Fifty-Two

LUSTRE

I’d not seen Bertha since the day she was dragged from the dining when she attempted to kill Fleki and I couldn't stop worrying about her. I knew that she’d definitely be punished but I hoped that’s all it would be since she didn't succeed in killing him and barely injured him.

I worried about her because after hearing about her experience, I knew that her anger was justified despite the fact that she’d aired it wrongly. However, she didn't know better and was fueled with a rare rage and hatred I’d never seen, but she’d lost enough and didn't deserve to lose more of herself.

As hard-headed as I was, I’d managed to swap duties once in a while with any of the maids that served meals in the dungeons, and by doing so, I got to speak with Bertha a few times— however, it was barely a conversation since she was mostly unresponsive and hadn't eaten enough for sustenance while she’d been locked up.

She still looked like she was angry at the world and it hurt me that I couldn't help her