It was an incredibly awkward walk to my “bedroom”.

Count Raine’s knights followed after him, along with who was surely his aide, and I was so stiff and uncomfortable the whole time I couldn’t bring myself to relax. My heart was racing, fear permeating every part of my being as I tried to comprehend what exactly was happening now. I had gotten rid of the tutor, seemed to have gained the sympathy of the Count and Viscount that were visiting, and… was going to have a doctor checking up on me?

All things considered, this went way better than I thought it would.

I did feel really… really… tired, though.

“Lady Ryker?” The aide was calling out to me, but I lacked the strength to respond as my eyes slid shut. I was exhausted. He must have thought I actually fell asleep, though, because he began to whisper to the Count, “Poor thing… she’s so young; have they not been feeding her? To let the abuse go so far…”

“Enough, Joseph.”

“But, Your Excellency, she’s the same age as the young lady, isn’t she? Isn’t that why you’re helping her?”

“...The maid is listening.”

“Oop!” The aid quickly slapped a hand over his mouth.

When the maid reached the room she was guiding us to, she opened the door and stepped back with a bow. “If you need anything, Your Excellency, please ring the bell. My name is Lorraine, and I will be serving you during your stay.”

“I won’t be here long.” Was the Count’s blunt response. “I am merely waiting for the doctor to arrive.”

“...Of course.”

I kept my eyes closed until he set me down on the bed, and when the door shut and there was the scuffle of a chair scraping against the floor, I heard Count Raine speak up again. “You don’t have to keep pretending. I know you’re awake, little lady.”

Damn. “That… obvious?”

“I’m not a fool. How long has the Baron been mistreating you?”

“Does it matter?”

“...Perhaps.”

I remained silent, slowly blinking open my eyes and staring at the mold-and-crack free ceiling. With how much pain my body was in, I didn’t dare move except to lace my fingers together atop my stomach. The bed was alarmingly soft, the scent of clean sheets so fresh it was almost painful to my nose. “This isn’t my room.”

His dark garnet eyes gazed at me, observing and scrutinizing me. “You are… sixteen, correct?”

“Mmhm.”

The Count didn’t say anything after that.

Drained, I closed my eyes again, and as the silence continued I found myself drifting off. The adrenaline had completely worn off, and seeing how the Count helped me I didn’t have much reason to distrust him. He seemed decent. Plus, I just… really couldn’t find it in me to care. Madam Morgrem was gone, and Baron Ryker won’t be trying anything while other nobles are here. I would be fine.

…

I awoke to the doctor checking my vitals, and I nearly headbutted the poor woman in the face.

The sudden jolt upright also caused immense pain to flood through me, and I ended up letting out a strangled cry as I fell back down and rolled onto my side, hugging my shoulders as I muffled the whimpers, my back absolutely screaming at me.

It was just us in the room, the doctor having ordered the Count out into the hall, and it didn’t take long for her to cut open the back of my nightgown and bandages to see the horrid display on my back. There were already dozens of scars, but the new lashes overtop of them… no amount of medicine would prevent them from scarring as well.

The doctor didn’t say anything, but it was obvious from her gasps and sharp inhales that she was horrified by the sight, and even more so by all the bruises.

She had to wipe my back, arms, hands, and legs clean with warm water and a damp cloth before she could even start to think applying medicine to my wounds. It felt a little violating, but I knew I needed the treatment so I kept my mouth shut. She also applied cold compresses to my swollen face. When done, she ordered Lorraine to bring me a clean nightgown to wear, and the doctor helped me change into that because Lorraine was quick to make her escape.

“My name is Chiril Hein.” The doctor introduced as she buttoned up the fabric near my collarbone. Her silky black hair was tied up in a bun, and her eyes were a dark forest green behind her glasses. She looked to be in her thirties or forties. “I work for the Rischard family, but I run a clinic in Berxley Town. If you ever need help,” She slipped a hand into her coat pocket and pulled out a small card, “go there.” 

I stared blankly at the card, lifting my eyes up to meet her gaze. “Bold of you to assume I’m allowed to go anywhere.” 

Dr. Hein raised a brow at me. “Who said you needed permission?”

“F-Fair point.” Sneaking out always was an option, wasn’t it? “Uh… okay. Th-Thank you.” 

