In the room, the man laid quietly on the bed watching the girl sleeping on the couch. He had promised not to make the girl do anything she did not want to. Hence, when she asked to sleep on the couch, the man agreed.
The girl had been sleeping soundly on the couch, when suddenly the pillow she had been sleeping on fell to the ground. It felt as if the pillow had been yanked from under her head. Groggy and confused, the girl picked up the pillow from the ground and placed it under her head again. Just as she rested her head on the pillow, it was yanked out from under her head again. She was wide awake now. Turning her head to look at Demetri, she saw the man was soundly asleep. Is it the elf demon? She thought. Did he come back? Panicked, the girl felt her heart grow heavy as she struggled to fall back asleep. Eventually, her fear overturned her pride and she took tiny steps toward the man and began tugging on his sleeves. Little did she know, the man flashed a smirk on his lips the moment he heard her light footsteps coming his way as he feigned sleep.
"Master." Scarlett tugged on his sleeves like a little kitten as she tried to wake him up.
The man woke from his slumber, looking at the petite girl like he was confused. "What's wrong, bunny?"
"I--I think there is someone in your room, master." Scarlett said, quiet as a mouse. The girl's eyes continuously darted around the room. "I--I think the elf demon has returned."
Hearing what the girl said, the man smiled internally with amusement. "Our room." He said in a serious manner, but the girl was too afraid to catch his words. "Are you afraid?" Demetri asked.
"Ma--maybe just a little." Scarlett said, hugging her pillow tightly with a small pout. The girl's cheeks blushed with embarrassment.
"Would you like to share the bed with me? I can protect you if he returns. He does not dare to bother me." Demetri suggested.
Biting her lips nervously, the girl was in a dilemma. It seemed the elf demon was only bothering her while her master had slept soundly. If she laid in his bed with him, would it really scare the elf demon away?
"I will not do anything to you, bunny. Do not worry." Demetri spoke in a low but serious tone, his eyes softened as he sensed that she was truly afraid. Seeing that the girl was close to giving in, he scooted over to one side of the bed. Patting on the unoccupied part of the bed, the man said, "Sleep here."
Scarlett was unsure if it was the man's promise or her fear that gave her the courage, but when the man scooted over and gave her a spot in his bed, she gave in and climbed up to lay next to him. Seeing that the man had turned in the other direction with his back facing her, she felt more at ease, and slowly she fell into a deep slumber.
Hearing the girl's steady breathing, Demetri knew the girl had fallen asleep. Turning around to face her, the man had one arm propped up to support his head. Looking at the petite girl before him unblinkingly. Brushing a red lock of her hair that tickled her face away, Demetri caressed her cheek and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
Looking at the thin blanket she brought over when she came to lay on his bed, he pulled it off her and threw the flimsy blanket to the ground. He then covered them both with his thicker blanket and hugged her tightly from behind after moving her into a fetal position. Snuggling his face onto the back of her neck, he inhaled her sweet scent and placed another soft kiss on her neck.
I thought you hated me so much, you were never going to come back to me. Now that I have found you, I will never hurt you again. In this life, I will be the one to love you more. I promise.
—
Waking up from her slumber, Scarlett rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and stretched her arms and legs. The sun shined brightly into the room. Opening her eyes, she remembered she was moved to the master's bedroom last night. Turning to look behind her, she saw that the man was already gone, his spot on the bed was cold. Putting on her slippers, she walked towards the large windows. The sun was high up in the sky already, it looks like it is way past breakfast time. Why did no one wake her for breakfast duty?
Just then, a knock came at the door. Swiftly, Scarlett moved to open the door.
"Morning, Scarlett." Marion said. "These are for you." She continued, handing Scarlett a new pair of black shoes. "Try them on."
Accepting the new pair of shoes, Scarlett walked back into the room as Marion followed. The girl sat on the couch trying on the new pair of shoes. They looked just like the pair Marion had given her before but as she slipped them on, to her surprise, this time, the shoes were a perfect fit. It felt much, much more comfortable than the pair she had before.
"They are perfect, Marion. Thank you so much." Scarlett responded with joy.
"Do not thank me, this was Demetri's request. He was the one who gave me your measurements." Marion said. Seeing the girl's excitement over new shoes, Marion could not help but slip out a small smile. It looks like things are starting to go in the right direction, she thought.
"Marion, what time of day is it?" Scarlett asked.
"It is nearly lunch time." Marion said, as she continued, "You have missed your breakfast. Would you like to have it? Or will you wait for lunch?"
"It is nearly lunch time?" Scarlett asked with panic. "Why did no one wake me for breakfast duty?"
"You serve Demetri now. He has removed you from cooking and cleaning duty."
"What will I be doing now then?" Scarlett inquired. The reason she had been brought to the manor was to cook and clean, if she was no longer on cooking and cleaning duties, what was the purpose of keeping her here?
"What Demetri tells you to do." Marion responded, nonchalantly.
"But master is gone when I awoke, and he has not given me any orders yet."
"Then I suggest you take a walk around before lunch is served if you are bored." Marion said as she began to walk towards the door to resume her duties. Her steps came to a halt as she reached the door, turning back to face the girl she spoke, "Scarlett, I'll be heading to the market after lunch with Emelia today. Would you care to join?"
Market? The girl's eyes sparkled as she heard this. She had never been to a market before. The master was gone today and had not given her any tasks, and although she had no money, the experience would be exciting.
"Yes! I would love to." Scarlett replied with excitement.
After Marion left, she decided to take a walk around the garden. However, as she was reaching the garden, she recalled the master had requested for her to look for his spectacles last night. With this thought in mind, the girl went back to the west wing.
Entering the master's study, the girl began searching for the spectacles. Master said they were round spectacles with gold rims. Looking through all the drawers, under the master's desk, and under the couch in his study, the spectacles were nowhere to be found.
"What are you looking for, bunny?" Demetri said in amusement as he leaned against the door. The man had been standing there watching the girl struggle for a while now.
"Your spectacles, master. They are nowhere to be found." Scarlett responded with exhaustion as she had searched his study for a long time.
"There is no need to keep looking. I found them this morning." Demetri said as he walked toward the girl. Making his way to his desk and sitting on the desk chair. Pulling out a pair of spectacles that was in his shirt pocket, he showed it to the girl.
Looking at the spectacles, the girl's brows furrowed as she grew more and more confused. She looked at the man before her as if he had two heads and spoke, "Master, these spectacles have no lenses."
"Of course, they have no lens. Did I say they had any?" Demetri questioned with raised brows and a teasing smile.
"I thought you wanted me to look for them so you could review your files?" Scarlett uttered with a pout.
"When did I say that, bunny? I think these spectacles complement my eyes the most and I wanted to wear them to the council meeting this morning, that was all." The man said in a carefree manner with a cheeky smile.
Hearing his words, the girl was surprised. She had thought that those were reading spectacles and the man needed them. He woke her up in the middle of the night and angered Marion because he wanted to wear spectacles that would complement his eyes? She suddenly felt like she had been cheated!