〈 Chapter 5 - Claws of Temptation 〉
"Hmpf. Show her how to do it properly. Explain clearly, step-by-step, so that she understands well."
Garnet stood in front of Mira and spoke with derision. Every word was dressed with impatience and restlessness. Mira's heart would jump from each command directed at her and the constant stress day after day kept her on edge. Daily, from morning until night, she had become the young lady's primary maidservant much to everyone's surprise, but not a single person envied her.
At the current moment Mira was being instructed on how to properly dress her lady. More experienced personal maids were at her side and yet they were merely relegated as instructors for her. It mystified all of them. Time after time, day after day, Mira had been instructed in all things under the close and scrutinizing watch of her lady. Each mistake she made caused her very soul overflow with anxiety, and the silent judgment of Garnet's expressionless face and piercing eyes compounded her concerns.
Why? Why was she being singled out and instructed to be the sole maid to do all these servant tasks for her master without help or assistance? What was the look in her lady's eye? What could she possibly be thinking by making her go through each and every task in such a well articulated, explained, and methodical way under her scrutiny?
Malaise was the best word to describe her sentiment. All these muddled feelings of hers were the product of Lady Garnet's incomprehensible and moody orders. Mira had heard from other maids who had served the Duke's family much longer that the lady's current actions were ill tempered as usual, but somehow different from her norm.
Mira wasn't a fool. She was aware that servants in the manor had begun to treat her differently. They pulled away and made her feel alienated. It was when Valentina, a young competent maid who had served Garnet for years, had come forward to warn her that Mira's heart became dark and gloomy.
"Don't be naive. Make sure to serve the lady to the utmost and never complain or speak out of turn. Watch your words. If you fail to do so you will only have yourself to blame should 'something' befall you."
Though it was spoken like a harsh verbal reprimand and the cold tone chilled her, Mira could feel the serious concern that Valentina expressed towards her. It was only Valentina that had bothered to speak words of warning towards her and Mira treasured them.
Mira had tried her best to watch her words just as she had been warned. She truly didn't need to be warned to do so as she had always been careful of overspeaking her bounds as a servant, however, Lady Garnet seemed to regularly engage in malicious banter and conversation with her. She was forced into a position where she didn't know whether to speak or stay silent. Was her lady prompting her to speak with her statements and gaze or was her lady merely engaging in self directed rhetoric?
Mira had opened her mouth and spoken on many occasions, for better or worse, due to this problem of her master's meandering conversation. Each night she would go to sleep wondering if the things she had said out of nervousness would come back to haunt her as Valentina had warned.
Nothing ever came of it though. Mira was not punished for her mistakes. She was not punished for her inexperienced and slow execution of her servant tasks. She was not punished beyond a few sharp words for whatever she said to her lady.
At this time Mira began to wonder if her lady was truly as bad as she had been described, but she soon retracted her naive thought.
Seated on a lounging chair her lady who had appeared to be lost in thought started up conversation with her. She supported her tilted head with her palm and casually rolled her eyes to stare at Mira.
"You."
Yes?
Mira simply stared back waiting for more.
"A second daughter to a viscount. What are you doing here in this mansion as my servant?"
There were no words that Mira could speak in response. She had no idea what to make of it.
"But of course this is the best place for you to be useful to your family for now ... However, what will your future be like? The years of your life rolling by. How will a good and filial daughter like you be rewarded?"
Garnet stood up and walked to Mira who could only shrink in place. The red eyes intensely staring at her were foreboding. It was difficult for her to maintain her composure so she turned her eyes down and away as if trying to escape.
"You have a brother who is actively serving your family and is slated to inherit the house. Your talented older sister is to be married off to someone of greater standing rather soon with a large dowry as leverage, but as for you ... you're not talented are you? It seems that only your elder brother was worth it to fund and send to the academy."
Mira could only be alarmed that Garnet had known this much about her family and bothered to examine it to this degree.
"So then someone like you, without a gift in academics or magic, was sent here to be useful to your family and within that family you are firmly in last place."
Mira looked up towards the girl who said so many hurtful things to her. She wasn't sure what kind of expression she was making.
"It's all true, every word, ... but I still love my family and I'm always doing my best to help them. I'm doing my best."
Garnet seemed to contemplate Mira's sad words for a moment before replying.
"Yes, you are doing your best aren't you? I've noticed, but has your family? Then what. You might be in last place to them, but here, right now, and to me you could be first."
Mira's head was spinning and before she knew it Garnet had grabbed her and began to pull on her anxiety induced clammy hand. She was pulled and pushed right in front of her lady's dresser mirror and forcefully seated on the stool.
"You're a very pretty girl."
Garnet gently rotated Mira's head to gaze into the mirror. Mira was completely lost as to what was happening and it terrified her. Being forced to stare at her own confused wide-eyed reflection filled with uneasiness was not helping.
"You make funny expressions too!"
Mira could only inwardly retort that her lady Garnet was the one to blame for it all, and as she thought that something was slipped over her neck. A silver necklace with a large red stone set in the pendant's centerpiece.
