A young, short girl of about seventeen, dressed in an unremarkable gray hunting suit, entered the large, one-story wooden manor house. She had long, curly red hair, inherited from her mother Elaina Crown, the first daughter of the late Lord Oldford, Count Eagle. It was tied back in a ponytail, presumably to keep it out of the way. The color of her eyes was like a sunset, which also seemed to have kissed her cheeks, where freckles rippled slightly. Completing this striking image were her long, pointed ears.

  "Sabrina!" the girl called out in a ringing, still youthful voice, continuing to look around in search of her maid.

  From one corridor emerged a girl who looked about fifteen, dressed in a long, black maid's uniform, with unusual gray hair. Like a mouse, seemingly trying to hide her presence, she limped slightly as she approached the girl and bowed her head before her, her hands clutching the hem of her uniform, awkwardly spreading it to the sides.

  "You called for me, my Lady?" the maid addressed her in a rather childish and slightly trembling voice.

  Angelica looked at the bowing girl with a hint of disdain in her gaze and sighed heavily.

  "Sabrina," the girl began, addressing her maid. "Stop being afraid of me—it's starting to get annoying. I'm not your previous mistress, and no one is going to beat you."

  "V-v-very well, M-m-mistress," the maid stammered slightly on some syllables, for which she received another angry glare from Angelica.

  "Fine, no time for that now. Come to my room, I need to change."

  Sabrina nodded and followed her Mistress. Knowing that her maid had a bad leg and couldn't walk quickly, Angelica moved slowly. She genuinely felt sorry for the girl, who was afraid of every little thing and terrified of doing something wrong. The girl herself had come to Angelica as a gift from Lord Arkell, the second son of Lord Ackerly, Count Hart. Sabrina had always been afraid of her masters, and the young Mistress shuddered to think what the young lord might have done to her. Perhaps the Count hoped that Angelica would eventually marry his son and join the family. But now, with her sister Anastasia marrying Lord Kiyoshi from the Wolf family, under the terms of the agreement between the families, she would have to take her husband's surname and renounce any inheritance or claims to her old family's title. Thus, Angelica was becoming the heiress of her family, and her future husband would have to take the surname Crown. Though the thought crossed the young girl's mind that Lord Ackerly might want to place his second son to gain more power, especially if he outlived his wife, thereby increasing the Hart family's influence. Of course, the young Lord Nikolai might foresee this and somehow put pressure on his subordinates, but these thoughts didn't trouble the young girl much at the moment, as she had just returned from a horse ride.

  Angelica loved horses, and such rides on her faithful mare Tear, named for a small teardrop-shaped birthmark under the horse's eye, calmed the girl and helped order her thoughts. Considering that this manor was located outside the city of Crown, the effect was, so to speak, doubled by the absence of any city bustle, despite the fact that almost all buildings in the Duchy of Wood were small or even located in or on trees.

  Just as Angelica was about to leave the main hall of the manor, following Sabrina, the front door opened again—her father, Lord Pyotr, Count Crown, along with his loyal Viscount, Lord Vasily, entered the house.

  "I didn't even have to look for you," the Count greeted Angelica casually.

  He had always had a somewhat dismissive attitude towards his second daughter, but after getting through her puberty somewhat, the girl had managed to get used to such negativity from her father. She understood that she was a daughter from a second marriage, and that her father would have preferred Anastasia, daughter of the late Lady Yana, former Countess Crown and sister of the late Duke of Wood, Lord Gregory, to inherit the family. Angelica herself was the daughter of another late Countess Crown, Lady Victoria, who was the second daughter of Lord Andrew, Baron Branch. And now her father was eyeing Lady Lyubov, daughter of Lord Vladimir, Viscount Butterfly, who served the Root family, the second county family of the Duchy of Wood, and who was around the same age as Angelica herself.

  The deaths of both of Lord Pyotr's wives had always remained something dark. Angelica's mother had perished in a bandit attack, while Lady Yana had simply fallen from the manor that was in a tree and died. One could chalk it up to Count Crown's bad luck, but Angelica knew her father had a habit of tormenting his wives, and had even beaten Lady Victoria at times. Perhaps it was because she was not as beautiful and noble as Lady Yana, but Angelica would never know.

  "What do you wish, Father?" the young girl asked, offering a slight bow as a sign of respect to her parent.

  "For you, I am first and foremost Count Crown," Pyotr snorted in response to his daughter's question. "Follow me."

  "As you wish, Your Grace," Angelica said, offering another bow. Sabrina, standing behind her, also made awkward bows, following her mistress's lead.

