AS THE SUN rose, its radiance entered the rooms on the second floor of the Tan mansion. Uno then woke up in an unfamiliar room. He was dazzled by the sunlight hitting his face.
He blocked the light using his one hand to give shade on his face. As he rested his right hand on the side of the bed to help himself get up. But he was overwhelmed when he felt the pain in his body. The painful wounds on his back was caused from the whipping of the Deputies on him yesterday.
He could not remember how long the punishment lasted for him. He lost consciousness due to fatigue and losing a lot of blood. What he is wondering now is how did he end up in this place?
Were the Deputies kind that they treated his wounds and kept him in a fancy room?
"Good morning, Sir. I am the maid number fifteen of the Tan. I am here to deliver your breakfast," a woman appeared from in front of him. She is wearing a mixed red and white motif maid attire.
He finally got up from lying to sat on the bed. He let the maid fix the bed tray on the top of his lap. His tongue immediately watered when he saw the food.
There are sweet berry scones, smoky red pepper hash browns, fresh fruits — banana, kiwi, and grapes, and the drinks are orange-mango agua fresca and brewed coffee. Of course water is also included.
"I hope you like what we served. Enjoy your breakfast. Lady Kirsten will come to you later," the maid spoke again.
He turned his attention to her. She was about to leave so he stopped her immediately.
"Wait, maid number fifteen! May I ask a question before you leave?" he stopped her and he asked.
She stopped walking and approached him again before responding, "All right, please ask."
"Do you know what happened to me yesterday? And why am I here in this room today?" he asked again.
"All I know based on what I have heard is that Lady Kirsten saved you from your punishment. She ordered the Deputies to take you here to the mansion for treatment," the maid replied in a calm tone.
His forehead creased and he wondered who this Lady Kirsten she was referring to?
"May I know who Lady Kirsten you are talking about?" he uttered the question playing in his mind.
"She is the only child of the Tan family," the maid replied.
He nodded and pout his lips slightly. In his heart he was full of gratitude for this good woman who had saved him.
"She also paid a lot just to get blood for you. It is difficult to find your bloop type, Sir. You need a blood transfusion last night because you lose a lot of blood in your body," the maid said some more kindness that Lady Kirsten did for him last night.
He looked at his right wrist. Only now did he notice the dextrose attached to him, it served as a medium to replace the bloods he had lost last night.
"I can't wait to meet her. I'm excited to thank her personally. Maybe your master is an angel who fell to the ground," he said happily.
"She will come to your room to visit you later. I will go first, Sir. I have a lot more to do," the maid said goodbye and left.
He tried to dispel the urge to meet Lady Kirsten. He diverted his attention to the breakfast given to him and he began to eat.
KIRSTEN IS busy reading books. She is currently in the library of their home. She was with her butler who was just behind and waiting for her order.
She reads books about the governing system in their own organization. Which she knows is hidden from the knowledge of the true government of their country.
During the few years she lived in Singapore and at the young age of fifteen when she left here, she already forgot the kind of administration of the Wrath Organization. So she is here to read so she can remember and expand her knowledge about it.
Though, it was imprinted on her mind even before she was young that their family in the highest positions, the so-called The Royalties, formed the organization. Now she prefers to learn about the lower positions.
She continues to read.
The Deputies who are in the middle rank and the next in their position. They have the same freedom as they do but there is a limit if Royalties prohibit it. They are commanded to obey all orders of those in the highest positions or their respective masters. They live in buildings near the mansion of their masters and are given a condo unit with or without their family. These buildings are called quarters.
While the lowest rank has three sublevels. The first sublevel is The Supports, the second The Servants and the final sublevel is The Serfs.
The Supports has no freedom but has the right to do restorative activities. They are the right-hand men of the Deputies and are also commanded to follow all the orders of their masters. They cannot refuse. Such as if a Deputy rejects their master's order, the Supports will take part. They live in houses on the ranch of their masters.
The Servants, on the other hand, have no freedom and always obey their masters. They are butlers, female headservants, maids, drivers, and so on. They cannot leave the manor if it is not ordered or it is not in their schedules. They live in the crowded maids room of the mansion of the families they serve.
And then The Serfs, they are the ones at the lowest level and the lowest position. They have no freedom and rights. They do heavy work such as farming on the vast farms of their masters, and carpentry to build infrastructures. They are not paid unlike those in the high ranks among them. But they are provided with groceries, food and some other personal necessities. They live in huts next to the farm.
Kirsten stopped reading when she heard a knock. Her butler walked automatically to open the door. One of the maids was outside the door and the ones who knocked.
"What do you need?" the butler asked.
"I am maid number sixteen and I was ordered to let you know that the young man is awake. The person you saved last night from punishment," the maid replied.
She immediately closed the book and stood up. And she walked quickly out of the library.
"Come and let us go to him," she invited the butler and maid who was already behind and following her.
UNO JUST finished eating. Another maid came and took his bed tray. The maid came out just in time when someone entered the room again.
His eyes shifted to the new entrants. And based on the two staffs who are following the beautiful woman, she assumed it was Lady Kirsten referred to by the maid number fifteen.
The girl was wearing beautiful and expensive clothes. Its accompanying staffs remained at the entrance of the door. Only the beautiful lady approached him.
"Are you Lady Kirsten?" he could not restrain himself from asking.
"Yes, it is me. I am here to know how's your condition now," her voice answered softly and with great concern.
He bowed to pay homage as this woman was in a high position. He looked up again and he was a little surprised because she was already sitting on the side of the bed. He became nervous because she was quite close to him.
"How are you feeling?" she asked and stared at him. She also stroked his hair and pinned the extra hair at the back of his ear which covered some part of his face.
He calmed himself because of the nervousness that went up inside him. Only now has he experienced a kind treatment from this woman in a high position.
"Thank you so much for saving me. Because of you, my condition is getting much better now," he replied shyly and could not look directly at her.
"It is nothing. I just hope next time you avoid trouble so that you are not always involved in the punishment of the Deputies," she advised him. "Can you promise me that you will do that? Even just for my concern?" she asked for his confirmation and she wants to make sure.
He slowly looked into her eyes. He saw the pleading so he automatically nodded. He seemed hypnotized, his heart began to pound and beat so fast.
He is experiencing a new and strange feeling.