A different world

[Dropintheocean]

Benjamin is a young lad, living in a big house. His father is a succesfull business man who has made a lot of money. When there old housemaid dies, the family decides to hire a young girl, Emilia. She is the daughter of the local farmer. Her father had a bad harvest, leaving him with no money and a lack of food, so he has sent away his daughter to work for and live with the family. Emilia doesn't know what to think about it, but she's not excited either..

 

[DawnAntalios]

It was well after noon and the sun perched high atop the azure blue sky, its rays shining brightly, illuminating the room Benjamin sat in, reading his book. The boy, always passionate about learning more and more was hellbent to prove his worth and get into a university to further expand his already formidable knowledge. Despite his father telling him that they had more than enough money to live happily without the need to think about working he insisted on finding a job when he finally got a degree.


This day seemed to be something special - today was the day when their new housemaid was supposed to arrive and frankly Benjamin felt nervous. He loved the kind old lady who passed away and was anxious about the new girl's arrival. He never liked to treat anyone as a "servant", it just felt wrong to him but he was hopeful that he could be as kind to the new girl as he could.


He hoped at least...


" I wonder how she looks like. " he pondered, looking outside of the window " I really want her to enjoy her stay but... knowing my father she will likely not have such a pleasant time... "


Putting these thoughts aside he returned to his book, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the housemaid.

 

[Dropintheocean]

(I hope you don't mind my parts will not be as detailed, since English is my third language.)


Emilia was standing in the living room. It was time to leave, but she still had to say goodbye to her family. "I'll write you every week. Bye mom, I love you." Her father made it clear it was time to go. She got into the car (They had that back then, right?) and looked through the window on her way to the house. When they arrived she was shocked to see how enormous the house was. She got out, took her bags and said goodbye to her father. "And remember why you're doing this, my dear." She nodded and gave him a kiss. She looked how her father drove off. She walked to the front door and softly nocked. She was incredibly nervous and hopen the family would be nice.


(Picture will follow tomorrow, I'm on the iPad today so)

 

[DawnAntalios]

( It is no problem, English is also not my first language, forgive me for any errors I make. )


Benjamin heard the knock on the door and immediately he rushed there to open it. His parents were not home so this had to be the perfect opportunity to make the best first impression. When he approached the door he slowed down, walking up to it calmly, trying to smile warmly. Hesitating in front of the door he waited for a few seconds, then - after taking a deep breath - he opened it.


And his eyes widened.


In front of him stood an elegant, beautiful young girl, one whose appearance was so stunning that her radiance blot out the sun. Quickly recovering from the shock Benjamin gently shook his head then smiled at her.


" Well met, young lady. " he said, bowing before her respectfully " My name is Benjamin, but please call me Ben. Please, do come in. "


Looking past her he noticed that she had a bag carrying her belongings - but it was surprisingly small. Walking past her he picked it up, smiling at the girl.


" Let me help you carry this. I would be ashamed if I let a young lady like you to carry a heavy bag all by yourself. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia noticed she shook a little when the door suddenly opened. Standing before her was a tall, handsome young man who greeted her warmly. She took a bow, her father told her it was very important to show the family respect, so she did. She was suprised when Benjamin took her bag and blushed a little. She kept her head down and her hands behind her back. She tried her best to be as polite as possible by not saying a word and just do what they'd tell her to do.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Stepping inside of the main hall Benjamin put down the girl's belongings carefully on a nearby chair and looked at her. She seemed to be very nervous and afraid - he could not let her be this silent.


" Pardon me, my lady, but I wish to ask you a question. " he said with a warm voice " Would you like some tea perhaps? My father and my mother are abroad currently, they have important matters to attend to, I would be delighted if you could have some tea with me. "


He smiled, winking at her.


" Worry not, I make good tea, I promise. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She silently followed him into the hall, looking around the house a little. It was beautifully decorated with a lot of antiques and paintings. It was a house she dreamed of living in one day. When he offered her some tea, Emilia refused politely. "No thank you, Sir." She smiled gently and looked back down. She was told not to bother the family as much as possible. Although she would love some tea, her hands were still cold from waiting outside the door, she couldn't accept it on her first day.

