“What happened?”

She asked, immediately reaching out to grasp the poor girl. Rin flinched back and Samaya’s stomach dropped.

She had not really processed what was happening until now. But … torn and crumpled clothes, tear stained face, a trembling body, arms wrapped around herself. These were signs she had seen before.

Samaya resisted the urge to clench her teeth and show the anger rising in her. Instead, she moved back and tried to look as reassuring as possible.

“Come in,” she said softly.

Rin seemed hesitant but Min rubbed her back and whispered soothingly to her while Su nodded along. Both of them had red-rimmed eyes, traces of anger and panic visible, but it was clear that they were trying to keep calm for her.

“It’s alright.” Samaya inclined her head a bit so that she could look the poor girl in the eyes. “You are safe now. You can come in.”

Rin stared at her for a long moment, wide eyes full of fear. Samaya must have been able to convey her assurance because she ducked her head and nodded. Su and Min helped her walk inside.

She was limping.

Samaya clenched her hand at her side, standing in place and waiting until they walked past her. Her eyes dropped and, sure enough, blood was sipping into Rin’s clothes below her lower back on the space between her legs.

Her worst fears were confirmed.

She took a deep breath and walked to Manu, kneeling in front of him.

“Sweetheart, can you go and call the other maids here?” She asked softly.

Manu frowned but seeing the seriousness on her face, he did not ask any questions. He simply nodded and then plopped down from the bed, running out. She did not follow him, knowing that there were Shadow Guards outside keeping an eye on her residence and at least one of them would follow Manu to ensure that he was safe. She then turned to the three maids, who were now standing in the middle of the room, with unsure eyes trained on her.

She took a deep breath and walked to them. She reached out in a painfully slow manner so that Rin could see every movement and gently took her hands. She could see her shoulders rise as she tensed but she neither let go nor tightened her hold. She kept a gentle grasp on the girl’s hand, one she could easily pull out of if she wanted. Samaya waited to see if she would.

She did not.

“Do you think you can sit?” She asked softly.

It was at that moment that all of them seemed to realise that she had already deduced what had happened. A sob bubbled up in Rin’s throat and she collapsed onto the ground, burying her face into her hands as she let out strangled cries, her shoulders shaking from the force of her sobs as they racked her body.

Samaya immediately knelt in front of her, in tandem with Min and Su. They seemed to be at a loss for what to do except rubbing her arms and back. Su seemed on the verge of tears and Min had her teeth clenched, eyes red.

Samaya looked at Min. “Hug her,” she mouthed. Samaya knew from experience that Rin would react badly to a stranger touching her right now, even if that stranger was a woman.

Min nodded and pulled her into her embrace. Rin immediately turned her face and buried into Min’s neck, wrapping her arms around her sister as her cries got louder and louder, muffled by Min’s skin. Su’s tears finally flowed. She was rubbing her lover’s back with one hand but the other fisted around her fabric and it seemed she was trying her hardest not to burst out sobbing like Rin.

“It will be okay,” Samaya whispered softly. She was not sure that she believed it herself but she was certainly not going to sit here and cry. They did not need that. They needed strength at the moment.

They sat like that for a long while. She did not know how long it was. It could be a few minutes, it could be a few hours. She just kept her eye on Rin, who cried and cried and cried until her voice broke, until even the cold-faced Min was clutching at her and crying, until Su had jumped forward to embrace them both, silent tears running down her face. And Samaya could do nothing but whisper reassurances and promises of safety.

It was as Rin’s loud sobs were fading into soft cries that Manu burst in, Lian and Yu running after him, red-faced and out of breath. Samaya looked at the and put a finger on her lips, ordering them to be silent for the moment.

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She then looked at the trio. “Rin,” she called softly, reaching out and gently pressing her hand on the girl’s arm. “Rin.”

After a long moment, the girl looked up, her eyes red and puffy, tear tracks on her face and her expression exhausted and almost… lifeless. She took a deep breath.

“Do you think you can get up?” She asked softly. “You need to bathe and get clean. Is that alright? Can you do it?”

