Framed?
1021 Words
The girls scrubbed the grime from my skin, their touch gentle but distant. Lavender scented the steam curling in the air, wrapping me in warmth, but I couldn’t shake the cold inside me.
“Your skin is very pale, Lady Serena,” one of them said quietly.
I offered a small smile. “Yes, it is.”
“What would you like to wear tonight, milady?” another asked, holding up two gowns—one elegant, one extravagant. “Something simple? Or something that declares you royalty?”
“The simple one,” I replied. I had no desire to play dress-up in a life that wasn’t mine.
“You’re not like Lady Anna,” the girl murmured. “She adored silks and parading jewels. She always wanted to be seen.”
Her words hung in the air. My throat tightened.
“Are you not angry with me?” I asked. “For being the reason she’s gone?”
They fell silent. The water sloshed softly, and for a moment, I thought they might walk away. But instead, they leaned in closer.
“We were devastated to hear of her death,” one said softly. “But Lord Kieran spoke to us.”
My eyes narrowed. “What did he say?”
They exchanged glances, suddenly nervous. “He... forbade us to tell you.”
“Then why are you being kind to me?” I pressed, voice sharper now. “What could he possibly say to make you... like me?”
One of the girls bit her lip. “If Lord Kieran finds out we said anything, we’ll be executed.”
Executed? My chest tightened. These Weres... they weren’t just servants. They were part of something—bound by a loyalty as sharp as knives.
“But what we can say,” another added softly, “is that we know it was an accident. You’re not to blame.”
I looked away. “That doesn’t matter. I am to blame. Excuses don’t bring the dead back.”
“Don’t be so sad, Lady Serena. You’ll wrinkle your face,” one of them joked, trying to lighten the mood.
I chuckled, but it sounded hollow. At least they meant well.
Still, one thought gnawed at me: What did Kieran say? What lies—or truths—had he told to win their sympathy?
As they dressed me in lace and fine silk, covering my scars and brushing out my hair, I sat motionless. I told them about my weak knees, and they promised to arrange a chair for the ceremony.
The ceremony.
No one had explained what it was. Just whispers, glances, and dread.
I stared at my reflection—jewels around my throat, silk clinging to a body that didn’t belong here. I once wore blouses and pencil skirts. Now I looked like someone else’s doll.
What was I being prepared for?
Maybe... if I obeyed, if I played the part Kieran had written for me, this nightmare would end.
I clutched my skirt, my fists trembling. “Papa,” I whispered, “I’ll come home. Just wait for me.”
A hand settled on my shoulder. “You don’t deserve this, milady,” one of the girls said. “We know you didn’t mean it.”
I turned to her, voice hoarse. “Did Kieran tell you about the deal?”
She nodded, hesitating. “He said to keep you safe.”
A chill rippled down my spine. “Safe from what?”
The three girls hesitated again, then spoke in a low, urgent whisper.
“He believes you’re being framed.”
The words hit me like a thunderclap.
“He’s investigating everything. But you must stay near us or near him. Never walk alone.”
I swallowed. “Why? What’s going on?”
“You’re not safe here,” one of them said. “We’re not just maids, Lady Serena. We’re fighters. If the wrong person finds you alone…”
She didn’t finish.
“I need to speak with Kieran,” I said. “He owes me an explanation.”
“No!” another cried, grabbing my arm. “If he finds out we spoke, we’re dead. Please. Pretend you know nothing. Play your role.”
“But why—?”
“Because if you defy the plan, your release could be delayed.”
Delayed? My breath caught.
I couldn’t bear that.
“O-Okay,” I said, barely above a whisper.
The girls exhaled together. One stepped forward, her hands firm on my shoulders. “Tonight, someone may try to disrupt the ceremony. It could be Louis. Or one of his men. You must stay alert. Do not stray from Kieran’s side. Or you’ll die.”
The words sucked the breath from my lungs.
“I’ll... die?”
“No, no,” she said quickly, cupping my face. “Lord Kieran will protect you. But this warning isn’t just a guess—it’s a prediction.”
A thousand questions surged inside me, but none escaped my lips.
“Just trust him. Trust us,” another whispered. “We’re not monsters.”
“We’re victims too,” Trina added quietly. “All of us.”
“We’ll help you escape this web,” said Ryn, “but only if you help us, too.”
Dana stepped closer, voice trembling with sincerity. “Kieran isn’t good with words. That’s why we’re here. There’s more at stake than you know. But for this plan to work, you need to keep pretending.”
“Two birds,” Ryn murmured. “One stone.”
I searched their eyes, saw the fear, the pain—and the hope they dared to hold onto.
They weren’t lying.
“I’ll try,” I whispered. “If the deal stands, and I can return home when this ends—I’ll help you. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Their faces lit with relief. They clasped hands, laughter soft but full of something fragile and real.
I turned back to the mirror, my chest heavy, but my spine straighter.
“Let’s get this ceremony started.”
- Writer
