I still wait for the girl before me to speak while looking at her eyes.
She has pretty dark eyes, I thought.
"W-well," she spoke after a few seconds passed.
"...we are sharing a room. Five to six people in one room. But for me, I share with seven people. Sky, Debi, Abigail, Engela, Gina, Rose, and me, Zendaya," she said with a smile on her face but also looked confused.
That many?
"Where are they?" I said.
While looking at them resting around the living room area, well, it was supposed to be it as the space was still not tidied up.
As for my planning idea, I would say it's like this: the north rooms have twenty small compartments from the third floor to the lower level. I want it to be the servant-maid room. To the south, there are also fifteen slightly larger compartment rooms on levels two and one. I would like to put a head maid, head chef, and butler if I want one. Perhaps a librarian?
On the third floor, there is a large room. I think it is suitable to use as a library later, and at the bottom, there is also a kitchen and laundry room, which is joined by a door at the back.
In the middle of the third-level hallway, there are ten large chambers. I was thinking of making it a guest room if I have one. On the second level, there are also five chambers, which are larger than the chambers on the third level.
On the first level, I can use the existing open space as a study room, games, or hobby room, and I can think of others as time passes. The most important thing is that I already thought about where to locate the lounge room, dining room, and parlour room.
Honestly, there is no other option but to locate it on the ground floor.
"Everyone, raise your hand," told the maid.
"I am here, Mr. White. Engela," said the curly-haired girl while raising her hand.
"Sky,"
"Rose,"
"I am Abigail, Master," said the girl with long blonde hair. I remember her from the 'voting program' failure. I saw her every day, but perhaps I didn't notice she surrounded me all this time until this morning.
The other two did not speak their names. I assumed their names would be Gina and Debi as I would not ask further; the Zendaya girl only asked to raise their hand.
"Thank you, Zendaya. Anyway, I would like to inform you that two people will be in one room for the servant-maid in the north building. The chef's room will be on the south, with three people in one room, as you guys will be in the same building with the head chef. Now, head chef?" I looked at the head chef, who was still writing down something in her book from her pocket.
"Pardon me, Oh, my name?" she responds as soon as she hears me summoning her title name.
"Your people," tell me briefly.
"Forgive me, Ehem! Oscar, Fendy, Agastya, and Bryan," called her firmly.
"Unfortunately, we only have four people as chefs. Mr. White,"
"Indeed, then two people per room. I want to add more in the future. Well, move your things there, Head Chef. Please arrange their room and tell them to be here at noon after lunch." I darted at them.
Agastya was the guy who had golden eyes that looked handsome and charming with his shining dark skin.
That Oscar chef was the same as the Gina maid. Tall and skinny. Look refined and healthy. Probably siblings.
Bryan and Fendy. I don't have much thought of them. They look plain. No captivation comes into my mind. At least they look clean as chefs.
"Yes, Mr. White," spoke the head chef, then walked through the hallway to the south.
I then changed my gaze towards the remaining servant maid and began my arrangement.
"Maids named Sky and Rose will be in one room, Abigail and Gina will be in one room, Debi and Zendaya, Engela and..." I said, trying to remember the maidservant's name in case I forgot one.
"No more maidservant, Mr. White," tell the maid who is my handmaiden, from behind me.
I turned my back to her and then said,
"Then, she will be alone in one room."
"What about Ms Hazel?" asked the girl with curly hair with disarray on her face.
"She is my handmaiden; she will be in the south building," she told me carelessly.
"Abigail is also Master's handmaiden," continues the curly. Her name was Engela, perhaps.
I thought my other handmaiden was nonexistent in this world. Surprisingly, she is blonde now.
Fascinating.
"Indeed, do you have any problem with my arrangements, Ms. Maid?" questioned me.
She halted and then quickly shook her head, signed as 'no.'
They can express dissatisfaction, but I would not expect any denying to my proclamation.
But, to see her face become scared by my question made me think. Making a decision could be this tiring.
"If no, then"
"Pardon me, Mr. White, I am Siaga. We don't meet often because my duty was always outside the residence as a delivery guy. Like letters," clarified him, polite.
"I see."
He looks masculine, with a beard on the chin and a thin moustache. He looks slightly older than the rest, like he was in his forties.
My eyelid instantly moved toward someone raising their hand from behind Siaga, the manservant.
"I am also working more toward landscaping. My name is Larson, Mr. White," he said casually.
He looks youthful, has a sharp jawline, and good body proportions; he also has curly red hair. The rare hair coloured.
People in this era would call it flawed.
"...and he is Ilbraham; he can't speak or hear. Late Madam was the only one who could speak to him using sign languages," explained the handmaiden while he glanced at me silently. Try to read the situation.
I nodded at her while looking at his face.
He looked fine from the outside, but if someone noticed he couldn't speak, I'm afraid people would chase him with stick fire and hoe. That may be why he is staying here and, once again, because of that old lady.
She is everywhere; people know her, and she knows everything.
I envy but forget about her.
Let's comprehensive this and nap; this is more exhausting than walking around the mansion.
"Three people left for a manservant. Siaga and Larson will be in one room, and Ilbraham. He will be alone like Maid Engela. Everything clear?"
They slightly nod, a sign of agreeing with my decision, except for Ilbraham, the manservant.
"Then, move your thing and come back at noon after lunch. Handmaiden, please guide them."
As they walked following the handmaiden from behind, I sat on the old sofa.
I slowly closed my eyes while staring at the bee fly straight from where I was looking.
But it moves in slow motion. So sluggish, like the time had stopped ticking.
Wait, it stops?