I woke up staring at a light blue stall door. I looked under me to see that I was sitting on a toilet seat. The floor and walls around me were plastered in blue tile. I felt dazed and it took a second for me to realize what was going on.

Ah, I did go inside Essentia again, didn't I? To meet Ms. Myal- I mean Ms. Mya to get information. I wonder how long I was in there? The first time I went inside the blade I was out for a day. I stuck my hand in my right pocket and dug for my phone. I pulled it out and pressed the middle button, revealing the basic home screen that comes with the phone.

The time read: 4:12 pm in small bold letters.

Weird. I felt like I was at least in there for thirty minutes. But by the clock's time I was only in there about ten minutes, which is the exact opposite of how the first time went. Maybe I could ask Ms. Myala about it. No, she would probably be upset that I'm interrupting her reading time. I'll question her about it later. For now I should get home.

I hopped up and walked out of the bathroom. But unlike earlier, where it was quiet, there were doctors and nurses running down the halls, dragging medical equipment with them.

What could've happened in so short of a time frame? I thought.

"What are his symptoms?" a male doctor yelled.

"He's not breathing!" a female nurse yelped.

"This doesn't make sense! The patient was stable the last few days."

"It appears a virus has entered his bloodstream. He might've been poisoned."

Another female nurse said, running as she held her clipboard to her chest.

"Tsk. This isn't good."

I watched them run until they passed Ms. Amber's room and ran down the hall until they were out of sight.

Huh. That's a scene you'd expect to see from a television drama. It's weird seeing one in real life.

Well, I should get home, I thought.

I continued walking towards the elevators. Once there, I pressed the down button and to my surprise, one of the elevator doors opened almost immediately. I walked in and pressed the lobby button of the elevator.

Considering I was only on the second floor, the ride wasn't very long. I stepped out and was ready to leave but then I remembered the front desk woman. Considering the scene I made, if she saw Mary walk out alone she might interrogate me. I would like to avoid that if possible.

I peaked over the corner to see that she was missing from her chair, which gave me the okay to leave. Outside, it was just as busy as before, with everyone going every which way.

Usually Tucker and I get lost and wander the city trying to get home, mostly because he's too stingy to ask for directions. But since he wasn't here I would just use my phone's GPS to find the way home.

It didn't take long to get home after putting in the address. I had to come up with a convenient lie for Chuck as he's not dumb enough to ignore the fact that Tucker wasn't with me anymore. Once I told him we got separated because he went chasing after a cute girl, he sighed and let me through.

Eventually, after a few more minutes of walking, I arrived at the front door of the mansion. Surprisingly, no one was working out on the front lawn. As big as it is, it usually takes hours to complete and I don't think we were gone that long. Well, they're probably too busy training the new recruits.

I opened the door and was greeted by an unfamiliar voice near the entrance.

"Welcome home, Young Master."

I looked forward to see a beautiful girl, maybe two or three years older and slightly taller than me. She had long, dark brown hair that was tied near the top with a black hair tie. She had dark hazel eyes with black eyelashes that had red mascara mixed in perfectly and a beauty mark near her lips. She had on a silver necklace with an amethyst heart at the end. She wore the standard maid uniform with no deviations.

She might've been the most attractive person I've ever met in real life. Even her polite expression exuded a level of grace none of the other maids had.

"T-t-thank you," I said.

She looked concerned. "Young Master, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting someone to greet me at the door."

"I see. I was running errands around the mansion and happened to see you walking home."

"Ah, are you one of the new maids?"

She looked at me for a second and then smiled softly. "I guess you wouldn't remember me, would you?"

I looked at her, puzzled. "Have we met before?"

"Back when we were children, we used to play together all the time."

"We did?"

"It was so fun seeing you trying so hard when we played games. And then Mary would do them with ease."

Ah...sounds about right. I can't remember the last time I've seen Mary struggle to do something.

"Have you seen Mary yet? Does she remember you?"

"Yes, there was a staff meeting two days ago. I attended it since I had planned on returning and ran into Mary along the way. She recognized me instantly."

"What about Tucker? I know you probably haven't seen him but do you think he'll recognize you?"

She laughed. "I definitely think he will recognize me."

There's most likely a story there, but I don't think this is the time to pry. I should get more familiar with her first. Not to mention, she seems to be comfortable talking about my past that no one else is willing to mention.

