Chapter 7

Aesthelia looked stunned at the sight before her. The worried voices of servants echoed through the air. Mr. Rasc's eyes kept on changing since the wolf spirit was fighting for control.

"Get Aesthelia out of my sight, right now," Mr. Rasc's voice changed as he commanded the servants who were idle, watching from the back. He was trying to fight his wolf until Aesthelia was out and safe. 

"Bring the lady inside now!" Someone from the crowd shouted. Everyone seems to be panicking at this time. 

"What's going on?" Aesthelia asked desperately.  She moves around trying to be released from being tied up until a servant comes to her rescue and quickly unties her wrists. 

"Let's go. "The servant said in a calm voice. The servant eyes were staring directly at Aesthelia's eyes, and they were filled with concern.

"Why?" Aesthelia asked, but the growl became louder this time, which made the servant drag Aesthelia by herself without being told to. 

Aesthelia let herself be swayed by that servant, although she was bemused. 'What was that?' Aesthelia asked herself mentally. 

The way to her room was swift. She couldn't even stop to admire the vintage-looking furniture. Aesthelia's room is upstairs and the farthest door on the floor. Their footsteps echoed in the hallway.

The servant yanked the door open for Aesthelia, who looked wary about everything. Aesthelia followed the servant even though the first thing that comes to her mind is to run, run the fastest she can. 

Aesthelia was greeted by a luxurious vibe that the room gave out. It's a big room with a lot of stuff you wouldn't usually find elsewhere, especially in a werewolf household.

Aesthelia wanted to ask right away. What was happening in this household? Why were Mr. Rasc and his spirit wolf in conflict? Aren't they supposed to be inseparable? 

The servant stayed beside Aesthelia quietly. Aesthelia badly wanted to ask but held herself back. Aesthelia strided her way to the nearest chair and sat down.

"Should I sprint out of here?" Aesthelia wonders aloud. She was thinking that it was best to just escape since she didn't know what was going to happen. Maybe she had an idea, but she was still unsure. 

The servant said, emotionless and firm, "I think you shouldn't leave this room for the time being, my lady," 

"My lady? Isn't that a little bit weird? As Aesthelia commented, "I thought wolves were kind of barbaric, " She heard an unusual polite form of address. As far as Aesthelia thought, it's not normal. Well, her stay here in this world isn't that great. She sees everything as rude, harsh, and cruel, except for Antoinette and Flo, who show enough concern to melt Aesthelia's heart. 

"I know what you mean, my lady, with years that I've been living with the wolves. It doesn't mean I will behave like one. " The servant says which piqued Aesthelia's interest. 

"You are not a wolf?" Aesthelia asked, her eyebrow raised as it caught her interest. Her gaze was drawn immediately to Marie.

The servant nodded, which made Aesthelia even more curious. Not a wolf, but a member of the pack of beasts. If not a wolf, what creature is she to live with the wolves? And what circumstances made her stay within a pack's territory? She'd like to hear her stories. 

In her original world, Aesthelia's a writer and a reader of many novel fiction or non-fiction works. It's something that she'd love to spend her time on, getting to know someone's thoughts, feelings, and ideas. 

"Why are you here? In a pack? I didn't get to ask, but what was your name? " Aesthelia can't help it but to ask again. If something like this existed in the plot, she would know for sure, but even when she thinks hard just to remember, there's nothing that comes to her mind. 

"I'm called Marie. All of the servants here in this mansion are humans, my lady," The servant named Marie began to confusedly stare at Aesthelia. Ever since Aesthelia was born, it has always been that way. Marie was puzzled. Why does Lady Aesthelia look surprised?

Aesthelia noticed the servant's expression. She can't afford to raise suspicion, but who can possibly think that there's something going on with Aesthelia's soul when there's rarely any involvement of magic here? As far as they know, Aesthelia's wolf spirit is just a healer, and the spirit can't be summoned at this time.

Aesthelia cleared her throat.

"Don't look at me like that. I was in the dungeon for three days. I think my head cracked open when I struggled too much. That made me forget something. That's why I'd like to ask you some questions, "Aesthelia explained, while massaging her forehead so that the servant wouldn't ask again. Aesthelia is careful in choosing her words so as not to raise suspicion.

Marie nodded obediently and said, "Of course you can ask me about anything, my lady, although I was sent here when you were already in primary." 

