Trigger Warning Child Abuse: Verbally, Physically, and Emotionally.
I looked at the door when someone knocked it again, and there I saw Bisnna with, I suppose, a healer, as they call it in this world.
"Your Highness, If I may?" The healer spoke as he looked at me, and I just nodded.
The healer moved closer and held my hand, looking serious about his job.
"The lady is fine, just like I said; she was just in shock," the healer said as he confronted her.
"But she can't remember a thing," Bisna said and I just glared at her to make her shut up.
"She is fine; let her highness rest for a while," he said as he looked at me.
The healer exited the room, leaving me alone with Bisnna, who appeared apologetic..c
"I'm sorry, YourHighness..." ...he said and I know she meant that she decided to call the healer by herself.
"The duke ordered us to care for you in hisstead; he was still at the south border, aiding the others' soldiers in defeating some monsters." she said, as she was still bowing her head.
I know that the duke's territory is located in the south, where many monsters can be found.
So, I was in the duke's mansion here in the capital?
Navia used to live there, but after her mother died when their house was entered by some people while her father and most of their knights were in battle, the duke's enemies took advantage of it to get even.
They tried killing his daughter andson, ,who were stillyoung, ,that day when the duchessarrived andd fought them, but sadly she was hit by a poisonous arrow thatkilled herr.
Declan,
Declan, who was slightly older than Navia, also fought, but he was still in the early stages of learning swordsmanship and had not yet awakened his own abilities, resulting in him being badly injured at that time.
The duke decided to relocate his son and daughter to the capital to prevent them from being attacked, and he also strengthened the security in their home.
"Your highness, ,you need to prepare." Bisnna said as she was still looking at me, "She was scared of what I would do to her after she just called the healer without consulting me first."
"For what?" I asked, trying not to intimidate her as I frowned at her.
"Lady Crizelda Morkis will arrive here," she said, looking at me and at the watch that she was holding.
Lady Crizelda Morkis...
I tried remembering where I read that character's name.
I just nodded and Bisnna went outside, and when she came back, she had some other maids with her as they guided me to the bathroom.
------------
I looked in the mirror and there I saw myself or should I say Navia's face, she has purple hair and red eyes...which make her face look like a snob.
Bisnna put some ribbons in my hair and let it down while she put some necklaces on my neck.
We went out from the room, and as we walked through the big hall, I couldn't help but roam my eyes and appreciate the things that I was seeing.
We stopped at one of the big doors, and Bisnna opened it for me.
"Lady Crizelda was waiting, Your Highness." Bisnna said, which made me frown, as she didn't step in; instead, she was just at the door.
"What about you?" I asked as I looked at her and looked inside.
"We are not allowed to join you in your lesson." Bisnna said as she smiled tipidly at me before she closed the door.
"Now, Now, who do we have in here?" I was startled when I heard some voice from behind as I was still looking at the closed door.
I don't know why but I felt a sudden chill in my body when I heard that voice.
"Sit here, Lady Devineris..." the middle-aged woman said I turned and saw her.
"What are you waiting for? We can't keep wasting our time in here, she said as she raised her brows at me.
I stiffened as I looked at her. I don't know why my body reacted to her like that; it feels like I feel scared of her.
The woman sighed as she rolled her eyes at me as she marched in my direction and pulled me harshly on my arms.
"I told you last time not to waste my time here!" she said as she yelled at me while she was still pulling my arms.
"W-what are you doing, Lady Crizelda?" I asked as I was still in shock.
She pushed me onto the couch while she sat down in front of me.
"What am I doing?" she said as she snorted at me.
"I am teaching a bad kid like you some lesson," she said before she took the cup on the table that was already served for her.
"You really think because you fell from the pond we will skip our lesson?" she asked, as she looked at me while glaring and smirking at the same time.
"This is why you were left here alone because you are such a useless kid," she said as she pointed her fingers at my forehead.
"The duke must be ashamed to have you as his daughter, tssk, tssskk." She continued, but this time she was lightly slapping my face, making sure it wouldn't leave any marks as evidence.
"You don't even deserve to have what you have now," she said as she looked at me and rolled her eyes.
"Now, stand here!" she said as she pulled me to stand.
I saw her walk to the table not so near us and get some books.
She slapped it on my head before putting them there.
"If you ever fall off those books, I am going to punish you," she said as she got her stick while I was standing.
I gasped when I felt the pain when she hit me on the back with her stick.
"Maintain your composure!" she instructed as she positioned herself in front of me once more and struck me in the stomach.
Although the pain was excruciating, I couldn't help but notice that her body appeared accustomed to such treatment.
I watched her as she sat on the chair and drank and ate some desserts.
"Now, if only you would listen to me and avoid causing any trouble, we would be fine," she said while humming to herself and smelling her tea.
