Hammerman

The Keep at Echo Valley

Ria



Physical Description:

• 22 years old
• 5'6"; A bit more plump than Clara, with slightly bigger breasts and a round, full arse
• Short black hair; brown eyes.

Personality:

• Devoutly loyal to Clara
• Never complained about her work. Her mistress was kind and she recognized her place as her sole support in her new and hostile environment.
• Has a great attention for detail. Never leaves any speck of dust while cleaning.
• Always strives for the best for her mistress.
• Unlike Clara, she still believes in a pure and passionate romance. She wishes that one day, the ideal prince would swoop in and marry her. Clara, of course, would get her own ideal prince.

History:
She was born to a family that had worked as servants for the Leichesters for generations. They lived in the Leichester grounds as stay-in servants, though obviously they weren't allowed to mingle freely with the Leichester family themselves. But her younger self didn't care about that rule, and she sneaked in into the main building. She ended up in the library, where little Clara was at the time. They immediately became good friends with each other, and eventually, Clara asked her to be her personal maid, which she, of course, eagerly accepted. Now they could be together every day without breaking the rule.

When Clara was forced to move to her uncle's estate, she insisted to follow her there as well. At first, Karl was about to refuse her, but when he saw that she was quite the attractive young woman herself, he agreed.

She was now her only ally, and she intended to stay that way for the rest of her life.

The Keep at Echo Valley

Clara Leichester


(Ignore the guy)

Physical Description:

• 20 years old
• 5'8"; hourglass figure with large breasts. Average buttocks.
• Golden, long beautiful wavy hair; blue eyes.

Personality:

• Prim and proper, though not to the point of obnoxiousness
• Always serious, rarely if ever cracks jokes
• Has grown quite the pessimist over the years
• Kind to most people, even those below her station
• Has a keen and analytical mind

History:
Born as the sole daughter of the Leichester family, she was raised in the best environment her parents could provide for her. She was taught not only manners but also some politics, accounting, and general managerial skills as well. Even though she wouldn't be the Lord running their family's territory in the future; that honor would come to her future husband, they still believed that she shouldn't be just an empty and airheaded pretty lady, like so many other noble girls in the kingdom. THey also wanted her to be a support to their future husband in acting as a good ruler, just like how her own mother was to her father.

Alas, those days didn't last long. A mysterious illness suddenly befell them both, sending them to their graves early. Clara cried for a week when it happened, and she didn't take off her mourning dress for an entire year.

Now, the Leichester land fell into her uncle, as he was a higher ranking noble than them. He commanded Clara to live at his castle instead, a request that Clara couldn't say no against, as she didn't have the right to replace her father as the Lord of the land, thanks to her gender. If she had refused, Karl could've kicked her out of her mansion and there would be nothing she could do against it.

At her uncle's place, she educated herself by reading all the books she could find at his library. She remembered her mother's words, and she didn't intend to betray her after her death. She would one day marry another noble, which would be her most realistic ticket of escape from her uncle's grasp. She needed to be not only well-mannered, but educated as well. A noble who could accept his wife more than just an eye candy and a place to fuck was her goal.

The Festival of Destiny (Fantasy Soulmate RP)

Putting down my tentative interest.

The Keep at Echo Valley

When Ellora praised her dress, Marina couldn't help but blush a little, as she stammered a "thank you" in return. She never had any close female friends before, preferring the company of boys instead. So to be praised like this by a female stranger certainly caught her off guard, as unlike a boy, a girl wouldn't flirt with another girl. "A-and go on ahead, feel it all you want," she continued, as she gave her permission.

Ellora then grabbed her hand and invited her into the back partition of the tent. She followed her without complain, though she wasn't sure what they would be really looking at.

As she had expected, there was a bed fit for two inside, along with other furnitures that displayed the sense that this really was someone's private room. As Ellora explained where everything was and how things should be cleaned, which Marina thanked her for as she had expected that she would still need to do her official job as the Earl's maid. Her explanation was concise and clear, and it wasn't hard for her in the slightest to remember everything she said.

Her thoughts went back to the bed however. A bed for two in the Earl's private tent, and with her staying there, there was no doubt in the slightest that he was fucking her. The only question was whether or not she counted as his official maid as well. With how expensive and well-made her dress was however, she doubted that. She might be some noble's daughter instead, given to him to curry favor with him. She knew that her dress was made out of a really expensive fabric, at least for peasants like her, so a mere maid shouldn't be able to afford one.

