Trapped With The Devil's Spawn

CHAPTER 4

TIARA THORNELLS

I returned to my room first. I opened my wooden vintage luggage case to find something to wear. I had brought along some nice dresses simple, yet they looked elegant and respectable. Once I was dressed, I stepped out of the mansion, just in time, as a carriage was already waiting for me outside. There was even a coachman seated on the horse.

“Are you Tiara Thornells?” he asked me formally.

“Yes, Sir,” I replied.

“Get inside so we can be on our way,” he instructed. I quickly stepped into the carriage and sat on the soft seat. I heard him gently snap the leather rope connected to the horse, and with that, we began moving.

I peeked out the window, watching the steep mansion before we completely left that place behind.

During our journey, I began to yawn, sleepiness creeping in. I barely got any sleep last night. It must have taken about two hours before we finally arrived at the public market.

“Dried fruits, my lady?”

“Big fishes over here!”

“Homemade pies, fresh from the oven!”

“Come, come! We have vibrant new fabrics in stock!”

As we passed by vendor stalls lined up on both sides of the path, I couldn’t decide what I actually wanted to buy. Their persuasive shouts echoed in my ears, enticing people like me to stop and take a look.

“Would you like to see my lovely hair ties, Miss?” I halted when I heard a middle-aged lady vendor calling out. I turned toward her stall and glanced down at the neatly arranged hair ties, each featuring delicate handmade designs. They were not like the usual elastic bands from the modern world. These were just colorful fabric straps with attached ribbons and various kinds of flowers as decorations. Some were long, others just the right length.

“You have very beautiful long red hair, Miss... You should try this one...” She handed me a long pink hair tie with red rose flower designs at each end of the strap. “If you’d like, I can braid your hair with this so you can try it... see if you’ll like it or not.”

I immediately agreed and turned around. She stepped behind me and gently stopped. She took off my old hair tie and began to braid my hair using that long strap.

“Here you go, Miss.” The vendor gently drew my braid forward so it draped across my chest, falling just to my stomach. The long pink strap she had woven into my hair blended beautifully with the strands, ending in a delicate tie where two small rose-shaped ornaments sat gracefully at the tip.

I turned to face the lady vendor with a wide, sincere smile. “This is absolutely beautiful... I’ll buy it.”

She returned my smile warmly. “And since you’re my first customer today, I’ll give you one free item. Go ahead, choose whichever you like.”

I didn’t hesitate to accept her generous offer. I selected another, shorter ribbon strap, this one featuring a small, neat bowtie at the end. It was just right to tie off the end of my hair without needing to blend it into my braid.

“Thank you so much, Miss!” I said with cheerful enthusiasm as I walked away from her stall.

It seemed that a single silver coin held considerable value in this world, judging by the generous amount of change the vendor gave me.

I continued, strolling past the food stalls lined along the market streets. I sampled dishes I had never tried before each one offering a unique flavor and warmth. Eventually, I also decided to purchase some fabric, simple and affordable, with the intention of having new dresses tailored.

The coachman had been waiting quite a while, yet he didn’t utter a single complaint. When I was finally done, we left the market and made our way back to the manor.

Upon entering the estate, I saw that the other servants were already hard at work. Though it was obvious I had just come from the market, my arms full of purchases, not one of them said a word. No one raised an eyebrow or gave me a judgmental look. I had expected at least one of them to scold me or make a comment, but instead, they all avoided my gaze and silently went on with their duties.

Perhaps Lord Edmund had finally warned them. I could only hope it would stay this way, quiet, and orderly, so I could do my job without being harassed by them anymore.

I hurried to my room and left my shopping there before immediately returning to help with the cleaning, especially since we were working on one of the mansion’s long hallways that day.

When noon came and it was time for lunch, I was surprised to find that our meal had been prepared with care. Each of us received mashed potatoes, a piece of fish, and a serving of stir-fried vegetables with chunks of meat.

I glanced around at the other servants. They looked genuinely happy as they ate, chatting quietly and smiling. It seemed like this was the first time the Hawkins family had ever provided them with a proper, satisfying meal.

“Look! It’s Lord Edmund!”

Everyone froze as Lord Edmund entered the servant’s dining hall. We all stood up immediately, myself included.

"Please, go ahead and eat." His calm and gentle voice echoed softly through the room, and with that, all of us servants returned to our seats. I kept my eyes on him as he made her way toward the food server station. There, he spoke quietly with the staff assigned to that area, even lifting the lids of the large pots to check the contents inside.

So he was the reason why lunch tasted especially good today.

I thought Lord Edmund would leave soon after, but instead, he began glancing around the dining hall, as if searching for someone. Before he could catch me watching him, I quickly averted my gaze, fixed my eyes on my plate, and resumed eating with forced focus.

Still, I couldn’t resist stealing another glance.

And just as I suspected, he was walking straight toward my table.

"Tiara, how was your shopping trip?" His voice was composed, yet held a note of familiarity. He stopped right in front of me, and I looked up at him, stunned for a moment. I stood from my seat and bowed slightly, trying to compose myself.

"I enjoyed it, My Lord. I was able to buy a few things..." I replied politely, choosing my words with care.

"I’ve changed the menu for the servants," he said, his tone casual. "Starting today, I hope you’ll enjoy the meals more."

"We are extremely grateful, My Lord."

A small smile formed at the corner of his lips. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

It was only then that I realized how many eyes were on me. The other servants were staring, their gazes sharp and piercing. I could feel the weight of their judgment like knives against my skin. But I didn’t care.

Let them glare.

Let them whisper. Even if they all teamed up against me, it wouldn’t matter. Not anymore.

