It's not fair.
It's just not fair!
Out of all the years she's been working, not once has she gotten an invitation to be at the side of Mistress Bela or Mistress Dimitrescu. But then Erika comes along, and in a matter of a few months she's already gained the attention of the entire Dimitrescu family.
Nadine grits her teeth as she scrubs a pan, the anger helping to get out some lathered-on grease. She hisses though as the soap sinks into a cut she got on her hand while picking up the dishes she dropped.
Of which no one bothered to help her. Gretta was the only one who helped with her minor injury.
It was as if her heart just stopped, and her soul left her body. She shouldn't have been surprised that Mistress Bela had taken an interest in Erika. The eldest daughter always enjoyed newcomers, as did Mistress Cassandra, but to have pounced so soon upon the Erika . . . Nadine is still baffled.
Sure Erika is skilled at hunting and skinning and gutting some game, and perhaps she's physically fit due to whatever family life she had been given. But Kathryn wasn't wrong about something being off about the young woman – something that draw the attention of the Dimitrescu family like moths to a flame.
First Mistress Bela, and then Mistress Cassandra – though the middle daughter was simply interested out of cruel curiosity.
If it weren't for her, everything would be perfect. Nadine would still be at Mistress Bela's side, still entertaining Mistress Cassandra, and she would still have some enjoyable time in this stone box. Some shred of candlelight that she can cradle in her heart when sleeping in the dark of the castle bowls.
Erika took that from her. Took it all away!
All because Erika can sing a few tunes.
The night of the party at the Opera Hall, Nadine had been getting ready for bed when Mistress Cassandra barged into her room and commanded her to follow. Her clothes were messy, hair disheveled, and she smelled like man's blood and sweat.
But ever so loyal, Nadine did; near trembling with excitement.
But even after their somewhat usual lovemaking, Mistress Cassandra seemed . . . distracted. Nadine had done everything she'd asked, perfectly. She didn't yelp when Mistress Cassandra whipped the crop across her ass, she didn't resist when she turned the clamps on her nipples too tight.
She did everything correctly – everything she knew pleasured Mistress Cassandra until she was left breathless, and Nadine was left beautiful sore.
Mistress Cassandra hasn't asked for her company since that night. And Nadine knew better than to try and hunt her down for answers, or to beg for her to take her back.
Nadine learned only later that Erika had given quite a show before the crowd of dignitaries – played some apparently lovely piano tunes.
Nadine's soap hands grip a bowl so hard she could've sworn it cracked. She doesn't acknowledge the other maid as she slips a couple of plate into the dishwater.
Erika has done nothing but take away everything she had ever worked for! For so long she's done everything she could to please the daughters, hoping it would draw the attention of the Mistress herself.
And just like that, all of a sudden, they all turned their heads towards Erika as if they were dogs, and she were no better than a prime roast.
It is a small matter of comfort, in a way; perhaps soon they'll get bored of her too. Why it took nearly a year for Mistress Bela to officially grow bored of her. Apparently, Nadine had become too obedient for even her.
Perhaps that was the secret to Erika's true success – her defiance. She's been nothing short of it when she first set foot in the castle; even challenging Mistress Daniela for the sake of Camelia.
Nadine grits her teeth as she near slams the bowl into the sink and moving on to another plate.
Out of everything Nadine has ever done within the walls of this castle – from the chains and the drugs – that is the one thing she could never do.
Too long has Mistress Cassandra spent molding her into the perfect submissive. Even without her hollow embrace and company, even without the whispered sweet nothings, Nadine could never bring herself to ever try and defy anyone of the Dimitrescu Family.
And that's how she wanted it – but apparently not how they wanted it, at least, not anymore.
It's not fair! It's not fair!
Erika must've seen something that no one else in the castle except for Helga have seen. Not just anyone can be Lady Dimitrescu's lady-in-waiting. The housekeeper is proof of that.
Erika must've seen a part of Lady Dimitrescu or her daughters' that is so intimate, that they can't afford to let her out of their sights.
Nadine herself holds the record for the most visits to the dungeons – and returning, even if there are a few days in between.
Maybe there's still a chance she could win back her place at the daughters' sides. Maybe she can try and be a little bolder, like Erika, but channeling it in her own way.
In her own method that could make her stand out among the rest of the help that crawls this castle. Her chocolate brown hair and smattering of freckles had practically blended her in with the rest of them, but it was her eyes that caught the attention of Mistress Cassandra. Eyes that glittered like ice on grass, as the middle daughter has once said.
How I love to see those eyes roll back into your head!
Keep your eyes open! I want to see their ecstasy!
Let me hear more of that beautiful voice.
Erika seems like a nice enough person, and less than thrilled to have been assigned such titles anyway. So maybe she'll try and find a way out of it on her own.
Fine. But she'd better not ruin anything else of Nadine's plan.