Plans

    It had been a week since I was hired.

    And honestly, things have been going smoothly after that night. 

    Well… it’s mostly because Azrael hadn’t been returning home. Or maybe he did but I just never saw him.

    Alas. It’s better if he is not here, that way I can breathe and act normally without fear of getting scolded.

    But… it does get lonely.

    …

    That morning, after breakfast, I found Elizabeth trimming the flowers in the garden.

    “Mrs. Elizabeth?”

    She looked up.

    “Yes?”

    I hesitated. “Can I ask something?”

    She nodded for me to continue.

    “Where’s Sir Azrael?”

    She continued clipping the roses before answering casually.

    “Overseas.”

    “Oh…”

    “He left the morning after his cousins visited.”

    I blinked. “I didn’t even know.” 

    “He had an urgent business meeting abroad.”

    She dusted her gloves together. “He’ll probably stay there for several more days.”

    “I see…” For some reason… My chest felt oddly heavy.

    Was I disappointed?

    I frowned at my own thoughts.

    No… I probably just miss home, that had to be it.

    Elizabeth glanced at me briefly before speaking again.

    “You’ve been working nonstop.”

    “I don’t mind.”

    “I know.” She placed the gardening scissors aside. “But your working hours end after breakfast.”

    I nodded. “Wouldn’t you like to go into the city?”

    “The city?”

    “You can shop… sightsee… whatever you want to do, really.” She smiled faintly. “You’re still young, Cassandra. You shouldn’t spend all your free time inside this mansion.”

    She paused before adding, “That’s also why Azrael specifically tailored this work schedule for the new maid. The agency must have included your age in your profile because I originally requested someone older to help me.”

    I blinked.

    Sir Azrael specifically wanted someone my age?

    I had honestly thought I was just lucky enough to get this job.

    But… Why would he specifically want a younger maid?

    A horrifying thought suddenly crossed my mind.

    …Is he a pervert?

    Now that I thought about it, his cousins had been teasing each other about women the other day. They were all ridiculously handsome, rich, and probably only four or five years older than me.

    Wait… What if it runs in the family?

    My eyes widened at the terrifying possibility.

    No… No, no… Surely not.

    “Cassandra?” 

    Elizabeth suddenly snapped her fingers in front of my face.

    I jumped.

    “Huh?”

    She looked at me suspiciously.

    “Where did your mind wander off to this time?”

    I laughed awkwardly.

    “Hehe… nowhere. So what were you saying?”

    She gave me a look that clearly said she didn’t believe me.

    “I was asking what you’d like to do today.” She sighed. “Perhaps Colton can accompany you. That boy has been locked inside his room playing video games since breakfast anyway.”

    “Oh…”

    That reminded me of something I’d been wanting to ask.

    “Mrs. Elizabeth.”

    “Hm?”

    “I was wondering…”

    I took a deep breath.

    “Do you think I can go back to school?”

    She looked at me as though I’d asked the most obvious question in the world.

    “Why wouldn’t you?”

    “Really?”

    She frowned. “Did someone tell you otherwise?”

    “N-No…” I scratched my cheek awkwardly. “I just thought… since I’m working here…”

    “You only work six hours a day.” She crossed her arms. “What you do outside in your free hours is your own business.”

    My eyes brightened.

    “So… I really can?”

    “You can.”

    I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “Thank you!”

    She chuckled softly. “I’ve never seen you smile that brightly.”

    Heat crept onto my cheeks. “I’ve always wanted to continue studying.”

    “What program?”

    “Accountancy, then after finishing it I’m hoping to proceed to law.”

    Elizabeth looked mildly surprised.

    “You want to be a lawyer?” She asked.

    I nodded.

    “That’s quite hard. May I ask why you chose that?” She asked curiously.

    “Well… when I was little…” My smile slowly disappeared. “…I often saw my mother crying.”

    Images I had tried so hard to forget resurfaced.

    “A woman kept coming to our house.” I clenched my hands. “She would scream at my mother… Throw things… Humiliate her… And no matter what happened. Mom just endured everything.”

    Elizabeth quietly listened.

    “I wanted to help her. But I was too young.” I forced a small smile. “So I thought… If I become a lawyer someday… maybe I can help defend people who can’t defend themselves.”

    Silence settled between us.

    Elizabeth let out a quiet sigh.

    “That’s a noble dream.” She looked toward the garage. “Perfect timing.”

    “Hm?”

    “Colton is enrolling this week too.”

    “He is?”

    She nodded.

    “He studies business management.”

    “You should go with him.”

    My excitement slowly faded.

    “I… I still don’t have enough savings.”

    College wasn’t cheap. Even university tuition alone was already impossible for someone like me.

    “Who said you needed money?”

    “What?”

    “Hail University recently just offered free tuition.” She said it so casually that I thought I’d misheard her.

