Delrick stared ahead of him, at the single path between dense trees. A small hand intertwined with his.
He look down to see Mira held his hand while staring at the forest. Worry painted her expression.
'I'm so glad Mira met me at the town.'
The young girl would be afraid to walk alone.
"Shall we go?"
Mira looked at him, her expression relaxed, then nodded with a smile.
"Yes!"
They began walking ahead, holding hands. As soon as Delrick stepped on the pavement, he feel chills ran down his spine.
Hundred, no, thousand. He feel gaze of thousand eyes on him. He held his breath. He can heard his own heartbeat on his ears. His hands and feet felt cold for some reason.
Mira's hand clenched around his. The young girl must felt it too.
He looked at the young girl, and gave a gentle squeeze on her hand. Mira look at him. He smiled, forcing it to reassuring her.
He began walking again. The gaze seem to follow, piercing. He didn't dare to look at the forest and keep his eyes straight ahead.
He didn't know if he just being paranoid or something but, he began to hear soft chuckles coming from the forest.
Man and woman, almost audible but it is there.
'Don't look, don't look.'
Delrick keep reminding himself while keeping his gaze ahead. He hope Mira did the same.
Just what is this?
And how long we need to walk?
He keep walking ahead on the single pavement, mulling over the coachman's words to not stray away from it.
The gaze and the chuckles still there. Some chuckles turn into whispers, though, he didn't heard what it was about. He didn't dare to make out of it. He just wish for it to end soon.
After it feels like a very long time, Delrick finally saw a figure of man ahead of them. He swallowed hard.
Finally...
The man looks young and ordinary from afar. Black hair and soft features, wearing a servant uniform. But, upon seeing him up close, he feel something uncanny about the man.
Though he was smiling, his eyes devoid of life.
"Mr. Delrick Hugg and miss. Mira Bran?"
Delrick stopped walking in front of the man, still holding hands with Mira.
"Yes."
How did he know?
The man nodded.
"Alright, please follow me."
The man turned around and began walking ahead. They followed behind him.
He noticed the voices were gone but, the gaze still there. Still, he dare not look at the forest.
Following the man, his nostril began to pick a fresh, and subtle sweet scent of flowers. He keep walking, then see the broad gate of the mansion ahead them.
The man opened the gate, allowing them to enter. The moment Delrick walked past the gate, he didn't feel the gaze anymore.
He exhaled a breath he didn't notice he was holding all the time. His shoulders also relaxed a bit. Mira seemed to did the same.
He lookes around him. Flowers he never seen before grew in every side of the mansion. It has large cluster of smaller blue florets forming a mophead. He lingered on it. He never seen it yet he feel like he had seen it somewhere.
The wax seal of the letter.
'So, this is the weird flower. It's indeed unusual.'
The man close the gate behind them then walk past them as he smiled, gesturing to keep following him.
A man with few words it seems.
Delrick and Mira followed behind. They entered the mansion which made them dumbstruck because how grandeur it is. Everything seemed to be polished by gold and diamond.
Servants spread everywhere. Some are walking, some are wiping the shelfs, and changing the curtains.
Even the Earl's mansion wasn't like this. Is the Count truly that rich?
Delrick looked down when he felt a nudge. Mira scouted closer to him.
"Brother is that gold and diamond?" She whispered while still looking at the hanging chandelier.
"S, seems so."
The extravagant sure overwhelming.
They followed the man upstairs. Taking turns then stop walking at some point.
He turned around at them. Delrick still feel a bit uncomfortable seeing his eyes.
"We have arrived. Please wait here until miss. Lia called you."
The man gestured behind him. Delrick saw a line of three people in front of a wall, facing a closed door.
'Seems like we're not the only one.'
He gulped, somehow feel a little nervous.
"Alright, thank you."
He thanked the man, and he just nodded before leaving them.
Delrick and Mira stand in line with the other three people, waiting for their turn to be called.
The door opened and closed repeatedly. The people who are called came and go. Even Mira was called first, leaving him alone waiting in the hallway.
When the door opened again, Mira stepped out. Grinning at him as she walked past him in the hallway. He smiled at her. Seemed like everything goes smoothly with her and was glad about it.
