A few minutes passed while Alina let her feelings out.
She eventually calmed herself. But in her eyes it was evident that she still didn't grasp her situation completely.
That was understandable. Since that was how most people would react.
Most Slaves, that is.
"I'm sorry," Alina said, Forcing a smile between her tears "...that I showed you such a pathetic face of mine."
Smiling gently, the maid shook her head, "You should not call it Pathetic, My Lady."
Smiling she continued to walk.
"The face of someone who let's His/Her Held up feelings finally surface, Will only bring a smile on their loved ones, Isn't it how it works?"
"…" Alina couldn't help but smile at what she said
A sad Smile....
"...loved ones, huh?" She muttered to herself. A buried memory resurfaces as she repeated the words...
Luna, seeming to understand, quickly apologised. "I'm sorry Lady Alina, My words seems to have hurt you..."
"No... Don't be, Miss Luna, It's just... I seem to have remembered something..." She said in a voice that didn't quite hide her sadness.
"It's not right that you apologise for it"
The tone she replied in Did not Hold Sorrow, Not pity even.
It held Hatred.
Luna's eyes twitched, she was a bit shocked.
'For Such a Pure girl to emit Such Hatred' She thought while walking in the large corridor of the Palace.
"... Miss L-luna, I...I Feel kind of...." Alina's knee fell to the ground...
Her eyes closed...
She collapsed, unconscious.
Luna sighed and with a Soft smile, "Please Rest Well, Lady Alina" She said, Before Gently picking her up and carrying her.
––––————————————
Alina's eyes slowly opened, Revealing a unfamiliar Roof, It was not the cold iron, or the dark carriage.
She felt soft, it was as if she was sleeping on a bird's feather... The large bed pleasantly surprised her.
She didn't feel any weight on her Limbs or her neck, She wasn't feeling fear or anxious.
Her eyes suddenly teared up.
She Smiled, But this wasn't any sad smile. This wasn't a Forced one either.
The smile came out Genuine.
She was finnally released from the chains, She was finnally Free.
"…"
But her happiness didn't last long...
Her arms fell on her forehead.
... What next?
What even is there for her to do?
'… Take Revenge on the ones who betrayed her family?'
She laughed at the thought
"Don't be a fool, Alina. Could you even do that with such weak powers?" She thought to herself, giving a bitter reality to face.
Just as fast did the smile form, did it die.
After a while, she heard a knock at the door.
"May I Enter, Lady Alina?" Luna's voice asked softly.
"Y-yes" She replied hesitant.
To a girl who was Nothing more than a item up for sale for almost a decade, Trash, Tool, Doll... And even sex-toy were her pronouns...
And for so many years, she was Something, not Someone.
So She didn't know how to reply if someone called such "Thing" in such a manner...
In a manner that made her seem like a human.
Luna walked in, her face bright with a smile.
"Good morning, Lady Alina." She said Bowing a bit, "Did you rest well?"
Alina just nodded, smiling.
"Miss Luna..." Alina got up from the bed and knelt to the ground, her forehead touching the smooth tiles...
"!!!" Luna Reflectively moved Backwards, "Wha- Lady Alina! Why are-"
"Please forgive me for suddenly falling unconscious and making you Carry me all the way-" Alina's voice was suddenly interrupted by the maid
"My Lady!"
Luna Almost Screamed, Anxious.
"Please.... Please Raise your Head, You should not bow to me... And carrying you here was my responsibility as your maid, So please..."
Alina raised her head, She saw Luna, Whom she thought to be quite tough, Trembling.
She stood and walked towards her...
"But Miss- " She tried to refute
"You Are No longer Chained!"
The maid exclaimed, Gripping her skirt...
The words fell like a glass in a empty hall, it shattered, Echoing the noise...
"You shouldn't Bow to me like that, Lady Alina, You should start to consider yourself more."
"…" Alina couldn't say anything... She cast her look on the ground...
