Avoiding the Master of the house.

Antoniette ran out of the room with tears running down her face until she entered the kitchen unconsciously and the first person she met was Louisa who was cutting cheese. Louisa subconsciously turned to see who had entered the room and noticed she was crying so she dropped the knife and immediately rushed to meet her. "Antoniette, what is wrong? Why are you crying?"

Antoniette tried to explain herself but she found herself hiccupping uncontrollably so she said. "Th-Those bad p-people....."

"Oh my goodness." Louisa felt even more distressed when she heard her words and tried to turn her friend so she can check if she was okay properly. "Does this have anything to do with the Lady Eloise and Evelyn? Did they do something bad to you? I told you to stay away from them."

Antoniette shook her head in denial slowly and used her sleeves to wipe her teary face before she explained further. "Not them....Master Aidan...he said..."

"What did he say?" Louisa's eyes widened in shock when she heard his name, her eyes widening in shock. She had never seen her boss offending any servant in the house even though all of them feared him for an unknown reason.

"He said I shouldn't be like those women who lay in bed with Master Finley just because he saw us talking to each other." Antoniette had stopped crying profusely and was now lightly sobbing. "He said all those mean words to me without finding what really happened. He is such a bad person...."

"Antoniette! Be careful of what you say!" Louisa looked around to make sure that no one was listening into their conversation before she cast a helpless yet defensive glance at her friend. "You can get into trouble for saying such things about our master! Get a hold of yourself!"

Antoniette sobered up when she heard her words and clenched her fists. Although she thought the situation was very unfair, she couldn't deny that she needed this job badly and would do almost anything to keep her job. Even though she had been treated worse in her hometown, she had grown accustomed to the civil and cultured lifestyle here and wasn't expecting such things to happen to her again.

Seeing that her friend had calmed down, Louisa sighed and led Antoniette out of the kitchen while tucking a piece of biscuit into her hand she had picked from the pantry table. "Oh, my friend. Let's go and get some fresh air. Come with me."

Antoniette showed some signs of resistance after she looked at the work her friend was doing a few moments ago. She asked her worriedly. "But you are busy right now. What if the Head Maid-"

"Don't worry about it." Louisa grinned as she dragged her out of the room and explained. "I am going to recall that little favour I did for her when I took care of her cats a few months ago. I think we should get away from all this work either way or we will go insane."

By dinnertime, Antoniette had already regained her emotions and was feeling even better since she spent the day plucking fruits with her friend until she saw him again sitting at the head of the table. She feared that he may call her to serve him so she purposely chose to stay by one of the ladies's side this time while pretending not to notice his sour expression as she served them the food. Finley who had watched their interaction smiled and suddenly said to his cousin. "Aidan, is the food not to your taste? You have been frowning ever since you came for dinner."

Aidan's mother dropped her fork with an enquiring look before she wiped the corner of her lips with a napkin and said, this time wearing a proud look as she gazed at her son. "Why would you be unhappy? I heard you have just closed the deal with those foreigners today and have gotten the contract to import our goods. Well done, my son! With this, the Knight family will return to its peak once more."

"Yes, Brother." Evelyn interjected happily. "This will also be restore our position among the society. I am sure that all those people who mocked us will come begging to our doorsteps once the news spreads."

Aidan smiled and replied frostily. "What am interesting comment, seeing that you have no idea how this work was done neither are you aware how hard it was to acquire it. The only time the Knight family would be seen in public again would be when you two ladies get married and I host the wedding."

The ladies's expressions became bitter when they heard his words, Eloise casting a desperate look to their mother for help and luckily for them, the old lady recieved them well. She was a bit unwilling to reprimand her precious son so she lightly scolded him. "Aidan, stop saying hurtful words to your sisters. They are just trying to celebrate your achievement."

"I am afraid am not in the best mood to celebrate any event right now, Mother. Since what you all are looking for here is a reason to open a bottle of wine and send invites for your friends, then I would rather eat my meal alone in my room." He responded with a tone of finality before he looked at Antoniette and ordered her. "You, bring all my meals to the room later."

Antoniette felt she was unfortunate to have taken a brief glance at the man who had found an opportunity to order her again so she sent a brief glance at the old lady who was also looking at her. Aidan's mother frowned when she saw that her son was serious so she grabbed his hand to stop him while comforting him. "We didn't mean to offend you, Aidan. We just wanted to compliment you but if you do not like it, we will not say anything about it anymore. Now, please sit."

Antoniette sighed in relief when she saw him return to his seat while looking at her for a brief moment and then her resumed his eating. She deflated visibly to his annoyance but after that, the meal went on quietly.