Chapter 8 I Am Petra

Vitor signals with his hand for her to follow him, and she does so without protest. Once inside her room, Adelaide throws herself on the bed and starts crying like never before. In her innocent mind, she doesn't understand how they can hurt her so much and in so many ways when she's not to blame for anything. "My child, do you need help with your dress?" Mercedes' voice intrudes into the room, startling her. "Leave me alone!" she demands, agitated. "I don't want to see anyone, not even you. I forbid entry to everyone without my order." The servant looks at the young girl with a heavy heart. She overheard in the hallways from other servants what had happened at the event between Mr. Egil and that woman. She had never seen Adelaide so agitated, but she understands her desolation very well. Adelaide spends the entire day in her room lamenting. Her eyes are so swollen that it's difficult for her to open them completely. Mercedes came many times to ask from the doorway if she needed anything, but she simply told her to leave her alone. She didn't eat or drink anything all day. She lazily gets up and looks around. The night has already fallen, and the cold draft coming in through her window sends shivers down her spine. Despite how tired she feels, she manages to get out of the pompous wedding dress that's starting to itch her. She goes straight to the bathroom to wash her face with cold water. In the mirror, she sees the enormous dark circles under her eyes, and her disheveled hairstyle. She sighs, feeling terrible. She takes a shower and searches for a change of clothes to be more comfortable. With a shawl over her shoulders, she goes out to the balcony to admire the nighttime landscape of the Arrabal estate. Tonight is clear, and many stars twinkle in the dark sky. What else is she supposed to do while locked up in this place? She doesn't think it's a sin to step out onto her own balcony from time to time. Petra walks along the hallway leading to Adelaide's room and, noticing it unguarded, feels that luck is on her side today. With great stealth, she places her ear against the door, not hearing anything, she turns the doorknob and enters. She looks around with a disgusted face. The space is horrendous, the curtains are made of very low-quality fabric, as are the sheets, and the décor is lackluster. This seems more like a maid's room than the bedroom of Egil's wife. She wonders how someone can be so unambitious and undemanding. If she were in her place, she would enjoy and demand all the benefits she's entitled to by right. She'd never allow such degrading treatment. From where she stands, she can see Adelaide standing on the balcony. She approaches enough to look at her closely. She only saw her for a few minutes at the wedding ceremony, so she hadn't been able to scrutinize her well. Now, looking at her closely, she realizes that Adelaide is beautiful and much younger than her, having just turned 25 a month ago. Her skin, despite the freckles, looks very smooth and fair, her lips are thin and rosy, but what catches her attention the most is undoubtedly her wavy, reddish hair. A surge of envy and jealousy wells up in her chest. She can't allow Egil to feel the slightest attraction for her. Just as she had managed to keep the other women at bay, she will do the same with her, without a doubt. Suddenly, as if sensing someone else's presence in her room, Adelaide turns around, startled by the sight of the woman she already knows well. What is she doing here? "What are you doing here? Who gave you permission to enter?" Adelaide manages to ask, trying to remain impassive even though she's very nervous inside. "I am Petra," the woman replies, raising an eyebrow and exuding an arrogance that Adelaide doesn't like at all. She hasn't interacted with many people in the past, but there's something that never fails her, and that's her intuition. This woman is bad, and she can see it in her eyes. "What are you doing in my bedroom, Petra? Who authorized you to enter at this hour?" Adelaide asks again when she doesn't get a response. "I don't need any authorization to enter here," Petra points out with her finger. "I have Egil's permission to move around the entire estate without any restrictions." From her tone, the young girl knows that Petra is not trustworthy. Most likely, she's one of those who believe they have the power to control the world just because they can satisfy a man sexually. "I don't think it's visiting hours, Petra," Adelaide retorts. "In any case, we could meet another day to talk, if that's what you want. Now it's late." "I was with Egil in his room and decided to take a walk around here before returning to mine, to get to know the wife better," Petra removes the shawl she has over her shoulders, revealing some marks on her neck and chest that look like bruises or love bites. Adelaide feels discomfort churning in her stomach, something akin to disappointment. Moreover, she senses Egil's scent on her, which bewilders her in a way she doesn't understand. "Thank you very much for your visit, but I wish to rest, so I'll have to ask you to leave," Adelaide says again. Petra has different plans from Adelaide's, and she just smiles at her request. "A few more minutes won't hurt," Petra stands beside her, invading her personal space, and looks at her intently. "Besides, you won't need to do much on the Arrabal estate to require an early rest, I don't think your husband will summon you to his room after what happened in the ceremony. I'll tell you the truth, miss, you're not exactly to his liking, and I think you've already seen that, considering he didn't even want to be by your side during your wedding celebration. That must be very humiliating, isn't it?" The disdainful way Petra speaks leaves Adelaide feeling very hurt. She had thought the same when she ordered her to leave. "I am nobody to question Egil's tastes, and we only met yesterday," Adelaide responds smartly. Petra's smile disappears instantly. "I just have to comply with his orders like everyone else on this estate. He has every right to choose the person he wants to accompany him at gatherings, and it will always be the best decision." Egil's lover wishes to retort, but voices in the hallway force her to desist. She smiles and nods before making her way to the exit. She disappears just as she arrived. This encounter between them leaves a bitter taste in Adelaide's mouth. She's not at home or in her territory, and it's obvious that this woman is going to make things very difficult for her at the Arrabal estate.