°•°•°•||Chapter 10

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(Victoria Pov: )
Everything felt so.. suffocating with Amelia— from the day I met her..

--

"Mommy, who is this?"

A seven-year-old Victoria tugged at her mother's dress, hiding behind her as she asked.

Lilian chuckled softly before nudging Victoria toward the black-haired woman, who seemed... kind.

"Hello, Victoria. My name is Amelia Orlion," the woman introduced herself with a polite bow. Victoria, however, remained wary.

"Apologies, Ame... my little Victoria is just shy around strangers," Lilian said with a nervous chuckle.

Amelia simply smiled. "Oh, no worries at all, Lily... She'll open up to me."

She placed a hand on her chest before shifting her gaze to the little girl hiding behind her mother.

"Someday."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she flashed an eerie smile.

----

It was a rainy day, and tears mixed with the raindrops as ten-year-old Victoria stared lifelessly at the dark sky.

It was a lifeless day—the day her mother's body was buried. Yet, she hadn’t attended, too afraid to see her mother one last time without saying goodbye.

"There you are," Amelia softly called out, shielding Victoria with an umbrella. Her gaze rested on the girl, her expression unreadable.

Victoria pressed her lips together in frustration at Amelia’s gentle smile.

"You know... I lost my husband," Amelia murmured, tilting her head toward the dark, murky sky, the sound of raindrops filling the silence.

"And now, I’ve lost my best friend." Her eyes lowered before she turned to look at Victoria.

Victoria remained silent.

Without warning, Amelia pulled her into a hug, the umbrella slipping from her grasp and falling to the ground. A soft pat on Victoria’s head followed—a silent reassurance that everything would be alright.

Victoria did not hug her back.

"You're her only remains."

Amelia whispered softly, quivering slightly from the cold or perhaps holding her tears.

----

"Victoria?" Amelia’s voice was smooth, carrying a warmth that didn’t quite reach her sharp eyes. She stepped into the garden, her dark hair untouched by the breeze, watching the small figure curled up among the flowers.

Victoria’s head snapped up, her face streaked with fresh tears. "Y-Your Grace?" she murmured, hastily wiping her cheeks. "W—what brings you here?"

Amelia sighed softly at the sight, tilting her head as if in pity. "Why are you crying, little one?"

Victoria sniffled, fingers gripping her dress. "I… My friends— they left me because I refused to give them more money."

A hum of amusement escaped Amelia’s lips as she brought a finger to them, tapping lightly. "Oh? No wonder your father keeps calling you spoiled to the other nobles."

Victoria’s breath hitched, eyes widening in hurt and confusion. "M-My father said that…?"

Amelia chuckled, crouching to Victoria’s level, her gloved hand brushing a stray tear from the girl’s cheek. "But don’t you worry, my dear," she whispered. "It’s not your fault. It’s theirs. People only want what they can take. You should be careful who you trust."

Her touch was gentle, yet her grip lingered just a second too long, enough to make Victoria stiffen. Amelia’s smile deepened, pleased by the reaction.

"But I'm different, your mother’s best friend.. so you should only trust me, alright?"Amelia mused.

---

"Why did you banish your personal maid, my dear?" Amelia asked smoothly, setting her teacup down with a soft clink. Her gaze lingered on Victoria, expectant yet patient, like a mother waiting for her child to confess a mistake.

Victoria, now fourteen, sat stiffly across from her. Her fingers trembled against the delicate porcelain cup, the warmth barely reaching her chilled hands. The red streaks beneath her tired eyes betrayed the tears she had shed the night before.

"..." She pressed her lips together, swallowing down the suffocating weight in her chest. The air in the room felt too thick—especially around Amelia.

But she couldn't refuse her. Not when her father would make her comply anyway.

Amelia leaned in slightly, her smile unwavering. "Come now, my dear. Tell me."

Victoria tightened her grip on the cup, her knuckles turning white as her gaze fell to the cup.

"I...— I simply got bored of her," Victoria lied, forcing the words out even as her chest tightened.

Silence stretched between them, and Victoria could feel Amelia’s gaze pressing into her, as if peeling away every layer of pretense she had built.

