She's An Ugly Duckling

Chapter 3

Master's Type Is Erotic

Amori was furiously stamping and punching the cushions of the bed, fuming with rage between gritted teeth. This would be an exaggerated response for any person but for this person it was a torment in it's highest form, like making a mantis carry a melon. If she had known that to socialize would cost her this much she would have locked herself in the room for one knows how long.
Amori wiped her angry tears and cursed at her luck continuously until her stomach began to growl. She was deeply saddened to head downstairs ones again, but had to since she couldn't sit an allay her growling stomach with thoughts of food. Also the food here was really something to look forward to and now she couldn't help but accept that such delicacies were daily prepared by the hands of those devils she just met.

She quietly slipped on the single seat of the table and before her was already laid everything from starters to dessert. The food wasn't excess nor little, just the right amount to feed all the residing members of the house. Zukas sauntered towards the table with his gaze on his sleeves that he was pulling up, and when he glanced at the table he thought he was dreaming. Amori and his eyes met for a second but he settled down without further acknowledging her presence.

"Master, is it fine I sit at the table?" Asks the person who has already made the decision themselves.

"Help yourself," Zukas said and reached for a bowl.

"Down here at last?" Somebody beside whispered and passed by her to serve his young master. It was Gerald, again. She clicked her tongue and made a disgusted face at him and he politely returned it with a mocking smile. Teo was giggling when he saw her and that made Amori want to punch him in his face but she let it pass. {Alfred approached with a napkin and instead of handing it to Amori, he himself gently wiped in upon her lips, something he always did to the young master too. Amori flinched and swat away his hand but he still looked annoyingly pleased and repeated the same with his master. Zukas wasn't a bit fazed, only continued eating and this, Amori found it…a bit abnormal. She thought maybe master really swung that way. Though she found the action revolting she was enjoying it when Alfred subtly flirted with his master, and Zukas was all the while oblivious and busy reading from papers placed on the table.

"Young master, did you forget your etiquettes? Your servant humbly requests you to not read on the table, instead enjoy the meal," Alfred said, and Amori was  appalled at how casually Alfred could scold his master, perhaps  because they both shared a close master-servant relationship.

"Ah, yes sorry about that Alfred. I am a bit busy with the business this week, you can take the papers away. And of course the meal is splendid as usual," said Zukas, now paying heed to his plate. Alfred smiled and, to Amori's utmost surprise, reached for the papers that were placed the other side of Zukas in the process Alfred's chest paralleled Zukas' face. It was uncomfortably too close.

Such an obvious intimate position Alfred was purposely pulling and master still didn't realize it! Amori was sitting dumbfounded at her master's aloofness, and across the table there, Alfred snickered at her alarmed face.

"You smell nice today, Alfred," Zukas complimented. Amori chocked on the morsel in her throat, struggling to breathe which sounded like someone was having an asthma attack, but thanks to Alfred's fast reflex she was saved when he patted her back immediately. That was definitely not something a master would be saying to his male servant, unless they were actually quite intimate.

"Be careful," Alfred said, feigning innocence. Amori glanced at her master who had slightly concerned eyes on her.

"Have water," said Zukas, and Alfred poured water for her in a glass.

If one could look inside Zukas' head you would know that he found amusement in Amori's clumsy and impetuous behavior, unlike how he saw many delicate and self-restraint women of Elswood. He wondered how his brother would react to any of her conduct, knowing how much of a temper he had.