Chapter 7

• “None the less, we need to hurry with the meal before the master comes home.’’
• He was barking orders at me, and all the while I had to run back and forth across the courtyard, all because he failed to bring all that he needed to prepare this food, and he never told me all he needed in just one trip, he had me going for herbs and powered seasoning one at a time.
• It felt as if I couldn’t go on, with the tiredness of my body, that made every movement feel slow. And as I took a longer time to get back to the head butler, his gaze bore into mine, while he didn’t let up with barking orders.
• “You tracked mud all over the floor, mop it up! And don’t forget the windows, they have food smudges again. And make sure the dining room is set properly for the master, who know, he might have guests.”
• I nodded, my throat dry from the bustling sun and not having any water to quench my thirst. “Yes, sir.”
• As the butler walked away, I sighed and got to a new task. My mind galloping with frustration and helplessness. Though the mansion was beautiful, it felt like a prison, its elegance a harsh reminder of my lack of freedom. Besides that, I am unable to keep up with the head butler, and it made me feel even more useless.
• The physical demands of the work were only part of my struggle, the emotional weight was just as heavy. Every task seemed as if they were designed to break me and make me become a diligent servant. This place was a constant reminder that I would now be a part of a system I had no control over.
• I had hopes that, by following the rules, I could find some sort of peace, but instead… it felt like a cog in the sink I was plunging now. And with each push, things were weighing me down with each passing hour.
• At noon, they had a little mercy on me, and I was given a short break. With a sigh, I slumped against the wall in the servants' quarters, her hands and feet aching from the ups and downs of the morning.
• I could finally drink water, and as I took a sip from the tin cup, to quench the dryness in my throat; I looked around the small dirty room. I hated that we were forced to live in a place like this… with no proper furnishing. Just an old wooden bench to sit on, and the small rickety table I slept under.
• There was only one bed in the small room, but you can tell that it was old, from the holes in it, and there was also a foul odor. Other from that, us servants had to sleep on the floors on old cloths, or some were crafty and made hammocks.
• It was a major opposite from what the rest of mansions were.
• As I rested, another servant, a woman with kind eyes by the name of Lara, approached me. “You look like you could use a moment,” Lara said softly. “It’s tough at first, but it gets better once you get the hang of things.”
• I managed a weak smile, even though I highly doubted it would. “I’m trying to keep up. It’s just a lot to take in.”
• Lara nodded sympathetically. “It is. But you’ll find your rhythm. Just remember to do it one task at a time. And don’t let them see you struggling. They’re strict, but they’re not unkind, once they see you’re doing your best it gets good.”
• I appreciated her kind words, it was her way of showing encouragement, though they did little to ease my worries, and I doubted things would ever get ‘good’. Besides that, the thought of adjusting to this life, or becoming accustomed to the constant labor, was daunting. It felt like I was drowning in a sea of duties and demands, with no clear way to find my footing.
• When the break was over, I went back to the other mansion and resumed my tasks with a heavy heart. The scent of the prepared meal caused my stomach to grumble, and I followed the scent to the kitchen, which caused the butler to give me a dirty look; maybe because he was sitting around the counter and hunched over a plate of food.
• I know they said he was favored by the master and his family, but I didn’t think it so much so that he could eat from the same plates and utensils they did or sit in their seats.
• “The silver wears need polishing, why don’t you go get to it!’’ he snapped at me.
• As I whipped the golden spoon with a piece of well embroidery white cloth, my mind went back to my escape plan, and me wanting to find a way out of this life. It was easy to run through the untended gate, but who knew what was waiting for me out there.
• I soon also felt like a hypocrite because of Leni and her plans to escape, though I wouldn’t want to go anywhere with her, I had pretended as if I didn’t believe her dream to get out of here.
• “The next time you walk in on me, I won’t be so forgiven.’’
• I turned to watch him go, noticing the long strike of stain he was leaving behind as he poured gravy and green beans on the floor. I never wanted to hit someone so badly until now, as he turned back and told me to clean the mess up.