“I’ll get your clothes washed up and cleaned for you,” Mrs. Houper said. She turned on the large tub’s faucet. “Just drop them down this chute here and that’ll take them straight to the laundry room.” Seren nodded stiffly. They kept their sight on the tiled floor, too ashamed to look up and meet the housekeeper’s eyes.

“Would you like bubbles, dear?” She asked. Seren couldn’t respond. “They smell very nice… Would you like to smell them?” Seren didn’t move. Mrs. Houper knelt down and took Seren’s chin and raised their face to look at them.

“It’s okay,” She said. “We’re going to get you cleaned up, good as new. Maybe get you a cup of tea? That’ll make everything better.”

“Will it?” Seren asked, “I still have to go back. She still has to share the streets with me. What am I supposed to do?” Seren didn’t think they had anymore tears to cry and yet they found new tears welling up. Mrs. Houper had no words.

“For now, let’s just get you cleaned up.” She stood up and plugged the drain to the tub. “I’ll put in the Yuletide bubble bath. Tis the season, right?” Seren shrugged.

“And I’ll get a cup of tea made for you when you get out.” Mrs. Houper poured in a bottle that instantly made the room smell like a warm fireplace. “Is there anything you want specifically?” Seren shrugged. Mrs. Houper nodded in response.

“Well, I’ll leave you be. Just turn off the tap when you’re done and try not to get water on the floor.” Mrs. Houper pat Seren on the head as she passed and left the room. The action felt comforting, and it made Seren want to throw up.

Seren stripped off their clothes and dropped them down the chute before getting into the tub. The water was barely tolerable, and it felt wonderful on Seren’s sore muscles and aching bruises. They melted into the bubbles with a relieved sigh. Sitting up hurriedly, they turned off the tap before it got too deep and they risked splashing the water out of the tub. Seren reclined again for half a second, trying to relax but unable to in the guilt of being in someone else’s house.

They rubbed at the dirt and grime over their body and dipped under the water to rinse out their hair. Seren was covered in bubbles and the few glimpses beneath the bubbles showed the water had turned gray.

The smell of the bubble bath hovered in the room and made Seren’s head spin slightly. Though the accompanying adrenaline crash did not help. All at once their tense muscles became like chewed gum, they leaned against the wall and rested their eyes. Guilt and shame gnawed at the back of their throat, making it hard for their imagination to take off and distract them from life for a little while.

A knock on the door made Seren jump. The water rushing back and forth, churning the dirt at the bottom.

“Just me!” Mrs. Houper said, sticking only her hand inside the door. “I’ve gotten you some clothes to wear while yours are laundered!” Mrs. Houper’s arm disappeared and reappeared with a bundle that was placed on the floor next to the door. With the bundle was a towel for them as well. She shut the door and left Seren alone again. They let out the breath they were holding and sunk into the tub again.

Soaking for a moment before sitting up and unplugging the drain. They watched the water drain in a trance without a thought behind their green eyes. The dirt trailed down with the water and left a streak of sediment down the center of the tub. Seren’s breath stuttered as the dirt settled, they seized the tap but froze before they turned it. Staring wide-eyed at the door. If they turned on the tap, Mrs. Houper would hear. What would she think? How angry would she be at Seren wasting water?

Seren shakily grabbed at the tap and inched it on so only a single line of water dropped into the drain. Sitting up on their knees, they filled their hands with water and chased the dirt down the tub. Washing away the dirt entirely from the bottom of the tub. Seren turned off the tap and crawled out of the tub. Grabbing the towel to dry themself off even though they were mostly dry already.

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Roughly toweling their hair dry, then grabbing the loose night clothes and pulling them on. They were a little too big for them, but Seren couldn’t deny they were very comfortable. They dropped the used towel into the laundry chute and exited the bathroom.

There was no one waiting outside the door. Most of the house was quietly moving. Little whispers from the house staff that kept the place neat and dust free. Seren picked at their fingernails as they listened to the staff giggle to each other in the dining room. Polishing the cabinets full of porcelain. Seren swallowed and started drifting toward the kitchen. Remembering that Mrs. Houper said something about making tea while their clothes were washing.

Seren peeked into the kitchen, Mrs. Houper sat at the bar. Laughing with a woman over the stovetop where a bubbling kettle was just beginning to sing.

“Oh, Seren! Come on in, meet Kalyani, the house chef.” Mrs. Houper said happily. Kalyani waved with a warm smile that melted Seren’s anxiety. They walked into the kitchen and stopped at the bar. Kalyani took the singing kettle and poured a cup of chocolaty smelling tea.

“Here, I thought a child like you would love something sweet and simple.” Kalyani took a small creamer pitcher and poured a dainty amount into the cup and dropping a single white sugar cube in after. Stirring until emulsion and handing the ornately painted teacup and saucer to Seren.

“Come sit down, you’ve had a rough day.” Mrs. Houper said, getting out of her seat. “I have the staff doing a load of laundry right now and your clothes should be clean in an hour or so.”

“Okay,” Seren said quietly. Their head was spinning, unsure of what to make of the situation. They sat down and stared into their milky tea, holding the cup burned their fingers, so they left it on the saucer. Mrs. Houper and the chef Kalyani continued their weekend gossip, and they poured two more cups of tea.

“Oh, I heard something very spicy from the Winters district.” Kalyani pretended to cover her mouth as she knelt forward to speak softly to Mrs. Houper. Hearing their own district mentioned had Seren’s ears in full alert mode. “The golden child; Jasmine? She’s been grounded. Severely! I heard that there were certain yuletide gifts that found their way back to store shelves.”

“No.” Mrs. Houper gasped. Seren stared wide-eyed into their cup.

“Yes, I heard it just as I was coming over.” Kalyani said. “My son over in the Autumn district hear it from his friend in the wood shop who heard from staff that work in the Winters manor.”

“I can’t believe it,” Mrs. Houper shook her head. She looked sideways at Seren then motioned Kalyani closer. Whispering quietly into her ear. Kalyani’s eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

“No!” She gasped as she stood back. Looking at Seren in awe, Mrs. Houper shoved her off the counter and Kalyani shut her jaw with a snap and cleared her throat as she went back around the counter with her cup.

“I can’t believe it,” Kalyani shook her head and stared at the wall blankly. “But how did-”

“Seren!” Mrs. Houper said loudly, stopping Kalyani from finishing her sentence. “Why don’t you go tell Mr. Asche that dinner will be ready in an hour and ask him if he wants it brought to the study.”

“Oh, okay.” Seren said. Leaving their teacup on the counter and they left the kitchen. Slowly Seren made their way up the stairs. Already exhausted, reaching the second floor was enough to make Seren want to give up and go back down to the ground floor. They grumbled and continued ascending. Cursing the study for being on the third floor and not having some sort of easy way up.

They pushed up step by step, as they neared the top they heard a voice. Seren slowed and turned their head to the side so they could hear better. With every step they could hear the words a bit clearer. It was Mr. Asche’s voice. Seren considered heading back downstairs, sounding like he was in the middle of a meeting, but they couldn’t quite make out the sound of another person. Seren crouched down and crept to the door to the top floor study. Listening in on the odd conversation.

“I’ll call an exorcist! I’ll have you removed by force if you don’t clear out!”

That was Mr. Asche speaking, but there was no voice speaking back to him. He carried on about having someone kicked out, about how he was already being as generous as he could afford.

Seren stared at the door. It was clear he was talking to himself. They stood up, debating whether or not to knock on the door. They took the deepest breath they could and knocked lightly.

“Come in!”

Seren stepped back but remembered, confidence. They leaned forward and opened the door.