Butler, Dear Butler | On Hold |

4. Master

The master he was destined to serve had grown in 2 years. From a feisty 7 year old brat to contained by arrogant little 9 year old. Her words and actions certainly held much more nobility but lacked the graceful standard of someone older. 

Her tall stature did nothing to help. She looked awkward in her own body. Even her sense of style had changed. From the lacy vibrant colors to subdued dark patterned fabric with white and gold highlights. She made herself look so much more flashy.

Currently she stared arrogantly at the little six year old with a waist bent into a bow. He looked far more refined than the dead-eyed little boy she smacked around years ago.

He'd grown up, showing off a more refined look a normal six year old. His face mature and smooth with just a little bit of baby fat. He had a thin nose and hooded eyes that made him look melancholy and mature. Perhaps his demeanor also effected his appearance causing him to look older then he actually was.

He was dressed in a sharp three piece service uniform that was a uniform dark grey and cream white. His once light brown even changed color, turning almost burnt brown in comparison. His green eyes were much more yellow then before. He said in a polite tone. "Young Mistress. I have been assigned to serve you permanently."

The young lady, Miss. Ephani Aron Lesfield, Daughter of the North Duke, was incredible perturbed. She absolutely hated those green eyes that reminded her of her runaway sister. She also hated that dead stare that held nothing of worth. It was like he did not appreciate her. It made her angry.

Fortunately, she was a lady. All she showed was a slight furrow of the brow and a curl of the lip. She snorted and turned her face. "Low born, you dare show your face here again. I should have you whipped for impudence."

The boy showed no reaction. "Where is this lowly servant's fault? Tell this servant and he shall adjust."

At that the indignant lady puffed up her cheeks which were flushed red in anger. "You presume not to know." She slammed her dainty healed shoe the top of his bowed head. The two guards who stood at the open entrance winced slightly. "I will never dare lower myself to inform a servant."

The boys head bowed lower. His spine curved downward and made a noticeable cracking sound with the stretch. "This lowly servant shall atone. Shall I go get the whip?"

The foot suddenly lifted as the lady stumbled slightly, a look of astonishment crossing her face. "Wha-ha? What is wrong with you, servant!? Can't you see that I was trying to intimidate you? Are you stupid!"

The boy began to kneel and continued to bow lower till his forehead touched the floor with an audible thud. "If that is what I must be, I shall be stupid for my Young Mistress."

"G-get up this instance! You stupid servant, why are you doing that!" She stuttered, her feathers obviously ruffled. The boy did was he was told and rose to show off the red mark he'd added to his forehead. Still he stared indifferently, as if it was nothing for him to care about. 

It frustrated her even more. He didn't put her in his eyes, that much she could tell, but did he even put himself within his care? He must be dumb! What kind of horrible training had this poor 6 year old gone through to act like this?

Unconsciously she'd changed from frustration to worry. His young mistress was obviously still innocent. The boy's lips lifted unnoticeably.

He went about his day, trailing after the uncomfortably prim and proper young miss, he'd been noticed by all of the servants who passed. Perhaps that could not recognize exactly who he was but a trace of familiarity was bound to flicker across their minds. 

When Moyin left two years ago he did not say goodbye. He doubted they would remember anything accept his eyes and indifference. In the school he'd gone to, this was a trait he had been praised for instead of despised. His teachers said he had the perfect attitude for a main servant.

His first was actually not the start of his job, but an introduction to the new master he would be serving. An older lady, a nanny, had been in charge of the miss before him but as the miss grew older, she would need someone new to take care of her. The nanny spoke softly to him as she introduced his work.

She was higher level servant and mostly spent time with the children so he doubted she had seen him in person. 

Compared to most noble women, she could be said to be far less fancy. However her clipped speech and pinched mouth made up for any loss of status. Although she looked stern she was fairly kind to him.

She told him of each job he was allowed to do currently then she added what she did and how he would take over. It was just a brief summary as he already learned most of this kind of stuff in training. The 'lady's in waiting' for the Young Miss are limited it what they do for their Miss. 

The only female servants allowed in the presence of the Main Hall are those belonging to the Wife of the House. As the elderly live separate, this is also not a problem. It's a dominance play really. 

All upper Nobles have servants. Supposedly females cause disturbances for the males. Females actually have far more power in this world so outlawing female and male interactions is not something too outrageous for the ruling females to attempt.  So to make up for lack of females with servants, male servants were allowed to serve girls until they are married.

Most male servants are drugged to make them impotent when in servitude. For that, no male really wants to serve a Young Miss. However it didn't much matter to Moyin. It's not like he liked girls anyway.

| Author's Note |

I actually did not do much research before I started writing this which is not very professional of me. I found a website that provides ranks and jobs for servant titles and found no real title for servants who serve only one master. I suppose Valet would be the most proper but they usually serve (as the article states) 'gentlemen and elderly gentlemen'.

Butlers are usually in charge of those under him and have an apprenticeship before claiming their titles. I suppose he'd be an apprentice butler. No, maybe a personal servant. It doesn't have a title but I imagine, since this is a fantasy world, I can stretch where I need to accommodate.

Unedited. 1100 words.