Eagerness of youth and a broken soul

You do hate to eavesdrop but, you're too curious and concerned on what's happening thus, despite how rude and immature it is you decided to overhear Veronica and Seraphina.

In the hallway Veronica had finally catched up the childish maid who's blush haven't disappeared.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry Head Maid Veronica I should have knocked but you where gone so long and I wanted to eat with you-" The gardener frantically spoken, her speech is similar to a child who did something that shouldn't have.

Veronica only looked at her, making Seraphina pause, she looked motherly and stern in front of younger maid, with a smile that never left. Maybe the talk you two have had helped the head maid into relieving her of some old wounds in her heart and soul, that's now starting to heal properly.

"No need to apologize Seraphina I'm not mad, though it's wrong to eavesdrop without any heavy reason I still want to know how much you heard between me and master."

The anxious look Seraphina have slowly begun to wane quickly replaced by a cheerful worry and the energy you know her for.

"Well only when you and master hugged... You seemed peaceful and happy, more than when your with us, is he... Oh! Oh! Is he proposing?! Will you be his one and only? Oh? Oh Veronica it's wonderful! When is the wedding? Can I be the bridesmaid? I know the perfect flower on the occasion!" Seraphina immediately jumped in front of the head maid her dress waving with each movement. Both you and Veronica can't help but to beam at her immature but joyful personality.

"No... It's complicated... I want to accept but we both know..." Veronica looked downwards, a doleful look can easily be seen.

"But Veronica... You have feelings for him! Sure it's not full blown love yet but give him a chance, or is it-" Seraphina immediately paused, her smile then disappeared supplanted by a dejected one. The cheerful gardener soon understood what's eating Veronica, the head maid and her friend.

Then memories of what happened to Veronica comes to your mind, when she accepted to be a man's concubine in the past, the envious wife's vile actions causing the **** of Veronica's baby in the womb and how it damaged her both physically and emotionally. And if you remember correctly aside from you Seraphina, Alice and Emily knows of it as well.

"It's been years Veronica, maybe things would be different now? After all when is the last time you went to the doctor? Think positive I mean you know master he won't demand you to give him a heir you'll just have love him how a wife does it, manage his house, do what you always do but when you did become someone more special in his life think of it as an upgrade."

You can help but to smile, Seraphina might be your youngest maid but she is certainly smarter than she looks, and basing on how things are Veronica feels the same way.

Like a rehearsal of what happened before you saw Veronica hugged Seraphina in a gentle embrace, it was definitely different from how the head maid hugged you as this is more calm and less passionate but just as comforting.

"I'm still not sure Seraphina... But maybe your right... I can't let my fear ruin my chances with a proper relationship, still I want our Master not to limit himself to me, he's a noble, a highborn, but more importantly he's a kind one, not those people undeserving of those titles which they flaunt but a one with true nobility."

Seraphina beamed at her friend, a smile that is filled of concern and fondness laced in with immature innocent but the former traits still very visible nonetheless.

"I can't believe the maid who can't even put her new maid uniform on the first day has now grown, I could still remember you asking Alice for more desserts, annoying Emily and forgetting the names for our staff members but here you are... Giving me life advice and reminding me I'm not alone anymore." Veronica said looking at her no different to how a mother looking proudly of her daughter.

"Hey I'm old enough to be considered an adult woman Veronica! Look my breasts isn't as developed as yours or Alice but I'll grow more." Seraphina twirled, despite hiding yourself and the distance you can indeed agree that while young Seraphina is a beautiful woman, sure she's not as mature as the others but her cute petite body while wearing the maid uniform with a little apron does bring out a sweet allure. Like a freshly bloomed flower above to be picked or a fruit that still needs time to be properly handled.

The Head maid's hand pressed into Seraphina's head, delicately rubbing it.

