When the doctor left, I did a quick review of what I knew about the book. It said that Camila became obsessed with the prince and started to torment the protagonist, but I needed to figure out where we were in the story and if I had already done anything bad. So I turned my attention back to the maid who was still in the room.
"I'm sorry, I... don't remember much," my voice came out soft, almost like a whisper. "What happened to me? How did I end up unconscious? Where are my parents? And... why am I here alone?"
The maid seemed to hesitate, her hands trembling slightly. She looked at the floor before answering, and I realized she was a little afraid of me. Something in the way she avoided my gaze told me she wasn't completely comfortable. I, on the other hand, was trying to be as gentle as possible. After all, it wasn't her fault.
"Madam..." She began, in a timid, almost hesitant tone. "You... you fell off a horse. It was a serious accident, and you've been unconscious for a year."
I couldn't hide my surprise. A year?
"Where are my parents?" I asked, more curious than before. "Why am I here, and not at home with them?"
She looked to the side, as if choosing her words carefully. The maid, apparently, was afraid to say something wrong, and I could clearly feel that. But at the same time, her voice was calm, almost comforting.
"We're on your parents' country estate, madam. They prefer the privacy, so there are few employees here. You've always been used to living here, in isolation."
"In isolation?" I felt even more distant from everything, but I tried to keep my expression calm. I didn't know what was going on, but her story made sense in a way, or at least, that's what I wanted to believe for now.
"What's your name?" I asked, deciding to ask a simpler question, to soften the atmosphere and try to relax her. I realized she was a little nervous, so I wanted to put her more at ease.
She hesitated for a second before looking directly at me. Her voice was lower when she replied:
"My name is Matilde, madam. I'm one of the few maids who work here."
Matilde seemed so... scared, as if she was afraid of me. I didn't really understand why, but something in her expression told me that she saw something that I didn't see in myself. Maybe the villain's body was more feared than I imagined. But, in any case, I decided to be even more gentle.
"Matilde... thank you for telling me. I just... need more answers." My voice was calm, gentle. "I know it's strange, but please, help me understand."
She seemed a little more relieved to see that I wasn't getting angry. Matilde gave a shy smile and spoke softly:
"Madam, first let me bring you something to eat. Meanwhile, the other girls will help you with your bath."
Help with my bath? Well, soon I understood what she meant. Several women entered the room and undressed me. I felt immense shame. They led me to the bathroom, which looked like the pool of a five-star hotel.
I was open-mouthed when a sound of something falling on the floor caught my attention. One of the maids had dropped the bath salts on the floor, and some perfumed oils shattered glass everywhere. The girl was in despair and immediately knelt down begging for forgiveness.
"Forgive me, madam! I beg you, have mercy."
Her voice came out with such fear that it made me feel anguish. I bent down to her and squatted down and held her face, which was wet with tears. Her skin was trembling. I knew what the feeling of fear she was feeling was like.
"Are you hurt?"
I spoke softly and calmly, and she looked at me without understanding anything.
"I don't understand, madam."
"I asked if you got hurt. Come, get up, it's full of glass shards here, you could end up hurting yourself."
I could hear the whispers of the other maids, but when I turned around again, they lowered their heads and were silent. Soon the glass had been cleaned up and I was already being bathed. It was strange, while the lady who had begged for forgiveness was washing my hair with enthusiasm. I even tried to do it myself, but that seemed to be an offense. The bath was relaxing, my skin smells like flowers, my hair is soft. They also helped me get dressed and do my makeup. I looked like a true fairytale princess.
Dinner was served in the room. I thought it was a waste to dress up like this and no one see me, but that's okay. I don't mind eating alone, I was used to it in my other life, I did it a lot, but it would be nice to have company. I moved the food from one side to the other without enthusiasm to eat when Matilde interfered.
"Is the food not to your liking?"
"I'm just not hungry."
"If you want, can we change the chef again?"
"Again?"
"We're already on cook number 12 or 13, I can check."
"Matilde, tell me the truth, I wasn't a good person before, was I?"
"..."
Her silence already told me everything.
"Matilde, how old am I?"
"16 years old."
That was great, the villain is beheaded at 18 so the story hasn't really started yet.
"So, since I was in a coma, I didn't debut?"
"Exactly!"
It was at the debutante ball that Camila became obsessed with the prince, phew, I think I can save my neck.
"How long have I lived here in the countryside?"
"Since you were 3 years old."
"And how long have I not seen my parents?"
She was hesitant but blurts out.
"Since you were 3 years old. You were anxious since you would return with your parents as soon as you turned 15, but unfortunately that incident happened."
My jaw almost dropped to the floor. What crappy parents, how do they leave a child alone?
"So, in a general timeline, my parents abandoned me here."
"It was for your own good, you were a very sick child, your parents did it for your own good."
Holy shit, I wanted to scream and curse these shitheads, vent my anger, but the people around me didn't deserve it. I need to focus on changing people's impressions of Camila.
"Matilde! I want a list of everyone I've fired, mistreated, or harmed."
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