Chapter-1

'Sapphire'

PART-1

A maid? really?

To be honest, the very idea of getting a personal maid is bullshit for me as it would be a nuisance to me. Though, as I'm gonna die anyway, I have no problem accepting the offer. After I die, she would probably either be kicked out or be given some other work in the house. Not my concern at all.

I slowly took my time as I slowly proceeded towards the entrance gate. Just a few steps later, a person came into sight, sitting under a sheltered seating arrangement beside the gate. It was a woman, who surprisingly looked my age, wearing an one piece. To talk about her appearance, her face and hair looked like someone had dipped her in a solution of bleach. She had strange long bluish-white hair with eyelashes on her pale face. As I approached her, she noticed me and stood up.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Amiya Mahi," she bowed and introduced herself.

"Ah...yes. I am Kurtana Mihir. I'll be in your care from now on. Please, follow me", saying this I started walking towards the servants' hostel. She quietly began following me.

"What is your age, by the way?", I asked.

"I'll be turning 16 this year".

"You go to school?".

"I..did went, until a few months ago".

"I see.''

Judging by her answers and mood, the reason she decided to work here is either due to the bad status of her family, like the death of someone or due to some financial instability. She seemed to have a boring personality, at the least.

Within a minute, we reached our destined place, the servants' hostel. Medium in height and modern, the architecture could easily be compared to that of an average housing complex with minimum amenities.

Seeing nobody at the reception, I myself picked a vacant room's keys and lead her to her room. I opened the lock to the room and turned to her.

"You'll be living here from now, as you already know. You can rest for today. Come tomorrow at 9 in the morning. I don't expect you to be late".

''Yes..''.

"See you then". Saying this, I left. It was almost time for my evening's swimming session anyways. As I made my way to the main house, I noticed how oddly silent today's atmosphere was. The weather was perfect with the afternoon about to die and the relaxing winds. Times like this just make me love this world, even though just for a second, as the very next moment I remind myself of my crooked life. I wonder whether I can experience all this in the afterlife? Just a quiet place embraced with nature with me alone or perhaps I would go to hell and experience something like that dream years ago...Who knows? I don't know anything anymore. I refuse to think anymore. I'm tired.

PART-2

As he left, I enter the room and turn the lights on. I take a view of the whole room and find that it is better than I expected. In total, there were two bunk beads, two bathrooms, a mini kitchen between them and a small verandah. There was also a cupboard facing the beds. Seems like my room mates are out for work now. Irrespective of that, this place in whole seems so quiet, almost as if I'm the only one in the whole building. I put my only suitcase beside a bed and began making preparations to bath.

After having a nice bath, I wrapped a towel over my head to dry the wet hair and took out some of my books for a study session. I occupied the last vacant bed in the room and began my work.

After a span of about 3 hours, I decided to check my phone a bit. It was quarter to eight, but still no sign of people in the house. As I was just thinking about what to do next, my phone began to vibrate. It was a call from my best friend, Naomi.

"Hello, Naomi?"

"Ah, Mahi?"

"Yes? Can you hear me?".

"Yes. So, how are you doing in Tokyo?".

''Hmm, I'm fine till now. I haven't really done anything right now''.

"I see...And? When will you meet that shit ass?".

I sighed and replied,"Well, let' see.....I've just today got a job here."

"A part-time?''.

"No, full-time, as a maid at the Kurtana Residency".

"The Kurtanas? You mean the top aristrocrat family right?! How did you even manage to earn a job there?!"

"Well, I did partially get it by passing a couple of trials. If I provide bad results within a fortnight, they will have me removed, they said."

".......I see. So, did your aunt let you do all this?".

"Ya. She never cared much, to be honest. Leaving all that, how's everyone at school?".

"Good, though Ryota still seems in a daze awaiting your answer. You know what? Just the other day he revealed to us that he is going to Tokyo this summer! You better answer him then, right?".

I blushed a little but a second later came back to my senses and replied with a "Ya, ya".

"Talk to you later then, I currently have a lot of homework to do for tommorow."

"Mmm, later then. Bye".

"Bye!".

After the call ended, I decided to go downstairs and explore the building.

As I descended the stairs, I began to feel the damp silence of the hostel. It almost felt like there is just me in the whole of this hostel. This feeling of mine was busted when I was descending the 3rd floor's stairs as I saw an elderly woman, just about the age of my grandma, coming from downstairs.

"Oh my", she instantly reacted upon seeing me."You seem to be new here, do you?".

