If she hadn't moved the utensil herself, the maid would have escaped her daily lashings.
Making Lizzelle's job harder would have been preferable. Perhaps a dozen lashes with double the amount of work for three years? She would be bound to make even more mistakes.
A sinister smile erupted on her face at the idea before she felt her excitement boil over. "I know! Which is your dominant arm? And don't lie because you wouldn't want to live with the non-dominant arm now, would you?" Deidelia asked as that sweet expression returned to the maid's face.
A face consumed by genuine fear, it filled her with exhilaration. "Come on now! Otherwise, I'll decide randomly!" Deidelia spoke.
Striking true fear into her heart, the maid was panicking based on the way she was looking at her arms, having to choose which arm would remain.
Tears welled up in the maid's eyes as she croaked. "My - my right arm is dominant," the maid finally revealed.
"Ah, thank you for telling me, now we can truly avoid having you become useless," Deidelia said as she looked at Sir Luzit.
"Cut off her right arm," Deidelia ordered, stunning both the maid and the knight.
"But that's m-" Lizzie started, not believing her ears. "You said -"
"Well, I said a lot of things, but only I get to choose what happens, not a past me. We are discussing your punishment now," Deidelia said before she glared at Luzit.
"Are you going to carry out my order, or will you stand there like a fool? Or a love-sick puppy perhaps?" Deidelia asked, stunning the two.
"When I found out about your pure and innocent love, I couldn't help but get jealous. While my relationship with the crown prince is somewhat irregular, you two would frolic beneath the trees," Deidelia explained.
"It sickened me! So I specifically made you lash her. It was certainly entertaining! Watching you desperately try and strike in areas that would hurt the least, but the more you whip, the more it hurts!" She revealed. Luzit was shaking in rage as Lizzie quickly turned to him, trying to calm him.
"Guards!" Deidelia called out.
'Yes Mistress!' Guards flooded the dining palace.
"It is your duty to remove her right arm from her body. Failure to follow these orders will have dire consequences. Any attempts to escape will be taken as a sign of treason. Those consequences will make you beg me for this outcome, so just keep that in mind," Deidelia ordered as Luzit turned to the woman he loved.
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"It's fine," she whispered. "I still-" Quickly unsheathing his sword and slicing his beloveds arm clean off before bowing before Deidelia with a pained expression.
Punishment has been inflicted upon the woman who dared incur your displeasure," Deidelia smirked. Lizzie screamed, but she quickly muffled her cry to avoid further angering the duke's daughter. Deidelia watched with anticipation as Lizzelle struggled to stifle her sobs.
Bowing to Deidelia, Lizzie spoke. "Th-thank you, argh, for teaching me this valuable lesson," Lizzie spoke as Deidelia finally felt satisfied before looking at another maid.
"Set up another breakfast for me in the third dining palace!" She ordered. "And don't make mistakes," Deidelia threatened as everyone just bowed and backed away leaving the daughter of the Duke alone.
'Forgive me, Lizzelle, I couldn't risk Lady - no, that monster increasing the punishment even more,' Luzit thought as the other servants helped Lizzelle and clean up the now blood-stained dining palace.
Deidelia relaxed as she sat in her chair and looked into her vanity mirror, staring into her own eyes. The dead stare showed the state of her soul, a smile crept onto her face as she touched her face slowly.
A knock on her door brought her back to reality. "Lady Deidelia." A maid's voice called from beyond the door.
"What is it?" Deidelia asked as she glanced at the door.
'The only reason anyone ever comes to my chamber is because of father,' she thought.
"Duke Steinbet has requested an audience with you," the voice answered.
Silence settled as the maid started feeling her heart rate increase. She flinched when her mistress's voice spoke.
"Alright, come in and help me dress appropriately," Deidelia called out.
The maid quickly spoke. "Please excuse me," she said as she opened the door and entered Deidelia's chamber.
To her surprise, the room was filled with pink ornaments and a variety of things one would assume would be in the room of a pure-hearted maiden. The idea that a demon like Deidelia liked it made the maid question whether or not she should like the color pink.
Once the maid entered the room completely, Deidelia's lip curled into a smile before questioning the maid.
"Who are you? I don't think I have seen you around here before," Deidelia asked innocently.
"Your name," Deidelia asked as the maid bowed.
"I am Baron Lycaster's youngest daughter," the girl answered. "Listeria Lycaster. I will be your personal servant."
Of course, this girl had only heard rumors of Deidelia; she cursed her own situation. Her brother sent her to her death.
"I am sure you have been brought up to speed, but just as a refresher, I would like to remind you not to make any mistakes while in my presence," Deidelia warned as she eyed the girl who was shivering.
'Another one to play with...'
"Get my bath ready," Deidelia ordered.
Minutes later, the bath was prepared. Upon entering the bathing chamber, she examined everything, analyzing the surroundings. She nodded at the sight. In fact, all of her favorite things were ready for her.
Without uttering a word, she immersed herself in the bath and began to relax. However, just as she was on the verge of drifting away, a sharp gasp reached her ears.
Realizing that she had disturbed her mistress, the maid's face was stricken with fear. Opening her mouth to question the maid of her unnecessary sounds, she quickly realized that the maid had been shocked by the scars across the young lady's body.
"Do my scars make you feel that uncomfortable?" She asked, quickly shaking her head, the maid answered.
"Not at all, mistress..." The maid started but couldn't finish her words.
"Leave," Deidelia suddenly said. Unsure of what to do, the maid didn't move because she had to wash her mistress.