Chapter 57: Chapter 5. The Trap
The end result of our being held captive by the Windsors was that we became servants on their own estate.
I never thought in my life that I would have to experience something like this. From the noblest aristocrat of the Azeroth Empire, I became a nobody in Oberon. At that moment, my social position collapsed below the baseboard.
And moreover, the Marquess of Windsor did not exaggerate at all when he said that we would live in this house on a par with the rest of the servants. Since the Marquis was in charge of the Razor, Maximiliana herself volunteered to escort me to the new room.
I was already taken aback when I saw her. And what's more, I had no other choice.
The tiny room in a separate wing of the estate was almost three times smaller than my previous chambers. There was only enough space for a narrow bed, one chest of drawers with clothes and a table. Even my hospital room seemed bigger than this one.
Compared to the luxury that I had managed to get used to over the past six months, my new home was more like a joke. However, I did not argue, and silently resigned myself to my situation.
After all, anything was better than a prison cell. Here, at least, I could rest normally without the dampness of the dungeon. And his own private corner in this unfamiliar place was very useful. At least somewhere I could be alone without prying eyes.
Watching my reaction, Maximiliana smiled maliciously. She stood next to me, leaning on the door frame, while I explored the room.
— Well, do you like it?
I tried to put a semblance of a smile on my face. If he expects scandals and screams from me, he obviously won't get it.
— Thank you. Everything suits me.
The girl snorted, folding her arms over her chest.
«You're good at pretending.» It's understandable why you made your mother feel sorry for you.
«The Marquise has a kind heart,» I said shortly.
— Hmm? Are you implying that my heart is not kind?
I paused.
«I didn't kill you after all.»
From her side, it looked like she really did me a favor by keeping me alive. I didn't see such complacency even in Rachel, although she had a rather high self-esteem.
I finally understood how they differed. Rachel is as cold as ice, while Maxie is like fire. Her ardent temperament became the cause of many rash actions, which the first was not capable of.
However, they still had one thing in common. With both of them, my life was in danger.
Noticing that I was thinking about something and didn't answer her, Maxie got bored, and she was going to leave.
— Don't forget, beauty, tomorrow is your first working day.
She gave it out with a sneer before slamming the door behind her. I was left alone in the room and wearily sat down on the bed.
The grayness around me reminded me that despite the lack of ropes, I was still tied hand and foot. My every move here was monitored, which was not much different from supervision in a dungeon.
I wonder if I'll ever be able to get out of here.
I saw a maid's uniform on a hanger in the corner of the room, and I grinned. It looks like I'll have to remember the old days when I wasn't rich yet.
To save money for my treatment, my mother also worked as a servant in the house of an influential person. I never thought that I would ever overcome her fate.
Although… There was never a hole I couldn't get out of.
When I get used to this place and reconnoiter the situation, I'll be able to come up with something. At least I'll try to send a message to my father. And now, in order to avoid risks, you should just obey.
Thinking in this way, I was going to start planning my actions starting tomorrow. Today, after such a huge amount of stress, I needed to take a breath.
Without laying out the bed, I lay down just like that. By the time all the negotiations about our situation were completed, it was already quite late.
I closed my eyes, intending to take a nap, as Maxie said, before «my first day at work.»
The mark on my neck throbbed, but I tried not to attach too much importance to it. In a good way, it was necessary to turn to a healer, but in the current situation it hardly became possible.
The last few weeks I've basically been feeling pretty weird. My usual strength seemed to have increased, which made me feel less tired and more cheerful. Physical endurance has also increased slightly.
I didn't know what it could be connected with, and therefore I blamed everything on the rapid pace of development of the body. After all, I was still a teenager, and the growth of the body continued. It is quite possible that this is just a sharp surge of hormones.
And in general, my own health did not worry me too much. Especially now. Nothing hurts, and that's fine. The main thing is to find a way to get out of here alive.
Despite the tingling sensations, I quickly fell asleep, and dozed until the middle of the night. Then, reluctantly, I woke up because I heard a knock on the door.
I wonder who needed me in this house at three o'clock in the morning?
However, it could have been one of the Windsors, and ignoring them was not the best idea. I had to get up and let in an unexpected guest.
It turned out to be a Razor.
I was very surprised and blinked my eyes to make sure it wasn't a dream. But no. The black-haired guy in front of me didn't disappear anywhere.
— Razor …?! — I asked softly, — What are you…
The Prince didn't let me finish. Quickly turning around, and making sure that there were no pursuers, he went into the room and closed the door.
— How did you get here? I immediately asked, «Aren't we being followed?»
— They're watching. But I was able to break away.
I was once again amazed at the guy's ability to get out of any scrape. He really was like a rabbit: small and agile, so that no one could notice him. Razor snuck up to me despite all the guards who were put to watch over us.
— But why…?
«We need to get out of here,» the second prince said seriously.
— What? — I was surprised, — But you said that we shouldn't take risks, and…
«I've changed my mind,» he interrupted, «these savages said they wouldn't touch us, but I don't believe them. It's too dangerous to stay here.
I was confused.
— B-but of course…
«Leriana,» Razor sighed, «If not now, then it may be too late later. Or do you really want to stay and work for them?»
I shook my head.
— Then we need to get out of here.
Without thinking twice, I nodded decisively to the guy. He was right: you can't let fear control you. In order to save us, I must not hesitate at the crucial moment.
Who knows, maybe this is our only chance?
— Okay, let's go.
After my consent, Razor and I quietly left my room and moved down the corridor. The prince had a good memory, and while the guards were leading us into the living room, he managed to remember the location of the main and also the back exit. For the sake of safety, we decided to go the second way.
Surprisingly, our journey proceeded smoothly, and we met almost no obstacles. Such luck seemed like a miracle, and I really hoped that we could get out.
Silently leaving the servants' wing, we entered the main estate. At night it was deserted and quiet here, which only played into our hands in our escape.
The back exit was very close, hidden under the main staircase. Razor and I rushed there, intending to leave this place as soon as possible.
The guy grabbed the door handle and pulled, but the door wouldn't budge.
In a panic, he tried again, but it was useless.
We looked at each other excitedly.
— What a meeting, — a sarcastic voice rang out behind us, — Really, you can't sleep either?
I turned around sharply and saw that Maxie had been watching us for a long time. The guards surrounded the stairs, not giving a way for a possible retreat.
And then I realized that this «escape» was a trap from the very beginning.