Chapter 9 - First Tale IX

Having a maid to take care of me would've been wonderful, well... it is still wonderful, but at this time certainly it is not.

This situation will only complicate what I have to do, now I will have a new pair of eyes following me.

After that absurd declaration, Ms. Highlander did not explain more than what she had already said. Instead she just wanted too leave.

Since she looked like she had other things to do I expected that she would not stop without a good reason. My complains would surely not be enough so I could only inform her of what happened to me last night. As she heard my story she seemed put a serious face. I guess that having such a thing occur right under their noses is a really big deal.

Not only a big deal... I mean, someone stole my belongings... this time. But what if next time they wished to harm me? No, What if they harmed any of the people that hired them?. I wonder what they will do about it.

"I will have someone look into it as soon I report this to my boss. For now I can not give you a proper explanation for what happened"

I can not expect much after only telling her, I think it will take some time before they find some leads. How troublesome, there is nothing of importance on my phone, but it does bother me to have it stolen from me like that.

"Luckily for me things only ended in that, I was not injured"

"Then, I will take my leave... this is a serious situation so I can not afford to waste my time and do nothing"

With that said she just left. Ah... I still had questions. Maybe for the next time we meet.

As Ms. Highlander took her leave, Miss Maid had been released from her lesson and walked in my direction.

Now, what should I do with this?

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After taking a few snacks from the kitchen I took my leave with a maid and a little girl following me in the distance in tow. I wonder where did I go wrong? I can not longer keep a low profile thanks to the new members of my group.

Anyways, there is no use crying over spilled milk. In a sense they will become clear limitations to the method I planned to gather information. Now I need to change my plans, but first I should have a small chat with my new 'companions'.

Before I could voice out any questions I hear something that made me change my focus.

It sounded close by, those were... people yelling.

This is the second time today I encountered a similar event. Since it sounded close I decided to take a look. I hastily walked towards the sound and I arrived to... the library?.

How unusual, there seems to be a problem... or at least there was, I don't hear anything more than a few maid's talking in low voice. They are just outside the library and seem to be peeking at whatever happened from their position. Since I was already close I may as well take at look too.

"Oh..."

I involuntary muttered as I saw what happened, how did...

In the middle there layed a pile of burned... books?

I currently have many questions. I mean... Why did they burn the books? Who would do it? Only few individuals are permitted entry here, or that was what I was told. This is really strange.

"What happened?"

I heard an unfamiliar voice just behind me so I turned to see who it was... ah, I forgot, the blonde maid that is suppose to take care of me followed me too it seems and... yeah, I can see that little girl curiously peeking this way too. A sigh could not help but to escape my lips at that sight.

Once again turning my point of view to the library I answer.

"There is a pile of burned books in the library"

"That seems to be the case but..."

"But?"

"Why did the put the books just in the middle to burn them? Not to mention, they are not completely burned, some of them are more or less intact"

Certainly, that is odd. Just in the middle... anyone coming here would see it right away. But... that beats the whole 'burning the books' idea, some are only half way there so it did not take long for people to find this. Now, if they wanted to burn the books to get rid of them then they did an awful job. Something... I need more information.

"You are right"

Answering her as such I got closer to the other 'witness'. Why so? To ask... I could try to guess all day, but since I have people who might have more information in from of me, there is no need to. I can't say that whatever they tell me will be 100% useful but... It is always better to be well informed.

"Excuse me, Miss?"

"Ah-h... Yes? Is there something you need? Mister?"

A little into her gossip with another maid, this young lady took a moment to answer me.

"I happened to walk here and noticed that there was problem here. Things seem to be over, but I am a little curious about what happened here"

"Oh, something did happen, we were walking through the hallway and we saw that there was something burning in the library... we panicked and yelled for help. Thankfully there were people nearby and they could take care of the fire quickly"

"Is that so? That is good then, they took care of it quickly. No one was hurt?"

"Lucky there were no further accidents so no one was hurt"

"Thank goodness, What do you think it could've happened here?"