Then, a soft chuckle.

"Ah? Is that so?" Amelia hummed, amusement lacing her voice. She tilted her head, studying Victoria with an expression that felt almost... pleased.

"I wasn’t aware you were capable of saying such..." Amelia trailed off deliberately, watching as Victoria tensed.

"...Cruel things."

She sighed, a slow, disappointed sound, before leaning back against her chair, crossing her arms as if contemplating something.

Victoria swallowed.

She knew Amelia wasn’t truly upset.

And somehow, that made it worse.

----

The footsteps of a fifteen-year-old Victoria echoed in the empty hallway, accompanied by the sound of rain dripping outside, before she halted in front of her father’s office.

The sound of arguing—her father’s and Amelia’s voices—filtered through the door before it suddenly slammed open, revealing Amelia, who looked pissed.

"Regarding your husband's death, you should have kept the poison hidden," William stated. Amelia curled her hands into fists.

"He was in the way of—"

"Your… Grace?.." Victoria called out, her voice small, fear and confusion creeping in as she processed their tense conversation.

Amelia’s head snapped toward her, the anger in her eyes momentarily softening before she exhaled, smoothing down her dress as if composing herself.

"Ah, Victoria," she said, her voice instantly shifting to its usual warmth—too smooth, too practiced. "What are you doing here, dear?"

Victoria’s heart pounded. Her father was watching her too, his expression unreadable as ever. The tension in the air was suffocating.

"I—I was just…" She hesitated, her gaze flickering between them. Amelia had been arguing with her father. About poison. About… her late husband?

Before she could fully process it, Amelia was already stepping closer, placing a gloved hand gently on Victoria’s cheek.

"You shouldn’t wander the halls so late," Amelia murmured, her tone now filled with concern. "It’s dangerous to overhear things you shouldn’t, my dear."

Victoria stiffened. It wasn’t a threat. Not exactly. But something in the way Amelia smiled—soft, knowing—made her feel like she had just stepped into something she could never escape from.

"Go on now."

Victoria obeyed, walking away. But as she moved, her footsteps quickened. She clutched her skirt to keep her heels from catching on the fabric before finally reaching her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Breathing heavily, she leaned against the door, her hands trembling. Her mind raced.

Poison. He was in the way..?

The words echoed in her head, relentless. Amelia had always been a little… suffocating. Overly affectionate. Overly present. But now, something felt wrong.

She pressed a hand against her chest, trying to steady her breathing.

Did she… kill her husband?

Victoria had never questioned Amelia’s past before. She was simply there—her mother’s best friend, the woman who always lingered in the shadows of her life. But now, the way Amelia had looked at her, the way she had spoken so gently yet so firmly, made her stomach twist.

What did she mean by ‘in the way’…? Victoria thought as she slid down against the door.

The sound of the rain continued.

---

Safe to say, Amelia no longer appeared anymore after that— yet the lingering unease I still felt is still there.

My father didn't care— perhaps the reason why Amelia no longer came was due to my father’s presence that angers her since she would often speak badly about my father in the past yet—

I was left all alone again. Perhaps I was being overdramatic on being wary againts Amelia..? Perhaps she meant good intentions..? Perhaps..

---

I woke up with a jolt and realized I was sleeping on Aria, who was leaning against the carraige walls, asleep as well.

Embarrassment crept over me as I quickly pulled away from Aria, who still looked content in her sleep.

How rude of me to fall asleep on her… I thought, covering my face with my hands.

Still.. I wonder.. I thought as I glanced outside the carriage. Why do you keep me at ease.. Aria? I thought before my gaze fell to the woman who was still sleeping soundly.

The soft orange hues from the sunset fell down on Aria’s face. Aria murmured something incoheresive I couldn't comprehend before her head tilted to the side, she suddenly jolted awake.

Still half-asleep, she rubbed her eyes before looking at me with hazel eyes that gleamed under the golden light of the setting sun.

"Oh—good morning, Lady Victoria…" she greeted with a sleepy smile.

Before I knew it, a laugh escaped me.

"Mhm, good evening to you too…"

-----

||End of chapter 10 ||