Chapter 13: Her Child
"Is that so?" the maid frowned at her lackluster reply. She seems to be lost in the painting.
"Of course, you are like her child after all. You were only ten when the duchess had started working in this palace. I still remember she used to work as the assistant of.. Anyways, she used to work hard and whenever asked, she would only talk about you.
She used to say it was so that you could have a better life. Look now, you are living as the lady of the dukedom because of her. If she had not been there, have you ever thought? " Olivia closed her eyes. These words never let her rebel against her sister.
She had given the golden time of her youth to make sure Olivia was fed well and living well. The debt could never be paid.
"Not only that, she had sent this for you." the maid took out the coins from the bags, "when i informed her grace that you went to market, she was afraid that you would not have enough money. She lamented not knowing earlier and sent the money for you so that you can buy anything you wanted." The maid's voice was full of emotions as if she had been touched by the generosity.
Olivia stared at the thirty silver coins in her hands. She had spent less than that. Silver coins.. An image where a young Oriana was giving a silver coin to young Olivia when Olivia was crying.
"Here, this is my monthly salary. You can spend it all on the desserts if you want. Show them that we are not poor and no one can bully you." Oriana hugged the crying child in her arms and rubbed her back.
"Olivia! One day we would be rich enough that we can buy anything. Then no one would have the power or courage to mock us as pores. Then you can buy anything for your birthday and have a lavish life. I promise that this sister of yours will work hard for your better life." It felt only like yesterday when Oriana used to return to the house with an exhausted face.
Most of the time, she was so tired that she could not even walk. Many times she had gone sick too. Olivia used to cook and do all the chores despite her young age to make sure that her sister is not worried. They were poor but they have rare love and happiness but now.. More than a decade had passed.
Oriana had married the duke a year after working here and now.. She closed her eyes!
"Olivia.." the title was gone just like that. Yes, she was not a lady from the start. It was the title given to her like these clothes, these shoes, food and a place to live. It was all done by Oriana. And now, she wanted to go against her.
Guilt and unease clawed her heart. Even after watching wrong, she could not raise her head because a heavyweight of all these favors was lying on her head.