Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 53: Serving the Sullivan Mansion - Part 3

As Marlina and Cara follow behind Roland, he leads them to Ms. Muriel's office, which is near the servant quarters, where she sits behind her desk.

Seeing a couple of her maids with Roland and that look on his face, she places her hands on her desk, her aged and worn fingers interlacing.

"Is something wrong, Head Butler?" she asks.

"These two had intruded into Master Liam's room and caused him distress. Your staff is not trained to handle Master Liam's sensitivities. Please find the time to remind all of your staff not to tend to the Sullivans." 

Roland then glances over his shoulder at the two of them. 

"This is their only warning." He then looks back at Ms. Muriel.

Ms. Muriel notices the nervous looks on their faces. "Is the young master alright?"

"Fortunately, Lady Freya and Marina calmed him."

"The specialty staff was preoccupied?" Ms. Muriel asks, her brow raising at him.

Roland falls silent for a moment, aware that part of this situation was an oversight on his part. It had been a while since Master Liam had become out of sorts, so he had not left any staff to watch over him. And the way she phrased the question makes it clear she knows it as well as he does. 

"Yes. His Lordship's guests had taken priority."

"Then I'm sure they only acted in His Lordship's best interests—to avoid disturbing your staff and to assist Master Liam. Regardless, I will apologize to Master Liam on their behalf and address the rest of my staff."

Roland slowly nods before turning to leave, walking past both of them to get back to his duties.

"Since I know he didn't and won't say it, thank you for trying to help," Ms. Muriel tells them. "Your hearts were in the right place; it's just that Master Liam isn't an ordinary boy. His sensitivities are something most people aren't equipped to handle. Roland's staff has been trained to help Master Liam when he struggles. May I ask both of your accounts of what happened?"

After they explain, Ms. Muriel stays silent for a moment. Cara grabbing Liam escalated things. Luckily, Freya arrived, and Marlina repaired the violin.

"Because Master Liam was able to be soothed, you two were given a warning. If something like this happens again, then seek out the Head Butler's staff. Please finish your tasks for the day."

Cara bows to her, Marlina following. "Yes, Ms. Muriel."

For the rest of the day, the two of them keep their heads down and noses to the grindstone as they finish the remaining chores. Dinner is eaten, and the staff gather for Roland's reminder. Marlina lies in her bed while Cara gets into her nightgown.

"Where did the Head Butler even come from?" Marlina asks.

"There are rumors that secret passages are everywhere, and only he knows about them. It's not the first time he's just appeared out of nowhere like that. A lot of the time, it feels like he's always watching. Just rumors, of course. Maybe he was with His Lordship in his chambers and heard the commotion."

"Perhaps."

Cara sits on her bed, brushing her hair. "Now I see why His Lordship has all these women here..."

"What's that?" Marlina asks.

"Well, Master Liam is the next heir. We've known he's... different. That was the first time I saw it firsthand. His Lordship must be working to have as many heirs as possible with so many guests."

"You mean...?"

Cara's brow raises, surprised that something so common knowledge even needs explaining. "Guess you don't learn much being stuck in Tores. All of these women were chosen for their bloodlines in an attempt to produce an heir. Lord Riordan had three heirs but slept with a lot of women to get that many."

"So there are many who carry the Sullivan bloodline, but..."

"Only those who possess Ocular Magic stay here. The men become heirs, and the women become... donors."

"Donors... For what?" 

Marlina then thinks of Freya and the blindfold over her eyes. Her eyes widen with realization, and a glance at Cara confirms it.

"Then... even the mothers don't stay here?.

Cara shakes her head. "Just the children, but the mothers who bore heirs are well compensated for providing them. Being chosen and possibly bearing an heir can change someone's life." From how Cara says it, it sounds like a good thing.

From what Elek has told Marlina about his mother, it weaves a different tale. Cara is speaking a bit freely, probably from exhaustion. Perhaps she can give a little more.

"You said three heirs, but Master Liam is the last one?"

Cara pauses, her lips tightly pressed together. "The first heir... died some years ago. Maybe."

"Maybe?" 

Cara approaches the door, gently opens it, and looks outside for a moment before closing it and sitting on Marlina's bed, speaking in a low voice, 

"That might not be true. Roland's staff has been seen going into the first heir's room quite often lately, more than just for a turnover. Sean told me that the cooking staff has been preparing extra meals for the heirs." 

Marlina slowly sits up in her bed, her show of interest not quite fabricated. "Then perhaps..."

"At first, we thought it was a newly discovered heir or something. Not the first time Lord Riordan has had affairs outside the bloodline selection, y'know. But sometimes we hear noises from that room, and they're not the usual kid sounds like running and playing."

Elek. Marlina can determine which room he is in during their chores by the sounds coming from above. The issue of limited access to the upper stories and Roland's watchful eyes remains. 

"No one confirms it, though. Roland's staff has been trained to be so tight-lipped that you'd think their mouths were sewn shut." Cara adds, making a sewing gesture over her lips.

If they are the ones who personally tend to the Sullivans, then they probably have learned many damning secrets about each of them.

"Certainly quite strange. If it were true, wouldn't the first heir usurp His Lordship?"

Cara shakes her head. "The ceremony has already been done, in witness to the other Heads of Family. His Lordship is the Head of the Sullivan Family until he dies."

Marlina pauses to consider the information. "If I may speak frankly, it sounds like a hollow life."

Cara's head tilts, getting up from the bed to go to her own. "Yeah, I guess I can agree it is, at least for a woman. So many women having a Head's baby and finding out they don't have magic, then being saddled with raising them afterward. For a man, I'm sure it's the dream." She yawns widely and lies back in her bed, Marlina doing the same.

After good nights are exchanged, the lights go out, leaving Marlina in the darkness to reflect on her thoughts.