A different world

[DawnAntalios]

When Emilia mentioned her mistress Lily touched her back, hissing a bit. It was a still sensitive spot after the recent punishment with that whip... but at least it was not bleeding any more.


" I... don't think that my mistress would mind seeing me go. " she said with a sardonic smile " She was... benevolent to me, yes. But I do not think she thought of me as a non disposable person. I am certain that she would find someone to replace me. "


In that moment her stomach rumbled so ominously that she blushed.


" A-a thousand pardons, my lady I... " she blushed even more " I apologize for that outburst, please do not punish me. I will make up for it I promise. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia frowned her forehead and looked Lily in the eyes. "You're just hungry, don't worry, we'll eat soon. We'll head back home and you can start with helping me prepare the dinner, alright?" She smiled softly as they started walking torwards the mansion.


After a few minutes they had already arrived. Emilia opened the door to let the both of them in. "Welcome in your new home." She walked in herself and hung her coat on the coat-rack. Then the dame walked to the living room where Ben was lying. She smiled sadly and continued to the kitchen. While rubbing her hands together she looked at Lily. "Let's get started then." She opened the fridge and took out some ingredients.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Lily had never seen a house this big in her life. Granted, she had only known the little shop as a home until now and she was absolutely astonished how huge this mansion was.


" Home... " she murmured. It sounded so alien, so strange... yet comforting at the same time. She was happy, this house looked cozy and nice, definitely a nice place to stay.


She headed to the kitchen just as her mistress ordered.


" Forgive for my inexperience mistress, I have never cooked before. " she said shyly. She trusted that Emilia has a great experience in something like this.

 

[Dropintheocean]

"Oh, well, no problem, I'll teach you then." She was quite nervous to teach Lily everything she knew, considering she didn't have much experience in being one's maid herself. She cleaned the vegetables and handed them over, together with a knife and a cutting board, to Lily.


"Here you go. If you could cut all of these, I'm going to check up on Benjamin for a minute."


Emilia smiled and returned to the living room.


She couldn't stand seeing Ben like this, and she sat down beside him. She softly stroked his arm and whispered to him.


"How are you doing, Benjamin? Feeling a little bit better already?"

 

[DawnAntalios]

" Right away madam! " Lily said as she started to cut the vegetables as Emiliay asked. She felt that she was a bit clumsy at cutting up all the required ingredients but she wanted to prove to her mistress that she deserved her trust. She wanted to create a fantastic dinner with her.


Ben opened one of his eyes and smiled warmly. He still felt incredibly weak but now he was conscious. Hearing that somebody worked in the kitchen he nodded.


" Well now, you have become from maid to mistress quite fast, have you not? " he said, reaching out with his hand, caressing the cheeks of Emilia " Thank you for looking after me Emilia. I am sorry that I have dragged you into this... but I am glad you are doing fine. "


More than fine actually, he thought in himself. She was a true noble already.

 

[Dropintheocean]

She nodded and chuckled a little. "Is there anything I can get for you? Do you perhaps need another blanket or something to drink?"


Emilia liked it when he touched her cheeks with his soft, warm hands.


She looked into Benjamin's eyes again. It almost felt like they were an actual couple, but she knew that it would of course never be that way. Regardless, she held the hope that maybe, one day..


She stood up again, waiting for him to tell her what he needed.

 

[DawnAntalios]

" I need nothing, only to rest I think. " he smiled warmly at her. She was so kind so considerate... that warm feeling returned to him again. It was very comforting and he felt it happening every time she was with him... was this what he thought it was? But if that was it... did perhaps Emilia feel it too?


" Emilia, I... "


" OH NO! " Lily's voice echoed across the entire mansion. Ben smiled and chuckled a bit.


" It appears that your new maid requires your attention. Go, I shall join you when the dinner is ready okay? " he smiled.

 

[Dropintheocean]

"Oh no, Lily!" She nodded at Ben. " I got to help her, I'll call when dinner is ready!"


She hurried to the kitchen, a little curious what he wanted to say, although it probably wasn't important.


"Lily, what's the matter?"


She looked her new maid into her eyes, while holding her hands in her waist.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Lily was already crouching on the ground, trying to clean up the mess. Some of the vegetables were all around the floor, some were right under the spot where she supposed to cut them perfectly. She looked up when Emilia entered the room with absolute terror in her eyes. She knew from past experiences what will come next: the punishment of some sort.


