𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 | 𝐓𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐨

- Chapter 8 -

Weeks have gone by since Toji's confinement. The clan has settled into a new normal life, with everyone carrying out their duties without Toji's presence.

Life in the clan feels... different. Almost calmer now that he's not around stirring up trouble.

Helia finds herself hoping more and more that Toji will remain in his cell forever. Without his constant troublesome presence, herself and the other maids didn't have to deal with his unwanted advances or arrogant behavior.

But every time she thinks about Toji, she's reminded of the nasty scars on her back. The scars stand out in sharp contrast to her smooth skin, a testament to the cruelty Helia suffered.

Although they are no longer a constant source of pain, they're still a reminder of the past. The sight of them every time she looks in the mirror serves as a vivid memory of Toji's viciousness and the price she paid because of him.

Her mind often replays the memory of the whipping she received, and every time, she feels a pang of discomfort shoots through her back. It's not something she'll easily forget.

Right now, Helia is going about her maid duties, and she can't help but overhear two other maids chattering nearby. They're discussing Toji, and the piece of conversation she catches piques her interest.

"I heard that he's going to be freed today."

Helia immediately freezes, her ears perking up at the maid's words. The word 'freed' echoes in her head, and worry starts to build in her stomach.

If he's being released today, does it mean he's going to come after her for what she did? Does he know that she's the one who got him locked up?

She approaches the two maids, her steps quick and a little frantic. They notice Helia coming over, and their conversation trails off as she arrives.

"Excuse me." Helia says, her voice a bit shaky. "I couldn't help but overhear you talking about Toji... Is it true that he's being released today?"

The two maids exchange a wary look, clearly a bit taken aback by her question. One of them, a tall slender woman, nods slowly.

"Yes." She responds, her voice quieter than before. "There's a rumor going around that the head of the clan has decided to release him today..."

Her heart sinks at the maid's confirmation. Toji is being released. She can feel fear building up inside her, making her hands tremble slightly.

The other maid, a shorter woman with a kind face, sees her reaction and tries to reassure her.

"Don't worry too much. I'm sure he won't cause too much trouble once he's out. He must have learned his lesson."

Helia smiles and nods, she tries her best to hide the fear she's feeling. She reassures herself, maybe Toji didn't even know that she was the one behind his confinement. Or maybe he has really changed after weeks of being locked up.

However, she can't help but have doubts. She remembers vividly the look in Toji's eyes when he was taken away and she has seen Toji's true colors. She can only imagine how ruthless and vengeful he can be.

It's hard to believe that he'll simply forget and move on after being locked up for so long.

[...]

The rest of the day passes in a sort of anxious blur. Helia goes about her duties, but her mind is constantly preoccupied with thoughts of Toji and his imminent release.

Every sound and every movement startle her, her senses on high alert, waiting for the moment when he might appear.

She's currently in the library, diligently cleaning the dusty shelves and organizing the countless books.