A Perfect Offer

When the bell rang in the duke's mansion, the dark clouds started to clear the way for the morning light. As if they were afraid of the rage of its master and bowed their head to his authority.

The maid knocked on the door and asked dazed Elara to follow her. They only crossed the hall and took the path to the servant's quarter last night.

But now that Elara followed the girl, the house was in shambles. There were shards of broken glasses or was it a vase? The stains of blood and other colors had painted the wall in a strange pattern. The carpet was full of dust and looked withered under footsteps and the air was sour. As if vinegar had rained last night and it was absorbed in every part of the stair and to the leading paths.

The duke and his wife were killed but his brother was still there. Should he not be handing the maids or cleaning or he was still lost in mourning. Well, she would soon find out. Cedric, the man who was left to take care of a young child and work as a temporary duke for the Assedon. There were fleeting rumors that he had killed his brother and sister while some believe it was his fiance who did it. 

She left him injured with the desire to take over all the properties which could not be true. Since she was not married yet, there was no way she would be taken as the caretaker of the land. And if she wanted to do it, she would have waited. But Elara was not here to judge. It had nothing to do with her. 

"So you know what happened here?" asked the girl named Mary with wary eyes like Cherry from last night. Elara nodded with hesitation, making the young girl sigh.

"This place used to be full of laughter and joy. It had only been a week yet it felt like ages had passed." The young girl might look upset but Elara could feel her desire to gossip about it, so she nodded considerably.

"Yes, who would have thought that the mourning would end so quickly." the woman snorted with a look of rage in her eyes and she commenced a chattering monologue, full of sordid details that supplied the larger picture.

"The palace was to hold mourning for a month but the lord refused to come out of his room. He did not work as host despite the begging of extended family and servants.

And when the elders tried to take the role, he threw vases on their heads until they bled and fell away. When the news spread that the lord had gone crazy and tried to kill many of his relatives, guests refused to come. 

No one wanted to get killed in the mourning of others." the woman spat with distaste as if it was her family's mourning that had been ruined by a brush with his force.

"Since then he had closed his room and did not come out even if servants did not clean the house, take care of things or slack. But if we let any guest enter, he hops mad and breaks everything. Last night, the butler had to convince him that you are here just to fill the position of a maid and nothing more." They all believed that he was a complete lunatic but Elara heard no mention of the child, the real heir of the duchy and his views about this madness.

As if the staff had already believed that he was going to disappear. His existence was already blurred in their minds.

"But.. It makes the job easy. And since we do not have a housekeeper and butler is already busy dealing with the eccentric attitude of his new master, we spend most of the time gossiping or sleeping in our rooms.

The pay is good and we are not expecting much. As long as you can sprint when the lord comes out and hides well, you have nothing to worry about." 

Elara felt sick of the description but she still nodded to meet the mood. 

"Then I hope you will take good care of me." the woman smiled nodding her head and finally stopping in front of a small door.

"There is a new maid applying." she announced when the door opened slightly. The man stared at them hiding behind the door as if they were assassins who would take his life.

"Enter." he looked at Elara when Marry signaled Elara to follow and left, chirping from there. Too happy for a girl who wanted to mourn.

Elara rolled her eyes in her mind and entered the room with a calm smile on her face. The room looked much cleaner as if it was not part of the mad house.

"You are approved by the viscountess?" the man's brow rose in shock when Elara became conscious of the fake letter. There was no way one would write her a reference letter when she had not worked anywhere.

She had always hidden herself as a dock worker or labor but this time, she needed a place where no one would expect her because the clan was searching for her, sniffing all the dark lands where she could be.

"I thought she did not want to concern herself with us after her husband was slapped by the new lord." The man took a deep sigh as he read the details and slowly his eyes started to widen.

"You know how to read and write?" he gasped when she nodded as if it was beyond his belief.

"And you have worked in the house of Viscountess Clington. Yes?" she nodded again, growing conscious of her lies when the man nodded softly.

"I remember the lady had two daughters full of mischief. Have you ever taken care of them?" Elara wanted to shake her head as she did not know what would come next but looking at his desperate eyes, something told her that it was a crucial moment of her future and her hiding plan, so she nodded her head slowly when the man sighed.. A big sight that spells trouble.

"Then I have a perfect job for you, lady Elara Brentwood."