Having waited for me to finish eating I noticed how he seemed to be lost in thought. I wonder if I should be interrupting him to tell him the rest of what happened. He does not look in a hurry to hear me out. To be honest, I only told him about the hidden doors and corridors because there are other people going there. Although my mother said to keep others from knowing and not telling anyone, I don't like there other people who got there. So I hope that after telling him, he will help me to get those people out.
"Sorry, I was thinking about something. Did you finish eating already? Good"
He seemed to finish thinking. To his question, I only nodded in response, I will be talking about more stuff so not speaking now is to save strength. Today I have talked more than I usually speak on a week. It feels strange to do so though. I do not have friends to talk, Does this makes us friends? Hmmm, how complicated.
"Ehh... Would you like to continue?"
He is being considerate by asking this, I am not sure why. Why chance, I took a look around and I could see my own reflection on the glass from the window. It was when I noticed how bad I look, worse than I thought. Hmmm, I did not have much time to fix my appearence after running around so I am not looking good. But I don't think I have a chance to change to a cleaner attaire. It was one of my favorites. Taking the opportunity to see my reflection, I let my eyes see the state my clothing and my hair are. My clothing has a few tears here and there while my hair can be described as messy.
Although I can change my attaire, I can at least clean my face, and my hands too. I was too hungry to pay attention to that before. Now I see by he is being so considerate. I guess I must look rather pityful in his eyes.
"Can I use the bathroom?"
I asked him.
"Ah, sure"
He looked puzzled at the question, but maybe taking a look at me again he seemed to agreed, understanding what I wanted.
********************************************
Finished cleaning, I was seated on the bed, prepared to continue saying what happened.
I wish I could take a bath, but as I am not in my room and there is him here, I can't do it.
I guess I should continue from there...
********************************************
A head full of golden hair, was what I first saw after quickly going of the corridor through the hidden door. I almost felt like fainting due the surprise. I was running away from those people who woke me up from my non-planed nap when not too long after that I found myself infront of someone. Whom I did not expect to find, but I could not go back. The question is if she is also a bad person, I recall that she... is the maid that started not long ago. No idea about the name, since I just happened to see her once when she arrived here from far away.
"You are...?"
Looking at me standing just outside the place where the hidden is, the golden haired maid was surprised with my appearence but quickly composed herself, and maybe voiced those words to ask about what just happened. Or just ask about me.
I wondered what should I answer, but I don't know how long do I have if those people chased after me so I just stayed silent and decided to go as far from this place as I can before I can rest.
Doing my best to ignore her, I started to walk away from this place.
"Wait! Where are you going..."
Ignoring whatever the maid was saying I just focused on moving away from the room.
********************************************
I reached the end of my strength to run very quickly so to avoid any people coming from the hallways, I entered one the rooms around me. I did pay much attention because I was too tired for that.
I found myself in a dark room, no one seemed to be here. That was a good thing.
After catching my breath, I sat on the floor leaning against the door.
Not sure how much time I spent like that, but I did not minded. As tired as I was, the thing that affected me more was the fear of what happened before.
No longer the corridors can be used as a safe place. It also means that besides hiding while I am followed, the other use I gave the corridors, to rest is not possible anymore.
What should I do now? That awful guy was even the one to find that place. He will surely use this chance to chase after me with his people now that I can't run away using the corridors.
Where would be a good place to go? They already know about the usual places.
Suddenly, I heard a noise.
It came from the door I was leaning on, someone just knocked the door.
I panicked once again. I was not sure what to do, this room had no windows so the only exit is the door. Now that I needed a way to escape is that I noticed the kind of room I was.
I need to calm down. Maybe this is not about me, there are many people in the manor so this might be someone looking for another person.
With my heart beating loudly I convinced myself of that but... the person on the other side still tried to open the door. My weight should've kept it closed if I were an adult, but I am but a child so with just a tiny bit of resistance, and pushing me, the door opened.
I turned to see who was standing there and who I saw made me wonder why she was here. It was the same maid from before.
"I finally found you, it took me a while..."
The golden haired maid said.
I wouldn't have minded if you took longer to be honest. I could only resign myself and just stayed on the floor with my head down. I was too tired from running to try and do it again.
"Why did you run? I will not do something bad to you"
She asked since I was still silent and with my head lowered.
That you are not going to do it doesn't mean you won't take me to someone who will do it.
"You know, we only met today. Isn't a little cruel to run as soon as you saw me?"
