A Request and An Unfair Offer

The loud ringing of the bell made Seira jerked up from the bed. She hissed when her knee hit the table upon frantically getting on her feet.

"Follow me, young lady," said a strict voice.

She glanced up and saw an old woman from last night, the one who asked her before she passed out was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed against her chest. Fine lines and wrinkles around her eyes and forehead crop up enhancing the cold demeanor of the old woman. Thankfully she tied a cloth in her head when she woke up in the middle of the night. It is only then she realized that the mysterious woman saw her hair last night. She had a hard time sleeping after that from the building concern in her mind.

Biting her lip, she faced the woman with only one goal—to convince her that she didn't sell herself. Even though she knew that what she was about to do will not guarantee her freedom, it is worth the shot. At least there was someone higher up if she may call it that knew her situation. "I have something to tell you Miss Cora"

The old woman raised a brow at her.

"I didn't sell myself voluntarily, I don't….. I really have no intention or dreamed to be here"

Tears trickle down in her cheeks as she tightly hold the old woman's hand "I didn't sell myself Ma'am, this is a mistake"

"Young lady, that trick won't work on me. You're not the only one who used that word to get away from these place—"

"I am telling the truth! Please…. I need to get back to my town and check for the only family I had, please Ma'am they're in danger"

Cora sighed as she take notice of the sincerity to the words of the woman "Follow me"

"Please Ma'am, you need to believe me" she begged one again.

"That's why I am asking you to follow me for I can check your name in the list and put an end to this delay"

"Thank you!"

She followed the old woman who was shaking her head, smiling.

Not long after, the old woman stopped in front of a wooden door and glanced at her "Give me your name"

"Seira…. My name is Seira Lacresia''

"Stay here" said the old woman promptly; closing the door.

With a nod, she went to the side of the wooden door; tapping her foot, playing her fingers in agitation.

Cora took the paper with names of people who volunteered to work in exchange for a fair amount of money. All the servants who sold themselves need to first registered their names in Harlston Office. That division has a lot of work these days. Squinting her eyes, she scans the names.

"Seira……" her fingers traced the names. She adjusted her eyeglasses as soon as she reached the last name on the list "She's not here"

She looked over the paper once again to make sure that she didn't miss a name. The woman was really not on the list. There is only one thing that must be done, it is to let the young woman go. Just as she was about to dial the number of Harlston Office, the telephone rings.

"Hello?"

"Good morning Cora" said a voice she knew.

"Good morning Sebastian"

"I will not beat around the bush. I called to request for a personal servant for the prince"

"The prince didn't want a servant Sebastian, you should know better as his butler"

"That's why I am requesting. I will not going to accompany His Highness for more or less one month and as his butler, I will be at ease if I know that someone was taking care of him"

Cora didn't reply for a second "You're taking your job seriously as his butler Sebastian. As much as I wanted to help but the servants are only enough to cover for the senior servants managing the preparation for the upcoming inauguration"

"Is that so? But still I am asking for your cooperation. I will leave that affair to you, Cora, have a great day"

The call ended after that. Cora put the telephone back with her eyes fixated on the list on her other hand. They tried many times to assign a personal servant to the prince but it always didn't end well. She knew that Sebastian's worry was not lame. The duty of a personal servant is to take care of the small things her master needed and usually overlooked.

A sudden bang outside her door brings her back from her thoughts.

"Sorry about that, Ms Cora" Seira said; rubbing her knees as she accidentally tripped over her other feet and used the doorknob for support that didn't end well after all. She still hit the door and slump on the floor.

The old woman took out a ballpen and started to write something on the space in the list.

PERSONAL SERVANT (One month)

Seira Lacresia

Seira looked at Ms. Cora in nervousness and excitement. She was confident that the old woman realized that she was telling the truth.

"You're not in the list and that means there was no negotiation happened between you and the external office" Cora revealed.

"Then I can get away from this place?" Seira asked as tears gathered up in her eyes from happiness. She didn't know that it would be this easy.

"Yes….." Cora paused "But not now"

She narrowed her eyes "What do you mean?"

"The processing and confirmation from the Harlston Office might take one month. That's why, in that span of time, you will work here in the palace. It is the only thing I can offer"

"W-what? Isn't your offer unfair?" Seira countered, her voice slightly raised. She was not on the list but the confirmation and tracing of her name takes one month?. It sounds….. unreasonable when they all just need to make a call and confirm her name.

Cora avoided her dispirited look and adjusted her eyeglasses once again "That's the condition, young lady"

"I—I have someone that might be in danger right now and you're telling me to stay here for one month? Why? Isn't it easy to just let me out this instant?"

Her shoulders sagged when the old woman avoided her eyes; turning her back away from her.

"This may all be sudden and sounds unfair to you but I hope you understand. You don't need to wholeheartedly accept it, I am just asking for your utmost and allegiance cooperation in one month. Regarding your family, I will try my best to check up on them"

Seira watched the retreating back of the old woman, dumbfounded. She clenched her fist as she felt helpless. With a deep sigh, she followed the old woman, still trying to understand her situation and accept it. She wanted to voice out all her frustration but the old woman's face was telling her that it was already settled. At the back of her mind, she knew that she didn't have any choice. One month is a long period of time for her. She didn't know what could happen in those times to Mary and Laila but it's not that she had any option in her situation. It's not like she has a right to refuse in a deal that looks like it was made to corner her.

With her eyebrows creased, she quietly walked.

Ms. Cora stopped at a wooden door; opening it after how many turns they took. It is a large room like what she stayed in last night. The only difference was there were a lot of bunk beds making the room crowded. The sheets were all white.