"It's good for pretty girls to adorn themselves sometimes don't you think? Ah, but perhaps with your sister's large dowry and your inadequacy ... what will be left for you exactly? You like helping your family very much! One day you might be able to get married to someone for your family too. Then you can continue to help others before yourself well into the future. To put it bluntly, your life's all pretty dreary isn't it?"
Mira had avoided thinking about many parts of her life and had committed herself to keeping herself focused solely on her work. Her duties had been a curse and a blessing in that respect since she needn't think about such depressing thoughts if she remained occupied.
"Mira, I want you to think about your own happiness because it's naive thinking that happiness will definitely be given to those who don't pursue it. As if happiness could ever be entitled and naturally appear with no effort. How wonderful a world it would be! Ohohoho."
Garnet threw her arms to her sides whimsically and smirked. Mira wasn't foolish enough or naive enough to ever believe happiness was so easy to obtain. It was much easier to ignore her own misfortunes. She thought that everyone needed to do so in order to move forward in their lives.
"Often a disproportionate amount of control over our lives is not placed in our own hands."
Mira felt two well manicured claws rest on her shoulders.
"It seems like you have a lot to lose. Mira. There are good maids and there are bad maids. What are you?"
Despite how she felt like crying she managed to choke out her words.
"I'm a good maid ..."
A large smile bloomed on Garnet's face at her uncomfortable words.
"Yes! You're an excellent maid. I've noticed how hard you try and how you've improved step by step. But when I say good maid what do I mean? What does a good maid do?"
Garnet waited patiently for Mira's reply. She panicked and her mind was grasping for even a modicum of the correct answer.
"A-a-a g-good maid does whatever she is asked."
"Not quite. You were very close though. A good maid does what her 'lady' asks to 'the best of her ability' in a 'clandestine manner'. You could be my 'good maid' Mira."
"You could have 'good' things."
Garnet carefully shook the necklace she had placed on Mira.
"You could have a 'good' husband, a 'good' home, a 'good' future, there are simply so many things I could help you with if you just work a little. Because truly good maids don't have to spend their whole lives working for leftovers. There are sometimes only so many opportunities that we get in life and regret is indeed very, very bitter."
The constant undertones were making Mira's head spin. She roughly understood what kind of expectations Garnet had even without knowing the specific requests she might ask. Besides, even if her head was muddled she could sense the meaning behind all of Garnet's blatant words. There was hardly an ounce of subtlety or any guesswork needed.
In her dazed state she found herself moved and seated at the couch in the room suddenly. She was vaguely aware of her lady telling her to rest and think for a while.
Many strange things were spoken, but in the end Mira couldn't deny that she also had unfulfilled desires and insecurities about her future. Garnet had been the only one in her whole life to seriously examine and consider her trifling plight and concerns. Mira thought or perhaps hoped that her lady Garnet was not so bad despite the implied threats and bribery. The hand that Garnet had inconceivably held out to her, a mere servant, was warm. However, she had the desire to immediately recant those favourable thoughts the moment she saw the insincere self-pleased smile blossoming on Garnet's face. Her grin was simply too villainous to be fully trusted!
Time spun and another day passed.
Somehow Mira found herself watching the tea she brewed flowing in an elegant parabolic arc towards the floor of the sitting room. The one lazily holding the cup with an outstretched arm was none other than her mistress Garnet. After only one day of being a 'good maid' she already felt like she was the other, a 'bad maid'.
Two others silently stood in the room to watch this skit. Valentina and Teresa seemed to be taken by surprise at the sudden turn of events. Quickly looking over at Mira before shooting their heads down in silence.
"You would have me drink this?"
Garnet tapped the last drop out of the cup. Even though Mira had been told beforehand she still found it impossible to have the right words to speak in response and before she was able to say anything she was cut off.
"Maybe I should have you try it yourself?"
Garnet looked down at the ground seeming to imply something. Even though Mira had been told beforehand, Garnet's act still seemed so authentic that she thought this was perhaps the superficial reflection of the darkness within her soul! Her true nature might really be forever condescending!
Despite it all Mira played her part. She had no idea why she was doing this. She had no idea why Garnet had wanted this nonsensical act from her. She simply knelt down on her hands and knees in front of the puddle to draw in the shocked eyes and raised eyebrows of her audience.
"Hmpf. This isn't fun anymore."
Garnet stood up and placed her teacup on Mira's head, then she promptly left the room with Valentina and Teresa in tow.
Rotating the cup in her hands Mira pondered to no avail why she, a 'good maid', had become a 'good coaster'.
〈 Author's Notes 〉
Hello. I want everyone to know that I'll never go on hiatus. The story's my baby. Can't and NEVER will give up on it. If I don't post for like 3 months or more it just means that something bad has happened to me, like I got run over and then reincarnated in a fantasy world or something.
So, I think it's more fun to tell the story from many people's POVs. Since I spent so much time trying to build up various character's backgrounds and personalities I might as well put that stuff to use. Garnet's not the only character yo! Other people exist and have business too.
People don't realize that they get 3 votes on the poll. More votes for the wise. Ohohoho.
