The morning sunlight filtering into the room could not chase away the chill that gripped Olivia's heart.
The first thing she felt upon waking was not peace, but the throbbing pain in her palms. The cloth bandages she had applied the night before were stained with dried blood a stark reminder that the events in the basement were no mere nightmare.
Olivia let out a long sigh, as if the very essence of her soul was being drained along with the heavy, stifling air.
"Huff," she exhaled.
She kicked her feet against the plush mattress, tapping her small, rounded cheeks to wake herself up. "It's okay, Olivia. You must stay strong!" she whispered with a smile.
She hurried to prepare herself and stepped out. No sooner had she left her room than she saw Madam Irene emerging from Ophlia's chamber.
Olivia tried to walk past her, but her steps faltered. Madam Irene turned toward her, her piercing gaze making the girl tremble.
"Oh no, did she see me creeping out last night? I'm doomed"
Olivia thought, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Please, let it not be so."
Suddenly, a hand rested firmly on her shoulder.
"Olivia, Princess Ophlia is having her favorite chocolates. Go attend to her; she refuses to have anyone near her except for you and Celine," Madam Irene said in her usual stern, cold tone.
Olivia nodded quickly and excused herself, entering Ophlia's room with a sense of relief.
With a more cheerful step, she approached the Princess. As usual, she began to chat with Ophlia, fulfilling her duties as a personal attendant.
"Your Highness, it is I, Celine," came a gentle voice from the doorway.
"Enter," Ophlia replied, waiting for her to come in.
As soon as Celine joined them, the three of them began chatting like carefree children. However, the moment Madam Irene re-entered the room, Olivia instinctively stood straight by Ophlia's side. Madam Irene said nothing; she simply placed an array of sweets on the table and left without a word.
Ophlia, fond of sweets, reached for a pudding without hesitation. Before she could take a bite, Olivia gently stopped her.
"Your Highness, wait. Please let me taste it first to ensure it is safe to eat," Olivia said with a serious expression. Both of them fell silent and nodded in agreement.
*"Delicious,"* Olivia thought internally. "Okay, it's safe," she confirmed with a nod.
Without further ado, the three of them began to feast. *"Wow, this is heaven!"* Olivia cheered internally. The cake seemed to melt in her mouth; it was simply divine.
"I love these biscuits," Olivia said as she chewed. The jar remained full until she started nibbling on them herself.
Ophlia chuckled. "If you like them, take as many as you want. That goes for you too, Celine," she said, sliding the jar toward them. Celine's eyes lit up as she took her favorite treat.
Ophlia, who was never much for sweets, looked at Olivia. "Olivia, won't you have some?"
Just as Olivia was about to shake her head, a thought struck her. She remembered the boy in the basement. Quickly, she took several pieces into her hand.
"Are you not going to take the whole jar?" Ophlia asked, looking slightly disappointed.
"Ah, it's quite alright. What about Your Highness later?" Olivia replied.
"Don't worry, I have plenty. If I want more, the maids can simply bring it," Ophlia insisted.
Resigned, Olivia took the jar. Ophlia's face instantly brightened.
*"What can I do? I'm stuck with a female lead who knows how to manipulate people… might as well just go with it,"* Olivia thought with a resigned expression.
Before they knew it, night had fallen. The three girls returned to their respective rooms, as Ophlia would be accompanied by her nanny for the night.
*Click!*
The door closed.
"Today was such a long day," Olivia whispered.
Her routine changed tonight. Usually, she would be writing her daily reports, but instead, she was preparing to go elsewhere. After freshening up, she took some of the biscuits given by Princess Ophlia and wrapped them in a handkerchief.
Without wasting time, she stepped out, pausing only when she feared the guards might be suspicious. She clutched her stomach, feigning a need to relieve herself, and tucked the biscuits into her clothes. With a sly smile, she grabbed her lantern.
*Click!*
The door opened. She walked out with a rehearsed act.
"Owww, owww," she groaned.
The guard questioned, "Where are you going?"
"I need to use the bathroom," she said, clutching her stomach, which was perfectly fine.
The guard paused for a moment before letting her pass. "Thank you," she replied, turning away quickly.
*YES! Mission complete!* Her heart raced as she clenched her fists, feeling as though she were on a grand mission. She walked, scanning left, right, and behind her to ensure the coast was clear.
Reaching the garden, she slipped through the bushes and toward the leaves she had carefully arranged earlier. She slowly descended the decaying wooden stairs.
*Creak!*
The sound of the rotting stairs echoed loudly in the basement's silence.
"Shhh," Olivia whispered to the inanimate wood.
She opened the door cautiously, careful not to startle the boy. Olivia stepped inside, her dim lantern casting dancing shadows against the damp stone walls. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She approached the boy. The gold chain shackled to his wrist glinted in the lantern light—a sight both surreal and heartbreaking.
Suddenly, the boy's eyes opened slowly. Olivia gasped, nearly dropping the lantern. The boy did not scream or fight; he merely stared at Olivia with eyes that seemed to have lost all hope long ago. There was blood on his lips that made Olivia's heart ache with sympathy.
"Wh... who?" his voice was raspy, barely a whisper.
Olivia swallowed hard. She set the lantern on the floor and pulled the biscuits from her handkerchief. Her hands trembled as she held them out to him.
"I... I just want to help," she whispered, keeping her voice low to avoid the patrolling guards. "Here, eat. You must be starving, right?"
The boy fell silent. He looked at the biscuits in Olivia's hand, then at Olivia's gentle, sincere face. For the first time, his gaze shifted—it was no longer a hollow stare, but one filled with a thousand questions.
The boy took the biscuits and began to eat ravenously.
"Err, slowly," Olivia whispered.
The boy slowed his pace, following her instruction. Olivia was taken aback.
"Aww, good boy," she said with a cheerful smile.
The boy's eyes widened slightly; it seemed he hadn't heard words of praise or kindness in a very long time. He stopped chewing for a moment, staring at Olivia with a look that was hard to decipher.
Olivia realized she was running out of time. She couldn't stay long. Heavily, she stood up and reached for her lantern again.
"I have to go now. Tomorrow... if I get the chance, I'll come again," Olivia whispered.
Before stepping out, she looked back at the boy, who was still stunned, clutching the remaining biscuits.
"Finish those, okay!" Olivia said with a bright smile.
The boy was transfixed. In the rotting, pitch-black basement, Olivia's radiant face seemed to be the only color in his world. Her smile wasn't just beautiful; it felt like the first ray of sunlight he had felt after years of living in darkness. He could only stare, his cold soul feeling a hint of warmth just by seeing her face.
For a moment, he forgot the pain in his wrists; he even forgot to breathe. He had never seen anyone smile so sincerely at him during his time in confinement.
Olivia, unaware of the boy's intense gaze, turned and walked away with a light step, leaving him behind in a daze. The biscuits in his hands tasted sweeter than anything he had ever known.
"So… dazzling " he whispered slowly, continuing to eat.
He didn't know why… but he wanted her to come back.
Without realizing it, his lips curled into a faint smile.
To be continued…