She imagined she was given to the Earl by her father without her own approval, but that theory didn't fit with how cheerful and delightful she was acting.

So she really loved the Earl then? I don't think he has a wife already though....

I wonder if he loved her back. Then that would make her his main consort while I would be the side one.

...I'm fine with that. That just meant he would ravage me less.

Deep down however, she could feel a little pang of disappointment. No girl liked to be No. 2 in a relationship after all, even if that relationship was only of that of a consort to her master.

The Keep at Echo Valley

Clara noticed her aunt ogling her once again when she mentioned her gown. At this time, she couldn't even be bothered to frown. She only let out a sigh under her breath. It had happened so many times she was starting to become used to it.

Her aunt then mentioned how they would be taking a rest in Viscount Crooper's place for the evening.

Clara didn't know him that much, as she never really met him for much amount of time. However, she did know that she was an ally of her uncle, as he had vouched for him in front of the king. And how he was given some land for it.

That was enough to make him an enemy in her eyes.

"Very well, half-to-noon it is," Clara said as she rose up from her seat. Her breakfast could have gone for longer as there were still some food left over on the table, and that she herself was not that full either, but she couldn't stand being there with her uncle for longer than necessary.

"I shall return to my chambers and prepare for the journey," she announced before leaving, going upstairs back into her room. She had decided to spend her remaining time reading, while drinking some tea and eating some bread that she ordered her maids to bring to her. She pretty much finished her breakfast there, though technically, she was only "snacking". It was yet another way she could avoid her uncle.

"You're departing again, Miss? And with Milord as well?" one of her maid asked after she announced that for the next few days she would not be here. Her expression was that of worry, as she shared the same sentiment regarding Karl as Clara did.

Ria was her name, and she had been serving Clara even before she had come here. Indeed, she was pretty much her caretaker ever since she was little. That led to her being really close to her, and not a day they were ever separated.

And thanks to her good looks, she too was a target of ogling by Karl.

"Indeed," Clara replied. "And we would be meeting the new Earl that had just been crowned."

Clara paused, sighing before she continued to tell her of the bad news.

"And I believe he would be pawning me off to marry her."

Ria gasped, covering her mouth with her right hand.

"Oh Miss, poor Miss!" She went up to her and gave her a tight embrace. It was as if there were no status difference between them, and that she was just a really good friend that wished to comfort her.

"Oh, Ria, please don't shed any tears for me." Clara slowly took Ria's arms and released her embrace. "I perfectly know this time would come. And I have told you so many times before that this would be the most likely outcome for my future."

"And besides," she continued with a wry smile. "It's still better than marrying that perverted old man," she added, referring to her uncle.

"B-but what if he too was some old, lecherous man?" Ria rebuked, her face full of worry.

"Haven't you hear the rumors? He was a young man. He might be lecherous but at the very least he was in the age that a man could acceptably be lecherous," Clara answered. "And before you asked, I've accepted the high probability that he would have one or two whores he brought to his bed on the side. It wouldn't really bother me, really. I wouldn't marry him for love after all. It would be more akin to a business relationship. And with him taking me as his wife, I would finally be free of that old coot."

Such was Clara's thoughts, a reflection of the pessimistic rationalism she had adapted over the years.

---

At the promised time they departed, with Ria on her side. They sat together on one side of their carriage, while Karl sat on the other.

She didn't speak much on the trip, and neither did Ria. Clara would respond to her uncle's remarks here and there, but never for long, and she never actively initiated the conversation. While Ria herself only whispered to Clara, not even daring to look Karl in the eye.

Clara filled the hours with looking at the landscape outside through her window, while Ria fell asleep quickly.

It was beautiful, and sometimes, she wished she could just leave it all and travel the land on her own, responsibilities and nobility be damned.

It was just a foolish whisper of the heart. She knew she wouldn't be able to survive out there without her fancy dresses and her maids.

Eventually, they finally arrived at their stop for the night, the place of the Viscount Cooper. The keep he lived in was small, at least in relation to Karl's place, fitting as he was a lower ranked nobility compared to Karl.

Clara was thankful for their arrival, as well as Ria. They had been sitting for so long that they welcomed the ability to stretch their legs once more very much. Even Ria was being all fidgety for the last half an hour of their trip.

The Viscount naturally welcomed them personally. He first greeted Karl, then Clara, while ignoring Ria entirely. She was just Clara's maid after all.

