A man-servant

The couple shared a look of confusion. This was supposed to be a romantic getaway from the most troubling year yet. A time to tune out everything but each other and the luxury around them. How a “man” in his teens could play into that was a mystery to them. And to him at the moment.

The young man in question lifts his gift box appraisingly, weights is up and down and shakes it a little. Like a kid on christmas he was obviously trying to guess if he got a present he’d be honestly thrilled about, or just more socks from aunt Esthel.

“Aaaaand it is…?”, Aria broke the moment of silence.

“Only one way to find out, right?”, the boy sounded giddy.

Which ended as soon as he opened the sealed box. From where Richard and Aria stood it looked like another suit on top of … something? But the suit wasn’t a lean tux like Richard had gotten, but at second glance the couple realized what Ted saw instantly.

“Oh you got to be kidding me… The little bowtie, the cut of the waistcoat, this is –“, the young men started grumpily.

“A butlers uniform!”, left Arias mouth before she could get a hold herself. And neither could she suppress the chuckle that followed. Ted answered with a sour look.

“A funny mix-up. Nothing more. I don’t need it anyhow, I packed my suit you see. And not just something of the rack. I really-“, this time he interrupted himself. While rummaging the box he now reached underneath and found something. Although Richard saw from the start that the box had to contain more than the boys “uniform”, he couldn’t make out what the box was filled with.

Ted drew a piece of paper, not bigger than his palm, from the box. And the color left his face. From afar neither Richard nor Aria could make out the message that adorned it. But it certainly meant *something* to the young man. He started one last attempt at digging through the box, in hopes of finding lord knows what, but without success. He withdrew his hands, straightened his back and turned to the couple. On his face was a smile, that could have deceived them, hadn’t they witnessed his initial reaction.

“Oh, were are my manners? Excuse me for making a ruckus about all of this. That’s more trouble than Sir and the Misses should endure on their trip. I profusely beg your pardon.”

He took his *correct* garments, stood up and stored the now nearly empty box on his bed. Then he turned to the baffled couple and bowed almost full 90 degrees. The both found it a little spooky to be honest.

“I have to rectify my mistake immediately. Please, it wont take long and I’ll be proper. Again, my deepest apologies.”

And before anyone could have answered anything, Ted already sprinted to the small bathroom, clutching his new attire tightly.

Richard and Aria were now more confused than ever. But both found different ways to cope with it. While Aria felt a spark of inquisitiveness, Richard felt a spark of “just go with it”. If the boy was supposed to be their butler, what’s the harm in that? The times have been tough as it is, there’s no need to overcomplicate this. So when the woman he loved asked:

“We should look through the box and read that letter, right?”

He could only think of one correct answer.