Before the door creaked open, the sound of chatter could be heard, but I was already halfway through and too far to stop. Ah. Oh well. I opened the door fully, and then I saw her. Fully saw her.And she was... so gloomy. Sorry, that's kind of mean, but it's true. She wasn't like any children I'd seen before. I've seen shy ones, energetic ones, and quiet ones, but her... it was as if she was on autopilot, staring off into the distance. Her gaze passed through people and objects as if they were nonexistent, as if everything was nonexistent. A ghost of her former self."Ah..." My hands gripping the flowers simply slipped from my grasp."Um..." I blinked, suddenly all too self-aware of the unfriendly gaze from the two maids and the confused look of the heroine. I looked down and saw the flowers I picked so meticulously were on the ground, with petals fallen apart from the pistils."Oh... oh no!" I quickly crouched down and carefully picked up the flowers and swept the petals into my hand. I heard soft footsteps and a small shadow overtook my figure. I lifted my head to see her golden eyes on the flowers. I didn't know what to do in that moment, so I just held up the flowers towards her."What are these?" She said slowly, inspecting the petals that were still attached."Uh... well, flowers for your room," I answered. "I got them from the garden, so they must be fresh.""Fresh?" One of the maids snickered. "How bold of you to dirty your hands and come here with..." She stepped closer to us and, with her dainty little fingers, she touched the petals before sighing. "Honestly, I am so sorry, my lady. Alice here... well, she's assigned useless work around here." My eyes twitched. Excuse me, but weren't you the one who assigned me that useless task? The nerve!"Useless, huh?" The child murmured, then tilted her head towards the maid. "Useless how?""Eh?" The maid blinked. "Ah, well, you see, there are already finely picked flowers in the room! More suited for a room like this." She pointed to the sweetly fragrant bouquet placed near the window."Oh," the child—no, the lady—said, and I felt a flush of heat rise to my face in shame. Meanwhile, the maid's smile only widened. "Yes, so you see what she did was a complete waste of time—""But you see," the lady interrupted, "I like the flowers she picked. More so than the wilting roses displayed."Oh.Everyone in the room succumbed to a deafening silence. Did she... did she really mean that?"Why is everyone so quiet?" I flinched at that familiar raspy voice.Heads turned to the chief maid, and I bowed slightly to her presence. Madam Amelia paid no mind to the maids as her instant attention was on the lady."My lady," Madam Amelia curtsied, "as the head maid, I humbly welcome you to the Marrow Household. Please seek these maids if you ever need assistance." She gestured to the two maids on her left. No doubt she didn't include me in that bunch."Oh." The lady nodded and then yawned quietly. Somehow, I had the feeling she suppressed that for a while. "Thank you, but I would like to rest for today."The head maid nodded. "Yes, of course." Then she turned to the maids, including me, and motioned for us to give the lady privacy. I was about to step outside before the lady tugged on my sleeve. I immediately froze before relaxing. "Yes, my lady?" She pointed at what I was holding."Oh, right!" I winced. "Where... um...""Just hand it to me.""Right, right," I nodded. "Of course..." I did so, and when I let the lady hold it, she lifted it up to her nose and smelled it. And yet that somber expression still remained. I mean... Christ, I guess the flowers don't really fix anything, do they?"Why..." I raised my eyebrows and waited for the lady to continue."These flowers... the smell. I know they're fresh and in full bloom, the colors and types are specific. Why... why didn't you just pick any random flowers from the garden? Why take this useless task into consideration?"'Useless task,' huh? I guess it really does seem that way."My lady," the words left my mouth before I could even register it, "I hope you find the flowers to be as beautiful as I find your eyes to be." I didn't see her expression as I bowed lowly and turned to exit without another word.✧༺♥༻∞"I hope you don't get over head yourself."I stopped sweeping, I looked over my shoulder and goody gumdrop it was one of the lady's maid, "Pardon?""I know you're dumb but don't act ignorant." She hissed as she stepped forward, "Just because the lady prefer your silly arrangement of flowers doesn't mean anything."At that I can't help but stifled a laugh, "Really? Did you really come all the way here just to inform me that?" And you tell me I wasted my time.The maid's face flushed in anger, "You...look here, the only reason why the Madam tolerates your incompetence was for the simple act of pity. But I don't get it, you don't function the way we normally do here, your an detriment to the house of Marrow and sooner or later you will be out and doing whatever useless work your doing now. So here's an advice, don't try to get close to my lady."I let out a shaky breath, "I..I wouldn't dream of it." I straightened my back, blinking quickly, "Now is that all? Or do you wish me to send off to clean the commoners' rooms?" At that, the maid hummed, "Good idea." She leaned close, "Go." "I.." I stammered before closing my mouth and shoved her out of the way to the west lower wing.I don't know when I started running, I don't know when my chest started to hurt I don't know when I felt this burning sensation, this tightening hold and I can't-I can't fucking."Fuck..!" I covered my mouth, muffled the shaky breaths that seem far too loud in my ears, "Oh fuck..n-not again, please.."Okay okay okok. Breath, b..breath. Shake those trembling hands and count.."One hundred, ninety nine.." Breath in,ninety seven, ninety six..And breath out."Okay," I sighed, "I'm okay." Sure not the most competent being but..no, no I'm good, I'm okay.What did I..I looked around, I'm in the hallways but I don't know what side of the hallway...great. It's fine, it's fine. Everything will be fine, just go as you always done. I continued to walked through the closed doors and arched windows that silver light of the moon phased through and a sound of whimper and—Wait.Backtracked.I stepped backward and tilted my head to the closed room, was..no, no I imagined it. It wouldn't be the first time I imagined voices then I should probably just-But then I heard it again, a hic, a gasp, whimper. It was faint but as I positioned my ear against the wooden door I couldn't be mistaken it was a cry. Someone was there, crying.I didn't know what to do so I just knocked, waited but all I heard was more of that quiet cry. I slowly turned the handle and moved the door opened ever so slightly, enough for me to enter in. And I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw who it was.In a room mostly forgotten, where old dusty fabric were hung, was a small girl cowering on the small bed. It was the lady.The heroine, Diane.