Chapter Text
The corridor Lebkuchen walked through, following one of the nurses, was bright. When the term ‘insane asylum’ came to mind, a beautiful mansion with silky, drawn curtains and bright sunlight was not what she imagined. Even when you’re abandoned by the world, being wealthy still has its perks, she supposed. This was apparently a separate facility from the main body of the asylum, presumably reserved for those who could afford it. As for the ones who couldn’t… Well, Lebkuchen had heard of such places. The fact that they were allowed to exist appalled her to this day.
“Now, Sister Lebkuchen, my apologies for the presumptuousness, but are you sure about this?” the young man, whom she hadn’t bothered to remember the name of, asked, nervously. “Lady Heilige has been a… problematic patient in the past. Frankly, I’m shocked they allow it in here, and not with… the rest,” he muttered. “It’s gotten better recently, sure, but these calm periods don’t usually last long. I-I understand you believe you would be able to help, but… I think it might be better for you to just give up on it.”
It. It, it, it, Lebkuchen noted, disgust expertly hidden underneath a practiced veil, thicker than her nun’s habit. She smiled like polished marble. “The late Lady Elise die Heilige was a dear friend of mine. I believe Lady Goldia might just need a bit of… spiritual guidance, cleansing. Your own treatment has failed to garner results, correct?” Her smile lines grew more prominent. “I think her family deserves at least this one last chance. And besides, wouldn’t you want to get rid of her?” The words tasted acrid on her tongue.
The man stopped in front of a door marked ‘724’. “I mean… yes, sure, but… though I do not wish to sound crass… listen.” He grimaced. “The Heilige family’s coffers have been a great boon to the Institute, ever since the patient got here. The guardian, Lady Eleonore, doesn’t visit often, but she has never missed a payment for the inpatient care. So, taking it away would be…”
“She,” Lebkuchen hissed, momentarily losing her composure, “deserves a chance at respectful treatment and the Lord’s salvation.” Maybe Lebkuchen could save at least one in their cursed family… Elise’s family, as much as she hated to think about that. In so many years, Elise had never left her mind. Even as she saw Elise off, whom she could no longer even recognize, Lebkuchen could not bring herself to forgive or forget the woman she had once loved.
But…
A child should not be forced to bear the sins of their father, or in this case, mother.
“...Well, alright, Sister Lebkuchen. Lady Eleonore’s request was pretty clear, I guess, so… sure.” The nurse shrugged, then unlocked the door to the room, Without even bothering to knock, Lebkuchen noted. “Hey, one-three-four-three. Lady Goldia die Heilige,” he intoned sarcastically. “You have a visitor… kinda. Sister Lebkuchen here came to pick you up, so, pack your things.”
Lebkuchen gaped at the man. “Did you not tell her about me in advance? I sent notice of my arrival and plans days ago.”
He shrugged.
Lebkuchen fumed, internally. Outside, however, all she did was say, “Well… I suppose I can help her myself. May I request some privacy for me and Lady Goldia?”
“Sure,” the man replied. “The documents are all already done, anyhow. It’s your problem now.”
With a curt nod, Lebkuchen finally walked inside, leaving the man and meeting face-to-face with… someone who was not Elise.
The girl had been quiet until now, her mouth in a surprised ‘o’. She appeared to be hugging a pillow in front of her, sitting on her bed to the right of the door. Her eyes were… close to red, close to pink, and wavy brown hair fell around her shoulders, darker than Elise’s own. Lebkuchen… didn’t know what she was expecting. Her late love’s face to stare back at her? Her sins, mirrored? …No, that would be unfair to this girl. To Goldia. Lebkuchen couldn’t just look at her and see Elise. If anything… having both been people made to suffer because of Elise’s mistakes, they might have more in common than she’d like to admit.
The girl broke their shared silence. “Um… my name is Goldia,” she began. “Goldia die Heilige. Yours is… Miss Lebkuchen, right? It’s a pleasure to meet you, but… I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are. Should… should I remember you?” Her eyes squinted in a frown, appearing disappointed in herself.
Lebkuchen smiled the practiced smile of an older woman who had patiently watched over many a child. “No, this is the first time we’ve met, Lady Goldia. And, please, just Lebkuchen is fine.” Lebkuchen took a deep breath. “I’m… an old acquaintance of your mother’s. From Elise’s hometown, Kieferberg. I work as a sort of… unofficial assistant at the church there. I heard news of… what happened… to your family, to Elise.” Not a lie, per se. “She had told me about you, and so I sought out relatives of her husband’s, eventually meeting with Lady Eleonore. Your guardian, yes?” Goldia hesitantly nodded. Lebkuchen continued, “After exchanging correspondence with her and learning about your current… condition, I managed to convince Father Adler that giving asylum to an orphan of… rich heritage…” Lebkuchen barely restrained a grimace, “would be beneficial to the town, and much better for you than staying at some asylum. So… here I am.”
Goldia’s eyes had grown wider as Lebkuchen had continued, and she now stood at the edge of her bed. “Y-you knew Mother?! You must tell me what she was like! I deman—” The girl suddenly stopped, as if a puppet’s string had been cut, and after a beat she turned down to… her pillow. “Egliette, you have to understand how important this is—” Another few moments of silence. “...Ugh, fiiine. …I’m sorry, Miss Lebkuchen,” she obviously lied, “for giving you an order when we’ve only just met. I overstepped. I apologize.”
…Right. Lebkuchen knew that Goldia had been admitted to here for a reason, she had made sure to read the doctors’ notes, but… this was still a little shocking to see. Goldia now felt like an almost completely different person to the one she’d just been talking to a minute ago. Not to mention how she'd started talking to some… imaginary friend, she supposed.
…But…
…Lebkuchen may not have known much about what ailed her, but she knew one thing; the only way she could help was by trying to understand her. She had seen that there was more to the world than she could have ever believed, in Father Hans’ notes. Who was to say that could not be the case here?
“And what is your name, my Lady?” Lebkuchen fired a shot in the dark.
The girl’s grin somehow grew wider at that, and pink sparkles danced in her eyes.
“My name’s Fleta!”