I looked at her face. Her eyes as far as I could tell, were devoid of any malice and her gentle smile told me I probably shouldn't overthink it too much. Even though I didn't remember her at all, I felt like I could trust her.

Just then, a finger snapped right in my face. I jumped a little and she looked at me, her face unchanged.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"Mary told me you occasionally zone out now. I guess she wasn't lying."

"Ahah, yea, I just get lost in my thoughts sometimes."

I'm surprised Mary noticed. I didn't know she paid that much attention to me. I mean I guess she looks after me because of her duty as a maid, but-

A soft voice broke through my thoughts.

"You've been lonely, haven't you?" The maid said, her smile becoming more melancholic.

"Huh?"

"You smile but it's practiced. There's no emotion behind it. When you spoke about Mary and Tucker, you sounded more like a spectator than a person close to them. You feel isolated from everyone else, don't you?"

"..."

Before I could even process what she said to me, I felt warmth encase my body. The scent of cinnamon filled my nose. She gently wrapped her arms around my head and pushed my head to her chest. Strands of her long hair tickled my cheek.

My brain, which is usually overthinking, was completely blank. All thoughts were replaced with how nice this felt. I couldn't remember the last time I got hugged but it felt really good. My body relaxed and just accepted it. If she was an assassin, she would've succeeded in killing me.

After a few seconds, she unwrapped her arms and took a few seconds back. My brain was still trying to process what was going on and I didn't dare trying to speak as I knew I couldn't form coherent sentences anymore.

"Well, I must return to my duties. Talk to me if you have any problems, Arthur," she said, returning to her gentle smile.

"W-Will do," I managed to make out.

She bowed and turned to leave. As she turned around, a maid came running, yelling someone's name.

"Ms. Sophia!" the short maid I met from earlier, Veronica, screamed as she ran.

As the maid, who was now identified as Sophia, looked at the girl screaming her name, all emotion drained from her face, showing off a look of apathy not at all unlike Mary's.

"Yes, what is it?" She spoke politely yet her words lacked any kind of emotion.

She peered over me and then back at Sophia. She looked far more nervous than when I first met her.

"W-well, I would like your assistance if possible. It would seem some of the uhh, figures, are unrecognizable and I cannot find Ms. Cecilia."

Sophia's face remained unchanged. "Very well."

Sophia turned back to me. "I'll see you later Arthur. Remember what I told you."

"I will."

Then she turned around and followed Veronica, who seemed extremely tense as she led the way.

After they disappeared, I stood there for a second, reviewing what just happened. My brain still felt scrambled, trying to process everything. The hug aside, I just met someone who I supposedly knew years ago. And the words she said pierced as deep as Ms. Mya's. I don't know whether to believe them or not, but her words sounded heartfelt, like she really meant them. There didn't seem to be any ill intent involved, which made it even harder to not believe her.

Just as I was deciding how truthful her words were, a buzzing in my pocket interrupted my thinking. I took out my phone and looked at it. Tucker was calling me. He must be on his way home and wondering if I'm home yet or not. Hopefully he doesn't feel too guilty over leaving me.

I answered the phone and pushed it to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Yo Arthur, are you home?"

"Yeah?"

"Cool, I'm on my way there now. Don't try to hit on any of the maids till I get there, kay?"

I frowned. "I won't."

"Ahahah, you know I'm joking."

"By the way, I met a person named Sophia and she said she knew you. Do you remember her?"

"Nope, doesn't ring a bell," he said almost instantly.

"Ah, really? Well she's going to working as a new maid so hopefully seeing her will jog your memory."

"What!? She's a maid now!? And she's working at the house?"

"Well it doesn't matter to you, since you don't remember her, right?"

"...Right. Well I gotta go. See you when you get home."

The phone call ended before I could even say bye. I looked down at the phone.

Why do you even bother trying to lie to me anymore Tucker? I thought. Tucker's reaction was weird. He's not really a secretive person so catching him in a lie is pretty rare. And what he said is also off-putting. He seemed surprised she was a maid, which I thought was weird. I figured she was always a maid in training just like Mary, but was that not the case? If so, that begs the question, what was she before?

Well I won't figure any of it out standing here. I checked my phone for the time.

It read: 5:13 pm.

Well it's still a ways away from dinner. Maybe I'll go finish a book. Three hours should be plenty of time. Oh but the book I was reading I left in the backyard. Guess I'll go there first.

