Unknown 04

The land laid barren as the winter grasped the heart of the surroundings. It was another harsh season for the Henonis Empire, but even the coldness couldn't match up with the young Lady's stare. 

The servants within the Grandis' mansion were walking on thin ice. They worked in silence and never bringing up the Lady's puppy. They knew best not to include themselves with the personal matters of their master. 

Cailina stared blankly at the frost on the window. The time tick its hours away, and she felt worse every day, losing interest in what she used to. Her father even tried cheering her up with new things to indulge in, but they could never replace Aris' company. 

A warm cup of milk tea with Aris beside her would make the weather pleasant. 

She clenched and unclenched her fists. Her breath blew the steam from the tea. It was painfully dull to spend the rest of her days like this. 

The uneventful days made her try embroidery. It was amusing at first, but her mind couldn't help but wander to her puppy, and the needle on her hand pricked her small finger which caused the servants around her to panic and her mother taking the embroidery set away.

She had forgotten how to enjoy the day reading without Aris on the opposite side of her, staring with warm eyes. He was always around, her call answered immediately.

Maaike stood in front of Cailina's door. 

Her throat tightened with the fear grounding her to her place. She was sent by the Duke as she was picked by the young Lady. In hopes that Cailina's emotions be calmed by her playing She hugged the harp closer to her chest, her time to be useful had come. 

She patted her cheek to muster up the courage to walked up to her lady and perform. The door opened before she could grab the handle. Fione stepped aside and looked at Cailina.

The young Lady lost in thought, appearing as a lone being that no one is worthy to approach her.

Soft steps were made to Cailina's side. She looked at Maaike and her tight grip on the harp. It seemed that the young woman she picked was well versed in music. It might entertain her for a while. With the wave of her hand, Maaike began to play the strings.

The low and high notes floated. Lifting the heart of the listeners out of the cold embrace of the season. Maaike played as if it was something she ought to do for life. Her fingers danced over the strings. It was a performance that even the monarch itself could listen to.

Cailina tapped her fingers on the table, following the rhythm of the melody. For a moment, her mind forgot about her worries and had let the music carry her into a peaceful trance.

Fione noticed the young Lady's serene eyes and rested brows. Her heart showered praises to Maaike. If they had known that the servant girl's music would calm their raging Lady, they would've called her much sooner. 

The young Lady's obvious approval set Maaike's heart at ease and her melody turned deeper as the still deep ocean. It gave uncertainty and peace. 

Cailina frowned and clicked her tongue. She knocked on the table that caught everyone's attention.

"What are you doing?"

Maaike's hands froze at the thundering question her Lady asked. She kept her gaze on the floor. Her knees trembled, wanting to kneel and ask for understanding. Not knowing her mistake, it was best to not oppose a noble's will.

"I—" 

"Get out," Cailina said. 

The bed cushioned Maaike's weakened body. She held back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. The longer she kept her sobs, the tears stung her lids. She didn't know what wrong she had done. Maybe her talent was mediocre enough and she let her newfound pride take over her performance.

She doesn't want to leave. Life outside the mansion would only bring her death. No one would take her in as she was dismissed from the Duke's residence. 

She will be viewed as incompetent. It was only a sound reason, who would accept something even the Duke had discharged. 

It was over for her. 

A knock brought her out of her stupor. A familiar figure stood on the other side of the door. 

"Are you alright?"

The tears freely flowed at the sound of Oris. She composed herself and let Oris in. She poured him a cup of water and averted his stare. 

"What brings you here?" she asked.

"Have you been crying?" 

Maaike retreated from Oris' attempt to see her face. It was a trivial thing; he doesn't need to know what happened. She knew Oris would react in a way that would cause them both their end. Oris treated her as his sister, but for her, it was more. 

"I got something in my eye," she smiled and sat down, "well?"

Oris sighed. He patted Maaike's hair and left without a word. 

The room was swallowed by a brief silence as Maaike realized what Oris meant. She chased after him, but her strides failed to keep up.

Cailina sipped her tea. She lost track of how many cups she had drunk. What else could she do? She was holed up by her father in this room for a month now. The tight space began to suffocate her, no matter what complaints she says to her mother, it would remain unheard.

Her undisturbed time was interrupted by a bang. She looked at the fuming Oris. His stern look made Cailina scoffed. 

Are servants now this brazen to barged into their master's place?

"Keep him out," Cailina ordered, sparing not another glance. 

Her high and mighty attitude turned Oris' annoyance into anger. He wanted to strangle the young Lady who was sitting with her chin held up high, looking down to beings like them. 

He was grateful at first, the young Lady saved their lives from the abusive caretaker. They enjoyed working for the Grandis. Their fellow servants were welcoming when they first arrived. Although the ones above sometimes act suspicious, everyone was their friend.

But making Maaike cry… Noble or not, they must suffer tenfold.

"My Lady, I have something to say."

Oris struggled free from the servant's grasp. He had to say this or he will, for eternity, regret not speaking up. 

After all, everyone in the mansion felt the same way.

"You are being childish. What did poor Maaike do to you enough for her to be cast away?"

"I am a child," Cailina approached him. The servant forcefully made Oris kneel.

Cailina's small hand lifted his chin, her eyes glowed with authority, "You have forgotten your place. Your act of bravery amused me for a while." 

She stepped back and waved at Fione, "Send them to my dear father." 

-

Lai shook his head in disbelief. He was sat beside the coachman as they traveled through the unforgiving blizzard. He hugged his coat closer to block off the freezing wind. 

He was tasked to care for the duo, Oris and Maaike. Lai couldn't help but let out another sigh, his breath turned into mist. The young Lady was already sensitive, and Oris decided to push his luck.

To think that you are already above the rest just by being picked by the young Lady would only cause one's downfall.

Lai knew his position well. Although he would occasionally bicker with Cailina, he never overstepped his boundaries. He learned the most painful way that the way a noble, an Imperial Noble would silence someone by losing everyone related to him by blood.

He didn't know the reason why he was spared, but it didn't matter. All that matters was he was alive. 

To serve the young Lady was the honor his family would be proud of. There was no one else worthy for a child of the Bishops other than the gem of the Grandis. 

Oris and Maaike were great companions. Even by spending little time with the two, Lai had, somehow in his heart, grew fonder of the duo. Sharing the same experience, at least he helped them live a peaceful life during their service. It was a pity they value each other rather than the master they served.

Another wasted talent. 

"Where are we off to?" Lai asked. 

He was informed that he would accompany the two to a place where Aris was. It might mean that he would see Aris' state and report it to Cailina. He might receive his Lady's forgiveness and favor again. 

The coachman remained silent, letting the howling winds be the answer to Lai's curiosity. It was best that some must witness it for themselves rather than having the answers given to them directly.

Lai brushed off the coachman's lack of interest to talk to him and looked around to only see the endless blur that the storm gave. Bored with just staring at nothing while the carriage dashed to the direction he doesn't know. He resumed his monologue throughout the journey.

Lai didn't expect his life to change by the moment he entered that place.