After a long, quiet mont of peace in the park, we finally decided it was ti to head ho. I didn’t want to worry the other servants too much, after all. The way ho was lit with the hazy glow of luminite street lamps. They were mostly warm yellow, but my eyes could still see a hint of green.
Above us, the night sky was dotted with stars. Through the streets, warm lights began to appear on the windows of the various hos here, lighting our way ho even more.
Neither Leila nor I spoke as we walked, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was sowhat of a comforting silence, like a soft blanket wrapping around .
The journey ho would take a while with our slow pace, but I wasn’t in any rush. So, I decided to enjoy this mont, while also focusing on my other self.
—
I stretched as I rose from the floor, cracking my arms and neck with a relieved sigh. The food Eliza prepared for prepped for a good nap, but I couldn’t bring myself to rest just yet.
While I had Carine go on an outing with Leila, I had Feyt did so basic physical training. Sothing I could turn my brain off while also being productive. Of course, when Leila seed… down. I stopped my training for a mont to focus on assuring her of my feelings.
It wasn’t sothing I could half-ass. Leila was important to , and I needed her to know that.
Staring at the starry skies outside the window, I enjoyed the sight along with the soothing sound of the wind’s breath. Having just finished a few sets of push ups, I could feel the sweat starting to build up. Might be a good ti for a quick wash.
…
The servant’s bathing area was weirdly quiet for tonight. Usually this was the hot spot—almost literally—for gossip. But oh well, that only ant more peace ti for .
Just because it was quiet doesn’t an it was deserted though. I could still hear soone inside already bathing. The breathing sounded relaxed, but audibly deep. I concluded that it must be a butler.
Thankfully, this wasn’t a mixed bath, so I won’t run into soone unexpected like Eliza or other maids.
I realized sothing. If I’m already changing how Carine was perceived—to be more friendly, specifically, why not do the sa with Feyt?
So far, Feyt had been pretty sociable, especially to the maids. Ressa and her friends often said hi to whenever we passed each other. We never had any chance to talk more, but it wasn’t because they didn’t want to, more so a scheduling problem.
But being friends with the maids probably wasn’t enough. I could use so more friends on the other side of the coin.
Seeing as I was alone with the butler inside the bath, this would be a good chance to bond.
As I readied myself to enter though, I felt myself instinctively stopping in my tracks. For so reason… I had a bad feeling about this. I shook my head, thinking it was just my nerves getting to .
I stepped into the bath with my towel and bucket on hand. Indeed, there was a man here, chilling in the tub humming to himself. He had his face turned away from so I couldn’t tell right away who he was.
Slowly, that unease inside began to ramp up.
The man seed like he heard my steps. He slowly turned around, revealing his face to .
I froze. My body already knew who it was before my mind did.
“Oh? Is that you, kid?” His mocking voice echoed throughout the room. “Yo! How’s it going? It’s been a long ti, huh?”
The one saying those words with a smirk, was none other than Anton.
This world hates . I just know it.
—
I walked to the absolute edge of the bath, opposite to the edge Anton was leaning on. But those mockful looking eyes still followed as I took my seat. I briefly considered just leaving the bath entirely, but… I needed that bath.
And so, I sat silently in the warm bath, trying to filter Anton out of my mind.
“What’s it been like the past few days?” a voice echoed from the far end of the room. “Figured you must be enjoying your break. But it looks like you’re putting so work in! Glad to know!”
“Hmm…” was my only response to the voice’s comnts.
“Sheesh, you’re a lot colder than what Ressa told . Can’t even say hi to dear Anton here?” the man before in the distance said, scratching the back of his head. “Hmm, don’t tell ? You’re still grumbling about that training session I gave you? I thought you’d forgotten about that already.”
Hell nah I didn’t.
Wait, ‘grumbling’?
The way he worded it sounded like he was trying to paint as a childish brat.
Yeah, I’m not taking that.
As I was about to speak up though, Anton chuckled before heaving a huge sigh.
“Fine, I’ll admit it—I overdid it with your training. I didn’t intend to do that, you know. It was just… my hands were a bit tied back then.” He shifted in his seat, leaning back. “Even I thought you might actually drop dead for a second. That would’ve been a ss to clean up! Had Eliza not been there, I would’ve brought you to your room to rest, trust!”
Was that his… apology?
No, it sounded like a desperate justification instead.
But, it does have its truths. Specifically about his hands being ‘tied’.
The one who gave the order to push to my limits was Mother, and Anton, as a servant of this household, kinda had to follow it…
…so what? That doesn’t lift the bla off of him imdiately. He clearly enjoyed the task, ssing with until the end, there was no way he was actually sympathetic.
But… I guess complaining about it now would be… childlike of . I needed to be the adult here, since Anton clearly wouldn’t be.
With reluctance, I opened my mouth. “You had to do what you were told, right?” I said, nearly sighing. “Doesn’t an I have to like it though,” I whispered the last part to myself.
“That’s great!”Anton clapped his hands together with a big smile. “I’m glad we settled things over! Hope we’ll talk more in the future, kid!”
Hope not…
“With that said…” Anton slapped his knees as he rose from the bath. “Gotta head out to help the kitchen staff, you stay here and enjoy the bath, kay?”
Anton stepped out of the bath, my eyes subconsciously following his shadow. “Yeah… sure.”
He stood at the doorway to the changing room and did a final glance at . “See ya!”
And with that, he left the place entirely after a quick ruffling of clothes. Finally, I could relax on my own. I let myself sink a bit deeper into the hot water as I closed my eyes.
I hope nothing happens… I just want to relax now.
—
As if I was right about the world hating , I heard rattles of a carriage wheel behind as Carine. The sound slowed down as it approached us, as if the person inside the carriage wanted to talk to us.
Looking back, Leila and I noticed that it was the carriage Mother used for her trip today. My eyes widened in delighted surprise.
The carriage stopped mid-road right beside us. The door opened to reveal Mother and her knights sitting inside. Mother stepped out slowly through the small doorway, her gaze locked with mine.
“Good evening, Mothe—”
“—Carine! Why are you out this late at night?! Explain yourself!”
The sudden shout caught off guard. Although Mother often raised her voice at others… this, this was the first ti she directed one at . The pure intensity in her voice froze mid-bow, my hands still tugging my skirt.
Sensing sothing wrong, I looked up slowly, taking a good look at her face.
Her brows furrowed, her mouth scowled, her eyes glared sharp.
It was pure, unfiltered anger…
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