The Lady and her Apprentice

"No matter how curious you are, never go into the woods."

"Do not go into the woods."

She sighed closing her eyes. The words kept ringing inside her head over and over again. "Do not go into the woods."

"Do not go into the woods."

"Do not go into the woods."

"Do not go into the--I will go into the woods."

She opened her eyes and made a resolution. "I will go." She repeated her words in a firm voice as if reassuring herself. Her brown eyes gazed at the reflection on the mirror. The long black hair cascading down her back was unruly, as if she had just gone out of bed. Wearing a thin white nightgown with a ribbon at the center of the neckline and ruffled cuffs, she looked at her state in the mirror, "I look crazy." she scoffed, "I am crazy." Walking to the balcony at the dimly lit bedroom, she muttered, "The longer I stay at this place the more I'll become crazy."

As she reached the balcony, a cool wind blew and she felt a chill. It was midnight, looking up, the moon felt like glaring at her. She sighed. It was perfect.

It was the perfect time to disappear. Everyone was probably asleep, except for a few knights assigned in guarding the mansion.

It was quiet. She grabbed her robe and put it on, then walked towards her closed bedroom door. Holding the doorknob, she breathed deeply. It was now or never.

*ingggg*

The door creaked.

*click*

She was out. She was now at the middle of the dark hallway. Taking light steps, she passed by many doors at the third floor of the mansion. She walked until she neared the stairs when she heard footsteps of someone going up the floor she was in.

Her heartbeat quickened.

What was she going to do?

It's over. She's gonna get caught. Glancing at her right, she saw a door. She quickly went over and tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Damn it." she had to think fast, the sound of the footsteps were nearing. Her breathing became ragged, she could her chest thumping loudly. No. She'll be caught. If she go back to her room it will be too late and that person will definitely hear her.

"My lady?"

"..."

Oh no.

It was to late.

Too late.

-------

The sun is almost up. Annelize opened her eyes and got up from the bed. She glanced at her right and saw her roommate lying on the bed. "Still asleep huh." She fixed her bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face and take a bath. She fixed her blond hair and put on her maid uniform. By the time she finished, her roommate was up.

"You're done already? It's still early." Jane just finished making up her bed.

"No, it's not. The sun is up and glaring. You need to move faster, we have a lot to do." Annelize proceed to open the door and looked at Jane, "I'll go first. See you downstairs." and with that, Jane was left alone in the room.

-------

Annelize went to the kitchen and heat a basin of water. The kitchen staff was already busy preparing ingredients to cook for breakfast.

"Annelize."

"Yes?"

"Ask the duchess what she would like to eat for breakfast when you go up." the head chef told Annelize while washing the vegetables and other ingredients for cooking.

"Alright, I'll be going now." Annelize checked the temperature of the water she heated up. It was in the right temperature. She grabbed some clean towels and put the basin of water on a tray then left the kitchen. The room of the duchess was on the third floor, holding the tray carefully, she took the stairs.

"Good morning." it was Gerard, the head butler of the mansion. Gerard is man in his fifty's with the roots of his hair starting go white.

"Good morning." Annelize then greeted back and was about to take another step when she noticed Gerard was still standing and not moving out of the way.

"What is the matter? Is there anything you would like me to do?" Annelize stared at Gerard in confusion.

"The duchess she..." Gerard hesitated.

"Is the duchess awake now?" Annelize need to get the tray into her room now.

"No, my lady was not answering when I knocked on her door. The duchess is probably still asleep."

Annelize thought, the duchess usually wake up early, the sun was already up and shining, it was time for breakfast. Maybe she was not feeling well?

"I'll be going now." Annelize left Gerard and proceed to go to the duchess's room.

------------

*tok tok*

"My lady, the water and the towels are ready. I'll be bringing them to you now."

"..."

There was silence. No one was answering.

*tok tok*

"My lady..."

"Lady Abeline, it's time to wake up."

*tok tok*

*tok tok tok tok*

"..."

Annelize sighed. Why was the duchess not answering. Is she sick?

*tok tok*

"..."

"My lady, I'll enter the room now and bring you the water and the towels." Annelize opened the door and put the tray on the bedside table. She took the water basin and set it on the bedroom floor. The dutchess was still sleeping on the bed, her whole body covered in sheets. It was already morning and time for her to eat breakfast. Annelize slowly pulled the sheets down to wake up the duchess.

"My lady, it's time for breakfast, you need to wake- AHHHHHHH!!!"

The basin was kicked and water spilled on the floor.

----------

"And you are?"

"Charlotte Reinheld." a young woman wearing a black pork pie hat stood infront of the receptionist desk.

"Ah, let's see.....here. Miss Reinheld, a new recruite. Please proceed to the second floor of the building and ask for Lady..." the receptionist frowned. He looked at Charlotte with pity then sighed. Charlotte was confused, was there something wrong? Why does this man look at her with pity?

"Is there something wr-"

"Look for Lady Kierra."

Charlotte felt relieved, she thought there will be a problem with her admission to the investigation department at the capital. Looks like there was nothing to worry about. She then signed her admission papers and went to give back the borrowed pen at the receptionist when he suddenly grabbed her left hand with both of his hands. Charlotte flinched and was about to get her hand back when the man said, "I'll pray for your soul."

What the hell?

What was he talking about?

Charlotte suddenly snatched her hand back and picked up her luggage then looked up at the man who was still staring at her with pity. She took her admission papers and proceed to walk to the stairs. Walking towards the stairs, she felt everyone on the floor was looking at her. What is this? They were looking at her with sense of regret and pity.

"She's still too young. Poor girl." someone murmured. What? What were they talking about? Are the people working at the capital this crazy? Charlotte, confused, tried to ignore everyone's stare.

-----

The second floor of the building was lively. Everyone was busy and doing something. Where can she find Lady Kierra? Charlotte walked up to a young man with silver hair who was sitting on a chair near a window. The man, didn't seem to be busy was only drinking some tea.

"Excuse me sir, if I may ask, where can I find Lady Kierra?" The man glanced at her then set his cup of tea down the table. The man smiled, he has quite a handsome face and a shinning blue eyes.

"Lady Kierra is at the second door to the left at the right corridor there." The man stood up and gesture Charlotte the way. This man doesn't seem odd like those people on the first floor thought Charlotte. She smiled and felt relieved. "Thank you so much!" She continued walking to the direction the man gave her but before she could take a step the man suddenly asked.

"First day?"

"Yes." Charlotte looked back and noded.

"Goodluck then." The man was smiling with his hands waving at her. He really was charming.

'He is too handsome!' Charlotte thought and felt her cheeks heating up and nodded, "Y-yes."

Charlotte continued walking until she reached the front door of the room Lady Kierra was said to be in. She had just graduated from the academy and got an opportunity to land an apprenticeship at the investigation department at the capital. The young miss, Lady Kierra will be her mentor. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She had no idea what her mentor was like as it was her first time knowing that she will be her mentor and thought that she should give a favorable impression on their first meeting.

*tok tok tok*

"..."

There was silence. Charlotte thought her mentor didn't hear her knocking on the door and tried to knock once more when she heard a woman's voice. "Come in Miss Reinheld."

Opening the door, she was greeted by the back of a woman, with a long raven hair just past her hips wearing a red wide brimmed hat. The woman was facing the window watching the view outside. Charlotte cleared her throat and said, "Greetings Lady Kierra, my name is--"

"I see Miss Charlotte Reinheld--" the woman, faced Charlotte and smiled, "We finally meet."