  The girls followed the men, who headed into one of the manor's corridors. Angelica assumed her father was leading her to the guest room where negotiations between nobles usually took place, and she was almost right—except they entered the guest room typically used for dealings with commoners. This stung Angelica's pride a little, as she was a pure-blooded noblewoman and, moreover, the daughter of the estate's owner himself. But apparently Lord Pyotr had his own thoughts on the matter.

  "You will remain standing here until you are called," Count Crown said to Sabrina and entered the room. The girl simply offered another awkward bow in response. In her father's gaze, Angelica clearly read contempt for this servant, but that brief glance in her direction was fleeting, as if he placed no value on her life at all.

  Angelica entered the room after her father and his Viscount. The guest room was furnished with a modest amount of furniture: two large sofas facing each other, a small table between them where tea or other refreshments could be served. There were no particular decorations in this room; it was deliberately designed not to display wealth, in order to set the right tone for the interlocutor.

  The Count sat on one sofa and gestured to the sofa opposite, inviting his daughter to sit. Lord Vasily stood behind Lord Pyotr, keeping his gaze lowered to the floor. The girl immediately noted this; clearly, the conversation would be on a topic that Viscount Mole disliked. Unlike her father, Lord Vasily was a quite kind and welcoming man who, secretly from Pyotr, had always treated both of the Count's daughters kindly. He often gave various sweets to Angelica or Anastasia, which the girls would later share. And despite all this, Viscount Mole was a rather shrewd and intelligent man, and his son Alexei, now about ten years old, was growing into as fine a man. And to think, such a wonderful person was under the command of the old and fat Lord Pyotr, for whom the girl felt no warmth, only contempt.

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  "So," Count Crown began, after Angelica had settled on the sofa opposite him, which, to her surprise, turned out to be quite comfortable. "You will marry the son of Lord Ackerly."

  This news did not surprise Angelica in the least; her father had always treated his daughters like possessions. But she continued to listen to what the old geezer had to say.

  "We have already arranged it with Count Hart, so you needn't even think about it. We will announce your engagement at the Royal Ball of Crow, in honor of the kingdom's centenary, which will take place this autumn."

  The Royal Ball of Crow was a significant event for the entire country. Once a year, all aristocrats flocked there to celebrate the occasion, as well as to discuss deals with other nobles, meet old acquaintances, and, of course, gossip. It was at this ball that important decisions were often announced, the latest being the construction of the railway. So Angelica was not surprised that the engagement would be announced at this celebration.

  "Now for other, more important matters," Lord Pyotr continued. "You are going to the city of Wood, to our Duke. He wishes to see you."

  This time, the girl herself was surprised. The youngest of the Wood brothers had always had rather negative rumors circulating about him: that he was lazy, slovenly, and allowed himself liberties that even the old Duke could not afford. The title of Duke had come to him only by inheritance, and some aristocrats, including Angelica's father, hoped that Lord Gregory's lost first son, Arseniy, would return and take the Duke's place. But until then, they would have to put up with a boy who was just a bit older than the Count Crown's youngest daughter.

  "Is Lord Nikolai angry about something?" Angelica inquired cautiously, addressing her father.

  "Yes and no," her father waved off the question, then shouted, "SABRINA!"

  The girl opened the door and entered the room, then bowed to the Count. She said nothing, clearly waiting for Pyotr's command.

  "Bring me some tea," the Count said simply. The girl bowed again and, limping, left the room.

  "Keep an eye on our Duke," the Count continued speaking to his daughter. "I need to know why he summoned you and what he plans to do next."

  Angelica shifted her gaze from her father to Lord Vasily, and became convinced that Count Crown was plotting something. Viscount Mole's very demeanor was quite dejected, and his gaze continued to bore into the floor, as if he were trying to hide beneath it. Her father was clearly hiding something from Angelica, weaving her into his conspiracy like some kind of spider.

  "What is going on, Father?" Angelica asked.

  "For you, Count Crown," Lord Pyotr repeated, clearly beginning to get angry at his daughter's disrespectful attitude.

  "Forgive me, Your Grace," the girl apologized, feigning remorse. "Would you be able to tell me what is going on?"

  "That's none of your business," Count Crown waved off the question again.

  "If you please, Your Grace, how can I spy on His Grace Lord Nikolai? That would be treason against His Grace!" Angelica said with feigned innocence, clearly trying to anger her father. But Lord Pyotr just clicked his tongue.

  "Fine, I was only trying to protect you," her father replied.

  You've never wanted to protect me, you fat bastard, the girl thought to herself.

