STORYBOOK

Sai has been wandering about. He hasn't settled yet. The city is huge and he has trouble choosing a place to stay. He meticulously weigh things up before settling down.

The middle class residences sure is attractive and appealing to him. His standards for a comfy living is met. He doesn't want her living in a poor man's house. However, he is short on budget and cannot afford this type of home. He calculated the time frame in which she will be working as a personal attendant and has come up with a decision.

He only needs a place to stay to keep watch on her. Food is not a necessity for him. He can transform solar energy to electricity to keep himself up and running. He just need to stay under the sun for the whole day to not use the energy reservoir too often. If there is no sunlight he need to make use of the crystal power hidden inside him. But being in Gaea he had not even used it even for a day. This land is abundant in sunlight. He has no worries except for keeping his head low. No one can know he is not human.

"This is very tricky," Sai begins to waver.

Suspicious eyes are watching her on every corner. She has nowhere to hide in this mansion. On every corner security camera's are eyeing her. Whenever she goes out of the house Ao is also there.

With a sigh of exhaustion, she decided to stay inside her room. She took out her phone and sent Sai a message.

"How are you Sai? I hope you're not doing something crazy."

"Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?" Sai felt being stabbed.

"Anyways," she changed the subject. "I need you to become me."

"Did something happen?" Sai is concerned.

"My hands slipped," she said. "I beat 5 guys pretty bad."

"You what?" Sai is shocked. "How many times do I need to remind you combat skills are for men?"

"The damage is done," she replied. "I stirred things up. They are starting to suspect me."

"You entered find a way to get out," Sai logged off leaving her in mid air.

"Did he just left me?" she is dumbstruck. "That AI!"

Noon is almost up. She has to prepare lunch for the young master. Immediately she brought herself to the kitchen.Took out the materials needed and started killing everything on the chopping board.

The window is open. A heavy stare is distracting her.

"Brother Ao," she can tell it is him. "Aren't you supposed to pick the young master for lunch? I'll be just preparing his meal."

Shocked. Ao paused thinking.

"How did she know I was watching her?" Ao thought.

She continued with her work and finished quickly. The beef brisket takes time to cook. She had to leave it in the fire for a while and her estimte it will be done by the time the young master arrives.

While waiting, she readied the table. Then kept watch of the clock, the door and her surroundings.

Ten minutes before twelve. She knows the men will be there in any moment. But she had not heard the sound of the vehicle. Neither did she heard the gate opened.

The pot kept boiling. She lowered the fire when...

"Ah," she heard something from the living room. She sensed a person and is sure who it is. "So it is like this."

Quickly, she turned off the stove and served it at the table. Then, she inhaled deeply and run to her room.

"Huh?" Ao is surprised. "Young master..."

Ryun and Ichiro were watching the security cams. They themselves were also surprised of how she reacted.

"Open the back door Ao," Ryun said over the phone.

"Yes," Ao immediately run to the back and let them in.

"Is she pretending to be scared or is she really scared?" Ichiro frowned at Ryun.

The men looked at the table and found everything is set. The food is covered to keep warm.

Disappointed. Ryun goes to her door and knocked.

"Who's there?" she asked in a weak tone.

"Aren't you supposed to greet us?" Ryun is in dismay. Ichiro and Ao stood behind him.

The door opened and out she came.

"You already served the soup," Ryun begins to reprimand her. "It will get cold and will not taste good."

"I apologize for young master," she replied apologetically. "I was frightened to hear things while brother Ao was gone so I stayed in my room waiting for you. No worries I have estimated the time of your arrival the soup is still hot."

Ryun glared at her. His temper burned hot and is about to explode. It worries Ichiro and Ao for her. But to their surprise, Ryun let it pass and left.

"Come Ichiro," Ryun called him. "The clock is ticking. We'll be late."

"Lucky," Ao whispered to her. "He did not fire you."

"I was hoping he will," she thought and quietly joined Ao at the door. They waited for them to finish.

Ao again drove them to school while she is left at home to clean the kitchen.

She again chatted with Sai but the AI is out of reach. With a long face she goes out of the house leaving Ao a message.

The streets are always busy. The flow of people is the same. The number never decreases.

In the city center she looked for a bookstore.It has been a while since she last visited one. Her brain is craving for new knowledge.

The shelves are filled with lovely books with good stories. But not one interest her. She moved to one shelf to the other searching. Until she come across one book that surprisingly caught her attention. A book for teens.

Smiling, she returned home. Her hands holding that newly bought storybook. She itches to read it once she had returned.

The garden is filled with lovely blossoms. It has elegant landscapes making her nostalgic of the lovely meadows in Silverdale. The flowers is mesmerizing making her sleepy. She remembered she has five hours before the young master returns.

"Ao," Lucas had meet him at the city center. "Can you please give this to chef Rose? An advance gift for her birthday. I can't come on Saturday so I'll give it in advance."

"Why not give it to her personally?" Ao suggested.

"I can't," Lucas replied. "My shift starts at 3 today so please."

"Very well," Ao agrees and took the box from him.

Rose lay herself down on top of the arched root by the garden holding the book she is reading. It is a very fine day. Her spirit is up. Though sleepy, she forced herself to stay up and read. Learning new things is far richer than wasting her time on a nap. However, sleep is taking its toll. Accompanied by a cold breeze gently kissing her skin she yawned several times. Until she can no longer fight it.

Ao arrives. He immediately looked for her to give the gift Lucas had asked him to deliver. But he could not find her in the house. He goes out to look for her.

"Ah," Ao found her lying on the grassy ground. Sound asleep. Her hands holding a book. He took a look and noticed it is a story book. He the placed the gift next to it and immediately left.

Later, Ryun and Ichiro returned home. The sweet smell of sauteed onions and garlic lingered in the air. Then they heard a sound of boiling oil. They guessed she must be frying.

Ryun rushed to the dining after changing his clothes. The table is set and the food is served. He turned and saw Ichiro standing at the wall.

"She had just finished setting everything," Ichiro told him. "She has been busy. Ao said she's reading a book. And that Lucas had delivered an advance gift for her birthday."

Ryun is speechless. All he can reply is a frown.

"She'll be sixteen on Saturday," Ichiro guessed his question. "Looks like Lucas is really that close to her."

"I am not asking what is her relationship with Lucas," he looked around making sure she isn't there.

"She's at the back," Ichiro assured him. "Busy reading that story book."

"So the storybook has become a priority now," Ryun sounded jealous.

"Are you jealous?" Ichiro is teasing him.

"Just worried she'll forget her chores," Ryun replied. "Anyways, how's it going?"

"Manager Smith says she's an orphan," Ichiro said in a low tone. "No family background. But I doubt it. Lance has a different info too. In fact, young master Kai has also asked him to look into the matter. But it looks like we are the same, we have arrived at a dead end."

"Is there no other way?" Ryun asked losing hope.

"This is still her second day," Ichiro reminded him. "6 months is a long way. If we use it wisely then maybe before it ends we'll be able to unmask this maiden."

"I hope so," Ryun can only hope for the best. His questions, is 'Seri and Rose one person' has become his first priority. If he proves it then he has to end the contract, the earlier the better so he can send her home. Second, what's her relationship with Reggan Star.