    “The most prestigious school in S City?”

    She nodded. “They offer full scholarships now for a select number of formidable students. I think I saw it on the news a few days ago.”

    She said, making my heart beat faster.

    “They have one of the country’s best law programs. If you’re confident in your abilities…” she looked at me, smiling encouragingly “…why not try?”

    My heart skipped.

    Hail University?

    Me?

    I laughed nervously. “Mrs. Elizabeth… People like me don’t get accepted there.”

    “They do. If they earn it.” She answered firmly. “You do wish to succeed in honor of your mother, right?”

    I nodded briskly.

    “Then go. There are a lot of students competing for those scholarships. You are actually late already.”

    I stood there for several seconds. Her words echoing in my head.

    Then… Without another thought… I bolted toward the mansion.

    “COLTON!!” I shouted excitedly.

    …

    Thirty minutes later…

    “I still think this is crazy.”

    Colton drove while occasionally glancing at me.

    “You seriously want to apply there?”

    “Why not?”

    He looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

    “Because…” He pointed toward the massive gates ahead. “…that’s Hail University.”

    The enormous campus stood proudly before us.

    Elegant stone buildings.

    Fountains.

    Perfectly maintained gardens.

    Students walked around wearing uniforms that looked expensive enough to pay my rent for months.

    “It’s beautiful.”

    I whispered unconsciously.

    Colton sighed.

    “You’re not listening.” He muttered, frustrated. “This school is for rich kids.”

    I smiled. “I’m not here to compare bank accounts with them. I’m here to study.”

    He stared at me for several seconds before shaking his head.

    “You’re unbelievable. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

    We entered through the main pathway. Students constantly looked our way. Some were curious. Others wore judgemental looks.

    Perhaps because our clothes clearly didn’t match everyone else’s. But I didn’t care. Everything around me fascinated me too much.

    The architecture.

    The libraries.

    The gardens.

    I could actually picture myself studying here.

    Sigh. I’m getting a little ahead of myself there.

    As we approached the admissions building—

    “Stop right there.”

    A security guard stepped in front of us.

    “You two. Identification.”

    “I’m here to apply for the scholarship program.”

    The guard frowned.

    “Scholarship?”

    “Yes.”

    He looked at my simple clothes again. Then exchanged a glance with the other guard.

    “I’m sorry. No scholarships are being offered in this school. You’ll have to leave.”

    I blinked.

    “But… I heard that there is.”

    “We already said there is none!”

    Colton immediately stepped forward. “Hey! You don’t have to shout at her. What exactly is your problem? My friend just wanted to apply.”

    “I said leave.”

    “On what grounds?” Colton asked in a pissed voice.

    The guard’s face darkened. “I don’t need to explain myself. You don’t look like the students here.”

    Colton’s face darkened at what he said, before it could explode. A calm voice suddenly interrupted us.

    “What’s going on here?”

    Everyone turned.

    A tall figure approached us wearing a perfectly tailored navy suit.

    The moment I saw him…

    My eyes widened.

    “Sir Rafael?”

    He smiled warmly.

    “Cassie. What a surprise.”

    The guards immediately straightened.

    “Mr. Rafael.”

    Rafael glanced between us. “Is there a problem here?”

    “They insist on entering, Sir. They said they are applying for some scholarship.” The guard said.

    Rafael looked at me. “Is that true?”

    I nodded slowly, playing with my fingers from nervousness.

    “Y-yes. I wanted to try for the scholarship.”

    He smiled.

    “Then let them in.”

    “B-But sir—”

    “The scholarship program was just recently established. So it’s no surprise you didn’t know about it.” Rafael explained to the guards calmly, but his eyes were sharp.

    “Let them in.”

    The guards instantly stepped aside.

    “I’m terribly sorry.”

    I bowed slightly. “Thank you, Sir Rafael.”

    He laughed. “No need to thank me.” He looked toward Colton. “Aren’t you Aunt Elizabeth’s son?”

    “Ah… yes sir. My name is Colton.” Colton replied shyly, scratching the back of his neck.

    “I see.” Rafael smiled.

    We began walking inside together. 

    “What are you doing here, Sir Rafael?”

    “We were invited.”

    “Really? What for?”

    “Our alma mater is planning a business partnership.” He replied. “So we were asked to attend.”

    We?

    So he came here with someone?

    “Rafael, where have you been?”

    My entire body stiffened. That voice…

    Slowly… I turned around then gradually lifted my face.

    Azrael stood a few meters away, dressed in an immaculate black suit that somehow made him look even more intimidating than usual.

    Beside him stood Logan, casually scrolling through something on his phone.

    The moment Azrael’s eyes landed on me…

    His steps slowed and his eyes turned dark.

    For a brief second… Neither of us spoke.

    His unreadable gaze swept over me, making me shiver.

    Oh no… is he angry at me again?