Upon entering the mansion, one will be greeted by a big courtyard, lush with beautiful flowering plants. At the middle stood a wooden gazebo decorated with rose vines. Turf benches completed the whole look as they gave accent to the whole garden. It was truly and amazing sight to see especially when the flowers were all blooming beautifully.
"You like them? Those were the favorite flowers of the late madam. This place was designed by her and the young master strictly orders this courtyard to be well maintained" Oswald spoke while he walked beside Nanna leading her to the great hall.
Nanna nods hearing about the madam thinking was it the reason the young master was very aloof and serious or was he always been like that.
"No and yes" Oswald chuckled a bit somewhat answering Nanna's thinking, "The young master was like that ever since he was born. He was like that since I've met him acting like he doesn't care about the people around but in truth he is the most caring person I know he just shows it differently." He added as they reached the great hall.
The great hall was located at the back of the courtyard allowing guest to enjoy the flowers in bloom during spring and summer.
Clive was seen leaning on the wall outside the great hall. His arms folded in front of him while his eyes were closed making one thought that he was sleeping. He looked so calm, his features still as sharp and as handsome as Nanna first laid her eyes on them making her inside feel warm and tingly it was not like her heat it was different not uncomfortable. She liked it.
"Young master Clive, were you waiting for us?" Oswald tried to tease Clive hoping for an amusing reaction and yet Clive only opened his eyes looking at the both of them before walking towards the door beside him but before he can go inside the great hall, a 'welcome' was heard not from them.
"Welcome to the Hartgilde mansion!" a tall slender man warmly greeted them as he approached them. He was observing Nanna slightly before turning his attention to the two. The young master was silently standing beside the man like he was ready to protect and attack anyone that might harm the other.
Seeing this Nanna thought of the words Oswald said earlier making her smile as she also remembered what her grandmother said before 'Nanna, people often hide who they really are that is why you can never assume anyone's character not until you have known them fully so be careful in this vast world.'
"I reckon your trip was tiring, wasn't it?" Nanna heard the tall guy said lifting her out of her daydream.
"Yeah, I'm so hungry I can eat a whole boar" Oswald said looking a bit pathetic hoping for the other's sympathy. The other guy smiled patting Oswald's head like he was a three-year old kid complaining to his brother.
"No worries, there's a lot of food for everyone. Let's go in and fill your stomachs." he smiled as he led them inside the great hall. A servant opened the door for them.
Oswald saw the young master and smiles mischievously approaching him. "Young master, you're here!" he said as if he just saw him now. "Thank you for welcoming us~" he teased more as he tried to suppress himself from laughing looking at the young master's face scrunching up from his teasing.
The young master frowned at him scoffing off as he followed the other guy. "Young master were you forced to come?!" Oswald added chuckling can't help but tease the young master knowing his temper, it really amuses him.
"Stop teasing him" a cool voice uttered as Clive passed by Oswald walking inside the great hall.
Oswald sighed not affected by what Clive said, "How did I become friends with these boring people?" he asked himself, hearing his stomach grumbled again he walked in but before he can go far he heard a giggle behind him.
"I think you guys are all fond of each other and are very close" Nanna said as she walked inside the great hall.
She was stunned at how big the hall was thinking no wonder it was called the great hall, it was so big it can already be a small house for a small family. The great hall was brightened by two chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. Two long tables occupy the center accompanied by long wooden benches on either side. At the end was a platform with a high table. The great hall really looked imposing along with the intricate carvings on the walls and the tall windows, it truly conveyed nobility.
As Nanna observed the hall, someone spoke besides her suddenly jolting her to reality, "Indeed they all are and yet they're all denying it. It's very hard to be the only one seeing it but now you are here. I hope we can be good friends and vent our frustrations of those three with each other." the tall guy from earlier suddenly appeared before her smiling and winking at her ignoring her bewildered expression up entering the great hall.
Nanna was surprised blushing a she got shy at what the other had said. These people, even though she was just a slave bought without much thinking, were all friendly and accommodating taking her anxiety from being in an unknown and unfamiliar place.
"I'm Rem Helwin. Nice to meet you~" he said as he extend his hand for Nanna to take.
"Nice to meet you too, my name is Nanna" she took his hand shaking it as she spoke.
Before the two can utter more words the young master spoke impatience in his voice, "How long are you going to stand there?"
Rem giggled. He pushed Nanna towards where the three guys were making her sit beside him as he sat on the young master's left side while Clive sat on his right side and Oswald sat beside Clive opposite Nanna.
Nanna sat down, occasionally peeking at the young master hoping to not get on his bad side on her first day at the mansion. "Is it really ok for me to eat with you?" she asked Rem thinking that slaves ate in the kitchen or somewhere else.
Oswald chuckled, "Did you really thought that the young master is that heartless" he chuckled more unable to wait for Nanna to answer his question. While the young master and Clive just continued to eat not minding their conversations.
Rem sighed looking at the young master then at Oswald who was really enjoying teasing the young master. He turned to Nanna, "No, everyone eats here together today is an exemption as we both waited for you guys to come. The others have eaten already."
Nanna responded with an 'Oh' nodding at him.
Before Nanna was really anxious and nervous about living in the mansion but now she isn't as these people in front of her proved her that not all those who were wealthy and have power were bad.
"Now, now, Oswald you don't want to sleep in the stables don't you?" Rem asked him with a warning tone indicating that if he went further in teasing the young master he would surely end up in the stables.
"Fine, fine I'll stop." He said shuddering in defeat as he thought of himself sleeping in the stables where it was really cold.
They were served good food, from roast boar to scrumptious salads to delectable sweets, foods that Nanna only has eaten when they were celebrating her birthday or her grandmother's.
Nanna's family wasn't very poor but they weren't considered well-off too. What they had was just right for the both of them to get by on their daily lives with a little extra on the side so this feast in front of her, she savored it as if it was her last.
Rem saw how Nanna paid attention and carefully savored her food. He was amused so he took some more food and placed it on her plate, "Eat up there's more where it came from." Nanna blushed accepting the food as she continued to eat.
"Ahem!" a cough was heard echoing in the hall. They all turned to where it came from. Sound of laughter can be heard after as Oswald laugh loudly seeing the young master frowning looking at Nanna and the food given by Rem.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" he continued to laugh "It's just that young master is very cute when it comes to Rem. He really get jealous easily" he added as he laughs more.
Before anyone can say anything a 'boink' and 'ow' echoed the hall. Oswald's laughter can no longer can be heard and was replaced by whine. "That hurts Clive!" he whined more as he rubbed the area that was hit.
"Stop teasing Leon or you'll get thrown out" Clive said as he finished his dessert.
Nanna and Rem giggled after watching these group of friends then Rem looked at Leon, "Stop glaring and eat", he said as he placed another slice of dessert on Leon's plate smiling at him sweetly. This made Leon blushed, his ears turned red as he ate the dessert.