1 Prologue

Her life was over.

Emma had served the Halesworths for close to a year now, so she knew that mistakes weren't tolerated in this household. The head maid smacked them with a rod if they left even a speck of dust anywhere. She was lucky enough to avoid getting whipped or worse so far, but this was no ordinary blunder - Emma had harmed the young master's beloved fiancée!

Her hands shook while refilling the teacup, causing some of the hot liquid to spill onto the lady's wrist. It was only a few drops, but their reactions were instantaneous.

"Aaah! YOU!"

"Damned rat, look what you've done now! Ces, are you hurt!?"

Tableware clattered and chairs fell over as both people shot to their feet. Alexander quickly rushed to Francesca's side, gently holding her hand with a concerned look on his face.

"Darling, it scalded me. And oh god, it'll leave a stain! What do we do!?"

"There there, poor girl."

While the two acted sweetly, Emma felt her entire body grow cold.

Fear.

Panic.

Despair.

A mess of emotions rose up inside her, knowing that she well and truly messed up this time. One maid had been flogged and sent away from the mansion just for sneezing in the lady's presence! What would they do to her!?

Both nobles turned to Emma, who could only stand in place, trembling. Francesca's eyes were filled with hate as she stepped forward.

"Clumsy bitch!"

SLAP!

The vicious slap almost knocked Emma unconscious, but she grit her teeth and quickly dropped to her knees.

"Forgive me, my lady!" The maid begged pitifully, bowing to the two angry nobles. "It was an accident, I-KYAH!"

Not listening at all to her cries, Francesca pulled the maid up by her hair. She did it with so much force that a few strands were ripped out completely. Emma whimpered in pain, but didn't dare protest.

"Alex. Show her what happens to servants who injure their betters," she snarled.

The young master beckoned, and a guard walked over to him carrying a black whip. While the mansion's head maid was officially in charge of punishments, Alexander occasionally doled them out himself whenever the fancy struck him. And this time it was personal.

"Daring to hurt my Ces, you've got guts peasant! I'll teach you a lesson you won't soon forget."

"Young master, please, no!" Emma said in a panicked voice.

Alexander smirked and brandished the whip. "Shut up!"

CRACK!

"AAAaaaAAAHHH!"

It drew a long red line across her cheek. Emma shrieked more out of fright than actual pain, however when blood started to flow from her wound, she finally broke down into loud sobs. The maid covered her face with both hands; this was just too much. What scared her the most was knowing it wouldn't end with just a few lashes.

"Quiet!" Francesca practically spat out. Then she looked at her sleeve with a mournful expression. "My dress is ruined, this stain will never come out. Ugh, Alex! I'm so mad! Let's have a knight cut off one of her arms."

Alexander shook his head with a sly grin as he raised the whip again. "That's boring, Ces. Why don't we-"

The young master stopped talking.

For an instant, the light disappeared from his eyes, and his body swayed like he was about to fall over. But Alexander righted himself at the last moment and shook his head several times to get rid of his dizziness. When he looked up, there was no anger or sadistic delight on his face, only confusion.

"Alex?" Francesca asked impatiently.

However, the young man didn't answer. He just stared at everyone around him, looking completely lost.