Eyes lazily opened, rather the ‘shine-blue’ eyes at that; eyes which simply stared at the ceiling above. Too tired, hardly able to sleep the night prior. Too much in mind then; too much in mind even now, despite throbbing somewhat. Hers were not the only pair of waking eyes in this room of cohabitative beds, however, and to whom such waking eyes belonged did not linger long in their beds compared to she.

They all got up, quickly and swiftly, in order to prepare themselves for what was ahead. Whispers, speakings, and many such conversating noises bounced about. Excitement, anxiety, panic, and joy all bled into one single expression.

The night before was their first night in this room, in this manor-estate. This was their first day in this new chapter of their lives, having achieved what most girls of their lowly social class could only dream—for indeed, there was hardly any other form of mobility for girls such as they in his dawning era.

Yet she was the last to get out of her bed. Unlike the girls and ladies around her, she did not seem excited or thrilled; though, such was not to imply that she was visibly broody.

They tidied themselves up, just as they had practiced individually well before this day. Organized…as much as they could be; regimented as much as…they knew to be. They fixed their hair, freshened their breaths, and donned their required dresswear.

Yet she was perhaps slower than the rest, comparatively. She straightened her messy pink-red hair, tying and fashioning it in the manner becoming—somewhat at least—of what she was soon to be, before she donned her dresswear—maid clothing to be precise, and by no means comparable in style to that which was donned by commonfolk.

She and the rest were no ordinary maids; her attire was elegant and stylized in a way befitting to whom she was now in service of, even if they whom she now so served were rather…unremarkable in the hierarchy of aristocrats and nobles, not even being part of the feudality—though, such was…in fact, more to her benefit.

Yet, unlike the girls around, her being here was something she did not want… A decision made not by her; such tended to be the common pattern in this life of hers. She never wanted to be here, yet here she was; she never chose to be born, yet there she breathed.

Nevertheless, all done and readied, she along with the rest hastily departed out from their dormitory and into the elegant and fancy halls of this mansion or manor. The sun’s beaming light pierced through the hall’s large windows, the equally elegant and expansive—albeit humbly so—outside garden…visible for their eyes to see.

An elaborately pleasant garden for a pleasantly elaborate manor and estate, to which they were now the custodians, of which the owners they were now in the total service of.

Though, first thing was first before anything else: they needed to assemble for their so-called ‘orientation’.

-|-

All of the nascently admitted junior maids gathered, standing in place within this small room of sorts, trying to appear as…disciplined as they…could appear—besides save one, who did not seem to care.

“Each of you are standing here this day because you have demonstrated yourselves to be the worthiest of this position, might you be from the villages and lesser communities tied to this barony, or the towns and greater cities of this realm.”

Before them was the head maid in charge of all the maids, an older women of mid-age compared to these teenage to young-adult girls; she stood and walked with strictness and discipline incomparable to their amateurish own, with her voice only being equal to her firm posture.

“No doubt, you have all studied, prepared, and practiced for months without respite; the best of you will have been preparing for years, ever since you were small girls with mothers who dreamed of this day. But no degree of studies nor practices with cleaning your peasant house and attending to your village will have prepared you for the responsibilities soon to be ahead” the head maid continued on.

“You are not to be maids of a commoner place, but rather the maids of a noble house. Admittedly, House Berrybottom is of much lower stature among the nobility, but we remain with standards behooving our status—standards none of you are going to meet, despite having been selected from your pool. You are all equally stupid despite your studies; you are all equally inexperienced despite your practices and upbringings.”

The head maid paused momentarily before she began to walk back and forth, ever-strictly so.

“As such, you will be spending the next two-to-three months in training. You will be divided into groups with a lead in charge, and from whom you will be instilled discipline, stature, diligence, and have your skills hardened. You might be common-born, but when in this estate you must behave with the elegant respect to the house who resides, and as the maids of House Berrybottom, you will become accustomed to attending to their every need.” thus lectured the head maid.

Yet suddenly, from this group of many junior maids, a certain someone could not help but start snickering. The head maid paused, raising an eyebrow.

