Chapter 11
Serilda apologized to Avelise.
Once.
Only after Avelise agreed.
They met in the small breakfast room.
Door open.
Maribel nearby.
I was not.
Later Avelise told me the important parts.
Serilda said:
“I was angry at a dead woman and used you because you couldn’t safely be angry back.”
Good.
Specific.
Then:
“I touched your face without permission.”
Good.
“Forced you to wear something you were begging not to wear.”
Better.
“And made other people look at you while you were ashamed.”
Exact.
Avelise asked:
“Why me?”
Serilda answered:
“Because Evangeline said you looked like Lenora.”
Then she corrected herself.
“And because I knew you worked for us and thought that meant you would endure it.”
There.
The deeper truth.
Power.
Not jealousy alone.
Avelise did not forgive her aloud.
She said:
“I hope you never do it to another woman.”
Serilda answered:
May you like
“I won’t.”
That was enough.
