Alcina was just about to burst into the meeting room out of impatience and worry, when she heard the door open. Seline ran to the nearest person, who just happened to be Karl, and frantically hugged him. Her face was hidden, but they all could hear her sobs. "What the- Allie?" He looked to her for reassurance, and she came over. "Shh, shh, it's okay. Can you tell me what happened?" Seline shook her head, terrified of the consequences. "Did Mother Miranda say something to you?" Again, she shook her head. Puzzled, the four lords each came up with their own answer. After a long pause in which Karl tried to comfort her, Seline finally spoke. Though it was muffled, the words and their meaning couldn't have been clearer. "I wanna go home…" Everyone looked to Alcina, who was speechless. Home. Eventually, she was able to speak. "Then let's go." Seline was silent as they walked back to the carriage, lost in her little bubble. I don't deserve them. They're just gonna leave me. They don't care about me. I'm not special. I'm a horrible person. Meanwhile, Alcina was lost in her own thoughts. What did Mother Miranda do to her?! Not once have I ever seen Seline silent. She doesn't look physically hurt, but what about mentally? The silence continued during the ride, and the two didn't even look at each other until Seline leaned over on Alcina's shoulder. Looking down, Alcina couldn't help but smile at the now-sleeping child. If a nap was the only thing that freed her mind from whatever Miranda had said, then Alcina would let her sleep as long as she could. But it would never be long enough. As the castle loomed in the distance, Alcina had no choice but to shake Seline awake. Blearily, she looked around. "Miss Dimitrescu? Did I fall asleep?" Alcina nodded. "We're back at the castle, so I had to wake you up." Her conversation with Miranda flooded back, and Seline looked at the floor of the carriage. "I'm sorry for crying…" Alcina realized she now had a choice to make. Turn against Miranda for the child she had come to love, or stay with Miranda and risk not only losing Seline, but the rest of her family as well. The choice was academic, of course. "Listen. I don't know what Miranda said to you, but this is what I have to say. Donna, Karl, Salvatore, Bela, Cassandra, Daniela, we all really care about you. Myself, more than anyone." Steeling herself for Seline's reaction, Alcina reveals her knowledge. "The Duke told me about what's happened to you. I know you don't have a family." Seline gasped, then glanced away. "He told you?" Alcina, expecting this, nodded. "I forced him to, because I wanted to know if you were safe." Seline looked back at her. "You're not mad at me?" Shaking her head, Alcina continued. "Of course I'm not mad at you. In fact, quite the opposite. I would like to offer you a room at Castle Dimitrescu. I'd do my best to take care of you, and-" Alcina already saw Seline refusing. "I can't do that. Not only would I waste your money, but I can't stop working all my other jobs. I'm sorry, Miss Dimitrescu." Before Alcina could protest more, the carriage stopped. "I'm gonna leave early today. I'm sorry." The second the driver opened the door, Seline dashed out, not even caring that her uniform was inside. She just needed to go.
It had been a week since the meeting, and everyone could feel the tension in the air. No matter how many times Alcina offered, Seline refused any offer of help. "I don't want to waste your money." "I don't deserve your help." "I can take care of myself." "I'm fine." "I can't disappoint everyone else." "It would be too selfish of me." "I'm sorry, Miss Dimitrescu." Alcina desperately wanted, no, NEEDED to make Seline understand that this wasn't selfish. That she did deserve help. That it wouldn't be a waste. But nothing Alcina said could convince the girl otherwise. Eventually, she started to lose hope of ever giving Seline a proper home. That is, until a particularly cold winter night provided assistance. "...Good morning, Miss Dimitrescu." Alcina had already suspected something wrong when Seline's knock was barely audible, but the tired greeting and seeing the girl's flushed face confirmed it. "Seline, are you feeling alright?" Seline nodded, but that made her dizzy, so she stopped. "O-of course I'm feeling alright! I'm fine, Miss Dimitrescu. Ready to work!" The only thing she looked ready for was a nap, but Alcina didn't want to risk her leaving. It definitely was safer for her to be sick here than alone. "Please just take it easy today." Seline headed into the castle, and got to work. She tried to ignore her growing headache, but eventually it became too much. Not only did she have a headache, but she was also very dizzy. "Hey, Bels?" Seline noticed the Dimitrescu sister nearby. "Yeah?" Even though it was incredibly difficult to ask, Seline couldn't work anymore. "Can you help me find Miss Dimitrescu? I need to ask her something." Bela nodded and began walking through a hall, Seline right behind her. The two walked in silence for a little, until Seline flipped over on Bela. "Hey, lazy, we're not there yet! C'mon!" She moved forwards to try and get Seline off of her, and the girl fell to the ground. Checking her forehead, Bela realized her mistake. "I'm pretty sure humans aren't supposed to be that hot." Seline wasn't asleep, she was unconscious. "Mother! Mother! Come quickly!" When she saw the child on the floor, for just a minute Alcina thought that Bela had drained her. However, she quickly pushed that idea out of her head, as there was no blood. "What happened?!" Bela was clearly panicking. "I-I-I dunno! We were walking, and she was quiet, and then she fell, and she wanted to find you…" Alcina sighed. "I knew she wasn't feeling alright, but she insisted on working." With no effort at all, she picked up the little girl and carried her to a spare bedroom. Then, she summoned all her maids. "Does anyone know where I might find a thermometer?" Everyone stood trembling, until one maid raised her hand. "T-there's one in our bathroom, I-I can go fetch it for you…" Alcina nodded. "Quickly, now." She didn't want to seem weak or worried in front of her staff, but she was a bit nervous. "Here you go, Mistress Dimitrescu." Alcina dismissed the maids and went into the spare bedroom, where Seline was just waking up.
(I love how everyone posts reviews saying things like "aww so cute and fluffy" or stuff like that, while I'm just sitting here laughing at the ANGST I have prepared -w-)