“ ‘Every’ need? So, that implies a lot, and that implies a few dirty things—which is part of this job, I understand that—but my question would have to be: are we at least allowed to keep our jobs after they enseed us with their bastards? Or are we to be thrown out?” so brazenly blurted that certain she.

All eyes shifted away from the head maid and to her as they began to stare, some giving her rather the certain grimacing glare.

“My word, what a grimaceful tongue!” the head maid reprimanded, glaring, unamused whatsoever. The head maid strictly approached, the others stepping away to give her way, as that certain she stood in place. “Pink, your name was?”

“Yes…” thus replied with a nod…‘Pink’—not her true name, however, for that would be Blossom.

The head maid began to prod with her eyes, inspecting every facet of Blossom’s appearance and figure. “Your hair is not fashioned correctly, your attire is still wrinkled, and your stature is not even feigning discipline. You are as sloppily lazy as you are abrasively disrespectful, I can already see.” she reprimanded even more, voice harsh and strict…though not angry.

“Yeek… How did someone like that even get selected?” so whispered one to another.

Yet Blossom’s eyes quickly glanced a lancing glare; “ ‘Cause I’m smart, observant, and with ears not deafened” she said to the whisperer…who immediately averted away, silent.

“Eyes on me, child.” so commanded the head maid with such a piercingly stern voice that even Blossom shiveringly jerked somewhat in sudden startle, her eyes swiftly locking back onto the head maid.

“…I’m fifteen” Blossom…more murmuringly…corrected.

“But still a child, nevertheless. Especially one in attitude, action, and soul.” the head maid rebuked strictly.

“I meant no…disrespect, it’s just that—”

“No contractions in your speech.” the head maid interrupted.

“…it is just that, someone I knew… her mother was once a maid too and her father was…a noble, and so were tossed to the streets and forced into exile, that’s… that is why I was simply wondering: if I was to be used and impreg—” Blossom was attempting to explain herself, though her voice was by no means…sincere… Rather snarky, indeed.

“That is enough.” the head maid interrupted again, sighing as she stroked her own forehead; “You are not questioning innocently. You are intentionally rousing for attention. Now step to the side and be silent as I finish this up. Is that understood, Pink?” she commanded ever-authoritatively, attempting to maintain composure… clearly irritated.

Blossom could feel the anger pierce out from the speaking voice; she had…gone too far, she realized.

Her eyes retracted, looking away; “…sure, whatever” she replied, voice more lowly and with less confidence. She simply stepped away and moved off to the side, back leaning against the wall as her figure slipped down…sitting as she grasped her tucked legs.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Everything promptly continued…as if she were never there.

-||-

“Dismissed.” so finished the head maid.

All of the junior maids bowed and respectfully departed out into the manor-estate beyond, splitting into their respective groups as they met their assigned leads to begin their assignments and chores for the day.

Yet one still remained…where she was, sitting with her head down…awaiting the reprimanding to come.

The head maid sighed now that it was just the two of them, her strict eyes glaring right at Blossom. “What are you doing?” she interrogated, utterly unamused; “You embarrassed me, you embarrassed our standards, that was simply…”

“Fine. Throw me out then.” Blossom stated, her voice bitter and lowly.

The head maid pinched her forehead again, “Oh, girl! You are no commoner; I know you have been trained. So, act like it!”

“Maybe you should keep your fucking voice down about that?” Blossom replied, her voice angsty.

“Clean your tongue!” the head maid reprimanded, stomping closer; “Do you have even the simplest understanding whatsoever of the predicament you are in?”

“I do. But have you considered maybe it would be better if you, and my mother, and everyone else had one less burden to deal with?” Blossom countered, her voice still angsty yet also rather…mellow.

The head maid tsked, clenching her hand into a frustrated fist; so very close indeed. Yet…ultimately, she let loose a grand exhaling breath… nerves calming down. “Stand.” she commanded.

Blossom sighed and stood up, swiping at her attire before approaching, keeping her eyes down and away, however.

“You are not worthy of being here.” the head maid stated so very bluntly, “The only reason why you are here is because your mother was a friend and had asked for a favor”.

“I know…” Blossom acknowledged, still averting eye contact.

