The Head Butler and His Nieces
The hardwood floor bore a deep, almost ebony hue, possibly from years of neglect or the layers of grime that had accumulated. The walls exuded a scent of fresh pine intermingled with the dust that floated lazily in the air. Calvin gently set Henry down and surveyed the room. "That's odd. I remember this place being a lot dirtier," he murmured, his expression a blend of confusion and wonder.
The twins darted around, their excitement palpable as they explored the house's shadowy recesses. They whispered excitedly, their voices a mix of delight and disgust. "Cool!" one exclaimed, while the other echoed, "Eww."
The first space they entered wasn't a room but a long, narrow hallway that branched off into various rooms. Straight ahead, a staircase ascended to the second floor. It was not the grand double staircase they were accustomed to but a modest one, wide enough for two people to climb side by side.
The family moved forward together, except for the twins, who roamed freely. To their left lay a living room, and to their right, a dining area. As they continued down the hall, they encountered a larger living room on their left, the most expansive room downstairs. This vast space led to yet more unexplored areas.
To their right, they discovered the kitchen, a place unfamiliar to them. The children had never ventured into the kitchen of their previous manor. "What is this place?" Elizabeth, the youngest daughter, asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"This is a kitchen," Calvin replied with a nervous smile, his thoughts racing. "How could I never have shown them what a kitchen is? Are my kids so sheltered that at the age of twelve, they have no idea what a kitchen looks like?" He scratched his head, not annoyed but rather chiding himself for not teaching them more.
Suddenly, the sound of creaking wood echoed through the house as a figure descended the staircase. A tall, slender man, gripping the handrails with a graceful ease that belied his 67 years, appeared before them. He moved with the agility of a much younger man.
The family watched in awe as the man made his way down. "Is that you, Julious?" Calvin asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and excitement.
"Julious!" the younger children, including the twins and Elizabeth, shouted in unison, their faces lighting up with joy.
"I thought I..." Calvin began, his voice trailing off in confusion.
Julious raised his hand and bowed. "Master Calvin, you didn't really think I'd leave you all alone, did you? The night before you left, I made it my mission to arrive earlier and start the cleanup. I must apologize, though, as it seems we're far from finished."
"We?" Calvin replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Ah yes, you remember my niece, Stacia. She helped us with the move." Julious stepped aside to reveal a young woman with a cute face framed by long gray hair. She wore a traditional maid's dress and maintained perfect posture.
Her blue eyes sparkled, catching the light. One might expect her to be demure and calm, but in truth, she was anything but.
"Master Calvin! Children! It's wonderful to see you all again!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with genuine enthusiasm and her face alight with a bright smile.
The entire group, except for Calvin, turned away, trying to hide their annoyance.
"They still don't like me?" Stacia thought, clasping her hands together as her smile faltered. "No matter, it's much too early to worry about that!" she resolved, her expression shifting to one of determination as she pumped a fist in the air.
"Master Calvin, I hope you don't mind if she helps around," Julious continued.
"I would appreciate it, but—"
"No worries, Master Calvin. We are more than happy to assist, regardless of your circumstances. I've been caring for this family since I was young, even tending to your mother when she was but a child," Julious said, his gaze sweeping over the children. "I will serve this family until my death. I hope you will accept our request to continue serving this household." He finished with a deep bow.
Calvin looked at Julious, then at Stacia, her determination evident as flames seemed to rage in her eyes. He burst out laughing. "When you put it that way, I have no choice but to accept."
"We are very grateful, Master Calvin. Please, allow us to take those things. All eleven rooms have been completed and furnished; we're still working on the downstairs area." Julious descended further, signaling Stacia to follow him.
She rushed down and began picking up various items. Before leaving, she waved at both Elizabeth and little Henry. Elizabeth, holding her brother's hand, hid behind her father's leg, while Henry gave a polite wave, a big smile appearing behind his pacifier.
Upon ascending to the second floor, they encountered another set of stairs to the left, leading upward, and the entrance to the main hall of the second floor. The transformation was striking; it was as if they had stepped into a different house. The upstairs was pristine and polished, a stark contrast to the dusty and aged downstairs.
