LogFAQs > #952476084

So the children are enveloped by the house, in the witch's curse. Giselle talks about how she can't quite recall much about Michel aside from his eyes and hair, and how when she first arrived, she was welcomed in because of that association. We must be talking about White-Haired Girl [WHG] again! WHG's name is Michelle. Dang.

But as Michelle, she does not remember anything, even at Giselle's urgings. Morgana sympathizes slightly, but pushes Giselle to select another Master, one who really needs her. Michel did not need her, Morgana insists.

We watch shadows of that story play back wordlessly. Mell falling in love with Michelle, and Nellie growing jealous. The aftermath of Nellie's attack, Mell fleeing.

Giselle as the Maid feels she's lost any attachment she had to sanity. Mell leaves and becomes a priest. The girl [Nellie? Michelle?] falls ill a few years later and dies. The Rhodes family falls apart. The time moves to 1707.

Now we enter back into the tale with Bestia and Yukimasa. The merchant from the beginning of the tale is slaughtered, and as Master, Yukimasa urges the Maid to make the body into a stew. Gross. We're having something of a fugue state here, as the Maid does not recognize or recall what exactly she's doing. At a moment perceived as hesitation, Yukimasa skewers her, only to find that she does not bleed or die. The Maid laughs at his realization. Yukimasa comes to the conclusion that the Maid is the witch. The Maid considers how true this may be, as she's losing track of Giselle.

WHG shows up once more, and there's a glimmer of recognition there, but ultimately nothing comes of it. Her name is also Michelle. I wonder if the Maid is supposed to take a more active role instead of being like, 'Yo, I remember you, do you remember me? No? Aw, that sucks.' Try to grow closer to her as she is now rather than trying to find that past anchor? Idk, it reminds me of going to large extended family gatherings and having Aunt Suzie who lives half a world away ask, "Do you remember me? I saw you last when you were THIS tall *indicates a very short height*" ...Aunt Suzie, get with the program. Ask me about my life now. I'll get to know you if you are willing to accept that I probably don't remember you from when I was 3 years old and we first met.

The Maid wonders if it would be best just to kill Michelle and end this horrific cycle that keeps bringing her pain. I don't know if it will happen the way she expects. The Maid cannot bring herself to kill Michelle, but of course the Bestia tale ends in carnage anyway. The time moves to 1863.

WHG is Jacopo's wife and says at first, 'Nice to meet you.' The Maid is crushed by this lack of recognition. Morgana brings her around to the realization that she is both the Maid and the witch. The 'witch' offers to tell the story of Giselle and Michel - the Maid had become so attached to this tale that she thought it her own.

Jacopo waits for Michelle, even though she will never return. He leaves a will and his wishes are to be buried without funeral or fanfare.

We return to the present moment, realizing that the Maid has been subjected to not only her own struggles, but the house's tragedies as well. The Maid tries to break it to Michel that he is now too late, that the Giselle he loved no longer exists. It was too long to try and keep her alive.


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Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself...: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?
-Marcus Aurelius