I continued to ignore her words.
Cruel? That hateful man wants to do bad thing to me. Even worse than just 'me running from you're.
"What are you doing here in this room? The light is not even on"
As she said that she completely entered the room and looked for the switch before turning on the lights as she found it.
"What is this place? There are only broken cleaning tools here. Did you come here to play? That is no good, many of the things here seem too dangerous to play around"
With the room lighted, she scanned the room said that.
It is not like I came here for that, I was even running from you. So technically I came here because of you.
"Hmm, why don't you come with me? I want to talk you but this place is not good for that"
She came close to me and leaned her body forward while asking that.
I feel like those words are a perfect for bad guys. Being said to a child makes it worse, but I can't do much about it. At least she has been very patient with me and did not decide to just drag me out by sheer force
I just sat there with my head down, I did not try to answer her. Even though I know that such a thing could make her angry, I still was afraid and lost.
I did not count the time so I don't know if we stayed like that for a short or a long time. Still, she did not say another word and waited for me. I was not looking at her but I could tell that she was probably staring at me, waiting for me to react.
I found myself in the strange situation where I sat on the floor while the golden haired maid just kept staring at me. From an outsider point of view this scene would make them wonder what happened, but if I were to explain it to anyone else... Would they even understand?.
Isn't this person working for that man? I for once try to look at the face of the golden haired maid.
She looks young, although lately the maids haired are all like that. They are pretty, but not very good at their job sometimes. I don't know why they would want to hire someone who is not good at the job they are suppose to do. But I guess it is not something I could understand yet.
Besides her golden hairs, I would say that her feature that stands out the most would be her eyes. They are blue, not a light blue but rather a darker tone. Although the poor lighting of this room could be the reason for that.
I just kept staring at her but she seemed to not mind it. Although on a closer look I could a few sweet drops on her skin, it could be because of the heat of this place since there are not windows and the door is closed. I certainly feel this place is someone hot. I am starting to remember that I have not drank too much water today, and all the running made me somewhat thristy.
I was getting uncomfortable now that I kept thinking about that, so I decided to accept what she said, I only hope she chooses a fresher place.
"I will go..."
I am not the one that usually talks a lot, and the thirst made want to speak less so that is all I said and stood up, ready to follow her.
"I see, then... this way"
She showed me a smile after she heard what I said for some reason, taking my hand... she lead the way.
I feel like it will be rude if I say this but... her hands are kind of sweaty. Was the heat that bad for her?.
*******************************************
We did not walk too much, a little further down the hallway, there was a room with window(basically what we wanted), and with no one inside. I think this was an old study, but no one uses it anymore so there is hardly people who would come here unless they are going to clean it. A small desk and a comfy wooden chair could be seen near the window, while a couple of less comfy wooden chairs were placed in front of the desk. Other than that, this place was pretty much empty.
Being brought to such a place, raised my panic level at pretty much the maximum it could go. I could not help to think that she took me to place where no one is looking so it would be easier to hand me over to that man. No people means no one saw me.
Should I give it my all and run? Although I won't be able to run very far, I should at least be able to go where there are more people.
"I really mean no harm. I brought you here because... Well, I had not particular place in mind and I am not familiar with the layout of the manor. I thought that maybe somewhere close would be better since you seemed tired"
I must look scared in her eyes because she tried to reassure me about my safety, and she also explained why she brought me here.
I am not sure how to feel about that, but I do want to believe here. Sadly, that man once tried to catch me using a similar idea. One of the maids tried to be nice to me to earn my trust then brought me somewhere without people. I managed to get away because she did not keep her eyes on me all the time so I sneaked out as soon as she started to act weirdly.
Since then, I try to keep my distance from the employees working here. Even though I would like to talk more to other people... I only communicate when is needed because that happened.
"Listen, I know it really sounds strange. But I truly wish you could trust me. First, we should introduce ourselves. Can you tell me your name?"
I still find her suspicious, she could be, like that maid from before, be trying to trick me. As for her question, I seem to recall a line from certain book I read not to long ago. I would like to see how long will you patience help you to keep acting.
"Before asking others for their name, you should introduce yourself first"
She probably found it more unexpected than anything since she just blinked for a moment after hearing me say that.
I am actually found a little embarassing after I said that. I thought it would sound better but the idea is to see how much will she keep her acting.
But maybe she is really good because she just smiled softly for bit and then.