Also, imatryin to think up more options ferde poll. Gibe me da ideas. Suggestions are appreciated.
I wanted 4 couldn't input minion #1
@Tenmosu I wanted 5
I'm surprised that nobody is picking "Mira is being deceived". People must feel that Garnet really likes Mira and actually has the intention to be true to her word, which feels ... good. She's coming off as the "not honest with their feelings" type, but I think at this point her relationship with Mira is more or less out of necessity and the relationship doesn't really have emotions yet. Garnet isn't a bad person ... she just does bad things and talks bad. For some reason I am imagining "Pinky and the Brain" right now. Whoa it totally fits. Two mice trapped together in the confines of the cage/prison of their unfortunate situations, but they're sorta friends. It really fits, but the mental aesthetics of picturing Garnet as the Brain is killing me and Mira will never be that stupid.
The reason no one is picking 'Mira is being deceived' Is cause she's totally the last boss. The MC needs to go all Dark Souls on her ass by the end of it.
Maybe Its because I'm tired because I just came back from a long day at work or maybe I'm just dumb. What happened at the end there. She became a coaster?
Yeah, she became a tea coaster. Mira was told beforehand by Garnet that she was to perform this skit with her. Mira does it, but she is completely baffled as to why Garnet wanted to perform this demeaning act with her in front of others. Some of Garnet's rational for doing this, which the reader can make guesses about, was simply to alleviate the suspicion swirling about her due to her sudden personality change. I do not know whether it will be effective or just pointless effort on her part. Anyways, I could have named this chapter "Garnet tries to make a friend LAWL". It was a really fun chapter to write since I really got into the villainess mood and also because I got to mess with my character Mira.
*trying to hug Garnet in vain* Trying so hard to be nice a single time, but instead fails completely and sounds like a mafioso. Come, let´s give you a hug. Don't be disappointed, you are a good girl, one day you will succeed in communicating with the lowly peasantry, I am sure. You are just misunderstood!
I don't really know anything about the mafia. Next to nothing about any kind of mafia. So writing for Garnet this chapter was simply natural for me (Maybe I just like the feel of intimidation and bribery. It's bad news!). The things that come out of her mouth are somehow naturally villainous. If she was trying to make a friend it would somehow turn out like this. If you managed to hug Garnet I'm sure that she would be very confused and panic.
@Yorda I know, that was what made this chapter so wonderful. Everything she said sounded so beautifully naturally villainous and threatening despite the fact that she wasn't even trying. But I know she is soft inside and needs a hug.⊂(・ω・*⊂)
haha, I really enjoy your writing style.
"However, she had the desire to immediately recant those favourable thoughts the moment she saw the insincere self-pleased smile blossoming on Garnet's face. Her grin was simply too villainous to be fully trusted!"
That line made me laugh aloud
That aside, every time I read a new chapter of this story my mind just races through a zillion possibilities, wondering "where are we headed with this?" but alas, it's still a bit too early to tell. I suppose there's nothing for it but to keep eagerly following along.
I'm glad that you liked it so much. I really liked that part too, so I wrote it.
It's unfortunate for Garnet that her face is so naturally villainous. Somebody should tell her to not smile for her own good. It'll take her some more time before she becomes self aware of the effect of these involuntary actions ... and then she might start smiling on purpose.
Yes, where am I taking this! Ohohoho. I have a general story outline that I am following right now and I keep refining all the information on character profiles, events, and settings. I'm trying to keep all the characters relevant.
Now we just need a Step-mother POV.
So you've returned all the way from chapter 1. Oh dear. Tell me what you want from a step-mother.
I really can't make any guarantees, but you seem to be an expert (on step-mothers) and I could use ideas.
*Waiting patiently for the stepmother ship to set sail.
@ChickenSoup LOL
This is not impossible, but it is a massive hurdle. The only successful example I have of gender bender X step-mother is "circle zero's otherworldly hero business". Actually, it is incredible that I even know the existence of a Gender Bender X Step-mother story at all. They don't grow on trees after all.
@Yorda I love the Circle Zero story just for how weird and great it is. I'm always a fan of the serious MC's that are put into really weird and funny situations.
Also, I'd defiantly want the step-mother to be the evil one that is cruel to the world and is always trying to hatch schemes. Just so when the ship starts. She's going to be flustered quite a lot and very confused. I kind of picture her starting to get crueler to the MC as a way to cope with the feelings tell the eventual climax.
I do like the idea that everyone knows how she treats the daughter and is all the more confused when they start getting more lovey-dovey. I guess you could always combine both of these. But seriously, female MC x Evil Step-mother for the win!
@Yorda Wait. What the hell's wrong with me?! I'm the author and I should know that it's Garnet's "Official Mother" not a step-mother. Where is this step-mother stuff coming from!?!? People are saying step-mother so confidently, but I have no idea where it's coming from. They want Garnet X Step-mother so bad that reality is warping.
@Yorda I now just imagine some poor mother sitting there as reality starts to warp and people start calling her step-mother...
@SovietWeeb It's happening as we speak.