Atlier sat at the large wooden desk in his study. Papers were scattered across the top of it although he did have a singular stack neat and ready for use on top of the disorganization and chaos. Across from him, on the couches nervously sitting, were three of his staff members; the cook, a maid and one of the butlers. They were workers he knew he could trust and some of the few that had survived Telna's re-organization of the estate.
The cook, Claude, was an elderly gentleman who had worked in the estate for years after spending his youth traveling through Baska to hone his culinary skills. In Atlier's youth the man had acted as a grandfather-figure, sneaking him snacks and pastries before parties and helping him with his world studies. As Atlier had gotten older, they spent less time together as Atlier had grown out of these habits and the need for such studies, but their bond had already been solidified.
He was the least nervous of them all, thanks to his experience with the Montz family and Atlier particularly no doubt. His aged hands sat neatly in his lap as he awaited the reason why he was summoned to such a place on such short notice. The maid, Maureen, was unable to hide her nerves as well as Claude. Like the cook, her hands were also placed in her lap, although they were fidgeting with one another as if in a life or death brawl.
Her hair and uniform were neat and orderly, despite all of the cleaning she did. She also had years of experience in the Montz estate, although not as many as the cook. She was a few years older than Atlier and had come into the estate during her teenaged years after her father had fallen ill and her family needed income. She was an extremely diligent worker and took her job and loyalty to the Montz family seriously.
The butler, Edis, was the most distraught. On the outside anyways. His hands were kept at his side and were fidgeting with the seam on the edge of the couch cushion while his body continuously squirmed as he attempted to get comfortable. His normally straight posture and calm face were hunched and expressing worry. He had only served the Montz family for three years and was still relatively new. However, he had fallen hard for Maureen and would do anything for her, so Atlier knew as long as Maureen was on his side, Edis would be as well.
"Do you know why I've called you here?" Atlier asked as he made lingering eye contact with each and every one of them.
Maureen bit her lip and broke his gaze as she stared down at her hands. Her voice quivered ever so slightly as she replied, "Your grace I may not speak for others, but I do not know why I, or anyone else, have been summoned here. If you may enlighten me, I would be extremely grateful." She spoke with elegance, just as she had been trained. Atlier smiled at the fact that she upheld what she'd been taught even in a moment where she was uncertain of her future. That was what he liked best about her.
"I may. You may all relax, I'm not here to end your careers or your futures here at the Montz estate," The tension in the air immediately dissipated and he could see Maureen and Edis breathe a sigh of relief as their shoulders relaxed as soon as the words left his lips. He chuckled quietly, amused at such a sight before he continued, "You three are the ones I know I am able to trust out of our current staff roster. As you know, Telna has released many of your colleagues and friends and replaced them with her own staff. I'd like you to tell me about Telna's behavior while I was away. How was she to you, to her staff and to Mia."
Maureen lifted her head high and made eye contact with Atlier, a betrayed and disgusted look in her eyes, one that Atlier had not seen from her before. She spoke with her jaw clenched and her hands balled into fists, "Your grace, I first ask for your forgiveness if I offend you with my words about your upcoming bride. Second, I will inform you that she was cruel to Lady Mia and many of the other staff. Third, I will state that she does not uphold her staff to the quality in which this estate operates. That is all I will say on the matter, lest I say something I should not."
Edis was the next to speak up, Maureen's words had upset him so much that he hopped right out of his seat. "I will say what she will not your grace! The Duchess is a witch! She struck Lady Mia many times, even when Lady Mia was performing her duties better than the staff which the Duchess had brought in. She's made work harder for the likes of Maureen and myself because we now have to pick up their slack! Not only that, but one of the maids tried to help Lady Mia was threatened with being sold! Any of the staff that spoke up against Lady Mia's treatment was threatened and punished, including Maureen!"
Atlier glanced between Edis and Maureen. Edis' anger was growing the more he spoke out, his voice growing louder and louder to the point that Atlier had to tell him to quiet down in order to not alert Telna or her staff. Maureen was near tears at the mention of how she had been punished for helping Mia. Atlier began to scribble down notes on the papers that lay in front of them as Edis quietly went on.
After the younger two had finished speaking, Claude waited for Atlier to look his way before giving his input and intel.
"Your grace, I have loyally worked under your family for almost your whole life. I have seen many people come and go from our staff roster and I have seen many nobles come in and out of this estate. I've traveled all over Baska and met countless different characters. Never have I met anyone whose core was so rotten. What Edis and Maureen have said is true. I may not have been there to personally witness it, but I've heard Telna's staff members gossiping about it as they came in and out of my work station. I have, however, heard of her threatening to sell Lady Mia. The Duke and Duchess Montz have taken in all kinds of people over the years, but never have they, nor have they threatened to, sell a staff member."
Atlier nodded, "You are correct. Our staff are not property, nor are they something sellable. Thank you for giving me this information. I'm going to do my best to have Duchess Telna removed and have our engagement broken. I hope that you will bare with it until then as it may take some time. In the meantime, I would like for you to feel out the other staff members. Those of ours left over and the ones the Duchess has brought in. I want a list of names by next week of who you believe I can trust and who would be willing to give a testimony to her behavior."
The three of them nodded in unison before exiting the room to pursue their mission.