"I am sorry, I am not sure. Although I have not much time working here, this is the first time something like this happened. I don't know what to make of this situation"

"I see, as expected this is not something usual, huh"

"Yes, It is very peaceful normally... except..."

"Except?"

"Ah no, never mind. We have other things to do so we will take our leave"

Hmmm, that last part was said in rather low voice, I barely heard it... and when I asked they did not explain. They also had to leave suddenly for some 'things' to do? Even when they were calmly and happily gossiping when I arrived.

What I was told was rather interesting. Miss Maid said that there was something burning... but since the doors are usually closed that would be not be possible. They may notice smoke, but the scale of the fire would have to be bigger for that to happen. Not to mention that she said that she 'saw' it. That means that the door was open. Now... whether that was due carelessness or not, I am can not tell for certain, though I feel that it was on porpuse.

How complicated, I feel like this situation is strange... but not for the fact of 'the suspicious fire itself'. Earlier when I entered the library... it was also open, no one was in here. Supposedly we are not to enter here, but it was open. Now, it was open again and this happened? I wonder if my entry here managed to prevent the fire at that time.. or someone just forgot to close the door. Either way, I don't have evidence that could help me to decide. Yet... I need to raise my awareness to another level, that much I know. This job difficulty went up a few levels and not even a day has passed.

*******************************************

I was finally going to meet that person. After my conversation with Miss Allison, my ride was ready so she decided to inform me of any important information while we were on the way to the manor. This time it was mostly summary of what I was told in case I forgot something, but she also told me a little about about the guests. In particular about whom I should avoid so that I could work peacefully. I must say... as expected, when you get involved with wealthy characters you can find yourself in those kind of situations. So I did my best to take in all that information, after all when I take over my original job I would still need to know about it

We soon arrived at the manor. Earlier I only had a look from the distance but even then it seemed an impressive construction. Now I will have to work in this place.

I followed Miss Allison to the what I understood when I entered was the kitchen. I was wondering why she brought me here but decided not to say a thing. I am suppose to be a simple and common maid that started working. Earlier I was told that some of the employee know about my situation but not everyone was informed, only the 'trusted' ones. It looks like she is talking with a senior maid about me. She hears her seriously and nod at her words after she glanced in my direction. I guess that this senior maid will be one of my superiors during this 'mission'.

The conversation did not take long and I was called.

What followed was a long list of rules I should follow as a maid. You could say this was a maid course, she really took her time to explain the ins and outs of what I had to do. Well, it was mostly a summary of a summary, there is no way I could learn all the necessary skills or information in a few minutes, but she focused on the main points that came from her experience so I gained valuable knowledge pretty quickly.

Although I felt that it took quite a long time, only 30 minutes when by during my beginner maid course. Then I noticed that someone else entered the kitchen and was talking with Miss Allison. This person was a tall male, due my position I can not see his face... but I recall that Ms. Allison had sent someone to call the person I am suppose to take care or watch out. Even if his situation makes you doubt him, having a guess come to you does not seem like a good idea. It could anger certain kind of people, and in my case I would find my job easier if such a person were not angered. Although I could be wrong, it does not change the fact that it is not the correct way to treat a guest... so maybe she called him for some particular reason? I can not tell. At least from his corporal expressions he does not seem angry, although I have yet to see his facial ones.

Free at least of my beginner course I finally could see the face of that person. From the signs that Miss Allison sent me and she left. He is the person that came in such a cucumber some way, at the level of being suspicious. But... What is with that sign? She could just tell me in person. I thought that she was a reliable person since she tried to advise me, but as expected from someone directly under that old man. She is also a strange one.

There is not much to say about his apperance, although the color of his eyes is quite rare. I was planing to introduce myself at once but he asked that we moved to another location before we continued talking. So he took his leave from the kitchen... not before taking a few snacks, wrapping them in a handkerchief and them putting on his pockets. I hear that the guest already had breakfast... so he may still be hungry.