"Hush now little Seraphina, you're still too young on those topics, maybe after a year or two." With those words from the head maid you see Seraphina pout, her cheeks pout, like a child being displeased by those older than her, the young maid's actions was unnoticed by Veronica who continued to pat her in the head.

For you and Veronica such actions are that of kind concern with a playful undertone. It means no malice. But for some odd reason it hit the a particular nail within Seraphina.

"I'm not a child Veronica stop treating me as such!"

With that you decide to leave, Veronica seems to be more peaceful now, sure she still have issues about her past that needs to be healed but that's for another time, you turn back the thought of office work and managing your land run in your thoughts.

As you turn your body away you saw another maid. One wearing a plain maid uniform with white long sleeves and a long black skirt. Her eyes of hazel brown and her jet black hair tied to a bun. She's rather tall for her age taller than Seraphina but without doubt shorter than Seraphina. Eyes glued to you, expressionless eyes that feels unnerving.

"Emily, good day." You called out not really sure how respond to her.

The notions of your office work quickly put back into another time as the stoic and mysterious maid only known as Emily eyed you.

"Good morning master you suddenly left your office."

You smiled at her, happy that she seems concerned about you. But she did not return your gesture, her only action is a confirming nod. It feels daunt, it feels like your talking to robots, no dolls being manipulated by someone far side of the world.

"You got me worried..." Emily added.

Thinking back you remember Emily, she was a maid that came all before the other maids no... Even before that. Memories flood back, years ago you remember years back in this second life, back then you remember them vividly within.

Not too long ago in this new world you were being transported to another house, turns out your parents bought you your very own mansion, of course there's history for that but you focus more on how you meet Emily. When you where a child it was raining, heavily you can barely see outside the chariot escorted by the guards, bright flashes of lightning light up the sky in an instant only for the hold of darkness to grip it while the raises one his dimly lit lamps into the rain, it's glass exterior protecting the fire within giving you and everyone enough light to see where you are going.

Then... You recall even years pass you remember it clearly... A bright flash of lightning illuminated a specific spot on the road, Someone, a girl just as your age laying on the ground, your not sure if she fainted or someone attacked her. Without thinking you immediately ordered the carriage to stop and they quickly did so.

Exciting you did so and rush to the lone girl on the road, and then you got a closer look at her, undernourished, bruises is present in her body that haven't have the time to heal, lips cracked despite the moisture and drenched from the rain your certain blood is dripping, her skin is almost touching her bone as there almost no fat or muscle between them, her clothes are rags, no maybe even lower quality than rags. You can't help but to feel remorse on the girl in front of you, you eyed her not sure if she's dead or alive...

And then she moved, ever so slowly her eyes opened seeing you.

"Please....help." Such weak words you still remember... She was literally begging at that point.

Instructing your escorts who immediately raced with you they lifted the poor girl and carried her to the carriage.

You don't remember much, but when she was taken to the mansion she was put into the guest room and was nursed back to help. You could still remember you visited her from time to time and her emotionless stare into the window and sometimes to you.

You didn't have the nerve to ask her who she is, honestly this was done in the spur in the moment, nor did you ask for thanks for your actions, not that you need such shallow gratification. And then a few weeks later she become a maid in the household. The stoic and uncommunicative maid who cleans, and obeys her superiors without question. She only follows you and other's orders or at the very least a routine of cleaning. Then Veronica was employed months later and the head maid asked her name... With Emily her only reply.

"Master are you sick?" You heard from Emily breaking you of your deep thoughts about the past. She eyed you with concern, and fear, only the fear of something bad happening to you. Then you felt her hands touch your forehead which quickly retracted upon confirmation of your healthy state.

Strange... Still not a hint of emotion.

"Is there something bothering you master? Please tell me and I'll do everything I can to help." Again her expression once again unreadable. Incomprehensible, indecipherable that what Emily is and it is making you discomfit.

Unsure how to respond you just looked away with trying to pass it off as something inconsequential.