"I- I'm sorry, My Lady! I've Crossed My Boundaries, I shall accept any Punishment you-"
"Stop it, Miss Luna, You Know that I won't do that" Alina said, A bit confident... "Also.. Thanks."
"Lady Alina..." Luna smiled... Then shook her head, "Anyways, The reason I came here was to inform that Lord Noir wishes to speak to you"
This took her by surprise, Truth to be told, she was scared of him.
Although his face was charming, his eyes were cold, cruel... As if they could see through her. And she was scared of that.
She was terrified of the fact that there was someone who could possibly see her truth.
And that person is probably the one who saved her...
No... She is sure-
"My Lady?" The concerned voice brought her back.
"Ah... I-it's Nothing, Miss Luna." She said with a smile.
"…" Luna, Didn't reply... Though She looked like she wanted to say something to her.
Atleast that's what her face told.
"Anyways, Lady Alina, please follow me to the bathroom. Your dress will be ready once you finish your bath" She said and lead her to the bathroom.
Contrast to the palace from outside, The bath was white and gold, an elegant choice of colours and in the centre of the huge, brilliantly decorated room, was a whole pool of water.
Now that she thought about it, the palace was Black only from the outside... From within it was as dazzling as a gemstone.
A Statue of a woman with a pot from which water flowed was craved atop a short pillar near the pool.
The water was hot, she could say from the warm steam that was emitted...
"B- beautiful..." These were the only words that came in her mouth...
But she knew these weren't enought to define what she saw now.
"Now then, Please Excuse me and enjoy your time at the bath"
Saying so, Luna excused herself. Leaving Alina all alone in the vast room.
'I still feel uncomfortable all alone...' She had her own set of traumas...
"Sigh!.."
She undressed, exposing her slender, bruised body to the warm atmosphere.
'It's going to hurt...' she thought before slowly walking her way under the water...
"Ouch!..ouch!.."
Her bruises were exposed to the water, although she felt pain at first, soon it turned into a relaxing sensation.
"I thought I'd never experience this again..." She whispered to herself...
A few memories crept upon the suface of her mind, and subconsciously her face formed a gentle, pretty smile...
She noticed that the water gave a relaxing odour, like a flower's...
'it feels so good...'
———————————
After a few minutes had passed, Alina came out of the bathroom in a towel and entered her room
Luna along with 2 other maids were waiting for her. Near the maids was a gorgeous dress, Black and gold...
It shimmered like silk, Alina was taken aback.
"Lady Alina, we are here to help you get changed..." Luna said in her usual tone of respect.
"Huh? That dress... Is that for me?" Alina asked, her shock Visible.
They Just smiled softly and Nodded. "Lord Noir Had specially prepared this dress for you, Lady Alina" The Other Maid said.
'He did? In just a night?' Alina could only think that.
"Now, if you'll excuse us" They both asked before approaching and Helping her dress up.
... Just Within a few moments, she was dressed.
"Oh my...." Luna gasped, smiling at the Model, "Pardon me if I come rude, but... Lady Alina, You Look Gorgeous!.." She said, With a hint of tease in her tone.
Alina's face flushed red... "S-stop it, Miss Luna..." She spoke out, embarrassed...
Both the maids chuckled...
"Lady Alina, I'll be doing your hair..." The other maid, whom she said was Edna, Informed.
Alina, a bit hesitant, tried to argue... "I can do that much by myself Miss Edna, you don't need to-" Although she was completely ignored...
"That I cannot allow, Lady Alina, well... until you drop the formality atleast..." She said, ending with a soft chuckle.
"..." Alina almost pouted at her teasing
The maid carefully dressed her platinum hair, she made sure not to pull too much, made sure to be careful while tying the hair... And made sure that the hair was made in order to compliment her Lady's and the dress' beauty.
She took a few minutes to complete and the result was worth every second...
——————————
The maids nodded in satisfaction.
Alina could only blush, Embarrassed.
Knock! knock!
"Pardon me, Lady Alina, Lord Noir Has asked for your presence."