"What's that?" Aylin asked just as she heard footsteps behind her.
Turning her head, she saw Selena walking toward them with some girls and men until they stood beside their table, bowing their heads in greeting.
Turning back to face Andromeda, she inquired, "Uhh... what's going on?"
Andromeda smiled, waving her hand at the expression on Aylin's face. "It's nothing, I just selected some girls for you to choose from to become your handmaiden, and the men are –"
"Handmaiden?"
"Yeah, a handmaiden who will serve you. Every noble lady has one."
Yeah, she knows that. It's not as if she didn't watch movies.
"But… What about Jayla?" Aylin asked as her eyebrow furrowed in confusion.
"Jayla can't be your handmaiden because she has a very important role among the maids in the mansion. I'm sorry if you want–"
"No, it's alright, I understand," Aylin replied, giving her a small smile. With that, she turned around and faced the three women standing near her.
"So Uhm, I am supposed to choose one of them right?" Aylin asked, staring at the four girls standing before her. The girls looked young, probably around twenty or nineteen years old. They wore maid dresses, and their heads hung low.
"Yes," Andromeda replied, and Aylin nodded.
"Introduce yourselves," Andromeda instructed one of them immediately stepping forward.
"Your Grace, Milady, my name is Lyla, I'm nineteen, and I will be glad to assist Milady." She said before moving back and another girl stepped forward.
The second girl stepped closer with her eyes lowered. "I am called Yvonne, Your Grace, Milady. I'm eighteen. I'll be honored to serve you." She said while bowing her head.
The next came forward until the last one.
"M-milady, Y-your grace." The girl bowed deeply, and her golden blonde hair fell over her shoulders, covering her face. " M-my n-name is... Dahlia, I'm nineteen years old." Her voice and body were shaky as she continued to bow.
"Uh, Dahlia, you can raise your head," Aylin said, feeling uncomfortable.
"O-okay milady," She straightened a little, her head still hanging low.
"Look at me."
"But-t Mi-lady..."
"It's alright, just look at me," she insisted. When the girl obeyed, Aylin smiled. Dahlia had a bright bluish-green eye with a light yellow border surrounding it. Her cheeks were rosy and full.
"Wow, your eyes..." Aylin said, staring at Dahlia's eyes in awe.
"I'm sorry, M-milady, p-please forgive me," Dahlia hurriedly apologized, bowing her head repeatedly.
"No, don't apologize, it's ok." Aylin shook her head, "Please stand up Dahlia, I'm sorry for staring at your eyes like that. I've never seen such eye color, that's why. So there's no need to apologize."
"I'm s--"
Andromeda spoke again, interrupting Dahlia, "Stop apologizing, you didn't do anything wrong and the rest of you, leave."
Dahlia quickly nodded while bowing her head repeatedly, Yvonne and Lyla both bowed their heads and walked away with their heads hanging low. Once she was certain they had left, Andromeda stood up, took a sip from her cup of tea, and asked, "So which one do you choose?"
Aylin thought about it for a moment, and then finally decided to pick Dahlia. "Dahlia, she looks lovely and innocent, doesn't she?"
"I suppose so. But, that isn't the only you chose her, right?" Andromeda asked curiously.
"Well, you see. We're kind of the same in some aspects," Aylin shrugged, "I don't know, I kinda see my younger self in her."
"I see..." Andromeda nodded slightly as she placed her cup down on the plate.
"What about them?" Aylin asked, nodding at the men who stood nearby.
"Choose one of them."
"For what?"
"To be your guard," Andromeda stated calmly.
"You're kidding, right? Do I need a guard?" Aylin questioned, appalled.
"Trust me, you do, Aylin."
"But–"
Andromeda cut her off again before she could protest. "Aylin, listen to me. You are a human, you need protection. I insist."
"Why? Are there no humans here?" Aylin asked, puzzled.
"Well, there are several humans but not many are in the upper class. So even if you're wealthy, they won't respect you because you are a human. They feel that humans are beneath them, and treating one like them is something they can't do. But since you are an acquaintance of the Duke's family, they won't do anything but that doesn't mean you shouldn't protect yourself." Andromeda explained.
"Besides, there has been a lot of unrest lately." She added.
These last words piqued Aylin's interest and before she could stop herself, she blurted, "What do you mean by that?"