I awkwardly accepted the card, wondering how much her services would cost at her clinic. Maybe I can scour the abandoned side of the mansion for jewelry- assuming the maids didn’t get to them all already. Before that, though, I’ll need to figure out where exactly I am. I know I’m in Baron Ryker’s territory, but that doesn’t really tell me anything. The memories I regained from the “Eleanora” of this world didn’t have anything to say about it. She was locked away and abandoned for so long, she knew nothing about what lay outside the manor.     

I’ll have to find out myself about where this territory was located in proximity to Berxley Town, discover a way to pay for the transportation to get there as well as the doctor herself for receiving her help, and… I’ll also need to find a way to provide for myself. I can’t eat scraps forever. 

To do any of that, though, I have to focus on getting better. 

Once Dr. Hein handed me the card and gave me one more quick look-over, she left the room to speak to Count Raine out in the hall. Waiting for the door to close, I shifted to slip out of bed, nearly falling forward as the heaviness in my legs tried to take me out. Thankfully, there was a lot of furniture in the room and I was able to steady myself with those, making my way towards the door. 

Leaning in close, I furrowed my brows and listened closely to the doctor as she spoke to the Count and…

Viscount?

When did he get there?

“How is she?” I heard Viscount Rischard ask.

“Even worse than she looks.” Dr. Hein quietly informed. “She has contusions all over her body, and her hands, feet, and back are covered in lashes. That, along with all the malnutrition her body has been suffering… her growth has been delayed quite severely. This abuse seems to have been going on for years.” 

Count Raine hummed, his voice grim. “The Baron wasn’t at all surprised by her injuries. The little lady didn’t seem much affected by what happened either, save for the physical exhaustion.” 

“That’s because she’s grown used to it!” The man I recognized at Joseph exclaimed, horrified. “Your Excellency, what should we do? Are we still going to try and go ahead with the “operation”?  

“...Would you take responsibility for the little lady if we did so?”

“What?”

“I’ll need to speak with the others first. Viscount-”

The Viscount’s voice was a little bit louder than it should be. “Y-Yes!?”

“Keep an eye on Baron Ryker’s activity, and if anything happens to his daughter…”

“I’ll report it to you immediately, Your Excellency.”

“Mm.”

Footsteps.

Oop, not good!

I hurriedly scrambled back to the bed, barely reaching it just in time for the doorknob to turn. Rolling onto my side and pushing myself up so I was sitting at the edge of the bed legs dangling off the side, I tried not to make it look too obvious- praying it looked like I had just sat up to check out the bandages wrapped on my feet. Looking up, I feigned surprised, widening my eyes and offering a weak smile and wave to Count Raine. “H-Hello! Uh, thanks. Again. Sorry.”

His garnet eyes were intense. I wondered if they were really garnet or just a unique shade of brown. “How are you feeling?”

“Uh…” That was a question. “I’m fine? I think. The new room’s a little weird, but the gown is nice!” I kicked up a leg, showing off the bandages on my feet and the pure white of my nightgown. “I like clean clothes. Clean clothes are nice. Also the doctor lady was really nice. I can’t really pay her, though.”

I went silent, thinking about it.

“How much does her services cost, anyway? She gave me a card to her clinic, but I don’t know if I’ll actually be able to use it. Oh! Though I have been thinking about scouring the mansion for jewelry. Would those work? I mean, the maids probably stole most of them already, but…” Hmm. “I dunno. Assuming I don’t die anytime soon, I should be able to figure something out.”

Count Raine stepped forward, and looking up I saw him lift a hand.

Perhaps it was because I was so used to being hit, or because I had been beaten so violently by Madam Morgrem just a few hours ago, but I couldn’t stop myself from flinching, bracing for the worst. When I felt his hand rest on my head without any pain, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was even holding, blinking open my eyes and staring up at him, stunned. Count Raine just ruffled my hair, smiling softly.

“Don’t worry about that. You did well coming to the foyer today. Just focus on recovering. Dr. Hein’s services have already been covered by the Viscount.”

“...Oh.” That works, I guess. “I-Is that okay?”

He looked surprised by the question, but quickly collected his composure. “He’s her employer. Of course it is.”

Fair enough. “...Thank you.”

“Viscount Rischard’s territory is only an hour by carriage.” Count Raine informed me suddenly. “If you ever feel as if you are in danger, he’ll protect you.”

“...Why?”

“What?”

