Year 1863
She almost screamed.
Thea gripped the perfume bottle tightly behind her. Her body stiffened.
Did Kay knew what she's been doing? She never said about her dirty work at all.
Never.
Was she caught?
Thea felt her knees weaken. Blake always said she shouldn't be caught by anyone and Thea agreed. Even though the world was collapsed, she didn't want to look any different in front of them. The one who should not know what her did is Kay, and it turned out that this man ...
"Why is your face so pale?" Kay approached her.
"Ka, you said ... I ... am a murderer?" Thea's tongue suddenly froze when she stared at Kay, who nodding firmly.
"Of course. You kill me in every game we play. Horse racing. Archery. Shoot. Play chess. Fencing… Oh! I forgot. A few days ago I was—"
Thea's body almost slumped to the floor if Kay didn't catch her. She, who suddenly short of breath for a moment, rushed to take as much air as possible. Her floating soul returned inside.
"Are you okay?" Kay asked, worried.
His hand immediately touched Thea's forehead and neck pulse. The first thing he did when he examined his patients.
Thea who felt silly and stupid shook Kay's hand, angrily.
"I am alright. My corset is too tight," she said in frustation.
"Do I need to loosen it?" Kay offered his help.
"No." Thea scowled.
He raised an eyebrow and pretended not to notice the change in Thea's face. "Good. Then, are we ready to go? "
"No."
"Oh come on! You've been dressed so pretty. It will be a waste if you don't show this to those gentlemen."
"You have to remember the purpose you came to this party, Kyle Wilkess."
Yup, looked like Kay has made Thea angry.
Thea walked ahead leading out of the room. It seemed that the longer she listened to Kay, the more she would think nonsense.
***
The carriage carried Kay and Thea down to town. This was the first time Thea walked along the River Thames during the broadlight day.
The trading activities was clearly visible along the way. Kay gazed at Thea who had been looking outside with great interest. The distorted face earlier has disappeared out of the window.
"What do you think?" Kay asked, curious.
"What?" Thea asked back without looking him, annoyed.
"London during the day?"
"Crowded."
Kay guessed what Thea would say next, but the girl said nothing until they got to Mr. Lutz's house.
The large pale yellow courtyard of the building was already filled with several horse-drawn carriages. The driver dropped them off right at the entrance. Kay got off the carriage reluctantly.
He smoothed his clothes then reached his hand. Thea gave him a doubtful look. It seemed no less reluctant than Kay.
"Are you nervous?" Kay felt her arm gripped tightly.
"Nervous? Me?" Thea turned around awkwardly. "No. Not a slightest! You should be the one nervous, not me."
"So? Yes, I guess you're right." Kay smiled a little.
He led Thea to follow a servant who greeted them earlier, through a long hallway full of paintings to the backyard. There were already many people gathered at the garden. Most of them consist of old aristocrats and their children. Some of the distinguished nobles sat around the white tablecloth. The younger nobles chose to stand on the side – near a table full of food– while chatting casually. Kay recognized almost the entire people.
"Hey, Kyle!"
The two of them turned their heads at the same time. A young man in a white tuxedo walked over. He stretched out his hand as soon as he arrived in front of Kay.
"You came too, huh."
"Yes, I can't miss this opportunity, right?" Kay let go of his handshake when she heard Thea grunt.
***
Thea dragged her feet with a heavy heart. She hated being in this situation. Her body suddenly stifled when she saw the crowd of people in the middle of the garden. Kay continued to hold her hand without caring that her arm was almost crushed. He walked casually to the middle of the garden, towards the people. Thea reflexively held the nape of her neck when someone called Kay and approached them.
A man in white raised his glass to them.
This was the first time Thea saw nobles dressed all in white from top to bottom. The completely white tuxedo with the same colour as the necktie. White shoes. White hat.
What a strange taste.
"You came too, huh." They both shook hands.
"Yes, I can't miss this opportunity, right?"
Thea snorted. Can't miss it? As if! He dragged Thea to come with him just because he can't miss it!
Suddenly the man glanced at Thea.
"I didn't know you had a new companion, Kyle," he said. He punched Kay's arm.
Thea looked at him suspiciously. Kay? New lover? That means he has been with women before? Kay cleared his throat, nervous.
"This is my cousin, Thea. Thea, this is Rupert." Kay introduced them. Blake adopted her on the pretext that she came from the Wilkes distant-branch family, not from an orphanage.
"Hello, young lady. My name is Rupert, Kyle's best friend from the west hospital." The man took Thea's right hand, took off his white hat and kissed the back of Thea's hand.
"Nice to meet you."
Thea nodded slightly. "You're welcome, Sir. Nice to meet you too."
Rupert stared at her then turned his eyes to Kay.
"You never said you had a cousin this beautiful, Kyle!" his tone sounded sulky.
"Oh, yes? maybe I forgot," Kay laughed.
"Did you forget, or did you do it on purpose so that no one could approach her?"
Kay punched him softly, still laughing. "I told you, this is my cousin, R. Watch your mouth."
Someone called Kay's name and waved at him.
"Well ... then I have to be there immediately."
Thea felt her back pushed slowly. "Have a good talk you two."
...or not.
