Promise and Petals

*Author*

In the morning, as always, the girls struggled to wake up. Eveline groggily rose from her bed and stumbled toward the bathroom. Half-asleep. She splashed her face with cold water, instantly jolting herself awake. Grabbing a brush, she worked through her hair, all the while heading toward Saerom's to rouse her.

"Wake up, Saerom," Eveline urged.

"We need to prepare breakfast again." Saerom, still half-buried under her pillow, mumbled,

"just five more minutes." Eveline snatched the pillow away.

"If we get into trouble again, it's over for both of us."

Saerom finally got up annoyed. She made her way to the bathroom. Eveline stole a glance at Reem, who slept peacefully nearby. Her heart warmed at the sight—Reem was undeniably adorable. As Eveline continued brushing her hair, a flashback from yesterday flooded her mind. Determined, she whispered to herself,

"Today, I'm definitely not talking to Duke Akai. I always end up in embarrassing situations when I do."

Saerom stepped out of the bathroom, her uniform neatly in place. Eveline followed her, their footsteps echoing down the corridor as they made their way to the kitchen. Michelle intercepted them with a disapproving frown. Her voice cut through the air like a blade.

"You two," she said, arms crossed.

"Yesterday's escapade caused more trouble than I care to recount. I leave for just one day, and this is what happens."

The girls kept their eyes trained on the floor, knowing better than to meet Michelle's glare.

"As Duke Akai mentioned," Michelle continued,

"it appears he's already meted out a punishment for you two." The girls nodded in acknowledgment. Michelle's tone grew even colder.

"I don't need any more problems. IS THAT CLEAR?"

"Yes, ma'am," they chorused, their voices small.

Saerom leaned toward Eveline, her whisper barely audible

"Well," she said, "at least it's not Erwin's wrath we're facing." Eveline shuddered at the mention of General Erwin.

As the girls bustled about in the kitchen, Eveline leaned in, her voice hushed.

"Oh, I forgot to mention," she began, catching Saerom's attention.

"Yesterday, Duke Zella asked about you."

Saerom's cheeks flushed, memories of their encounter flooding back. She stammered, trying to avoid Eveline's probing gaze.

"W-what did you tell him?"

Eveline, deftly slicing through a ripe fruit, replied nonchalantly,

"I simply said you were assisting Teddy in the kitchen."

Before Saerom could respond, the distant chatter of other maids reached their ears. They were approaching, and Eveline urged,

"Quick, let's arrange the dishes before they arrive." Saerom nodded, her mind still replaying the events of yesterday.

As the morning sun bathed the mansion in golden light, Saerom and Eveline followed the familiar path. Duke Zella's voice cut through the air, announcing the arrival of a new assistant. His eyes lingered on Saerom, a smile playing on his lips. Annoyance crept over her,

"I need some help from my pretty assistant" Zella said, his mischievous preying on Saerom

"What do you need help with, your grace?" Saerom asked, her patience thinning.

Zella stepped forward, his presence commanding. "We'll need to make our way to the office, first then I can tell you "* he replied. Saerom followed him, leaving Eveline behind.

Duke Akai descended the grand staircase, his crimson eyes catching Eveline's form. A subtle smile tugged at his lips, memories of their shared moments from yesterday flooding back. 

Eveline's cheeks flushed, and she turned to the side in swift motion, stepping closer to a group of chattering maids. She inquired about their well-being, distracting her fluttered heart.

As Akai passed them, his voice sliced through the air.

"The office needs cleaning,"

he declared. His words directed at Eveline. She nodded, hurrying toward the storage room to retrieve the necessary cleaning tools. Her annoyance surfaced; she had just cleaned the office yesterday.

Inside the dim storage room, Eveline spotted her trusty feather duster. She reached for it but hesitated. What if someone else took it? A moment of indecision swept over her. Finally, she snatched the feather duster, along with some other stuff determined to fulfill her duty.

Duke Zella sat behind his desk, papers neatly arranged before him. Saerom stood opposite him, her gaze flickering over the documents. She couldn't help but mutter,

"So you do actually work."

Zella, catching her words, raised an eyebrow.

"Did my darling think I merely wander around only?" His expression seemed to confirm her suspicion.

Saerom's lips formed a silent

"no,"

though her heart disagreed. Zella rose from his chair, dramatic flair in every movement. He strode past her, and the scent of vanilla enveloped him.

"I missed this scent," he murmured, Startled, Saerom turned.

"Did you say something?"

Duke Zella handed her a stack of papers.

"Yes," he replied. "Read through these. The ones marked with yesterday's date—bring them to me."

Saerom settled into the chair across from Zella. As she studied his focused expression, a smile tugged at her lips, as she thought to herself Who would have thought he could be so absorbed in his work? , she then returned to the papers in front of her.

Meanwhile, Eveline stood before Akai's office. She muttered,

"I hope he's not inside." Her hand reached for the door handle, but just before opening it, she took a step back and knocked gently on the door.

*Akai´s pov*

I sat in my office, the weight of Zella's meeting papers pressing against my fingertips. The room smelled of aged wood and secrets, the air thick with anticipation. Outside, the world carried on, oblivious to the drama unfolding within these four walls.