“I understand, you do not want to be here and quite frankly we do not want you here either, but I am not cruel. You are here. I and a select few are the only ones who know who you are; not even Sir Berrybottom is aware. This is the safest place you will be in Huckleberry…or anywhere.” the head maid stated.

“I know…” Blossom acknowledged…lowly.

“I understand what you were trying to do, and were you to be anyone else, I would have disciplined you greatly or expelled you, but you are not anyone else. But we have standards; we have expectations; we cannot always make you an exception, it would be suspect. I am not cruel, but please…do not force me do something cruel. Your mother entrusted you to us… to me. So please…be unremarkable, be unexceptional, but act with some dignity and diligence…and be respectful to our profession and to this house, for your mother if not us” thus the head maid urged in full, voice more sincere and concerned.

Blossom remained silent, eyes still averting. She sighed; “…alrightly, sorry… I’ll…I will try” she replied…lowly and quietly.

“Good, good” the head maid said, gently patting Blossom’s shoulder; “Now, you have already heard everything, so off you go, then, Pink”.

Blossom nodded, her eyes finally looking as she…did a bow before making way to depart. Though, she quickly…paused and turned herself around; “…where am I supposed to…go? I was not assigned to any—” she was about to inquire, but…

“Oh, Heaven above, girl, simply find one… Whichever you choose will be the one which I assigned, so just be on your way.” the head maid interjected.

“…a choice? Hm… Thanks” Blossom replied with a slim smile, before respectfully exiting at last… A nice feeling, it was, to be given even the smallest of choices, especially for someone whose life and fate felt out of her own control.

-||-

Blossom wandered through this mansion’s hallway, attempting to find her way. So peaceful, so quiet, only a few maids and staff around doing their duties and chores, but she had yet to do a single thing.

She did not know what to do or where to go, despite knowing the groups and what had been assigned of the junior maids.

Indeed, she had been hit with the great paradox of being given many choices: she had not the faintest idea as to which choice she ought to pick. Cooking, cleaning, garden trimming, direct attending, so many…assignments… none of them fixed; eventually, all would have to do all, thus the question was: which to pick first?

She paused…and began to stare. Decoration, she was looking at. Indeed, this hall…as with this mansion…was rather decorated. Armor, a mannequin donning knight armor, a bastard sword in hand. Tall, very tall. She liked knights, for whatever reason. Maybe not in reality as much as…in principle, in story—their armor was also pretty cool… She fancied their armor, quite.

“…would that a sweetly hearted knight could come and rescue me away… A trapped damsel can only dream, though” she quietly said to herself; “I’m not even a…princess… nothing but sticky goop to be stepped on…and scraped against the street…” she muttered even quieter, voice depressing.

Though, she continued to stare at this empty suit of armor, aged and old; once donned for glory, now reduced…to mere decoration. Dusty and in need of some polishing, it was clear. And it was not the only set of empty decorative armor, either.

“…who cleans these?” she wondered; “I… I wanna do that… Yeah, that seems…nice…” she said to herself.

Yet abruptly: “Oh! Heya, bad mouth!” so greeted from behind an approaching voice, rather loudly too.

Blossom, caught by surprised, jerked somewhat…nearly hitting herself into the armor, as she turned and stared at the…charm-smiling other now peering at her in kind. Purplish magenta eyes and darkish teal…or turquoise rather…hair; almost her height though perhaps a tad taller.

“Startled you? Sorry…” this…fellow junior maid of sorts apologized.

“…who? What? I wasn’t—what?” Blossom, staggered in mind, attempted to inquire.

“I am shocked! You’re still alive, and I was sure Miss Strict was going to defenestrate you for being very…naughty mouthy, both in words and implications” the junior maid cordially remarked.

“…defenest-a-huh?” Blossom blumbled in reply.

“…toss you out the window, sorry—thought you were smart” the junior maid clarified, teasing and playful in affect.

“…smart, not wordy—”

“Believe you mean highfalutin” the junior maid interposed with a gentle snicker.

“Wha…? Anyway, what are… Who are you? What do you want with me?” Blossom interrogated, somewhat standoffish and closed.

“Gods… Just wanted to chat since I saw you standing there… I thought you were kind of funny earlier; a rebellious and free-spirited type, I like that…” the junior maid replied.

