There has to be somewhere I can go. 

The windows?

No, they would take too much time to open. Is my only hope the manor’s front door then? The Baron won’t help me and I’m screwed if I run into any staff. I already know the butler turns a blind eye to the abuse and that the maids actively participate in it. If they found me running, then they’d certainly hold me down for Madam Morgrem to unleash her fury. 

Wheezing and limping down the decrepit halls, I struggled to make my escape. In my desperation, I was completely blind to the portrait hanging on the wall, covered by a filthy green curtain. If I had stopped or cared enough to look, I might’ve seen the portrait of a woman and her baby that was underneath. One dressed entirely in blue, with dark bronze hair and piercing magenta eyes that seemed to follow me, cuddling a dark-haired infant swaddled in matching fabric. 

But it held no importance to me, and so I never saw it.

All I could think about was my escape route, and how anything would be better than getting caught right now.  

Can’t… breathe! 

I didn’t have the strength or stamina to keep running like I was. All this slipping and sliding on the bloody bandages wrapped around my feet seriously hurt. I could barely even keep my left eye open from how badly my face had swelled up from the bruising. 

Slowing down, my limbs feeling akin to lead, I leaned against the wall, gasping for air. 

I can’t… keep going like this. So dizzy… and tired. 

My throat felt so dry. My legs were shaking as I dropped down to a knee, hunched over and sweating as the soapy water dripped from my hair and made my gown cling to my skin. A trail of blood followed behind me, surely guiding Madam Morgrem if she was smart enough to wash her eyes out first before chasing me. 

But… considering what I was hearing in the distance… 

“ELEA~NOR~A~!” 

That wasn’t the case. 

“YOU WRETCHED THING! When I get my hands on you…” 

Wait, why is it so close? It shouldn’t be this close already. 

“YOU FILTHY, ROTTEN… AGHHHHHHHH!” 

Inhaling sharply, I forced my heavy legs to move and began running again, limping and gasping and struggling to pace my breathing as I ran through the halls until I was no longer on the east side of the manor- the clean floors, crack-free walls, and the pretty decoration giving it away. 

The foyer should be close, and if the foyer is close that means the front door is close. 

I have to keep going. 

Just a little further. 

Turning a few more corners, I slowed down upon seeing a pair of large fancy doors down a long hallway. I could hear voices coming from inside, indicating conversation, and they all sounded rather serious. I was about to lumber forward and eavesdrop, to peer into the room and see who was there, only to pause upon hearing Baron Ryker’s voice. 

Should… I try a window after all, or…?

Suddenly, a shadow loomed from behind me, a voice calling out hauntingly, “Foooound you…” 

Madam Morgrem. 

I couldn’t help but flinch. Turning slowly, I stared at her from over my shoulder, a fresh wave of tears making themselves known. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a more terrifying woman. Her gloves were gone, yanked off, her nails ruined and bloody, scratches streaking down her face, her eyes bloodshot red. Seeing her start to walk my way, her movement wobbly, one of her heels broken, I grit my teeth and curled back my lips, feeling myself start to shake, before taking a step back. 

That was when she lunged. 

Ducked down and throwing myself into a run, I narrowly dodged her arms, running at full speed. Nothing mattered anymore. I just needed to get away from her. 

Because, deep down, I knew; she would kill me if she caught me. 

No longer hesitating, uncaring of the consequences, I burst through the doors into the main hall where Baron Ryker was having a meeting. His black hair and brown eyes were easy to pinpoint among the crowd- along with his tall and lanky form. He and his colleagues, two importantly-dressed people, as well as a few knights and about eight servants, two of which were men, turned to look at me, and at that moment a devilish idea came to me- one that certainly wasn’t something I’d come up with prior to waking up in this hellhole.

If he wanted to neglect me, that’s fine; if he wanted to pretend I didn’t exist... that’s fine, too. But he can’t ignore me in front of powerful figures, right? It would ruin him. Especially now that they were eying each other in confusion and muttering to themselves, staring at me and then the Baron suspiciously. Judging by their attire, they were obviously nobles of higher rank than him, especially the one in the gold-colored suit and red scarf.

That means I might have a chance. 

While the tutor was still slipping about and crashing into the walls, struggling to chase after me, I forced my body to limp forward, outstretching my arms and crying out, “H-Help! Father! Help me!” 

That… didn’t sound too fake, right? Hopefully my panic and breathlessness is helping. 

I mean, even if it did sound fake, if the Baron was at least somewhat intelligent, he should be aware that ignoring me in front of these people would be very bad for him. Rumors would spread amongst the nobility. 

