Chapter 100 - This Sacred Space
Paula's eyes glimmered in excitement as she stared at the door that Earl St. Claire had closed after she had entered the room.
She had been waiting to enter this sacred space ever since she had come to this mansion following the noblewoman whom she served from the days of her youth.
Thinking of the woman, she recalled that she was allowed to enter this forbidden place only to serve her mistress.
Suppressing the bitter emotions in her heart, she turned around as her eyes took in the view of the room.
'Who knows whether I will ever be let inside this place after today.' She reckoned and took this chance to feast her eyes with the blessing that Asmodeus had bestowed on her.
The large bookshelves that took up an entire wall of the room were carved out of the sturdiest and most expensive blackwood that Amarthea could produce.
The ledgers and thick books on it held the accounts of all the business transactions that the St. Claire's family took part in over the years.
Every single piece of information regarding every single business industry that this family had their foothold in was present right here in this room.
Her mere presence in this room made her feel giddy with anticipation and excitement.
She then turned to the other side of the room which had the map of the entire Kingdom embroidered on the tapestry that hung on the wall.
Her eyes marveled at the attention to detail that was given while creating this glorious piece of art.
As she turned her gaze to the window which was behind the large desk that the Master used, she found something strange present there.
All of her earlier enthusiasm at being in this room faltered and faded when her eyes landed on the figure laid on the desk.
'What is she doing on the Master's desk?' Paula wondered as her feet trudged towards the other woman who did not make any movements.
When she came closer, she noticed the flushed cheeks and heaving chest of the woman who had not yet noticed her presence.
As Paula's eyes traveled lower, her facial expressions chilled and her teeth gnashed against each other.
This had happened because of the sight that she was met with. The sight made her feel a strong sense of resentment encompassing her heart.
Though the gown that the noblewoman wore was now resting at her ankle as it should, Paula could clearly make out the sight of her Mistress's gown being all crumpled.
It was easily discernible that the gown had been lifted and held in place for a long time as the creases were quite evident.
She was the one who had helped the Mistress to get dressed in this gown and she was also the one who had made sure that the gown was presentable and without any creases.
So how could they look so crumpled and untidy now? Unless she had done something that needed her gown to be lifted which in turn created those creases.
'Did they…?' The answer had already appeared in her mind.
Paula could not help but grit her teeth in anger and resentment as she stared at the blissful face of the woman who had just received love from her husband.
However, she could not continue glaring at her since the tired woman had begun to regain her consciousness.
Noticing the subtle movements coming from the woman on the desk, Paula altered her expressions and put on a worried face before moving forward.
"Let me help you, Mistress." She clamored and extended her hand to help the lady sit up.
However, her help was rejected brutally because just as she was about to hold onto her Mistress's arm and support her, her hand was swatted away.
Raylene jolted up from her position by her own devices and then glanced around the room with her brows scrunched together.
'Where did Ruthy go?' She wondered and frowned when she noticed his absence.
There was no trace of her husband anywhere around and in his place, there was someone who shouldn't even be present inside this room.
'Why is she here and who allowed her to enter this place!?' Her eyes narrowed as she was looking for answers from her maid.
Facing her suspicious eyes, Paula bowed her head and looked down at her feet while putting on the appearance of the obedient maid that she was.
"Master asked me to help Mistress since an important guest was waiting for him in the parlor. Master and the butler are there at this moment." She informed in a soft voice when she saw the doubting look on her face.
Raylene took a moment to absorb the information and then nodded her head in silence.
'How was I not aware of Butler Limo's arrival to take Ruthy away?' She pondered, unaware that she had given him permission to enter with her loud scream of approval.
She then glanced at her gown and was surprised to see that the clothing which was supposed to be ridden all the way to her thighs was back in its original position.
She looked up at the maid who was by her side and her first guess was that she had helped her look decent.
"Did you touch my gown?" Raylene interrogated about how much her maid had seen from when she had entered the room.
Paula hastily shook her head, denying that she had ever touched the lady's gown.
'She has been temperamental all morning… What if she punishes me again for touching her gown?' She remarked and gulped in trepidation.
Her fear of tiring herself out after the punishments she might receive if she upset her Mistress made her shake her head furiously.
'So Ruthy helped me look presentable before he left?' Raylene blushed when she came to this conclusion.
Paula could feel the bitterness in her rising once again when she saw the faint glow of love and tenderness appearing on Raylene's face.
She bowed her head and looked down to hide the animosity and hatred in her heart.
"Come help me." Raylene's command brought her back to her senses.
The maid hurried to her Mistress and helped her get down from the high desk that she had been seated on until now.
Raylene almost stumbled when her feet touched the floor but her faithful servant was there to save her from the fall.
She nodded at her maid for helping her and then stood straight after a few seconds.
'Ruthy was so overbearing! He did not let me off even when I was begging him to stop!' She pouted while taming the stray hair that had moved out of place during their entire ordeal.
"We shall change my clothes and then greet the guest who has arrived." She announced her plans and then strode ahead.
Paula could only watch the back of the confident woman who was once just as timid as she was.
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