Chapter 33
Ella's POV
I don't know how long I sat slumped on the floor before I staggered back to the servants' quarters.
The room was empty, just me alone. Ruby's bed was still there, the bedding neatly folded.
I collapsed onto my narrow bed, staring at the ceiling. Images kept flashing through my mind—Ruby being dragged away, the look in her eyes when she glanced back at me, that terror and despair—
I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to think about it. But the more I tried, the clearer those images became.
I didn't sleep all night.
The next morning, I lay in bed in a daze, every part of my body aching.
A rush of hurried footsteps approached, and the door was shoved open roughly.
Before I could sit up, I saw a group of Omega servants burst in aggressively.
They headed straight for Ruby's bed, quickly beginning to pack up her belongings.
I struggled to get up, but my body felt like jelly. I could only watch helplessly as they stuffed Ruby's things into burlap sacks.
"What ingratitude," a red-haired servant said with a curl of her lip, her voice full of contempt. "Lord Kane wanting to use you for pleasure—that's your blessing. But no, you had to play hard to get. Now it's Ruby's turn."
An older servant chimed in: "Exactly. Ruby was chosen by His Lordship last night, and this morning the steward ordered a private room prepared for her. Talk about flying up to become a phoenix." She lowered her voice with a hint of envy. "I heard from the kitchen staff that His Lordship praised Ruby, said she tasted good."
Their glances swept over me meaningfully, words laden with implication.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to ignore those grating words.
Ruby had been moved to a private room—she was alive. That was good, wasn't it?
But I knew the truth. In the West Wing manor, women's lives were especially cheap, especially low-ranking Omegas. If she aroused Victoria's jealousy, she could be crushed in an instant.
My heart tightened with worry for Ruby.
She'd been taken away because of me, after all...
If I hadn't refused Kane, hadn't said those things, Ruby would still be here right now, safe and sound, doing her servant's work.
The servants quickly finished packing Ruby's things and left giggling.
The room fell silent again. I knew I had to see Ruby, had to confirm she was alright.
Over the following days, I moved through the manor like a walking corpse, handling menial tasks.
Mopping floors, washing clothes, tending the garden—these trivial chores kept me from thinking too much, and also gave me opportunities to move around the manor, searching for Ruby.
But the third floor of the West Wing was Kane's private domain. I had no right to go near it.
Every time I passed the stairway, I could see the heavily guarded sentries, their cold eyes looking at me like I was a rat.
Finally, on the fourth afternoon, while hanging sheets in the back courtyard, I saw her.
"Ruby!" I nearly shouted.
She turned from around the corner, and the moment she saw me, a huge smile bloomed on her face.
That smile was so radiant, nothing like someone who'd just experienced a nightmare. We rushed toward each other almost simultaneously, embracing tightly in the center of the courtyard.
"Ella!" Ruby's voice was full of excitement. "Are you alright? I was so worried about you."
I took her hands, looking her up and down. She wore a brand-new light blue dress, the fabric much finer than the rough cloth we usually wore. Her hair was neatly combed, and her face even carried a faint blush.
"I'm fine." I gripped her hands, lowering my voice urgently. "What about you? That night... Kane didn't hurt you, did he?"
Ruby's face flushed red like a ripe apple. She lowered her head, fingers twisting her skirt, her voice barely above a whisper: "He... he didn't hurt me."
I froze. This reaction—
"Ruby?" I asked tentatively.
She looked up, her eyes shining with a light I'd never seen before, like a young girl awakening to love. She bit her lip, the blush on her face deepening: "Ella, Lord Kane... he's truly handsome and magnificent. And I... I like his dominance. I... I was willing to be with him..."
She didn't finish, but I already understood.
An indescribable emotion welled up inside me—like watching my former self walking step by step toward the abyss.
"Ruby." I grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to meet my eyes. "Have you forgotten how Victoria treated you before? Just because Kane touched your head, she tore off a piece of your scalp! Now you've slept with him—what do you think Victoria will do to you? Do you think she'll let you go?"
Ruby's face went pale instantly. She unconsciously touched the scar on her head where new hair had grown, her fingers trembling slightly.
"But..." her voice became hesitant, "Lord Kane promised he would protect me..."
"Protect?" I laughed bitterly. "Ruby, he couldn't even protect me. Do you think he'll stand against Victoria for you? Against the military commander behind her?"
Ruby bit her lip, struggle flashing in her eyes. But soon, as if convincing herself, she gripped my hand and said earnestly: "Ella, the Kane you describe and the one I've actually experienced are different. He... he's truly good to me. And besides..."
She paused, her voice dropping lower: "Besides, I don't have any other choice, do I? He's already taken me, already... it's already done. Rather than living in constant fear, I'd rather believe he'll protect me. I think... this is already pretty good."
Looking at the almost self-deluding determination in her eyes, I suddenly found myself speechless.
Yes, what else could she do?
She had no way back.
Just like I once had none.
Just then, a childish voice interrupted us: "Sister!"
A boy around ten years old ran in from the entrance and threw himself into Ruby's arms. He wore patched rough clothing, but his face beamed with innocent joy.
"Jack!" Ruby hugged him tightly, her eyes full of tenderness. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you!" The little boy looked up, smiling brightly. "The steward grandfather said you moved to a better room. I wanted to see if you're doing well."
Ruby patted her brother's head and pulled out a heavy purse from her pocket, pressing it into his hands. Jack's eyes widened instantly: "Sister, this is—"
"This is silver coins Lord Kane rewarded me with." Ruby said gently. "Take it. Buy some tonics for grandmother, and get yourself two new sets of clothes."
"But sister, this much money—"
"Listen to me." Ruby interrupted him, her smile growing brighter. "Sister is doing very well here. The lord here treats me very well. Don't worry about me, just take good care of grandmother."
I stood to the side, watching the siblings, my heart a tangle of emotions.
Ruby was doing this for her family. For her elderly, sickly grandmother, for this brother who still needed support, she'd chosen to accept Kane's "favor."
Perhaps, in her eyes, this was already the best possible outcome.
I opened my mouth, wanting to say more, but then I heard steady footsteps approaching.
Kane appeared at the courtyard entrance.
He wore a black robe, standing backlit, his handsome features appearing even colder in the shadows. His gaze swept over me first, those eyes as cold as ice, as if looking at an eyesore.
Then his gaze fell on Ruby.
Ruby immediately curtsied respectfully: "Your Lordship."
Kane walked to her side, reaching out to pat her shoulder gently, then looked at Jack, his voice unusually warm: "This is your brother?"
"Yes, Your Lordship." Ruby was somewhat nervous, afraid Kane might disapprove.
But Kane smiled, pulling an exquisite pocket watch from his pocket and handing it to Jack: "Take this. Study hard. When you make something of yourself, you can take care of your sister."
Jack's eyes lit up. He carefully accepted the watch and ran off happily to show the steward grandfather.
I stood to the side like an outsider, watching this scene unfold.
When Kane looked at me, his eyes held only coldness.
He was doing this deliberately.
He was deliberately ignoring me, deliberately showing off how good he was to Ruby in front of me, wanting to hurt me, wanting to make me jealous, wanting to make me regret.
Kane stood up, patting Ruby's shoulder gently: "Go back to your room, wash yourself clean and wait for me. I have some words to say to Ella. Remember to put on that lace lingerie I love most."
Ruby nodded, obediently leaving.
Before she left, she glanced back at me, her eyes full of apology and unease.