"We wish to rest at once. It has been a long journey," Clara announced firmly once the formalities were over. "I trust dinner can wait?"

The reason she did so was not just because she was tired, though her joints certainly could be soothed by a soft bed. She also needed to "powder her nose", as the polite euphemism said. And looking at Ria's fidgeting, she clearly needed to as well. They had journeyed non-stop for the better part of the day after all.

Emerald City

Just dropping in to say that I might have to drop this RP. Already engaged with a couple others and I don't think I have enough free time to write for this one. Apologies.

Royal Rumble!

Nαɳαƈα Dαιɱσʂ

---

Hmm? Who is this?

Nanaca watched as a girl with what she assumed to be giant bat wings coming out from her shoulders arrived on the scene. And, to her surprise, she stratched her own arm using her monstrous sharp claws, drawing blood out of the skin. She used the blood to draw a large demonic rune, deploying a large healing burst to her surroundings. Nanaca was caught in it, and she could immediately feel the pain in her chest (and the rest of her body for that matter) disappearing thanks to her.

Actually, now that I've looked closely, those are no bat wings. Those are succubi wings. She's a succubus. Perhaps A Mephisto? They have all the demonic stuff there, don't they?

Wait, no. Those are St. Laurel's uniform she's wearing.

Huh, never thought those holier-than-thous folks would have a succubus among their ranks.

She then sat down on the ground carelessly that Nanaca could see that she was wearing black today.

Nanaca simply smiled on the sight. Of course it would make sense for a succubus to not care about doing what society would call an indecent exposure.

But it was not only that. From her tired expression, Nanaca could sense that she just couldn't care less of anything.

Naturally. After the fight we just went through, it's just silly to care about some little clothing blunder. We should just be thankful that we're alive and in one piece in the first place.

She walked up to her, still with a smile on her face. "Hey, thank you for that," she said to her and she sat opposite to her. "That really helps."

Nanaca then yawned and stretched her arms, opening her legs the same manner the succubus girl was doing.

There. Now we're even.

Nanaca watched as some of the other students teleported away. Or, to be more exact, they seemed to fall down a portal one of them had created.

Portal power, huh? It certainly would be really convenient. Not trading it for mine though.

"Hey, King!" she shouted to who was technically her boss. "We getting back right away?"

@AtomicNut

The Keep at Echo Valley

"We don't need to be all fancy," Marina replied with an annoyed expression. "They are the one who called for us after all."

"And besides, we're just peasants. Being dirty is just to be expected."

She had no interest at all in dressing up for some perverted Earl's delight. Let him see her usual, dirty and peasant-like appearance.

Unfortunately for her, her father had the very opposite idea.

"F-Father!"

Once again, she couldn't go against him.

---

When Bill kissed her on the forehead back at home, she only returned a glare at him. She saw him taking out the family's savings and she perfectly knew what she was going to do it.

"No, don't bother, Father! Don't waste our money for that!" she shouted. "It doesn't matter in the slightest what I'm dressed in!"

However, he didn't listen. He only kissed his wife before leaving through the front door.

She allowed her mother to clean and dress her up as best as she could. There was not much she could do other than just throwing a bucket of cold water on to her before scrubbing all the dirt that was stuck on her hair and body. They weren't some noble family who could afford all those fancy perfumes and cosmetics after all. She also put her hair up in two big loops, just like the way she did it for when she had to attend her brother's wedding.

In the process, her mother asked her what in the world was going on. She refused to answer, telling her to just ask her father. She couldn't bring herself to tell her what she soon would become. And she was positively still angry that this all had happened because of his father in the first place.

...No, that's one naive thinking she had. It wasn't like the Earl couldn't just happen to stumble upon her one day. And he would be attracted to her, and this would happen anyway.

...Why was he attracted to her anyway? She never considered herself pretty. Those noble girls were certainly far more beautiful than she was.

She would never understand the mind of nobility.

---

Bill soon returned, and just as she had feared, he brought with him a perfectly new dress. And it wasn't just a common frock either. It actually looked nice, and she would love to have and wear it.

If he hadn't spent their savings for it.

She perfectly knew how much a dress like that would cost. It was an expense they could not afford. That money should only be used for emergencies, like when somebody fell sick. Calling a doctor was never cheap after all.

"A beautiful dress … for my beautiful daughter," her father said softly with a big smile on his face as he presented it to her.

And that was enough to erase her frown completely.

His words, as much as she didn't want them to, touched her heart completely. She gingerly took the dress, examining it closely and admiring how pretty it looked.

