Bonding

Back in Aylin's room, Jayla was instructing Dahlia on what she needed to know and the things she needed to do and not do. Dahlia was a new maid who didn't know anything about the mansion or the people in it, so Jayla had to inform her about everything she needed to know.

"Now that Lady Rhea is living here, you need to steer clear from her and her handmaiden to avoid any troubles. Do you understand?" Jayla questioned.

"Yes." Dahlia nodded, her maid outfit fitting her small frame perfectly.

"Good. Also–" Jayla was interrupted when the door opened and Aylin stepped into the room.

"My lady," Dahlia said in a low voice as she bowed.

"Lady Aylin." Jayla greeted her with a small bow and Aylin turned to them.

Right, Jayla and her new… Handmaiden.

"Can you please stop bowing? It's making me uncomfortable." Aylin said, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"We're sorry Lady Aylin, but that's the proper way for a servant to greet her mistress," Jayla said while Dahlia kept bowing.

Aylin sighed, "Seriously Jayla? I thought we'd passed that stage."

"What stage My lady?" Jayla asked in confusion.

"Forget it." Aylin sighed again. "Come, sit here." She said, patting the space beside her.

"I'm sorry My lady but–"

"Are you going to disobey me?" Aylin asked, raising one of her eyebrows.

Now it was Jayla's turn to sigh as she reluctantly sat down.

"Dahlia, Sit down there." She nodded her head at the armchair across them.

Seeing that her senior had sat down, Dahlia had no choice but to adhere to what Aylin said. She moved her legs and sat down at the edge of the chair.

Aylin smiled, happy that they listened to her.

"Alright, let's start with you," Aylin shifted, now facing Dahlia who stared at her in confusion and fear. "It's alright, I'm not going to eat you. I just want us to talk, get to know each other better." She said and Dahlia nodded in understanding.

"First of all, I understand that you are supposed to respect and serve your masters and all, but there are some things that I don't feel comfortable with, I mean, I'm not used to it. Like bowing every second, not looking me in the eye when I talk to you, calling me My lady. And since I will live here for a while, I will have to get used to these things but I want to ask you to only do these things in public. When we are together, you can do whatever you like. So what do you say?"

"I... My lady, I don't–" Dahlia stuttered.

"Please..." Aylin cut her off.

"I think we can stop the bowing and not looking at you in the eye but I don't think we can call you by your name even if there's no one around. I don't think I can." Jayla said and Dahlia nodded, agreeing with her.

"It's alright, I can cope with that." Aylin smiled at them, she was good with them calling her 'My lady' as long as they would stop doing the first two even though it was only when they were alone. She would just take it as her other name and besides, she had to get used to it since she would be addressed in that way for as long as she stays here.

Though she was hoping that she would have to get out of there sooner because she wasn't sure if she could cope.

Turning to Jayla, she asked. "What do you know about Rhea? Tell me everything you know about her."

Aylin wanted to know about this Rhea because she was a very... How could she put it? Different? Weird? Unique? Strange? Yeah, she would go with the first, third, and last, or maybe all. And she wanted to know something other than her being the Duke's sister who moved out of her parent's house when she was ten and that her grandmother didn't like her.

Jayla thought for a moment before shrugging, "To be honest, I don't know much about her since all the things I know about her were through rumors and gossip because I started working here after she left."

"Alright, tell me what you know." Aylin urged and Jayla nodded.

"Well... She is very different from everyone, that you must know." She started and Aylin nodded.

Aylin had deduced that.

"She is someone who gets whatever she wants at any expense, she enjoys taking pleasure from others' misery especially those that annoy or anger her, generally people she doesn't like. She jokes about everything and gets annoyed easily." Jayla thought for a moment before continuing. "That's all I know."

"Thanks, Jayla, that's all I needed to know." Truth be told, Aylin was curious about why Rhea didn't live here and why she didn't seem to have a good relationship with her grandmother but it was better to stay away from things that were none of her business.

"That's good because I have to leave, there's so much to do in the kitchen," Jayla announced before turning to face Dahlia who wasn't comfortable knowing that Jayla had to leave.

"It's alright, I will see you later, I trust that you remember everything I told you?" She asked and Dahlia nodded in response.

"Good, I will be leaving now, Excuse me." She said before walking out of the room.

Now it was only Aylin and a very nervous Dahlia.

"So... I guess we are all alone," Aylin spoke up, staring at Dahlia who was playing with her fingers.

"Yeah, I guess..." Dahlia trailed off, looking at anywhere but Aylin.

"What did I say about looking at me in the eye?" Aylin asked with a raise of her eyebrows.

"I-I'm s-sorry My lady, It just doesn't seem right," Dahlia said in a tremendously soft and low voice that Aylin had to strain to get her ears to hear what she said.

