CHAPTER 2: THE DENMARKS

Together with the other servants, I immediately line up in front of the main door as it opened. Mia came running down the stairs to welcome her parents who both came from a business trip. Madame Hannah Denmark was beautiful as ever. With her medium length mahogany hair flowing perfectly on her shoulders, she really looked like a queen also with the mint off-shoulder dress that she was wearing. There is no denying that she and Mia are blood-related. Their resemblance to each other is very uncanny. On the other hand, Mr. Denmarks look dashing in his suit despite the noticeable gray strands of his hair.

I couldn’t help but smile while looking at them hugging each other. They really look like a happy family.

I wonder how it feels like to have a mother and a father.

It must feel so great having a whole family….

“Mom and Dad, how was your business trip, huh?! Oh, I missed you so much!” Mia cooed when they finally moved away from each other.

“Oh, darling. It was exhausting as hell but we’re fine now that we finally saw you,” Madame Denmarks replied.

“Let’s continue our conversation while having our dinner, shall we? I am quite starving already,” Mr. Denmarks suddenly said.

All of us proceeded to the dining area to serve the Denmarks.

“Elodie, what are you still doing here? Didn’t I tell you to go to sleep early?” Aunt Sally whispered to me while we were both lining up in the dining area while the Denmarks were having their dinner.

“I was just worried about you, Aunt Sally. I thought the mafia boss is already here.”

Aunt Sally covertly shook her head. “You silly child.”

“Elodie, why don’t you join us here? Sally, you may also join us.”

We all got surprised when Mr. Denmarks suddenly said to us.

“D-Dad, it’s our first time to have dinner together again as a family since you left for your business trip. Why would you let a mere servant join us for dinner?” Mia complained.

“Mia, Elodie and Sally may be our servants but you grew up with them, so they are also a part of our family now. Also, there are so many food here. Come on, Elodie and Sally, join us here.”

I glanced at Aunt Sally and she just nodded her head to tell me to just obey.

“T-Thank you, Mr. Denmarks…” I said as I sat down.

“Just like Mia, you did grow too fast, Elodie. How’s your school? I heard that you’ve got good grades last semester.”

I smiled. “T-Thank you, Sir. I’m really enjoying the things that we’re studying in the university right now. How to prepare food, how to cook, and how to—

“Guess what, dad? I have been chosen as the team captain of our cheerleading team!” Mia suddenly interrupted.

“Oh, really? That’s nice then. But it’ll be nicer if you try to study harder to gain good grades just like Elodie. Right, Elodie? You’re doing a great job. For sure you’ll be a great chef someday. And who knows? Maybe you’ll have your own restaurant.”

“T-Thank you, Sir…”

“Oh come on, honey. Stop talking so rude to our child. She should be the one receiving praises from you and not some servant. Anyway, let’s talk about a more serious topic here. It’s about Mia’s marriage.”

I just lowered my head while they were talking to each other. I badly wanted to leave already, but that would be rude.

“The wedding would be next month, so you should be ready, Mia,” said Mrs. Denmarks.

“But what if I don’t want to marry that man, mom? You told me that he is a mafia boss, right? What if he tries to kill me? Do you even know what kind of man he is? Did you do some background checking?”

“Of course, we did. Henry Vonstein is a very wealthy mafia boss. He may have a bad reputation, but he never killed anyone who doesn’t owe him anything.”

Mia then turned her gaze to her father. “Dad, do you agree with this? Would you let me marry that man? I don’t even know him.”

Mr. Denmarks heaved a deep sigh. “As much as I badly want to oppose to that marriage, that is already part of our tradition, so we can’t really do much about it. What I can assure you is that I won’t ever let that man hurt you.”

“Your father is right, Mia. We won’t let that mafia boss hurt you. On the other hand, if you don’t marry him, our family would become a failure. We’re going to lose our wealth and everything that we have. Do you want that to happen?”

“O-Of course, not…”

“Just trust us, honey. And by the way, he told us he wants to meet you next week.”

“W-What?! A-And why would he want to meet me next week?!”

“Well, maybe he wants to know you better. Isn’t that a good chance for you to get to know him? We don’t know, maybe you’re going to like him too. Mia, just always remember our family. You are going to do this for our family, okay?”

Despite the disagreement on her face, Mia just nodded her head.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She might be born wealthy, but she cannot even choose the man that she wants to marry. It’s like she’s being forced to do something against her will. I just hope that mafia boss won’t hurt her.

"Aunt Sally..."

"Hmm?"

"I feel sad for Mia..." I said while we were already lying on our bed, preparing to sleep.

"Me too. She's too young to get married. She wasn't even able to enjoy her life after studying. She even has to marry a man she never met."

I hugged Aunt Sally tightly. "I'm so glad to have you as my mother..."