Andromeda stared straight at Aylin, contemplating if she should tell Aylin. But after remembering what that witch said to her, she gave in.
"I'm not sure if I should be telling you this but since you're going to be staying here for a while, then you need to know. At least for your safety." Her voice came out soft, not wanting to scare Aylin but Andromeda didn't know that it only brought out the opposite effect on Aylin.
"What is it?" Her tone was serious but also fearful.
Andromeda sighed. "Young girls go missing and then found dead with their hearts pulled out." Aylin gasped, her eyes wide as she stared at Andromeda who continued talking. "Both nobles and commoners are being killed and though the king has sent out people to investigate it, nothing has been known yet."
"How long… Has i-it been…?"
"Three weeks and the girls are killed every three-night making it a total of seven girls that have been killed. Unfortunately, we don't know who is doing it and why but it is better to be safe than sorry so Aylin... You need this." She said solemnly.
Aylin was silent as she processed everything she had just learned.
Young girls being killed with their hearts pulled out? What sort of sh*t was that?! Oh goodness! Not only did she teleport to some unknown supernatural world, but she'd also been tasked to make a certain hot duke fall for her, and now… Now she got to know that girls are being killed in such a brutal way.
Who was doing it and Why? No one knew.
Dammit! This place was f*cking complicated.
"Alright, fine. I choose him," Aylin gestured to the man standing a few feet away. He was tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. His build was muscular and he had a strong jawline.
Aylin wasn't planning on going out of this mansion anytime soon and if she ever had to, then she most certainly wouldn't be going alone.
"He's a good choice," Andromeda nodded, turning to look at the knight who was already walking toward them.
As soon as he reached the table, he immediately knelt on one knee and bowed, placing his left hand on his chest, he said, "Your Grace, My Lady. I am Sir Karl Marlon, the number seventh-ranked knight in the Duke's Knight and I would be honored to serve you."
"Uhh... Thanks, Karl," Aylin smiled, "I'm Aylin, and I'm happy that you are honored to serve me?" She added, unsure of what to say.
"Uhm, why are you not standing up?" Aylin asked as it has been close to a minute since she had replied.
"My lady did not give me permission to stand." He said and Aylin sighed.
"You can stand up Karl, and you do not need my permission to," With that, Karl got up, bowed again, and went to stand behind her.
Aylin turned her head to him, "Why are you standing behind me?" She asked him but Andromeda replied.
"He is your guard now Aylin, He goes wherever you go and stays wherever you are."
"What? But I thought it was only when I needed to go out."
"I never said that."
"Andromeda… I can't have a guard following me around. I don't know… It's…" She trailed off, trying to figure out what to say.
"You never know, it doesn't hurt to be cautious."
"Yeah but, still... It will be uncomfortable for me."
Andromeda nodded. "Alright, Tell him to leave because he won't move from that spot if you don't," she told Aylin who frowned.
"Karl? You can go. I will call you when I need you." she instructed and he bowed before walking off.
Especially whenever she was going out of this mansion.
Watching him walk away, Aylin let out a sigh and leaned back, she stared at Andromeda who was leisurely drinking her tea. "Is that all?" Aylin asked and Andromeda smiled.
"Yes, that's all for today."
"Right." Aylin sighed again, gazing at the trees, the flowers, and the bushes encircling the garden. "I like it here," she said and glanced over at Andromeda who was staring at her.
"I know, it's calming and peaceful."
"Yeah.." Aylin agreed. There was silence between them after that, Aylin didn't want to think about what Andromeda told her, it was disturbing. Instead, she stared back at the scenery, thinking back to her little garden behind her house back home. Her garden wasn't as large and entrancing as this one, this—was on a whole other level.
Aylin couldn't believe that she now had a guard and a handmaiden. If one were to look at the downsides of this all, it was like she was living like a princess.
I mean, someone waking her up, preparing a bath, and helping her get dressed. Eating already-served food, relaxing in a heavenly garden, and having a guard to protect her.
Yeah. She was living the life of a fucking princess. But in a very dangerous land.
"Your grace!" a maid called as she rushed towards them, a look of disbelief on her face—breaking the peaceful bubble they were in.
Aylin and Andromeda turned to look at the surprised girl. "What happened?" Andromeda demanded.
"Y-your g-grace, L-lady lady Rhea is... She's outside the mansion!"
"What?!"