Charmed [✔]

04.1 ▌The Identity of the Guest

Year 3988, 30th Day of the 7th Moon
Ember Isle, Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

STIRRING IN the bed, Elise woke up in a room that was slowly becoming familiar. She quickly rose up after remembering what happened earlier. How did she become so weak-hearted?

"Miss."

She twisted to the source of the voice. Two women, loomed at her bedside with their heads down, dressed in a traditional maid's outfits with a long skirt reaching their ankles. It was in all black with dark red trimmings on the collar and sleeves and layered with the same shade of apron.

"Greetings, Miss," the two women greeted simultaneously.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Elise bombarded them with questions right away.

"I am Aya and this is Dell, Miss. We are assigned to be your lady's maid by the Rei, Miss," the woman informed and looked up.

It was a rare sight to see ordinary faces after her encounter with the siblings. The one who spoke had short trimmed black hair and dark brown eyes with freckles across the bridge of her nose. As for the other one, she had brown curls swept into a low bun with big doe eyes.

Sensing the lack of response, they stepped back to open the curtains and a bright light illuminated the room.

"Hold on. It's morning already? What happened last night?"

"You fainted, Miss. The lords and ladies could not wake you up so they ordered us not to disturb you," Dell replied.

"What?" Elise got up and they swiftly went to assist her like she was frail. They had helpers in their house but were not so fussy as them.

"The bath is prepared, Miss," Aya notified, minutes later.

"Breakfast will be ready at the dining hall after an hour, Miss," Dell added.

But Elise simply stood there. Her fingers played with her right ear while she struggled to keep up with all the abrupt changes.

Aya prompted her once more before leading her to the bath.

Lavender scents with hints of jasmine permeated her nose after stepping inside. A slight fog clouded the room, growing denser at the claw-foot bathtub at the far end.

A hand landed on her back, her laces slowly untied. She appreciated the help but when they tried to pull it down, she jumped away.

"Excuse me? Can you leave?" Elise asked as politely as she could.

Questions filled their face.

"I think I can handle this myself. You can wait outside," she added.

Their head sank lower and ignored her words.

"Please."

"We cannot do so, Miss. Mr. Gerald may scold us," Aya stated.

Elise's eyes squeezed close. She breathed in, trying to subdue the rising temper. This was not her place to act unruly.

"Okay, but you stay there." That was her last compromise.

AFTER THE bath, the girls already had clothes prepared. This time, their help was gladly welcomed since there was no way she could dress in these kinds of outfits.

"By the way, where are my clothes? The one I wore before?" she inquired.

"They were thrown, Miss," came Aya's reply that made her eyes almost bulge out from their sockets.