Chapter 1

Lucinda's POV

Today is my eighteenth birthday. I'm not sure this is really the day I was born; on this day twelve years ago, I was brought to this Angel orphanage, and it has become my birthday every year. However, I'm still thrilled because, on my birthday, I can eat my favorite strawberry cake.

I scooped a large piece of cake and put it in my mouth. The sweetness dissolved in my throat, multiplying my joy many times over.

"Are you done packing, Lucinda?" Lily asked me, but her eyes didn't leave my strawberry cake.

I shared some cake with Lily; she is my good friend. I replied, "I have already arranged it!"

Lily was satisfied eating the cake, and she asked again, "Aren't you worried? I heard rumors that people taken to that place often mysteriously disappear."

I shrugged and said, "Those are just rumors. The director told me I would make a lot of money there. After five years, I can leave there with much money. Until then, I will come back here to visit you. Don't worry about me."

About an hour ago, the orphanage's director came to see me. She said I had to go to the Douglas family to be a servant. If someone else received this news, they would be very shocked and sad, but not for me.

Let me introduce the Douglas family to you. This is a long-standing family in the United States specializing in gemstone and antique businesses and doing business in many other fields. They hold one-third of the economy in the United States, and even if they stomp their feet, it can cause the United States to stagger. Therefore, in the United States, everyone knows the Douglas family, and no one dares to touch them. However, the Douglas family is also famous for being the most mysterious. Everything about them is kept secret and hidden, and their private life is rarely published in the newspaper; all people know about them is that they are rich and powerful.

Angel Orphanage can be said to belong to the Douglas family because the Douglas family pays the money to maintain this place. Therefore, every year, when the Douglas family lacks servants, children who are eighteen years old in the orphanage will be provided there to be servants for them. This year, it just happened to be my turn.

A rumor is that people sent to the Douglas family as servants will never return. Therefore, the children here often pray so they will not be chosen as servants for the Douglas family.

I am not afraid of those false rumors because, in my subconscious, there is always some invisible force urging me to go to the Douglas family, as if there is a secret there that needs me to discover.

I had just finished eating strawberry cake when the Douglas family's car came to pick me up.

I carried my luggage and walked out of the orphanage under everyone's compassionate eyes. Even Lily couldn't hold back her tears and burst into tears.

I smiled and waved goodbye to everyone, "I'm going. Later, I will return to visit everyone and buy lots of cakes!"

Mixed in with the looks of pity for me were looks of contempt, mockery, and laughter. Maybe everyone thinks I'm so stupid I won't be able to return.

…

Douglas Palace is located in the suburbs of New York City. This palace covers an extensive area, the largest in the United States.

Surrounding the palace is a towering wall carved with intricate patterns. In front of the palace gate are about ten guards, adding to the majestic feeling of the palace.

The car did not drive into the main gate but drove a long way until it stopped at a small gate. I understand that a servant does not have the right to enter through the main gate but must enter through the side gate.

The side gate has two gatekeepers, one of whom opens the gate for vehicles to enter. I turned my head and looked back; when the iron gate closed, I had an unspeakable feeling of disappointment in my heart, like a bird that had crawled into a cage and could no longer fly freely.

The feeling of inadequacy quickly passed as a certain feeling of hangover took place. I feel excited and enthusiastic about my new job.

The car took me to a building. Here, a middle-aged woman with a stern face was waiting for me.

As I exited the car, she said, "Follow me!"

I quickly grabbed my luggage and chased after her. She walked fast; I had to run small steps to catch up.

"I'm Pearl. My job is to manage the female servants." Pearl briefly introduced.

"I'm Lucinda, I'm from the Angel orphanage!" I spoke, my voice breathless because I had to carry heavy luggage and run after Pearl.

"I know! I hope you will work briskly. Last year's servant was so slow. I'm crazy about having to train her!" Pearl complained, her steps still very fast, seemingly never stopping for a beat.

