Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 52: Serving the Sullivan Mansion - Part 2

In the last room, Cara pauses to sit in a chair and relax while she watches Marlina make the bed. Above them, they can hear the sound of a violin. At least that's what someone might guess it is, because the sounds are more screeching than soothing.

"He certainly is struggling, poor boy," Cara comments, looking toward the ceiling.

"Who?" Marlina asks.

"Master Liam, His Lordship has been making him learn the violin, for whatever reason. It's been several months, and he doesn't seem to have a knack for it. He only practices when no guests are around the quarters to hear."

One might think that someone would grasp something like that after playing for so long, but it is rather unpleasant, with many sour notes. Then they hear a note being cut off mid-play, followed by silence. With a muffled shout of frustration, they then hear the ring of a bell.

Cara grimaces, still staring up at the ceiling. "Sounds like he broke something again." Then she pauses, as if she's waiting, and another ring of the bell sounds. "The hospitality staff is probably busy with the guests, so they can't hear him..."

"Should we help? He doesn't sound far away."

Cara hesitates. "We usually don't go up there. Up the steps are the family quarters, and the Head Butler is particular about who tends to the family..." With one more ring, a bit more frantic-sounding, Cara stands up. 

"Let's make it quick."

Marlina nods, making sure to move the trolleys out of the way, and heads with Cara toward a flight of stairs at the end of the hall. 

Now, on the third floor of the mansion, there is a noticeable atmospheric difference. Although Marlina thought the guest corridors looked lavish, the draperies and decorations on this floor displayed a higher level of elegance. While the guest quarters have many doors lined up one by one, the doors here are fewer and more spaced out, indicating larger rooms. Statues, decorative vases, and chandeliers are placed at precise intervals, with tall, arched, ornate ceilings overhead.

The doors are shut, and Cara pauses to decide which room is Liam's before possibly disturbing anyone. She selects a door, listens for a moment, and they hear another frustrated shout and the clatter of something being knocked over before Cara quickly opens the door.

"Master Liam! Are you okay?" Cara asks with concern.

There is only a moment to react when a violin is flying toward them. Marlina steps in front of Cara to protect her and catches the violin, hugging it to her chest. Across the room, a teenage boy in noble attire with raven-black hair is surrounded by a mess of sheet music and an overturned ornate music stand.

"I'm never going to get this! I give up!" the boy shouts, kicking at sheet music and having a meltdown.

Cara waits until Liam slows down and stops, seething, before his breaths calm and he lowers himself into a chair, his fingers digging into his hair.

Cara slowly approaches him. "Are you hurt, Master Liam?" she asks him, staying a few feet away.

Liam doesn't answer. Instead, he pounds the palm of his hand against his forehead.

"Master Liam! Please stop that!" Cara steps forward and grabs his wrist to stop him, which agitates him, and he yanks his arm away.