Doomed to Love

His Mistress, Determined

"Young Mistress! It's time to wake up!" I called out to my new mistress, kneeling at the foot of her bed. A young girl named Valarie Amoureux. Apparently, she is known as the heiress of the Amoureux Family. A highly well known family of nobles. She's 7 years of age though. I can't see how she is already an heiress. Must have something to do with why I'm here.

"Mmm... Go away, Sebastian!" She groaned at me. And then I felt a pillow hit the back of my head.

She threw a pillow at me... It's on, I thought to myself.

"My Lady." Standing up, I said, trying to reason with her. "As your butler, I can go to drastic measures if the time calls for it. Please don't-."

*THWACK*

A pillow slapped me across the face.

"Whap, goes the pillow!" Valarie sang in the tune of 'Pop! Goes the Weasel', looking up at me and smiling at me.

I gave her a straight face. And then I scooped her out of bed and carried her over my shoulders like a sack of flour, kicking and screaming.

"SEBASTIAN! PUT ME DOWN!!"

After taking her to the bathroom, I set her down on the floor and put on a blindfold.

"Alright, Lady Valarie. It's time to take a bath."

"You're gonna bathe me?" I couldn't see her, but from the sound of her voice I could tell that her nose was scrunched up like it always is when she's pouting.

"Yes. You don't know how to bathe yourself yet. Or how to get dressed. Or how to undress. Or how to eat properly. The list goes on and on."

"Well, I have mastered how to be a proper lady last year!"

"Really?"

"Yes. Every little boy or girl Amoureux masters how to be a proper lady or gentleman respectively by the age of 6 so they may begin training to be an assassin by the age of 7. It's tradition."

"Alright, Miss Tradition. Come over here so I can take off your clothes and give you your bath! You like to take baths, remember?"

"...Fine. I'm coming."

~After Bathing~

"Alright. Time to dry you off."

"Noooo~! Sebastian!" She whined at me. "The water feels so good!"

"Young Mistress, your food will get cold." I countered, pulling out the big guns.

Two beats went by before she responded.

"Okay, I'm coming." I heard her climb out of the tub, and then she tapped my shoulder.

"Alright then." I sighed, as I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her.

"Sebastian, what's for breakfast anyways?" She asked me as I dried her hair.

"Today for morning meal, we have poached eggs with sausage, orange juice, and a cup of Citrus Lavender Sage Herbal Tea. I hope milady will enjoy it." I sighed as I finished drying her off. "Young Miss, I have selected your wardrobe for the day. Your morning attire is on the foot of your bed. If you could put on your undergarments by yourself, it would be most helpful. I must attend to something of the utmost importance. I will return shortly." I placed my right hand against my chest where my heart was and bowed to my young mistress.

"Hm. So be it, Sebastian. You are dismissed until further notice." She replied, and then added, "Which will probably be in about 5 minutes, so make it quick."

"As you wish, milady." And with that, I left the bathroom.

I couldn't go out and actually find people to be my mistress's servants, given my time limit. So for now, I would just have to go do some research.

With that in mind, I ran as fast as I could to the newspaper stand and bought 2 copies. One for myself, and one for the young miss. Even if she hates newspapers, as the heiress of the Amoureux Family she should know what is going on in the world around her. I walked back to the estate, scanning the news for people that could help protect my Lady.

Hmpf. Like anyone of use to me will be talked about in the newspaper... I thought to myself. I suddenly saw something that piqued my interest. Hmm... What's this? "Elemental Super Soldier? British Scientists, with help from their fellow Alchemists, have been doing experiments to create a genetically altered soldier." Bingo. "The soldier will have their strength doubled, but that is not the main part. They will be able to control lightening, water, fire, and trees. All by directing chemical reactions on their skin..." Blah, blah, blah. I don't really care how it works. Just tell me if they have tried it on someone! I cried out of frustration in my brain Aha! Here we go! "This operation has been done on a very gracious volunteer by the name of Jonathon Wallace." Yes. That helps so much. That names at least a thousand people! Oh, wait! Here it is! "He is being kept in a research facility in Carrickmacross, Ireland." Hm. That was oddly specific for something that should be so secretive. I wonder if the project is nearly complete? Maybe they're just being arrogant. That's much more likely. I shall check up on this Mr. Jonathon later this evening, while my young mistress goes to sleep.

I suddenly felt a sharp stinging sensation in my right hand, where my seal was.

"Ah, the Young Miss beckons." I check my golden pocket watch. "Oh, hell. I'm late!" I growled as I realized that I have been away for more than 15 minutes. I flashed back to the manor, just outside the young mistress's room.

"SEBASTIAN!!! WHERE ARE YOU?! COME BACK TO HELP ME WITH MY CLOTHES! THIS IS AN ORDER!!" I heard her yell from inside.

"Coming, milady, coming." I replied, opening the door to her room. "Forgive my tardiness, and the intrusion. I got a little lost in my research." I said, bowing.

"Gah. Whatever. Just help me into this travesty people call a dress. Seriously, why I am forced to don such ghastly garbs, I shall never know." She grumbled, and turned her back to me as I approached.

"Come, now, Young Mistress." I said into her ear, soothingly. "A dress is something that makes even the most tomboyish of all ladies, look elegant. Just wait until you are 14. That's when the inhumanity comes into women's clothing." While I talked, I helped her into her morning dress.

It looked rather good on her.

She turned around to look at me. "Oh, really? And just what is that, Sebastian?" She asked me innocently.

I looked her straight in the eyes, before giving a closed-eye smile and replying.

"Why, corsets, of course!"