I had thought that when the last guest left the house, the torment for me would end. But no, I still have one evening party reserved for family members only. When there is no more unfamiliar face, the true face of the house is officially revealed. My father-in-law and mother-in-law sit at either end of the table, with Augustin and me on one side, and Andermis sitting alone across from us. Not a single sound is made, making even someone as hardened as me afraid.

The sound of cutlery clashing against the surface of the high-quality porcelain imported entirely from China is a painful and ear-splitting one. I can translate that sound into two words: anger and hatred. I signal to the footman to fill up my glass of wine. I need a bit of alcohol to calm myself before the intimidating gaze of my respected mother-in-law. Looking at the lavish spread fit for kings and queens on the table, deciding which dish to eat first is also a difficult problem. Should I have the grilled lamb chops or the roast chicken wings? I think I should just have a little soup and then wash it down with red wine. Lots of red wine!

My mother-in-law cuts a piece of meat on her plate, the sound of the knife and fork clattering and the splashing of sauce making me shudder. Her eyes are fixed on the hot and fragrant piece of meat, and she says to me:

"Are you happy, my child?"

"Yes, mother..." I hesitate for a moment before answering. "The conversations, the friends..."

"Friends?" She immediately interrupts. Her hands also stop cutting the meat. She looks up at me directly. What makes my mother-in-law extremely terrifying is her face without any emotion, but everyone can feel the deathly aura emanating from her. "Oh, your friends. I thought your husband had hired more servants. Our house has enough commoners already!"

The whole table is silent, with no one daring to move or say anything, except for my mother-in-law who continues eating as if nothing has happened. My father-in-law follows suit. I look at my husband, seeking some fragile help, but he decides to ignore it and just scoops up the rest of his soup. Only Andermis shows his displeasure with his mother's remarks. Andermis was not present at the morning and afternoon parties due to work, so I did not expect much from him. I really want to question him, but I am too weak to speak up. In this house, I am just an outsider, a machine that cannot operate correctly. My words have no weight, and I have no reason to try to argue. However, as long as there is a fight, there is still life, but I have already packaged my fate since the day I moved here!

Andermis puts down his knife and fork, and his action surprises me so much that I have to put my meat back in its original place. Andermis shakes his head with extreme disgust. The discomfort is so evident on his face that before finishing his meal, he quickly folds his napkin and throws it on the table. He interrogates in a cold tone: "If you don’t like Fiona’s friends, you can say it out loud. Why do you have to belittle them?"

Andermis standing up for me has involved the whole family. Everyone stops their cutlery and remains silent for a long time, as if an unspoken agreement has frozen this house. I can feel the tension is reaching its peak, like a bomb counting down to explode. I see my husband trying to signal to Andermis not to be foolish. Even my father-in-law is a bit cautious and shows some discomfort towards his youngest son. I have resigned myself to remaining silent and letting everything pass, but what Andermis does for me, or at least what I feel, moves me and I do not want him to be punished for it. I try to smile to change the atmosphere. I look straight at Andermis and slowly say: "Andermis, it's okay. I should have told everyone about my friends beforehand."

But my mother-in-law is extremely enthusiastic about playing the role of the villain. Before I could finish my sentence, she interrupts me with an extremely haughty attitude. She looks up at us, completely disregarding what I say, and pronounces, "I do not think they are in a high enough position to be degraded any further." My mother-in-law's steeliness immediately makes the whole family pause and contemplate. "Do not forget how those people have harmed us!"

It seems that my husband's family has had an unsavoury history with people like my friends, to the point where Andermis' face shows clear shame and he falls silent. Andermis slams his fist on the table and stands up. I startle and lean back as if this is a scene I did not expect to happen. Andermis looks at his mother with angry eyes. I look at him, and those blue eyes like the deep ocean show a hint of distant sadness and tears. Andermis trembles and says, "I said she has her own secrets!"

"I simply do not care!" She dismisses her son's intentions as if discarding cigarette butts. "That is a shame for us, and no one is allowed to forget it!"

