That night, the manor lay in hushed silence, wrapped in the stillness of sleep. Leila stirred in bed, her throat dry and aching. She slipped quietly from the covers, her bare feet brushing the cool floor. Wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, she made her way toward the kitchen, half-asleep, unaware that the darkness held more than just silence.
The manor was cloaked in thick silence, the hallways dimly lit by flickering candlelight. Only the soft patter of Leila's footsteps echoed faintly against the marble floor. When she reached the kitchen, she moved quietly, her hand brushing over cool surfaces as she found a glass and filled it with water from the jug.
She drank slowly, letting the cold liquid ease the dryness in her throat. Just as she set the glass down, ready to head back, a small shadow shifted before her, silent, sudden.
Leila gasped and staggered back, a hand flying to her chest to muffle the scream that nearly escaped her lips. Standing in the pale glow of moonlight seeping through the window was a little girl, Elsie.
"Good heavens, Elsie! You nearly scared the life out of me," Leila said, trying to catch her breath as she looked down at the child clutching a worn-out doll.
Elsie didn't speak. She just stared at her, those wide, unblinking eyes glimmering faintly. Leila frowned slightly. This wasn't the first time. Every time she tried to talk to her, the girl would only respond with that same eerie, silent gaze as though she were looking through her, rather than at her.
"When did you even get here?" Leila muttered, scanning the hallway behind the child. But there was no sign of movement. No sound. No footsteps. Only the two of them and the lingering chill in the room.
"I will be heading back now," Leila said, offering Elsie a small smile before quickly leaving the kitchen. As she walked through the dim corridor, her thoughts raced. What was a child doing awake at this hour? And why always watching in silence…?
But just as she turned the corner, soft footsteps echoed behind her. She paused, glanced over her shoulder and there was Elsie, following quietly like a shadow.
"Is it true," Elsie asked, her small voice cutting through the stillness, "that you came here to steal my mommy and papa from Juliana and me?"
Leila froze in surprise. It was the first time the child had spoken directly to her. Turning around slowly, she crouched to meet her eye level. "What? No, of course not. Who told you such a thing?"
Elsie blinked, her face unreadable. "Really?" she asked, ignoring the question entirely.
"I promise," Leila replied gently. "I would never do something like that." She reached out instinctively to pat the child's head but Elsie flinched back ever so slightly, reminding her of the girl's aversion to touch. Leila pulled her hand back with a soft sigh.
"Come on, let me walk you to your room."
Without a word, Elsie nodded and followed her silently. At the doorway, Leila gently guided her into bed, carefully tucking the blanket around her tiny frame.
"Good night, little one," she whispered with a fond smile.
Elsie blinked slowly, staring at the ceiling.
As Leila quietly closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but wonder: How could such a gentle-looking child be called a devil by the servants? Or was there something more beneath that silence?
Just as Leila reached for the door to leave, a small voice behind her stopped her in her tracks.
"My parents wanted a boy for their third child."
Leila turned slowly, eyes widening. "What…?"
Elsie sat upright in her bed, hugging her doll tightly to her chest, her gaze distant. "They were hoping for a boy. Someone strong, someone who could carry the Williams name. But instead… they got me."
Her voice was quiet, but the weight of her words hung heavily in the air. Leila stood frozen, heart tightening.
"They didn't say it outright," Elsie continued, her tone flat yet tinged with something far too grown-up for a child her age. "But I could tell. They were disappointed. I see it every time they look at me."
Leila took a slow step forward, unsure whether to speak or just listen.
"I try," Elsie whispered. "I try to be good. To act perfect. But no matter what, I'm just the little troublemaker who wasn't supposed to be born this way."
A lump formed in Leila's throat. This wasn't just a child being dramatic, this was a little girl carrying the weight of rejection.
"I just want them to look at me the way they look at Juliana," Elsie said, voice trembling slightly. "Like they're proud. Just once… I want to feel like I'm enough."
Leila knelt beside her bed slowly, unsure of what words could fix something so deeply rooted but knowing she had to say something.
"Well..." Leila began gently, pulling a nearby chair closer and settling beside the small bed. Her voice softened as she met Elsie's uncertain gaze. "You can start by being obedient. By listening to your nanny and your etiquette teacher, even if it's boring or annoying sometimes."
Elsie scrunched her nose in obvious distaste. "But I don't like them. They always make me do things I hate like sitting still and walking with a book on my head."
Leila laughed lightly. "I know, it sounds dreadful. But sometimes doing the things we don't like is how we grow. And if you really want your parents to see you… to truly notice you with pride in their eyes… it might help to show them how responsible and mature you can be."
Elsie blinked, her brows furrowed in thought.
Leila leaned forward slightly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind the girl's ear. "Start small. Be kind. Be brave. Be you… but also show them you're willing to try."
She rose to her feet and gently patted Elsie's head. "Now, get some sleep, little lady. You've got a big day of surprising everyone ahead."
As she turned to leave, Elsie whispered, "Will you stay my friend… even if I mess up sometimes?"
Leila smiled over her shoulder. "Always."