"Mr. Delrick Hugg."
A woman with strict looking expression called him.
"Yes."
He stiffed and entered the room.
The room—which seemed to be a drawing room, looked as grandeur as the hall. A woman with long and slightly waved blonde hair sat on the settee. Her eyes closed as she sipped on the tea.
Her movement are both elegant and gracefull as she put the cup down on the table. Her lashes fluttered, showing her deep and sharp blue eyes.
Delrick was mesmerized for a moment. The woman's deep blue eyes seemed to sucked him in.
"Please take a seat."
The woman—who seemed to be the Countess, gestured her hand at the settee in front of her. Delrick sat onto it with slight rigid movement.
"Welcome to the mansion, mr. Hugg. I hope you had a pleasant trip on your way here."
"Its all because of you, Madam."
The Countess smiled.
"How about the fare? Did you find it lacking?"
"Not at all, Madam."
"Is that so? Alright. Then, shall we start with signing the employement contract?"
The strict-looking woman—miss. Lia, brought a papers. Delrick took it then read it.
"You seemed to be able to read."
Delrick lifted his gaze to the Countess.
"Ah, yes. The Earl of Welington was kind enough to taught someone like me to write and read."
"Right. Earl Welington are famous with his kindness, doesn't he?"
"Indeed, Madam."
"Then, please continue."
"Of course, Madam."
Delrick looked down again at the papers. The contract seemed to be normal. It just about duty, confidentiality, and employment period.
But, some clauses are a bit... strange.
"There is one year of probation?"
The Countess smiled as she put her cup of tea down from her lips.
"Yes. In one year period we will look onto your performance. If you follow the rules of the County, then we will keep you until the contract ends."
Pretty strict.
"Then, Madam, how about playing with the young Lady and others?"
Though still smiling, the Countess's expression turned slightly cold. Its very subtle that it is hard to notice.
"It just to accompany my daughter. She is quite lonely staying in the mansion as she is the only child. I hope you don't mind."
"No, not at all, Madam. I am honored."
Delrick looked down at the papers again. Feeling a bit perpelexed as he continued reading the contract.
The rest was fine so, he willingly signed. As soon as he done signed the paper, miss. Lia took the contract away.
"Once again, I welcomed you to the Mansion of Helga. I hope you stay with us until your contract ends."
"Yes, Madam."
The Countess glanced at miss. Lia. The strict woman approached Delrick with a key.
"Here is the key of your room. Please make sure not to lose it and keep it with yourself all the time."
Delrick accepted the key.
"I will. Thank you."
The Countess clapped her hands once.
"Alright, you may leave and rest for now. You will be start working by tomorrow."
"Of course, Madam." Delrick got up from the settee, and bowed to the Countess.
"I will take my leave."
The Countess smiled as Delrick turned around to leave the room.
Miss. Lia stood by the door, and opened the doorknob.
"The servant quarters located in the left wing on the third floor."
"Alright, miss. Thank you."
Miss. Lia nodded then closed the door once Delrick is out from the room.
Delrick sratched his neck, then walked toward the servant quarter on the third floor.
...
The bedroom for the servants are two times larger compared to the size of Delrick's room back then in the Earl mansion.
Its really a decent room. A single bed near the window, a desk and chair, a bookshelf—with books on it, a wardrobe, even a bathroom.
There is a bathroom inside the room!
Back then in the Earl's mansion there is only one bathroom in the servant quarter. It's pretty chaotic when they needed to use it.
Delrick chuckled at the thought then smiled as he look at the room where he is staying for the next five years.
"Alright, let's unpack."
He began to unpack earnestly, and hung his shabby clothes in the wardrobe. He didn't have many personal things which is why he is glad that the room itself are already packed with things. Like various books on the shelf, so, the room doesn't look too empty.
He smiled and walked toward the window. Opening the curtains, to look outside from the glass. The sight was beautiful with that blue flowers spread in every side of the mansion. Its petals danced gracefully with the breeze among the servants who walked to do their job.
"I wonder what is the name of the flowers..."
Satisfied, he walked toward his bed, and laid down. Since he have nothing to do for now, he will rest just like the Countess said.