I woke up and saw the dark sky. It was only five in the morning of the spring season. However, there are already servants who are cleaning the garden. They usually wake up by four, according to Josephine, and prepare for work.
At this time, everyone in the family is still asleep. That gives me the liberty to roam around unnoticed. Servants usually enter the house to start doing their assigned tasks when the sun starts to appear.
After wearing a beige chiffon dress that mildly touches the floor, I carried Pyry on my arms and we left my bedroom to go to the conservatory. This is my third most favorite place in the manor, following my own room and the library.
I let Pyry roam around. He'll probably mess some of the rare plants here but surely they would understand it.
While checking each of the plants to see if they are in good condition, the glass door opened and Josephine bowed. "Good morning, Young Lady."
"Good morning too, Josephine. You spotted me quickly than I thought."
"You weren't in your room nor in the library so I suspected that you're here." See? Even Josephine knows where to find me. "Do you want anything for breakfast?"
"I'll have my usual breakfast and morning tea here in the conservatory. Please bring Pyry's food as well. Thank you!"
"As you wish, Young Lady." She bowed once again and left the conservatory to do what I told her.
One of the family's gardeners, Bartholomew, entered the conservatory and bowed as soon as he spotted me. "Good morning, Young Lady."
"Good morning too, Bartholomew. Please do not mind me as you work."
"I'm hoping that I can, Young Lady."
"You can tell it to me right away if I'm disturbing you, okay? Please do not hesitate." He nodded at me and proceeded to his work.
Bartholomew and Henry are our gardeners. They are both degree holders, with the former finishing Agricultural Biotechnology while the latter graduated from Agricultural Management and Entrepreneurship. They are childhood chums, so they synchronize really well. Other than being a worker in our family, they also run a plant shop in which their patron is Father who offered them help to grow their business. And yeah, they're still doing well until now.
During school vacations, I frequently spend some time gardening with them and exchange information with each other. Of course, there were times that Mother would scold me if I appear with dirts and soils in front of her. She would usually sigh and tell me to change my clothes. After that, she'll ask me if I learned something new and if I enjoyed bathing in soil.
Josephine arrived after few minutes along with Christina, one of the kitchen staffs. They both placed the tray they're holding on the table. "Young Lady, Your lordship and ladyship is seatching for you earlier. I told them that you are here at the conservatory, and they left afterwards."
"All right, thank you, Josephine, Christina." The latter bowed at me and left the conservatory. I smiled at Josephine as she started pouring tea in my teacup. "My brothers?"
'They've also left along with Your lordship and ladyship."
"I see. Would you like to accompany me in breakfast?"
"Thank you, Young Lady, but I've already eaten mine. I will just keep an eye on Pyry so you can eat."
"Okay, if that is what you said."
In the middle of eating my breakfast, I noticed John rushing here. He quickly opened the door and bowed as he approached our table. "I apologize for the intrusion, Young Lady. I'm here to tell that your cousins has already arrived."
I forced a smile at him and nodded. "Thank you, John. Please tell them I'll be there in a couple of minutes." He bowed once again and left the conservatory calmer than earlier. I faced Josephine who's worried. "Please bring Pyry in my room, Josephine. I'll be welcoming them."
"Are you sure, Young Lady?" I nodded and patted her shoulder, assuring her. "As you wish, then."
We left the conservatory and went on opposite directions since she'll be hiding Pyry in my room. I took a deep inhale as I entered our house and walked along the hallway. As soon as the servants notice me, they stood on the sides and bowed.
I wore a smile again as I stopped in front of the doorway. "I am deeply grateful for having all of you visit our residence after five years."
"Did Marquess already informed you?"
"Yes, Miss Cassidy. However, Father and Mother are not present here for the meantime. Rest assured that they will return by lunch so  --"
"Okay, good to hear that." She faced the servants. "Oi, bring our things in our rooms."
But no one from them even moved an inch so I eyed them. "Please bring their luggages in their respective rooms."
"Yes, Young Lady," they all replied and started moving.
"Maybe you have to, at least, decrease your bossy tone, Miss Cassidy. Although they are servants, I believe we should still pay them respect as humans."
Miss Cassidy tsked and entered the house, completely ignoring me. Josephine, luckily, arrived in few seconds and stood beside me. "It's just seven in the morning yet they're already setting up a bad ambiance in the manor."
"Calm yourself, Josephine. You won't be able to think properly if you let your anger govern your mind."
She deeply sighed and nodded. "And, what do you want to do, Young Lady?"
"I'll be checking each corner of the house to make sure that everything's clean and neat."
