The days in the Moretti mansion followed a cruel monotony. Alice would get up before everyone else, work in silence, and return to her room, always behind the scenes, invisible to the family and especially to the guests. However, with each passing day, something inside her grew: an insatiable desire to know the real world, beyond the high walls that surrounded her gilded cage.
That morning, Alice was polishing the mirrors in the main hall when she heard voices coming from the hallway. She stopped for a moment, keeping quiet behind the ornate frame.
"And what about Camilla's birthday party?" "asked the stepmother in her authoritarian tone."
"Everything is being organized. I just want to make sure our family name is spoken of for its elegance, not for scandals." Michael replied, his voice low but firm.
The name “Camilla” made Alice’s stomach churn. Michael's legitimate daughter was everything she could never be: admired, protected, the family jewel. Camilla knew this and made sure to rub her superiority in Alice's face whenever she had the chance.
As Alice returned to her work, her stepmother's words echoed in her mind. The party was an important event, and she knew she would be overloaded with tasks to ensure everything was perfect.
The following afternoon, Alice was in the kitchen preparing the flower arrangements for the party when Camilla entered, her high heels echoing on the floor.
"Alice, I need you." Camilla said, tossing a dress box onto the table.
Alice took a deep breath, hiding her irritation.
"What do you need, Miss Camilla?"
Camilla smiled, but the gesture was full of malice.
"I need you to adjust this dress. It’s a little loose. And make sure you don’t leave any marks on the seams. I don’t want to look poorly dressed at my own party."
"Of course." Alice replied, already taking the box.
As she went up to her room with the dress, Alice felt the familiar sense of humiliation. Camilla didn't need her to adjust anything. It was just another way to remind her that she was inferior.
In her room, Alice opened the box and took out the dress. It was a delicate fabric, with embroidery of shiny stones that seemed to magically capture the light. She held the dress against her body, imagining for a brief moment what it would be like to wear it.
She walked to the worn-out mirror. The reflected image was a cruel contrast: her tired face and eyes marked by the fatigue of someone who never rested, against the luxurious shine of the dress.
"Don’t delude yourself, Alice." she murmured to herself. "This will never be yours, everything you have is borrowed, stop dreaming."
She put the dress aside and began to adjust it, her skilled hands working quickly. However, in the back of her mind, the idea of being at her own party, of being seen as an equal, continued to torment her, yet, this would never happen.
That night, while putting away some arrangements in the hall, Alice was surprised by the presence of the governess, Leticia. The woman, usually cold and distant, seemed to want to say something.
"Alice." she called, her voice low.
Alice stopped, looking at the governess cautiously.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"You are an intelligent girl. But your intelligence can be your greatest enemy here." Leticia said, her eyes fixed on her.
Alice frowned, not understanding.
"What do you mean?"
Leticia sighed, looking around before continuing.
"Don’t try to draw attention, girl. The mistress is always watching, waiting for a reason to get rid of you."
"I know that." Alice replied, in a defensive tone.
"No, you don’t." Leticia said, shaking her head. "I’m only saying this because I saw what happened to..."
"To whom?" Alice questioned.
"Just don’t act too smart, but one thing, rest, they will need you tomorrow night, Mr. Michael sent word, don’t leave your room, you need to be well-rested and without that tired look on your face."
Alice didn’t answer, but those words remained etched in her mind. Leticia knew more than she let on, but Alice also knew that no one there spoke openly about the Moretti family’s secrets.
Leticia withdrew, and Alice left afterwards, she was already thinking about what she would do the next night, what task would be assigned to her this time.
The next day, Alice slept late, waking up at lunchtime. She freshened up and went down to eat. She decided to get a head start on the arrangements; she was finishing organizing the flowers in the hall when Michael entered. He was on the phone, giving orders in a firm tone.
She tried to move away, but he saw her. For a moment, their eyes met. It was rare for Michael to look directly at Alice, and this made her uncomfortable.
"You..." he began, pointing to the flowers. "Did this?"
Alice nodded, not knowing what to expect.
"They are good." he said.
It was a simple compliment, but Alice felt a pang of confusion. Michael rarely spoke to her, much less in a positive way.
"Go up and rest, the night will be long, you will receive instructions shortly." Michael finished and left.
That night, as she was getting ready, Alice thought about her interaction with Michael and her conversation with Leticia. Something inside her was changing. She didn’t know what it was, but she felt that destiny was in motion.
With the brooch in her hands, she studied it once more, her fingers tracing the details engraved in the silver.
"Who are you?" she asked in a low voice, as if the object could answer. "Why did you abandon me, Mommy?"
Alice knew she needed to discover the truth about her past. She knew that what was hidden there was more than rejection.
And before she could question herself again, the door opened.
Isadora Moretti (Stepmother)
Camilla Moretti
Michael Moretti
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