Year 1853Thea's neck was sting and sore when the dirty water touched her wound.Adel's eyes widened. After pushed and splashed her with water, she immediately threw the bucket in her hand. She seemed to have just realized what she had done."My hand slip accidentally! I didn't do it on purpose," she said, panicked. "You know too, don't you, Rose?" she was trying to justify herself when she saw a truly terrifying sight. Then Adel ran away from the place."Adeeellll !!! Where are you going?" Rose cursed. She turned to Thea "A- are you okay?""AAAAAAkkhhh! Help me! Aaaaaa, it hurts! Help me! " Thea was crying. She opened and clenched her fists, not daring to touch her neck. "Call someone. Anyone! Help me! "Rose still stood dazed. She ran looking for someone, when she saw Miss Yerez not far from where she was standing, she shouted."Miss Yereeezzz !!!""Why are you running, Rose? A woman can't–!""You must i
Year 1863 The commotion around her suddenly disappeared when Kay left her. Oh come on! Thea didn't want to be left alone with this strange looking man. "So you are Kyle's cousin?" Thea furrowed her brows. Didn't Kay tell you that earlier? "Yes," Thea still replied politely. After all, she was here on behalf of Thea Wilkess, the distant relative of the Earl. At least, Thea had to behave without embarrassing Blake or Kyle. Rupert led her aside. Thea followed him reluctantly. Her body straightened. Thea's neck even stiffened. The summer afternoon wind could not ease her restlessness. Several people began to look curiously as soon as they arrived at a table full of pastries. With her keen hearing, Thea could hear the people whispered about her. "For you, my lady," Rupert raised a glass of white wine and handed it to Thea. "Thank you." Thea immediately took a sip of her drin
Year 1853Thea's thin body jerked.In the quiet night, something happened.Suddenly, something or someone pulled the blanket violently. She couldn't see well as she turned off the light before going to sleep. Her body was dragged off the bed. Thea tried to rebel. But she couldn't fight many people. She was dragged and paraded out of the room."What is this? Let me go!" Thea struggled."SHUT UP!" They didn't expect Thea to fight.She managed to escape from their grip.Thea turned her head in a panic and crawled to save herself. She had no idea what happened. Her instincts told her to run, so she did. But there were five or six people blocking the way and grabbed her back. They kept dragging her like a trash to the backyard."Let me go! What do you want? "They threw Thea on the ground. She tried to stand up. The bigger boy pushed her shoulders down."You witch! Killer!""Shut up!""Don't pret
Year 1863 "Are you all right, Miss?" A man looked at her worriedly. Thea shook her head. "No. I am fine. Thank you." Thea welcomed the man's helping hand politely. "Do you want me to take you somewhere? Somehow you look lost." Thea was silent. Her brain still trying to digest what she heard earlier. Is it possible the talk earlier...all about her? "You are very beautiful, Miss." Thea was stunned. "Erm, I'm sorry if I'm being rude. You seem unwell, but I really want to say it, " the man bowed slightly, feeling guilty. Thea smiled awkwardly. "Thank you." Aware of the discomfort of the woman in front of him, he let go of her grip, bowed and bid farewell. Thea tried to shake her thought. She walked without paying attention to her front when a man appeared around the corner, making herself startled. "Oh! I'm sorry, young lady..." Thea suddenly got her
Year 1853Thea's breathing echoed in the silent room.The two of them fell silent when Xander, who returned from taking the first aid kit, stared at the bloodstained stone that Thea had thrown."I didn't do it! I swear!" she said with wide eyes. She really didn't do that. Who would have thought that her foot touched something liked evidence of Jane's attack.Xander looked at the stone on the floor. He sighed and then told Thea to come closer."Sit here. I will treat your wound first."Thea obediently sat beside Xander, who immediately did his job."Is the wound really worse? I mean, Jane?" she asked, hesitantly.Xander muttered. He was sure Thea didn't do the evil deed even though he didn't know how to explain it. It happened so fast. Someone sneaked into the orphanage and Jane happens to run into the culprit. Thea, who was in her room couldn't possibly know what had happened.The other kids only took their ange
Year 1863Thea peeked out from under her blanket."Kay?""What?"Thea turned around, her head slightly raised. She observed the man who so-called cousin who sit beside her."Let's talk until I fall asleep," she pleaded. She choose to keep talking to distract herself from unnecessary things."Do you want me to sing a lullabies?" Kay asked.They used to tell stories before bed or chat about everything. He also sang her lullabies. Sadly, that had not happened since he was busy at the hospital. They didn't know how much they have lost their life stories about each other.Thea muttered. "No. How about you tell me about your long list date?"Kay stared at her in surprise."Why do you suddenly ask me that?""I'm just curious. Your friend –that white shirt man– said you are quite popular among women."Thea had never been to a party and heard about it in person, but as soon as the party w
Year 1853Some kid tried to cheat her when doing their chores. They always make Thea finished anything for them.Now when she sleeps, Thea locked her bedroom door tightly. Either she had privileges or the other children kept her away, she occupied the room alone.Jane asked the Sister to move her to another room. Even though her condition improved, Thea couldn't get any worse. The kids who bullied her always came back when Xander wasn't around.But Xander couldn't stop them all the time, like now."Oh, Witch! Do you have anything to burn today?" Ben came in while Thea was on duty in the kitchen.The other children stood guard at the door, monitoring the situation if Sisters or Miss Yerez came."Just go!" Thea returned to mopping without giving him any attention.Ben kicked the bucket and spilled its contents, startled her."Get lost, Ben!""Ha! How dare you say my name. So what? Are you going to curse me
Year 1863Thea pretended to sleep. She was still awake when Kay left her room. She couldn't sleep at all. The conversation between the two man before was still looming in her head.Something had happened, and she didn't know what it was. Without thinking, she took her coat and sneak out. London in the middle of the night is a good time to make a move. Thea rushed towards Mister Mild's residence. Maybe she could find something there.Mr. Mild's house was getting dusty after being left by its owner. Thea picked up the candle on the table. She had to light a candle because she didn't know what to look for. She returned to the study room, where Thea had last seen the old man.Thea started checking all over the place.On the desk, in the jar, behind the painting, in the drawer, one by one. Thea did it slowly and to no avail. Nothing important. Thea shifted to the desk drawer. Her hands fumbled in every part of the drawer. Just found a pile of u