Chapter Four: A New Perspective
A sharp shove to her shoulder yanked Amelia from the depths of unconsciousness. She groaned, her body sluggish and heavy, the remnants of last night’s reckless experiment still weighing her down. Before she could fully come to, another harsh push rocked her.
“Wake up, you lazy thing! Mother and Father are calling for you,” Celeste’s voice cut through the fog in Amelia’s mind like a shard of ice.
Amelia peeled open her eyes and found her eldest sister standing over her with arms crossed, golden hair cascading down in pristine curls. Celeste’s lips curled in distaste as she took in Amelia’s disheveled state.
“Why are you so pale? Ugh, never mind. You look awful, as usual,” Celeste sneered. “Hurry up, or Father will have your hide. One of the maids is sick, and since you’re so... expendable, you’ll take her place.”
Amelia blinked the sleep from her eyes and sat up slowly, her body protesting every movement. For once, Celeste’s words did not sting as they once had.
She had a secret. And nothing Celeste said could take that away.
The realization sent a small thrill through her. The dark bitterness that used to coil in her chest at their treatment was absent today, replaced with something new—anticipation.
She had been waiting for a moment to check her system properly, to study what had changed since last night. The pain of her mana depletion had been intense, but she had survived. And now she had information.
She suppressed a smile and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, ignoring Celeste’s expectant glare. “I’m coming,” she said simply, stretching her aching limbs.
Celeste frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Amelia’s lack of reaction. Normally, she would have expected Amelia to flinch, sulk, or drag her feet, but today was different.
“You seem oddly cheerful,” Celeste remarked with narrowed eyes.
Amelia only shrugged. “Should I not be?”
Celeste’s frown deepened, but she had no time to pry further. She flicked her hair and turned on her heel. “Well, don’t dawdle. Unlike you, we have important things to prepare for.”
With that, she strode off, her silk gown swishing behind her.
Amelia exhaled, running a hand over her face before standing. She was still tired, but her excitement kept her moving.
As expected, her parents barely acknowledged her as she entered the grand hall. Lord Everwyn stood at the head of the long dining table, discussing something in hushed tones with Lady Everwyn. Both of them barely glanced her way as she approached.
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“The guests will be arriving this afternoon,” her father said without preamble. “One of the maids is ill, so you’ll take her place preparing the entrance hall and assisting the other staff. Do not embarrass us.”
Amelia nodded, biting back the urge to ask why she, their daughter, was treated as little more than a servant. It was a question she had asked herself too many times before.
Was she truly their child? Had there been some terrible mistake at birth?
But she pushed the thoughts away.
She had more important things to think about now.
“Yes, Father,” she said quietly, then turned to leave.
Just as she passed her sisters, they giggled amongst themselves.
“I hope they brought rare perfumes,” Isolde mused, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “The last visitors gifted me one with the scent of white orchids and honey. Simply divine.”
Seraphina smirked at Amelia. “You wouldn’t understand, of course. The guests always come to admire beauty, not... well, whatever you are.”
Their laughter rang in Amelia’s ears, but today, it was nothing more than background noise.
She did not rise to their bait. Instead, she simply smiled to herself, much to their confusion.
Nothing could ruin her mood today.
She threw herself into her work with a strange lightness in her heart. For the first time in her life, she felt as if she had control—something no one could take from her.
So engrossed was she in dusting the great hall and arranging the entranceway that she forgot to take breakfast. It was only after she finished sweeping the marble floors that she found a quiet moment.
Heart racing, she ducked into an unused corridor and focused.
The system screen flickered to life before her eyes.
[Status]
Name: Amelia Everwyn
Class: Healer
Level: 0
Experience: 88/100
Mana: 14/14
Abilities:
? Healing Touch (Basic)
? Passive Regeneration
Her eyes widened. Twelve points away from leveling up.
And her mana had increased? Even though she hadn’t gained a level yet?
Her mind raced. Did this mean she could train her mana like a muscle? That repeated use would naturally increase her reserves?
She needed to test this.
Her first thought was self-inflicted injury.
She bit her lip. It had worked before, hadn’t it?
But no. She shook her head. That was dangerous. If she pushed too far again, she could pass out at the wrong time—or worse.
Besides, there were plenty of people who actually needed healing.
She would simply find someone who required help.
Determined, she turned back toward the hall, intent on finishing her duties. If she worked quickly, she might have time to sneak into the servants’ quarters to find someone who was hurt.
But fate had other plans.
As she hurried down the corridor, her mind still spinning with possibilities, she collided headfirst with another maid.
The impact sent Amelia staggering back, and the other girl let out a yelp as she stumbled.
Pain flared across Amelia’s face. Something warm dripped from her nose. She raised her fingers and winced at the sight of blood.
The maid gasped. “Oh no! I—I didn’t mean to—”
Amelia barely heard her.
Instead of anger, a thrill of excitement ran through her.
An injury.
An excuse to use her healing.
An excuse to get those final twelve points.
Ignoring the sting, she turned and dashed back toward her room, leaving the maid staring after her in shock.
“I hope she doesn’t spread the curse to me,” the girl muttered under her breath.
But Amelia didn’t care.
For the first time in her life, she felt truly alive.