I observed her as she sat in the chair, enjoying her food and beverages. "Now, if only you would listen to me and refrain from causing any trouble, we would be in a good position," she remarked, even humming to herself as she savored the aroma of her tea. I simply gazed at her while remaining standing, my head still burdened with those books. "Now, walk with those items," she instructed, tapping her stick on the table before her. "You should exert considerably more effort; after all, you were not taught proper etiquette during your time in the South. Your mother must have failed to instruct you, as she also believes you to be inept."
"Now, walk with those things," she said as she made a sound using her stick on the table in front of her.
"You should put in a lot more effort; after all, you weren't taught proper etiquette when you were in the South. Your mother must have failed to teach you, as she also thinks you're useless." she continued and she even chuckled at what she said.
"Your brother was also the same! I've seen that brat here before and didn't even bother to greet me?! How rude..." Lady Crizelda said as she kept on complaining about things and insulting me for being useless.
I felt as though I had returned to my former workplace, where my colleagues had become accustomed to the same routine.
Flashback~~~~
"Hey you!" I heard someone call my name, so I looked back and saw Ria, my co-worker who has been with the company for one year longer than I have.
"Y-yes?" I said as I stuttered, as I had an idea why she called me.
"You do this one!" she said as she threw some papers on her desk.
"B-but that's not part of my job..." I said it calmly, as I felt nervous when she was staring, or more like glaring, at me.
"Not part? Please let me know if you're unable to do it. she said as she yelled; everyone in our office looked where we were, and they all chuckled at what she said.
Everyone here treats me the same.
I was the only newcomer, and people here keep making me do their work.
I wanted to complain, but the manager agreed with the others and dismissed my concerns.
If only I didn't need this job...
I was abused every time here verbally, but I can't do anything.
"She was just making up some reasons for her not to do it, Ria." John said as we walked on our way and faced me.
I tried looking the other way when he started to get so close that I could even feel his breath on my face.
"She's really useless; no wonder her brother left her with so many debts. after all he raised her, and yet she became useless," Ria said as she grimaced at me.
"You will do it whether you like it or not; I needed this one by tomorrow," She said as she picked up her phone, and I saw her scrolling some clothes online.
"What are you waiting for?" She yelled, which made me startled, while it made the person beside me chuckle.
"You know, Zai... if you only come to me, everyone here won't treat you like this." John seductively caressed my arms, causing me to shiver in disgust.
I slapped his hands and left him; I even saw him smile and wet his lips.
John was a well-known player here in our company; most of the women here were his victims... even Ria.
That must also be one of the reasons why she was angry at me.
The people here stare at me with disgust in their eyes, which I didn't even know came from.
End of Flashback ~~~~
"I am talking to you!" I was startled when I heard Lady Crizelda' voice.
"I'm sorry," I said as I looked down.
"I mentioned that I heard about your actions regarding Marquis Broxstin's daughter, and the crown prince was present as well," Lady Crizelda said, sounding annoyed.
"You're really bold to touch the lady who was better than you... Lady Borxstin was the perfect example of a perfect noble lady; of course, I was the one who taught her." she said proudly as she looked at me with disgust on her face, like how my co-workers used to look at me.
"And you dared to touch her? Didn't you know that the crown prince and she were already betrothed?" she said as she glared at me.
"I heard you like the crown prince; that's why you pushed Lady Camilla..." she said as she glared at me.
"Did you think His Highness would like someone like you?" Lady Crizelda said as she moved her face closer to mine.
"You may be the daughter of a duke, but still you're worthless and useless," she said as she smirked. "Unlike Lady Camilla, she was the flower of this empire; everyone adores her, and besides, she manifested her powers early and was serving the people already, while you? "You will remain as useless as you are," she said, laughing a little.
She merely requires me to stand in place and has not imparted any knowledge beyond the basics of standing and walking correctly; it feels more like a punishment than an educational experience.
I saw her look at the watch that she brought with her.
"The time is up. "I hope you will learn your place. Although you may be the daughter of a noble person, a duke, you cannot have everything you want as you please. You are so incompetent that it would have been better if you had died along with the late duchess, who came from a foreign land," she said as she marched out of the room.
When I couldn't feel her presence anymore, I could feel my feet shaking as she made me stand there for two hours without moving aside from when she made me walk a while ago.
This is unacceptable. I thought Navia was just a brat who can get everything she wants as she pleases, but why wasn't it stated in the novel that her teacher treats her like this?
I can't stay like this anymore; this is my second life, and even I know that I can't leave this world anymore, as I already died in my world.
Did Navia suffer things like this?
Why do we have the same fate?
She died young because of her love for someone, and I died due to my dedication to working for my brother's sake.
"Your Highness!"
The door suddenly opened, startling me.