Only Survival

"Hey child, do you remember me?" great! Elara cussed! What a perfect line to start the conversation when all you want is the child to forget about her existence.

Killian moved and looked at the new maid. She was wearing a white blouse and brown skirts, common and faded to make the woman dull with her tight bun. Her face was dull and had nothing special but he could never forget those eyes!

"You!" his eyes widened and his blank eyes were filled with surprise when Elara laughed nervously. He had indeed recognized her despite the change in look.

"Yes, haha! The world is small. Who would have thought you would be my new master." she laughed embarrassedly as she took a step closer and sat at the edge of the bed only to realize that she was being disrespectful and standing again. "I… are you going to dismiss me from the job?"

Killian blinked. It took him a second to realize that the girl thought he would dismiss her because she was in the dark alley. 

"Why would I do that?" he frowned with a baffled gaze, "you have saved my life." as if it was enough for her to get anything she wanted. "But what would you do here if you were not a knight!" 

At that time he was injured and his senses were dull but he had felt her warmth and noticed how strong she was. She fought alone with so many criminals. There was no way that she was just a simple maid or nanny. She was too young for that task.

"Haha! Yes. i.. I was not part of their group. I went to steal, I mean take something that belongs to me from there. When I saw a child being beaten, my instincts worked and I ended up saving you. I mean, not that I do not want to save you but.." Elara took a deep sigh. The child's big eyes full of hopes and disappointment were worrying her.

She was not good with lies especially when it comes to lying to innocents and children.

"You mean you were stealing there and saved me by chance. It was not your intention to save me." he simplified it for her but why did it only sounded cruel.

Elara closed her eyes and nodded with a deep sigh. There was no reason to glorify it. That was what it was! She was not a kind person to be the savior of victims. She was a thief.

"And I thought this job would be a good place to live for a few days. It offer a good salary and comfortable room.'' She did not accept that it was a hideout but her words were no lie when the child nodded.

"You are not here because you want to take care of me but because of a good room and salary." she nodded again, gulping her saliva. A child could never understand that it was complicated and would be disappointed only. It would be better that he keep silent about her identity. She would find a better job nearby.

"But you still saved me nonetheless. And there is nothing wrong with working for money. You are earning it with your hard work." Elara's eyes snapped open as she stared at the child confused. Did he just tell her that she was doing the right thing when she knew her actions were bizarre?

"You mean you are not throwing me away?" his frown grew deeper as if she was speaking french suddenly.

"Why would I do that?" he paused, "if you are afraid that i will not hire a thief then you are wrong. As long as you do not steal from here, you can work here. And if you need to steal, you can ask me, I know more about the precious antiques and gems in the palace." he shrugged, making her gasp.

"I will never steal from here. Not the gems at least!"  but he just shrugged as if he did not care.

"All the staff here are thinking of stealing but that is not the worst part." Killian paused. There was no way that he could trust a strange thief. But then.. She had saved his life.

She was not part of Cedric's plan and if he could offer her enough wealth, maybe she could help him in surviving. After all, he needed adults to survive. He was not a fool to believe that he could face his uncle head on at such a young age.

He would fail.. Miserably.

"The worst part is that they wanted to kill me so that the property would land in the hand of my uncle." the woman's eyes widened with shock and soon, it was replaced by pity.

Yes, he had seen the concern in her eyes that day too. He was not a fool to believe that he did not need pity. He needed a lot of it to keep himself safe and warm.

"So, as long as you do not join hands with him and protect me, I will not tell anyone who you are and even offer you money or any other help a duke could get when I get the position after nine years." he announced in a proud voice, making her eyes flicker.

He was just a child yet he had plans for his future. While she.. She was already an adult yet she did not know what would happen to her after a year.

"I will protect you as long as I work here." she accepted. Not because she wanted a favor but that was what anyone should do. A child should be cared for and protected by adults and a servant should pledge their loyalty to their masters, not money and corruption.

"Then it is settled. I will be in your care from now on, thank you.."

".. Elara Brentwood!"