"No identification, no entry!" the guard shouted
"Sorry for the inconvenience, but he's a recently hired butler for the Willsword family and hasn't gotten the chance to get his identification done!"
"Willsword...you may enter for now! Next time you plan on leaving or entering make sure to have an identification card!" he commanded
"Will do!" she replied
We hurriedly slipped past the guards as she grabbed my right arm to make sure that we moved quickly. We entered the town basked in lights with streets covered in lamps that hung on top of poles, lights showed from the windows in the houses. The town was very lively as people walked the stone-paved streets and children running, it's the evening and most towns should be quiet now.
"Hey! Where are we going?!" I whispered to Celene
"We're going to the Willsword family's manor and we'll hope for the best if they'll hire you because you need to make some money."
"Thanks for doing all of this..."
"It's fine! C'mon now let's hurry up!"
She dragged me and ran even faster through the stone-paved path, we headed north out of town and into another forest. There were no monsters along the way so we took a few short breaks because of the long journey to this manor she spoke of. After walking a few hours we arrived at an iron gate with a lion theme for design.
"Here we are!" she proclaimed cheerfully
"We finally made it somehow...I'm exhausted!" I panted
"Don't worry! I'm sure they'll let you rest for a few days!"
"Thanks for reassuring me."
The metal gates squeaked as it opened on their own somehow, we entered and the surrounding area near the gate was filled with fields of farmland and the smell of wheat was refreshing. The farmers spotted us and they waved at Celene as we walked through countless fields. We made it to the manor and the magnitude of this house so massive that the house alone is half of the total land in this compound. I stared in awe at the magnitude of this place, the person who owns this must be filthy rich.
"C'mon, let's go inside!"
She ran to the huge double doors with some gold platings and designs and she pushed them with ease. I followed after the cheery hopping Celene, a maid suddenly blocked our way in as Celene bumped into her blossom and bounced her head a few times.
"Head maid Patricia! I'm back!"
"Welcome back Celene and who is this friend of yours?" she asked with a cool voice similar to Zeksis's
"His name is Tarus and he's willing to work here!"
"What a convenient time to pick, we are just running out of people to work. I'll lead you to the headmaster and you Celene drop of your luggage and you'll be dismissed."
"Will do!"
"Now follow me, Tarus."
I nodded as I turned my head nervously to Celene and she smiled and pushed me.
"Don't worry you'll be fine! Sir Willsword is a kind person!"
I followed the head maid as we headed to the stairs made of polished marble covered with a red carpet. The stairs lead in two directions, the left and the right, the stern maid headed for the left and I caught a glimpse of Celene hopping away to what I presume the kitchen.
"Tarus, please fix your attitude when facing the head of the family as he is currently in stress from the workload, He may be generally kind but who knows when his temper is gonna show."
"Will do!"
We finally reached the second floor and there's a brown double door with two statues of armors for knights guarding it or something. She reached for it and knocked first before opening, talk about courtesy!
"My liege a boy is willing to work for you, he is brought here by Celene just now."
"Enter," he said in a deep scruffy voice
She proceeded to open the door with a loud creak and the room inside was filled with books on shelves to the brim, papers scattered along the floor and the smell of alcohol was strong. There was a table in the middle of the room it was rectangular and a chair facing the window.
"So who's this kid?"
"He's a friend of Celene from town."
"Identification?"
"Look's like he doesn't have one."
"Ok your hired kid, we need as many people as we can right now. Patricia prepare the papers for his identification and lead him to a vacant room."
"Will do my liege."
Patricia then headed out of the room to prepare some things and now I'm stuck with the head of the Willsword family. The air was tense and he slowly turned the chair, all I could see was his eye and the rest of his body was covered in shade.
"Still have something to say?" he asked coldly
"N-NO I DON'T!"
"Then you better get going, follow Patricia if you don't know what to do."
"YES!"
I got out of the room quietly and I felt that he's still staring at me. I closed the wooden door and went looking for Patricia. I made my way downstairs and into the corridor that Celene went to. I then heard some humming and I followed it, I made my way to the kitchen then saw a lively humming Celene fixing up the apples she picked...she's wearing a MAID UNIFORM!
"MAID UNIFORM!" I accidentally shouted and she noticed me
"T-Tarus! You surprised me..." she flustered a bit
"Sorry about that, I just also got surprised about you in a maid uniform..."
"Oh....anyways! How did the talking go?"
"Guess I'm hired! Thanks to you I can make some money and live!"
"No problem!"
"So what are you doing?"
"Fixing up the fruits I picked yesterday and storing them, we're preparing for the winter season."
"Oh...so that's why you guys need the help...let me help you then!"
"Wha- no no no! It's okay! I can handle this much!"
"I'd feel guilty if I didn't help you, and I haven't gotten the chance to repay you!"
"You don't really need to and this is the very first time someone has offered me help so I don't really know how to respond..." she flustered even more
"No need to worry about it and just let me help!"
In the end, I won the argument and helped her in sorting the fruits in their respective storages. When we finished I followed her into her room and she introduced me to her sickly grandma who was lying in bed. Her skin was covered in a gnarly purple substance and it looked like she was being cursed...