Not Giving Into Fate

42- Academy Days

I woke up early to get ready for work. As my hair was braided down my back, Butler Claude entered my room to inform me of the paternity results. They came back as positive and so the bastard will stay. This was a fact I knew so I wasn't surprised.

I nod and hand him some letters I've already made in preparation for this. These letters are to be sent out to all the tutors for the lady and inside is written their list of responsibilities and their pay. The butler tells me he will send them out. Before he leaves, I tell him to gather all the maids so that I may choose who will attend the bastard. He nods and leaves.

"Madam, will you be choosing the maid Griselda?" My maid Ana asks as she hands me my robe.

I stand and nod my head. "Yes, how does she look like?" Ana quickly tells me of her details. She has a plain face but pin- straight black hair that reaches her mid back. She tells me the maid usually wears a red headband to keep her hair back. I nod and tell her to follow me downstairs.

Sir Elliot waits as I palm a health potion before we walk to the main hall. I see that some maids are already there but many more quickly run into the room, some breathing heavily and faces red from the run. I stand tall next to Sir Claude and he clears his throat.

"Attention everyone!" Sir Claude claps his hands and shuts off any attention. "Master Solon is allowing his newfound daughter to stay in the mansion."

"I will be picking a maid out of random to attend her." I say and walk forward towards the line of maids. I start at one end and walk down the line. They all avoid my eyes, some hunch forward and some close their eyes all together.

I pause at the girl with pin straight hair with a red headband. I look over my shoulder and Ana nods. "You. Follow me." The girl opens her eyes and they're wide with shock.

"Yes Master."

"Oh, Sir Claude I need your assistance. It's been many years since my home has been standing and I'm sad to see the estate in such a poor state."

"Master, I assure you the house is managed to an impeccable standard." Sir Claude frowns, unsure of where I go with this.

"The windows are cracked and the wallpapers peel. The floors are also creaking which is very annoying. The entire west wing needs to be fixed before anyone can move in. My father's, brother's and mine room are in perfect state because we reside there, but the other rooms need to be fixed before Lady Nitsk can move from the south wing." I say with a sigh.

"But the windows-"

I cut him off with a snap of my fingers and a loud noise echoes around us. The floor shakes from the force, the chandelier waves and the paintings and wall ornaments are skewed to the side. Some of the women screech and duck to the floor. Others look around in fright and look up the stairs, looking to above where the force was. My heart constricts, the power of the magic I've just done is making it hard to breathe, but I have to ignore that.

"Now the windows are broken, walls are cracked and floors are destroyed. We cannot have a guest stay in any of the rooms. Please see to the restoration of our great estate, but seeing as Lady Nitsk already has a room for the meantime it shouldn't be the first priority." I say with a smile. "You two, follow me." I gesture to Ana and the new maid to follow me up the stairs.

I instruct Sir Elliot to ready my portal for travel. I walk up the stairs with the two maids behind me. The maids and servants immediately whisper, I can feel their stares. I used a lot of my power to do that. My vision blurs and I fight consciousness, but I refuse to buckle. I dig my long nails in my skin to wake me up. When we turn the corner from the others, I take the health potion from my pocket and drink it. My symptoms should subside soon.