"Can you tell me what's going on with Mr. Rasc? I mean my father, "Aesthelia finally asked the one thing that bothered her. She is not  comfortable and doesn't know what to call Aesthelia's father when he acted like a total lunatic with that crazy parenting method.

"Based on what I heard around here, it is because his mate died. Your mother died." Marie answered as she looked directly into Aesthelia's eyes. The way Marie talks, she wasn't here when that happened. It means that event happened early in her primary days. 

"My mother died?" Aesthelia repeated the servants' words. Now that she thinks about it, the mansion seems dull, as if it were lifeless.

"Yes, and according to what I've heard, your mother died because of you," Marie responded firmly as she looked directly into Aesthelia's eyes, wanting to find a reaction from the lady. 

Aesthelia felt her heart clenched for the second time today. Aesthelia's mother died because of her? and it happened in her childhood. Is that why Mr. Rasc spirit wolf despises Aesthelia? His mate died because of her? It's a surprise for her and it rather makes sense. The werewolf stories she had read before emphasized the unconditional love between mates. It's a serious matter for every wolf. 

Aesthelia continued to question the servant, who responded right away. 

The real Aesthelia's mother died in a rogue attack outside of the territory one stormy night when Aesthelia was still a child and went missing. Aesthelia's mother went out to frantically search for Aesthelia's whereabouts and was killed in the process of protecting her daughter.

'How can they blame a child that went missing?' Aesthelia couldn't help it but to mentally ask herself. So she's sure that the people there won't think the same as the people here inside the book, or so she thought, until she remembers how her real parents treated her and said she was a disappointment. In comparison, reality or inside a book. Everything's cruel and harsh. Just how unfortunate can Aesthelia be?

"It was a lot to take in, wasn't it? "Marie commented. She wanted to comfort her somehow, but didn't dare. The lady might have lashed out at her.

Aesthelia remained quiet as she thought more deeply about the real Aesthelia's situation. Is the real Aesthelia just being rebellious or it's really her personality that sucks? 

"We should treat your bruise." Marie chimed in with herbs in hand. Marie can't afford to ignore things such as this. If she's a wolf, she'd be a salutary.

"When did I get bruises?" Aesthelia gasped when she saw the blackened spots on her wrist. It's the tie. They tied her to that wood tightly.

"I didn't feel it earlier," Aesthelia said, raising her wrist to level her eyes and examining the bruise. She touches the bruise and it stings. 

Marie gently pulled Aesthelia's bruised wrist to apply some herbs. Marie is a short-haired girl with deep set brown eyes. 

"You didn't answer me earlier. Why do you guys live in a pack full of werewolves?" Aesthelia managed to ask again for the second time. 

"It's forbidden to talk about Mrs. Telia Vonshcí-Rasc. It's an order from your father and you, my lady, " Marie said. What do these humans have to do with Aesthelia's mom? 

"Your mother is a member of royalty, my lady. She's a human who became a wolf's destined partner. " Marie explained when she saw how Aesthelia's eyebrows furrowed. She didn't mind violating that order for awhile.

Aesthelia's eyes widened in surprise. "We were sent here by an emperial order," Marie added,

Aesthelia gasped as she realized something. Is it related to the treaty between royalty and beasts? Is it because of the union of two fated mates, a werewolf and a royal? 

Then, does that mean Aesthelia possessed royal blood? If that's true, why was her character so weak that it died in the most humiliating way? Being cursed out publicly and executed afterwards by the guy she's obsessing with.

Aesthelia continues to ask about anything that confuses her while they are in the middle of their conversation. They heard the noises that came from the outside, just in front of the mansion.

Aesthelia got up and curiously walked into the radius-shaped window. Her hands gripped the curtains to look outside. She saw the carriage getting ready and a few servants who attended to Mr. Rasc's needs. It seems that Mr. Rasc is out for another business trip without bidding farewell to Aesthelia. 

Not that she's expecting a fatherly love from the same person who attempted to hurt her and probably thought of making her bleed to death.

"He doesn't want to see the person who he thought killed his wife, even though Aesthelia is his daughter," Aesthelia mumbles to herself as she watches until the carriage gets farther away.

Has their relationship been like this ever since? No wonder Aesthelia has become as bad as this. It starts at home. You adapt to things according to what you see. Guess that made Aesthelia become aggressive and use violence to get what she wanted?

A drawer catches Aesthelia's attention. It's simple and yet, covered by the curtain she just pulled aside. It seems like the drawer was purposely placed in there, to keep it hidden. 

