I take a thorough look at the notes before me and sigh a breath of relief. Thank everything that is good in the world! I still remember everything that happened in the book. If I follow the path the previous Elysia took, I'd be giving myself to the afterlife for free. However, I'm sure this is not just a 'book' anymore. This is real life, this is my life now.
If I plan to deviate from the story, I should make sure to assess the current situation because I just vaguely wrote what happens before the story officially starts. I should also be extra careful not to jeopardize the original story too much. First of all, my attendants, the people that serve me and the senior management.
I stood up and rang the bell for someone. Another minute passes and a small knock is heard from the door. "Come in."
A maidservant comes inside the room, she has brown hair that sits atop her head, forming a bun. She also is considerably shorter than me and her eyes are green. She bows low and waits for my response. "M'lady, I have come to serve you."
"Stand straight." She does as told and faces me but her gaze remains on the floor. "What is your name?"
"Mir, M'lady." She replies.
"Mir, request for the butler, the head maid, the cook and the housekeeper." This takes the girl aback. Her body stiffens and for a second, she must have not known how to respond. "Tell them that I wish to speak to them regarding something of utmost importance and I'll be waiting for them in the audience chamber."
Her hesitation is now more evident. Her behavior is understandable. Elysia, for the most part, was not someone who was interested in the people inside of the residence even if she was the second lady of the manor. She barely talks to the people and even those who directly interact with her is met with a fierce glare on the better days and screams on the worse ones.
She excuses herself and scurries off. I look out of the window and an elegant form sits underneath a parasol next to a tree. She carries herself with dignity and her brown mousey hair is tied up. She must have sensed that I was looking at her direction because she turns to look up at where my window is and a subtle smile is plastered on her face. I stiffen and the realization hits me. I am supposed to meet with her and have lunch together. I give back a forced smile and nod.
Yesterday we had breakfast together and as expected, the tense atmosphere suffocated me to my core. Elysia was known to show her hostility directed towards the second wife of the duke. Despite all that, she would always invite Elysia even if she was rejected every time.
Once she heard that I accepted her invitation yesterday, she prepared a meal not fit for breakfast at all. It was a feast. I would have enjoyed it but everyone was so cautious of what I would do and all eyes were on me. Willing myself to go through it, we actually had small talks. I'm guessing that she was being considerate of me so the conversation never steered towards anything that could have offended Elysia.
A knock bursts my thoughts and I immediately responded. "Yes?"
"The head maid, the butler, the cook and the housekeeper awaits the Miss." The familiar voice croaks outside of the door.
"I'll be there in a minute."
Inside the chamber, four people stand beside each other, murmuring amongst themselves. "What do you think the young miss will say to us?" Asks the short and stout man, caressing his mustache in thought.
"She rarely asks for us but now she asks for the four of us together. Is she going to scold us?" Another person chimes in, her words are soft. She wears a long gown with a sleeveless tunic. Her hair is kept with a wimple.
A woman wearing the same long gown sighs, her grey hair is tied up in a bun. "I am worried. She does not act this docile, she even accepted the mistress' invitation!"
"She even thanked some of the maidservants and uses a formal tone around them. Maybe the young miss is distressed?" A tall and sinewy man in his 60s adds. He wears a black suit with a white shirt and black ties.
They continue until a guard announces the presence of Elysia.