Ravina woke up the next morning and furrowed her brow at the large ornate window in her view. The open curtains allowed the light of the new day to stream into her room but as she sat up on the large bed she was momentarily lost as she looked around her. The massive room could fit two of the homes the young Ravina grew up in. There was a grand seating area in the middle, a couch, table and chairs. All set to view an expansive fireplace, the window housed a desk of rich wood and chairs seated so that tea could be enjoyed while overlooking the view of the garden.
“Ah,” as Ravina pulled herself from the fine sheets, the warm air jogged her memory and as her small feet landed on the plush carpet she fully remembered. “That's right, they moved me here after I was accepted as his daughter.” She enjoyed the feel of the carpet on her bare feet for a time before she took in a deep breath of fresh lavender. “Well, I should enjoy it while it lasts at least. Where was the… ah” looking around Ravina picked up a small ceramic bell and gave it a little ring.
The bell looked like any ordinary simple hand bell. Glazed with a fine polish the almost completely white bell gleamed in the light, save for the small floral pattern of a purple flower vigorously painted on it. It felt smooth to the touch and a little cold but fit comfortably in her hand. The bell was placed in almost every room and it was explained to her that only a guest or the family themselves could ring the magical device. After a few soft chimes filled the air a knock came to the door.
“That was fast” surprised Ravina pushed the bell on the table, then turned to the door, with a “come in” she watched as Seit entered.
The young maid was all smiles as she rushed up to Ravina. “Good Morning!~” she sang, “everyone is buzzing with the good news, congratulations!”
Returning the girl's smile, Ravina nodded “Thank you.” yet it fell soon after, “I need to see Marthus soon.”
Seit nodded, “I’ll call him after we get you dressed and seated for breakfast.” she said with a smile, moving toward the room's spacious walk in closet.
“We? I can manage myself.” Ravina called as the maid opened the door.
“Not anymore, you are an official Ravinshield now, we can't have the lady do anything so meineal herself!” a soft giggle allowed her to realize the young maid was joking - but when exactly had she gotten so playful?
Ravina shook her head, “never mind that. Anyways, I have yet to be officially declared so for now I am still a guest.”
Seit returned with a dress in hand. It was elegant, expensive but not over the top. A fine article of clothing fitting for someone of influential status to lazy around the house.
“And I sure as hell am not wearing that!” Ravina complained. The dress made her all too aware of the sweat dripping down her skin. Wearing such a fine dress would ruin it completely and she couldn’t wrap her head around the fee for such a thing. She could never afford to dry clean anything.
“Shame, I got this one because it was the least expensive dress in this closet, but I can find something more your style im sure.'' Draping the dress on the chair in front of the vanity table the little maid retreated back into the closet and returned with another dress, similar but a touch more valuable to the eyes.
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“No,” Ravina whispered, she looked around and found herself without any other options. She was wearing a night dress that she didn't remember changing into and the only clothes were in the closet that, when she rushed inside, she found it to be the size of her old studio apartment. With the small ping of annoyance she looked around to find the maids' words were true. Each dress in this place was worth more than a small house by the lake. “But…”
“Your old clothes were tossed out, and I know you would feel uncomfortable in anything else right now so you really should just accept this dress.” Seit returned the old dress while Ravina looked around. Pulling a cart inside with a bowl of warm water. “Now then you can either suffer through breakfast and I can sneak you another dress or you can mop around in your room all day.”
Ravina could only stare at the girl in shock. “A-are you Seit?” she asked, shocked at the massive shift in the girl's demeanor.
The child wore a smile to mature for her age. “Of course, who else would I be?”
“The cute quiet maid that would nervously follow me around.”
“Hehe, Madam Linare has been giving me lessons on how to be a proper Dienlady ever since you arrived!” The joy of her words twisted the smile into a more childlike glee and Ravina realized that it was the shock that made her look mature. In fact, right now all she was a happy child wanting to be praised for her work. “In fact, now that you are official I got promoted! It was Madam’s Linare’s idea to keep a familiar face while you adjust!”
With a hand over her heart Ravina let loose a small sigh of relief before turning back to Seit, “So you're going to be my lady in waiting?”
Seit shook her head. “No I am unable to do that because of my status?” The statement was made a question by her furrowed brow and it was clear she was simply repeating what she was already told. Her concentration was similar to a student trying to answer a teacher’s question. “But a Dienlady is basically the same thing - ah but it is a lot more fun to say!~” her smile held the child's innocence.
“You’re doing great.” Ravina patted the girl’s head as she spoke, causing the child of similar age to her to smile, eliciting a soft chuckle.
“You to Ravy!~” and immediately she lost her bearings and started treating Ravina as a friend, though the mature child didn't mind it one bit. “Seriously! Everyone’s always talking about how amazing you are!”
“They are?” This came as a shock to Ravina.
Seit nodded her head, her hands clenched in tight fists, “yeah! They placed a lot of bets about when you would be kicked out of the manner but now they talk about how you gamble like a shiny plebeian pebble and know about knights and fighting and stuff!”
Her excitement was infectious and it took a moment for the words to sink in, “Shiny plebeian pebble?” she replete aloud accidentally.
“Yeah,” Seit nodded, unconcerned with Ravina’s changed expression. “Something like that!”
“Do… Do you know what plebeian means?”
“Ah.” Seit's face fell. “Uh, something like graceful? They also said you were quite unsophisticated to be a Ravenshield. So it has to be something like that because you really are wonderful!”
Ravina didn't know what to say. She could only blink at the smiling child before her. “Why… why don't you tell the butler about these things.” In the end, she decided to pass it along to someone else. “I am sure he would like to hear about what people are saying about me!”
“Great idea! Old man Martty is your number one fan after all! You should see him gush about you as well!”
“R-really?” for a moment a cold chill fell down her spine. He really seemed to like her, or at least want her to be the count's daughter, but perhaps that was just a front… he did give her a servants' room to sleep in when they first got here, not a guest.
“Yeah, he calls you the gem of the raven and master’s brightest star!”
This caused Ravina to smile, not only was it an actual compliment but it could mean that she had an ally in the butler. If he wasn't just giving proper lip service.
“Ah!” Seit cried out suddenly, causing Ravina to jump.
“What is it!?”
“The old man wants me to bring you down for breakfast ASAP! ASAP is right away! Come on!” she began pulling Ravina’s night dress, “We need to get you washed and dressed!”
“Hol-hold on!” Ravina cried
“No! Seit promised to be a good Dienlady! I can't mess up right away!”
“I got thi- I can do this myself, stop pulling!”
Despite Seit’s helpful assistance, the pair took quite some time to get ready for the day…