Chapter 9

I woke up early to a soft knock on my door. The sun was not up yet, but I could see the faint tell-tall sign that it would rise soon through the window.

I pulled myself out of the blankets and padded toward the door. I was surprised to see Leo.

The small boy smiled shyly and held out a tray with breakfast food and hot drinks. “May I come in?”

“Of course!” I gestured him in, and he wobbled to the small table in the room. The tray was clearly heavy and way too oversized for his small arms.

“I thought you might be hungry, so I went in the kitchen and fixed this up for you,” he scrunched his nose a bit. “I didn’t know if you liked tea or coffee, so I brought both.”

That was thoughtful of the little man. He was already dressed and ready for the day.

I eyed him silently, taking him in. It occurred to me I didn’t even know what kind of work he did for Alexander.

“What exactly do you do here?” I asked while taking the teapot from the tray and pouring some into a cup.

I would pour some in the second cup, but he put his hand over it and went straight for the coffee pot instead.

Hmm, so he liked coffee. I mentally noted this.

“I’m kind of like his butler. I mean… I’m not a proper butler or anything like that, but I cater to whatever he needs me for. Sometimes, he brings me with him when he goes to the city,” Leo said as he tossed four sugar cubes into his cup. “I mostly end up giving his messages to people or sending out his letters. It’s an easy enough job, but I spend most of my day cooped up here with free time.”

He poured some milk into his coffee and looked me over. “I’m thrilled to have someone else here now!” He smiled brightly, and I noticed his two missing front teeth.

I chuckled at this. Leo was adorable.

I placed my elbow on the table and dropped my head in my hand.

“And what exactly does your master do?” I asked inquisitively.

Leo thought about my question a bit, gulped his coffee, and placed the cup back on the tray. He grabbed a croissant and started breaking it at the center.

“I think he’s in charge of the Seagull’s Bay purse, or maybe he’s in charge of the business census. I’m not exactly sure,” he scratched his head. “But I know he spends most of his days out in the city, making connexions and ensuring that their investments in many big companies in the bay are satisfactory.”

Leo sank his remaining teeth into the pastry and continued, “He’s the heir of High Hill, so it’s normal for him to ensure everything is running smoothly.”

Pastry crumbs were everywhere on the poor boy’s shirt. I grabbed a cloth and took the time to make it clean again.

“I’ll tell you what, Leo,” I leaned over the table. “Once I finish—” I frowned. I didn’t exactly know what I would do that morning. “Whatever my chores might be, why don’t you show me around?”

I winked at him when I finished my sentence.

Leo’s smile went up to his ears. He seemed delighted by my proposition.

He excused himself shortly after, and I took that as my cue to get dressed and assess what needed to be done on the floor.

The dress fit my body perfectly. It was a button-down dress, making me feel prettier than when I wore my old lace-up dress. Only favoured maids with experience had this type of uniform—like the head maid.

The collar and bottom sleeves were white lace, and my apron complimented the entire ensemble nicely.

Since the dress didn’t go below my ankles like my previous one, I wore white mid-thigh stockings under my new black leather work boots. It would be added coverage if I had to bunch up my dress under my apron to better maneuver around while completing my tasks. Kicking the front of the dress to walk with heavy things in hand wasn’t helpful, nor was it safe.

As I made my first round, I counted two parlours, one dining area, and three rooms—not considering the library, Alexander’s suite, Leo’s living quarters or mine, and the mysterious chamber I was not allowed to go in. All and all, it was a pretty big wing.

What surprised me while making my inspection was how tidy and clean everything was. I didn’t understand the need to have me when this entire floor was spotless. Was someone coming in at night to clean this floor?

I tried to find some things to do to at least make it look like I was needed.

I started by winding all the clocks in most of the rooms. I then lit a fire in one parlour, which looked more in use, and I also did the dusting and sweeping and cleaning of all the other chambers—none of them were really used, and since they always kept the doors closed, there didn’t seem to be any dust in them.

I didn’t go into Alexander’s room. I was not ready to face whatever would be hiding in his apartment just yet. Also, it made me queasy just thinking about going in there.

What if he returned, and I was stuck there with him? I didn’t trust myself enough to push my luck. Heck, I almost had a mind of telling him to get in the tub with me last night.

My face reddened at the thought.

Faiths, what was wrong with my brain?

I kept my word to Leo and let him show me around after I was done. I had already made my first round of the perimeters, but he was kind enough to show me everything again and told me what I would expect to find in each area and what they were used for.

He didn’t enter the lord’s chamber also, nor did he mention the room with the wooden door. I thought he was maybe as anxious as I was about it.

The last place we stopped was the library. I had stayed away from that room, wanting to give Leo my sincere surprised face of me marvelling over all those gorgeous books.

The library itself was about half the length of the entire storey. It held floor-to-ceiling rows of records, books, tomes, and parchments. At least thousands of books had to be neatly stacked against the walls.

I saw an extensive oak desk with more books piled on top of it at the back end of the library. There was also a map behind it that depicted all the regions of Airedah. The capital region, Seagull’s Bay, was at the bottom of the map. It was the continent's second-biggest city and entryway to Airedah. The biggest was Cardinal City. The royal family lived there, surrounded by treacherous cliffs on the eastern, western, and northern sides, and it was separated from the rest of the region by a thick forest to the south.

It was basically a city in the sky. It sat atop a mountain; the only way in was through the forest pass.

Since Seagull’s Bay was the port of commerce, it made the region very prosperous, and workers kept pouring in since factories and businesses flourished.

While perusing through the first row of books, Leo took a tome and bolted to the parlour where I had made a fire.

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was looking for yet. My symptoms seemed supernatural. I mean, I had been fine for the last years and never encountered such effects until I met Lord Alexander.

I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind.

I closed the library doors and took a few deep breaths. I was about to do something I hadn’t done in a very long time—it could backfire, or worst, I could get caught, which would sign my death sentence.

I quieted my mind and focused on my breathing, my heartbeat, the stillness of the library, and finally, the books. I pressed my hands flat to one row of the shelf, trying to feel and see exactly what I was searching for. I pictured it in my mind. I was seeking information on what was happening to me.

I felt my hands tingle with that old-forgotten feeling of my magic. They were glowing with a soft blue hue with tiny blue sparks floating around, almost like swirls of drifting snow.

I had not used my powers in forever, and it was like a missing limb was reattached.  

The wooden shelf drank up the glow from my hands, and I waited, but nothing happened.

I frowned.

Maybe I was out of practice? It could also mean that the information I was pursuing wasn’t within the confines of this library.

I knew it was a long shot, but seeing the immensity of Alexander’s library, I thought the odds were in my favour.

As I turned to leave, a blue flash appeared near one window. I could see a book spine glowing with my blue magic.

The blue lights vanished when I touched the book, and I read the title: Lupinotuum Encyclopaedia.