"Nothing Emily, thanks for the concern please go your not needed here." You said as professional as you can wishing to just leave so you can return to your work.

But then you felt two arms coil into yours.

"Master you don't mean that! Did I do something wrong?!"

Emily clings onto you, like a child hugging his father not a to leave. The stoic maid quickly showed a new reaction, fear, it was almost too similar to the first time you meet her.

Her coil turns tighter as her eyes begun to water. Tears pure sadness now overwrought.

"Emily..." You can only reply in uncertainty.

And like a child she presses her face into your arm, her actions feels ****, like a demoralised person about to be beaten further or a wounded animal about to be whipped.

Still you need to act as the adult in this thus you rub the back of her head bringing her some semblance of comfort.

"That's not what I meant Emily, you did a good job yesterday and the times before that, I was going back to the office."

The maid in front of you begin to loosen her grip, you can see spots of her tears on your arm as she tremble in each second being separated from you.

"I... I... Sorry...scared... Master." Emily said incoherently wiping her tears with her sleeves.

By her actions it's clear she have a lot of baggage, both emotional and mental... As you reminisce on her past, the girl you found in the streets, bloody, beaten and alone now in your home. There's plenty of questions to be asked but seeing her outburst it maybe for the best to calm things down first.

"You are an important part of this house Emily, let's talk sometime but for now I still have things to do."

With that Emily bowed and left, you felt sadness and desperation with each step from her with words like 'don't wanna go back' for each of them. Maybe it's about where she came from or probably a tragic past she refuses to mention with reasons only she knows.

Now Emily is gone you are about to leave when you heard Seraphina voice, words of irritation and childish anger can be glean from her tantrum.... Or can you call it that with how cute and adorable she sounds despite how much she proclaims it loudly.

"I swear Veronica if you want proof I'll have sex on the nearest man in this mansion!"

What the fuck?! Wait that may not be the worst way to speak at the situation. You're not sure how Veronica and Seraphina's conversation lead to this but at least you know that they are talking about sex now. Sure Veronica is an experienced maid on that kind of topic but the horticulturist is green about intercourse.

"Seraphina Chamberlain! You should never speak like that."

You heard a loud voice that is weaker than a shout but is louder than one you'll speak in a casual conversation almost like a command, this one is full of authority and dominance but still has some tone of care with motherly the perfect way to call it.

Your eyes glue on Veronica standing almost menacingly over Seraphina, the garden maid took a cautious step back, afraid that she have anger her superior. And she is angry. Though her rage is not targeted to Seraphina.

"Young lady your virginity is a serious discussion, it should be given to only the right person and for love if not at least give it because of a heavy reason."

Seraphina looked down, visibly distraught and saddened on how their talk got.

"I'm sorry..."

Veronica stepped closer and rubbed the head of the younger one, her gesture have removed the tension between the two and made the horticulturist looked up to her.

"You should be Seraphina, this is a serious matter, I apologise for teasing you but this fact is true a woman must pick who she beds may it be for love or necessity, one day you'll find that man... A kind man who will provide and protect you, as you support him in anyway in a beautiful bond of love and passion tempered with struggles that you two will pass."

Seraphina smiled at the prospect and honestly Veronica seems too.

"A kind man... A good man... " Seraphina said

She then eyed Veronica a distinct sparkle in her eyes as she looked at the window with a dreamy gaze.

"Someone like Master?"

The Chamberlain's words surprised you, taking you by complete surprised, your not entirely sure if she's certain or her words are caused by the eagerness of youth.

Unsure how to respond and deciding to finish the work in the office you leave, letting the two maidens continue on their talk.

You already overheard too much, and as rude as it is you done so out of concern for them and now you must depart.

Regardless Emily's actions and Seraphina's words left an impressions in your mind, and a lingering lounging of more answers in your heart. You already have talked to Veronica last night so maybe it's time for you to talk with another and who knows maybe like Veronica you'll uncover more about them which can lead to one more passionate night later.