The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter 11: Master and Servant

The weather of the southern area was warmer compared to where they came. It was full of golden sunshine and azure sky. Plant bud began to open and reveal its petals. Birds flew around, enjoying the warmth. Spring had come early to Astera city.

Edelweiss's mansion was designed in the western style architect with vine and flower details. The sharp metal fences were built to protect the house, yet it looked like a beautiful birdcage that befitting to the lovely house, rather than telling them to stay away like in Mikado's residence. The buzzer announced the new guest, and quickly a man in a suit, presumed to be a butler, opened the gate. The butler led them to the living room, where they would wait for the owner to greet them. As a former lady of a rich family, admittedly Edelweiss's house was much more luxurious than her old home. The floor was covered with velvet carpet that would be a shame if it gets dirty. A chandelier was hanged on their head like morning drops, sparkling under the light. The furniture was handmade for sure, the wood was carved to match the details with the walls, and the leather was definitely made from real animal skin. A lady, who was wearing a frilly apron, brought out the tea. Even the tea, the aroma coming out and the flowery detail cup that was served, was at another level of the plain bailey tea. Were the western people live in such a luxurious lifestyle? But then Shiki found out that there were two cups of tea.

"I'm sorry. I am just the bodyguard." she returned the cup to the maid and stood behind Vincent.

She totally forgot that she was no longer a lady of the admirable Mikado's family and a bodyguard is not allowed to sit with their master. How could she make such a mistake?

"Welcome!"

A bald man walked in. He was in a suit that was tailored just for himself, with a cane on his right hand. Even though there were some winkled on his face, the man looked quite dazzling despite his age.

"You must be Vincent from the Overseer." He pulled out his left hand to offer a handshake "I am lord Edelweiss, the head of the admirable Edelweiss family. I hope you enjoy the tea."

"I am. It is a fine cup of earl grey with a hint of vanilla." Vincent smiled socially.

They sat down.

"May I ask who's the lady behind you?" of course, lord Edelweiss must have noticed her.

"Yes. She is my trusted bodyguard." replied Vincent casually.

Lord Edelweiss looked at her again, like he was checking something on her. But it was just for a few seconds before he realized the more important matter.

" Anyway, let's go straight to business. My dear daughter, Helen, was being kidnapped by a criminal gang. They have been demanding money of course for the life of my daughter. But there is a valuable diamond necklace that they stole from us, and we also want to get it back."

"So you want us to find and rescue Helen and retrieve the necklace?"

"Precisely. The due date is by the end of Friday next week, so you have almost a week to find her."

"Roger that. But lord Edelweiss, may I ?"

"Sure."

"Why do you ask us to do this job? You could hire any assassins to find your daughter."

"I don't trust any kind of assassins with the life of my daughter. And the necklace, there is no guarantee that they will give it back when they are done with the job. I hope that the Overseer will handle this professionally like always"

"Please rest assure that your daughter will be returned safe and sound and you will have your necklace."

"Good to hear that."

After their meeting with the wealthy lord, two of them decided to head to back to the inn. There was something else in Vincent's mind, a matter that he wanted to talk. As the mansion disappearing into the horizon, he decided to say it.

"The Edelweiss family is one of the five oldest families."

"Five oldest families. That sounded like my family."

"Your family was a part of the five."

"Is that so." Shiki closed her eyes. "Grandfather must keep a lot of secrets from everyone. I have never heard of the Edelweiss family nor the others."

"I know. Alain assigned me this job on purpose. Even if your grandfather knew them, lord Edelweiss's react shows that you are truly unknown to them."

"That is not something new."

"It can be a good thing. No one knows about your ability, which could be an element of surprise. Right, my bodyguard?"

Hearing the word bodyguard reminded her how she sat beside Vincent like they were on the same level, while she was supposed to his bodyguard. Thinking about that embarrassed event made her want to pull off her hair.

"What's wrong?" he clearly saw how her face turned away.

"Nothing."

"Did I say something wrong?"

"It's not you." she quickly denied it. "It is something else. It is about when the maid brought the tea out. I am your bodyguard and I ...."

She stopped since he probably already knew what she was talking about.

And of course Vincent did.

"Shiki. I could totally say that you were my partner from the organization."

"But am I your bodyguard?"

"Yes. But you don't have to be a servant. We could be partners, side to side."

"But..." she turned her red face to him "Aren't you also pay my wage? And offer me a shelter? Being a servant seems like the only way I could repay you. At least, I want to be good at my job."

How could such a little problem trouble her so much? Her face was all red, and she was genuinely worried about it.

"You are. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes when they start off. To have such will, you are already a good bodyguard because I know that you will always try your best."

She looked at him with the eyes that could sparkle, her cheeks were still red while she opened her little mouth.

"Really?"

"Well," Vincent tilted his head to the other side "Or at least you are becoming one. If you want to be a bodyguard as a servant, there is a lot that you need to learn."

"Alright."

"For example. There is no bodyguard that could blush easily like you."

"Hey!!" she raised her voice. The blushing face now became angry "I was just ..... I don't know, admitting my awful mistake to you. I was being honest with you!"

And here she lost her thought and said things without thinking. Which made him chuckle.

"Also, you need to call me master."

Shiki frowned and turned her face away.

"To think that I would call you that after teasing me." she mumbled.

"Well" he closed his eyes "You don't have to if you want. We could be partner."

A few seconds passed and there were no exchanging words. They kept walking in silence, giving her some thoughts to think that her action was a bit childish. Soon, she took a deep breath and said it.

"Master Vincent."

Hearing she called him that, Vincent let out a satisfied smile. While half of him thought that there was no way she could call him with an honorific, to lower herself. But half of him knew that she would not care about her position. To become better, she would try her best.

"Well done."

Those two words. It was so easy to say those two words, yet they warmed her heart. A compliment that she actually felt appreciate. A compliment that she actually earned it. She couldn't help it but smile.

"Thank you, master."

The word "master" suddenly became easier to say. In fact, it somehow brought joy to her, knowing that she was helpful to the man whom she called "master".