I squinted my eyes at him. “Why… are you being so nice?”

Count Raine pulled his hand away, folding his arms behind his back with a slight frown. “Should I not be?”

“It’s just… I dunno. It’s suspicious.”

He blinked. “Suspicious…? Perhaps it is, as we are merely strangers to you. But, I assure you, m’lady, we mean you no harm. A true noble never leaves an innocent young lady to suffer.”

Hrm…

The conversation didn’t continue much more after that. Viscount Rischard came in to speak to me a little bit, tears in his eyes all the while, before Count Raine dragged him away so they could speak to Baron Ryker. Dr. Hein and Joseph bid farewell and took off after their bosses, but not before Dr. Hein said she’d visit again next week. About an hour later, Joseph came back to inform me about how Madam Morgrem was fired and kicked out of the barony. The damage her eyes suffered from the bleach was so severe that Baron Ryker deemed that it, as well as sixteen lashes on her back, was punishment enough for what she did.

Per Count Raine’s request, she also had her achilles tendons cut, so she’d be unable to walk or chase after “anymore innocent children”. She’d be in a wheelchair the rest of her life.

It was brutal. Yet, also… kind of satisfying?

Abusers don’t deserve mercy.

…

I ended up staying in the new room for a solid two months. 

It was an experience, that was for sure. With Dr. Hein visiting so frequently, the maids had no choice but to bring me proper meals and clean clothes- even though those clean clothes were way too big or sometimes even too small. The nightgowns might’ve belonged to the maids themselves, if I had to guess why, which might’ve explained the dirty looks they gave me the first few days, but after a while… those dirty looks stopped. In fact, the maids mean behavior stopped.  

They weren’t verbally abusing me anymore and hardly even made eye contact. The second they brought me the clothes or food they took off running, not staying long enough for me to even say “hello”. When I asked Dr. Hein if she knew why the maids were running away from me so much, I was surprised by her answer- and even more so that she actually knew the reason.

The casual way in which I talked, ran around in a soaked gown, and the boyish, unladylike way I had chopped off my hair had caused the knights serving Count Raine and Viscount Rischard to spread rumors… and in the social world, Madam Morgrem was gossiping to anyone who would listen about how I had ruined her vision by attacking her with dirty soap water and how I “violently wielded a knife”, taking away her ability to walk. The latter half of the story was obviously untrue, but no one would believe those who tried to expose the lies, as it would just encourage them to believe her story more.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

I laughed so hard, it only scared the maids more- and Dr. Hein raised an eyebrow at me.

All it took was me deciding to fight back, and the young “Eleanora von Ryker” became the “Mad Daughter” of the lowly Baron Ryker amongst the nobility. It was absolutely delightful. Things worked out a hundred times better than I had been expecting.

It's not every day the hunted gets to feel like a hunter. This was a total win.

And, to make things even better, with Dr. Hein’s careful treatment and all the real food I was being given to eat, my injuries were finally beginning to heal. It was a painfully slow process and I had to be careful so I didn’t tear the stitches in my back, but they began to scar over. It was also nice having someone to actually talk to, as Dr. Hein let me ramble endlessly to her and she answered nearly all of my questions. I was still terribly thin, as two months wasn’t enough to make up for the all the malnutrition and starvation this body has suffered, but I did gain some weight and all the food was helping my body get the energy it needed to recover from the injuries.

It did… leave me very sleepy most days, however.

Things also got a little dicey when I was struck with a fever, and Dr. Hein was greatly alarmed during her next visit as no one had contacted her to inform her about it. I ended up sleeping the worst of it away, and the doctor stayed in the manor during that time, just in case. When I had recovered after three weeks, she began to visit more often, and during those visits she made me walk around the room, letting me use her arm for balance.

Unfortunately, once those two months were over and my wounds had completely healed, leaving some nasty scars in their place, Dr. Hein’s visits were over and the special treatment with it. I was sent back to my real room on the abandoned side of the manor. Thankfully, the maids became so scared of me from the rumors that they stopped bothering me entirely, wanting to avoid me to the best of their abilities, which left me totally alone on the east side of the manor. They believed I had finally snapped, and would one day potentially go after them for revenge just as I had done Madam Morgrem. It was absolutely delightful.

Without the injuries in the way and without any maids to bother me, it was time to continue what I was trying to do last time and finish cleaning.