"It's... it's certainly beautiful..." she whispered to herself. She then looked up to her father and asked, "I would wear this to meet with the Earl?"

Her father only nodded in response.

"...Fine. I will. I suppose they would be offended if I come in all ragged and dirty."

"Even though it's all thanks to them that we live in such a terrible state like this," she added under her breath.

She returned to her room and took off her current ragged frock. Bill didn't bring any new undergarments with him so her old one would have to suffice, even though the white color of her bloomers had decayed so much over the years that the dirty yellow stains on them were the more prominent color, thanks to all her sweat and the natural yellowing of the fabric itself.

Once she put it on, she couldn't help but do a twirl. The more she looked at it, the more she realized that this was pretty much her dream dress.

She was a girl after all. No matter how tomboyish she could get, she still wanted to wear pretty dresses like all the other girls in the world.

She left her room to show her new appearance. And both of them were clearly impressed by her new look.

"Oh my dear, you look so pretty in it!" Her mother exclaimed as she approached closer to her. "Your father made the right choice in buying that for you!"

"Too bad this is all only so I would look good in front of the Earl," Marina thought sarcastically.

"Ha, I knew you would look good on it, my love!" her father said with a genuine smile, grabbing both of her shoulders with his hands. "Alright, we can go now."

"Go? Go where?" Mary asked. She still hadn't been told anything by Bill.

"Oh, just to meet with those nobles, my dear," Bill replied. "They realize they're lacking in servants so they're recruiting us villagers to be one."

He, naturally, left out the part where the Earl clearly had his eyes on his daughter.

Mary's eyes widened with surprise. She then turned to Marina and grabbed her hands, saying, "You're going to be one of the new Earl's maids? Oh, that's wonderful! A girl shouldn't be working on the farm! Being a maid would be far better for sure! And no doubt he would pay you more generously than the money we got from selling our crops!"

Marina's mother was one of the villagers who were charmed by the Earl. They had trusted him to be a more benevolent ruler than his predecessor.

Little did she know that he just ordered her own daughter to be his consort, whether she wanted to or not.

Marina couldn't say anything. She couldn't break her mother's heart. Not when she was just about to leave.

And so she didn't say anything. She only gave a glare to her father, telling him without any words that it was his obligation to break the news to her.

---

When they arrived at the encampment, Marina let her father did all the talking.

She was not in the talkative mood in the slightest.

Just before they were about to enter the Master of Coin's tent, her father suddenly turned around and said to her that she still could turn back.

"A bit too late for that, wouldn't you say, Father?" Marina replied with the most venom-laced smile Bill had ever seen, before dragging him into the tent.

There is no turning back. I have to do this if I want my family to survive.

"I love you, daughter," she heard him murmur. She didn't say anything to that.

The decor of the tent's inside took Marina by surprise as well. Just like Bill, she had never expected the inside of a tent to be this lavishly decorated. It managed to look far better than their gloomy and dirty house, even though it was just a tent.

"You are Marina?"

"Y-yes. I am," Marina quickly replied, the voice bringing her back from her fascination.

The voice came from the man sitting behind an elegant wooden desk in the center back of the tent. As this was the Master of Coin's tent, it was same to assume that he was the Master of Coin himself.

"My name is Marina. I-it's a pleasure to meet you, Milord." She curtsied. It looked so much better with her new dress.

She immediately could tell that the man was eyeing her up and down, and it made her uncomfortable. It was not a lustful gaze however. It felt more like the gaze of a ranch owner that was about to decide whether or not he wanted to buy the cow in front of her. Clearly, he was assessing her. And with how seriously he seemed to be doing it, she knew that she was not going to be just some ordinary servant.

He really is assessing me if I'm worthy for his Lord.

She took offense to this. She was not just some merchandise. She was a living human being, with her own dreams and aspirations, even if she was just some peasant girl.

"Hah, I guess it's too much to expect something like that from a noble," she thought wryly.

But she didn't voice her displeasure. She knew better.

He then asked her what her age was. "20, M'Lord," she answered. He then asked whether she had any experience before. "None, M'Lord," she replied again, just as succinct as before.

No sense to lie. We both know what I'm really here for.

After he circled her for a couple more times, he spoke to her father that she would be permitted some probationary period in service of the Earl. He then turned back to her and gave her all the rules she had to obey in the presence of his Lord.

