A rose to grind

-12-

            All of this gibber gabber, and throwing back and forth with Etienne had really made me forget about the biggest obstacle during my stay, though it wouldn't be for long, at the Karrina Manor. Forget about Etienne, or my trash father, no, the biggest hindrance was Etienne's mother or should I address her as my stepmother.

However, I was too careless and relaxed, debauched in all the new kinds of sweet Etienne introduced to me that I had completely forgotten of her name, my stepmother. But what I could remember from the scarcely recallable fragments of my horrible memory was that she was usually a taciturn woman when it came to Yugo's business. I could hardly recall of her involvement with Yugo in the story. She was barely included in the story as well. It was more focused on Selena rather than the behind-the-scenes of Etienne's everyday, chaotic and remarkable life.

I wondered how I even read the sloppily written book till the very end. But I had managed to pull through — after all, it was the first romance book I had ever laid my hands and eyes on. To put it in simple words, because the woman hadn't made an appearance more than once throughout the story, other than the time she attempted to separate Etienne from Selena, I should be even more wary of her rather than a woman who'd sabotage a female lead. The basic necessity, or catchphrase being, leave my son and I'd give you a thousand dollars.

This as normies would call it, a basic case of TMI. I sunk back into my bed, dazedly staring up at the web clinging to the dusty crevice. For a moment, a emotion I was foreign to bubbled up inside of me. Oddly, I felt envy towards the carefree life of those blithe spiders. If I could slap a name to it, it would only be plain and old jealousy. To think my first case of extreme jealousy would be directed towards lowly spiders, I have officially reached the lowest point of the lowest there was. Luckily, I still had a golden retriever that was at my beck and call -- Jacklin.

I recalled Jacklin had been working at the Karrina Manor long before I had transmigrated. Since I had already won his trust, there was no fault in me squeezing the information out of him dry. Etienne was out of the question. If I had raised a question about his mother, he'd probably think all kinds of weird, unethical things. Ones that I could never mention, surely not even here in my safe haven. Satisfied with how my boredom had been thrown out the window, I quickly rose to my feet, hastily draped a black coat over my shoulders, and flurried out of my room.

Not many things had changed since Jacklin had confided in me, but I was certain that with just enough time, if I could rise to power any faster, I would pull him out of the cinderella life he was invested in. And, to fulfill Yugo's wish to protect Jacklin. But that would only stop at that point and no further unfamiliar feelings.

Jacklin was still under the identity of a cutesy, sweet kitchen maid. And since Etienne was conveniently away from the manor for the time being, that meant I could meet up with Jacklin sooner. Usually, I disliked the idea of sneaking behind people's backs but drastic times called for desperate measures.

My steps were light and quick as I strode towards the kitchen area, knocking politely on the door and flashing a business-like smile at the gushing maids. Their gazes held a hint of disdain. Envy turned into heinous hatred. It was simply exhilarating. My eyebrow twitched unknowingly after I arrived at a certain section of the spacious kitchen. The leisure smell of freshly baked bread wafted into my nose. It was disappointing to know that no one would consume them, and they'd end up being thrown out. Unless the mistress or master of the manor would allow it, no servants would even be able to touch their leftovers. The head chef kept a close eye on anyone. She was just another lackey of that horrid woman.

As if usual, I leaned against a wooden counter, crossing my arms across my chest as I waited patiently for Jacklin to finish his morning routine of baking useless bread. He was as lively as the first day I had met him. Plastered on his face was a permanent, foolish smile. I had never encountered someone who looked as harmless and benevolent as him. Perhaps that was why he was thrown away to the side for someone else. The poor boy just didn't know how to monopolize and possess. It was both his strength and weakness.