Elise's mouth fell open.
She stared at Lucien certain she had misheard him.
"C-clean the garden?" she repeated slowly, her eyes sweeping over the wide stretch of soil, weeds, and fallen leaves.
Lucien lifted a brow. "Is there a problem?" His golden eyes met hers and she shook her head immediately.
"No," she muttered softly.
Her fingers curled tightly around the rake she found leaning against the wall. Without another word, she walked toward the garden and began to work.
They had already agreed. One word, one complaint and she was fired. She'd leave and never return ever again.
"I'll see you at dinner then," Lucien said with a smile.
By the time Elise turned around, he was already walking away, hands in his pockets, his back straight and unbothered.
Her grip tightened on the rake till her knuckles turned white.
This was her first date.
She had imagined something else, something romantic. Maybe flower petals on the floor, maybe a small round table with food and drinks, and a little lightning celebration around it.
Then he would hire a musician who would play sweet romantic songs to light the environment.
Hell, she would have even loved it if her first date was just to walk around and get to know each other. Not this. Not to be cleaning his garden.
Not humiliation disguised as courtship.
She swallowed hard and kept raking.
If he had stayed to watch her, it might have been easier. Somehow, his absence hurt more.
"Stupid bastard," Elise muttered under her breath.
"Mad fool."
The rake scraped harder against the soil as her frustration rose. Her chest burned, anger mixing with something dangerously close to despair.
And today of all days.
The day her death day had been revealed, and here she was, sweating, trembling, and cleaning the garden. She's supposed to be pampered and treated with care because in the coming days, she'll no longer exist.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Her limbs already felt heavy, her breath shallow. After only a short while, her strength gave out.
Elise stumbled toward the bench and sat down, panting heavily. She was exhausted and felt faint already.
High above, on the balcony, Lucien stood still, hands on the golden rail as his golden eyes followed her every movement. The way her shoulders sagged, the way her hands shook as she wiped her face, the way she struggled to breathe.
The way she fell on the bench was exhausted even if she had only raked a little part of the garden.
His expression did not change.
She was weaker than he expected.
And yet… she hadn't quit.
If he was being cruel, why hadn't she run yet?
His jaw tightened.
He would need to be harsher next time. Maybe double the punishment.
Fragile things broke so easily.
Without looking away, he spoke, "John."
A figure appeared quietly at his side.
"Help her," Lucien said coldly. "Make sure the punishment is completed before dinner."
"Yes, sir."
John hurried down to the garden and stepped in from behind her. Elise barely noticed him at first, then...
"Miss Elise," John said gently. "Why are you here? I thought today was your first date with Master." He was being careful not to let her know his master had sent him to her.
She lifted her head, surprised, then laughed softly.
"It is," she said, breathless. "This is my date."
John paused, then smiled faintly.
"Master is… difficult," he said carefully, sitting beside her. "Very particular."
"That's one word for it," Elise replied. "You forgot heartless."
John did not disagree.
"He wasn't always like this," he said after a moment.
Elise turned toward him. "Really?"
John nodded, then stood up and picked another rake.
"Come," he said gently. "You should finish before dinner," he said with that polite smile. The one that made her feel welcomed.
High above, Lucien had already turned away.
🫧🫧🫧
Once Elise and John were done cleaning the garden, both people stepped back into the mansion, with sweat all over. Elise had gained sudden strength just by talking to John.
She felt at ease, knowing there was someone in this mansion who actually cared about her.
"You should hurry and get changed, so that we can eat together." Elise nodded and hurried into her room.
She took out her ruined dress and placed it into the wardrobe before bathing quickly and changing into her usual attire. Lucien's clothes.
Since it was already night, she decided to wear just his top since that was just slightly above her knees.
Elise tied her blonde hair into the usual bun and suddenly remembered the gift she had promised to give Lucien. Elise reached for her bag and quickly took it out. She smiled as she stared at the necklace.
She hurried out of the room. She was so exhausted and super hungry. All she wanted to do now was to eat and sleep.
When she reached the dining room, and was greeted by Lucien who was already seated there. He had changed his clothes to a casual black attire, matching his personality.
She smiled at how handsome he looked tonight. Elise didn't know why no matter how cruel Lucien was to her, she still felt a certain pull towards him.
"Miss Elise, please take your seat," John said politely and she sat down in the chair next to Lucien. She couldn't hide her smile and when she turned to Lucien, he didn't even spare her a glance. But Elise cared less.
There was more than enough food on the table for three. Elise doubts they'd be able to finish everything on the table.
John was about the pick up his plate when Lucien's voice cut through the space. "Why serve yourself when we have a maid?" John paused and stared at his boss.
Was he asking his new girlfriend to serve them?
Elise immediately got up, "I'm so sorry." She said and picked up Lucien's plate and started adding several foods into it. Once she had filled the plate, she walked over to John, but he stopped her.
"I can help myself." He said with a smile and she smiled back. John had no idea how she had managed to still stay happy even through the humiliation.
Elise walked over to her chair to sit again and this time, dish out what she wanted to eat. A small portion of rice and a little vegetables. This was the kind of food she was used to.
In her father's mansion, she didn't eat meat at all. Meat or any form of protein was a forbidden food for Elise.