The first time she had met him, was four months ago a relative had told her she could take her place in the manor since she was going to be married and would move some place else. In the best dress she could afford from her last salary she had gone for an interview with her application form in hand, one of the criteria for staff was for them to be literate.
She was surprised that the house master would see her directly instead of a head of staff, suddenly she felt that she wasn't dressed enough or properly prepared. Led to the drawing room she stood nervously in front of a person who seemed preoccupied with the stack of papers before him. She could already see the interview failing, she was disrupting while he was busy, which was never a good sign.
Without looking her way he pointed at the seat before him. 'Take a seat.'
She carefully sat down and remembered she hadn't said a word of greeting but wasn't sure if she could say anything yet since he was busy. Anxiety squeezed at her abdomen so she mostly whispered. 'Thank you, and good morning.'
She received a hum in response, with a sigh he dropped what was in his hand and turned to face her. Looking directly at him she reconsidered if she was really looking at a male human and sneakily looked at the chest area; flat as a board.
'Can I have your application letter?' She briskly unhooked her bag and handed over three handwriting documents.
His voice sounded male enough, she then remembered her ability to sense pneuma, her jumpy nerves had been blocking any subconscious perception. She calmed her mind and allowed her senses to wrap around his pneuma to analyse and process. That's how she knew for the first time ever she was in the presence of a sorcerer, his pneuma was heavy and contained various elements than any average pneuma; a tell tale sign.
And she was informed immediately she was in fact facing a male human, and there was also the information on how he was feeling while reading her application but it was faint. When he finished he asked questions directly.
'You were born in this realm?'
'Yes, I was sir.'
'Why did you move all the way to Hagford?'
'For better prospects sir.'
'You've been in Hagford for how long?'
'Three years sir.'
'You seemed to have suddenly dropped your last job for this one. How do I scale your loyalty?'
Then he looked directly into her eyes and Anne was startled to be staring at such stormy orbs, they didn't hold negativity but she couldn't help but compare it to a sea that hasn't seen bright calm days. Unruly grey waters with the specks of green like fog hiding dangerous jagged rocks.
'I know I can't vouch for it but sir can I ask a question? Isn't it one employer who shows they need loyalty? If you want something it's only fair you act accordingly.'
The counts jelly lips pulled to a smirk. 'To have loyalty one must be worthy, is what you're saying?'
He leaned forward and she could see light return to his eyes and the dense fog lifting. She couldn't properly answer the question but she had amused him. 'So tell me miss, how do I prove my worth? With payment?'
Anne felt her face heat up, she felt disoriented having his sole focus, but she could manage to process she'd just been asked if she would sell out her loyalty. She lowered her gaze so she could think of a proper reply.
'No, not really Sir. There's no use for money that can't bring me peace of mind, I don't need to be paid if I'll be used like I was sold.'
'But everyone has a price, everyone does.'
Anne's confidence flattered and she thought about it, she had lived without money for months before but still never flattered in her worth but she remembered that she had considered it when she received news that her father had been ill, luckily it was a phase with change in weather.
'I can't deny that sir but what I value doesn't lie in our currency.'
He hummed at her words, she couldn't read what was behind the fog in his eyes and she felt uneasy. After some moments of consideration, the count leaned back and placed her application in the drawer.
'This would conclude the interview, when do you want to resume?'
Anne was stunned at the sudden conclusion, she hadn't discussed the details of how she'd be working or payment but she couldn't bring herself to reproach him. 'Um, I can start today?'
It was better to come off as egear to work as a good first impression. The count carefully examined her in silence before pulling on a string, it rang a bell somewhere in the back rooms which Gary had gotten up to respond to.
'Meet the head butler, he'd guide you.'
She bowed before taking her leave, grateful that she had passed the interview without a hitch.
While she stood by the stove in wait for the tea to boil, she mused about Gary. He died yesterday, so unexpectedly. She had looked up to him in a way, he was also a sorcerer and unlike the head of the house, she was able to closely examine some of his skills, he used his magic for tasks that'd require significant time from the ordinary and showed immaculate perfection while at it.
She had heard it was a murder, only a sorcerer could do in a fellow sorcerer. The kettle whistled loudly and the cover rattled breaking the silence of the kitchen. With trained care she poured the young master a perfumed blend, he closed his eyes and inhaled the pleasing scent.
He was investigating to find the murderer, Anne felt her chest contract. She had heard around that the young master was also skilled in magic yet, she had never witnessed it nor could she guess how powerful was 'powerful'.
Although she was from an undiluted lineage of elves, coming from a realm with 67.8% magic output meant it wasn't odd for her to not have magic but she couldn't help but be subconsciously embarrassed about it. And she didn't live among nonhumans like herself, if that was the case magic would have been something acquainted to because in the human realm non humans contributed over 15% of magic. There were mini communities of nonhumans scattered around the realm but her family had found comfortable settlement in a concentrated human area.
Anne was worried about the young master, she was finally witnessing him working but the stakes of death seemed so drastic to her. When she was at his age, she had been saving up to get married, going around looking for a good job, exploring love, and making the silliest mistakes. But the person in front of her in the early stage of his youth was already heading the household and working with his life on the line, was that the price of being special?
Alexus took a pause from his tea. 'You should pour one for yourself .'
Anne complied and sat adjacent to him. 'Thank you sir.'
The lantern light caressed his soft features and she couldn't help but secretly admire and envy his eyelashes and lovely lips.
'You've been here a while Anne, haven't found something new?'
She stopped mid-sip, it's the third time she'd heard her name from him and she could see a slight smile at the edge of his lips. A blush bloomed on her cheeks,the young master trying to find entertainment in her reactions made her pout behind the cup.
'Sir, I can't imagine leaving. I've enjoyed my time here, it's an unusually peaceful working environment and you've been quite generous with our salary. You also don't demand things beyond our capabilities, I am nothing but grateful for being here.'
Alexus felt his face pull a smile, the pleasantly genuine reply combined with the rising effects of the sedative lightened his mood and he felt his chest warm up. 'Thats nice.'
He stood up looking at Anne properly, in the dim light a faint shine reflected off her ears, and he was surprised about the earning chains hanging the length of her pointy ears. The cursed jewellery faded from his mind and replaced with the new discovery.
The count hummed once more and left, he felt sleep overwhelming his senses. Anne was rooted in place by his reaction, once out of the kitchen she looked into his half drank tea with curiosity.
Alexus rushed to his room, his sight already turning blurry, he took off his clothes and without a nightwear unceremoniously collapsed into bed. Within seconds, darkness claimed his consciousness.