I walked into one of the hallways and noticed an absence of maids and butlers. It's not even that they were scarce; they weren't any. It felt like a ghost town. I walked through the maid's hall and turned right to the corridor that led to the back door.

In front of the door was a bulky butler that I've never seen before. He had blonde hair and fierce animalistic light orange eyes. He was clean-shaven and had small ears. He wore the standard black and white butler uniform, except his shirt was sleeveless, showing off his biceps.

He looked at me with his arms crossed, his expression similar to a carnivorous cheetah, like he was calm but ready to strike at any time.

"No one is allowed to be back here," he said dryly.

"But I just need to retrieve something I left really quickly," I said.

"No one is allowed back here," he repeated.

"But-

"No."

"I-

"One."

"Give me one second."

"Is allowed back here."

"...Eh, fine."

Giving up, I turned around, and headed towards my room. It's not that important. I'll just have Tucker sneak back there and get it later.

Or, you could use the secret tunnels and get it yourself, a voice said in my head.

"Ms. Mya?" I said out loud.

Hi. See, isn't this better than stabbing yourself?

"..."

I jest.

That wasn't very funny, I thought.

It made me laugh. That's all that matters at the end of the day.

Right, you can hear my thoughts.

Clear as day.

So about the secret tunnels?

Indeed. Instead of relying on Tucker, why not get the book with your own two hands? Not to mention, I know you're curious as to what they're hiding from you.

But if I get caught?

You're the heir to the owner of the house. You won't get in any actual trouble.

Sadly, she's right, I thought.

I always am.

I made my back to the girl's dorm and walked to the dead end. I stood inches away from it, just as Mr. Reginald has done to open it from the inside, but to no avail. Nothing happened.

Knock in the center four times, Ms. Mya ordered.

I did so and waited. At first nothing happened, but then the walls split open just as it did in the past.

This is a horrible idea. My gut was telling me so.

Nevertheless, I walked inside and was reminded just how white everything was. It was definitely an area of the house I wanted to explore more.

I started walking forward and that's when it hit me. I don't know where I'm going. I don't know how to get to the entrance that leads to the backyard. Realistically, I don't even know how to get out.

Obviously that's what I'm for. I can guide you. I already memorized this place. Just let me borrow your consciousness for five minutes.

...Please just guide me there.

Fine, if you want to be difficult. Take a right here. And then a left.

I simply did as instructed. After going through many left and right turns, I ended up in front of a wall. I couldn't place my finger on it, but it felt familiar.

Now push open the walls, she instructed.

I did as I was told and pushed it apart. I walked inside and noticed a very familiar sight. Lines of clothing on my left and my right neatly organized into sections.

I'm in my Father's closet. Why am I here?

All is for the pursuit of knowledge, Ms. Mya said.

I could practically see her smirking while sitting in her throne as she said this.

I ignored her and kept walking forward until I hit the closet doors. I peeked through the cracks to see my father, sitting comfortably at his desk, wearing a suit as he as alway does. And yes, he does have a study desk in his bedroom. He seemed to be talking to Ms. Cecilia. Based on how Ms. Cecilia looked, it looked like they were arguing about something. I closed my eyes and focused on listening.

"I believe it's too dangerous, Mr. Price. Arthur and Tucker could be killed."

"Yes, I know it's risky. That's precisely why I'm sending Reginald and Mary, two very skilled fighters, with them."

"At least let me go with them then!"

"Definitely not. If you are gone, who is going to run the house? Who will instruct the new maids?"

"But Sophia can-

"As skilled as Sophia is, she is still new to the house. While it is true she used to visit quite often, it's been almost a decade."

"But sir-

"There is no discussion to be had here, Cecilia. In two days time, Arthur and Tucker will venture to the Amazons and establish good relations with them."

...What? I need to go tell Tucker about this.

But before I was able to scurry out, Ms. Mya's voice echoed in my mind.

All is for the pursuit of knowledge, she repeated.

My mind went blank for the third time today my body acted on its own accord again. Well, I guess technically it's Ms. Mya's accord. My legs tripped on seemingly nothing and I pushed the closet doors out. I fell to the floor and flopped.

As I did so, I regained control of my body. My head, which was no longer blank, was now dizzy from the fall. I looked up to see both Ms. Cecilia and my Father looking at me. But whereas Ms. Cecilia seemed shocked, my father's expression leaned more towards a stern glare filled with disappointment.

"Arthur!?" Ms. Cecilia yelled.

Ah, how am I supposed to get out of this?