" M-mistress I... I am so sorry! " she cried, her tears flooding from her eyes like river " I did not mean to... I wasted the food... I will clean up immediately.... "


She burst out in tears again.


" Please do not whip me! I will never do it again I promise! I will not fail again I promise! Just please... please don't... "


She could not finish her sentence as she was crying so much. Instead she just hastened her pace, trying to pick up every single piece of vegetable from the ground she could.

 

[Dropintheocean]

She helped Lily pick up the vegetables and sighed softly. "Bad luck happens. If you clean all of the fallen vegetables, we will still be able to use them." Emilia got up again and put on the stove. She put water in a pot, added Some salt and waited for it to boil. Although Lily was clearly a little clumsy, she couldn't blame her. This would probably happen to herself al one point. The two of them continued preparing dinner, and after aan hour of work, it was finally ready. "If you put the plates on the dining table, I'll tell Benjamin that the food is ready." She smiled at Lily and went to the living room. "Dinner is ready."

 

[DawnAntalios]

Shocked at how easily did Emilia take her failure Lily looked at her in awe. Her old mistress would have punished her severely for such mistake yet now she did not even get harsh words... she was shocked at her generosity. After they finally finished the delicious dinner she nodded as she put up two dishes on the table, one for Emilia and one for his to-be husband, Benjamin. When she finished she stood back, patiently waiting for the two of them to come.


Ben managed to stand up, although it was still really taxing. He smiled at Emilia as he made his way towards the kitchen.


" Mmmm, this smells delicious. " he said, nodding at Emilia. His eyes wandered to Lily who just bowed deeply, remaining silent. As they sat down to the table Lily immediately served food for both of them and then stood back at her spot next to the sink, awaiting further orders. She had to be careful from now on.

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia sat down as well. "Thank you, we tried oud best." She said while winking at Lily.


She then noticed that there were only two plates put on the dinner table. She looked over to Benjamin and then back at her new servant.


She was trying to ask Ben if Lily could join them for the meal, but without actually saying anything.


She wanted to ask her herself, but didn't know if Ben would approve. Well, if she didn't join them, she'd save some for the girl to finish them.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben nodded.


" Lily. " he asked " Would you mind joining us? "


The girl looked shocked and surprised at the same time. She looked at both him and Emilia with disbelief.


" Master and mistress... wants me to... eat with them? " she asked, she could barely contain her surprise " I... I have never before... I was never permitted to... "


She shook her head.


" Only... if my mistress sees it fit, my lord. She, after all, was the one who perfected this masterful dinner. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia smiled at Benjamin, silently letting out a "thank you". She then looked at Lily. The poor girl seemed Very surprised, but luckily also very happy.


She was probably never permitted before.


Emilia shook her head and pointed to the chair next to her. "Of course I don't mind, Lily. Grab yourself a plate and join us."


It meant a lot for her that Benjamin agreed to let their new maid eat with them, which showed just how big of a heart he had once again.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Lily nodded and stepped next to the food, getting a small amount for herself as well. She gulped as the delicious dinner filled her dish - beforehand she had only eaten the scraps her mistress left behind for her - to eat at the table of her new mistress... she was baffled yet so happy as she was never before in her life.


Slowly she walked to the table and sat down. For a moment she observed the two of them if they had any other requests but hearing none she took the cutlery and started to eat.


" So good... " she whispered to herself as the delicious meal melted away in her mouth. She was the happiest person on earth right now.

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia finally started her meal as well. She noticed Lily enjoyed her meal, which made her smile.


After they had all finished, she and Lily cleaned the table and did the dishes. She hoped she could talk to Benjamin for a minute before going to bed. "You've work very well today, Lily, I'm proud of you." She smiled at her and put one hand on her shoulder. "I'll show you the room your staying in." She went upstairs and into the room next to hers. She opened the door for Lily and waited for her to get in. "You'll be staying in this room for the time you're here, I hope you like it."


Where Lily was settled, she returned downstairs to Benjamin. He was sitting on the couch, so Emilia sat down next to him.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben enjoyed the good meal and was now sitting on the couch in the living room. His entire world turned upside down in the past few days, he would never have thought that he will change this much. First he got a wonderful maid - who was now his partner in a charade - and now even a second house maid. He touched his wounds which were fading already as he pondered on the past and the future.


Whenever he thought about Emilia he started to feel strangely. That warmth always returned and always stronger than before. He was absolutely puzzled but as time went on he started to decipher the meaning of this emotion - and what it would mean in the future.


