The Rise of the Exiled Villainess

Chapter 4: Mirror, Mirror on the wall... (Part IV)

Mama Mia! My entire body is stiff as ice! This is the payment for catching multiple strikes from an old man along with his piece of s**t of a son… I wanna look at a mirror but I can’t stand up… Looking at the sunlight, it should be almost noon, and it appears that I’ve been asleep for quite some time now here in my room. Why didn’t anybody try to even wake me up?!

“N-nanny?” I shouted as loud as I can but my throat is really dry, making the sound almost hard to understand.

I waited for a few minutes to see if someone would go up to tend to me. However, it appears that nobody is gonna come considering how many times I tried to call. My instincts are telling me to throw something breakable to get their attention but I don’t want to risk my butt being the next target of Momma’s slapping…

Welp, there’s no other choice but to drag my ass around with these wounds. I placed my left hand on the nearby cabinet in order to get some sort of grip and support to help me to get up. It appears that I have a few bandages on my arms and multiple patches on my face.

Walking towards the mirror to know how messy my face is, I’m still stunningly cute amidst looking like a Halloween Mummy. Because my movements are limited, I began to waddle my way out of the room and onto the stairs, to see if there are people in the living room. Apparently, Nanny was there along with Momma and the rest of the maids. They appear to be having a bit of a discussion.

“Momma?” I said while using the beam of the stairs as support. For some reason, I’m still not able to stand straight.

They were all caught off guard and distraught upon seeing my situation.

“M-milaady!?! Please don’t move an inch!” Nanny Katalina rushed to my aid and princess carried me downstairs.

“I’m very sorry for leaving you alone in your room… Is there anything that you want?”

Since she offered that much, I guess it’s safe to go all out. “I would like to eat and drink tea…”

My voice is still raspy as hell… Wait… Before anything else…

“How long did I sleep?”

All of them looked at each other uncomfortably. Momma is also doing the same but she is trying her best to hold her tears back.

Nanny Kataline began to pat my head before speaking, “you’ve been asleep for two days… Your daddy was so worried that he personally reprimanded the one who did this to you and had his family do a procession all over Altair to apologize for their misdeeds.”

Damn… I wish I could’ve seen that personally…

Now you all might be wondering how my Daddy could do such a thing to them bastards. Duke Castillo and my father Salvatore have been comrades as defenders of the western border before they ascended to their respective positions.

It was also established that my mother is a direct relative of the Duke, making her share a bit of the Ranorke bloodline. After the settlements were established between Umbra and Altair a few hundred years ago, we’ve been very good neighbors with each other compared to Nashville, Maltheo, and the Capital of Solaris. But that doesn’t mean that we are particularly safe from the Empire’s loyalists in Altair either.

“I was just slapped. I didn’t know I would sleep longer than a day.”

“Eka… From what the other children told me and the duke, Count Agoncillo punched you twice…”

Waaaaait a minute… That was a punch?! I’m sure it was a slap! If it were stronger than the usual I would’ve been knocked out cold.

“hmmm… It was weak to be called a punch Momma, the count must be dumb!” I can only act cute and smug because I have no excuse this time.

Momma is glaring at me though I understand the cause of her worry.

“Strong or not you should’ve called us for help Eka! The entire banquet was in shambles because of what the count did. Even the Duke’s reputation was dragged along because he allowed such trash to go and harm you.”

“I’m sorry… I didn’t want to be a burden since Momma and daddy seems to be having a good time…” I’m serious when I said this.

Momma hugged me gently since my body is still covered in bruises, “I know… That’s why I promise to keep an eye on you on the next events that we go through okay?”

Suddenly, one of the maids barged in the living room trying to catch her breath. From the looks of it she appears to have ran from somewhere while carrying a letter.

“M-madaaame! We got a letter from Mr. Salvatore using his personal courier!”

“Ooohh, gimme gimme!” Momma is excited with the contents. As soon as the letter was in her hands she used her magic to open the seal gently.

Her focus is really fixed on reading the letter. Even Nanny Katalina is trying to get a glimpse of the letter behind the sofa. Since it doesn’t appear to be something personal, the rest of the maids flocked to see what’s going on.

Momma crossed her hands, “So… we will be having guests…”

“Guests?” Who in the right mind would visit Umbra at this season?

“Yeah, do you remember the friends that you made during the party?”

“Ohh, you mean Mimi and Madeline. They are coming here?! Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

Nanny Katalina intervened, “No need for the worry milady. Your father is currently with them along with the baron and his wife.” Looks like we are going to have a party prepared.

“When?”

Nanny began to count on her fingers, “surely within an hour.”

Damn… “Shouldn’t we prepare some food already? It is lunch though.” You folks better get going because I’m also hungry.

My food arrived first because I need to eat before taking some medicine. Cheese stew with mashed potatoes topped with butter was given to me directly from my seat. Momma decided to feed me since my hands are still stiff from the bruises. I feel like it would be awkward for Mimi and Madeline to see me in this state so I did my best to eat my food as fast as I could while ensuring that I don’t choke for being a glutton.

The maids are just zooming like cray-cray all over the Manor! It’s almost as if they are gliding through the rooms. I kinda understand the enthusiasm because The Lands of Umbra is really difficult to traverse on your own unless you are a skilled magician or warrior. Another way of coming here is to have someone from the house pick the guests using a carriage that bypasses magical disturbances.

Daddy probably has some sort of business with the baron to even bring them in our house. Kinda funny how a business meeting would end up being a party after many years of not having visitors.

So Momma and I waited for the maids to finish up before I was escorted back to my room. The maids brought some snacks and lemon water to help me replenish my energy in case I do something dumb like waddling outside the room again. 

Even my medicine was placed on the cabinet beside me for easy reach. All of them insisted to prepare me some of the food that the guests will eat in case I get hungry (which by the way does happen unreasonably most of the time).

(To Be Continued)