I entered my room after an hour of doing a rounds within the manor. Josephine prepared Pyry's things as he woke up while I opened a semi-autobiographical novel of a famous classic writer.
"Aren't you going to do your other jobs, Josephine?" She stopped and gapped her mouth, hesitating to speak. "Don't worry about me."
"It's not that I don't believe you, Young Lady, but..."
"But?"
"I don't think that they will leave you alone."
"If you're still worrying, then, I'll not leave my bedroom, Josephine." I went to her and patted her shoulder. "Is it enough?"
She sighed and nodded. "I'll take your word, Young Lady. But please, shout or call me right away if something happens."
"Thank you, Josephine. You may now go." She bowed at me and left my bedroom. I faced Pyry who's eating his cat food. "And now, what should I do... Elia?"
As I flipped to the next page, the door suddenly opened which even startled Pyry. I immediately stood up and rested the closed book on the table. "Your bedroom looks different from before, Young Lady. For someone who isn't even a De Loughrey, you have quite a grand room. More like a gold digger."
Pyry started growling and have his tail raised up high. Before they could say a word about my pet cat, I quickly hid him inside his cage. "H-How may I help you..."
Cassidy slowly walked towards me, glaring right into my eyes. "Leave this manor." My eyes widened at her and she chuckled. "You can't?" She raised my teacup, pouring its contents on the carpet. "Oh my, the tea spilled." She glanced at me and removed her grip on the teacup, making it fall into pieces on the floor. "Oh my! What should I do?"
All I wish now is for no one to arrive near my bedroom.
"Ah, I know what to do." She slowly walked towards me while I remained standing nervously. "Why don't you lick it, orphan?" I only stared on the carpet stain and slowly felt my nails burying on my palm. "I never liked silent treatment, Azariella Luthien."
"Oi, oi, orphan, show some respect to your senior," Leila dissed, follwed by their laughter.
I almost screamed when Cassidy gripped my hair tightly, lifting my face up. "Lock the door."
"I-I'll clean it, M-Miss Cassidy..."
As soon as I heard the clicking sound of the knob, all I could really hope is for no one to stumble upon this corridor. No one, even Josephine. They shouldn't -- they mustn't.
"I apologize, orphan, but I've changed my mind!" I quickly covered my mouth, enduring the pain as she punched my stomach. "Ho, trying not to scream? I guess lowest life forms like you are obedients. Though you act a little bit too late."
In front of them, I am powerless. Not that I don't have anything to do, but I chose to do nothing.
And so, I endured everything while stopping myself from groaning in pain so no one would hear my voice. From their verbal mockery to inflicting physical pains. I've... endured... all of it. I will endure everything.
I am in no place to oppose them. No. I chose not to be in the proper place to oppose them.
Cassidy held my neck tightly and pinned me on the wall. "You are a goddamn gold digger, orphan. You are living a luxury life and acting up like the heroine that children always wanted to be as if you're a real De Loughrey. Just in case you forgot, you are not part of this family. You... are not welcomed in the family of De Loughrey."
"Well, she's a kid who got abandoned by her parents so we should've expected her thirst for fame and recognition, Cassidy. Lowest life forms always want to be on top."
"A kid who got abandoned, huh? I wonder why your parents did that to you."
"I think I already know. She's a thief!" Their laughters echoed in the room. "How about that, orphan? What do you thnk?"
"Nah, she'll not speak, no matter how much pain we give to her for being so shameless." Cassidy smirked at me and threw me on the floor. "I've gotten thirsty as hell. Could you prepare a tea for me, Young Lady?"
Using all might I have, I nodded and stood up. As soon as I lifted the teapot, Cassidy took the fork and buried it into my hand. The pain was three-fold than I'm experiencing, but I still suppressed my own voice.
She quickly pulled it out and threw it on the floor. "Did you end up mute or acting almighty?"
The knob started clicking again and again. "Young Lady!" Josephine rushed inside and stood beside md. "Please leave her bedroom right now."
"I ses. A maid serving the lowest class. That's pretty rare. Anyway, I'm done with my business here, so we'll leave now."
As the door closed, Josephine worriedly gazed at me. "You told me you will protect yourself..."
"I'm sorry for making you worry. I'm fine --"
"You're not, Young Lady!" Her eyes widened as soon as she realized something and bowed. "I'm sorry for raising my voice. I'll treat your wounds first before fixing your room."
"Thank you, Josephine."
"I am your personal aide. You have nothing to be thankful for. This is my job." She took the first aid kit as I sat on my chair and Josephine began treating my bruises, including the most painful one on my hand.
Of all the secrets of the De Loughrey family, this one is the most crucial. And yes, I was once belong to the lowest of the lowest hierarchy -- an orphan.