I spent the whole afternoon playing greeting card factory for Rohtas, I mean, writing thank-you cards. And in exchange, my arms were cramped and hurting. I was rubbing my arms, overcome by the pointless realization that I’d never sat at a desk that long, when Mimosa all but sprinted over, and began to give me a massage.
Thank you, God.
What a family, though. Based on how much we received, it seems like every noble in the kingdom sent us something.
These true blue bloods don’t do anything halfway.
With Mr. Fisalis and his family’s prestige so starkly laid out in front of me, the lack of my own stood out all the more. Most girls with good pedigrees have more confidence in themselves, so I’m sure none of them would be interested in someone like me.
I am so sorry! Please don’t come after me!
Oops, my writing hand had stopped again.
“Madam? Dinner is ready...” Rohtas gingerly said, extra wary during the moonless night, as he’d let himself into my room at some point. I was facing the other way with a distant look in my eyes.
“Oh, is it that late, already? I’ll be right there.”
Surprised, I looked out the window, but it was not that dark yet.
I tidied up the top of the desk a little before I hurried over to where Rohtas was waiting by the door.
“Were the leftovers prepared like I asked?”
“Yes, exactly as per your request.”
We headed down the hall to the dining room. Rohtas led the way, followed by me, who was, in turn, followed by Dahlia and Mimosa. The servants were wandering around at lunch, but come dinnertime, it appeared as though their work was done, and I hadn’t seen anyone for quite a while.
There were only four people in the house, including myself. The hallway was generously lit with lamps, but perhaps because the sun had already set, it felt oddly lonely paired with the darkness outside.
“Thank you for coming to get me, but am I going to eat all alone in that big dining room again?” I asked as we walked.
“Yes. Is something the matter?”
“Er, it’s just that it’s awfully lonely.”
Thinking back to breakfast and lunch made me feel dejected.
Until then, I had always eaten at a comfy, friendly table with my family of five and our two servants, but all of a sudden, I was eating alone! The two servants had worked for us for so long that they were practically family, so they always ate with us. The seven of us didn’t make a party out of dinnertime, but it still felt like a warm, comforting meal.
But now I was all alone! Rohtas, Dahlia, and Mimosa were waiting nearby, but just standing there wasn’t the same as sharing a meal. I was the only one eating.
“But Master will eat in the cottage...” Rohtas said shyly.
“Oh, I’m fine without him. What about Dahlia and Mimosa?” I hadn’t even considered eating with Mr. Fisalis.
I hadn’t got my hopes up that we’d slowly become like a real couple or a family, or something. That’s how I understood things, at that point. So instead, I wanted the people closest to me, who I see all the time.
But Rohtas cut off that train of thought. “Both Dahlia and Mimosa are servants. It would be impossible for them to eat with the mistress.”
Rohtas made a fair argument, I suppose. But that didn’t mean I intended to give up. “But don’t they say that food doesn’t taste as good when you eat alone?”
“Our food is always delicious.”
“But if you’re enjoying yourself while you eat, the deliciousness doubles.”
“Our food is delicious from the first bite.”
Grrrr.
I didn’t know whether to call him a butler or a snippy brat (can you call adults brats?). There was no way to get through to him.
In the meantime, we had arrived at the dining room. I quietly sat down in the chair Rohtas pulled out for me. The food I mentioned wanting that morning was arranged in front of me. It had been re-plated so that you’d never know it was leftovers, and it looked delicious.
The servants here really are good at their jobs.
The portions were smaller, too, just as I had requested, but there was still bread, soup, and salad, on top of two choices for a main dish, and if I thought that still seemed like a lot, it was just a peasant’s way of... no, a frugal worker’s way of thinking.
“This looks so good! Thank you for listening to my request. Where do the servants eat, anyway? And what do they eat?” I asked out of curiosity. Even though I knew they could never eat at the same table as me, like family, since this wasn’t my parents’ house.
“Us, Madam?” Rohtas stared blankly at my unexpected question.
“Yes.”
“There is a dining room for us to use. We eat our servants’ meals there.”
“Servants’ meals? Oh, what you mentioned this morning.”
“Correct. We eat the meat scraps and left over vegetables that you do not consume,” he explained.
At my house the servants ate from the same menu as us, so to speak (though granted, it was simple fare), but I shouldn’t have been surprised that the servants at the Fisalis house eat from a more frugal, simple selection.
And then, as I sat there with what felt like a carriage-load of food in front of me, I accidentally blurted out, “Well now, that’s kind of charming of you all, somehow!”
Please, hate the sin, not the sinner! I might have grown up poor, but I’m not some ignorant hick!
But Rohtas was a butler, through and through, and in the face of my words, he strongly asserted, “No offense taken! Please enjoy your meal, Madam.”
“But there’s way too much! I’ll get a stomach ache trying to eat it all.”
Rohtas avoided my gaze as I pressured him until I finally wore myself out and fell silent. Viola 0, Rohtas 1.
I cut my losses and started to eat.
Munching.
...
Plates clacking.
...
More munching.
...
Silverware clinking.
It’s too quiet.
By all accounts, this food should taste great, so why doesn’t it!?
“Urgh,” I whimpered.
“Is something the matter, Madam!?”
No sooner had I set my cutlery on the table than torrents of tears started to cascade down my face. Rohtas, Dahlia, and Mimosa dashed over in noisy confusion.
“I’m so lonely! I always used to eat dinner with my family, the five of us, and our servants, all together around the table. It was warm and friendly. But now I’m in a new place and I’m all alone...”
“Madam...”
The three of them were dabbing at their eyes.
“That... that’s why I want to eat with you all,” I begged them through tears.
I think it’s working. I stared directly at Rohtas.
“Even so...”
He was still reluctant.
“We don’t have to eat here—we can all eat together in your dining room instead.”
“But...” Dahlia and Mimosa exchanged glances, indecisive.
One more to go.
“Please...” I pleaded with my arms across my chest as I let huge teardrops fall from my upturned eyes.
Jeez, how many times today will I have to make these puppy eyes? It’s so out of character for me.
The next morning:
I was delighted to have my breakfast with the maids in the servants’ dining room across from the kitchen.
Which reminded me: I hadn’t seen Mr. Fisalis yesterday. Did he always go straight to the cottage when he got home?
Oh well, best to not overthink it. If I hear something I’m not supposed to, I might accidentally breach our contract!