"Ah..., yes, I did come today. Nice to meet you, I am Amiya Mahi".

"I see. I wish you a very hearty welcome, Amiya-san.'' A gentle and heart melting smile appeared upon her face as she said this." You seem to be going somewhere. Is it for some work?", she continued.

"Umm, no. Actually, I was going down for acquainting with the people here and know more about this place and stuff like that, you know...". A perfectly honest reply.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"I see...but it's a shame that you won't find anyone downstairs for a while. Almost all of them are currently out for some reason or the other and those currently at home are probably resting for their night shift jobs."

"Hmmm, I see....".

"Amiya-san, if you don't mind I could show you around".

"Is that so..? If it isn't any trouble then I'd love to...", saying this I bowed my head a little. I don't quite know this lady's identity yet so I'm trying to be as polite as I can. Moreover, she seems to be nice and kind.

The very first thing we landed upon after descending the stairs was the kitchen cum dining hall. It's texture was just like a mini hall with one side completely reserved for cooking enclosed within walls making a decent kitchen and large dining tables stretching across the other side. I was a bit surprised, certainly.

"Well, as you already know, this place is used by us for preparing and eating food. Usually, it's the chefs who will prepare your basic meals but you yourself can make your own food whenever you want or grab some quick packed snacks whenever you're in a hurry," the grandma explained almost everything in just a few lines.

"Mmm...I see". Just then, the main door behind us opened and someone came in. I turned around and saw a middle aged man walk in. When he saw us, he stopped in his tracks and said-

"Oh my, Nanako-san when did you come here?".

"Long time no see, Minato-kun. How are you doing?".

"I'm fine though. I have no work today so was about to head out for some dinner. Moreover, looks like you have some company today?".

"Ah, yes. She is new here, just came today so I was just showing her around since nobody's available now.''

"Hmm, I see." He then addressed me and introduced himself,"Hi, I'm Watanabe Minato, the head chef of this premise. Nice to meet you".

"I'm Amiya Mahi. Nice to meet you too".

"So, what will you do for dinner? Do you know to cook?".

"I..do but I'm in no mood to cook", is what I really wanted to say but couldn't do so.

"I see, then can I assume you will be cooking yourself tonight?". To some, it may appear rude since he, the chef, himself is refusing to cook but I..kinda want to understand his point of view, a bit.

''I don't meant to be rude here but I'm heavily tired from other jobs throughout the day, so I want you to understand a bit''. Quite...frank, isn't he?

"Well, then", the grandma intervened,"Why don't we all go out and eat today?"

"That's a nice idea, Nanako-san. How about it, Amiya ?".

''Well, if it's okay with you two....", I calmly responded.

"Then it's done! We'll depart in the next 15 mins then".

Watanabe-san nodded and replied back,"Got it. I'll be outside the gate with the car then". Saying this, he proceeded towards the kitchen.

"How about we quickly finish our sightseeing tour then?", grandma smiled happily at me. Looks like she was quite excited.

"Mm, yes".

Our next destination was the main hall of this building, situated right opposite to the kitchen.

I was quite surprised for a second when the door opened. It was certainly a bit more than I expected. Medium in size, with the wall beautifully decorated with unique embroideries and portraits. The room had soft sofas, an elegant diwan, glassy types of furnitures, idols and what not. Though, at second thought, these all luxuries do make some sense.

As I was zooming past the room, a couple of portraits caught my gaze. One was a lady, which I clearly recognize as the former late owner of this mansion, smiling gracefully with a crying infant in her lap. I had always been seeing that lady's mature and classy face since I was small but her in this picture was just....weirdly heartful and wholesome.

"That-", I said pointing out to the second picture,"It is the master's son, right?". My master, that is. I wonder was he brilliant since childhood? The most demanded teen aristocrat in Japan, that is.

I turned my face towards grandma to find her a bit...dejected?

Is something wrong with the picture? I again turned my face to examine the photo, rather a group photo of probably all the workers of the house with a small boy in between exposing a radiant smile.

"Certainly, he is Mihir...". That's all she said.

"...."

"So, leaving that, as you might have already guessed, this room is mainly used for refreshment purposes, group gatherings or for any official visits. You may also watch the T.V. here at any time. Now, shall we see a bit outside?", a soft smile reappeared at the last phrase.

"Mm, certainly".

The outside was a spectacle in the night with all the decorative lights. As time was short, we quickly zoomed past the outdoor attractions such as the car shed containing a variety of lavish cars, a beautiful animal area, an outdoor gym and playing area along with an outdoor stage. During this whole time, the grandma was simultaneously explaining some main areas of the mansion.