  "The thing is," Count Crown continued, "the current Duke of Wood is not coping with his duties, and we have decided that it would be best for him to step down and make way for people more experienced in governance..."

  You're only experienced in consuming food, you fat pig. Vasily does everything for you, Angelica thought.

  "...and more compassionate towards his people, showing greater respect for elders and heeding their advice..."

  Just say you need a puppet as Duke, which is what Lord Gregory was.

  "...that is why I have come to an agreement with Lord Ackerly, Lord Isao, and am also trying to negotiate with Lady Elizabeth that the current Duke is incompetent..."

  Even Countess Root? How far have you extended your fat fingers, Father.

  At that moment, the guest room door opened and Sabrina entered, still limping, carrying a tray with three cups and a teapot from which small wisps of steam still rose. Count Crown fell silent, watching as the maid set down the cups and slowly, carefully poured the hot tea into them. Afterwards, she stood beside the table and slowly bowed, awaiting the Count's orders.

  Pyotr rose slightly and took the cup that was near Angelica, then splashed its contents into the maid's face. Sabrina instinctively closed her eyes, then screamed, falling to her knees and clutching her face. The Count walked over to the girl with his clumsy gait, pulled her hands from her face, and delivered a resounding slap.

  "What part of my words, you stupid bitch, did you not understand?" the Count hissed angrily through his thick mouth, then delivered another slap to the girl. "I said bring tea for ME. Not for Lord Vasily, not for Lady Angelica. ME. Have you gone completely stupid along with this wench here?"

  "N-n-n-o-o-o, m-m-m-y-y-y L-l-l-o-o-o-r-r-r-d-d-d," Sabrina stammered, crying.

  "Then what the hell are you doing?" Pyotr asked again, giving the girl another slap.

  "Stop it, Father!" Angelica finally shouted, leaping from her sofa, unable to bear Count Crown's mistreatment of the poor maid any longer.

  "Count Crown!" Pyotr said, and turning, he slapped his daughter—though not as resoundingly; it was clear he held back his strength compared to the blows he gave Sabrina. "Can't you learn how to address me properly?!"

  "Stop this, Your Grace," Viscount Mole suddenly spoke, surprising everyone. "I think you've tormented the poor servant enough. She still has to appear before His Grace Lord Nikolai, and bruises, like burns, might raise questions."

  Pyotr merely waved his hand dismissively and headed for the exit, paying no attention to the maid or his daughter.

  "We're done, Angelica. Tomorrow you will depart for Wood, so be so kind as to pack the necessary things; it's unknown how long you'll be there. And don't forget to report on what Lord Nikolai does," Pyotr said finally, then left the room.

  "I'm sorry," Vasily said, offering a handkerchief to the maid, and also left the room.

  Angelica began to wipe Sabrina's tears with the handkerchief. Her face was reddened from the Count's slaps and the tea he had thrown in her face. For a while now, she would need to appear in public carefully.

  Angelica hugged her maid and whispered to her, gently stroking her head:

  "Forgive me, Sabrina, I couldn't keep my word."

  The girl raised her tear-stained eyes to the Count's daughter, and in them, Angelica saw a deep despair that had not been visible on her face before.

  "Is it true that you are marrying Lord Arkell?" Sabrina asked, barely stammering, but with unmistakable fear in the tones of her voice.

  "Yes, little one," the girl answered sadly.

  "Please! Kill me! I don't want to go back there!" Sabrina suddenly cried out, nearly screaming, pressing her burned face against Angelica's outer clothing. "Please!"

  "Hush, girl, hush. Let's go to the doctor; he'll look at your face," the lady said, helping her limping servant rise from the floor. But the girl kept crying, offering no resistance to the lady's actions, but also offering no help.

  "Please! Please! Please!" the girl kept saying. "He'll do it again!"

  "As long as you're with me, nothing threatens you," Angelica said, leading the maid down the corridor, then caught herself realizing that her servant had just been harmed.

  "I don't want to..." the girl just sniffled. "He's bad... Please..."

  Angelica understood that Sabrina had been through a lot before coming into her service, but there was nothing she could do about it. Right now, she needed to take the maid to the doctor, and then start preparing for tomorrow's journey. It would take her about a week to reach the city of Wood, if the Count's daughter's memory served her correctly.

  "They are bad people, Lady Angelica. You shouldn't go to them..." Sabrina continued to sniffle.

  "It's alright, girl, it's alright. Tomorrow we will go to a good place," Angelica finally replied.

  And then I'll really deal with you, you fat pig, Angelica thought. I hope Lord Nikolai will support me in making sure you, you fat swine, are no longer Count Crown.