I Won't Let Them Do It To Me Again!

Lacey looked at the girl, she'd loved unconditionally for the last 13 years, confused and worried. Unsure of what was happening. Ellsie was pacing back and forth deeply in thought.

"So I need to avoid getting engaged to that bastard..." She mumbled. "That must have been her when her plans started to fall into place. But I'll need some powerful allies as well, after all she is still the Duchess..."

"Milady? Is... is everything alright?" Lacey finally spoke. Ellsie stopped to look at the unsure maid, the red haired heiress cocked her head to the side and smiled at her.

"Lacey, I have something I need your help with and you can't tell anyone. Not my father, my brother or especially not my half-sister or the Duchess, do you understand?" Lacey had always been loyal to Ellsie, she'd been there when Ellsie's mother passed when she was 3. However, never once had she seen the heiress harbor any hatred or resentment towards the new Duchess. What changed? Despite it all Lacey nodded with smile.

Ellsie knew Lacey wouldn't be able to do much, but if she didn't do something in about 2 years Lacey will be executed after being found guilty for poisoning the Duke's youngest daughter after it was announced she would be the new heiress instead of Ellsie or Duke's son Eric.

"Lacey next time you go to clean the Duchess's room, I need you to see if you can find any evidence of conspiring against me or Eric. Don't put yourself in danger if she walks in, act natural, don't try to fish for information okay?"

"Milady, this is a huge accusation. If you accuse the Duchess wrongly you could face serious consequences such as banishment or execution." The maid was surprised by such a request, although she loved Ellsie like a daughter, she'd always believed the heiress was naive and did not know of the Duchess's manipulative nature.

"Yes, I know, that's why I need your help." Ellsie's eyes burnt with determination. "I won't let them do it to me again!"