The Crimson Coat

Hazel woke up feeling extremely tired. she couldn't sleep. The scene from last night had left a scar on her mind.

she has dark circles around her eyes and they are swollen.

But she knew she needed to get to work . She woke up sluggishly to the bathroom to prepare for the day.

Hazel climbed down stairs taking a pause to look at Mr, Stern's room.

She was worried for him. And wondered if he was alright.

The air in the Stern manor crackled with a nervous energy. Yesterday's tempest had left more than just shattered glass; it had fractured the fragile veneer of normalcy.

Mr. Stern, usually a man of stoic composure, had been…unhinged. Hazel, She kept glancing towards the closed doors of Mr. Stern's room, where he'd been sequestered since the…incident.

A soft chime echoed through the hallway. Hazel straightened her apron, smoothing down imaginary wrinkles. "This shouldn't concern me " she murmured, a mix of uncertainty and something akin to dread in her voice.

Hazel was heading to the kitchen when the large main door suddenly opened.

The door swung open, revealing a woman who seemed to have stepped out of a forgotten painting.

She was tall and slender, with an almost ethereal grace. Her skin possessed a pale luminescence, accentuated by the stark contrast of her raven-black hair, which was pulled back in a severe bun. But it was her eyes that held the most captivating, and unsettling, quality. They were a startling shade of violet, large and intelligent, and seemed to hold a depth of knowledge that went beyond the mundane.

She wore a long, crimson coat, embroidered with intricate silver thread that shimmered even in the dim light of the roon.

It wasn't the attire of an ordinary person. There was an almost theatrical flair to it, a hint of the dramatic that made Hazel's starched grey uniform feel utterly drab in comparison.

"hello miss, how many I help you please?" Hazel asked, her voice polite and respectful.

"I'm here to see Alexander" the woman replied, her voice a low, melodic hum. She was lost of words. should she let this woman in? but Mr stern was hurt she thought to herself.

"I am sorry ma'am but Mr stern can't see anyone right now". Hazel spoke politely.

Irene's violet eyes swept over Hazel, a swift, dismissive glance that made the maid feel instantly insignificant. "You are…the housekeeper?"

"The maid," Hazel corrected, a flicker of resentment in her tone. She didn't like this woman.

"of course" Irene said smoothly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Alexander didn't mention he had.... devoted staff".

There was something about her, an air of cold superiority, that made Hazel feel small and vulnerable.

"Alexander's…condition requires my attention." Irene continued

Hazel bristled at the word 'condition'. It sounded so detached, so clinical, a stark contrast to the raw, terrifying display of emotion she'd witnessed the day before. She couldn't forget the image of Mr. Stern, his face contorted with a fury that seemed to emanate from some dark, hidden place.

And now, this woman, this icily elegant creature, was here to…what? Cure him?

And, if she was honest with herself, she's a little jealous. Jealous of her poise, her confidence, and the way she seemed to command attention without even trying.

Just as Hazel was about to reply to her . Kalix suddenly butted in from behind.

"Thank you Hazel, I will take it from here"

Hazel didn't know why but she felt hurt.

she bowed her head slightly and walked pass Irene to the kitchen.

kalix signalled Irene to follow him. He

led her down the hallway to Alexander's room, her footsteps echoing on the polished wooden floor.

" please wait here I will let him know you are here." kalix entered a Alexander room after a few seconds, he came out and ushered Irene to come in.

she entered the room elegantly swaying her hips left and right.

She checked Alexander's pulse with him lying on the bed.

she suddenly paused and looking at kalix who was standing there quietly.

she gave him a look indicating him to give them some privacy.

kalix looked at Alexander who had a nonchalant expression of his face.

he sighed and walked out of the door annoyed.

Back in the kitchen. Hazel, Lucy, Mira, Agnes and Lara. where making breakfast. Rose had a day off, and has long been gone.

But hazel who thought was free from that woman suddenly felt blood Rush to her face.