 

[DawnAntalios]

" Please, call me just Ben. " he said, still smiling. The girl seemed to be very modest and very polite, truly a sight to behold. He then walked towards a cushion and sat down.


" In that case do take a seat my lady. " he said, motioning towards the other cushion in front of him " If we are to understand each other better then we should definitely talk. "


Smiling slyly at her he spoke in mere whisper " Are you absolutely certain that you need no tea? It is absolutely divine, and there is some cookies with it which are positively marvelous. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Again she blushed. Emilia sat down on the cushion in front of him. "No thank you, I'm fine." She softly smiled, but didn't feel quite comfortable in this house yet. She missed her family already, and didn't look forward to being someone's servant. Her smile slowly faded as she sat there. Not really positive what to say exactly, she waited for the nice young man to start talking again. She liked the softness in his voice, not hard as she expected it to be. He was nice to her, she needed that.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben nodded. It was clear that the girl did not feel comfortable enough and he did not want to force his will upon her. Instead he leaned forward, looking deeply in her eyes.


" I understand that this is the first time you are away from your family for an extended period of time, yes? " he said, his expression turning serious " Know that although a contract binds us together I will do everything in my power to make you feel comfortable. I promise. "


He sat back in the comfortable chair.


" But let us not rush this forward. I must apologize for being blunt but I have not yet asked your name, my lady. Let us remedy the situation then and let us introduce ourselves properly. "


He stood up, walking in front of her, bowing respectfully again.


" Sir Benjamin Falkrath, at your service. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

"It's the first time I am away from my family indeed." She said quietly. She giggled softly when he bowed down before her. Benjamin Falkrath, the name sounded like a rich man indeed. She stood up from the cushion as well and bowed down following after him. "Emilia Goodwill, Sir. " She looked him in the eyes properly for the first time and noticed how marvelous they were. She quickly stopped staring and looked at her old, dirty shoes. She felt ashamed of how poor her family was compared to this one.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben continued to smile. Emilia... such a fitting name for a humble and kind girl like her. He noticed how quickly she broke eye contact with him and stared at something on the floor. His eyes then followed hers, quickly noticing that she was looking at her weathered shoes. His heart shivered a little but her continued to smile at her regardless.


" So tell me, Lady Emilia. " he said while he sat back on the cushion. " Do you have a dream? "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia straightened her back and looked at him again. She thought about it for a minute and then answered him. "I hope my father will have a good harvest this year, so he can feed the rest of family, Sir." She felt she was about to cry but kept her tears from flooding. She looked at him for a while and noticed just how handsome he was. "What about you, Sir, do you have any dreams?" She was curious to know if a man who had everything already in her eyes could want even more.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben scratched his head.


" I want change, Lady Emilia. " he said, standing up, walking around the room " The world teeters on the brink of a great change, news of different countries coming together to forge a new alliance, one super nation where nobody has to starve, nobody has to suffer would be created. " he shrugged " That of course is but a fabrication of the news nothing more. I know all too well that politics is nothing more than a game played from the shadows... but that is exactly why I dream. "


He stopped and looked at Emilia once more.


" I want to see the world change, the borders between rich and poor, noble and servant vanish. Of course you might think that I am insane, that I am a fool. I know my father regards me as such - and shuns me every day for it. Still, I want to fight for a brighter tomorrow. For you, for me - for all of us. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She listened to him patiently. She didn't expect him to have such an interesting view on politics, on the world. Emilia nodded as he told his visions and watched him pace around.


"That's a wonderfull dream, Sir." She looked at him and gave him a gentle smile. "I don't see you as a fool like your father does. I think it's amazing that you aspire to make the world a better, faire place, where every person is equal."


She figured he must be very intelligent. He could go straight into politics if he wanted. She imagined what it would be like, not having to struggle every day to feed her family, and hoped it might happen once.

 

[DawnAntalios]

He stopped and chuckled at the girl's remark. She was not only humble but also very clever... slowly and steadily as he started to know her better he had a good feeling about her working in this mansion. He sat down on the cushion and looked in her eyes.