"You mean Clara, right? I know her; she is like a sister to me. I haven't seen her for a year. Is she okay now?" I get excited when I hear the name of an acquaintance of mine.

"You'll get to meet her soon. I hope you are not stupid like your sister!" Pearl insisted, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Pearl took me to a room on the third floor. The room is small, with only a bed and a wooden cabinet, little space.

There is a maid's outfit on the bed. Pearl said, "You have three minutes to change!" Then she slammed the door shut. I could see the dust falling as the door slammed shut.

Precisely three minutes later, Pearl opened the door without any warning. Luckily, I had finished dressing in time, but I still couldn't help but feel embarrassed when she did so.

"Follow me!" Pearl said.

I quickly followed her. On the way, Pearl told me about my job and the principles of being a servant here. They are so complicated that I can't remember them in a short time.

I have to start working immediately. My first job was to clean the wine cellar. Another servant was working with me; she was Jane, and she was twenty-four years old. She guided me very carefully. However, she's not someone who likes to talk, so I can't ask for any more information here.

…

After a week of working here, I understood why everyone in the orphanage feared coming here to be servants. The working regime is too strict; low-level servants like me have almost no rights to do anything and are constrained by many confusing rules.

Every day, I have to wake up at five in the morning and finish work at ten at night. Sometimes, too much work will last until midnight.

Here, servants will be divided according to rank. I was a newcomer, so my rank was the lowest, and I had to do the most complex and dirtiest work. Therefore, I don't have much time to learn about this place.

Today, I have to clean the warehouse on the east side of the palace. The warehouse is enormous, containing a lot of old and messy furniture. I have to clean and arrange them neatly before it gets dark.

Because I was used to the job, Pearl let me work alone, without guidance. The warehouse was large, and there was no one to help me, so by noon, I still hadn't completed half of the work.

With such slow progress, I didn't dare stop to rest and eat lunch because I was afraid that Pearl would punish me when she went to check if I hadn't finished yet.

Two days ago, I was scolded by Pearl for working slowly. Because it was my first mistake, she didn't punish me, but she took me to the place where the servants were being punished so I could witness those people being brutally beaten.

The punishment for servants will vary in severity; the lightest punishment is ten lashes, and the heaviest is disappearing forever, as everyone says. No one knows where the disappeared people went; some say they were chased away, and others say they were killed.

I don't believe that the person who disappeared was killed, but I'm terrified of being punished with cruel fights. Therefore, I always try to comply with Pearl's requests.

"Lucinda, are you here?"

A timid voice coming from outside the warehouse interrupted my thoughts. I quickly responded and looked out, "Yes, I'm here!"

That person walked into the warehouse because she was standing against the light, so I couldn't see her face. I put the box on the ground and walked over to see the person better.

"It's me, Clara. Do you remember me?" She said excitedly.

At that moment, I saw her face clearly; it was indeed Clara. She was a little different from a year ago, with a thinner figure and a pale face mixed with a bit of fear. She wore a blue maid outfit, the image of a mid-level maid, one rank higher than me. In her hand, she is holding a basket of cakes.

"Oh, Clara! Good to see you again. I looked for you when I first arrived, but Jane said you got promoted and were transferred to be a servant in the main area." I said excitedly. Seeing Clara again made me happy because we were very close to each other when we were at the orphanage. Clara is a gentle and kind girl who often shares food with me.

Clara smiled, "I know you came here as a servant yesterday; if I had known earlier, I would have come to see you earlier. I miss you and your friends at Angel very much. You haven't had lunch yet, right? I brought you some food."

I feel like time has turned back a year ago. She is still the kind sister who always cares for and cares for me.

"Thank you very much!" I said, pulling Clara to a clean corner, and we sat down.

Clara brought me a sandwich, cow's milk, and some fruit. It's all my favorites. We ate together and told each other about ourselves over the past year.

Clara's eyes always had a bit of sadness mixed in.