“…oh… I just…speak stuff…sometimes, got heavy lectured and… yeah, that was that…” Blossom said, eyes somewhat averting. Despite her confidence in presence of authority, when in face of her…fellows and peers…she could easily become more closed and distant. She was not supposed to trust easily.

“Anyway, don’t you have…duties to do? You’re wasting time talking to me” she stated frankly.

“…I got lost…” the junior maid…admitted; “…and what about you? Staring at armor is not your duty, surely? Let me guess: you got assigned to the toiletry cleaning?” she playfully inquired.

“…no…” Blossom replied, “…I’m also…lost, this manor is…”

“Hard to navigate? Tell me about it…” the junior maid interposed.

Blossom, however, began to peer…having noticed a detail of this…stranger speaking to her; “…are you a half-elf?” she inquired without much forethought.

The junior maid…retracted somewhat, gently brushing her pointy ears; “You noticed? ‘Observant’, I believe it. Yeah, kind of… More half of a half-elf, ears a little pointy—”

“Noticeably pointy” Blossom interjected.

“…alrightly, noticeably pointy, but maybe not half-elfy pointy” the junior maid finished.

“Hm… interesting, elves are…nice; wish we could coexist better…” Blossom…remarked, a bit awkwardly.

“Hmm? So…a rebel and a dreamer, huhh?” the junior maid replied, peering closer in playful tease.

“…heh?” Blossom mumblily blurted. Truly, this girl had such an…impression, almost an overwhelming one for someone who preferred to stick with herself.

“Both confident and timid too, I see. Can speak up to a person above you, but gets spooked by your equals, how silly!” the junior maid teasingly remarked.

“…yeah, I… I guess so…” Blossom awkwardly replied, slightly more…quiet in voice.

“Name’s Miranda, by the way” thus the junior maid finally introduced, extending forth her hand for a friendly shake, “I think we habitate the same room—you were the lazy one who got up last, rightly right?”

“…oh, yeah, I am…Pink” Blossom replied in kind, shyly…shaking her hand; “…‘Miranda’, that’s a very weird name” she remarked.

“I know right, weird and alien… It’s Far Western, I think?” the junior maid, now ‘Miranda’, replied with a charismatic smile.

“Anyway, I have taken enough; I have to…now find my… where I was supposed to go…”

“…uhm, where are you… What’s your group? Your assignment?” Blossom inquired.

“Hmm? Oh, I was supposed to be tidying the antique room clean…but…got distracted, turned around, and… lost my group… All the doors looking the same hasn’t helped me find them either…hehe” Miranda answered. She did not seem to be concerned at all by her…situation.

“Oh! Really? Well…I… that’s exactly where I was assigned to” Blossom stated, her choice having been made.

Miranda’s eyes gleamed as if with resurrected life; “Wait, really?! Fortune’s chance! Sweet! So, shall we go together, then?”

Yet…

“You two! Fresh juniors! What are you doing, standing and chatting?” so interrogated an approaching senior maid, halting firm in place.

“…being lost, that’s…that is what we are doing” Blossom answered, voice blunter and more confident.

The senior maid sighed, pinching her nose; “Of course, every time… Why did they design this place so…” she muttered aloud before…halting her speech, eyes staring; “…fine, fine, tell me whither you must be and I will take you, but remember the way… This estate is not difficult to navigate, everything simply looks identical, and to which you must become accustomed” she instructed and stated.

“Antique room” Miranda respectfully replied, “May you take us, please?”

“Antique room?” the senior maid repeated with a confused tilt; “How in all of the thousand realms had you become lost and end up here? The antique room is all the way on the other… Oh, no matter…” She sighed; “Fine, follow. Now.” The senior maid began to walk.

Miranda, smiling at Blossom, began to follow behind; Blossom did the same in kind.

Merely her first day, yet it appeared she already made a new friend; she could not help but feel…happy. Though, a lingering…feeling persisted within… It was hard, indeed, to find comfort in such warmth with the festering assumption that such happiness would only be stolen again, as it had every other time and time again ever before.

But, for now, maybe this was not going to be so bad after all.

And so, the target is found

To be returned to at another time

As progress continues forward

As intended