Aliona had always been an early bird, unlike other vampires who merry at night and sleep throughout the day, no matter how long she entertains her guest during the night, even though she hardly does, she still wakes up early to tend to her garden, a habit she is fond of doing before going back to sleep.
Although the actual motive was the fact that she loved watching the human kids who come early with their parents to work at the manor. She loved watching the kids play around, chasing one another so early in the morning with sticks, ruffling the other's hair with sand or dancing around in circle while the oldest ones among them try to keep them in order.
Since vampires are nocturnal creatures and tends to sleep during the day, the vampire servants also wake a little later. Humans are employed to care for the household while majority of the vampires are asleep, they sometimes cook breakfast, clean and run the castle till the vampire maids wake a little later to join them.
The manor run smoothly with the joint efforts of both vampires and humans. The kingdom comprised different species, cohabiting peacefully, each specie knows their boundary and can work anywhere as long as they abide by the rules and regulation of the household. The rulers of each species are in agreement that no specie should be treated any less.
The kingdom is ruled by members of the Upper House which constitutes few representatives from each specie, they are the one in charge of handling matters of national concern, any issue that is related to the kingdom alone. No lord has any power nor authority to interfere in matters concerning another specie. This has been how the kingdom is being run.
The servants bowed as the lady of the manor, lady Aliona walked along the corridor meant for the maids, they are no longer surprised at seeing their mistress using the passage way. Being used to her kindhearted, carefree and humble behaviour, they only bowed to acknowledge her presence while they went about their businesses. Contrary to some who would make you shake in fear merely being in their presence.
"I pray every day to the heavens to answer Lady Aliona on time, I can't wait to see the day she'll hold her baby in her arms" Fiona looked at the Lady of the manor with a mixture of pity and admiration, everybody knows how kind and considerate Lady Aliona is, unlike some purebloods who look down on others since they are at the top of the food chain, Lady Aliona is different.
"Me too" Fiona's childhood friend, Jane agreed. They had both been working at the manor since they were old enough to be. It was no news everywhere especially among the humans how generous a vampire household pay their workers, however, the ill treatment their workers received was not as attractive as the pay, the fear of being the next meal of a vampire was so scary until the girls heard about a kind vampire household in a neighboring town.
They had witnessed how badly behaved some vampires treat humans over the years which was why they had been skeptical about working in a house full of vampires especially pureblood.
Having heard so many awful stories about their own human kind as well, mistreating their fellow human like dirt scrapped off a shoe just because they were more privileged, both girls had concluded to try out the Manor when they heard there was an opening at that time for an extra human cook and a cleaner.
"I remember how gentle the lady spoke to me when we first arrived" with a distant gaze looking far beyond like she was reliving a memory, Fiona spoke.
Jane responded with a nod, "true, the servants were welcoming as well, including the head cook who was acting tough, who knew she was as soft as a butter on the inside" both girls giggled until a throat cleared behind them "are you that less busy that you don't have anything to do except gossip?"
They both turned wide eyes towards the door to see their subject of gossip, Margaret, the head cook. She is a vampire in the lower rank and in charge of feeding everyone in the Manor. Her tall and robust shape made her look intimidating, her serious look and strict behavior usually make people think twice before getting close to her.
"Good morning, Maggie. We just finished preparing the dough for the bread, I have heated the oven and it will be ready soon." Fiona flashed her usual smile which always made her get away from being scolded by Maggie.
Maggie's silence was enough to show she was satisfied, she looked at Jane, expecting to hear what she had done since she had been awake hours before them, "ahem," clearing her throat as if that could clear the guilty look of gossiping about their mistress, off her face, "I have changed the linens in the rooms and prepared Lord Richard's chamber for their arrival."
The mention of Lord Richard darkened the mood of both girls, they always dread the arrival of Lord Richard and his wife. Jane shivered like one who slept outside on a cold winter night, they bring nothing but trouble to the Manor. Lord Richard is the twin brother of their master, Lord Nickolai. With their polar opposite behavior, no one would have believed both brothers had share a womb together for months if not for their striking resemblance.
While Maggie went ahead to check the heated oven, Fiona solemnly looked at her friend's sour look and pale face, and how she was nervously rubbing the scar on her neck, "I know how fearful you feel but I promise not to leave you to attend to him alone anymore."
Jane scoffed, "as if you being there will change anything" she rubbed her scar, recalling the dreadful day she got the scar. Lord Richard had drunk from her, something which was not uncommon between vampires and human but he had torn her skin carelessly, she had to tend to the wound for days, she thought she was going to die and was already seeing blanks. His wife had been cackling like a witch, enjoying the scene until Herbert, the head butler knocked. Talk about being saved by a knock!
A worried look passed by Fiona's face, she wished there was something she could do. To avoid getting on the bad side of Lord Richard and his wife, they just had to steer clear of him. Reporting to the lady of the Manor was just as useless because they can't take action based on their claim or scold Lord Richard for them. He was almost as powerful as his twin; the only difference was that Lord Nickolai was a member of the Upper House which earned him more respect and recognition over his twin.
Reporting him to the human council was just as pointless, she would not even be allowed entry not to talk of attending to her. Only the 'privileged humans' are given priority. To take her friend's mind off the issue, Fiona asked, "should we head to the market to get clothing materials for the festival after we're done with our chores?" Jane's face lit up, "oh yes, there's a yellow fabric I've been eyeing since we followed Maggie to the market last week. I hope Mr. Williams would not have sold it all."
"Is Mark's favorite color, yellow?"' Fiona teased her friend.
Jane's flushed face was enough to let her know she was right, "stop teasing me, Fi or I might just go tell John that you harbor feelings for him" a mischievous grin appeared on her lips.
"Don't you dare!" Fiona exclaimed, her eyes turned wide like a deer caught in a headlight. The girls giggled over their playful remarks until Maggie's loud voice turned it to a muffled laughter.