THE sun had barely risen when Maria awoke, the weight of the previous night's events still pressing heavily on her mind. She stretched and took a deep breath, steeling herself for another day under Oswald's unyielding rule. She quickly dressed and headed downstairs, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As she entered the kitchen, she found Oswald already seated at the table, his eyes fixed on a newspaper. He didn't acknowledge her presence, but she could feel his icy gaze piercing through the pages.
“Go… good morning sir,” she swallowed hard as she greeted, he didn't respond.
Not minding that, she moved silently, preparing breakfast with the same meticulous care she had applied to dinner the night before, making use of the new food timetable.
Once the meal was ready, she