“What in Olmera’s name-” One of the men muttered in a whisper, utterly baffled. He had neatly brushed back blond hair and… strangely colored eyes. They must have been brown, but they were so lightly colored they looked almost like a pastel orange. A beauty mark sat under his left eye. “Is this your daughter? What happened to her?” 

Baron Ryker tensed up, trying to not look too alarmed or disturbed, especially when my very bloody fingers gripped the sleeves of what was surely one of his only nice suits. His hold on his cane tightened. “E-Eleanora…? What… ahem. What happened to you?”

“Th-The tutor!” I wheezed, doing my damndest to stay standing despite how badly my legs were trembling. I knew I was only earning his ire, but I was in too much pain to care. “She’s… She’s trying to kill me!” 

“What?” It was evident he didn’t believe me- or, rather, didn’t believe this was worth his time. He seemed more disgusted by my appearance and soaked dress than the fact that his daughter was being actively harmed. “Again with this nonsense? Are you certain you didn’t start another fight with her? And- what are you wearing!? There are guests!” 

He was quick to yank his sleeves away from my grasp, and I was about to lose balance when he suddenly grabbed my arms, holding them so tight I flinched. I had no doubt I would have more bruises later if I survived today.  

“Return to you room this instant and change into something dry-” 

I ignored him. 

Instead, I glanced up at the two nobles standing behind him, taking a better look at them. The man dressed in a gold suit seemed somewhat inquisitive, but not at all dismissive of the situation, while the blond with the beauty mark looked deeply concerned. 

They, at least, seemed to have some sort of compassion for the Baron’s daughter. I mean, honestly… 

Here Baron Ryker’s “sickly” daughter stands, bloodied, beaten, and malnourished, dressed in a filthy wet nightgown. She was out of breath, bleeding all over, with a face so swollen and bruised that it was obvious she was being mistreated by the staff. Even if Baron Ryker himself doesn’t have compassion for his only child, these two men thankfully do. Whether that’s because they’re genuinely good people or because they have daughters of their own, I have no idea… but I want to try and use it to my advantage- and if Baron Ryker had any sense of wanting to keep his reputation at least semi-decent, then there’s no way he can just turn a blind eye to his daughter’s distress. 

He’ll have no choice but to punish Madam Morgrem, otherwise he’ll be forced to take the fall and suffer the consequences of his negligence.

Noticing the man in the gold suit actually meet my stare, I jolted and snapped my attention back to my “father”. I smacked a hand to my chest, lips curling back as a fresh wave of tears welled up in my already stinging eyes. “It wasn’t me!”

Not entirely, anyways. I did kind of potentially blind her, but she’s been flogging me since day one of her so-called lessons. It was cruel, but I think I was justified in this. Self-defense can be a bitch sometimes. 

“Madam… Madam Morgrem is-!” 

A large THUMP and CRASH suddenly rang out, and then doors were being slammed open. A shadow descended into the room, and my heart began to race, pounding in my ears as we all turned to look at her. 

“Eleanora…” Madam Morgrem purred. “Sweet little Eleanora…” 

She leaned against the doorway, hand to the wall, and tilted her head, her light brown hair half-falling out of its bun and into her bloody face. 

“Come here will you?” A twisted smile curled up on her lips. “I’m going to wring your tiny little neck…!” 

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but… thank you. 

For once in your horrible, horrible life, you just did me a favor. That said, holy hell that was terrifying. I don’t like this. 

Oh gods, she’s walking this way now. 

Baron Ryker and the blond-haired noble were quick to get out of the way when Madam Morgrem lunged, and I inhaled sharply, letting out a terrified squeak and taking a trembling step. Unfortunately, as I did so, my legs suddenly decided they wanted to give out on me, but rather than roughly hitting the floor a pair of strong arms suddenly hoisted me up and swung me out of the way, causing me to let out a startled yelp. The man in gold was carrying me, disbelief written all across his older face. “What in the goddess’ name is- knights! Apprehend this woman!” 

“Guards!” The blond man cried, flailing his hands. “Guards!” 

“Eleanora-!” Madam Morgrem was screeching, stumbling and trying to claw at me, but the man was quick to jump out of the way, oddly agile and just as strong. “You wretch! Where are you!?” 

Wait, can she… actually not see? Are we blurring together or something? Did the bleach actually blind her? 

It didn’t take long for the few knights in the room to come running. 

I flinched and ducked my head when the knights grabbed the tutor and pinned her down, arms behind her back and their hands on her head and shoulders, keeping her on her knees. She was screaming, bloody tears streaming down her cheeks. “Agggghhhh! L-Let go! Let goooo! Where is she!? Where is that wretch!?” 

