Family Dinner
“Family dinner, huh.”
I sighed as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
It had been just a week since my confinement began, and now they were summoning me to the main residence. I couldn't even begin to guess what their game was.
“Miss! Please lift your head a bit!”
Marie was grunting behind me, yanking at the corset laces with all her might.
“Do I have to wear this? Can't I just throw on a comfy dress or something?”
“Absolutely not! This is a meal with His Grace! You must uphold the Bellaph family's dignity!”
Marie was adamant. She braced my waist with her knee and pulled the laces as hard as she could.
“Ugh…! I… I can't breathe…!”
“Just bear with it a little longer! Almost done! Hiyah!”
With a pain like my ribs were splintering, the corset was finally cinched. In the mirror, I looked every inch the perfect duke's daughter.
An antique dress layered with black lace. Even the red restraint collar around my neck seemed like an elegant accessory by design.
But inside, I was rotting away.
I probably won't even know if the food's going in my nose or my mouth.
I rolled my stiff neck and stood from the chair.
“Where's Charlotte?”
“Miss Charlotte already came by and is waiting in the parlor.”
She was heading to the main house anyway—why not just wait there?
I opened the door and stepped into the parlor.
Huddled in the corner of the sofa was a tiny shadow.
Charlotte.
She'd swapped her usual ragged dress for a somewhat neat navy one, but it didn't fit right—the sleeves were too long, and the shoulders hung loose.
Her face was ashen.
Pale as a ghost.
“Charlotte.”
At my call, her shoulders jerked visibly.
She slowly lifted her head, her eyes darting wildly, unable to settle.
I could guess the source of her terror without asking.
“Scared?”
She nodded, head bowed low.
“Y-yes… Father… the Duke… it's been so long since we ate together…”
Her voice quivered faintly.
“Once… I spilled water during dinner… He didn't say a word, just stared… then said, 'Clear it away,' and went back to eating…”
The air had frozen cold.
The suffocating silence a child had to endure was beyond imagining.
I gripped her hand tightly.
“Don't worry. I've got you.”
“Sis…”
“If anyone says anything weird, I'll rip their mouth off. So just eat and come back. Got it?”
At my rather violent reassurance, Charlotte let out a tiny puh, a soft puff of laughter.
Some of the tension eased from her.
“Yeah… I get it. I'm feeling a bit better now.”
“Let's go.”
We left the annex.
Sebastian was waiting at the main residence entrance.
“You've arrived.”
His gaze lingered briefly on Charlotte, clinging to my side.
Expressionless eyes.
At that look, Charlotte yelped softly and ducked behind me.
“Yeah. Lead the way.”
I squeezed her hand tighter as I spoke.
Sebastian bowed wordlessly and took the lead.
We passed through a corridor lit by glittering chandeliers and arrived before massive doors.
The dining room.
Sebastian opened them.
-Creeeak
At the far end of the long table sat Duke Cassius.
He didn't even glance up at our entrance, just tilted his wine glass.
“Sit.”
At his curt command, I led Charlotte to the table.
It was long enough for twenty, but only three places were set—with dishes right in front of him, and one to his right and left.
I naturally moved to take the seat on his right.
“Sis…”
Charlotte clutched my skirt, face crumpling.
Hers was opposite me, to his left.
Not far physically, but it must have felt worlds away.
“It's fine. I'm right in front of you. Just turn your eyes—I'll be there.”
I soothed her and sat.
Charlotte hesitantly took the seat across from me.
The chair was so big her feet dangled, not touching the floor.
Candlesticks and vases adorned the table, and beyond them loomed Cassius's cold gaze.
Suffocating silence.
The servants moved silently, bringing the appetizers.
“How is confinement treating you?”
Cassius spoke first, spooning soup without looking at me.
“Not bad. Quiet, and the food's good.”
I answered flatly.
“Have you reflected sufficiently?”
“Of course.”
At my brazen reply, he paused his spoon and finally looked at me.
His eyes narrowed.
“I thought you'd changed, but your backtalk remains.”
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
Cassius showed no reaction, resuming his meal.
During that brief exchange, Charlotte kept her head down, glaring at her soup bowl as if lifting it would spell disaster.
Then.
-Clink
A faint noise from across the table.
Her hand trembled on the spoon from nerves, bumping the bowl's edge.
At the tiny sound, her shoulders hunched like she'd screamed.
She snapped her head up, peeking at Cassius.
He ate on, unmoved.
But that indifference terrified her more.
She's gonna choke at this rate.
I couldn't just watch.
I stood.
-Scraaape
The chair scraped harshly through the vast room.
Charlotte's eyes widened. Even Cassius, who hadn't spared me a glance, paused his hand.
Without a word, I grabbed my silverware.
Plate, glass, knife, fork.
And dragged them sideways across the table.
-Screeech, scraaape
Porcelain and silver gouged ugly scars into the fine wood.
Utter disregard for etiquette.
Cassius's brow twitched.
I ignored it, dragging on.
-Scriiiitch
I pulled my place settings right next to Charlotte's.
Then kicked the empty chair beside her closer with my foot, until our elbows nearly touched.
“S-Sis…?”
Charlotte stared at me in disbelief.
I casually scooped some soup.
“This spot's comfier.”
“Huh…?”
“Feels like the food'll taste better here.”
Only then did the tension melt from her face.
She lightly tugged my sleeve and let out a sigh of relief.
“Elise.”
Cassius dabbed his mouth with his napkin and called me.
His low voice carried displeasure.
“Return to your seat.”
“Nah, don't wanna.”
I refused outright.
“I'll eat here.”
“It violates dining etiquette.”
“Etiquette? What's wrong with a family huddling close for a meal?”
Cassius fell silent at my retort.
He stared at me a moment, then—as if knowing more words were pointless—picked up his utensils again.
Tacit approval.
The mood seemed to lighten just a touch.
“Ah…”
Relaxed from relief, perhaps—Charlotte reached for her water but fumbled, nudging the glass.
Water splashed onto her dress.
“S-sorry… I'm sorry…”
Pale as death, she fumbled for a napkin.
Then a maid behind her approached.
“Be more careful.”
The whisper was soft, but clear to my ears.
Before Charlotte could take it, the maid dropped the napkin on the table like it was filth.
Tsk. That's why concubine's kids are…
The maid's mutter.
Concubine's kid.
That one phrase explained her treatment in this house.
Charlotte's face went sheet-white. She bowed her head, shoulders shaking.
“I'm sorry… I'll clean it…”
Snap.
Something inside me broke.
I slammed my knife onto the table.
-Clang!
The sharp metallic ring sliced through the dining room.
All eyes turned to me.
I slowly turned to the maid who'd tossed the napkin and was turning away.
“You.”
“Y-yes? My lady?”
She looked at me, flustered.
“What's your name?”
“M-my name is… Anna.”
“Right, Anna. Hey, Anna.”
I propped my chin on my hand, staring her down. Blank expression, eyes just slightly narrowed. Then I smiled sweetly.
“Do you wanna die?”