CONSEQUENCES

"You were given years to manage your job, Madame. I don't think you deserve any more chances since you have already failed us." Rachelle answered firmly, awaiting the Duke's order. 

"Even the salaries of all the servants here have been exploited by this good-for-nothing man. Whatever your decisions Father, it'll reflect our image as one of the most respected aristocrats and influential people." Alexander responded, glaring at the Butler who was wincing in pain. 

His face is destroyed, and so is his ability to speak. He was trembling in fear, looking at the three of them standing next to the records, awaiting the Duke's orders. 

Seems like the Duke can't decide but Rachelle remains quiet. Whatever his decision is, it'll make him suffer more than she has to. If she would accept this, everyone would think that the Duke has fallen out of love and is now abusing the Duchess, but if he were to decline then he would look like he doesn't care at all about the castle's welfare. 

"Please Father, give my mother a chance to redeem herself. S- She already admitted that she's willing to do anything to work herself. Just please, father. Be merciful to my mother." Helena begged as she also kneeled in front of them, acting like the Duchess. 

The sight of her begging like this makes Rachelle's heart burst out in satisfaction. The sight of her pretty little sister, acting so fragile and soft is now shaking in anger as she has to deal with the pleading and begging for forgiveness. It's as if she couldn't accept why she would kneel for her own mother. 

She snickered silently, watching the Saintess pleading for mercy while everyone pitied her for acting like this. They blame the Duchess for dragging her daughter in shame knowing that she's the Saintess appointed by the holy church.

Murmurs started to echo around the halls as the servants remained outside of the Duchess' door, talking badly at the Duchess, degrading her for doing that to them and for putting the two girls who were caught in her scheme. 

Little did they know, it was an opera orchestrated by Felicia to ruin the relationship of these people. They ruined her first, why would Rachelle not ruin them as revenge for what they did to her?

But her revenge... It's far greater than that. She will eventually burn them to the ground until their ashes are left. 

Tensed by the situation, the Duchess cried pitifully, trying to woo everyone into taking her pity. Some of them, especially the ones who were under the Duchess' care seem to worry a lot about her, praying that she will be spared. 

However, most of the people inside the manor have grown hateful after such revelation of how they corrupted their service pay, they didn't feel any pity at all and if they could, they would curse them for how dirty they wronged them.

"The butler... Shall be imprisoned while his limbs are cut off. For trying to murder my daughter right in front of me, he will be given no parole for hurting a noble lady. Hence, he will face continuous torture to let him remind of his actions, facing his consequences." The Duke has finally opened his mouth, breaking the long silence. 

Rachelle's ears went irked with his words, she thought that he would give her the satisfaction to kill the man as a justifiable act for raising his hand on a noble. But torture, oh torture, it turned out even more great than just giving him an immediate death.

"No! You can't do that to him!" Tyren, the Duchess begged after hearing the consequences that the Duke imposed such horrifying methods of actions for his consequences. Jeremiah is like a brother to her, she won't let him do that to him!

"Please Duke, I beg you, please be lenient to him!" She begged, her eyes pleading for mercy but the Duke didn't say anything but watch him with his cold eyes. That's when Tyren felt like the man she used to love had been bewitched by the witch.

As her eyes looked at Felicia, she caught a glimpse of her, giving her a sadistic smirk as if teasing her for what she had become. Her face suddenly went red, fuming mad at Felicia. She wanted to berate her yet she stopped herself in the presence of her good-for-nothing-husband. 

"The Duchess... She shall be sent to the monastery to pray for her sins and ask the Goddess for forgiveness. She shall stay in the monastery for a month and shall be released in due time." The Duke imposed the consequences of her actions, sending her face away from the castle.

Hearing what the Duke said, Tyren's heart turned cold, breaking apart from feeling betrayed by how he treated her like this. She felt humiliated, women sent towards the monastery are viewed as a humiliation towards the nobility, often emphasizing that a woman is ruined if she were to get sent.

"No! Daddy! It's not fair! Why are you doing this?! You're breaking our family apart!" Helena exclaimed, crying while glaring at the Duke who softened just by looking at Helena however if not for Felicia scoffing, he remained quiet and never changed his thoughts about what he did to her. 

"Drag that man away and serve him the consequences of his crimes. Pack the baggage of the Duchess and call for a carriage to send her towards the monastery. If any of you oppose, I shall hear your reasons at my office." The Duke stated and left the room, leaving everyone. 

The servants bowed their heads as the Duke went out, making the crowd disperse. Meanwhile, Alexander, Felicia and Helena just stared at the back of the Duke, following his stride. 

Suddenly, the Duchess fell on the floor and fainted while the Butler was dragged out of the room. The body has been long moved out of the room. 

Helena started praying, crying as she tried to heal her mother. She was crying so pathetically over her mother's fake acting. Rachelle could tell since her lids were twitching and moving. 

"This is all of your fault! If you didn't tell Daddy about Jeremiah then they would've not suffered from this humiliation!" Helena yelled at her, cursing her with her glaring eyes while holding her dear mother close to her. 

"It was the right thing to do. Are you insinuating that the crimes committed by the Butler and how the Duchess protected it are considered not that bad?" Felicia asked as she raised her eyebrow. 

What kind of thinking is that? She sounded so freaking dumb!

"I-I didn't say anything like that! But if you really didn't push such matters, this would have been handled more privately and not in times when my mother is traumatized by what happened earlier! You're so cruel and selfish, Felicia! Are you making this because you don't like us?!" She yelled, crying in agony. 

"It couldn't be helped, Helena. The records already showed the crimes and how your mother protected that criminal who also flung towards Felicia. I can never forgive such things and both deserve what they got." Alexander answered, didn't feel any regret with his words. 

Rachelle smirked, Helena's eyes showed how painful it was for them to turn their backs against them. Alexander loved her very much back then. What happened to her beloved brother, going against her?

She was shaking as she lowered her head, crying silently as the two continued to bully her, they didn't feel any ounce of pity towards her or her mother at all. They're so merciless, cruel devils.

"Well then, I pray the Goddess will guide the Duchess in her travels. Safe journey as always." Felicia said, turning her back around and starting to walk out while completely feeling composed. 

However, just as she was about to walk past the door, her knees weakened as she slumped on the floor. The good thing was that a maid nearby caught her before she could hit the ground.

She even let out a yelp as she didn't expect that her legs would betray her like this. She was confused, why didn't her legs work well when she was perfectly fine earlier? 

"Oh dear!" Alexander immediately approaches, leaving Helena and her mother behind as he runs towards Felicia and slips her through his arms, carrying her and rushing towards her room to put her down on her bed. 

"Put me down, I can take care of myself!" Felicia couldn't help but raise her voice as she felt embarrassed after the fall and the way he carried her like it didn't matter at all to him. 

Alexander just glared at her and continued walking back towards her room. "Just shut up and let me take care of you." He responded. This made Rachelle raise her eyebrow, she wanted to snort at him. What a lie.

She was as light as a feather, underweight and very thin compared to Helena's physique. Alexander felt a pang in his heart, feeling like he had been carrying a boulder of guilt on his shoulders while looking at Felicia.