She… 

She’s down. They... got her. I’m safe. Kind of. 

Swallowing thickly, I turned away from her and looked up at the man carrying me. He was definitely around the Baron’s age, but much more fit. He had some scruff, but he was actually quite handsome. His skin was nearly as dark as his greatly curly hair, but his eyes… they looked… almost garnet. Maybe I was hallucinating from the stress, because people don’t have naturally red eyes, but… wow. That’s kind of...

Huh. 

“Are you alright?” 

“...Hah?” It took a second for me to register his question. I hadn’t even expected it. He seemed concerned by how startled I was by it, and he watched as I stammered for a moment, my eyes wide. “Uh, y-yeah. I’m… I’m okay. Thanks.” 

I think… that’s the first time in the three weeks I’ve been here anyone’s ever asked me that. 

“Th-Thank… you.” Why is that making me so emotional? Hah, just calm down, me. “Uh… y-you can… set me down now…” 

I glanced down at the ground, feeling rather awkward about being carried, unused to it. I could feel his stare linger on me a minute longer, but he eventually did as asked… yet no sooner did my feet touch the ground that the world started to spin. That was also when everyone noticed the blood staining the back of my gown, and the man saw the red staining his silver glove when he moved to catch me. His eyes widened, watching as the blood stains grew darker, the red liquid seeping through my poorly wrapped bandages and nightgown. “Lady Ryker-” 

“M-M’fine.” I mumbled. “Just… dizzy.” 

I got rid of Madam Morgrem, I think, and that was what I needed. 

The man didn’t seem convinced. He whipped his head around to look at the deeply unnerved blond. “Viscount, call for a doctor! Lady Ryker is in severe condition.” 

Wait, what?

“Y-Yes, Count Raine!” The blond stammered, quickly bowing his head, before snapping his fingers and one of the servants- one that definitely did not belong to this estate- came running over to him. “Send for a doctor at once! Take the carriage if you must. I shall ride with Count Raine to his estate after this, if… that is alright with you, Count?”

The man named Count Raine nodded. I yelped when I found myself being lifted up again. “I-I’m okay-”

“You are not.” Was his blunt statement.

I stared up at him, utterly baffled. His garnet-colored irises were quite intense, and I couldn’t help but shrink under his stare a little, intimidated. He turned to Baron Ryker, and I did the same, watching as Madam Morgrem continued to plead with the lord of this land. She was crying, and I winced when the Count’s grip on me tightened slightly, the both of us watching as the Baron yanked the tutor’s head up by her loose hair.

“What were you thinking!?” Baron Ryker roared, utterly furious.

“I-It isn’t what it-” She choked out.  “Th-There’s a misunderstanding, Your Lordship! I swear! Sh-She attacked me! L-Like a vicious viper! My eyes… my eyes….” She slumped over, sobbing, the pain taking over now that the adrenaline was fading. “It hurts… It hurts! Please…! Please, help me! B-Believe me! I was just doing as you asked! My lord!”

“Get her out of here.” Baron Ryker ordered, a heavy glower on his features. “Eleanora…”

Seeing him turn to look at me, I flinched back- and that didn’t go unnoticed.

“What happened?”

Ah, I’m in trouble after all…

“I think we can wait for an interrogation later.” Count Raine interjected, and both Baron Ryker and I startled, turning to look up at him in shock. “Lady Ryker needs medical treatment. Where is her room?”

“H-Her… room?” The Baron faltered at that, and I couldn’t help but snort- only to wince and strangle a whimper, cringing. “Ah, yes! Yes, her room! Of course! It’s, uh… ahem. Maids! And... yes, you!” He clapped the bottom of his cane against the floor. Seeing a familiar blonde woman, he pointed at her and gestured for to step forward, before gesturing for one of the knights. She and the knight so with a bow. I recognized the maid as the first face I saw upon waking up in this world. It was a... rather rude awakening. “Take Eleanora from the Count and to her... room."

"There is no need." Count Raine carefully declined. "It would only aggravate her injures further."

"Y-You need not trouble yourself with my daughter, Your Excellency!" The Baron stammered, clearly in a bit of a panic. "Your clothes will be sullied by-"

"I can always have new ones tailored."

"...Of course. Forgive me." Baron Ryker had lost. He looked at the maid, jaw tight. "Show Count Raine to Eleanora’s… room.” 

A pause, then an understanding closing of the eyes. “Yes, Your Lordship.” 

We’re not going to my room… are we? 

Instead, we'll probably be going to a room meant for guests. He can't show them that horrid display of a room I've been living in.