“You may leave now. We’ll discuss this matter later.”

“Sorry?” Evony asked.

“Go. Go and eat.”

She was quickly thrown out of the grand duke’s office. The duke, with a face that showed his annoyance, turned his back and waved her out. She bowed toward the back of the duke’s head, opened the office door, and stepped out into the hallway.

Maybe that wasn’t the right answer, she thought. But there couldn’t be a more exact answer.

There was too little information. It was so frustrating to not know anything about Danté Bord Schneider. Even in prison, there were things she’d picked up on, even if she hadn’t wanted that knowledge. It helped her find a way to get less of a beating. But this whole place was a mystery to her.

Leaning against the wall of the hallway, which felt cold despite the hot weather, she snuck a look around. Despite the enormous size of the castle, there didn’t seem to be that many household staff. After her arrival yesterday, the only people Evony had seen were Benjamin, Marsha, and of course, the Duke.

And yet the castle was managed perfectly. Even without the extravagant decorations, seeing the shine of the wooden decorations and the sparkling glass windows, she could see the competency of the servants.

For a moment, the reflection of herself on the windowpane looked pitiful. She slowly walked towards the window.

Her sunken eyes were rimmed with dark shadows. Her wild hair was like that of a beast’s. Her scrawny body was spotted in bruises and her lifeless lips had black and red scabs.

This seems right. This is Evony Vonieck.

A creature worse than a slave. That was why the duke’s test had no effect on her. She was but an alien in this perfect and beautiful Schneider castle. That was how she defined her place here.

“Oh Miss, I am late. Did your time with master end well?” Marsha approached.

“Yes…”

“You must be hungry. Here, follow me. Let us go down to the dining room for breakfast.”

Marsha massaged her hunched back, and led her by the hand. They passed the grand duke’s office, down the central staircase, and crossed the hallway on the first floor.

“I don’t know about anything else, but we need to fatten you up, Lady. I fear a slight bump may break you. I’m sure some good food will bring light to your beautiful face.”

Where was Marsha’s kindness coming from? Evony knew that she dealt with the duke quite naturally. Perhaps the old woman was the grand duke’s nanny or a woman of high status who oversaw the housekeeping of the castle.

“We’re here. Usually the butler, the master’s assistant, and I eat here. Master comes in from time to time, but he dines wherever he wishes to, so no need to feel uncomfortable.”

The place Marsha led Evony into was a small drawing room. The room had a round ivory table, a wall covered with shelves for display, and a few paintings.

“Chef! Let us eat!”

Marsha’s voice was a little loud, and her happy shout was met with a husky reply from the other side of the door in a corner of the room.

“Oh you! Hey grandma! Wait a little, will ya?”

“Are you going to starve this old lady to death?”

This time, a passionate grumble came from the other side. Surprisingly, the language the chef spoke was a foreign one that Evony could not understand. The accent was thick and full of hard sounds. But Marsha seemed to have understood fully as she shouted back in the same language.

The chef came in pushing a large tray and plonked a large dish on Marsha’s spot on the table.

“Grandma, you’re going to live until you’re two hundred. I guarantee it.”

“Is this a curse?”

“And you must our new Lady. I am Sanko, the castle chef.”

Evony, who was staring at her plate, heard his greeting a bit late. She jumped up to her feet and bowed.

“I am Evony...”

Marsha and Sanko went momentarily quiet and exchanged glances, clearing their throats. Marsha, who stood up alongside Evony, held her hand and sat her back down.

“Hm. I lightly prepared a vegetable soup because it was breakfast after all… But it seems our Lady needs a bit more to eat. Wait for a moment. I shall fry us some chicken.”

“Sorry? Oh no, it’s okay. You don’t need to.”

Sanko swiftly disappeared without answering. As Evony sat there not knowing what to do, Marsha chuckled and put a spoon in Evony's hand.

“Just wait. Sanko’s cooking really is the best.”

But Evony already knew this. The mushroom cream soup she filled her starving belly with last night was the most incredible thing she had ever tasted in her life. Evony had forgotten how nervous she was and cleared a full bowl without thinking.

It was the same now. The vegetable soup with its scent of warm tomatoes stimulated her nose. Again, Evony cleared her plate in no time.

“How does it taste?”

“So… so very good.”

“Tell Sanko that when he comes back.”

“Okay.”

“This might be a bit unfamiliar as you’re not fully adjusted yet, but I must ask you as I can’t postpone it any further. Lady Evony, do you remember the last time you’ve seen a doctor?” Marsha cautiously asked after seeing her finish everything on the plate.

She blinked and replied, “I met a doctor right before I came to the castle. It was to make sure I didn’t have a disease or any other pathogens. It took about half a day with all the examinations.”

