Aaron looked at the mirror, gazing at his own image, his wet hair being combed, leashing every snook of his silver mane, leaving nothing untouched, his face, which was already healed by their healing potion. Couldn't gloss more than it was before, fixing every bruise her sister trampled.
Having his mother's beauty and his father's top-tier charm. The boy in the mirror was beheld as an angel, never seen before in history. So much so, a single look was like a blade, piercing through the maid's heart.
Aaron couldn't help but smile from within, proud of the looks he was gifted. Maybe the gods have indeed blessed him with this life. well, he was a dashing guy, through and thorough. Why wouldn't he want to indulge more in his narcissism? But the nudge from his side pulled him back. Faced with the level of beauty matching his own.
"What happened, Eli?" he asked, turning to her with a smile.
"Brother, brother. Why are the maids looking at you weirdly?" she asked, pointing to the maids who were tiding him up. Aaron couldn't help but let out his smile, the innocence of his sister always claiming him by surprise.
"it's just natural Eli, it's just natural, isn't it ladies?" he asked, patting his coat.
"ye..yes…wai..wait… No..No! young master, we wouldn't dare?!" they replied, all the three maids, bowing in unison, as a common folk wouldn't prod, placing their opinion on a noble, less be attracted to one. As their heads were more precious to them than their desires forecast.
Knock! Knock!
"come in!"
"Young master, Lord Robert, your father is waiting," Rudy called out.
Yes, the man who was in a black cloak was nowhere to be seen, only leaving him with a tidy outfit of a classic butler, his uniform more refined than the others, his posture of a disciplined servant, fluctuating from his straight neck to his united legs matching his right hand lanced straight, ready to bow at any given moment. But the only difference from his palpable clothing and bearing was his single right eye.
The red cybernetic eye was planted as the replacement for his damaged original. Indicating a past only known to the few, hosting an aura of mystery making him unique on his own and this anonymous figure was the man who was solely responsible for the future heir of the House Mirakle. The personal butler of Aaron Don Mirakle.
"wait for a second Rudy. The ladies have left some spots." He said, pulling his tie to his neck. "let's go,"
With those words, Rudy couldn't help but glare at the maids, who were already sweating to their core. But seeing his young master didn't mind such tardiness. He couldn't say more.
"After you, young master." He softly said, giving Aaron the way. "I will deal with you ladies later." He said, closing the door to Aaron's room.
It was just a single mistake, a simple flaw, and the reprobation for that was a sentence in which their very neck lay. But the fear they were facing, forcing them to bow even now, wasn't the comment of their young master, it wasn't the threat of their head butler, but the single girl who was still standing by their side, her cold red eyes, staring at them to no end.
"I hope you girls behave…" Eli said, her voice turning cold from the likes of her cute self.
With those words, she left, following his brother once more. but the looming words of her still rang in the maid's ear. As they still felt the tightness in their neck. both the older maid couldn't help but stare at the younger one. who was on the verge of teary eyes?
"I'm… sorry.." she said, pushing her blond hair to her ear.
"haaaa….. it's ok, you are new here, now you know, what should be done and what shouldn't."
"what!?..... just that, we are going to get our asses kicked by sir Rudy. And all you got to say to her is this…. It's ok!?" the black hair maid judged.
"….i don't want to discuss this further, there is much to be done." said the one in the middle. Fixing all the makeup equipment to the drawer. Her braided brown hair swung from left to right, pushing the last drawer in place. "we can talk and discuss as much we want later, now, our servitude is needed for house Mirakle. Let's go…."
Numerous maids, and numerous butlers, recouped around the giant high palace, doing their duty with the utmost certainty. Some may say, it is a privilege, to work for House Mirakle. Some may say, it was a tremendous liability. The voices and opinions were many as there were countless of them, a total of fifty-nine servants in total, some just hired, some who were with the house Mirakle for centuries, passing the line of servitude from one generation to another.
And even with those numbers, the list of recruiting, needed servants was many, as Robert sighed, gazing at his papers. Many spots have to be filled. He didn't know why, he didn't know how, but the number of servants who quit their position was high. Mostly maids, who were in charge of his son. He wanted to ask if his treatment of his maids involved misconduct.
"…..he is still a child, I will ask him about this later, first, this issue needs to be resolved." He said, taking out a picture.
Knock! Knock!
"come in."
"Master, Young Master Aaron has arrived." Rudy proclaimed.
Opening the thin but humongous door, both of them arrived with the lord's permission. The clamoring lights ravish the ceiling with all the paintings of their family and different forms of art, decorating the wall to its fullest. Adding enough luxury furnish that a meeting could be held with Royal guests if necessary.
"you are finally here, Aaron."
"yes my lord…" Aaron replied with a humble voice, bowing his head to his father, the lord of house Mirakle. Robert Don Mirakle. The man who was known as the sword caster. A title that was only given to a few.
"No need for pleasantries. Sit, we have a lot to talk about, and I believe, you also have many questions of your own." He said, nudging his head to Rudy.
Following command, he left them be, call it the time between father and son, or a lord and a vessel. For Rudy, it looked the same. it was sad in many ways, but this was the norm for a noble family, all noble families. As it was etched in the book of royal numbers. That family would come second after the people.
One of many reasons, corruption lay low in Mirakle territory. With three megacities in tow, seventeen business companies relating to the Mirakle potion. The standard was at its peak. Railing some heavy cash onto the family name. it was a better improvement, as it was handled by Robert himself, the Running CEO of Mirakle corporation. And the change started a year ago when Robert brought drastic changes to their formula, giving birth to two more successful potions. High healer, and high strengthener. Both upgraded versions of their past younglings.
"you can check these. I know you are well aware of business statics." Robert said, handing out a bundle of papers to his son.
Aaron reached out his hands, small may it be, he took the whole sheets, gazing his sight on the company papers. Robert could only observe, watching his every movement, from the change of his pupil to the measure of his hand gestures. Which could only put a smile on his end, leaving him to stand up, looking at the city, his city. But his eyes were still on him, the reflection of a nine-year-old child paneling on the glass window.
"….I'm finished." Aaron proclaimed.
"hmmm…that was quick," Robert replied. The whisk of a smile still etched on his face. "any opinions, my dear son has to offer."
Aaron couldn't help but show his own grin, he wanted to reply, turning eye to eye with his own father. But the morning sunlight looming from the window, blanked his vision. Only leaving the dark shadow guarding his whole.
'is he doing this on purpose?'
"….I am just a child, my opinion would matter not, my Lord."
But even in the darkness, covering his whole. Aaron could see the shine of his white teeth, showing his father's wide smile. but it was just a second. Just a minuscule second, and with just a blink, it was gone.
"says the 'child' who developed the very new versions of potions themselves. Your months of research and genius have borne fruit Aaron. You have added something that the history of our ancestry could not. Are you not proud? Are you not delighted with such an accomplishment?"
Aaron wanted to laugh out loud, proud? delighted? What mockery was this? He had done something even a student of his could easily do. And he was a high mage. Just tinkering with the menial mixture was his way of passing time, which he highly regretted doing. But what had been done, was done, and even with that miss, his goal still wasn't captured.
"well…..that's enough. don't worry, I will entertain you no longer. Let's get into the serious topic." He said, calming back his golden sit. "this…"
Tap! Tap!
"your…..night walks, finally came in handy." He said, still tapping on the picture, the picture of their new strengthening potion in the hands of a thief, a criminal. Which had already irked his ire already.