Chapter 11
"Young miss, we need to get you prepared. The master has told us to help you wash up. We have your breakfast in the dining room with everyone else." The maid encouraged Seven to try and let them prepare her for the morning.
'I do not need to be tended by you all. I can easily go out there wearing this. Why does one have to be all dressed when we should walk out comfortably as we please.' Keeping her guard up, they tried to get close to her when she growled at them more viciously. Her gaze only those of a beast while barring her teeth at them as a warning to stay back. 'You both know what I will do if you come closer.' Her claws remained given to the maids as if to use them as a similar warning. They were sharp and ripping the bed sheets to show them as a warning that she could hurt them. She had only so much patience with people who did not listen to her.
"I don't know what the master was thinking, bringing in a crazy and monstrous child. Even his wife seems to want to get closer to her. What the hell were the two of them thinking? Keeping her around in the mansion when it can get dangerous."
"I know. She doesn't even look human like us nor beast like the master and young master. What do you think she is? Is it due to an abnormal gene?"
The maids spoke amongst themselves, assuming she was just a 'dumb' child. They did not even seem to care if she heard them since she did not speak out or say anything to the master and his wife. Seven only scurried herself more into the bottom of the bed to avoid them. 'Tsk, such troublesome people. It's not like I asked to be here. If only someone can open that shield, then I can be on my way.' Seven did not like hearing their words constantly, which annoyed her for their criticism. This was her room, but it gave the maids no right to use it for their personal chit-chat location. 'I wish that both of your mouths can quiet down.' She complained inside of her head.
"What are you spouting about here?" Hearing Priti, the maids were shocked that she was there. Priti held a look that disapproved of the two maids and their words about the little girl in her home. Priti knew that the little girl in her home was not stupid; rather, she was clever. Just an observer like her. The maids had been shaken up, seeing she was right there listening to their entire conversation about the little girl. "I do not approve of misspeaking or bad-mouthing about my guests, especially if they are part of my family and under my care." Priti walked past them. The butler gave a disapproving look to the two maids, and they rushed out, knowing that they would be punished later. Priti kneeled again as she faced the bed, knowing that the little girl had hidden under it. "Little one, why don't you come out? I promise that we will not let you get harmed while you are here. You have my word for it." Priti hoped that the little girl would understand and come out.
Slowly creeping out, Seven looked at the woman without ill intentions towards her. It was strange how this woman tried so hard to work with her. 'I… I feel safe with her. Why is that?' She pondered. She was sitting in front of Priti, seeing the woman stretch her hand forth as she was about to retreat under the bed.
Priti saw the little girl flinch in front of her, stopping her hand and getting closer to the little girl. "Do you want to touch my hand?" Priti asked. She held a gentle smile, her hand still in the air. There was no movement from either of them.
Seven would then hesitantly move her hand, touching the woman's hand with her smaller pair that had been covered in some scars. Her small claws could be seen lightly on the woman's hand but not harming her in any way. They were just a bit ticklish against the woman's hand for the duration of the time. 'Her hands are so soft. So warm, ' she thought, lifting Priti's hand in the air and sniffing it. 'She seems to smell sweet. Almost as sweet as some sweets.'
"See, it's not so scary." Priti saw that this must have been the little girl's first time getting into human contact. 'Poor baby, she can take as long as she wants to observe me. She must've had no contact throughout her life. We can start off small at a time.'
"Priti!!!" Hearing the woman's husband rush in, he was informed that his wife had gone to see the little girl again. His voice could be heard with an aggressive growl. It was like he was warning Seven not to think about harming Priti.
Seven shook and ran to hide under the bed again with her guard up. She had let go of the woman's hand in response to the growl from the mage. Seeing that the lion held a dangerous aura, he lost it when he saw the girl approaching Priti. "Sachin!!!" Priti angrily shouted at him, seeing how he just had to barge in and ruin the moment.
"Are you alright?!" Sachin went up to his wife, but she turned away with anger on her face.
"Do you know how hard it was to get her to come out?!" Priti sighed, seeing how this husband had just come in and ruined everything. 'I made a little bit of progress today. If only he had not come in and get aggressive.'
"I can't let you just be on your own in here!" Sachin still could not trust the little girl after about two weeks of her staying there in his home.
"Why not?! She isn't even harmful! Do you know that she could have been through far worse?" Priti did not understand why her husband had refused to accept the little girl so soon.
"How do you know that?!" Sachin could not help but still doubt that the little girl was innocent.
Seven knew she was still not wanted, and she knew they would still think of her as a monster. 'It's not like I wanted to stay here. Why won't any of you just let me go? I did not ask to come here.' She did not understand why they would continue to keep her there. It was no different from being a bird trapped inside a cage.
"Let's talk outside." Priti did not want the little girl to listen to their talk about her. It was clear that the girl knew what they were talking about. "Please be sure to feed her," Priti ordered the butler to bring food to the little girl. The butler bowed; he knew how to do his duty well.
Hearing them all leave, Seven stayed under the bed again and refused to leave. 'Why was I brought here in the first place? What's my real purpose?'
***
"Sachin, we cannot simply leave her locked up in a room. She deserves to see more of the outside world as well. We have to be sure to let her slowly get to know us at the same time. Her view of us won't improve if we make it seem like she isn't wanted." Priti knew they needed to return the little girl's hopes with human and beast contact.
"Priti, you know how she has acted for the past few days. Even the maids and butlers refuse to even go into her room. I cannot accept her if she does not accept us in return." Sachin did not want his wife to get injured while getting close to the girl.
"Sachin, have you ever thought about how she feels deep down inside? She may always be on guard, but she also has her sad and painful moments. Maybe there is something that is stopping her from accepting us. Please don't treat her as if she is some monster to be afraid of." Priti held his lion fur cheeks, knowing he was afraid of losing her. "It's okay. She won't hurt me. Trust me." Sachin still held a sour look and obediently nodded to agree.
***
'So… cold.' Seven was sleeping that night, feeling her body tremble with coldness surrounding her. She whimpered with only her body left on its own to keep herself warm. All of a sudden, she felt a warmth that wrapped around her. Barely opening her eyes, she saw someone with white hair place her on the bed with the blankets on top of her. 'Ah… I was supposed to be on guard. Who would dare to touch me?' She thought, giving her more stinging pain in her head. 'Ugh… this pain is something I can usually tolerate.' She complained about how she could tolerate it, but it only worsened her headache.