"Even though we couldn't explore the mansion now, I hope you yourself too continue learn about our little society here", the grandma addressed me, as we began our walk to join Watanabe-san outside the gate.

Oh, wait. I realised that I didn't know her name yet. Her first name was Nanako as I had heard earlier but I officially don't know her full name yet.

"Umm, I've been meaning to ask your name, grandma", I softly spoke.

''Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? I'm Tachikawa Nanako, the current head of the workers association of aristocracy and a former worker here".

As soon as I got to know her current status I was startled for a second. The person I'm now casually roaming with is the benefactor of all the aristocrat workers workers in Japan?! Though it's pretty cool...

"Where did you live before this?", Tachikawa-san continued.

"Ah..in Kyoto. Due to some circumstances, I just around a month ago shifted to Tokyo".

"Hmm, I see".

We entered the car and took off.

"So, where do you want to go, you two?", Watanabe-san asked as we picked up some speed.

"How about Amiya-san decides that?".

"Anywhere you wish is fine by me though...".

Then for some reason Watanabe-san chuckled and said,"Well it's better if you stop being so formal, Amiya. It's kinda funny when you talk to me like that."

"Is anything wrong with my accent?", I asked confused.

"Well..it's a bit too exaggerated to say? In comparison to the other co-workers around your age, I think you are a bit too..polite. you see, I have even heard ruthless cursing from one of your counterparts. Not that I'm saying that everybody is-"

"Pride in speech", Tachikawa-san suddenly interrupted.

"Uh?"

"That's a famous phrase in the workers society. You'll soon get to know about it. Irrespective of that, from your behaviour since the beginning, it seems that you are unaware of even the abc's of the workers society. For example, you looked quite surprised at whatever you saw or heard about the workers mansion, almost like you had a completely different idea about us. Am I right?"

Wait, wait, wait. Isn't the atmosphere a bit serious now?

"Ah, you are..right", I hesitatingly accepted.

A small yet effective smile appeared on her face."You seem quite interesting. I hope you are ready to step into this new world"

"..."

"Ah, by the way, which job are you currently assigned to?"

"Well, I'm the personal aid for the master's son".

Watanabe-san gasped and said,"For real? That Mihir accepted the idea of getting a personal maid? That is some news now."

"Mihir, huh? I see..", Tachikawa-san reacted as uninterested or disappointed as before. Does she have any personal grudge with that Mihir? I pondered.

Just then, the sound of a phone ring filled the car. It was Watanabe-san's. He picked up the call through the screen below the dashboard and-

"Ah, did you call?", a mature lady-like voice came over.

"Akari, where are you now?"

"With my dead boyfriend". A pin drop silence filled the car for a second.

"Are you joking? Wait, did you even have a boyfriend firsthand? And why do you sound so damn calm ?!''

"I'm calm because I finally killed him," she called it out like a perfectly normal situation.

"Huh? You killed him?!", saying this Watanabe-san stopped the car abruptly.

"Why are you acting so surprised, huh? Aren't you supposed to praise me instead?''

Watanabe-san just sat in utter shock for a moment. Then he regained his posture as if he realized something and hesitantly enquired,"Wait. Whom did you exactly kill?"

"Aizawa, indeed. Why do you ask?"

A sigh of relief escaped his mouth when he heard that, a reaction completely contrary to mine. Throughout, my whole life I've just known just a single Aizawa family and that monster, Hokan is what first comes to my mind. And Hokan... is a member of Black Ice.

My eyes widened. What the hell is going on in here? For starters, who exactly are these people actually? Are they somehow involved with Black Ice? If so then...

A slight mixed smile appeared on my face.

"Um, Amiya-san are you okay?", Tachikawa-san asked worried. I broke out of my trance. She then signalled something to Watanabe-san and he immediately cut the call by saying a quick talk to you later.

"I'm extremely sorry for what you just heard, Amiya-san. Let's see, how do I explain this?"

"I'll do that, Nanako-san", Watanabe-san said while starting the car. I was personally at a loss of words. How do you even react to such a situation? I should be scared or at least heavily anxious right?

"Amiya, are you frightened? If so then I'm sorry. One thing I'd want to clear here is that we are not bad guys. Whatever you heard just now, has a good reason behind it and you will get that reason when you properly know about us. There are a lot of things to discuss with you including about us, the 'Sapphire' faction"

To be continued....