Aesthelia touched the golden handle and pulled the drawer open. Her eyes became more curious as she saw the torn paper in pieces, some of which were shredded.

She hoped to find at least a diary, but she found something that piqued her interest. It took her a couple of seconds before she realized that the torn paper might be an art form. Given by the paint in the paper. 

She tried to piece the puzzle together until she came across a painted image of a tree, specifically the tree of aegis, and beneath it, a young man who was undeniably beautiful.It looks familiar, but Aesthelia was too engrossed by it to notice and recognize the subject. 

"The artist is incredible," she can't stop herself from saying. The art is beautiful, even though the art style is not as good as the ones that come from her original world, but it was breathtaking. It was such waste that it was torn apart. 

Aesthelia kept staring at it until she realized who that face belonged to: Gior Frauzon, who was sleeping beneath the tree of aegis.

Aesthelia shook her head and commented in her mind, 'Aesthelia's obsession might be just a pure love for a teenager.' 

When Aesthelia heard Marie clear her throat, she quickly turned her head around to see Marie. "It seems that the supper is ready, my lady," Marie said. 

"Oh! I just remembered something I must do, " Aesthelia quickly exclaimed, and her eyes twinkled in excitement. She had forgotten the event earlier and it was replaced by her curiosity. It is good that Mr. Rasc is out of town, and now she can snoop around the mansion. No one will dare question her unless there's someone like Mr. Rasc assigned to report every detail of Aesthelia's whereabouts and doings.

"What do you mean? I know that look, my lady. I just hope that you aren't thinking of causing more trouble. " Marie narrowed her eyes at Aesthelia. 

Aesthelia won't be in trouble as long as she promises herself not to get involved with either Merideth or Gior. Aesthelia just needs to get away from the protagonists. Even if she meant no harm, the story made it that way. The real Aesthelia was meant to torment Merideth until the male lead stepped up and protected her. There's no way that apologizing will help her to alter the event. She just wished that she had a way to survive until she found her way back to her original world. She wonders if what happened to her original body. 

"No, of course not."

"How will I dare to unless I am a spawn of the devil himself?" Aesthelia exclaimed in disbelief after what had happened.She was taken aback by Marie's word. 

Marie deeply sighed and just nodded back. 

"I'd like to walk around," Aesthelia continued with a huge grin on her face. She's trying to act cute to convince the servant that she is not that kind of troublemaker. 

Marie didn't say anything, and instead she went right in front of the door and opened it for Aesthelia. Aesthelia smiled at her in return, and took a step outside the room.

Aesthelia started looking around until she found a potrait painting on the wall. There are many portraits on the walls, not just one.From the looks of it, it was drawn, not captured pictures or so. Aesthelia doubts the camera existed in this time frame.Aesthelia curiously examined the potraits one after one another. 

"Who owns these paintings?" Aesthelia asked, anticipating that the owner was none other than Mr. Rasc. 

Aesthelia kept on walking and looking around, especially at the paintings, when Marie's answer caught her attention.

"Whatever it is on this floor, my lady, it's all yours," Marie responded without question as to why she would ask that herself.

Aesthelia thought, "Aesthelia must be a fan of the arts." 

"These are all mine?" Aesthelia let her eyes roam around.

"Yes, my lady."

"You drew each one of them," Marie answered, which made Aesthelia's jaw drop immediately after hearing it. 

"Me? Did I really draw them? " Aesthelia asked again for confirmation. She didn't expect that the real Aesthelia was an artist while also being the strongest warrior. She was blessed with talents, and yet unfortunate, dying at an early age and tainted with a reputation as a villainess.

She started walking again while her eyes were still staring at the paintings until she found an empty frame. Out of many frames, there's one that actually doesn't have anything in it, and it was the biggest frame out of all. 

Aesthelia was lost in her own thoughts when an image came crashing to her mind. It was the same in one of the images she had when she was in the cellar. Something about it is connected to this portrait. 

"How long has this frame been empty?" Aesthelia asked to confirm her thoughts. She touched the frame as if it was something that her own body wanted to do. 

"Ever since I set foot in this mansion. It is already empty, my lady, "Marie responded.

As she listened to Marie's response, She's sure that something was on it, based on the images she saw in her mind while in the cellar. There was a portrait painting of a young noblewoman in it, and now it's gone.