Despite the stinging pain in their back, Viviane and Avril got back to work. They cleaned the dishes in the private dining room and added some new silvery tableware. They arranged the room to look the best they could – Avril even cleaned the seats. It took them almost forty minutes to set everything up. Avril obeyed each order and didn’t talk back once. She tried her best to redeem herself and not be a burden. In silence, she thought of plans to get everyone out of here. Convincing them of going out would be difficult as everyone feared the Duchess. And even if all of them quit here, where could they go? To the forest? Is everyone fit to survive? She grounded herself again and sighed to sort her spiraling thoughts. Maybe beyond the forest was a village, or somewhere safe they could flee to. But right now, all she knew wasn’t so much and everything was just suggestions. Sitting back was the best option, but how much more time until the Duchess flared again? Shaking her head, Avril discarded her thoughts.

  Viviane took out her pocket watch and sighed relieved.

  “Twenty more minutes before the Duchess’s meal.” Viviane said lightly.

  Avril nodded waiting for new orders.

  “When the Duchess eats, we’ll be each beside one door. You must bow down during all of her meal. I’ll show you once, you’ll do the same. If she wants something you’ll bow and execute her order. Normally it’s her water or some napkins. We have twenty minutes to instruct you, so, please, pay attention.”

  Avril nodded eagerly.

  Following this, Viviane mimicked a posture beside one of the doors. Her hands were behind her back and her head slightly bowed. She breathed lightly and her gaze was unfocused. She then simulated an order from the Duchess and bowed her head again, before going through a cabinet against one of the walls; inside were the napkins or cutlery needed. She continued her imitation, when she gave the “Duchess” napkins, always bowed. For the water, it was simple, a jug of fresh water was set on the table. She mimicked the act of pouring respectfully the water, still slightly bowed, and not even once she met the “Duchess’s gaze”. She then proceeded to return to her place in her waiting stance.

  “Your turn now.” she ordered.

  Avril performed in front of Viviane and did everything exactly like her. She didn’t miss a step and focused all her attention on executing the tasks perfectly. Viviane sighed in relief.

  “Good. At least you really learn fast.”

  The backhanded compliment didn’t affect Avril one bit. It was her cross to bear from now on. She slightly smiled at Viviane.

  “Listen, no mishap allowed tonight or the Madam won’t be as generous.” warned Viviane pointing a finger at Avril.

  “Understood.”

  How far the Duchess could go was unimaginable. But what was frightening wasn’t the Duchess in herself, it was the authority she had on the slumped masked person. This mysterious being couldn’t be heard when moving, like a feline ready to pounce on its prey. The extent of their capability was intangible and nobody could prepare for what their unleashed form could do. With them beside the Duchess at all times, it was impossible to counterattack, even though she looked frail enough. Avril breathed in lightly and focused, she scratched her head in thoughts.

  “Eight minutes.” said Viviane as she paled.

  Avril looked at her and nodded. Viviane’s gaze was unfocused and wandering outside the window. She had adopted a protective stance, her arms hugging herself like bracing herself to sleep. She shivered and swallowed with difficulty. Soon, a noise was heard from the door that led to the servants quarter, beside Avril. Huffing and puffing as well as deep moaning echoed in the private dining area. The door opened and the two cooks appeared, carrying the dead charred piglet. The grease trickled down from the beast and the smell was rancid. The two cooks were red but an unreadable expression crossed their faces – they seemed empty like puppets. They placed the piglet in the center of the table and left. Viviane’s face was white as disgust was written all over her face. She took out a handkerchief and covered her nose with it in a polite manner. Even though Avril knew the smell, she retched again. She tried to cover her nose but the smell permeated her hands. The warmth from the charred piglet soon diffused in the whole room and Viviane and Avril's pale faces were covered in a thin layer of sweat. Despite her disgust, Viviane warned Avril again to not make a mistake. Then she ordered as she stored away her handkerchief away:

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  “It’s almost time. Take your place.”

  Both went beside their door and waited in silence. The smell seemed to dig itself through their clothes and never to be washed away. It felt like they swam through a greasy pool and the retch was uncontrollable. They endured as best as they could and the minutes were long and extensible. Avril, eyes closed, breathed through her mouth to attenuate the smell, even though it felt like eating it, it was her only way to fight this struggle. Then, in a loud bang, the door beside Viviane opened – The Duchess was there.