She seemed unsure and looked between Min and Su. However, those two were looking at her. That was only natural, considering that she was the one with power here and they could not do or say much without her permission. The entire dynamic left a bad taste in her mouth.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly. “Min will accompany you. You cannot stay like this. It will only be more painful later.”

Rin’s eyes widened at the very notion. She took a deep, shaky breath and nodded. Samaya nodded back and stood.

“Lian, Yu, draw a cold bath for her. But keep a bucket of warm water and towels ready.”

Lian and Yu immediately moved into a flurry of motion. They had to bring water and prepare the bath.

She looked at Su and Min. “Min, go and bring an extra set of clothes for Rin. You are her sister, I am sure you know her size.”

Min nodded and, after reassuring Rin that she would be back soon, took off.

Samaya then stormed outside and called loudly. “Shadow Guards!” It was not a shout but it was loud enough to be heard across the courtyard. “I know you are there. I need to talk to one of you.”

She waited for a moment. No response.

“I am in no mood for games,” she said through gritted teeth. “Get out here. Right. Now.”

If those fuckers tried to mess with her, she would make them regret it.

Fortunately, they did not. A moment later, a black-clad figure flashed into existence right in front of her. Only his eyes were visible. He did not speak, waiting for her to say whatever she called him here for.

“I need you to go and get an Imperial Physician. Preferably one who knows the female body.”

“Right now?” The voice of a young man asked from behind the mask.

She raised an eyebrow. “Yes, right now. I do not believe you are so stupid that you do not understand what is going on here. Get me an Imperial Physician. Now!”

The man did not move. “Apologies, my lady. However, I cannot call an Imperial Physician for a mere maid.”

She gritted her teeth. “Then tell him that I am summoning him. And if he refuses to come, ask him if he would like to end up in the Imperial Punishment Grounds like that maid.”

“But-”

“Guard,” she interrupted. “My patience has its limits. Call the Imperial Physician before I take that sword from your back and shove it up your behind!”

She was trying very hard to keep her calm. Samaya was very much aware that she was losing control. She exhaled softly. “And if the Emperor asks, tell him what I said. I will deal with it. If I have to take punishment, I will. This is about the health and life of a child. Go.” She paused. “Please.”

There was a moment of silence before the man nodded and disappeared.

Samaya exhaled softly and went inside. Lian rushed up to her, informing her that the bath was ready. She nodded and waited for Min to come back. Fortunately, she did not have to wait for long. Min soon rushed back, a set of clothes in her hands.

She urged Min to take Rin to the bath. Of Min and Su, Min was the calmer one and Samaya had a feeling Rin would feel more comfortable with her sister than her lover right now. And she needed to talk to Su.

Once they were out of sight, she instructed Lian and Yu to stay outside the bath chambers in case they needed help before she took Su to one of the tables and sat her down.

“What happened?” She asked again.

Su took a long moment to start speaking and when she did she stuttered and stumbled through her words. From what she said, Su had gone to meet up with Rin, a midnight rendezvous they sometimes did. It was a beautiful full moon day and the liked to spend time together at a secluded pond very fee went, hidden behind trees and bushes of the Cold Palace. Min caught her on the way and went with her because she wanted to talk to her sister as well. She would have come back to give time to the lovebirds. So, they went and waited for Rin to come. And waited. And waited. And waited.

It was when they were getting worried and preparing to go and search for her that Rin cam stumbling through the bushes in an utterly dishevelled state. She was crying and mumbling incoherently and it took them a long while to understand what had happened. Min, ever the calm one, suggested that they come to her. Su was hesitant and Rin outright refused. So, it took a longer while to convince them and come to her.

And that was that.

They knew nothing else.

It seemed Samaya would have to speak to Rin herself. She would have preferred not to. The poor girl was already traumatized and talking about it might make her spiral even more. But if she wanted to get the monster who had done this, she would have to get the details.

Samaya sighed. She could feel something rising in her chest and her throat starting burn. It was the beginning of tears. She ruthlessly suppressed it and took the moment to calm Su down, who was once again crying, whispering reassurances once again.

And then there was another knock at the door.