His Hidden Jewel

Chapter 9

Much of my wounds ended up being bruises, scrapes and a few cuts; the doctor was right, I was very lucky I didn’t end up with any broken bones. After a few days in what I learned to be a hospital, resting, I finally went back to master. During my stay, he visited me everyday and often multiple times; Yeke even visited a few times. I felt a little warmed by their appearance, even though master likely had to anyways. I wasn’t sure why I felt that way, but I wasn’t going to think about it.

Since I’m healed up, master and I are currently riding on a carriage out to the town to get shoes. I look out the window occasionally, a little scared to show my face but also curious about the town. It was mostly black stone buildings, some were different shades of red. Most of the residents wore black and red as well. Master chuckles at me. but I just ignore him.

Thinking about it, master not only got me an outfit but is also getting me new pair of shoes for the ball. Is there something important about the ball? Is there going to be a lot of people there?

“What are you thinking?” Master asks causally as he turns a page in his book. .

“The ball, what’s so important about it? And I guess, what is even a ball anyways?” I ask, starting to feel a bit more confident speaking freely with master while we’re alone. While he did say I could I wasn’t sure if I could trust his words but, he’s yet to seem bothered by them.

“That’s right you wouldn’t know; Lord Bezing was never known to go to balls, though I guess now I know why. Balls are a large gathering of nobles and some richer civilians with music, dancing and food to accompany. Though we do throw civilian balls occasionally, which are like normal nobleman balls but where a limited amount of the public can register to come. Some lords come to those to show face, but mostly local ones really. But not this ball. This ball is “The Pearls Eves Ball” for the nobles. It’s to celebrate Pearlinarity Day.”

I went to open my mouth but master beat me to it, “you’re probably wondering what Pearlinarity Day is?” Master smirks at my nod; smug man.

“To start, there are many religions in our world, religions is a faith in a some other super-being or beings, usually having to do with all of our worlds creation and life. One religion that originated from vampires was Pearliocity; that doesn’t mean to say that all vampires believe in it, just that it’s founding dates back to a vampire.

“Pearliocity believes there were once two gods, a Sun God and a Death God. The gods were brothers and they created our world. One day, they had an intense argument over how they should fill the world. The Sun God wanted to fill the world with life, with an abundance of plants and forests, however the Death God wanted differently. The Death God wanted to fill it with coldness, with mountains and ice bergs. The two brothers argued, neither would budge, and decided to duel to decide. The Sun God used some of himself to create a mighty Fire Axe, and the Death God used some of himself to create an Ice Sword. They battled, and while the Sun God’s axe was strong, the Death Gods sword was stronger and he sliced his brother in half, creating two suns and forever creating a need for balance in the world. A balance between tranquility and misery.

“Remorseful for his actions, the Death God apologized to his brothers and offered a compromise. They would fill the world with half coldness and half life. The new Sun Gods, the Tranquility Sun and the Misery Sun, agreed and they filled the world with all forest, life, mountains and ice. To show good will, the Death God took a shard from his Ice Sword that he used to defeat the Sun Gods, and created vampire kind to populate the world. The Sun Gods, pleased with the gift and inspired, used the warmth from the Fire Axe to create humans for the same reason. Pearlinarity Day celebrates the day the Death God created vampire kind. And in way, celebrates human creation as well. That’s just one of many myths for how we were all created in Pearliocity. Oh course, there are many different religions that have their own beliefs.” I’m sucked in by the story. I’ve never expanded my mind that much to think about the world like thatz

“You say there’s many religions? What’s another one…” I ask hesitantly.

“Hm, well Lady Yeke Uzui for example believes in Aeromic; a religion that believes that god is air. Though it looks like that’s the end of our little school session, we are here,” master drawls after a quick glance to the window.

We step out of the carriage, and there’s a large black stone shop. I follow behind master as he enters. The place seems pretty busy and filled with the rich as well. Many of them stare, and quite a few smile at my master or stare intensely at me.

“Marcel!” A joyful voice calls and a female were-creature approaches. She doesn’t even spare me a single look , thankfully, as she walks up to master. “It’s been a minute since I last saw you Marcel. How are you?”

“Good afternoon Miss… Hunnu?” He continues at her eager nod. “I’m just here to get my slave and I fitted for ball shoes.” Master states emotionlessly, ignoring what Hunnu asked.

“Just for you and your slave? No date? Because… well… I was thinking perhaps we could go.,” Hunnu says hopefully. Master tenses; this can’t be good.

“I’m sorry for whatever impression I gave you Miss Hundi, but I have no interest in some random, shoemaker, were-otter such as yourself except for you to make my footwear. But seeming as you can’t remain a professional relationship with your clients I’m not sure if I want to continue my services here.” Despite, how smooth and perfectly aloof his voice was, I could detect a hint of possibly… irritation?

“I’m sorry my lord! Please, I won’t ask again, but don’t go, I can still work professionally,” Hunnu pleas, gathering herself after a moment. Master nods after a moment.

“Very well, fit Bunny here first.” He orders stoically, his dark, melodic voice causing everyone in the room to shiver, even the other patrons I notice.

“Yes my lord.”

Hunnu was a little meek after masters snap, hanging her head. She leads master and I into a room where she starts to work professionally, asking me to take off my shoes so I could be measured. She works quietly and diligently, not saying a word even as master sends small jabs to her every now and then. But the second masters attention turns the other way, and Hunnu shoots me an ugly look. I’m not sure why she’s upset with me, just like with Peta being upset with me, when it was all master. But in a sense, they can’t really do anything to master, so I guess I’m their next appropriate choice.