“What? But the doctor didn’t treat you?”

“Treatment? Oh no, I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Darling, there is no one in this world who should say they’re fine when their body is aching. Your wounds are things that hurt you, and the scars are things that hurt longer. But if you find yourself saying that you are fine, that means your mind is hurting.”

At the warmhearted words of Marsha, she could only respond with silence. She was really quite confused.

Sanko reappeared and laid down a large, fabulous dish in front of Evony. A well-cooked chicken was surrounded by vegetables, all coated in a savory sauce. “I was in such a rush I couldn’t try anything special. Miss, do you like chicken?”

“Thank you.”

As it was a castle belonging to a grand duke, Evony did not think that she would starve here, but she had no idea that she’d be fed like this. As Sanko’s chicken melted in her mouth, Evony thought that she could do anything they asked of her.

“When is the Doctor coming now?”

“In the morning, so soon?”

“Hm. Upon arrival, tell the doctor to come to Lady Evony's room immediately.”

“Why? Is the Lady ill?” Sanko asked.

“None of your business!”

While Marsha and Sanko continued their banter, Evony downed the rest of her plate and carefully set down her fork. She rose to her feet and bowed to Sanko again.

“Thank you so much for the meal. Where can I do the dishes?”

Again, the two stared at her in silence. The mountainous Sanko poked Marsha in the ribs. Marsha let out a small sigh not loud enough to reach Evony's ears, approached her, and held her hands.

“Dishwashing is for the servant girls.”

“But I’m…” “Miss, how about you do me the favor I’ve asked of you earlier? Didn’t you have something to say to Sanko?”

Oh right. She lifted up her bowed head. She looked at Sanko’s rough-featured face and slightly moved her lips to speak. Her movements were so cautious that it made the others anxious.

After carefully deciding what to say, Evony respectfully lowered her head towards the chef again and whispered.

“I truly… I genuinely enjoyed this meal. It was the most amazing and heart-warming meal I have ever had in my life. Thank you so much, Chef Sanko.”

Sniffle.

After she spoke, Evony raised her eyes to see Sanko rubbing his now red eyes. He sniffled and rubbed his thick palms against his apron. Then, he lightly hugged Evony's shoulders.

“Thank you. That was the best compliment I have ever received since I first started cooking. Thank you, Miss.”

“What? No, I should be the one…”

“Where did the master find such a lovely Lady like this? Grandma, to think that there would come a day I complement our master.”

Sankoscratched his head in embarrassment and gently stopped Marsha from leaving with Evony. Only after giving them some warm milk and cookies did he allow them to leave.

Evony looked at her full stomach. During her five years in prison, and even before then, there had never been a time when she eaten so much for breakfast.

* * *

Word that Marsha was waiting for the doctor to treat Evony reached Danté ’s ears. As Danté prepared for a nap, Benjamin suddenly came in and nagged him to get up.

“She’s waiting for the doctor?”

“Yes. The Lady with her wounds and all…”

Benjamin frowned, recalling the brief sight of Evony's body in the bathroom. It hurt the old butler’s heart to see the numerous scars and marks of torture on her small body.

But Danté did not budge from his spot where he was sitting.

“Your Excellency?”

Danté disheveled his hair with one hand and sighed at Benjamin’s glare that urged him to get up and go to the young lady.

“It was unavoidable yesterday, but not today.”

“By ‘not today’, you mean…” Benjamin asked

“Even if she is indifferent to taking her clothes off in front of strangers, I don’t think I should enforce that. At least that’s what I think.”

After hearing Danté ’s words, Benjamin slightly raised his white eyebrows in surprise. He didn’t think that master, who Benjamin always thought could be more considerate towards women, were capable of such deep thoughts.

But Benjamin did not back off on this one. “But still, you must go.”

“Why?”

“How long will master just sit by and leave Lady Evony in the hands of Marsha? Isn’t the lady now under your responsibility? The orders are for the doctor to treat the lady and, in case the lady refuses treatment, persuading her to receive the treatment is now master’s role.”

Benjamin cheerfully stroked his beard with a sense of satisfaction that he let Danté know how he felt. Danté let out a short laugh at the cheeky face of the old butler.

“Tell me the truth. You’re just excited to see a girl in the castle.”

“That’s not true!”

Benjamin shifted his gaze as Danté ’s words struck home.

Hot, summer sunlight flooded the wide gardens. Danté ’s eyes were indifferent, but when he glanced outside, they turned dark for a moment. Because the image of Evony screeching in the bathtub like an animal came to his mind.

“And the doctor?”

“I’m sure the doctor will arrive soon. That person has always been right on time.”

It was just as Benjamin said. As Danté dawdled about, two short knocks sounded on the door. It was the doctor Marsha had been eagerly awaiting.