...
As Esther stood at the sink, the Arctic cold water enveloped her pale hands like a shroud, making her skin numb and tingling.
The dishes were piled high, a mountainous task that seemed to stretch on forever. The kitchen staff's animosity towards her was palpable, their eyes boring into her skin like cold, calculating instruments.
The senior maid's whip cracked through the air, the sound echoing off the kitchen walls like a pistol shot.
Esther's back arched in anticipation, her muscles tensing as the whip landed with a loud thud. The pain was a burning sensation, a fire that seemed to spread through her veins like wildfire.
Despite the agony, Esther's face remained impassive, a mask of calm determination. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of defiance, a glimmer of resistance that seemed to fuel the senior maid's ire.
As she worked, the kitchen's sounds assaulted her senses: the clang of pots and pans, the hiss of steam, and the murmur of conversation from the other maids. The air was thick with the smell of food, a pungent aroma that seemed to cling to her skin like a bad omen.
After what felt like an eternity, Esther finished her task, her hands raw and red from the cold water. She stood up straight, her eyes locked on the senior maid, and said,
"I am done." Her voice was steady, but her hands trembled slightly as she held out the last dish.
The senior maid's expression was unreadable, but Esther could sense a hint of surprise behind her eyes.
"Good," she said, her voice curt. "You may eat now." Esther's eyes lit up at the prospect of food, and she devoured the leftovers with relish.
The taste was bland, but she didn't care; she was just grateful for the sustenance. As she ate, she felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her, a feeling that she had accomplished something despite the odds.
As she finished her meal, Lilith Clay appeared, her bright blue eyes sparkling like diamonds in the dim light of the kitchen.
Her yellowish-pink dress seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, accentuating her curves and figure.
Esther's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through Lilith's sugary sweetness. She knew better than to trust Lilith's words, her instincts warning her of the girl's duplicity.
"Sister Esther, where are you going so early?"
Lilith asked, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness. Esther rolled her eyes, her expression a mixture of disdain and boredom.
Genesis Stokes appeared, her eyes glinting with mockery as she wrapped her arms around Lilith.
Genesis Stokes, Lachlan Stokes sister and Esther's arched enemy since childhood years had never missed the chance to humiliate and torment her publicly. But it seems each time she took the attempt one way or another Esther seemed to surpass them.
She had never like Esther, and she never hought of ever liking Esther. To her Esther was an insignificant ant raised by her brother.
A maid can never be compared to her regardless her beauty.
Yes, in all of the school, Esther was the ranked beauty and brains which made her popular among peers.
But her status had made a laughingstock in the school population.
"Why are you here with this thing, Lilith?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "You should be enjoying your birthday party."
Esther's eyes dropped to the floor, her gaze fixed on the intricate patterns of the tile. She knew better than to meet Genesis's eyes, her instincts warning her of the danger that lurked behind them.
As Genesis spoke, her words were like knives, cutting through Esther's defenses and leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Esther's face remained impassive, but her heart was racing with anxiety, her senses on high alert. When Genesis left, Esther turned her back and walked out, her movements swift and decisive.
She didn't need to linger, didn't need to indulge in the petty games that these people played. As she stepped outside, the cool night air enveloped her like a shroud, a welcome respite from the tension and drama of the kitchen.
She hailed a cab and headed to the Stokes Studio, her heart pounding with anticipation.