"I know it doesn't but I just want to make you feel less intimidated. And since I want to get to know you and vice-versa. You sure can't hang your head down when we talk now. Can you? Aylin chuckled and Dahlia finally looked up.

"I'm sorry My lady but you telling me to do these things make me feel scared, it seemed too good to be true. I... Feel like once I do it, you will punish me." Dahlia admitted and Aylin smiled.

"I know it's hard for me to treat you this way but you are a person and you deserve all kindness and care as any other person. And as you must have figured out, I'm not like other nobles. So you don't have anything you need to worry about. Just listen to me okay? I'm not gonna hurt you. Also, I would like for us to feel comfortable with each other since we are going to be together for some time." Aylin finished, staring at Dahlia who was staring back at her with a small smile.

"I understand," Dahlia said with a nod.

"Okay, first of all, we get to know each other. So tell me about yourself."

"I... I am nineteen, an orphan. I lived in an orphanage before I started training to become a servant. I heard they paid well especially if you're working for high officials, but this was more than anything I ever hoped for, to become a handmaiden in the Duke's mansion." Dahlia said with a smile.

"That's good," Aylin said simply, urging her to continue.

Dahlia hesitated, "Uhm... What about you?" She asked and Aylin shrugged.

"Well, I am also an orphan and with no family or friends that could look after me, my grandmother who recently passed away sent me to her friend which was the Grand duchess because she knew she would die soon. I have to stay here and learn everything I need to about how to run a business since I needed to Inherit my parent's properties. And yes, no siblings." Aylin said, choosing to go with Andromeda's story while adding a bit of her own.

"I see... I'm sorry for your loss." Dahlia muttered sadly.

Aylin waved her hand "It's alright, we weren't that close anyway. So tell me, what's your favorite color, hobbies, or food." She wanted to add movies but quickly stopped herself before she slipped.

"My favorite color is yellow, I like to take walks, listen to music, and dance." She said which surprised Aylin.

Aylin liked music but dancing? It wasn't her thing.

"About the food, I like anything as long as it's delicious," Dahlia added with a smile.

"So you dance huh? What types of dance?" Aylin asked not knowing what type of dance they danced here.

"Just the basic type, nothing much," Dahlia said and Aylin nodded.

"What about you Milady?" Dahlia asked.

"Favorite colors are white and blue, my hobbies are reading, gardening, listening to music which is something we have in common, and sleeping. I'm a very lazy person you see. Food? Anything as long it's delicious." Aylin said and they both chuckled.

The uneasy feeling Dahlia had was long gone as that kept on talking, she smiled and giggled at things Aylin said which she found funny, and now sat comfortably on the chair. She was slowly loosening up and Aylin was glad for that.

"Really? You told her to do that?" Dahlia asked as she continued laughing.

"Well... I simply advised her to and it was left to her to choose if she wanted to do it or not, it's not like I compelled or forced her to." Aylin shrugged, she had just told Dahlia what she did to both Ian and Isa when she found out that he cheated which she told Dahlia was done by one of the girls in her hometown when she found out her man had a lover. Yes, it didn't hurt that much when she caught them but that didn't mean she didn't make sure they both got what they deserved.

"Yeah, I know. It's just so funny." Dahlia said and continued to laugh and Aylin laughed along with her.

They were just getting down from their laughter when they heard a knock on the door and Dahlia immediately stood up, "I will go check it out."

Aylin nodded and Dahlia walked to the door just as Aylin heard the sound of horses and wheels coming to a stop.

In a flash, she was by the large arch windows, peeking from the white curtains.

She wanted to know who had arrived, was it the duke or-

Her thought was cut short when she saw the long legs wrapped in gray trousers stepping out of the carriage followed by the sinfully handsome and alluring creation wearing a black overcoat. As she looked from her window, she could see the top of his head full of silver hair which was styled neatly to the back and glowed thanks to the evening sun with some stray strands falling over his forehead, his earring shimmering in the sunlight.

God gracious, he was simply too handsome. And for someone like her, it made it hard for her to hold a grudge against him.

As if he knew someone was watching him, Kian looked up and Aylin hurriedly closed the curtains and moved away from the window.

Did he see her? And how the f*ck did he know that she was staring at him from up here?

"My lady?" Dahlia called causing Aylin to jump and instantly whirl around.

"Yes?"

"A maid came to inform that dinner is ready," Dahlia informed her and Aylin nodded.

"Alright, tell her I will be down shortly." She told Dahlia who nodded.

"I already told her. What were you looking at the window, My lady?" Dahlia asked wanting to know why Aylin jerked like that when she called her.

"It's nothing," Aylin assured and Dahlia nodded.

Back at Rhea's room, Rhea who had seen her brother arrive said with a smile on her lips. "Brother has finally arrived."