None To Be Trusted

It was Elle's first time to ever wore a silk nightgown. She didn't want to sound like a peasant and be surprised by all the luxuries she sees around the house as it was normal to her new family members. The beds in her room were the softest she had ever slept on, the furnitures all sparkle like gold, and even the water taste sweeter than the ones she used to drink from.

The maids even tried to bathe her, to which she refuse profusely. She had good working hands and legs, why would she need anyone else to touch her naked body? Some luxuries in the noble house feels like a golden privilege, but some others would never make sense to her, she thought.

She was somewhat grateful she didn't have to force herself to feel accustomed to the nobles weird antics as soon enough when the sun comes up, she would go back home, hug her two little devils and find a proper work for them.

Even though she hadn't stayed too long from her family in the slums, she had missed their presence terribly. She misses Lucas' nagging, Marcie's adorable laugh, Timothy's mischievous behavior, and Grandpa John's headpats. The people here might share blood with her, but the family she wished to see wasn't them, this thought made her realize that even though she was an orphan, she wasn't without a family. Family, that title can't merely be given to humans who share the same blood— rather the people who you are close to, enough to feel like home.

As she thought about them, she wondered if it would be alright for her to ask her father, Count Arthur, for some breads or perhaps flour which she could later distribute to the people in the slums. With that in thought, she pushed her warm body from the fluffy bed and took herself to find her father's study room.

With a candlestick on her hand, Elle pushed the door of her room and found herself walking in the empty hallway. Just a few minutes ago she had seen so many of the servants walking back and forward but now they were all gone, leaving the entire manor empty as if she was the only one in the world.

The dark hallway was only lighted by the dim candlestick hung around the walls, leaving an orange tinge over the cream-colored wallpapers.

She stared at the walls, deciding to take her time as she find her way to Count Arthur's study room as the silence was quite peaceful. The silent made her hum an old song she recalled to have heard from the church, followed by her footsteps. She wondered if her hum was enough to wake or alert any servants but she found that no one seemed to care that she was walking all over the manor without permission.

As she almost reach the end of the hallway, her golden eyes widened upon hearing the sudden creak behind her. She snapped her neck backward, her eyes widening like a shocked rabbit as she was sure she was the only one walking across the hallway. Upon finding no one behind her, a small shiver run down her spine, making her to shudder.

"What was that…" she whispered to herself when from the corner of her eyes, she found the door that had been opened ajar.

Her lips pursed, her head tilted to the side in confusion. Did the sound come from the door?

"Excuse me?" She whispered aloud, enough for just a person near her range could hear her voice. "Excuse me?" She asked again, "I'm not anyone suspicious. I only wanted to aAAA!—" Elle's leg suddenly trip as something tried to catch her ankle and she found herself falling on her bottom.

Her eyes snapped wider at the candle on her arm which she quickly grabbed by both hands as it almost fell on the floor. The sound of her heartbeat drum against her ears while her blood turn cold at the thought of what could have happened if she hadn't catch the candle in time.

What was that?! Elle wasn't a careless one, she always make sure to see where she had stepped on and she was sure she had walked on an empty space until something that felt like a branch had held her ankle, tripping her to the ground.

Her fear slowly crept up as she had never felt such a weird situation of being pulled by something invisible. Lifting the candle, she used the light to see what had held her, only to be more frightened as she see nothing.

A thought suddenly flooded her mind. In the past, grandpa John had told her that there are spirits of the death all over castles. Is it possible that this house also haunted??? It would made sense since the house look fairly old.

Feeling slightly frightened as she had feared ghost and the like since she was young, Elle effortlessly pushed herself to stand up. She grabbed her hands together and brought the candle closer in sight so this time she wouldn't trip and fall down from some unknown force.

Her curiosity got the better of her when she thought of opening the curtain to see what was inside. As her fair fingers took the corner of the curtain, she lifted the fabric—

As she tried to feel the walls beside her, she found the velvety texture to be rather surprising and put the candle forward to see a red curtain covering the wall.

She stared at the curtain for a long while, her eyes blinking in confusion as she thought what was beside this wall wasn't a window… then why would there be a curtain to cover this side of the wall?

"What are you doing you thief?!"

Startled, Elle almost threw the candle toward the sharp voice that had pierced her eardrums. She stared at the bright orange girl who was also wearing a sleeping gown that looked similar to hers, with the color being paler in pink while hers was blue.

"Oh, Carrot,—"

"What?!" Carol's eyes widened in horror upon hearing the peasant calling her carrot. "What did you just say?! I dare you to mock me again!"

"I'm sorry, I said Carol," Elle showed her a smile.

"I won't fall for your trick you thief! What are you even doing here?!" Carol quickly reached her hand forward, grabbing her by her wrist and a tight squeeze that made Elle to frown.

"Carol, what is this noise you have been making?" A sudden third voice came from Count Arthur who appeared to be concerned by the loud voice that were made. Upon seeing Elle with her, the man's frowning face softened. "Elle, you are still awake too?"