After a long, quiet moment of peace in the park, we finally decided it was time to head home. I didn’t want to worry the other servants too much, after all. The way home was lit with the hazy glow of luminite street lamps. They were mostly warm yellow, but my eyes could still see a hint of green.
Above us, the night sky was dotted with stars. Through the streets, warm lights began to appear on the windows of the various homes here, lighting our way home even more.
Neither Leila nor I spoke as we walked, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was somewhat of a comforting silence, like a soft blanket wrapping around me.
The journey home would take a while with our slow pace, but I wasn’t in any rush. So, I decided to enjoy this moment, while also focusing on my other self.
I stretched as I rose from the floor, cracking my arms and neck with a relieved sigh. The food Eliza prepared for me prepped me for a good nap, but I couldn’t bring myself to rest just yet.
While I had Carine go on an outing with Leila, I had Feyt did some basic physical training. Something I could turn my brain off while also being productive. Of course, when Leila seemed… down. I stopped my training for a moment to focus on assuring her of my feelings.
It wasn’t something I could half-ass. Leila was important to me, and I needed her to know that.
Staring at the starry skies outside the window, I enjoyed the sight along with the soothing sound of the wind’s breath. Having just finished a few sets of push ups, I could feel the sweat starting to build up. Might be a good time for a quick wash.
The servant’s bathing area was weirdly quiet for tonight. Usually this was the hot spot—almost literally—for gossip. But oh well, that only meant more peace time for me.
Just because it was quiet doesn’t mean it was deserted though. I could still hear someone inside already bathing. The breathing sounded relaxed, but audibly deep. I concluded that it must be a butler.
Thankfully, this wasn’t a mixed bath, so I won’t run into someone unexpected like Eliza or other maids.
I realized something. If I’m already changing how Carine was perceived—to be more friendly, specifically, why not do the same with Feyt?
So far, Feyt had been pretty sociable, especially to the maids. Ressa and her friends often said hi to me whenever we passed each other. We never had any chance to talk more, but it wasn’t because they didn’t want to, more so a scheduling problem.
But being friends with the maids probably wasn’t enough. I could use some more friends on the other side of the coin.
Seeing as I was alone with the butler inside the bath, this would be a good chance to bond.
As I readied myself to enter though, I felt myself instinctively stopping in my tracks. For some reason… I had a bad feeling about this. I shook my head, thinking it was just my nerves getting to me.
I stepped into the bath with my towel and bucket on hand. Indeed, there was a man here, chilling in the tub humming to himself. He had his face turned away from me so I couldn’t tell right away who he was.
Slowly, that unease inside me began to ramp up.
The man seemed like he heard my steps. He slowly turned around, revealing his face to me.
I froze. My body already knew who it was before my mind did.
“Oh? Is that you, kid?” His mocking voice echoed throughout the room. “Yo! How’s it going? It’s been a long time, huh?”
The one saying those words with a smirk, was none other than Anton.
This world hates me. I just know it.
I walked to the absolute edge of the bath, opposite to the edge Anton was leaning on. But those mockful looking eyes still followed me as I took my seat. I briefly considered just leaving the bath entirely, but… I needed that bath.
And so, I sat silently in the warm bath, trying to filter Anton out of my mind.
“What’s it been like the past few days?” a voice echoed from the far end of the room. “Figured you must be enjoying your break. But it looks like you’re putting some work in! Glad to know!”
“Hmm…” was my only response to the voice’s comments.
“Sheesh, you’re a lot colder than what Ressa told me. Can’t even say hi to dear Anton here?” the man before me in the distance said, scratching the back of his head. “Hmm, don’t tell me? You’re still grumbling about that training session I gave you? I thought you’d forgotten about that already.”
The way he worded it sounded like he was trying to paint me as a childish brat.
Yeah, I’m not taking that.
As I was about to speak up though, Anton chuckled before heaving a huge sigh.
“Fine, I’ll admit it—I overdid it with your training. I didn’t intend to do that, you know. It was just… my hands were a bit tied back then.” He shifted in his seat, leaning back. “Even I thought you might actually drop dead for a second. That would’ve been a mess to clean up! Had Eliza not been there, I would’ve brought you to your room to rest, trust!”
Was that his… apology?
No, it sounded like a desperate justification instead.
But, it does have its truths. Specifically about his hands being ‘tied’.
The one who gave the order to push me to my limits was Mother, and Anton, as a servant of this household, kinda had to follow it…
…so what? That doesn’t lift the blame off of him immediately. He clearly enjoyed the task, messing with me until the end, there was no way he was actually sympathetic.
But… I guess complaining about it now would be… childlike of me. I needed to be the adult here, since Anton clearly wouldn’t be.
With reluctance, I opened my mouth. “You had to do what you were told, right?” I said, nearly sighing. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it though,” I whispered the last part to myself.
“That’s great!”Anton clapped his hands together with a big smile. “I’m glad we settled things over! Hope we’ll talk more in the future, kid!”
“With that said…” Anton slapped his knees as he rose from the bath. “Gotta head out to help the kitchen staff, you stay here and enjoy the bath, kay?”
Anton stepped out of the bath, my eyes subconsciously following his shadow. “Yeah… sure.”
He stood at the doorway to the changing room and did a final glance at me. “See ya!”
And with that, he left the place entirely after a quick ruffling of clothes. Finally, I could relax on my own. I let myself sink a bit deeper into the hot water as I closed my eyes.
I hope nothing happens… I just want to relax now.
As if I was right about the world hating me, I heard rattles of a carriage wheel behind me as Carine. The sound slowed down as it approached us, as if the person inside the carriage wanted to talk to us. Googlᴇ search 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Looking back, Leila and I noticed that it was the carriage Mother used for her trip today. My eyes widened in delighted surprise.
The carriage stopped mid-road right beside us. The door opened to reveal Mother and her knights sitting inside. Mother stepped out slowly through the small doorway, her gaze locked with mine.
“Good evening, Mothe—”
“—Carine! Why are you out this late at night?! Explain yourself!”
The sudden shout caught me off guard. Although Mother often raised her voice at others… this, this was the first time she directed one at me. The pure intensity in her voice froze me mid-bow, my hands still tugging my skirt.
Sensing something wrong, I looked up slowly, taking a good look at her face.
Her brows furrowed, her mouth scowled, her eyes glared sharp.
It was pure, unfiltered anger…