The footsteps came, a familiar cadence that stirred something deep within me. I glanced at the door, its polished surface reflecting my own uncertainty. The handle turned, but the door remained stubbornly shut. Three soft knocks followed, like a secret code only we shared.

"Come in," I said, my voice a calm facade. The door swung open, revealing Eveline. Her cheeks were flushed, and her emerald eyes darted around the room, avoiding direct contact with mine. Why did she always look away?

In her hands, she clutched the feather duster—a relic from a thousand forgotten dust particles. But it wasn't just that. There were other items too—an odd assortment of cleaning supplies. Eveline stood there, a determined rabbit gathering carrots for winter. Her arms strained under the weight, and I couldn't help but admire her tenacity.

I stepped closer, taking the burden from her. The items were surprisingly heavy. Her eyes flickered toward mine, then away. The trusty feather duster remained her constant companion, its fluffy plumes a symbol of her unwavering resolve. 

I placed everything on my desk, facing her once more. Eveline's gaze met mine briefly, then darted away again. Why did she avoid my eyes? Was it because of my own—those hideous crimson orbs that marked me as different?

"You gonna use it today?" I pointed to the feather duster, my curiosity piqued.

Her graceful nod acknowledged my words. Determination and uncertainty danced in her eyes. I settled back into my chair, watching her turn. The soft click of the door closing behind her resonated in the room. She moved with purpose, delicate fingers tracing the surfaces of unfamiliar objects. Her brow furrowed, as if trying to decipher their secrets. Selecting a cleaning towel, she approached the shelves, each movement deliberate.

The papers lay forgotten on my desk. Eveline was just a maid, yet her presence stirred something in me. Today, her silence hung like a heavy veil. What had stolen her usual vivacious spirit? I wanted to ask, to unravel the mystery, but the words remained trapped.

"Why is it quiet today?" I asked softly, concern etching my voice. Silence stretched with unspoken tensions. Then she whispered, her voice trembling:

"I-I am not."

I rose from the chair, urgency pulling me toward her. The tension radiated from her, a palpable storm brewing beneath her composed exterior. Without hesitation, I reached for a book from the shelf—a random choice, its title unknown. I returned to my seat, watching her move gracefully. She tidied up the space, her actions purposeful. I couldn't tear my gaze away, mesmerised by her every motion.

Eveline moved gracefully around the office, her actions purposeful as she tidied up the space. I found myself unable to tear my gaze away from her, mesmerised by her every movement. The way she smoothed the creases on the desk calendar, adjusted the angle of the framed photograph, and rearranged the pens in their holder—it was as if each task held a deeper significance. Perhaps it did, for Eveline was never one to engage in idle actions.

As she passed by the orchid flower near the window, she paused, her eyes drawn to the delicate petals. The morning sunlight filtered through, casting a soft glow on the lavender blooms. Without a word, she reached for the water glass on the desk and returned to the flower, gently watering it. Her fingers moved with a tenderness that surprised me. I had never seen anyone care for an office plant with such devotion.

"I watered it yesterday,"

I remarked, surprised by her attention to the plant. However, she insisted, her voice barely above a whisper,

"It needs more water. It's still dry," pointing to the vase with a hint of disappointment. Eveline was not one to accept mediocrity, even from a humble orchid.

As she looked away, her expression shifted, and she sighed softly. There was a vulnerability in that moment, a crack in her composed facade.

 "I lost," she murmured, her voice tinged with a sense of defeat. 

Confused by her words, I inquired, "Lost?" 

Her eyes met mine, her cheeks turning a faint shade of red as she admitted, "Well, today I promised myself not to talk to you."

Perplexed, I prodded gently, "Why is that?" 

Eveline hesitated, her gaze flitting to the window where the orchid stood. 

"I always end up in embarrassing situations around you when I talk." 

Her vulnerability surfaced like a fragile petal, and I fought back the urge to laugh. Her unpredictability surprised me every time, and yet, there was sincerity behind her words.

But I couldn't contain a chuckle, which only seemed to annoy her further. Eveline's annoyance was palpable as she shot me exasperated glances, clearly irked by my laughter. 

"I'll make sure to water it more often,"

 I offered, trying to ease the tension, knowing full well those emerald eyes avoided mine.

However, I was met with a curt, 

"No need. I can do it," dripping with exasperation. Despite sensing her annoyance, I couldn't suppress a smile at her response. Turning away, she took a few purposeful steps and stood before me, gesturing towards my desk. "I need to clean it. You can sit there," she directed, pointing to the couch. 

It was as if I couldn't refuse her command, especially after my earlier laughter at her expense.

As I passed by her, her rose-scented fragrance enveloped me, filling my senses. It was a scent I associated with late evenings and whispered secrets. As she moved away towards the leather chair, her scent gradually dissipated, leaving me with a lingering warmth.

Seated on the couch. I opened the book, its contents still a mystery to me. Glancing at Eveline, I observed her focused efforts in cleaning my desk and organising the scattered papers. I knew it would take me quite some time to recognise everything once she was done. Despite noticing her placing the pens in the wrong drawer—a pet peeve of mine—I found myself surprisingly unfazed. As long as it was her doing it, I didn't mind.