Master is going pretty hard on her; I’ve seen a handful of females now that have tried to flirt or ask out master and he’s always shot them down with a cruel smirk. Many of them would get embarrassed and would just stop,, a few tried to bring up “old times” to persuade him which only infuriated master. But he’s never gone this hard on one before; I can’t help but feel pity for her and sympathize.

I know she’s just projecting her anger onto me, but despite my understanding, I can’t but feel a tiny bit irritated that she is projecting her anger as she works. It’s not like I have any choice but to go with master. And I’m going as his slave, his servant to order, not as a date. She really has no reason to be mad.

After a few minutes, Hunnu puts her measures away and looks at master. “Human feet are much smaller than other creature feet, she will need a child’s size.”

Master nods, “I figured she probably would. Do it then.”

“Yes my lord.” Hunnu bows. Master takes my spot after I put back on my flat slip ons. Hunnu measures him much slowly, which he remarks about, much to Hunnu’s clear annoyance. And once she lets him know she’s done, master seems itching to leave.

“My lord I just want to apologize again for my behavior earlier.” Hunnu tries again, staring willingly through her lashes.

“Don’t think about it,” master waves off but I can tell he’s still annoyed. “I understand it’s difficult being so completely idiotic of what a professional relationship is and a romantic one. We all went through that phase as children.” The shoemaker grits her jaw at that, and I can tell master would be laughing right now if we were alone.

“Yes, I guess I still have some growing up to do,” she growls passively.

“It appears you do Miss… Hanny right?” Master asks again, appearing thoughtful like he was trying to remember her name. Even though it was a good act I could still tell master is pretending to forget it; he sure does like to play mind games. Though I’m not sure why he’s so upset about her asking him that? “Anyhow, you will receive design blueprints from Lady Yeke Uzui of the dresses for the ball; I want you to match her color and design. Which I hope is manageable for you?”

“Yes my lord I can manage it,” Hunnu says lowly though her tone seemed only half hearted; was she actually enjoying his mind games?!

“Good. Good day then.” Master turns and doesn’t spare her another glance as he leaves the shop. I follow quickly behind him, I can feel the daggers Hunnu was glaring into my back.

The carriage is still waiting outside for us and master strides in elegantly but quickly. I hurry behind him, barely able to keep up with his much longer legs. Once I settle next to master in the carriage, master sharply orders the driver to start going.

Doing a complete turn around from how he was acting before, master pulls out his book like normal and starts reading, seemingly completely unbothered now. I wait a little while, but curiosity just keeps buzzing in my brain, so I muster up my courage to open my mouth. “Master may I… ask you something?”

Masters eyes snap up to mine, and he closes his book gently. “Depends on the question.”

“Er-I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds, but why were you upset with Miss Hunnu earlier?” I tense, waiting to see if those red, piercing eyes would sharpen with anger but it never comes.

Instead he just c***s a brow. “That’s not the question you should be asking little Bunny,” he chuckles but doesn’t elaborate; he’s waiting, trying to bait me, but for what?

“What question should I be asking then?”

“Think Bunny, why would some random were-creature I could barely even remember the name of think they were so important they could score a date with a noble in line for the throne?”

That did make sense. He barely seems to know her, and she was acting like they were long time friends. Master continues, “there are many people that like that try to take advantage of someone with money and/or power. I happen to have both, so I often have many people approach me, trying to gain my… favor, if you will, in hopes they could leech off my power and wealth. It’s annoying, their constant pestering, and their motives are always so blatantly obvious that it ruins the fun.” Master almost seems to pout at the fact, like he wish his victims made it more fun. Master is the devil, plain and simple and yet I’m not scared of him. In fact I feel like I’m almost warming up to him-

“Besides,” master continues nonchalantly, “it’s simply bad business practice to do that. No worker should be trying to flirt or ask out the customers while on duty. It’s simply disgraceful.” Master may be cruel and cold, but I couldn’t say he didn’t have strong morals. It’s occasionally admirable, how he upholds his morals.

“I see, that makes sense master, thank you,” I thank gently.

“Tell me, why is little Bunny so curious?” He asks curiously, leaning his face closer towards mine. The close proximity causes my cheeks to heat up.

I swallow dryly. “I’ve just… never seen you go so hard on a creature for asking before…” I trail off, unsure of what else to say. Master is acting weird.

“That’s all? Or could it be your… jealous,” masters smirks, and I scrunch my nose. Jealous? What did I have to be jealous about? Nothing came to mind.

“Jealous? Jealous about what master,” I ask sincerely, c*****g my head to the side. I had long let go of jealousy of being a slave while others have freedom, long before I was ever even halfway to being found by my current master. I have no clue what master means?

Master states at me for a moment, his eyes turning hard and serious. “Don’t play little Bunny you know what,” he utters lowly, a slight growl curling in his words. Shivers run down my spine and I shove away the urge to shift away from him.

I have no clue what I did to infuriate him, but I feel I should apologize. “I-I sorry to offend you master, b-but I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” I barely utter back, mad at myself for not speaking stronger.

Master starts to open his mouth, his eyes growing more furious for a moment before they calm down and his eyes turn ice cold. I grow uncomfortable under his gaze but I can’t pull my eyes from his.

“… I see.”

That was all he said to me for the rest of the night, ordering me to have a servant bring him his dinner for the night and excusing me to my rooms for the rest of the evening the second we get home. It’s such a strange change, but I wouldn’t complain about getting extra time to lay down. Even if masters odd behavior earlier still haunted me. Jealous about what? What am I supposed to know?

He’s so much more confusing than old master. I groan and shove my face into the into mattress.