fillings made of live cockroaches. How they'd crunch when she'd bite into them and how they'd run up and down her throat, laying their eggs all the while until her whole body was teeming with cockroaches beneath the skin.

She coughed much louder, now sounding hoarse and heavy.

"M-My lady! Are you alright?" Bertha asks as Liliana pushes her aside, running to the wastebasket and barfing up what she had for dinner last night.

"I...I do not feel well," Liliana lies and Bertha's face crinkles in worry.

"There, there, my lady," she soothes as she rubs Liliana's back. "Let's get you off to bed and call the physician-"

"Please don't. My parents are still away, and I do not wish for them to worry-"

"But your health-" Bertha argues but Liliana shakes her head.

"I'll be fine with enough rest," Liliana affirms. "This happens around the same time every year. I'll be perfectly fine tomorrow morning."

Bertha relents with a sigh and scurries away.

"Shall I come back for lunch, then?" She asks, covering the tray of food. Liliana coughs slightly and shakes my head. "I won't be able to stomach it. Tomorrow, I'll eat heartily. Just make sure no one comes into my room."

She pauses before nodding. "Alright, my lady."

She quickly wheels out the cart, giving her master one last look, before softly closing the door behind her. After hearing her footsteps leave, Liliana quickly jumps up from the bed and dons her winter clothes and her signature cloak. Grabbing her satchel of money, she slips it beside the dagger strapped to her side. Opening the door slightly, Liliana peers out into the empty hallway, ears searching for any sound.

Stealthily, she sneaks through the hall and runs down the side stairs to the basement. Going through a narrow passageway, Liliana opened the door into the stable, where Peterson, the butler, was tending to the horses. He looks at her with his eyes widened.

"M-My lady! What are you doing here when you are supposed to be in bed?" He asks as Liliana throw back the hood.

"I can ask the same, where is your brother?" Liliana asks, knowing that Peterson's brother, Stewart, is the stable boy. Peterson looks aside, not knowing how to respond at first.

"Stewart...Stewart had to go home to help my parents with the bakery. The economy has been failing for a while now, and it finally hit my parents hard. They charge too little for bread to sell it, and ingredients cost too much."

A frown settles on Liliana's face at this. "So, you've been collecting both of your wages?" Liliana asks. He glances aside and his nonresponsiveness answers her question. She sighs and steps forward.

"I am sorry about your situation," Liliana apologizes. "But I cannot have you working for two people, my parents would be furious."

He grimaces, looking down. "I understand," he responds.

"That's why when I return, come talk to me, so I can see how I can raise your pay," she pats him on the shoulder when he looks up in complete shock. "W-what?"

"It'll be better for you to collect your individual wages then collecting the minimum for yourself and your brother. Even though I am a spoiled Mistress, I do understand the economy and what some people have to do for their families. If I was ever in your position, I'd do the same," she informs as his eyes water. He rubs his eyes quickly before dipping into a deep bow.

"Thank you."

She shakes her head. "Don't worry, just keep working hard, alright?"

He nods, raising his head. Liliana heads over to her horse and pats it on the head.

"And please don't tell anyone about this conversation," Liliana adds on, giving him a wink. He nods, turning his back. "I wasn't ever here," he announces, before looking over his shoulder and giving Liliana a final smile. "Thank you."

She nods before pulling her hood back over her head. He leaves the stable through the door as Liliana gallops out of the stable, setting off quickly for the town.

After a couple of hours, she finally arrives at the town. Although she had just visited weeks previous before, it seemed gloomier than it once had. The muddled grey sky that hung overcast on the weary faces of the villagers only accentuated this.

Liliana heads down the road to Mrs. Florentine's house quickly. She goes into the backyard and leaves her horse there before going to the front door and knocking. After a few moments, Amelia opens the door.

"M-my lady?" she stutters as Liliana removes her hood. "Is everything alright?" Liliana asks as she steps into the house past Amelia.

"You shouldn't be here!" Amelia cries out as Liliana glances around the house. It was ransacked completely, with dirtied floors and smashed items. Glancing down at the floor, Liliana saw a stepped-on orange.

"Where's Mrs. Florentine?" Liliana asks as Amelia sighs. "She went to the opposite side of town to file with the police, but we all know they won't do anything."

"Why not? This is outrageous!" Liliana shouts and Amelia nods. "I know it is, but lately more people have been robbed. Even the robbed have become the robbers...no one is safe. We all need money."

Amelia's lips tighten. "Follow me," Amelia says after a moment before she guides Liliana to a room. The smell of herbs lingered yet there were only the remnants of trampled-on spices remaining.

"And they destroyed all she had left. It took years for her to gather everything, but now..." Amelia's voice was stony as she tried to keep it together, yet tears pricked her eyes at the sight of her home being completely trashed. Turning to Amelia, Liliana gave her a big hug, rubbing her back.

"I'm sorry," Liliana whispered as Amelia shook like a leaf in her arms as tears leaked onto a scarlet cloak.

Eventually, Mrs. Florentine came home about an hour later as the afternoon drew to a close with her cheeks red from winter's sting and eyes red from crying. She found her house had been cleaned and both her daughter and Liliana dirty.

"Look at ya! You're not s'posed to be dirty, you're a lady," she clucks in dismay at the visitor and Liliana laughs.

"I can be washed easily, Mrs. Florentine," she informs, reaching forward to squeeze the mother's hands.

"I'm so very sorry about what happened, Mrs. Florentine, and if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know," Liliana offers. Mrs. Florentine smiles at as tears prick her eyes.