He smiled as Emilia sat down beside him.


" Well, mistress, it appears you have your own personal maid now. " he chuckled " This is a fast development that is for sure. Things have changed so drastically... "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia laughed a little and nodded. "You're right, things have changed a lot indeed."


She smiled at Ben while folding her hands on her lap. "Have you heard anything from your father? When his is returning home?" When his father would arrive, they had to improve their whole fiancés act.


Otherwise, the man would definitely figure out what was going on. She then heard the door of Lily's room closing, who was going to bed. "I think she enjoyed herself today, although it went a little rough at the beginning."

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben shook his head.


" No, I have not heard about him. But he should be on his way here. It will take a lot of time for him to arrive though. "


His smile faded as she spoke of Lily. He sighed heavily and looked at her.


" I owe you an apology. " he said " For I have used you. I have known Lily for few years already. I have considered a plenty of times to accept her as a maid but I never could... for I know her former mistress all too well. "


He paused.


" It is Umaline de Lion, my would be fiancé. " he looked at her with sorrow in his eyes " I remember once walking past the store right before close time and I heard Umaline yelling with the girl for she had sold an earring to a man for a penny less, seeing how poor he was. Umaline used her whip to punish her, for minutes she had pummeled the girl's back but she just meekly suffered, did not yell at all. Probably she had had such punishment before. "


He sighed.


" But recruiting a maid is not easy from a well known noble family, especially not if you have a marriage planned. This is why I trusted that you would be kind and considerate enough to give her a chance - and you did. " he smiled at her warmly, leaning closer to her, whispering in her ears. " You are the kindest and most wonderful woman on earth, Emilia. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She avoided his look and let her head down. Emilia couldn't believe that Benjamin hadn't told her that he knew Lily, as if she wouldn't want to hire the poor girl if she knew it was the former maid off his former wife-to-be.


"Why didn't you tell me about this before, Ben? I wouldn't have not hired Lily just because her mistress was your fiancée." She know looked into the young man's eyes, with a sad expresison on her face.


She ignored his compliment and looked deeply into his eyes. "Did you really think you couldn't have told me?"

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben pulled back.


" It has nothing to do with me, Emilia. " he said " Lily's fate was unfortunate but law bound my hands. If I have told you previously this I am certain that you would have rushed to save her. And that is a dangerous thought. " his expression turned firm and serious " The de Lion family is not to be trifled with, you have seen Lance. But he is the least of your worries, they are extremely dangerous. "


He shook his head.


" I know that this is no excuse for my secrecy. I have only done this because I saw it fit. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia nodded and stood up. "I'm going to bed, I'll see you in the morning."


She turned her head away from him and walked out.


She went upstairs to her room and sat down on the bed. Although it didn't make any sense to her, Emilia was a little bit hurt that Ben had lied to her. Maybe he was right, she would've rushed to save Lily. She crowled under the blankets and closed her eyes

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben wanted to say sorry, wanted to say something to convince her that he did not mean to insult her - but it was already too late and she went away. He felt that he had betrayed her, the one who shared so many thoughts and dreams with him, yet he played his own schemes in the darkness. It was just as they have taught him, how he grew up and how he was taught to manipulate.


Guilt churned in his stomach as he tried to come up with a justification for his act but he could not - he was secretive and betrayed Emilia's feelings.


" I am a fool. " he whispered to himself " I wanted to confess my feelings which I was suspecting... and now I have just pushed her away... "


He sighed heavily and went to bed early. He felt terrible about all this.

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia couldn't fall asleep directly, her thoughts kept her awake for a long time.


The next morning the young lady woke up early, still tired from not sleeping for so long. She immediately went to the bathroom to wash up. After she felt fresh again, she returned to her bedroom.


When she was dressed, Emilia went downstairs.


Nobody seemed to be up yet, but she made a pot of coffee anyway.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Lily got up relatively early although it was still late in the morning. Walking up to the wardrobe in her room she found a rather elegant looking maid dress. Coincidentally it was also her size so she quickly decided to put it on as her work clothes. She carefully exited her room not to make any noise as she walked downstairs to prepare breakfast for her masters.


She was surprised and startled when she saw Emilia already being in the kitchen. Slowly and steadily she walked up to her.


" Good morning my lady. " she said with fear " I am sorry, I should have woken up earlier. I will prepare breakfast right away! "


As she started to work she noticed how disturbed Emilia looked.


" Is everything all right, my lady? Is something bothering you? "