Like a drop of water overflowing a glass, Andermis leaves the table in anger. As he leaves, a strong commotion occurs, causing the wine glasses on the table to spill. I am lucky to hold onto my glass, but I am shocked by what I see. At this point, I can no longer endure the terrible feeling. I wonder what my mother-in-law's heart is made of. Is it made of iron, stone, or diamond? Why can she be so cold and merciless? And what has caused her to have such a heavy outlook on them?

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I know this is a moment of madness and I still choose to do it. It is difficult to imagine someone with a steady mind like that, when my mother-in-law can still eat normally. I laugh lightly, very gently. But by some miraculous means, my mother-in-law is moved by the very naive, cheerful and strange face of her beloved daughter-in-law.

"Your wife seems to be very interested in our debate, Augustin?"

How interesting! She used the word "debate" instead of "argument", "quarrel", "judgement", "attack" or any language strong enough to encompass that moment. Augustin quickly turned to hold my hand as if hitting softly, keeping me from losing it. But my husband underestimated my stubbornness. Today, I really want to see where her limits are.

"Why does mother have a scholarly attitude towards people like them? Did they steal something from this house?"

"Fiona, I don't think that's an appropriate term!", Augustin quickly scolds me. His hand holds onto me tightly as if a trap had caught the poor mouse.

"Have you ever tried to stand by my side?", I say lightly to my husband with the attitude he was showing me. I know Augustin would never stand by me, but I still want to ask, because I want to see his fawning expression.

Clearly, Augustin then lets go of my hand. He withdraws like a pet dog in its crib. Needless to say, how disappointed I am in him, and my father-in-law does not even bother to say a word. Only me and her face each other, like many mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships vividly described in fairy tales.

When my mother-in-law lays all the silverware on the table, that is when I know she is ready for a complete domination. I hold my breath, waiting for her imminent attack, but instead, I receive a careless mockery from her expressionless face.

"Something more valuable than you can imagine, my dear."

"What could be worth more than being seen as equal to others, mother?" I feel repulsed by the words 'my dear' coming from her. I am not even sure if she truly loves anything.

"Dignity, Fiona," my mother's voice is as light as air. "For someone with a family stripped of titles and everything, like you, I think you know how important that is!"

I bow my head. Her words have awakened me from my own triviality. Yes, I should understand how the hierarchy of these things works. I should remember what I had to lose to have these things. Everything. Absolutely everything. The luxurious necklace that Augustin gave me almost made me forget who I was. I have nothing else to say. I am completely mute. Now I understand why everyone in the family fears my mother. Because she has the superior ability to evoke the most frightening things in a person who should have forgotten them.

As if catching my long tail, she continues:

"If you think this status is easy to come by, this whole London would be full of people..."

"Middle class, homosexual, people of colour, those who are not worthy?" I say with a sarcastic tone. If my mother-in-law was reluctant to say words like that, things that are considered indecent, then let me fill in the gaps. I am too familiar with the 'indecent' things like th

"Indeed!", she is taken aback for a moment by my statement, but quickly regains her usual sharpness. "And now everyone at the party thinks we are associating with people like that."

I have had enough of this insult, and I will not take it anymore. I fold my handkerchief and place it on the table. I apologise to everyone with the usual excuse that I am full, but everyone knows that already. As I stand up to leave, my mother-in-law pushes me a little further.

"If I knew you were befriending people like that, I wouldn't have allowed it. You will stay home from tomorrow on."

I am shocked and appalled to hear her arbitrarily decide everything like that. I try to suppress my emotions as much as possible, but that has reached my limit of endurance. I shake my head in protest, "I will not quit school!"

"I said you will," she gently says with a confident look on her face.

I know she will not agree no matter how many times I say it, a hundred times or a thousand times, she will remain the same even when my throat melts. So I turn to my husband, hoping he will not disappoint me this time. But when I call his name, Augustin just shakes his head silently. He had given up completely before I even spoke up. Overwhelmed with disappointment and frustration, I run up the stairs to my room. I lock the door, frantically taking off the priceless necklace around my neck. In a blind rage, I hurt myself with the clasp while trying to find the knot of the necklace. My skin turns a purplish-red and is covered in scratches. I throw the jewellery on the bed, then scream out in vain. Is this the hell that I have thrown myself into?