Chichester Mansion

Peril

"Only counterfeit is genuine these days."

―Junaid E Mustafa

Eclair's POV

I went up to the rooftop to eat my meal after buying something from the school restaurant, didn't want to eat there. There's no need to hear people sprout mean things about me.

When I opened the door, I saw Maud sitting on the cemented floor looking up at the sky.

She looked really troubled.

"Huh. You've got guts skipping lunch."

She looked at me with a straight face.

"I forgot my money at the mansion. The little I had, was spent for a chocolate cake."

Right. She ate a cake before the class started this morning.

"You're quite the forgetful one. I don't have much of an appetite, So you can have this" Ihanded her my blueberry cake.

She stared at the food. I thought she was going to get it but she stood up and hugged me.

"Wha-"

"You're a nice person lady Éclair."

She was rubbing her face at my head.

"Huh. You're only saying that because I gave you food."

She's so soft and comfortable to be with.

"I love you. From the moment I saw you, I already knew that you were nice."

Did she just say... she

Loves me?

We started eating after almost thirty minutes of hugging each other.

The bell rang and we stood up to go back to our classroom.

While walking through the hall way, I asked her a question out of curiosity.

"Say...Do you know how to-"

"I can't."

Then why...

"Blanche can read and control the mind of a normal person. Not me. I'm the one protecting her."

Ah, she enjoys cutting me off.

"But you told me your name when I forgot."

"That's because Blanche taught me a lot of things. Aside from that, you're an open book. You can't hide any expressions."

That's twice in a day.

She's wrong though. I'm glad she likes me even if I can't be honest even to myself.

Victoria and Maud doesn't address their masters so formally. They address them like partners,calling each other with their first name.

I...hope my familiar would also do so. I hope he would consider me as his partner. Not his master.

-

"Will you head home immediately lady Éclair?"
Maud asked as we take our exit to the academy.

"Yes."

"Do you want me to accompany you? It's dangerous for our kind to be walking home alone. I still have to fetch Blanche though, she went to the plaza to go shopping."

"My familiar will drive me home."

"I see...Well then, see you later."

She smiled at me then left ahead.

I rummaged my bag but I didn't find it. Tche. Probably left it at my bedside table.

My phone's not with me so I decided to walk home since I didn't have a bicycle. Chest isn't too far from my academy anyway.

We arrived here using a car with in five minutes. So it would probably take fifteen minutes if I use my feet.

-

I can see the mansion from here, it only took me twelve minutes to get home.

"Miss...please help me."
An old woman carrying a heavy bag approached me.

I took her bag and carried it. Mhf.

It's heavy!

"Are you heading home Ma'am?"

I asked her. How can anyone let an old woman walk alone in the streets with a heavy bag?!

"Yes dear."

"I see. I can ask my famil- my chauffer to send you home."

"Oh... By any chance, young lady, do you live in that mansion?"
She pointed at the direction of chest.

"Yes ma'am"

"Oh my!"

she looked really happy hearing that.

"Thank you for the offer dear. But ... I just have to get to my car. Right there" she pointed a black van opposite the mansion.

That surprised me. Anyway, she should fire her chauffeur for not helping her with her bag.

"Okay ma'am let's go."

I help her cross the road to get to her car. Beside the van, I saw three huge men wearing black tuxedos.

"Are those your bodyguards ma'am?"

"yes dear."

"Then why aren't they helping you?"

I have a bad feeling about this.

"I-I don't think they want to. Maybe because I'm not their boss."

Sloths.

As we get closer to the van...my steps felt heavier.

It's like something's telling me to stop my tract.

But I just can't leave the old woman alone.

"Thank you for helping me young lady. You're very kind."

We reached the van at last. The men in tuxedos opened the door for the old woman.

When she got inside the van, she shared glances with her bodyguards.

"She's one of them."

She-
I mean he literally transformed from being an old woman to a grown up devilishly handsome man. If he wasn't an impending danger for me, I sure am going to think he's cool. -_-

The men surrounded the area, not leaving a place for me to escape.

"What a naïve girl."

I felt a sharp material injected through my right arm before I lost consciousness.