Lucinda's POVToday 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."Ab
Today is the full moon day; in the rules here, there is a provision that on the full moon day of the month, everyone must return to their rooms at seven o'clock in the evening.Even though my work wasn't finished, Pearl asked me to return to my room immediately. I felt baffled but didn't dare to ask much.In the middle of the night, I couldn't sleep. Occasionally, I hear wolves howling outside. A few times, I almost couldn't hold back my curiosity and wanted to open the window, but my reason reminded me that I shouldn't do that. Pearl emphasized a rule to me: do not open the window at night even if you hear any noise.I started thinking about the strange laws and associated them with the echoing wolf howl. Suddenly, I had a crazy thought that the Douglas family were werewolves. I was startled, then I quickly sobered up and dismissed that thought because everyone knows that werewolves are just paranoid characters in children's fairy tales. If I say this thought to someone, I will becom
Even though Jane warned me, I still didn't change my decision. Maybe everyone thinks I'm stupid, but I accept being stupid for once to help Clara. Above all, I'm not afraid of rumors that have no evidence.Time passed quickly; soon, it was the first day of May. Early in the morning, Pearl drove to pick me up. On the way, she gave me a small notebook. It states the rules I must follow as Arthur's maid and the daily work I must do.These laws are even stranger than the ones I've ever known. I forced myself to ask Pearl, "Why are there these laws? It's so strange! What if I break the law?"Pearl glanced at me with harsh eyes. She gritted her teeth and said, "If you want to live, you'd better be careful with your words. You have no right to wonder!"Going a little further, Pearl sarcastically said, "Don't worry about breaking the law because even if you don't break the law, you can't come back here.""What does that mean? I don't get what you mean!" I am surprised.Pearl smirked; her eyes
Arthur's POVMy blurred vision suddenly became clear again. Initially blank and controlled by madness, my mind was completely alert again. My body gradually transformed back into human form.This sudden awakening left me stunned for a long time as if I were hallucinating.From the moment I was born, I was under a terrifying curse. By May, every year, I would go crazy and suffer physical and mental pain. My madness can last for months, and when I go mad, I kill anything that moves in front of me. So, around this time, I will be taken to an isolated villa for confinement.Every whole moon night, my torture became a hundred times more terrifying. To the point where I wish I could die because death is more comfortable than that endless pain.The room was dark, but my eyes could still see everything. I was startled to see a girl lying under my body; her slender neck was bleeding. The sweet taste of blood still lingers on my tongue.She fainted due to excessive blood loss.I quickly regaine
A strange night it was passed. Arthur didn't do anything to me, but my nerves were still tense until I was taken back to my room, and then my spirit relaxed a bit.After that, I was locked in my room again and, at night, was retaken to Arthur's room. Things kept repeating like that for five days. Unlike the first night, Arthur went to sleep the following night instead of staring at me all night. That made me less stressed, but I still didn't dare to blink when I was near him, so I stayed up every night and slept during the day.When we were with him, we never spoke to each other.Today, I was suddenly woken up by Dylan when I had only slept for two hours. I rubbed my eyes and asked dreamily, "What's going on?""Today, you have to work like normal," Dylan said.At this point, I really just wanted to sleep, but I couldn't disobey Dylan's orders.I do the same job as before. During the days I was locked up, there was no one to clean the villa for me, so my work piled up. What makes me mo
At the end of May, I was surprised to hear Dylan say that Arthur would return to the main building.Before coming here to work, I researched that Arthur would stay at this villa for at least three months. At this time, he had only been here a month and had already left. I had never heard of this case before. I wondered but didn't dare ask.It didn't stop there; Dylan continued to announce the news that made me freeze. That's why I got promoted. I will become Arthur's maid.If a servant received this notice, they would be happy to jump up and down because becoming Arthur's servant would mean being promoted to senior servant, equivalent to Peal's rank. I will be able to work in the main building, the work will be lighter, and I will have more time to rest. I even have the right to give orders to servants lower than me.Before those benefits, I didn't feel excited at all. For me, the most fun thing is being away from Arthur."Are not you happy?" Dylan saw me dumbfounded and wondered.I l
The pain makes me angry. I wanted to struggle away from Jade to stand up, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape her grip. I don't understand how a fifty-five-year-old woman like her can have such strength. She was like a sturdy stone statue, pinning me to the floor.Struggling didn't help me escape, but it made my knees hurt even more because Jade pressed me down harder and harder. So I stopped, looked up at Melissa, and asked, "What did I do wrong? Why do you treat me like that?"Melissa wasn't looking at me and enjoying a new cup of tea. After a while, she took a glance. Then she said slowly, "This beauty! No wonder my son favors you."I was stunned, thinking for a moment, and quickly understood what she meant by her words. I guess she heard about the rumor that I had seduced Arthur, and she believed it to be true.Actually, I understand why that rumor is highly authentic because Arthur favored me, and the other part is my beauty.I don't think highly of myself, but ever
After Clara finished crying, seeing that she had calmed down, I left. Clara panicked and grabbed my hand to hold me back. She sobbed and said, "Don't go! Help me, please."I replied, "I helped you twice."Last time, I did a dangerous job for her; this time, I helped her escape the bullies."Please, just this one more time. Only you can save me. Those people won't forgive me. They always secretly bully me. Countless times, I was beaten and brutally abused. If you don't save me, I will die."Clara's tears fell endlessly again, her voice choked with emotions of despair.I remember the first time she came to see me. Although she appeared fine, her face was pale and weak. It seems like she's been bullied before I arrived here."Why do they bully you?" I wonder what mistake Clara made that made those people not let her go.Clara lowered her head so I couldn't see her expression.Her voice was frustrated, "This is all a misunderstanding. I happened to talk to Jack. It was just a polite greet