"Excuse me," I call at the maid, who stops to smile politely.
"May I help you?" she asks. Her inquisitive eyes scan me over, visibly puzzled by my acknowledgement of her.
"Ah, yes, would you mind if I had a word with you about your time working here?"
The maid glances about nervously. Her hand rests gently on her necklace. She must know that's why I chose to talk to her. I haven't seen many others wearing a necklace of the Three Mothers. It's surprising Lore hired her at all unless he's trying to save face by hiring someone like they're proof that he doesn't mind.
The maid nods over her shoulder towards a lounge. We go there together. She peeks out the door, then shuts them prior to taking a seat on one of the couches. I sit next to her and get straight to the point because there's no telling when we may be interrupted; "How long have you been working for Lord Seymour, Miss...?"
"Maisy, Sir Paladin. I've been here for almost seven years now," Maisy replies. "My sister works here as well, but she has been here for ten years."
"I see, then has he treated you and the other works well during all this time?
"Incredibly well, although I know you may not want to believe that." She smiles almost apologetically. "We're well compensated for our work and there have been a few times where my co-workers have struggled financially. Lord Seymour always provides and never expects anything in return."
"So you'd say he's a good man?"
Maisy hesitates to respond, which confuses me based on what she has said thus far. Grasping her necklace, she takes a deep breath, then answers, "I do not believe in judging others, vampire, dhampir, or mortal, without first looking at their actions. I believe that is what the Three Mothers truly desire. I have seen Lord Seymour act kindly over the years, but I do not know him well enough to proclaim he is always a good man. There are times where he acts... rather odd."
"Odd how?"
"I don't know how to explain it, but he... his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, as if he's faking his moods. I know we all do it from time to time, but sometimes it's-it's, uh, frightening." She shivers at whatever memory comes to mind.
"There's also all the business trips, far more than what I've heard of others working under Lords, and he disappears at all hours of the day and night to only the mothers know where, as does Sir Draven. None of us ever ask what their business is, but all of them are in on it," Maisy whispers the last bit, leaning in to continue. "Miss Arline and Sir Cyan, I mean. It feels like they're security, waiting for someone to attack the manor, although it has never happened before. At least not that any of us are aware of. It does make me a bit suspicious."
It makes me suspicious too, although those disappearances could have to do with his work alongside the precinct.
"How do the other works feel, like your sister? Do they feel similarly to you?" I inquire.
The more information I have, the more I can give to the church. If what Maisy says is true and things continue going as they have, I may have to inform the church that they're suspecting the wrong man. Lore is innocent, at least as the serial killer we're searching for. There's still no telling if he played a part in the deaths of his previous family though.
Maisy nods. "We all have discussed these sometimes strange behaviors and disappearances, but Lord Seymour has been so kind that we've chosen not to look too deep into it."
She suddenly grasps my hands, holding them gently between us. "I can only take a guess why you're asking me all this, but I do want to add a bit more. Regardless of the odd behavior and disappearances, even if they worry me at times, I do earnestly believe that Lord Seymour has his reasons. Maybe he's hiding his work at the precinct or feeling stressed, but I simply can't imagine him being of any concern to the church or anyone."
Maisy holds my hands a little tighter while waiting for a response that I'm not sure how to give. She doesn't appear to be lying, although I have to consider that Lore put her up to this. He may have already talked to his staff. There are plenty of options, too many that I have to tiptoe around everything. At the end of the day, I also can't take the word of one maid while also having to at least take it into consideration. Yeah, I'm really not built for this kind of work...
"Thanks for speaking honestly with me, Maisy. I truly appreciate it." I offer her a smile.
Maisy releases my hands to stand and bow her head politely. "It's an honor to help the Holy Church. Have a pleasant day, Sir Paladin."
"You as well." I watch her exit the lounge, then fall back into the couch.
I wish I could feel only relief knowing Lore treats his workers kindly, but everything is convoluted. Maybe this is simply the truth and I can finally head home. I don't belong here nor am I meant for this kind of work. But I doubt the church will take what I've learned thus far and deem him innocent. I haven't been here long enough. Time may reveal new truths.
Being on my own allows me to traverse the first floor more thoroughly. My casts don't reveal much of anything. No hidden trapdoors, which all manors should have, in my honest opinion. What a lost opportunity. No hidden money in the walls like Ikehn's. No sign of anything peculiar, but that may mean Lore moved whatever he might have been hiding prior to my visit; under the assumption that he's the culprit, of course.
The last place I visit is the library, which is much more extensive than Ikehn's. I suppose that makes sense seeing as Lore's over 200 years old. He has plenty of time to collect some rather impressive books; even some original prints of what are now considered classics.
I brush my fingers over the spines, then slip a few books off the shelf. I've never had much time for reading. In fact, the only books I've ever completed are the Three Mothers Doctrine. Perhaps my time here could let me read purely for entertainment?
Setting a book aside, I go to grab another when the library doors open. I hesitate in retrieving the book to glance at the end of the aisle where Lore peeks his head around the corner. He smirks upon seeing me, which is enough to tell me that he's about to say something annoying.
"What a rebel." He whistles, waltzing towards me.
"I beg your pardon?"
Lore nods his head at the book in my grasp. "Grabbing a fantasy novel with a dhampir main character. Oh dear, I don't think the Holy Church would approve of such indulgence."
My skin breaks out with goosebumps when Lore brushes his hand over mine. He retrieves the book, flipping through the pages with an impish leer. "Should the church discover you were about to read this, they may cast you out, but don't worry too much. My bedroom doors are open to you."
"...don't you just mean your doors?"
Lore snaps the book shut. "No, I said what I said."
I hate that his words make me gulp.
Grumbling, I snatch the book from Lore to shove back onto the shelf. "Can you refrain from annoying me for a single day--"
"Absolutely not, I take great pleasure in it."
I ignore him in order to continue, "I wasn't going to read it. I was looking around. You have quite the collection."
Nodding, he looks about the library too as if he's remembering having read them all. Honestly though, it doesn't seem like 200 years is enough to read this much.
"I enjoy reading when I have the time," he says, then taps the spine of the book again. "You should give this a read though. It's a beautiful love story between a mysterious dhampir spy and his forbidden love, a priest to the Holy Church."
I twist my nose, half not believing him and half expecting it to be true because I've been having that kind of bad luck lately.
"I'd rather not. It sounds like a tragedy," I say.
"Suppose that depends on what you consider a tragedy."
"When they both die at the end."
"Then it is not a tragedy," Lore shrugs. "But I won't say more in case you get over yourself and give it a read."
That won't happen, but if I say that out loud Lore will lead the conversation in some strange direction. As usual.
"Is there a reason you've come to see me? I thought you were busy today." I walk around him in an attempt to escape.
"I do have something I wish to discuss," he says, heading further into the library to sit on a couch. He gestures for me to come over, even patting the cushion next to him. As if I'd sit that close. I sit on the chair across from him, which makes him smirk.
"I have an update from Draven," he declares.
- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -
Seren has managed to interview a maid working for Lore. What do you think about what she had to say about Lore, especially considering she's a follower of the church? What kind of update has Draven given?