When Edward Downer, the 16-year-old heir to baron Edwin Downer, entered the room being cleaned by the maids and said that he wished to question Karmen, nobody expected him to ask her:
"...you are a virgin?"
After all, despite him being the future master of the household, there were limits to how he could treat his servants. Karmen being a young maiden indeed, and him being a young man with no suspicion of Karmen for any activities that put the baron's estate or kingdom at risk, it made no sense for him to ask Karmen such a personal question. The maids thought, surely the young lord must know how inappropriate of a question this is.
So, assuming he knew, how could they answer him? What would they even say? Were they allowed to answer truthfully, and if they did, could it put Karmen in an awkward position? Three maids wracked their brains thinking of how to respond to Edward Downer, while the young man in question stared pointedly at Karmen. It was as if the young man (who could truly still be called a boy considering his mannerisms) wanted to find out what Karmen was thinking. Perhaps he even hoped that she was thinking of him. Karmen was a beautiful woman after all.
Short and silky platinum blonde hair that stopped just above her collarbones and tucked securely away from her face. Her hair glowed in the sunlight coming in through the vast windows of the young lord's room, looking almost white or silver in its sheen. Her eyelashes were long and thick, with eyebrows that perfectly framed her eyes, and cheeks both defined and soft. Karmen's skin sunkissed and clearly calloused on her hands was beautiful to look at, proof of the hard work she put into everything she did. She might not have been a subject of envy to young noble ladies, but she was certainly a feast for the eyes all the same.
"Well?" Edward Downer was still waiting for an answer.
The maids shifted uncomfortably, and everyone's gaze fell onto Karmen, who was not unaware of it all. However, she was transfixed on the shattered cup on the ground. A puddle of cold tea was forming on the marble flooring, and seeping ever so slowly into the cracks between the tiles.
Gritting her teeth, Karmen answered the young lord. "Yes, I am a virgin," She said, still staring at the puddle of tea and the shattered cup, which was, in fact, a beautiful piece of china before it was broken, with dainty paintings of flowers and golden rims. Karmen was nudged by one of the maids next to her, so she added "...my lord."
Edward's face brightened. He grinned mischievously, sending foreboding shivers down Karmen's spine. She did not want to know what he was thinking. He voiced his thoughts regardless of everyone's wishes.
"That is perfect! Absolutely perfect! I had been looking for a virgin, in fact." Edward rubbed his chin and nodded as if pleased. "It appears that the Goddess favours me today. What is your name?"
"It is Karmen, my lord." He was looking for a virgin. What would a young man be looking for a virgin for? Karmen felt fear start to make its way into her heart.
"Wonderful, Karmen! I shall send for you tomorrow. My friends should arrive in the morning, so be ready by then. Dress in your best, you hear me?"
Why would he send for her? And to wear her best too? Her heart stilled, and she froze. Karmen's downcast eyes rose to stare at the young lord. He was leaning on a study desk, his back facing the window. The light came in harshly through the glass, and it cast Edward's face in a shadow. However, Karmen could still see a smirk. It somehow felt lecherous. She felt his eyes scanning her slowly, and she itched to run away. Why did she think that this job was going to be easy? What a fool she was.
Silence. Five people in the room, and yet nobody spoke or moved. The maids' breathing could be heard loudly and clearly by Karmen, who herself could hear her own heartbeat ringing in her ears. Rustling noises. The young lord moved from his leaning pose to slowly walk towards the women. A young man just 16 years old, and already with such a frightening presence. Karmen saw him walk into the puddle of cold tea, and she watched as his footsteps moved closer towards her. With each step, her heart fell further down to her stomach, and it grew louder. She felt herself growing dizzy. This was dangerous. She should have lied. She should have avoided him. She should have run away, quit her job, or never started working here.
He leaned close to her ears, and whispered quietly so only she could hear, "Don't try to run away, okay? I am counting on you, and I won't have you running away after I found you." His breath tickled her ears. Her stomach turned. "Otherwise, I suppose I could find your family. Perhaps you have relatives that could replace you."
A threat. She was being threatened. He was threatening Karmen and her family, and for what?
Edward stood up straight, still in front of Karmen who was glaring at the ground furiously. "You are all dismissed now."
All four maids scurried out of the room hurriedly, none wasting a second in that stifling atmosphere. Once they were all safely out of the room, old Mary looked at Karmen with concern. Just then, Karmen's knees buckled, and tears started to fall out. The other two maids gasped and rushed to help Karmen up.
"Oh, what do I do?" Karmen sobbed. "What am I supposed to do now? I'm done for."
"I didn't think the young lord would be that bad…" One of the maids murmured. Another nodded pitifully.
None knew what to do, and all felt powerless.