1 Melody (1)

"Close the doors."

"Lord?"

"Do it."

Bellavarn looked around the room. He awoke on a cozy king-size bed with an abundance of plush pillows. The bed corners had posts that led up to one of those covers above the bed. Crimson draperies hung on the corners.

Moving over to a nearby dresser, he examined himself. Dirty blond hair cut short and cleanly.

Refined features. Straight nose, clear blue eyes, porcelain skin. Defined jawline absence of facial hair? No, just trimmed extremely close. Age?

Currently undeterminable. Over 16 less than 30. No... Less than 25? Needs to be looked into. Next?

Bellavarn removed his thin nightshirt. There was a small peep from the maid. Body? Well toned, decent musculature. No sign of body hair. Maybe it is too blond to see or maintained as well? He ran a hand over his pectorals.

Nope. No hair.

Unfortunately, no abs. Well, he didn't expect it.

How tall am I?

Another thing he couldn't really compare. He looked at the maid. Melody was how she introduced herself when asked.

"How tall are you, Melody? Measurement in feet and inches, please."

The brunette haired maid in traditional black and white garments jumped a bit before stammering.

"I-I- I am five feet tall, your lordship, with about another six inches."

"Five foot six. Hmm..."

Bellavarn put back on his shirt then moved over to stand next to the maid.

"I want to check my height; please stand next to me. You may face whatever way you find the most comfortable. I won't move anything below my neck, I promise."

The maid rubbed her hands together, and her expression looked terrified. Did he have some reputation? No, add it to the list.

Fortunately, Melody came up to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Bellavarn noted this was probably the least promiscuous way to do this and mentally approved of her judgment.

Craning his neck, he got the rough estimate that he was probably over six feet. Not well over, but there was enough of a difference.

"Six foot three inches, perhaps? Oh. Right. Thank you, Melody, you may step back now."

Melody complied, her face unreadable. Her voice completely readable.

"Your Lordship, if I may ask what this is about. I was only to bring you breakfast."

Bellavarn moved back to the dresser and found a small notebook. He ran long fingers over the words on the cover.

Illegible. Language barrier? The written language at a minimum.

Bellavarn spoke with authority.

"You address me as your lord, but am I truly the lord of this house, or is it my father?"

Dangerous... this could be a landmine.

"Your-Your Father is the Lord, of course. But you've always requested that we speak to you the same way."

I see...

"Arrogance."

He whispered.

"Lord?"

"Stop that. Call me by my name while we are in this room."

"Young Master, I could never-"

"My name!"

"Yes! M-master, Bellavarn."

"Ditch the master, for now, use my full name, please."

"Yes... Bellavarn Sallow."

Bellavarn gave a kind smile to the maid. She looked entirely on edge. He didn't wish to do this to her, but...

"Melody. Could you complete a task for me? It will be difficult, and you can choose to decline. I repeat. You may choose to decline. But I regret that if you do, it leaves me in a sour position."

Melody seemed to wrestle internally for several long moments. When she spoke it was with a question.

"What is this task you would ask of me."

"I need to go outside and find another maid or butler you trust. Tell them to guard the door and return."

Melody straightened.

"Should-should I ask one of your father's soldiers to guard the entrance instead? They would be more suited to the role."

"No. This needs to be discrete. Adding a guard to the door will raise suspicions. Have a maid or two loiter at the entrance. If someone approaches, tell them to cause a ruckus so we have a warning."

Bellavarn's serious gaze stabbed into Melody.

"Can I trust you?"

There was the slightest moment of hesitation. Then she nodded confidently, holding onto the edges of her uniform.

"Yes, your lord- er. I mean Bellavarn Sallow. I understand. You can trust me."

"Good, hurry, and then return. We need an hour alone. No! Make it two. If possible.

"Understood."

Melody hurried out, closing the door behind her.

Could he trust her? Bellavarn didn't know. If not... It can all come crashing down.

While he was alone he examined the rest of himself and the room. The room was lush in soft fabrics and tapestries, making for a very cozy room. The ceiling was tall, and the two narrow windows along the bedside wall edged the room's two corners. The stonework behind all the fabrics and decorations felt cold to the touch.

A wardrobe was along one wall harbored with all manner of clothes. Most of them comfortable and soft fabrics. Not many were overly colorful or as gaudy as he thought they would be.

A coat of arms rested on the wall opposite the bed. A bluebird carries a branch with berries flying over a small depiction of a mansion.

Duke? Marquis? Baron? What is my status?

Inspecting his own body again revealed he had no scars or blemishes. Not so much as a freckle on the ass. His pecker was safe and sound, much to his relief.

Bellavarn opened the journal on his dresser. Flipping through the pages, he noted that there were pages entirely of words while other held sketches. Drawings of birds and flowers. Women. They were all well done. Bellavarn could remember the days he drew bluebirds. These were not his drawings, however. The mark-making was refined, not like his own, more confident. Clean strides with few deviations or mistakes.

He turned when the doors opened again. Melody returned, looking slightly red in the face. She must have been running to hurry.

"Is it done?"

"I... yes, I called in a favor, we should be alone for an hour. Two may not be feasible."

"That is fine. You did well, thank you."

"What now Lord- er. I mean, young mas- no. Bel-"

"Stop. I see it is difficult for you. Call me whatever you wish for now. You don't even have to address me directly. We are alone."

Melody looked downcast.

"Ah. Yes. Young master."

"For now, can you finish my meal for me? It is probably getting cold and I am not in the mood to eat it. Have you been eating well lately? You look like you could use a bit more weight."

Bellavarn belatedly realized that he insulted her rather than complimented her. Melody blushed deeply, her bangs hiding the rest of her expression.

"I apologize if I offended you, it was not meant. I need to look over a couple of things. Then we will talk. I thought I'd offer the food as something to busy yourself with."

"Oh. That is fine, young master. I will wait."

Bellavarn went back to the journal. He flipped a few more pages, trying to make sense of the written word. More pictures, more women. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Melody shifting from foot to foot. She didn't go over to the cart of breakfast but instead stood in place. Bellavarn sighed.

"Alright, I can see you are still uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do to ease your mind?"

Melody rubbed hands together while trying to hide her neck in her shoulders. He could see her opening her mouth, but no words came out. Bellavarn decided to be the one to speak for now.

"Melody. I don't know what preconceptions you have but whatever you are thinking, it is far from what I want right now. I assume that the other staff thinks we will be engaging in some unmentionable act?"

A yelp. Right on the money.

"You are wrong."

"But you're lordship is young and has yet to be with a woman. If it is me you have taken a fancy to, it would be within my duties. It is not wrong to-"

Melody cut herself off.

Well... It isn't the worst-case scenario.

"I do not intend to lay a single finger on you. I need someone to talk to. Someone I can trust. Right now, I don't know who that is. So, I am choosing to trust you as you were the one who walked through those doors and not another maid, butler, guest, or family member. Can I trust you to keep secrets?"

Melody's head emerged from her shoulders and she looked up, no longer holding so tightly onto her dress. She looked into Bellavarn's eyes, searching. He returned the gaze as steady as he could. After a while, she nodded, finding whatever she was looking for. Her entire demeanor relaxed as she exhaled slightly.

"Oh."

Bellavarn waited. Melody took her time to find the correct words to use.

"Yes. I can keep secrets. Thank you for your trust in me."

Melody showed off her first, bright smile. Bellavarn's heart skipped a single beat.