In the courtyard, Rebecca strolled, hands clasped behind her back. Abruptly halting, she noticed a looming shadow.

"What's happening?" she murmured.

"The child is here," a voice whispered behind her, causing her to tense.

"I'll be there shortly," she replied, plucking a small sunflower. "Sometimes I wish I were a plant; perhaps life would be simpler."

Retreating to a vacant room adjacent to the maid's quarters, she entered and shut the door behind her.

"Are you scared?" she asked, crouching down and extending her hands to the frightened girl.

"Are you going to hurt me?" the girl trembled, sending a chill down Rebecca's spine.

"Yes, for my own survival," she...