"Anastasiaaa!"
A nearly deafening scream echoed through the dimly lit hallway.
Huddled in a small nook behind a worn-out curtain, five-year-old Anastasia held her breath, her small hands gripping the folds of her tattered dress. She could hear the heavy, hurried footsteps of the furious maid stomping through the corridors.
"Where is that troublesome child? She's always such a handful!" Lourdes grumbled, shoving open every creaky door she passed.
Anastasia bit her lip, her heart pounding. She knew she had been caught red-handed, but she didn't regret it-not when her stomach still grumbled with hunger.
Just then, another voice cut through the air, softer but laced with concern.
"Oh, Lourdes, why are you so angry again? Did Anastasia hide from you once more?"
"Yes! That little thief stole my chocolate again! And it wasn't just any chocolate-it was my expensive one! The only piece I had left!" Lourdes crossed her arms, her frustration bubbling over.
The other maid sighed, shaking her head. "That piece of chocolate you're talking about was actually meant for Anastasia. What are you complaining about? That was a gift from the Duke himself."
Lourdes let out a bitter laugh.
"A gift? For her? Don't be ridiculous! The Duke hasn't given her a single allowance, not even a coin to survive! What nonsense are you saying? We're barely surviving on the pitiful scraps they send us, and we were even sent here with that troublesome child-to this rundown castle far from the main manor. And you expect me to believe he gave her that chocolate? That piece was practically our payment!"
She couldn't help but fume as she remembered how the Duke had practically discarded them, banishing them to the old castle along with Anastasia-his own daughter.
Anastasia should have been treated like a princess-draped in expensive silks and jewels, adored by the people, and raised with the dignity befitting the daughter of a powerful duke. But reality was cruel. The Duke and the two young masters wanted nothing to do with her. She was cast away like an unwanted animal, sent to live in isolation with only a handful of maids and servants to attend to her.
Even a young lady from a baron's family lived far better than she did. At least they had warmth, family, and a future to look forward to. Anastasia had none of those things. Since birth, not once had her family visited her, and the mere mention of her name was met with silence or disdain.
Worse, only a meager budget was allocated for her, making it impossible for her to live in luxury-something expected for a young princess of a powerful dukedom, a noble lady who should have been admired by all.
Because of this, fewer and fewer maids and servants were willing to stay and serve her. What little funds were provided for her care were barely enough to keep the castle from falling into complete ruin.
The grand halls that should have been filled with laughter and warmth were instead cold and empty, draped in dust. The ceilings leaked, the furniture was old and patched up. It was nothing more than an abandoned castle, a place unfit for anyone-especially for Anastasia, the forsaken princess.
"Shh... lower your voice!" Lucy whispered, her tone calm but firm. "It's not right to speak like that, especially where the princess might hear. That would be a terrible influence on her."
Lourdes, however, simply scoffed in response.
"So what if she hears? She's abandoned like a lost puppy anyway, so what difference does it make if she ends up like us? Her own family doesn't even treat her as a princess or a member of the Winston family, so why should we bother treating her like a young lady? I've had enough! This time, I'm really leaving!"
Lourdes stormed off, her footsteps echoing angrily through the corridor. But before she could take another step, Lucy quickly grabbed her arm, trying to stop her.
"Wait, Lourdes. You can't leave this castle. Please, give the princess another chance. There are only a few of us left to take care of her-what will happen to her if even more people leave?"
But Lourdes was unmoved. Instead, she yanked her arm free from Lucy's grasp with a harsh tug.
"I didn't come to Winston Manor to be a caretaker or a servant to some abandoned young lady like Anastasia! I came here because I thought I'd get closer to the Duke. But Duke Winston is a heartless man! That man doesn't even care about his own child, let alone someone like me. So what's the point of staying? If you want to stay, then suit yourself. But as for me-I quit!"
With that, Lourdes stormed off, leaving Lucy standing there helplessly. All she could do was watch her retreating figure, letting out a weary sigh.
Lucy turned her gaze toward a dark corner leading into the stockroom, where she spotted a pair of small, dirt-streaked shoes and a few strands of platinum hair peeking out.
She let out a deep sigh, once again pushing aside the frustration bubbling in her chest. Lourdes' harsh words still lingered in her mind, but she knew she couldn't let Anastasia see her upset.
Taking a deep breath, she relaxed her expression and forced a smile before stepping closer.
"Peek-a-boo!"
A delighted laugh escaped Lucy's lips as Anastasia flinched in surprise, her large, round eyes widening like a startled kitten. But just as quickly as the shock appeared, it melted into a bright, innocent grin-one so pure and warm that it made Lucy's heart ache.
That smile.
That was the reason she stayed, despite everything. Even if she hadn't been paid in months, even if the castle was falling apart, even if Anastasia was nothing but an abandoned child in the eyes of many. As long as she could still see that smile, it was enough.
But Lucy's amusement quickly faded as she finally took a good look at Anastasia.
Her entire face was smeared with chocolate-her cheeks, her nose, even the tip of her chin. It looked as if she had buried her whole face in it.
Lucy crossed her arms, tapping her foot and giving Anastasia a stern look. "You stole chocolate again, didn't you?"
Anastasia blinked up at her, innocence practically radiating from her.
Lucy sighed, shaking her head. "How many times do I have to tell you not to steal chocolate? It'll ruin your teeth-"
Before she could finish, Anastasia suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her small arms around Lucy's waist in a tight hug.
"Hehehe. You're the best, Lucy! You're the best in the whole continent!.. I love you, Lucy!"
Anastasia giggled as she buried her face into Lucy's waist, her small arms tightening around her. Her warmth and the way her platinum hair brushed against Lucy's arm made Lucy's heart ache. How could a child so full of love be treated with such cruelty?
"Did you hear anything just now?" Lucy asked with concern.
Anastasia tilted her head before shaking it vigorously. Then, with a determined expression, she lifted her hands and covered both her ears.
"Like you said, I covered my ears whenever Lourdes raised her voice." Anastasia replied innocently.
Lucy gazed at her for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh.
As long as she could, she wanted to protect Anastasia's innocence. She didn't want her to hear or feel the cruel reality of her situation-the abandonment, the harsh words, the cold indifference of her own family.
Anastasia was a joyful, honest, and innocent child, yet at the same time, she was incredibly pitiful. She was treated as if she didn't exist, cast aside by her own family. That was why Lucy refused to let her feel unloved. She was the only one who cared, the only one standing by her side.
And she would make sure that nothing-no amount of cruelty or neglect-would ever take away Anastasia's innocence or erase that precious smile from her face.
However, Lucy was not unaware that behind Anastasia's bright smile, she had heard some of Lourdes' words. In fact, she had long known and endured the cruel remarks from the other servants. She was fully aware of her unfortunate circumstances.
Yet, despite everything, she remained happy-because she knew that no matter what, Lucy would never leave her.