CHAPTER 2: A place called home?
"Yeah... That's where everything began to go wrong." I murmured to myself, gripping the cold window frame as the relentless rain pounded against the glass.
"My lady, you haven't eaten since breakfast. Please, have something," the maid pleaded in the dimly lit room, where not a single candle was lit.
I remained still, my back to her, my face concealed by the darkness.
"I'm not hungry." That was all I said.
"I'm sorry, but please, my lady," she begged, her voice trembling. It was as if my eating was the only thing keeping her alive. Perhaps it was.
I exhaled heavily. "Why don't you work somewhere better?"
"Pardon, my lady? But this is the best place."
I sighed again. The thunder cracked outside, its blinding light filling the room for a brief second—everywhere except on my face.
"Just leave the plate."
"But... t-the Du—"
I didn't let her finish. My voice cut through the air, strained and fragile. "Don't make me repeat myself."
She stood there for a moment before placing the plate down. I could hear her hesitate, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she simply bowed and left. The sound of the door closing was swallowed by the rain, leaving me alone once again.
I turned my gaze back to the window. The storm outside raged on, the raindrops slamming against the glass as if trying to break through. The sky was dark, and the only light in the room came from the flashes of lightning that illuminated everything—everything except my face, as if the darkness itself was trying to hide me.
I let out a shaky breath.
And began to think--
No… look again.
At everything that happened after my father sold me for a mere 5k.
Before I knew it, I found myself in the maids' quarters. The unfamiliar surroundings, the murmurs of people passing by, the scent of old wood mixed with freshly laundered linens—it all felt distant, as if I were watching from outside my own body.
I didn't even know why I was here.
I just thought to myself and—
Ugh, this is so embarrassing! Crying to a man I had just met, letting my emotions spill out so easily, and worst of all… thinking of him as home?
I clenched my skirt, my fingers gripping the fabric tightly.
Flora, you've been spoiled by books…!
But… can't life be like a fairytale? Even if just a little?
When he caressed me, I felt warmth. A kind of warmth I had long forgotten.
A few maids gathered nearby, whispering among themselves, their glances flickering toward me. Then, Mr....? I don't know his name but he's the man who helped me.
He knelt in front of me, his expression gentle yet firm.
"I'm sorry, Flora," he said softly. "But I have a family. I can't possibly take you with me."
His words should have stung, but the way he said them… it was as if he truly regretted it.
Then, before I could react, he lifted a hand and poked my forehead.
"But I'll visit you daily. No need to come find me—you'll be working here too." He gave me a lopsided grin, the kind that made it hard to tell whether he was serious or just trying to lighten the mood.
Then he pointed toward one of the maids standing nearby.
"This is Miss Sera. She'll be taking care of you, okay?"
I followed his gaze and saw a woman with a warm smile, her eyes filled with an odd mixture of excitement and kindness.
"I'll take good care of you! Don't you worry!" she chirped, her voice full of energy.
I stared at her for a moment. She seemed… cheerful.
Sheil always used to say that I thought too much, that I showed too many emotions for a child. But isn't it the situation that decides how we live and how we will live?
I wanted to ask the man who had helped me with everything about his name.
I didn't know what to call him. So, I tried to reach his face by standing on my toes, hoping to get his attention.
Laughter echoed around me.
"Umm… Have I made a mistake?" I asked hesitantly.
Sera chuckled and patted my head. "When you see a big chocolate, what will you do?"
"Take it and store it," I answered instantly.
They smiled again, amused by my response.
"Well, that's one way… but what would you feel?"
I tilted my head, thinking. "Umm… gratitude? For the person who gave it to me?"
They sighed, though not in disappointment—more like in exasperation.
Sera patted my head again, this time with a small shake of her head. "I think there's no point in these things with you."
Then, the man knelt before me, finally understanding what I was trying to do.
"What is it, Flora?"
I hesitated, gripping my dress. "I… I don't know what to call you. You know me, but I don't know you."
He smiled, a soft yet firm expression settling on his face.
"Garfed. Remember it, okay?"
I nodded because I knew I could never forget such a man.
Sera took my hands, pulling me away as she bid farewell to Mr. Garfed. The night had grown deep, and it was nearly midnight.
Sera's home wasn't in the usual maids' quarters. Instead, she lived in an outhouse within the duke's estate. That surprised me.
Does that mean she's a higher-ranked maid? I wondered, eyeing her curiously. But she didn't seem older than twenty…
Haha, books sure do spoil me.
When Sera unlocked the door, I stepped inside—and my breath caught.
"Wow… It's beautiful."
It wasn't grand like a noble's mansion, nor was it as big as a shop, but it was still much larger than my old home. More than that, it looked… decent. Well-maintained. Warm.
Sera smiled at my reaction. "This will be your home from now on, so get used to it, Miss Flora." She teased me with the formal title.
I turned to her and, without realizing it, smiled.
A bright, genuine smile—one I hadn't worn in a long time.
She showed me around the small yet warm outhouse, and I… even have my own room now!
It's amazing!
"Flora, no work for you tomorrow!" Sera beamed at me, her cheerfulness filling the space like sunlight. I want to be someone like her—someone who can smile like that, so effortlessly.
"So, wake up late. Most likely, you'll start working the day after tomorrow, okay?"
I nodded, still overwhelmed by everything. A room of my own. A place that feels safe. I should be happy.
"It's just the beginning of my mistakes…"
I said this as I looked at the food that the maid gave me to eat and is waiting outside for me to finish.