Chapter 9
Even going hungry was me pretending to be pitiful.
"I never tried to have her kidnapped!" I said it one last time.
Father didn't answer.
He closed his eyes, looking exhausted.
Then he ordered, "Take her down to the dungeon.
"Let her think long and hard about what she's done."
Adrian and Cedric grabbed my arms, one on each side.
I tried to break free without thinking.
"Let go of me!" I shouted.
Cedric twisted my arm sharply.
"Still acting up, even now?" he sneered.
They dragged me out of the room.
One of my shoes came off.
My bare foot scraped against the stone until it bled.
Father's voice came from behind me.
He said, "In half a month, when the welcome banquet is held, I'll let you out.
"That day, every noble in the Royal Capital will be watching you.
"If you dare to embarrass the Winterbourne family again...
"Then I'd rather I never had a daughter like you.
"I'll send you to the farthest frontier.
"And for the rest of your life, you're never setting foot in this place again."
I stopped struggling.
Adrian and Cedric dragged me all the way down to the dungeon beneath the manor.
The heavy iron gate groaned open.
A cold wind drifted out from the darkness.
It was cold and dry down there.
Adrian shoved me hard.
I fell into the cold, stone cell.
Cedric said coldly, "Reflect on your actions.
"Don't waste the last bit of Father's patience."
The iron gate slammed shut with a deafening crash.
They left.
Their footsteps faded into the distance.
Now, I was the only one left in the dungeon.
I sat in the darkness, hugging my knees.
I had no idea how much time had passed.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside.
I jerked my head up.
"Adrian?" I called out.
Adrian came back.
He was carrying a bucket of water.
He set the bucket inside the cell door and stared at me for a long moment.
I thought maybe he'd finally hear me out.
But he shook his head.
Adrian said quietly, "Father's giving you one last chance.
"Elara.
"Don't waste it."
With that, he turned and walked away.
I stared at the bucket of water until his footsteps finally faded into silence.
I didn't know it then.
That bucket of water was the only thing I'd get during my time in the dungeon.
As the memories flickered out, my consciousness faded away.
Suddenly, my body felt weightless.
So light, like a feather.
I felt myself drifting upward.
Looking down, I saw a girl curled up against the stone wall.
She was so thin, nothing but skin and bones.
She was still wearing that worn-out dress from the day she came back to Winterbourne Manor.
Her face was pressed against the cold stone floor.
She lay completely still.
I stared at her for a long time.
Only then did I finally realize.
That girl was me.
I was already dead.
Strangely enough, I wasn't as sad as I thought I'd be.
I even felt a little relieved.
At least I wouldn't be hungry anymore.
Or cold anymore.
No one will ever call me a worthless disgrace to the Winterbourne family because I scavenged a piece of bread from the trash.
That wasn't so bad.
As those thoughts crossed my mind, my soul was suddenly yanked away by some invisible force.
Everything around me vanished in a blur.
When my vision finally cleared, I realized I was standing in a room I'd never seen before.
A huge bed covered in soft velvet took up most of the room.
Heavy curtains kept the darkness outside.
The fireplace blazed with a roaring fire.
A snow-white rug stretched across the floor, and the table was loaded with fresh fruit and a steaming glass of milk.
I stared at the bed, dazed.
So this is where my parents lived all along.
This was the first time I'd ever set foot in their room.
It was breathtakingly beautiful.
I bet that bed was as soft as a cloud.
The blankets had to be warm, too.
Way better than the scratchy hay I used to sleep on in the stables.
Suddenly, I remembered the day I first came back.
Honestly, I used to secretly dream about what it would be like.
Maybe I could sprawl out on a soft bed and sleep as long as I wanted, without anyone waking me up.
Maybe one day, if I got sick, Mother would come over and gently touch my forehead to see if I had a fever.
And stay by my side the way she did with Rosalind.
Looking back now, I guess it was never going to happen.
Father was sitting by the bed.
He looked exhausted.