Just as Julious had said, the upstairs was finished and furnished, unlike the lower floor. Calvin hadn't given much thought to Julious's statement earlier, but now he was truly taken aback. "Amazing work! The floors and walls are magnificent!" Calvin exclaimed, astonished by the hard work Julious and Stacia had put into it.
"Naturally, only the best for the master," a voice echoed from behind them, rich and commanding.
The steps creaked once more, this time from the third floor, catching the family's attention. "Hello, children," a woman said as she appeared before them.
She wore a maid's dress that was more unique than Stacia's, entirely black with accents of red and a white collar at the neck and sleeves. She wore glasses and carried a mean glare. As she lifted her arm to shift her long black hair into place, her presence remained imposing.
With an elegant motion, she removed her glasses and cleaned them with a delicate white cloth before fixing them back on her face. As she adjusted them, the light refracted off the lenses, creating a brief, intense glare that caught Astram off guard, momentarily blinding him and emphasizing her dominance.
"M-Mara," all the children said in unison, even slipping from the tongues of the oldest two. They all looked at her with a mix of fear and worry, for they knew this lady.
"Mara! You're joining us too!" Calvin exclaimed with joy.
"Yes, Master Calvin. Naturally, the one who raised even your oldest should be present to set order when you aren't around." Her eyes made contact with each child, starting from the smallest and moving up to the eldest, Camila.
"Ah yes, Master Calvin, I forgot to mention my other niece is also here to assist," Julious said.
"And my cousin!" Stacia added enthusiastically.
"We are not of blood relation," Mara calmly interrupted, casting a cold glance at Stacia.
"We are very fortunate to have all of you. I couldn't be more grateful and lucky to be blessed with such wonderful people. Luckily, we have enough rooms for all of us!" Calvin added, trying to ease the tension.
"There is no need, Master Calvin. We could all stay in a single room. We don't want to burden you," Julious replied seriously.
"Nonsense, we have plenty of rooms. Each of you can have your own," Calvin insisted.
"Master, if I may, I wouldn't mind sleeping outside. And if it's space you want to conserve, may I suggest disposing of my uncle's other niece," Mara suggested in a calm tone, her aggressive approach making Stacia slightly scared.
Stacia's eyes widened as she opened her mouth in shock. "How could you say such mean things! That wasn't very nice of you, you know?" She pouted, venting her frustration towards Mara.
Calvin appeared nervous. "Um—yeah, I think it'll be best if everyone had their own rooms!" he said, trying to break the tension that Mara seemed indifferent to.
The tension in the room eased as Calvin's suggestion hung in the air. The children, still wary of Mara, began to relax slightly, finding comfort in their father's decision.
"Very well, Master Calvin," Mara replied, her tone softening just a fraction. "As you wish."
The family and their new housemates continued their exploration of the house. They marveled at the intricate details and the care put into each room on the second floor.
One by one, each room was neatly arranged exactly to the liking of each family member. Finally arriving at the end of the hall that featured a massive window peering out onto the front grounds, Calvin turned to face his family.
"This will be my room," he announced as he opened the door. His words surprised everyone.
The room was by far the smallest. There were six rooms on the second floor, four above, and a final room in the attic, but this room was tiny in comparison to the others on the second floor.
"Papa, your room is the smallest," the twins said, confusion tinging their faces.
"Yes. This room is just fine. It fits me and the few things I brought with me, so no need to worry," he said, his smile elevating his enthusiasm.
Everyone was at a loss for words.
"Master Calvin, this room is quite literally the smallest of all. I wouldn't mind taking this…" Julious began, but Calvin interrupted him by holding up his hand.
"Nope, this is my room and that's final," Calvin said firmly, his smile concluding the discussion.
"Now, family, make yourselves at home for now as I take the time to arrange a few things. Find your rooms and please, if you want to change them, tell me and I'll help you move your things. As for Julious, Mara, and Stacia, please do the same. We will all help with the cleaning of the first floor after we settle in." Calvin's words were decisive.
In the household, whatever he said always went. Even the twins, who were usually the most rowdy, listened to their papa without question. Everyone loved and respected him, and the loyalty of the butler and maids was beyond doubt.
Everyone nodded in unison and spread out, some replying with "Yes, Papa," and others with "Yes, Master Calvin."