Third person, Head Maid POV
It took Sylvia a few days to travel. It worsened Athena’s injuries due to lack of care but she had no choice. Sylvia does not have any healing knowledge whatsoever. While they did arrive earlier than expected, Athena’s condition did not improve. While girl was able to heal the external injuries, all internal injuries were remaining. Surprisingly, it only took a few days before Athena would wake up.
“Where am I?”
“You are in your room, milady.”
Head maid was the one in charge of taking care of Athena. While not as much, Sylvia was also injured and her rush did not assist her either. So, both of them are currently ongoing treatment. Sylvia has effectively recovered but she is still under observation just in case. Athena is still not recovered and still in danger.
“I assume from Sylvia’s absence that she is also injured?”
“Yes, milady.”
“I know. Seeing as you are keeping yourself together with only two of us, do you feel confident that I am currently injured?”
“No, milady.”
“Does father know?”
Head maid remains silent for a moment.
“No.”
The hesitation was not lost to Athena. She would keep this to herself and use it in the future. Head maid is slowly giving it. It would not take long until Athena has asserted dominance on her.
“What day is it?”
“It is time for your Sunday lessons.”
Those words act as a trigger. Athena’s eyes become blank as her demeanor disappears. Head maid sighs in relief. As time goes by, the more she does not understand. When did it begin? When did this subtle change happen with milady? She has asked Sylvia and everyone within the mansion but no one has an answer. Even the master is not questioning this slight change.
“What is your name?”
“I am Athena Eterna.”
The correct answer but there is something in that reply that worries head maid. She does not understand what it could be.
“Are you loyal to the master?”
“I serve my father’s will.”
That is also the correct answer. She has been conditioned to do as such from a very young age.
“Do you have plans to betray the master?”
“Everything I do is to follow my father’s teachings.”
These answers are as expected but none of them reflect her actions. How can she still answer like this while acting how she has thus far?
“What do you think of the mistress?”
“I hate her.”
“Is there some part of you that wishes to mend your familial ties.”
“No. I wish for her to suffer.”
These are the answers head maid expected. So, why does it make her feel uncomfortable?
“What is Sylvia to you?”
“She is a doll given by my father.”
“What plans do you have for Sylvia?”
“Nothing.”
Even more confusing answers. Her words do not reflect her actions. Head maid tries to think. Then, it all clicks. What if she is still following all of the orders?
“No. What kind of a monster is this?”
Head maid was still undecided. Athena was slowly chipping away on her defenses. She has found out her weakness and is using it to her own advantage. Head maid staggers back to her realization. It shakes her to her very core.
“You are insane.”
As she utters those words, a smile appears on Athena’s face. Her eyes remain blank and her body unresponsive but that smile sends shivers down to head maid’s very core.
“I have been insane since long ago.”
That smile disappears as fast as it appears. Head maid falls to her knees and holds her face. She finds herself smiling. Her mistress is truly insane.
“How did you do it?”
“Interpretation.”
Head maid knows she is still talking to the conditioned milady. She will not remember any of this when she wakes up but that in itself is already baffling. Athena Eterna has subconsciously changed the interpretation of her own conditioning. Head maid has misunderstood this entire time. Athena Eterna has not changed. She is still the same.
“Since when? When did it start?”
“From the very beginning.”
The beginning? No, it cannot be. That is impossible. When I learned of such things, she has already had this condition but what if it is true? Does that mean she has accepted those words and slowly started to change their interpretation? But how?
“That’s impossible. How would you find time? The conditions are strict and they will not work otherwise. I have experimented on other times and other days. None of them work.”
“Time.”
Another fast smile. Time? What does time have to do with it? In order for it to start, it needs to be a specific time. That is why we make sure to make her notice what time it is. It is noticeable when her eyes lose their light. When her eyes lose their focus. Despite what mistress believes, her will is extraordinarily strong. So, when does it happen? Then, it clicked inside her mind.
“No. That is just absurd.”
Another smile, it is the largest one yet. She moves her hands and pulls out a small mirror from somewhere. It just fits on her palm. Those emotionless eyes look at head maid as she shows off her mirror.
“This is what you have used this whole time?”
Head maid only realized it now. The assigned time for the Sunday lessons was already set. So, she has always ended it on the exact same time but there was something that she never noticed. She looks at the time and knows that the end is already here. She would normally leave and let mistress rest. But there is one thing she has never seen. When does it end? She looks back through her memories and she has never seen mistress return to normal. Not even once.
“You are a lunatic.”
With a smile on her face, Athena looks at the hand mirror. She stares at her own reflection and starts to say those words.
“It is time for my Sunday lessons.”
