His Little Maid

Chapter 3

Rows of blurred mix of yellow and green entered her view as she looked outside the bus. Licht stared towards the forest into the road where her new job is located. The place was only a two hour drive away from their house and she was grateful for it.

She was rather ecstatic. She was really glad that she was hired since she really needed the money for her mother's medicine and for her sister's education. Though she really doesn't want to be a maid she had no choice, but even so the job she got offered have quite a big pay which she really needed right now.

She felt the bus stop and she looked outside, she boarded off seeing that it was her stop. She looked around astonished as a huge forest enclosed the path she needed to take. She looked at the paper again then back towards the sea of trees trying to make sure she's on the right place.

"Who the hell build their house in the middle of a forest?" She said to herself irritated, it was rather inconvenient and weird but she shrugged it off. She then started walking towards the towering trees, a frown marring her face.

She grumbled to herself while walking, until a sound froze her from her tracks. A distant howl of an animal came from the woods and floods of memories erupted from her mind. A wave of fear enveloped her whole body as she remembered two dark cold eyes that probably took the life of her father.

Her body unconsciously reacted to the wolves' howl that seems to get louder and louder. Her palms became sweaty, her breaths labored and her heart too started speeding up in apprehension.

She gritted her teeth, clutching her chest as her heart started to beat painfully at her chest, her breathing started to get more labored. Another howl erupted from the forest, more pronounced now and she closed her eyes and raised her hands to her ears trying to block the deafening howls resounding on her mind.

"It's just a wolf, it's just an animal, no need to get scared and overreact." She chanted to herself over and over again trying to calm and get a grip on herself. Her breathing finally leveled and her heart started to take a steady beat as the last howls fainted on the background.

She waited for a second to compose herself before opening her eyes once again. She roved it around; all her senses peaked trying to take her surrounding more. She was wary at first, her mind on high alert. After making sure that she's somewhat safe from any danger, she continued the rest of her way but she made sure to be on her guard always.

Pondering on her action earlier, she chastised her reaction to the animal. She looked so pathetic and fragile on those moments and she swear never to show that again. Though in retrospect she really avoided anything that has a wolf in it and hearing a live wolf howl, her reaction turn to the extreme.

She can't help it though, ever since the accident six years ago, she had never once went near a wolf. And even a visual picture can make her react violently. Though she learned to keep it in whenever she encountered one, but knowing that a wolf was near her, she can't help her body's reaction.

She really hated wolves... no rather she strongly despised them. The last image she saw before her father's back disappeared was him being attacked by a group of wolves. And because of that she came to hate the animal that took away her father and probably some of her happiness.

After a few minutes of walking, a very big mansion entered her field of vision and she looked at it with awe. The house has a very simple design with pristine, bricked high walls, black roofs and a small barren garden at the west side of the mansion that she spotted when she walked around the huge house.

She looked at the house in admiration thinking what great comfort you'll have when you live in it. But even though the house was beautiful and designed richly, she could feel a gloomy and dead aura surrounding it. There is a sad atmosphere and she detected the loss of sound making the house look actually sinister.

Finishing her observation of the house she rounded towards the entrance of the mansion. Standing on the big double oak door, she mustered her courage before knocking. She observed the door and cringed in disgust at the wolves standing proud as it is finely carved on the wooden piece.

'What a very disgusting taste of design.' She thought inwardly to herself, she raised her hand, made it to a fist then she knocked on the door twice. A small creak sounded, informing her that the door was being opened and in a mere second an old lady appeared before her eyes.

She appeared to be a maid given by her uniform which is a black frilled puffed up dress with a white apron resting atop her skirt. Licht narrowed er eyes at how distasteful and weird looking the uniform was but she just bowed her head politely. "Hello ma'am, I'm your new maid." She introduced herself and the lady smiled and nodded at her, gesturing her hand for her to enter.

Licht entered the mansion and she quickly roved her eyes around the room. The receiving area was very large with white marbled floor carpeted with a fine red carpet, a refined chandelier set atop on the high ceiling and a grand oak staircase composed almost half of the room which leads to the upper floors.

The walls just like outside was pristine white with elaborate designs adorning it, a number of expensive looking vases and figurines was around the room. Her gaze narrowed as she looked at the wolf figurines that compose most of the rich designs.

The old maid looked at the new girl with interest, she was beautiful she commented. With flowing black hair resting just above her waist, a pair of beautiful amethyst eyes with a brown strand swirling around them and white smooth skin. Maris waited for the girl to finish her observation of the house before speaking.

Seeing her finished looking around, she began to speak. "Well first of all I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Maris and the one and only maid of this household." She said while smiling and Licht looked at her in amazement. "You will be helping me and another maid that I hired along with you. Oh and by the way I hate being called ma'am and we're both just a maid here so just see me as your friend, or your temporary mother." She said to her with a warm smile and a chuckle.

Licht nodded in agreement flashing the old lady a smile of her own. "Oh, I forgot to ask, what is your name dear?" She asked and Licht answered quickly "My name is Licht," she offered her hand as a handshake. "What a very nice name you have, quite unique too if I may say, well nice to meet you Licht." she extended her hand out to her and they shook hands.

