Elsa’s POV
Morning came too soon. My body ached from the previous night’s ordeal, but there was no time to rest. Duties waited, and in this pack, a servant who lagged behind was punished. I pushed myself out of bed, splashed cold water on my face, and tried to hide the swelling on my cheek with a scarf.
Lila fussed over me, whispering angrily, “Why must you go? Let me cover for you today.”
I shook my head. “No. If I hide, it’ll only make things worse. Crystal will find another excuse to come after me.”
Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she said nothing more. We both knew the truth there was no protection here, only survival.
The day passed in a blur of chores. I scrubbed floors until my knuckles bled, fetched buckets until my arms trembled, and carried trays so heavy I thought my bac