Hmph, nothing out of the ordinary. Just the usual things you would expect. Obey his every order. Always be courteous. Show respect. Do not speak when not spoken to. And do not enter his room if he doesn't ask me to.

And of course, everyone would have to obey them. Even the scullery maid.

He then insulted her dress, which made her dislike him even more. She had gotten proud of this dress, bought by her family's savings that had been painstakingly collected over the years.

"It's the best we have, M'lord," she replied matter-of-factly. Not in a confrontational tone, but not in a pleading one either.

She then listened how she would be provided with the appropriate clothing and that she would be expected to take care of it well.

"Thank you M'lord," she replied, curtsying. She never looked up to the Master of Coin's eyes all through this, not wanting to show him the deviant expression she had.

And then, finally, she would be escorted to the Earl's tent. And as she went out, she gave a glance towards her father, and she saw how he was paid quite generously for bringing her here.

She didn't say anything. She should feel thankful that she was valued that much, but thinking about it only made her feel hurt even more.

Her eyes and Bill's then met. Just for a single moment. But it was enough for Bill to see how his daughter's eyes were watering.

She quickly shook it off however. She would not give them the satisfaction.

---

When she arrived, the Earl was in the middle of having audiences with the peasants.

She was surprised. She thought he would be on his bed with another woman, half-naked after engaging in their usual lascivious acts. For a Lord to be willing to waste his time listening to his subjects like this, it was unheard of.

She waited in the corner, watching silently as he did his work.

And she had to admit. She was impressed.

He answered them all calmly and politely, reassuring them that their problems would receive his attention. And when he realized he wouldn't have time to answer to all of them, he ordered his men to give them each a silver coin compensation and to return tomorrow. Once again, an example to his generosity.

So much that she was fixed on the audience that she didn't realize the attention Phillip was giving to her once he realized she was there.

And then, he finally declared it was over for the day.

Marina gulped. Now it would be her turn to speak and interact with him.

She looked at him, and she realized that he was now staring at her.

"A-ah, g-good evening, M'Lord." She curtsied. "My name is Marina. And I would be your servant starting today."

"Would your guest like some refreshment, m'lord?"

Marina gasped. There was still another person in the room.

And judging by their voice, they were a lady.

And sure enough, her prediction was correct. One look at her and she immediately knew that she must be his escort in bed.

...I shouldn't be surprised. It was foolish of me to get my hopes up. Of course he would already have a whore or two to warm his bed.

She then asked what she would like to drink.

With a sour expression, Marina replied, "I would take the wine."

She took the cup she offered, and then emptied its entire contents in one gulp.

...It would be easier if I'm drunk while doing this.

The Keep at Echo Valley

"Good morning, uncle," Clara replied, lifting her red dress and bowing slightly, doing a light curtsy towards him. As much as she despised him, she still had to the polite to him. It was just how she was raised. Those lady mannerisms were drilled into her from a young age.

However, she could make it so she never smiled when she greeted him, and that her voice would be cold and emotionless.

She took the seat as instructed, and took the near piece of bread before lathering it with her own favorite type of jam, which was strawberry. She then used the fork and knife provided to cut the bread before putting a small piece inside her mouth. She then brought the warm cup of tea and brought it close to her mouth also, only taking a small sip from it.

That was how a lady was supposed to eat. Just small, bite-sized pieces. With how tight their corsets could be, a bulging stomach would cause a big discomfort to them. Not to mention that they were supposed to remain talkative at the dinner table, spending more time conversing with others over actually eating and drinking. It was how it was done in the tea parties she attended as well. That's why they could last for hours at times until the tea and cakes all disappeared.

"Indeed I had," she answered him once her mouth was empty. It was bad manners to talk when you're still munching your food.

And then, she heard it. The news that the new Earl was looking for a wife.

She immediately could tell where the conversation was going. She kept her calm, not showing a single reaction on her face. Her expression remained calm and neutral as always.

"I see," she replied. "I assume the woman you are referring to would be me."

She took another sip of her tea before continuing.

"Fine. I shall be willing to meet him," she answered, as calm and composed as ever.

She had known perfectly well that there was a high chance her uncle would use her as a bargaining chip sooner or later. With his reputation being in such a critical state, it would make sense for him to want to regain the trust of the crown back. Just using his wealth would not be enough. But offering his niece as a marriage candidate to the new Earl who had just saved the King's life, if he were to accept her, it would practically mean the Earl would be allied with him, strengthening his position and allowing him to silence all those naysayers in the capital that was against her. His position would be secure once again.