"Let me call the other maid you'll be working with, Clara!" she shouted and a small and frail looking girl entered the room with them. She stopped just right in front of them, bowing her head to them as she stammered.

"You c-called m-ma'am?" she stuttered shyly. "Oh Clara, how many times have I told you to stop calling me ma'am?" she scolded the girl lightly. "I'm very sorry." Clara bowed again, apologizing to the old lady.

"Oh hush, we'll let set this aside for now. Clara, I want you to meet Licht, she was hired as a maid and she would be helping us." She introduced and the two women looked at each other. Licht looked at the girl in front of her with interest. The girl has a light brown hair paired with an earth green shade of eyes and a shy posture. She appeared to be in the same age as her if not younger.

She smiled at the girl and she held out her hand. Clara looked at the extended hand and hesitantly took it after a few seconds, shaking it. "You're very cute." Licht commented lightly and Clara's face turn a bright red in obvious embarrassment.

"Uhmm, I d-don't think so. I'm not c-cute at a-all." She stammered, her arms wildly swaying in embarrassment from her comment. "What are you talking about? You're really cute!" Licht insisted, a grin settled on her face. "N-no, I'm not, besides I'm n-not really good with other people and I stammer a lot. " she said in a sad tone.

"I see it as cute though." Licht shrugged, looking straight at her. "And besides you can easily cure that when you have more contact with others. And that's why I want to be your friend, so how about it?" She said energetically at her, Clara looked at her then she broke into a smile, a little nod coming from her. "I- I guess I can do that." She answered lively. "That's good to hear then." Licht said, smiling back.

Maris observed the exchange of the two girls and was greatly relieved that they get along. 'At least the house can have a joyful presence with these two girls.' She thought happily. "Now that you have seem to become friends. Let's start your work, first get your belongings to your room then change into these." She handed them a black folded clothes and they went towards their room which luckily they shared.

Licht looked around the room given to them, the room was huge with two huge beds, bathrooms, couches and other furniture. A small kitchen and even a vanity mirror and a flat screen television was inside. A small furnace was situated in the wall, probably for the cold nights. The room looked nothing like a common maid's quarter. 'More like an expensive room at a hotel.' Licht thought to herself. She took a seat on the bed and bounced on it a few times to test before she laid down and curled on it, feeling the soft mattress. Licht was enjoying herself while Clara took a look at the furniture.

After enjoying the room for a while, they finally changed to their uniforms. Licht looked at the whole body mirror, a frown apparently etched on her face as she gave her uniform a glare. It was patterned from Maris uniform but entirely different.

She have a black frilly top with white cloth on her chest, and it was off shoulders too! The puffed up skirt was black and at her point of view was too short. It rested just below her knees, the uniform also consisted of a white long socks and a black shoes. She turned to the mirror to look at her back, there was a big black bow resting on her hips and the ties of her top revealed some skin from her back.

Is this some sort of sick preference of the owner? She thought disgusted.

She finally went outside and she saw Clara desperately trying to make the skirt go longer but failing, her whole face bright red. "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly, Clara just shook her head yes. They both went back to where Maris is, "Ooh, it looks good on you!" she praised, clapping her hand in glee.

Licht tried to ask Maris if she can change their uniforms, even just a longer one. "Uhmm Maris, can we change our uniform or rather have the same one as yours?" She tried, Maris put her hands on her hip and shook her head no. "No, my dear, that was the uniform you're supposed to use and mine was different because of my position and age. Besides, I chose those uniforms. " She explained proudly and Licht's eye twitched at the weird woman but sighed depressingly when the older maid refused to budge.

"Beside with these you could, work and move more easily" she said with enthusiasm, making Licht give up. Before starting their work, Maris gave them a tour of the house explaining everything they needed to know. They stopped at an isolated room. "Now this is master's office, don't go in here unless you were called. I'm the one who cleans this so you shouldn't bother coming here." Maris sternly told them, the two was curious but simply nodded and then they resumed walking.

After a few moments, they finally finished the tour and they decided to take a break. Seeing her opportunity Licht asked what's been bugging her mind the whole time. "Uhmm Maris, sorry for being rude but where is the master?" Maris looked at her before answering. "He will be away for about a week or so, but don't worry you'll meet him eventually." She answered.

Licht nodded in understanding and decided to ask again. "What is he like?" At that Maris put a finger on her temple and thought hard. "Lark is a kind man but he always kept everything to himself. He's also calm and serious and always stoic. He hates crowds too especially strangers." she finished with a small frown.

"Is that why there were only two of us hired?" she questioned, a little bit baffled. "Yes, I thought that it will be easier for him if I hire only a few people, besides I only needed a little help." Maris said, then she stood up and faced them. "Now, now let us end these chattering and endless questions and let's start working. So that you can impress him by the time he comes home." Maris said enthusiastically and they all stood up, she gave them their chores then they each went to their respective places.

'Impress him huh, as if I'll ever do that.' Licht sternly thought, rolling her eyes before going back to her work.