" My lady, there is one thing I did forget to mention. Something that is very important if you will work here and I want to ask your opinion about it. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

He sounded more serious this time. "You can ask me anything, Sir." She smiled gently and got very curious to know what it was he was going to ask her. She looked deeply into his eyes waiting patiently for him to ask her.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben nodded then continued.


" In a mere month will be the anniversary of the day of my birth. For that occasion my father decided to give me a rather special gift... "


He motioned around.


" I will inherit this very house and from that day forward I will live here alone without my family. That being said it would be only me and you in this very house - and this is exactly my question: would you mind working here knowing that it is only me in the house? I know it is highly irregular but I can assure you that you would not get lesser payment for your services just because you would serve me alone instead of my whole family. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia was suprised when Ben asked her this. Inheritting a house at that age, it sounded like a true dream.


She nodded. "Ofcourse I wouldn't mind working for just you, Sir."


She smiled at him and thought about how it would be to live alone with him in this enormous house. She grew up with a lot of siblings, so she was used to a house where there were a lot of people. Maybe she'd like the calm.


At least she knew the man she was working for was nice. She was still wondering how Ben's father would be, she figured probably very strict.

 

[DawnAntalios]

He sighed in relief.


" Thank you for your understanding. Please do understand that my father does this with a simple intention: he wants to put me to the test, to see if I am his worthy heir. "


His expression darkened.


" I am to marry a noble woman probably in the not so distant future to ensure the good name of our family... "


Noticing that he was babbling and talking about possibly boring things he quickly changed topic.


" My apologies, my lady. Is there anything do you need before you would start working? " he inspected her and his attention shifted to her boots again " Perhaps a more... modern attire? "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She smiled. Emilia liked it when he talked about himself.


But when he talked about the woman he was ment to marry, she caught herself frowning a little.


"I think I know everything I need to know, Sir." She followed his eyes and noticed him looking at her shoes again.


She blushed and didn't really know what to say. "I.. I don't.. I don't think that is necessary, Sir."


She tried to smile a little to hide her shame.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben looked at her, nodding.


" Very well then, I shall make the required preparations then for the afternoon. After all we both have a lot of things to attend to. "


He stood up and walked up to her, smiling.


" I hope you will enjoy your stay, Lady Emilia. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She stood up as well and nodded.


"I hope so as well, Sir." Emilia didn't quite know what he meant when he said "we both have a lot of things to attend to." She figured she'd find out tomorrow.


She picked up her tiny bag and followed him to the room she'd stay in.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Ben opened the door of the room she was to stay in. It was a fairly large room with a single bed, a window, a table if she fancied writing and a fireplace for the colder days during winter which now yawned sleepily. He ushered her into the room and urged her to put her clothes in the wardrobe next to the window to contain all her clothes in a single place.


" I do hope that this room is to your liking my Lady. " he said, heading towards the door " You should rest now, I presume you had a very tiring day. Worry not, I will take care every today myself. Tomorrow you should be able to... start properly, lets just say that. "


Before he left he smiled one last time.


" Have a pleasant night, Lady Emilia. "


And with that he left the room, heading upstairs. He had a strange warm feeling in his stomach but he knew not what it was, yet it felt really nice. Entering his own room he searched for the old phone his father managed to import from abroad - it was a fantastic invention and made his life so much easier. Her entered the number and waited.


" Lady Ortholn? What a pleasant surprise to her your voice! I would like to make a request... "


He finished his call relatively soon and headed to his bed to sleep. Tomorrow will be great.

 

[Dropintheocean]

As they entered the room, she looked around with her eyes wide open. It was the larges bedroom she had ever seen, let alone ever slept in. The closet was bigger then the bed she had at home. She put her bag down on the bed.


"It's just perfect, Sir. You have a pleasant night as well." When he had finally left the room, she put one hand before her mouth. She couldn't believe she would be staying in such luxury. She felt kind of bad for her father and the rest of the family, which had to stay in their little farm. She quickly shaked the thought and started hanging her clothes. She didn't bring much -she didn't own much either-, so it fitted very well in the closet.


She looked outside the window and smiled. This wasn't as bad as she had imagined it to be, when her father told her about it. She closed the curtains and curled up in the soft bed. She hoped tomorrow she'd start off as well as she did today.