23.

"Duke... Lockhart?" My thoughts were slow, I did not understand a lot thing. "Mother... told me to stay in the apartment until she returned."

The angel frowned. "Your mother is not coming back. She's dead."

I knew what being dead meant. From the story books my mother occasionally threw me. It meant not being able to open one's eyes again. It's fading into nothingness.

"I see." I lowered my eyes. I have been able to live through the past month because of my mother's command, now without her instruction what should I do?

I slumped on the floor, partly because of hunger and partly because I really had no idea what to do next.

"That whore died?" yelled the plump woman. "My rent! It's three whole months!" She came over to yank me to follow her. "You filthy wench, I'll sell you to the whore house at this instant."

I raised my head. Should I follow this woman's words? Whose words should I follow now? Mother said I had to be an obedient doll, I should not think, all I had to do was to follow her. But now that she's gone, what should I do? She had never taught me what to do.

I was slapped on the head. "What's up with you? Did that whore give birth to a fool?" the plump woman shouted. "Show some reaction! You creep." As she slapped me again. "It's like hitting a soulless doll! At this rate even the whore house will not take you in! Do you even know how to cry?"

Cry? That I knew. Just as I had practised a million times, tears began to brim in my eyes as I wrinkled my nose. I cried docilely just as my mother had taught me to do. I looked at her through my eyelashes.

"That's better, that's something the people in the whore house like." She kicked me again. "Remember to smile when you meet the people in the whore house. Do you understand?"

I stared at her, all expression wiped from my face. Tears still hanging on eyelashes.

"Smile! Do you even know how to smile?" she yelled in exasperation.

I smiled as my mother taught me.

She humphed and then yanked me after her. "Let's go. Sorry for bothering you, your... Grace. I'll get this wench away from you immediately." She curtsied awkwardly to the angel.

Without my mother, should I follow her? It seemed like it did not matter. I was just following the command of the landlady instead of my mother's. And then what next? The whore house's owner? I still did not like the implication of whore house.

"Wait," the angel said. He had been staying by the side silently the whole time. He had a tiny frown on his face as he asked with a mild hint of distaste in his voice. "How much does she owe you?"

The plump woman gave him a number. He motioned the man behind him with his hand and the man behind him handed over the plump woman a bag.

After counting the coins in the bag, the plump woman disappeared within a second.

I was still sitting on the floor. I had no more energy. My head felt light, ringing voices echoed in my ears once in a while.

"What's your name?" he asked coldly, the frown still plastered on his face. He seemed to be upset and annoyed about something.

"Nicolette."

He scoffed. "What fate."

He knelt in front of me.

"Do you want to follow me?" he asked. "Look at the coincidence. You lost your mother and I lost my father. I won't say I am not happy about that though," he laughed mockingly.

Is he giving me a choice? But why?

Can I choose for myself? Can I? That's a first in my whole life. Between the whore house and him, I want to... Want to?

I want to... follow him.

I nodded slowly, still uncomfortable being able to make my own decision.

He offered me his gloved hand. I looked at it and then at him again, gingerly I placed my hand in his.

He pulled me up. As soon as I stood up, darkness shrouded my vision. I felt dizzy, nearly collapsing before he caught me.

"When was your last meal?" he asked.

"Maybe... one month ago?"

Slowly, I could see. He frowned again, digging into the pocket of his coat, he took out a beautifully wrapped box. I had never seen something so pretty.

He looked at it with a weird expression. A mixture of sadness and remorse. After a moment, as if making a decision, he tore away the wrapping. He then dropped two candies on my palm.

"For... me?"

He nodded, looking away.

I admired the pretty candies in my palm. They're shaped like violets and were purple in color. I had never seen such a pretty thing in my life.

"What are you waiting for? They're supposed to be placed inside your mouth, not for you to admire."

"They're so pretty. I have never seen such pretty things in my life."

After a second, he said with a sigh, "I still have a whole box with me, just eat it. You're going to faint from hunger."

Admiring them for the last time, I placed them into the mouth. Sweetness I had never tasted blossomed in my mouth.

"Thank you." My lips seemed to be pulled into a small smile.

He quickly averted his gaze after seeing my face..

Now thinking back, this seemed to be my first real smile. One that wasn't from my mother's command.

"Let's go."

He turned around and walked out of the building. Like an angel bringing me out of hell.