There was a fact that I noticed, well... it was not hard to do so. He was being trailed, I felt a stare from the distance so I turned to look who may be doing such a thing. I mean, I was not informed of any other personnel that would wacht over him. What greeted me were a pair of green eyes... then I looked at owner of those eyes. It is strange... I was really surprised at that moment. Because the owner of those eyes... that person was Noir, whom I came to work for.

I did not recieve much information about my future employer. I was meant to learn about her as soon as I arrived to work. But I was told a bit about her. One such a bit was her distinct eye color. The only person in the family with such a thing. I also was told how she was a young lady... or girl I guess, there might've been a few mistakes on their part when the info was given to me. Right now I had the impulse to go and talk to her, but I did not. If I just approached a young child out of nowhere and started talking about how I was suppose to work under here... it would be a miracle if she did not run away. Besides, I am currently 'watching over' someone that is considered suspicious... if this person had truly a hidden agenda then it would be better to keep them far from each other. But, that is wishful thinking since... she is staring really hard at his back.

Not sure what to do but... I will ignore it for now. I should focus on my jo-

My trail of thoughts was cut off when I saw that person starting to walk hastily, it left me wondering why until I heard it too, something happened nearby. I have one glance behind as I hurried to follow that person and I could see that Noir was following us too. I would rather that she stayed away in case there is some kind of problem but... never mind, if something happens I will deal with it at the moment.

We kept going hastily until we arrived at what my memory of the map of the manor would describe as a library. Well, I can see several books in there too so... yes, it is a library. I seem to recall that the other one is in the basement, while that one also worked as a place to store important data. Although I am not sure how important... or what kind of data that is.

The important point is what happened. Apparently something was burning not long ago, there is a slight smell of smoke in the air. Without thinking much about it I voiced my thoughts and asked.

"What happened?"

I was not waiting for an answer but unexpectedly I heard that person say.

"There is a pile of burned books in the library"

At his words I take a look inside, what a strange thing to see in my first day of work. Maybe because it is a library I find normal that what was burning were books but... how weird, it is just a feeling. But, this is quite un-natural, the fire seemed to be focused only in the center, there are not traces of it extending somewhere else. Although further a deeper investigation is needed... this looks staged. It is obviously not an accident, but there had to be several arrangements for the damage to not extent further, besides... these are books we are talking about here. They should burn easily but it does not look like they took that much damage to me.

Since I recieved an answer I guess we started a conversation. Then I need to continue talking. Let's try to see what this person is thinking. Can't 100% say he could not do it until this place is completely processed but the odds are very low. So I turn to him to express some of my thoughts.

"That seems to be the case but..."

"But?"

"Why did the put the books just in the middle to burn them? Not to mention, they are not completely burned, some of them are more or less intact"

After a moment of what I think that he was thinking. He answers with.

"You are right"

Then he turned to a couple of other maid's and start talking with them.

I did not tell you what I was thinking just for you to agree. I at least expected to analyze his point of view from his answer. We have barely talked so I can not completed my job as his watcher. More information about his personal will have to wait I guess.

I turn and start walking to the library to take a closer look about this 'fire'. But I don't I will find much evidence with the state the pile of books ended after the tries to extinguish the fire. Upon a closer look, there are a couple of books in the middle that took more damage. Maybe because they were the first ones to start burning. The title is almost unreadable. Although if your consider the state of the pages, I can only say that is lucky there are still readable characters.

Let's see... I can somewhat read an 'F' then is hard to read what is next until I read an 'ly', there are more unreadable bit until I read 'es'. What is this book suppose to be? 'F.....ly ....es'?. Hmmm, it is no use... no matter how much I try I can not distinguish anything more. I guess that's the only possible way to obtain anymore from this burned book. There are a couple more but I can not read those characters. I am not sure what language they are. There could a particular reason why they were burned... or they were taken randomly at the moment that the arsonist started his 'job'.

All that will be left to the 'guards' then... after all, currently I am a simple maid. Yes, I must act as a simple an lovely maid. Seriously, what am I even doing. I did not sign for this. Being a newbie can be harsh.