And oddly enough, she was feeling somewhat glad for that.

If there was no necessity for him to offer her up for marriage, she had a feeling he would end up taking her for himself instead. Eventually, his false politeness would disappear and he would force her into that position, whether she was willing or not.

And with how disgusting she felt of him, she would rather be married off to some other nobleman than him.

The newly knighted Earl, huh? I believe he was previously a peasant, and that he was still a young man. At the very least, I wouldn't have to marry an old man...

But still, I would rather keep my virtue over giving it to some rude, uncouth former peasant. I'm sure one wife would never be enough for him. He would have many, and I would merely be his first.

Heh, he might already have some whore on his bed right now.

Well, it's not like your typical lords are any different. At the very least, he's still young. I just hope he has that good youthful looks so that I wouldn't want to puke when he ravages my body.

She had always been a realist and a pessimist. Well, perhaps not always. She remembered her being a much brighter, happier person when she was still a youngling and her parents were still alive. But now, she had accepted the fact that the chance of her earning the freedom she always yearned was very little, and that she would be far more likely to end up with a man that she would never like.

"I assume we would go today?" she asked her uncle. "I believe I am already ready. This dress would be good enough, no?"

She didn't want to bother going all-out in her makeup just to meet the man that would take away her freedom. Hours sitting on the dressing chair with her maids tending to her were never pleasurable to her.

The Keep at Echo Valley

The next morning, before the sun even rose over the mountains, Marina woke up earlier than her father and mother. She took off her gown and put on the same dress she wore yesterday. With how poor they were, they didn't have much in terms of clothing. And her sweat from last night had mostly dried, though it wouldn't matter much as soon, it would be dampened again when she worked on the farm.

Her father was, naturally, still hungover from the party last night, while her mother was still simply still resting. She took care of the house chores as much as she could before she had to leave to the farm. She didn't want her mother to work so hard as she had those so-called "bad bones" thanks to her not getting any younger.

She swept the house, drew the water, and cooked breakfast (merely some vegetable soup) just in time for her mother to wake up. Bill was still sleeping, she told her. Marina sighed. She already knew how late her father would wake up every time he returned home like that.

"I'll take care of him. You can go now," her mother said as she kissed her goodbye on the cheeks.

"Thank you, mother," Marina replied with a smile, leaning forward and returning her kiss. "I'll try to be home early tonight."

---

When she arrived there, there were already others working on the fields.

"Hey, you're late! And where's your pops?" one of them shouted to her.

"Sorry! He got too much to drink yesterday!" she shouted back as she put down her bag and grabbed her shovel.

The land was communal, so it was shared with eight other families. It used to only belong to them however, but thanks to how draconian the tax given by the Lord of that era was, combined with the drought, her father couldn't pay the taxes anymore thus his ownership was revoked. He had stopped being a landed peasant, and now was just an ordinary one.

Just another list of the many grievances she had with the former Lords of the valley.

Marina worked just as hard as everybody else, even though she was the only female among the male sons and fathers of the other families. After working with them for so long, they had to accept and respect her as one of their own, as her work was just as good as any of them. At first however, she was somewhat bullied by them, thinking that no girl should be working on the farms, and instead should just be looking for a husband. She had no plans for such a thing however, even though she was already 20 years old, and the average marriage age for peasant girl was around 15. She was more than alright with her just working as an old maid farmer until she became too old for it. Then she could just be some other family's nanny or maid until her deathbed. At that point, she would be unattractive and old enough so no sane rich noble would try to bring her to their bed.

Unfortunately, Fate seemed to decide otherwise, as her father, Bill, suddenly appeared and took her away from the others, saying that he had something really important to tell her.

"Father? What's the matter?" She looked at him with a worried look on her face. She could tell from his expression that it was something very grave indeed.

And then he told her the news. That she was ordered to become one of the Earl's servant and that she had to go right away.

Her heart sank. It had happened. The worst thing that could.

"You do not have to do this, Marina," he then said. But both of them perfectly knew what would happen if she would to refuse. Even if she and her family would just run away from the Earl's territory, the Earl could just ask his neighboring lords to return them back to him. And running even further away would not be a feasible option to them, especially with the current health of her father and mother.

"I-I'll go," she answered, her voice shaking. "I will go, Father," she reaffirmed, though more for herself than for him. "Let us depart right away." For if I delay any longer, I might end up changing my mind as my resolve weakens...