Mystic - EN version

Chapter 6 : Work

Catherine eventually found her in the corridors.

– There you are. I've been looking for you. The Duke asked me to show you around before you started work.

Clave's face flushed with relief, and she happily followed the ginger through the corridors.

– I hope you don't mind doing this...

– Don't worry. I have to, anyway.

The maid's tone had softened slightly, however. Perhaps Clave was going to make a friend.

Catherine guided Clave through the various areas of the manor house that would be of use to her: the kitchen, the laundry, the guest rooms and the servants' dormitories. She explained the roles of servants and maids. Clave quickly realised that the main difference between the two was that the servants received no pay, unlike the maids. The young girl was therefore going to have to work for the Duke, against her will, and without earning anything in return.

Then came the next day, and with it Clave's first day as Duke Arthur's servant. Her apprehension wouldn't go away, and she couldn't stop playing with the fabric of her uniform, folding it and pulling on it. Her stress was getting the better of her.

Catherine accompanied her for a while, listing her many tasks and reminding her of the rules. Then she had to leave her to go and work on her own, and that was it, Clave was alone again. She tried to find her way around the mansion thanks to the tour the ginger had given her, and wandered left and right to do what she had to do. She spent her day running up and down the corridors, attending to the needs of Arthur's guests. She sometimes asked the other servants if she was doing the right thing, but they ignored her and said nothing. They hardly spoke to each other, it seemed. Clave had to fend for herself, without Catherine.

She came across Duke Arthur from time to time, but like all the others, his gaze passed right through the young girl. He was chatting non-stop with his guests and didn't seem to be paying any attention to her. She wanted to ask him if he knew anything more about her that might help her recall certain memories, but she couldn't manage to speak to him.

By the time she had finished for the day, she was out of breath and exhausted, and all she wanted to do was throw herself into bed, even if the one in her dormitory was rather uncomfortable compared to the one before. The young girl could feel her muscles protesting with every step she took as she made her way towards the servants' rooms.

She half undressed, not even having the strength to change completely, and lay down on her bunk with a weary sigh. With a lump in her stomach and a preoccupied mind, she wondered how long this situation would last.