The birds are singing outside the window sills. I could hear the crickets going crazy and I hear the emptiness of the wind. The bright lights seem to have seeped through my blinds, as they come into contact with my face.
My eyes shot up, to a gray ceiling and dead lights along with it. After a little while of procrastination, I decided to get up from bed.
Just as I was about to walk up to the closet, a knock was on my door.
"What is it?" I answered.
"Young Master, it is I. It is time already, but I see you have waken. May I enter?"
It was Lennox. My new butler.
To tell you for clarity, it wasn't my fault that butlers don't last servicing me. You'll know why later.
"Lennox, come in. I may have been up to early, I ended up waiting for you instead."
He opened the oak door, gaining entry to my room which was the only room on the south wing of the manor, and just as so he glanced and gave me a warm smile.
"Then maybe you would like to adjust the wake up time? I'll be more than happy to oblige." He replied in a serious manner but with a still smile painted on his face.
"Be here by 5:30 tomorrow, maybe?"
He nodded in unison with my decisions.
"I will prepare your bath, Young Ma.."
"Chase. I prefer Chase, than young master. If you mind?" I replied hastily, as I picked through the clothes in my closet.
"I am deeply humbled, Sir Chase. But it is against the training to call your master by their given names." He doesn't seem to look at me as he passed through and made his way to the bathroom, which was inside my room and started to run the faucet in the tub.
"I know, I won't tell father."
He did not seem to hear, as he walked up to me.
"Sir Chase, have you finished choosing your clothing? I've bought Earl Grey tea with me, I heard from Harry that you were always down for it, if you'd like some?"
Harry was my former butler for two years. I remembered the bulky tall sun tanned frame with golden tousled hair and blood like orbs. You would never miss his voice though, really deep but at the same time, haunting.
"I was digging Jasmine tea this morning, but that will do." I said, as I sat on the desk beside my bed.
"..and no, I haven't chosen what to wear yet. This closet is too big and the choices is of a wide variety. Could you make the choice for me?"
"I don't mind making Jasmine tea, if you don't mind waiting, Sir Chase. And yes, I would pick your clothes for today if it's what you want me to do." He said with a still smile, getting a grab of a tray with a teapot and a teacup with it and was motioning to go outside my room.
"I said Earl Grey is fine, Lennox. I appreciate the effort. Now will we get back to the morning routine?"
"Certainly, Young Master." As he placed the tray back to the coffee table near the door, and swiftly poured tea to a cup.
"Lennox?"
"Yes, Young Master?" He looked at me with very stern eyes. Sometimes I can't read his face. He would be smiling, but I have never saw him genuinely happy.
"I remember asking you to call me Chase." I shot back, just as he handed me my cup of tea, and knelt to my feet. He undid my slippers and my socks.
"Certainly, Sir Chase. Could you stand for me?"
I laid my tea back in the desk I was on and stood up. It was past 5:45 in my body clock, I had to be ready by 6:45 for breakfast. Breakfast is a big deal in this family, and I am certain that father would not be pleased with his son late for the morning ceremony.
Lennox undid the other pieces of my clothing, and turned my back to him, as he draped a towel off my shoulder. His hands would never touch my skin, well it was protocol, but i've seen how rough they looked.
"Sir Chase, please walk to the bath"
and I did as I was told.
"Please dip your elbow in this basin."
He handed me a glass basin, and I dipped the end of my elbows, a warm sensation quickly tensed me up. It was just the right hot and cold for the morning.
"That will do, Lennox."
He then took the drapes off my shoulders and motioned me to sit in the tub. So I did. Then he sat in a squat right behind me, just as I smelt vanilla and cinnamon.
"Please tilt your head backwards, and close your eyes for me." As I did, he poured warm water into my black locks and lathered shampoo for a while, and rinsed.
"Now, do you wish to scrub, or will a normal bath do it?" He asked as he sat beside the tub.
"I'm okay with the tub. I'm done I guess"
"Okay then. Please stand up."
I saw how his eyes wandered down as I stood, but growing up with butlers, you just don't care about privacy and being naked, at all.
"Ehem" I faked a cough.
His eyes quickly averted gaze as he dried me off, and lifted me up from the tub. Next thing I knew, i'm back in the bed, which was already made.
Crazy, I didn't even notice that he fixed my bed.
He then came back with a set of two hangers.
"Would you like button ups today or just a plain ruffle one? They're both white because I figured Monday is a nice day for white."
"I'll take the ruffle. And I would like beige Chinos with it, and plain black dress shoes. Also please bring me a beige vest, and prepare my coat." I cooed.
"I thought you wanted me to choose?" He said with a smile, as he took the plaid ruffle polo and helped me wear it.
"I could change my mind, you see." I dismissed with a chuckle.
"As always, Sir Chase." He went back to the closet, and figured out everything else I asked for. And while he was at it, I finished my tea.