  The Madam sat at her seat silently. The door was shut loudly, presumably by the masked person. With her head bowed, Avril’s line of sight was barely enough to guess who was in front of her. She saw out of the corner of her eyes the Duchess cleanly tie a napkin around her neck. Afraid of staring too much, Avril bowed a little more. Now, she could only hear what was going on. The sound of tearing flesh was soon heard, and then came an horrid audible symphony. Bones cracking, loud slurping and gnawing echoed through the small room. The dripping of grease trickled through the silver cutlery, as well as the discardment of the bones in loud tac. The Duchess’s chewing rang distinctly through their ears. The minutes were suspended. A snarl through mouthful was heard and the devouring of the poor beast proceeded. A putrid stench soon enveloped the room as the Duchess devoured the piglet entrails. Her loud and content sighs could be heard. As the piglet was slowly ripped apart, Avril’s retch became more uncontrollable. All the sounds were terrifying as if the Duchess was a starved monstrous beast who suddenly had some carcass to eat. It was as if her hands were suddenly claws and her teeth could chew bones. The horror continued for thirty minutes, as the Duchess gorged herself in pleasure. The stench of blood, grease and viscera was palpable so well that Avril felt it wrapping around her naked arms and exposed face.

  “Orane, water.” ordered the monstrous being.

  Avril hastened her step and nearly missed a step as she looked at the paler Viviane. She mimicked perfectly what she taught her at the exception of just a glance. A single glance sobered her up. She saw the Duchess grease and blood dripping from her mouth, seemingly satisfied and a pile of white bones. On the Duchess’s plate remained two charred eyed looking hagar. Avril nearly vomited immediately. But she held it in and swallowed it up again. As soon as she served the water she returned beside her door and tried to hold all of her disgust. But suddenly a crack, followed by a gnawing sound was heard – here went the eyes. Avril forced herself to hold it in again as she uncontrollably retched. Fortunately, the Duchess didn’t pay attention to her stuffing the second eye in her mouth. The ordeal soon stopped as the Madam finished her plate – she licked it to be sure nothing was left. After five minutes in her luxury she suddenly said:

  “I’m retiring to my quarter. Orane, bring me some green tea.”

  Avril hummed on the verge of vomiting. The Madam then untied her napkin, wiped off her mouth and went out of the room. The instant she went out, Avril ran through her door and to the restroom in her bedroom. Inside, she vomited everything she had left, bile foaming at her mouth. When she could not throw anything up anymore, she laid down on the floor which was cold enough to calm her tensing nerves. After heaving a little more on the floor she finally calmed herself. She stood up and rinsed her face and her arms under cold water. After finally feeling relieved she came back to the dining room. The stench was weakened as Viviane opened the big windows. She looked at Avril with horror when she hastily said:

  “Orane, go make the tea now! Don’t waste time.” and she shooed her away.

  Avril did as she was told and ran through the stair of the annex. In the kitchen, the two cooks were waiting arms by their sides, side by side, and didn’t say anything as Avril hurried. She hadn’t time to converse with them and let them in their emptiness. She copied the tea’s preparation she saw when Viviane taught her earlier. Then she arranged everything to look the exact same and hurried through the stairs to the Duchess’s quarter. She couldn’t even reflect on what she saw and felt as she knocked on the flowery door. It seemed the piglet’s stench followed her, but she paid it no mind. The door opened and the same play as before unfolded. Knowing what she went through before, she was much more calm. She waited in silence, without breathing aloud and bowed. Suddenly the cup sliced through the air before landing on Avril’s face. Stunned, she winced as she felt the burn on her face. She tried to wipe the remaining hot water and glared at the Duchess in anger.

  “Can’t you even make good tea?!”

  “B..But…” she stopped talking abruptly, remembering the Voice reminder.

  She gritted her teeth and bowed more in silence. Anger flared up but she clenched her fist and waited for the Duchess’s orders:

  “Get out. I don’t want to see your face.”

  She tightened her grip and glared at the Duchess. Was she really that powerful? Anger and revenge was all that Avril could feel at the moment. She defied the Duchess silently with her hardened gaze. In her mind she saw two trembling hands strangling the Duchess’s refined neck. As her hands strangled the Duchess a little more and a little more, her anger subsided a little. But now wasn’t the right time. She bowed and got out of the room. Without the help of the masked person, she closed the door behind her.

  Outside she shivered, not out of fear, but out of excitement. She sighed loudly and slapped her face a few times. Now wasn’t the right time. Now wasn’t the right time. Now wasn’t the right time.

  She sighed again and went to the private dining area to help Viviane.