Chapter 173

• Elena:
• “I am wondering what you’ve done to my nephew. The man seems to value you a little too much.” Konstantin’s voice broke my attention as I was working on the piece that I was knitting. It was the one thing that brought me peace within this place when Konstantin wasn’t here. He would often have the maids bring me fabric, and I would make stitches on handkerchiefs, scarfs, or sometimes my own dresses.
• I put the yarn down as I looked at the man, shaking my head in question, waiting for him to complete his sentence as I stood to face him. I looked down at my feet, not daring to look him in the eye, not wanting him to grow aggressive with me. It was a fear that I had, one that I knew he was going to take advantage of, one that killed me inside in ways that he did not understand at this point, but I knew better than to argue or question the fate that I had to deal with.