"Yer too kind, Liliana," she laughs as she dabs at her eyes lightly. "Yer not s'posed t'make a woman cry."

"Too late," Amelia laughs, holding the broom tightly. "We salvaged all we could for your plants, but only about 1/4th made it. We don't even know if any of that will grow, too..."

"1/4th is better than nothin' at all," Mrs. Florentine jokes, although a sad expression remained on her face. "You girls should be gettin' back, now, it'll be dark soon. Everything's goin' to hell around 'ere. 'eard that the Second and Third Prince got murdered a couple o' nights ago 'nd all the Royals are high-tailing it out of 'ere."

Liliana gulps, wondering who killed them. It's quite possible that if someone's targetting the Royal family that they may also go after other Court members. "Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Florentine."

Liliana turns towards Amelia, "Do you need to stay? I'll give you paid leave..."

She shakes her head and gives Liliana a smile. "It's okay, I'll go." Amelia gives her mother a final hug before the two go outside and hop on their horses.

When the duo finally made it home, Liliana successfully sneaked back into her room. Amelia brought her some food, and Liliana quickly fell asleep after changing into her nightgown.

And then came someone shaking her body.

"My lady, you have to wake up immediately," Amelia whispers in a rush and Liliana blinks open weary eyes.

"Wha...?"

"Get up." Amelia pulls up Liliana and the raven-haired girl's eyes began to adjust to the dark. Liliana could see Amelia's face, illuminated by the sliver of light in the room, and it looked absolutely petrified. Sweat had dampened her forehead and her face was paler than normal.

"You have to escape," Amelia whispers harshly as she reaches out from under her arm and passes Liliana a pair of pants. Liliana quickly slips them on, bewildered at what was going on.

"What's happening?" Liliana asks groggily as Amelia wraps her master's cloak around her, alongside her money satchel, and dagger.

"Peterson went out to get ingredients for the chef and saw the Royal Guard coming here from a distance, looking for a fight. He returned quickly to warn us," Amelia informs and Liliana's eyes widen.

"You think-"

"They're here for you," Amelia nods as she passes Liliana thick socks. "Especially because of the events that have transpired earlier."

Liliana gulps at this. Was she really going to meet a death flag so quickly? But a single look into Amelia's eyes that shone with determination showed that Amelia was ready to lay her life down for Liliana.

The young Lady quickly slips the socks on then put on her boots. Amelia wrestled a thick hat onto Liliana's head, smushing all black hair under it while Liliana put on a pair of gloves,

"Be quick," Amelia whispers as Liliana follows behind her maid through the quiet and eerie halls. Liliana and Amelia slip into the kitchen. Amelia gives her master a look before pulling on a hanging pan. A hole opens on the back wall and Liliana's eyes widened.

I would've never known that was there, it looks like a normal cobbled wall.

"This door leads into a safe house in the village. However, once you get there, don't stay for long, they'll check the village next," Amelia informs. "W-why are you doing this for me?" Liliana asks.

"You are my lady, and I live to serve you, obviously," Amelia scoffs, before a slight smile appears on her face. "And the kindest woman I've ever met." Amelia bows one last time before jumping up to give Liliana a tight hug. Liliana tightly wraps her arms around her as tears prick Liliana's eyes.

When was the last time I've cried?

Footsteps sounded down the stairs and Liliana and Amelia held their breath.

"Ladies," Peterson greets as he holds up a large bag. "I filled it with food from the servants' quarters pantry, but it should last." Liliana takes it quickly, glancing at both with wide eyes.

"Thank you," Liliana whispers. "Both of you."

Amelia sadly smiles, passing over the lantern she had been carrying. "Now go!" She ushers her master off. Liliana nods and runs into the passageway. She turns around, waving sadly at her friends as Amelia and Peterson wave back before closing the passageway.

Gulping to herself, Liliana turns around, looking down the path as she holds up the lantern. It was a bit dusty, with dirt floors and cobwebs, but it could be worse.

Liliana then began to speed walk for her life.

Her feet echoed down the corridor and was afraid there were people behind her the whole time. Time passed as if she was trapped in molasses and Liliana was alone with her thoughts the whole way through. Finally, a wrung ladder appeared on the wall, and nothing was behind it. She rushed over to it and quickly clambered up and pushed on the wooden trapdoor that hid the passageway.

Quickly pulling herself onto the floor, Liliana looked around. She was in a small shed, wrought with gardening tools hanging on the walls. Liliana stands up and re-tucks her nightdress into her pants.

Liliana poked her head outside of the dingy shed. She could see that it was still the dead of night, with the white snow falling illuminated by candle posts every 30 feet or so.

The snow'll hinder the Royal Guard's travels, and they may even have to spend the night at the manor, giving me a head start.

Liliana steps out as her boots crunch in the snow. Looking across the way, Liliana spots an inn with a stable next to it.

Liliana walks across the street and heads towards the stable. The stable boy was nowhere in sight and Liliana hopped over the fence and spotted a certain horse.

"You..." Liliana glares at it. That was the horse that bucked her off into a pond! That also meant that to be in a stable someone else had to tame it. Liliana could steal it back, but based on the way the horse had bucked her off, it didn't seem like it liked her very much. Walking away from it, Liliana saw there was an inconspicuous brown horse.

Looking at the brown horse, Liliana patted its nose.

"Mind if I steal you?" she whispers and it neighs slightly in response. Quickly, Liliana opened its stall and walked in, petting the horse.

"Let's go-"

"Is there any reason why you're stealing one of my men's horses?"

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