Ophelia walked behind the maid sent to take her to Lady Cecilia. She used this time to get a proper look around the castle since she was too tired to pay attention the first time she arrived.
Ophelia took notice of all the guards placed around the castle. Not even a mouse should be able to sneak inside.
"Lady Cecilia and Miss Victoria await you in the garden," Nora said, stepping aside to let Ophelia go first.
Ophelia was curious who the maid worked for. She was used to seeing maids have someone they were loyal to in the household.
Ophelia turned her attention to Cecilia and Victoria sitting together. She walked into the garden, prepared for whatever either lady had in store for her.
Cecilia eyed Ophelia from head to toe. "Were you not taught how to dress when greeting someone of importance?" She asked, finding Ophelia's appearance to be lacking.
"I was told that I urgently needed to leave my chamber," Ophelia answered. "I didn't have time to choose a better dress."
Cecilia motioned for the maids present to leave. "It appears you wish for me to punish you again. We accepted that he placed an imposter instead of his daughters, but the least they could have done was teach you how to behave."
"Victoria here was taught how to be a lady from a young age. She knows how to dress for every occasion and greets me with respect. She should be my son's wife," said Cecilia.
"I agree," said Ophelia.
Cecilia frowned. "You," her eyes narrowed in on Ophelia.
Ophelia lowered her head and said, "Forgive me. I thought that was what you would want to hear."
Cecilia got the sense that Ophelia was mocking her. "Sit," she ordered Ophelia. "No, not there," she said before Ophelia could touch the chair. "On the ground. That is more suited for you.
"I would rather stand," Ophelia said, remaining still.
Cecilia had already insulted and degraded Ophelia on the long trip to the castle. Ophelia couldn't take any more of it.
"I said you must sit on the ground!" Cecilia raised her voice.
Ophelia didn't respond since there would be no point.
"You!" Cecilia exclaimed, angered by the continued disrespect. "There is no excuse for you not to respect me."
"I am to be respected as well," said Ophelia.
Cecilia scoffed.
"Oh," Cecilia brought a fan to her lips. "Are you to be respected because you are married to a lord?"
"No," Ophelia replied, raising her head. "I am to be respected because I am a person. A lady like you should have been taught to respect life and not try to belittle anyone. A pity you missed that lesson."
Cecilia's cheeks became flustered as she fumed with anger.
Victoria placed her hand on Cecilia's lap, trying to calm her. "You mustn't get riled up, Lady Cecilia," she said.
"Your heart is too good for your own good, Victoria. The difference between the two of you is day and night. Since taking away your food did nothing, I suppose we would have to take away your water for the next three days."
"So be it," Ophelia replied.
Ophelia knew that she should bite her tongue and do as she was told so she could survive, but she couldn't obey Cecilia any longer.
"Edith!" Cecilia called to the head maid, who was watching from a distance. "Bring me a whip, branch, or anything to scold her with. You wish to see me heartless, and I shall show it."
"I am giving you one last chance to sit," Cecilia said, wearing a triumphant smile.
Cecilia wanted the honour of replacing the old scars which decorated Ophelia's skin with fresh ones.
Edith brought off a branch from a tree in the garden and approached Cecilia to hand it to her.
Cecilia stood up and took the branch from Edith's hands.
Victoria stood up as well. "Perhaps it would not be best to do this. Dante might not want her harmed," she said, trying to reason with Cecilia.
Victoria didn't like where she found herself. She didn't want Dante to think she was involved in this.
"My son said not to kill her. What I intend to do would be no different from what her family has already done to her. You have one last chance to sit,' Cecilia said, positioning herself to the right of Ophelia.
Cecilia gripped the branch after seeing the same defiant gaze Ophelia showed her on the day of the wedding.
"Raise the back of her dress," Cecilia ordered Nora.
Nora smiled, pleased to go along with the order to get revenge on behalf of her lady.
Nora raised Ophelia's dress just so the back of her feet would be exposed.
Without warning, Cecilia struck Ophelia on her feet and then looked to Ophelia's face for signs of pain.
Ophelia winced, but she clutched her dress and fought back her tears. Her feet still ached from the long walk, but she would not give Cecilia the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Upon the second strike, Joel's face flashed in Ophelia's mind. It terrified her for a moment, leading Cecilia to think she was finally getting Ophelia to fear her.
"Stop!" Victoria yelled, getting the attention of everyone present. "Forgive me for my rudeness, but you shouldn't have to tarnish your hands to scold her. Allow me to do it. I can teach her the ways of the castle so you may be at ease."
Victoria moved to stand between Cecilia and Ophelia.
"I worry that you will overwork yourself. The servants are already worried about Dante. If they see you stressed, then they will feel it too. Let me," Victoria said, offering her hand for the branch to be placed.
Cecilia wanted to go on, but it was true that this was beneath her. It was more suited for the maids to tire themselves with punishing Ophelia.
"I trust that you will correct her well. Let your maid be the one to do it. I shall go see my son," Cecilia said, sparing Ophelia one last look before leaving.
Nora released Ophelia's dress and moved to stand behind her lady. She glared at the ungrateful woman.
"You should tell my lady thank you for stopping the beating," said Nora.
"Nora," Victoria said in a scolding tone. "You must forgive my maid, but you indeed lack manners and sense. You should have obeyed, so you would not have been beaten."
"Would you have obeyed and acted like a pet?" Ophelia asked, resting Victoria.
Victoria didn't know how to answer since she would never be in that position. "What I would have done doesn't matter. Why was he punished by having a lady like you at his side? I'm disappointed."
"Since I arrived, I haven't been impressed either," said Ophelia.