"I guess you are right, I am Jeanne, Jeanne Saphir"
She answered without showing even a bit of annoyance. She must be good at acting.
"I am Noir"
Since she answered I could only do the same, I was the one that proposed that she introduced herself first.
"Noir, you have a pretty name. Is it because of your hair?"
"...?"
This is the first time someone asked me about that, but I am not sure about the answer. I have never wondered about that. Why is my name Noir related to my hair color?.
"That face... You look somewhat lost. You don't know? Noir means black in French"
"..."
She told me because I seemed clueless about it.
Black? So that is why she mentioned my hair earlier. I didn't know... I wonder if I should've known. But know that I heard about it there is no need to worry about it I guess.
"You looked troubled for a moment, don't worry. It happens a lot, it is not always that people know the meaning of their name. Even I... just learned about mine when I was much older than you. So that's why, don't worry"
"..."
Although she kindly explained, I evaded her hand that was stealthly trying to pat my head. I won't let you fool me.
"Hehe, I am sorry. You just looked cute so I tried to do that without your permission. That was no good of me"
"..."
Her tone of voice when she said that sounded apogelic so I felt a bit guilty about what I did. But I.... won't be fooled by her kindness.
"I get it, it is hard to trust strangers after all. I even suddenly appeared. So I won't force you to accept me, but... You see. I am really not trying to harm you"
"..."
Even when she said all that, there was not a change on her expression that pointed any sort of annoyance. She seemed serious and honest.
I do wonder if... she really means it.
"I guess the best way to earn your trust is to be as honest as I can"
"...?"
I could tell for the serious of her tone that she was going to say something important. What could this be?.
I tightened my fists unknowingly. She... will she stop her act?.
"I actually knew about you before meeting you"
"!!!"
I knew it, she got close to me for some reason, not out of kindness.
Just hearing her saying it made me sad, maybe I wanted to believe... in her.
"I accepted this work to get close to you"
"!!!"
So... here it comes. She will call that man.
"I came here for only one reason. To be honest, I was not suppose to tell you until much later"
"...?"
What is she trying to say?.
"I first had to learn about his place working as a maid for a period of time, while observing you"
"So...?"
My tone of voice was low so I am sure if she heard me say that. It was most of an unconscious retort than anything else since she is not getting to the point.
But, she seemed to have heard me because she offered a smile after I said that.
"Curious, aren't you? But, I need to explain first or you won't understand later"
"..."
I nodded in response to that, she had a point there. Still... I don't have a choice but to listen.
"It was all to earn experience, so I could later do my job better"
"..."
I kept my silence this time, like during the most of our conversation.
"I am not sure how the arrangement was made, but that is not something I need to mind that much. What I came here to do was a priority. When I arrived here, I noticed how bad the situation was in comparison to what I was told so I decided to look for a change to meet you... although working as a maid was a miscalculation, I did not expect it. But it provided the chance to find you... Sadly, you were not easy to find"
"..."
What she is saying does not help me to calm down but I will still heard her out. Not like I can run for the moment.
"I just happened to find you by change"
"..."
Good luck for you, but bad for me.
"The real reason I was hired was for... taking care of you"
"....eh?"
What?.
"Not in a bad meaning, I can't explain to many details at the moment, but I am suppose to serve you"
"...."
What is going on? I don't understand anything of what she said. What...?.
"My job is to take care of your needs and keep you safe. I understand you probably find it hard to believe, but I am telling you the truth"
"..."
I kept listening but I was not understanding the meaning of the words.
"I think you need a little time to think about what I just said. You ran a lot and you seem tired, please wait for a moment while I bring you something to drink. You must be thristy"
With that said she did a small bow, and just left to look for a drink.
She did not wait for an answer from me, which I wouldn't be able to provide even if she waited for one. I was at my limit with all what she told me. But, I suddenly understood one thing, she is not here. I could think all I wanted later, right now I could get away from here. I really don't know if she is telling the truth or not. All that talk sounds like nonsense to me. Although she does not seem like a bad person... that maid from before seemed the same.
I need to go to place where even she won't think I would go. The corridors are no longer and option, while my room is not usually even an option.
Maybe I could go to...
*******************************************
"With that I planned to use one of empty guest rooms, but I was not sure which one was empty. So after opening a few doors that were not locked but had people's belongings, I heard the sound of people coming close. I opened the closest door I could find and hid in the closest place I found. That was the bed... after that I... Hmmm... I felt asleep"