Through the narrow window of his small room, sunlight broke through the glass. He had already been sitting on the hard bed, staring blankly before him.
Throughout the night, the wooden bed creaked while he tossed around.
He didn’t know how much ti had passed. He simply couldn’t close his eyes, simply drifting to sleep.
The door creaked open, and a man entered the room without permission, holding a uniform in his hands.
His long chocolate brown hair was tied into a ponytail, reaching his shoulders. A dark suit wrapped his slim figure, his dark brown eyes narrowed.
Jian wasn’t pleased to be sent here, in this shabby room by the headmaid.
Why is she treating him so well? He looks so suspicious. And...
He examined Ren’s figure closely in the tight black shirt.
Broad shoulders, a well-built figure, a muscular neck...
"From which angle does he look fragile?... He looks sturdy and solid... not the kind you would call fragile," Jian mumbled to himself.
Ren blinked, waiting for the man to speak.
For a mont, his lips moved but Ren failed to hear him.
"Pardon?" He whispered.
Jian looked away, unwilling to make eye contact with him.
"The headmaid asked you to go see her."
Ren nodded, stepping on the floor, exiting the room with quick steps.
"At least wear this," Jian threw the uniform on the bed. "And you did not even ask where she is," he added, his voice sharp.
Ren stood still for a mont. Then, entered his room once again.
"Uhm... Where is she?"
Jian rolled his eyes.
"She said to join her in the garden by 6 in the morning. In fifteen minutes," he sneered.
He knew it was impossible to get there in ti. He purposely ca late to notify him, knowing the headmaid despised those who weren’t punctual.
The garden and the servant’s quarters were at least twenty minutes away, if soone walked fast enough.
The mansion had five different quarters. One of them was used by the general and his personal servants, another for all the staff that didn’t work directly under the general, and the garden, completely at the other end of the servants’ quarters.
Without waiting for Ren’s answer, Jian left the room, closing the door behind him.
***
It was almost noon, the sun burning hot outside.
Wearing his new uniform—a black suit with a white shirt underneath, and dark pants, Ren stood before General Zayden’s bedroom, holding a tray on which a dark blue cup of tea was carefully placed, from where steam still flew.
He looked at the tall and sturdy white door, on which what seed to be a crest was painted with golden paint.
He was unsure how to face General Zayden. He’d heard too much from the servants. Things that differed from one to another.
So said he was a kind, charming man.
While others said he was worse than a villain seen in novels.
So referred to him as a hero, their saviour.
Others who held grudges against him called his heartless actions.
Ren inhaled deeply.
Just follow what the headmaid said.
He told himself, knocking the door once. The headmaid precisely told him, "Knock once so he knows it’s his new attendant–it is a code he created when he was younger."
When he went to et Hannah, he arrived late. She scolded him for a while, but stopped halfway.
"This is not why I called you," she said, extending a thick stack of papers.
Ren blinked, looked at her, confusion written on his face.
"These are the terms of the job. Read carefully when you et with the lord."
Ren took the papers, although unsure if he would be able to do this. He looked through the text, and his fear was confird.
He couldn’t read—not this language.
"I-I cannot read," he whispered.
"Lord! What should I do? If you cannot read these... these clauses are like a life insurance policy for his attendants," Hannah sighed. "And... He will also taunt forever that I could not find a new attendant among all the employees we have..."
Ren looked at her.
Maybe, this way he could repay her for allowing him to stay at the mansion?
"I will do it. Just... until you find another attendant. For now, inform of the most important duties I need to know for today."
Hannah’s darkened eyes brightened instantly.
"I shall make sure you do not get scolded today!"
He snapped back to reality, shaking his head. He simply needed to keep in mind the most basic aspect of the job—keep calm and answer his questions. Without extending the conversation.
He inhaled deeply, and opened the door after hearing a faint, "Co in."
When he entered the door, he placed the tray beside the small table near the bed.
The room was dark, no ray of light entering it. It appeared no less than a cave where a savage beast lived.
Zayden still lay in bed, covered under his blankets. It was unusually cold last night due to the constant rain and the heavy storm that didn’t stop.
Ren found it odd that a general, a man of his rank, in this day and age would dare to call a strike every Wednesday, refusing to work.
Would he not be punished?
He wondered when Hannah told him Zayden always took a day off every Wednesday.
What was so special about that day? Ren couldn’t understand.
He gently pulled the curtains, sun rays brightening the once dark room.
A soft groan.
"Ti?" The deep voice asked.
Ren faltered, trying to say the exact ti. But watches made in Revhara didn’t work like Hianshu–his motherland.
Hianshu used water clocks to asure ti whereas Revhahra used an incense clock making it easier to read ti. But Ren had not learned it yet.
"What? Can’t answer a simple question?" From beneath the blankets, Zayden sat up straight in bed. He wore no shirt—his chest was firm and defined, his biceps lined with muscle, veins standing out along his arms.
But Ren didn’t see his flawless body, nor his face. In fact, he couldn’t see anything but red strings wrapped around the man, twisting, curling like a cursed sword.
"D-DEMON!" He scread, his eyes widened, his face turning pale.
Zayden furrowed his eyebrows, his gaze trailing towards the young man—his new attendant.
Just what did he just call him? A demon?
Zayden snorted.
Is that how he was taught to greet his master, instead of bowing?
However, before he could say anything, Ren dashed outside the door.
"What was that?..." He laughed, unable to stop.
He never had anyone openly call him a demon. He shared the blood of a demon father and an elf mother. Yet, during the last centuries, no one dared to call him a demon because the word had been used to call anyone the temple of Hianshu didn’t approve of.
Zayden tilted his head forward, clasping his face in his palm, still laughing.
"He will be fun," he sneered.
A bright green light flickered at the corner of the room.
That’s where he placed the egg!
He stepped out of bed, heading towards the egg. He bent down, carefully examining. Was it going to hatch?
With the top of his finger, he poked the shell.
Nothing.
"Are you eager to see my mansion?"
He smiled almost as if the baby inside could hear him.
"You won’t live as an orphan because of ," the corner of his lips dropped, his eyes darkening. "Not because of , and my..." he stopped midway.
The door opened as if blown by a storm.
Zayden looked at the person who entered—Hannah. Behind her stood the attendant from earlier, whose face he hadn’t seen closely.
"I apologize... and," Hannah bowed, and glanced at Ren, gesturing to him to do the sa.
"I-I’m sorry," he bowed as well, fumbling, his gaze wandering around the room.
He didn’t an it.
He was forcefully brought by Hannah to apologize.
"Unless you want to be beheaded, apologize, Ren," she told him.
Then, he looked at Hannah, his face unreadable. He always kept a composed expression, one Hannah couldn’t read. But it didn’t matter. She constantly felt the need to protect him, just as she wished for her son.
"Hannah, this servant—"
"Understood. I will search for a new servant for you imdiately," Hannah cut him off. "I should not have sent him here when he did not even morize all the terms and conditions of the job."
Zayden looked at her, dumbfounded.
"What are you talking about? I said I am keeping him," his lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I will let this mistake slip."
Hannah stared at him, unsure if she could truly entrust Ren to this evil master. She’d known him for years. For him to overlook a mistake...
He must have other plans.
But even Hannah didn’t know what was going on in his mind. She could simply hope Ren, this poor servant, wouldn’t be hurt through General Zayden’s strange ways of keeping himself entertained.
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