"Attention, everyone..." A stern voice cut through the low murmurs in the dining room, silencing them instantly. We all turned our heads toward the entrance.

There stood Mrs. Cora, her presence commanding.

"By the order of Duke Hawkin, there will be a gathering at the servant’s shelter tonight at six o'clock sharp," she announced. "I expect all of you to be in front of your rooms at that time. I will make an important announcement." With that, she left.

The room buzzed with whispers again.

"What could that be about?" asked a servant at the next table.

"We have no idea. But hopefully... it’s good news," another replied uncertainly.

"Now I’m getting nervous..." someone muttered.

The air around us shifted, filled with curiosity and the unspoken question that lingered in all of our minds.

I took a deep breath and simply ate the food on my plate.

When the time for the gathering came, just before six o’clock, we all came out of our individual rooms. We stood in front of our doors, and true enough, Mrs. Cora wasn’t late. She arrived shortly and stood in the middle of the hallway.

“I just came from the Duke’s office,” she began. "And he announced that he’s going to sell three servants to wealthy families.” Some of us gasped in shock.

“Tomorrow morning, representatives from each of those families will arrive to choose who they want to take. You might end up with the baron and baroness, the marquess and marchioness, or the viscount and viscountess… So tomorrow, at ten in the morning, report to the guest hall,” she continued.

Mrs. Cora didn’t say another word. She left our shelter, and that’s when the commotion started among the servants.

“W-What if we’re sent to a crueler noble family? Or worse... what if they’re part vampires with no respect for humans like us? Things were just starting to get better around here, and now they’ve decided to sell us?”

“Y-You’re right...”

“Don’t lose hope. Who knows? Maybe the next masters will be decent people. And besides… it’s only three of us who’ll be taken.”

“I hope it’s not me! I’m doing fine here! I have no idea what kind of family I might be assigned to!”

Those were just some of the worried voices I heard. I quietly returned to my room.

I wasn’t too concerned about whether I’d be chosen or not, well, I couldn't hide the fact that I would be nervous as hell.

However, no matter what I do, no matter what happens, danger is always there. Especially in this world.

When morning arrived, most of us were filled with anxiety as we waited inside a large hall.

We formed three lines, and I stood at the front of the first. Mrs. Cora was also waiting, anticipating the arrival of the representatives she mentioned.

There was hardly a sound, only the deep, nervous breaths of my fellow servants.

“Welcome to Duke Hawkin’s Manor.” At that moment, the doors opened. I immediately started counting in my head, there were only three of them.

So, it looked like each noble had sent one representative, and all of them were women. I bit my lower lip. I could already sense how strict and unfriendly they all were.

“You may now choose the servant you wish to take,” Mrs. Cora said formally.

They stood before us, examining the rows.

The first to step forward was a woman whose mere eyebrows could intimidate anyone.

She walked slowly, passing in front of us.

I quietly let out a sigh of relief when she walked right past me without stopping.

She continued circling, inspecting each of us carefully.

“I’ll have this one right here.” I slightly turned my head to see her pointing at a servant in the third row.

“Follow me,” she said coldly, and the two of them immediately left the hall.

We all took a deep breath, but this wasn’t the moment to feel relieved.

There were still two more left to choose.

The second woman stepped forward now. She had already been pacing up and down the rows several times, scanning each of us closely. It was clear she was being picky, intent on finding a servant who fit her exact preferences.

My face remained composed, unreadable, with no flicker of emotion visible to the eye. But inside, I could feel every single beat of my heart, pounding fast and heavy in my chest.

“This one is ours,” she finally announced.

I shut my eyes tightly for a second, quietly releasing the tension in my jaw.

At last, she had made her choice, after nearly five agonizing minutes of indecision.

One more to go… and it would all be over.

I focused my entire attention on the last woman.

She looked to be in her forties. Her movements were slow as her eyes passed from one servant to the next. Her presence was unnerving, calm, quiet, yet somehow suffocating.

My blood ran cold when she suddenly stopped.

Right beside me.

I could feel the fear radiating from the servant to my left. The poor girl stiffened. Her anxiety was nearly palpable.

I almost let myself relax… almost...

Until the woman’s eyes shifted.

And landed directly on me.

We locked eyes. For a moment, the world seemed to fall silent around me. I forgot how to breathe.

She stepped toward me, unblinking, gaze intense and unmoving.

Then she stood in front of me. I stood straight, shoulders tense, while she examined me from the tips of my worn shoes to the very top of my head.

“Hmm...” she muttered under her breath.

Suddenly, her hand reached out, grasping my chin. She turned my face to the left, then to the right, inspecting every angle as though she were inspecting livestock or something far less human.

“Pack your things. I will wait for you in the carriage.”

She walked away, and I followed without a word.

The moment the heavy door shut behind us, I heard loud, unfiltered sighs of relief from the servants left behind. Some even laughed softly. They were safe, at least for today. They weren’t chosen.

I went straight to my room, packed what I had, and left the mansion.

Outside, a luxurious carriage waited for me again. It was polished, grand, and undeniably expensive. Inside sat the woman who had selected me.

I climbed in quietly.

“Take your seat over there,” she instructed, pointing to the opposite end of the long cushioned bench. I nodded and sat without hesitation.

I looked at her carefully, waiting.

“I am Margot Escobar,” she said finally, her voice composed. “You may call me Mrs. Margot.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Margot. My name is Tiara Thornells,” I responded respectfully.

She nodded once. “Tiara, you’ll be transferring to your new place of service.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “If… if you don’t mind me asking, who will I be serving? What are their noble titles?”

She looked at me steadily, her chin lifting ever so slightly in pride.

“You will be serving the Vampire Royal Highnesses in Vladerion's Castle."