We eventually made it to the chamber. The servants who worked around this part of the household were noticeably quieter and far more mature than those in my usual quarters of work, where most of the girls were either about my age or barely five years older than I was.
Here, however, there were only about fifteen of them, and goodness, were they older.
Many appeared to be at least ten years my senior, carrying themselves with the sort of composure that made me feel as though I had somehow wandered into a gathering of respectable ladies rather than a room full of servants.
I sighed. Really?
At least they all appeared mature and brainful, much like myself.
Just because I happened to be trapped inside the body of a child did not mean that my mind had suddenly become childish as well.
I had literally lived through two entire lifetimes, even if, by some cruel joke of fate, I had never managed to see either of them beyond the age of twenty-one.
I sighed again. Truly, all I seemed to do these days was sigh. No good days at all.
One would think that after being reborn for the third time, fate might have shown me a little mercy and allowed me to enjoy at least one peaceful morning without some dreadful punishment waiting around the corner, but apparently that was asking far too much.
"Wendy." Madame Avia called.
A taller young lady suddenly appeared from amongst the other servants, and for a moment I nearly wondered whether she had materialized from thin air.
Goodness gracious, she was beautiful.
She had a head of lovely ginger curls gathered neatly into a bun, and everything about her appearance was so tidy and composed that she seemed almost too refined to be standing among ordinary household servants.
There was also a gentleness radiant upon her face, the sort that made a person seem approachable without even needing to smile. And even her manner of approaching Madame Avia possessed a grace.
"Yes, Madame Avia." Her voice was soothing too. And here I thought no one could beat Ariana.
Ariana was certainly beautiful, there was no denying that, but lately I had begun to look at people with a much broader mind than I ever had in my previous lives.
There had been so many things I had failed to notice because my heart and thoughts were forever occupied with the Young Duke, and because I had foolishly placed my feelings for him above nearly everything else.
Back then, my entire world seemed to revolve around him, and because of that, I had been blind to so many other people, and their qualities.
"These girls would accompany you into seeing to the well-being of Lady Arcenna," Madame Avia said. "Teach them the rules of her quarters and the proper way to tend to her needs. I need full attention from you all and do not want a silly distraction."
I nearly choked.
I stared at Madame Avia in horror, wondering whether I had somehow misheard her.
I cannot believe Madame Avia is really selling us as sacrifices to a crazy lady!
A lady rumored to have almost stabbed a servant to death!
I knew it!
There was no way fate would simply hand me over to Madame Avia for some innocent work concerning the celebration.
Of course not. Why would anything in my life ever be that simple? Instead, Madame Avia had apparently decided to use me and the other unlucky girls as sacrifices so that she would not have to take any of her own servants away from the important preparations.
I knew it.
Of course I knew it.
I glanced toward the other girls Madame Avia had selected alongside me, and their expressions told me everything I needed to know.
They all began to shiver at the words they had just heard. Well... at least I was not the only one who understood the severity of the situation.
Lady Arcenna was the Young Duke's aunt, the elder sister of the late Duke. She had once been married, but her husband had betrayed her for a mistress and fled with half of the Westwond fortune, leaving behind a scandal so great that the household had spent considerable effort containing it.
The man had eventually become a wanted criminal, and despite the many years that had passed since the affair, he had never been found.
That issue had occurred many years ago, of course, and the Westwond household had been able to cover the loss in less than a year.
The family fortune had recovered quickly enough, so financially, the matter had not remained a great burden to the household.
But the damage it had done to Lady Arcenna was another matter entirely.
It had left Lady Arcenna fractured and unable to manage even basic things without the assistance of a maid.
She had withdrawn almost entirely into her chambers and was said to despise sunlight. The servants whispered that she became frantic whenever even the smallest fraction of light managed to enter her rooms. Her quarters were kept dark and secluded, and those who served her were expected to understand her moods, her habits, and the many rules surrounding her without making even the slightest mistake.
I had met Lady Arcenna twice in my past lives, though both encounters had occurred during my second lifetime.
Unfortunately, the rumors had not exaggerated her condition. If anything, they had been mercifully restrained, because the woman I remembered was far worse than the rumors.
As time passed, her health began to decline because of the constant trauma, her frequent frantic episodes, and her refusal to maintain proper exercise or eat the nourishing meals prepared for her.
She grew increasingly fragile, both in body and mind, though I never learned what ultimately became of her.
My second life had ended before I could witness the conclusion of her story, and there were certain answers that death had denied me.
I sighed.
Wonderful.
Now I was going to become a victim of her wrath.
Madame Avia clearly wanted every servant under her authority to remain entirely focused upon preparing for the upcoming celebration, and so she had chosen unlucky little creatures like myself and the other girls to solve the troublesome matter of Lady Arcenna's care.
It was almost impressive, really. One could admire the efficiency of the arrangement if one conveniently ignored the possibility that we might not survive it.
Oh well.
I have lived through two lifetimes and made it this far in my third. I have survived enough dreadful things already, so I will surely survive this one too.
At least, I hope so.