Chapter 13: Chapter 13

"Why are you in a daze? The coin, lady?" The old man asked.

Ria searched her pouch latched on her waist, she nervously handed the coin, "It's Ria, Sir?"

The old man inspected her and nodded, "Alright, follow me."

She pursed her lips and followed behind. They headed towards the place where servants stayed. A three-story Georgian house entered Ria's sight. She bit her lip and kept her gaze low. As they went inside the building, a few greeted them. Their eyes scanned the newcomer and went on their business.

The tablewares clattered and a woman's voice echoed, "Do you think you can show up to our masters acting like that?"

The butler knocked and the reprimanded servant sighed in relief, "Mary, this is the new servant. His Grace ordered that she should be taught until she's ready to serve the young lady." He bowed and left.

Ria stood and waited for the woman's instruction. Mary examined her and smirked, "Good. although, in a sorry state, I can see that you're willing to live. Come follow me." She turned her attention to the simple-looking maid, "You better learn properly or get out of this place!"

Ria struggled to keep up with her. She strode towards the maid quarters. The maids' chatters stopped as soon as they saw Mary. They had prepared themselves and their ears for the start of an endless lecture. The maids lined up and greeted in unison, "Good day, Mary."

She nodded and pushed Ria in front, "This would be your new roommate, be on best behavior. I don't have to remind you to keep your stories within your mouths."

After Mary left, the maids surrounded Ria. They encircled her and would sometimes touch her face and body. A maid with a few freckles on her face shooed the flocking maids, "That's enough. Follow me and I'll lead to your room."

Ria quietly towed behind the freckled maid, "May I know your name?"

"What are you? A noble? It's a common rule that you should've said yours before asking." The maid said.

"Oh, I'm Ria fro-"

"Don't care where you are from or what you did before. Fuora."

"It's nice to me-"

Fuora opened a door, it was at the end of the hallway. She pushed Ria inside and threw her the key, "This is your room. Whatever you see, hear, or feel keep it to yourself. You know what happens to blabbermouths." She left without waiting for Ria to make herself familiar.

Ria locked the door and glanced at the single bed. She sighed and opened the small cabinet, although it was a small room, it was well kept and without the presence of rodents or insects. It was better compared to her room in her uncle's. She smiled and laid down, "I'm free."

Before the crack of dawn, she left the nightmare that haunted her for eight years. No one will hurt her in this place. Her heart floated in delight as she gradually drifted to slumber.

"Where are you going?"

Ria turned her back and saw her uncle. His perverted eyes glanced at her thin clothed body, she rushed at the door and forced her way out, "It's useless… You can never escape." The man grabbed her shoulders and slammed her head on the doorknob.

She woke up with a gasp. Sweats covered her body. After she had taken a few deep breaths, she noticed that light spilled into her room, the moon was high in the sky. Ria sighed and went to the window, she never had a window of her own. A blank wall guarded her against four sides now, she can see and enjoy the beauty of the night.

The moon was alone in the vast black background. The longer she stared at the lone celestial, a strange feeling crept into her chest. Stuffiness filled her lungs, she coughed out the unknown mist that crawled into the small cracks of the window. Ria clasped her mouth with her hand and tried to head out. She violently twisted the knob, no matter how much strength she exerted the door didn't budge.

"Help!" She banged the door.

The mist fully engulfed her entire being and the room. She choked and tears welled up in her eyes. The burning sensation that crawled from her feet and slowly clawed her until the scratches wounded her.

"Somebody…"

The banging sound echoed in the empty hallway. Ria's vision blurred and her chest was dug by a knife. A freezing hand encircled her throat, she had no courage to look back and the unknown gripped her neck, the broken bones tore her skin. Lost all her strength to break free, Ria succumbed to the darkness that was hugging her.

She fell out of her bed and a squeak made her guard up. Ria saw a brown-haired maid holding a match stick. She furrowed her brows and touched her neck, it was still intact. The dream she had and the pain in her chest as her heart was taken from her body.

"Who are you?" Ria asked, her voice sounded breathy.

"I- I'm Lillian…" She lifted a candle, "I lit up a scented candle… Mary said that you had umm, a rough past."

The candle emitted a comforting scent and lingered in the room. Ria looked at Lillian with suspicion. The soft warmth coming off the window snapped her out of a trance. She glanced at the bright scenery, whatever she had felt it was only a dream. A mere illusion that will never happen.

The young woman had undergone strict guidance from Mary. Months had passed and she had been honed into a perfect personal maid. The habits that she formed by years of mingling with barbarians were washed away by Mary's lectures.

"The young lady is in the garden. I will lead you there." Mary lifted her dress and led Ria.

In a pavilion of the garden, a little girl quietly read a scroll. The table was filled with books and paper. She would occasionally drink her tea with both of her hands. Ria saw the fairy-like girl, her heart wanted to jump out of her chest. The little girl's silence made her intimidated. She was different from normal children that run around and be unruly.

Mary bowed, "Greeting my Lady, I've brought the replacement."

Cailina looked up and nodded. She went back reading, Ria wanted to introduce herself to her new master. She wished to get along with the little girl, after all, she was her savior. Ria mustered up the courage and stepped forward.

"Greeting my Lady, I am Ria and will be at your disposal."

"Noisy." Cailina said.

Ria froze, and Mary had shot daggers at her. Their Lady hated the most was the noisy ones. Mary had taught everything to Ria, but her mind decided to break the first rule in serving a master.

"Leave now, Mary."

"Yes." Mary turned and left.

Ria made her breath as low as she could. One mistake had woken her that she can never be part of the noble circle ever again. Cailina pointed at the teapot and said, "Make tea."

Realizing that Ria hadn't moved, Cailina glanced at her. She sighed, "What are you waiting for?"

The cold voice sounded like a slap at Ria's face. She took the pot and dismissed herself. The first problem would be maintaining hot tea after being brewed. The garden had quite a distance from the kitchen. She shook her head and rushed. She couldn't imagine her punishment if she dallied any longer.

"First task?" A young footman asked.

"Yes, what does our young lady like?" Ria prepared the water to boil and stared at the various tea leaves.

"Oh, you would lose your head if you chose any of that." The footman opened a cupboard and got out a glass jar, "This is our Lady's tea. Those tea leaves that you're looking at are for our guest."

She nodded and was about to open the jar, "No, no…" He pointed out another jar, "You should've prepared the milk first. I thought Mary taught you all this? You really want to die."

Mary did teach a lot of things, but preparing tea wasn't included. Ria followed the footman's directions and meticulously prepared the tea. After she was done, she asked the chef for a few pastries and bid farewell at the footman.

"Slow."

A scolding look greeted Ria's eyes. She pursed her lips and smiled, "I apologize my Lady. I asked the chef to prepare a few snacks."

She set the tea and pastries on the side. Cailina furrowed her brows, she immediately snatched the strawberry cake. The little girl tugged her lips upward and glanced at Ria with approving eyes.

The master and servant pair enjoyed the summer breeze in silence. Ria found a new life, and she will not let anything disturb her peace.

A gasp echoed at the room whose at the end of the hallway, the young woman woke up in cold sweat, having the same dream the first day she had arrived at the Grandis' residence. Ria drank a cup of water and wore her shawl. She needed a breath of fresh air and opened her window.

"Nightmares again?"