2. Strange words.

" Grey.."

"Eeekk"

The mistress's voice echoed from above.

With a jolt of movement I rushed towards the gravel stairs almost slipping, my heart beat louder than before.

"Jeez.. if she sees me here I'm totally screwed.." I panicked as I hurriedly ascended towards the exit.

The space became narrower as I flew out of the open painting.

Thankfully the shelves in front of me protected me from the view of the door, and the mistress.

'How do I close this door..?' my mind went into panic.

"Grey.."

I Heard the mistress's voice again, this time more serious.

I just did the most reasonable thing to do, click on the book in place—the one I previously clicked before that opened the door in the frist place.

' Grey..' the mistress's voice called out, this time slightly annoyed.

'Oh god..'

Thankfully the painting slowly slid in place.

I quickly hid the book In my pants and flew out of the covers with a big smile plastered on my face.

"Yes mistress " I jumped excitedly as he skipped towards the groaning woman near the entrance.

The middle aged woman, neatly dressed in an elegant red gown, sharply complimentimg her eyes and crimson flowing hair looked irritated as she saw my figure.

'I have to act as natural as possible, if not.. I might get suspected '

She looked at me..

"Where have you been?" she clicked her toungue, her tone sharp as ever.

Wearing a big smile on my face I responded.

"I'm inspecting the work done by these maids, you know how lazy they can be sometimes.." I forced out a fake chuckle rubbing the back of my neck.

The mistress looked at me with a raised brow.

"And I called you three times..?" Her question gaze scanned me head to toe.

"I'm sorry ma'am, I guess I was lost with the love I have for cleaning" I laughed nervously.

'Please work'

She looked wary for a bit then sighed.

"I have to attend a councils' meeting with the other House Keepers .." she turned away.

"Since you're one of the oldest slaves in this house I'm assignimg you in charge of the cleaning duties"

The mistress didn't spare me a glance as she tossed a bronze coin at me.

'MONEY!!!!'.

My mouth widened, my sparkly eyes gleamed as I caught the bronze coin like a precious jewel, cradling it with care like a newborn.

"If the house is caught unkept..."

Her voice turned icy.

it'll be your head that'll roll" her cold ruby eyes snapped at me.

I gulped.

"Y-yes ma'am" I nervously chuckled, sweat trickling down my forhead.

I suddenly felt something slip in my crouch.

My eyes widened internally.

The book, the book was slipping.

I barely had enough time to hid it properly, if it drops off Mr trowsers I'll have to explain to the miss why I have one of the the library book hidden in my pants.

Chills ran down my spine.

' What do I do?, She's still here, I have to reassure her.. '

I plopped to my knees, hand joined together as I bowed to the mistress like a prest worshipping a goddess.

" I, Gregory vaal, will make sure to make this place spotless and without a single blemish when my miss is gone. You can rest easy knowing the house is in good hands"

The mistress looked down on me, brows raised, her lips parted for a second, then curled up to a smirk.

"You really know how to get under people's skin don't you.." she muttered.

"Well then I'll leave the house to you " she waved back at me, her heels echoed as she exited the library "

"Oh thank god " I heaved a sigh of relief.

The book nearly fell through my pants, I had to improvise by dropping to my knees to make sure she didn't suspect a thing.

Her footsteps slowly faded and her figure disappeared into the corridors.

I was unsure how long the miss was going for, but I hope it was for quite some time.

"Finally.. this bizzare day is over ", I sighed raising my head.

I Stood up, the book instantly falling from my pant trousers.

I bent over, picking it up.

'You almost got me in trouble '

I had to frist confirm the mistress had left in order to actually be free so I went to the grass field near the stables, silently watching as the maids loaded the mistress's luggage into the carriage.

I watched silently as the mistress gracefully stepped into the carriage, the horses neighed as they began walking away.

The maids waved at the carriage happily, but I of all people knew it was fake.

The mistress had been nothing but a tyrant, ever since I could remember, she made life a living hell just because she was born with a higher status that us servants.

I gritted my teeth.

I watched her frist hand as she beat one of the maids to death, in a puddle of blood, by the time I was six, I already learned the hard way— that life wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.

The older maids then tried to shield me from the carnage as much as they could, but I saw it.

I saw it all.

Maids had to be constantly replaced because the previous ones were deemed 'incompetent'.

I knew almost none of the current maids—didn't need to.

All the ones I knew had all died before me, I was the oldest.

I learned to accept this reality, over the past few years I've been building a good relationship with the mistress, now it was time it finally all paid off.

I smirked.

The palace—also called the Persian estate because of its astronomical size, was the residing home of the king of Persia..

..Zachariah the thirteenth.

The Persian palace was consisted of four sections, The main palace, the east, which is for reading, things like libraries and Martial scrolls were found on this side of the palace.

The west was for training... The north was were the lakes were located, good for bathing—for the royals off course.

And no one knows what's on the south wing, only very few maids gets posted there.

"Cursed royalty.." I cursed outward.

'These guys had entire mansions at their disposal while they're were people struggling for daily bread'

The house isn't owned by the mistress by the way, if that's what you're thinking. it is simply her duty to maintain it.

Basically she's a higher version of a servant but with an astronomically higher paycheck.

'Now she's finally gone ' I confirmed.

Pulling out the book I recently stole—I mean acquired, I skimmed though the pages.

[Ding]

[New information acquired]

[Would you like to absorb the information?]

'what ?..', I dropped the book in reflecx.

"What is this" I looked at the golden words floating in mid air.

'I-Is this some kind of cursed I triggered by stepping into that cemetery ..?'

This was all too scary.

I picked up the book before any of the maids could spot me.

'I need somewhere private'

[Author's note: If you're seeing this it means that you've read my book up to chapter 2😅, that is a huge boost to my moral, make sure to comment so I know you're here]