Fate had a funny way of relating with people, and most times at the expense of the latter. For one, the kingdom of Amalith was made up of humans and the Fae. With the latter being extremely powerful, one would have thought that they'd try to rule over the former. But for thousands of years, they had not only lived amongst humans but also procreated with them. The relationship between both species ran far too deep that the thought of any war was impossible to fathom. Still, despite this, the class system the kingdom followed did not fail to showcase, whether unintentionally, exactly who the most powerful species were. That was why, after the royal family, the Elite Fae were the second most important class in the kingdom. And the Maroke Manor housed one of them.
Mora and Petal stood outside the manor, in awe of the tall, broody building that looked like it had survived a millennial. She wouldn't be surprised if that was a fact. The surrounding air screamed of nobility, almost like the entrance was telling them that they were not worthy to stand before it. Though her memories were stunted, she wasn't sure she had ever come across a manor that huge, not to talk of entering into it.
'It is beautiful, right?' Petal said suddenly, causing Mora to glance at her sideways. 'Almost too beautiful to behold.'
And truly it was. The melancholic air surrounding it could be likened to a painting done by a gifted one with a broken heart. There was just something about the manor that she couldn't put her finger on.
She looked around and was surprised to find a small group of people standing behind her and Petal. She had thought that it was just the two of them who were sent to the manor, but now she could see that it wasn't the case.
The sky was cloudy, far better than the rainy days that always seemed to appear whenever she had an important thing to do. Hopefully, all would go well, and she wouldn't have to ever bother about that.
She looked down at the small bag she carried with both her hands. It was filled with a few clothes and personal items; things she considered important should she begin to work that day.
'Are you nervous?' Petal said, shivering slightly. For some reason known to her alone, she had decided to put on a gown that did well to cover the rest of her body except her arms. Her beautiful hair was tied up in a tight bun, exposing her pretty features. If the Lord of the Manor had a wife, Mora hoped that she never discovered Petal. She couldn't bear losing her new friend all because of a jealous wife.
'I am,' Mora answered truthfully. This was the most important job she had ever gotten. She had found it hard to sleep the previous night as she spent the whole time mulling over whether it would be a good or bad experience for her.
'I asked around yesterday after we both left the interview. Rumors have it that the Lord of the Manor is hardly ever around, so I think that works in our favor.'
'Is he married?' Mora asked.
'Not at all. He is too mysterious for that.'
Mora frowned. 'What do you mean?'
'It means that I can probably count the number of people who have ever seen him on one hand. He hardly ever shows his face to people except one is a very important person. And as a lot of Elite Fae haven't seen his face, I'd surmise that it's probably only those in the royal family who have.'
Mora's frown deepened. What she was saying didn't make sense. 'Then what about those who work for him? Are you saying that they also have never seen his face?'
'Hey, it's just a rumor I heard. It might end up being gossip that was excessively exaggerated. Anyway, whatever it is, we will find out the truth once we start working here.'
The large double doors that led to the entrance of the manor suddenly opened with a loud whoosh. Mora and Petal quickly assumed a serious stance, with the former hoping it was good enough for a first impression.
A middle-aged lady who Mora immediately assumed to be the head maid stood at the entrance of the manor with two other maids flanking her sides with their heads bowed. She wore a plain black dress that extended all the way to the floor, with sleeves that completely covered her arms and shoulders. She put on a white head cap, and a black apron covered the lower half of her body. Her face was set in a firm frown, reminding Mora of the woman who had interviewed them the previous day with the only difference being that while the latter was all sharp edges, the former's features were softer. Almost motherly.
'You all are welcome to the Maroke manor,' she started as a way of greeting, her voice surprisingly calm and gentle as the wind. 'I am Claudia, and I will be the one in charge of showing you around today.' She stepped to the side, the maids behind her falling in line.
'Come in quick. We have no time to waste.'
Mora hurried in immediately with Petal right in front of her. Once all the maids who were sent there had walked in, the doors were shut by the two maids who followed head maid Claudia, while she appraised the newcomers with sharp eyes.
'Before I begin, there are ground rules each one of you must do well to remember.' She said, her eyes roaming over every face. Mora felt that her gaze lingered on her a tad longer than normal, but she waved it off as her nerves were acting up.
'You all were sent here because we believed that you are capable of doing well in this manor. We are currently short of hands, and we will need all the help we can get. But for that to happen, you all must know these,'
She walked back a distance so she could take in everyone at once, while her maids took their place behind her with their heads bowed.
'One, you must not be seen. In the Maroke Manor, you are no different from furniture; to be used only when needed. Two, you must not be heard. Just as the same goes for a piece of furniture, any sound from you especially when in the presence of house guests is prohibited. Even if there are none, you are to go about your day in silence, not making a single sound. If you are caught not adhering to this rule, you would be fired immediately.'
Mora was tempted to glance at Petal to see her reaction to the rule, but she ignored the urge and remained focused on the head maid.
'Three, you are to never, ever come in close contact with any of the elites. Both the ones living in the manor and the ones who come as guests. I say this not only for the sake of the elites but for yourselves as well. You would come to understand why later on, that is, if you last long enough.'
Mora gulped and tightened her grip on the bag she held.
'Now that you know all these, we can start with the tour. Any other ground rules of the manor would be related to you by your colleagues.'
Mora spent the next hour following the head maid as she showed them certain areas of the manor. She did not take them around it, but rather showed them spots that she deemed were important for them to all know.
'This hallway leads to the wing of the Lord of this manor. You are under no circumstances to ever appear there.'
Mora studied the eerily dark, hazy hallway and fought a shiver. One couldn't pay her to go there either.
They continued their tour, Mora's hands already cramping from holding onto her luggage for too long. Finally, they returned back to the hallway they had earlier gathered in when they entered the manor, and the head maid stood in front of them to address them all again.
'You would be given a few hours of rest, but once it's evening you all are expected to begin your chores at once. I will send a maid to help you sort out the jobs you are to be doing, and you should make sure to listen attentively to her. Now that bring us to the end—'
A shriek sounded suddenly, cutting her off and everyone turned towards the sound, wondering who it was.
'I order you to get out!' A child screamed, walking into the hallway with two servants huddled around him.