Next Morning.
Ruby spat out a long ragged breath. The birds hadn't even begun to chirp when she completed her second round.
She glanced around her surroundings, before checking the brand new watch on her wrist.
It's 8 a.m. sharp in the morning. Why was it so quiet?
"Breakfast will be served in 15 minutes. Madam, would you like to have them in your room or somewhere else?"
The butler told her as Ruby accepted her towel from the old man. Speaking of the butler, he had come to her the moment she emerged out of her room in the stead of Mario. The watch was also provided by the old man when she asked for the time.
Looking at how stiff yet impeccably professional the silver-haired masked man was, Ruby assumed that he must be assigned to watch over her by Mario, or maybe the Fourth Prince to be precise.
Still, the butler's words made her eyebrows crease.
"Why in my room? What about the prince? Aren't we going to have breakfast together?"
The butler didn't seem at all affected by her sudden inquiry. "The madam can be assured. The master doesn't have the habit of eating breakfast."
"What about lunch?" She pressed on.
"He doesn't have that habit either."
"Dinner?"
The butler shook his head.
Ruby: "..."
"When can I meet him then? Does he have no plan to see me at all?"
Ruby helplessly asked. The prince was truly weird. No, he didn't sound human at all! Even a rock needs to absorb water to stay fit. What was he? An immortal?
"You'll be able to meet the master when he calls for you. It is the same when he wishes to eat or drink something—we wait."
"..."
Ruby was left speechless. And here she was, thinking that she would have to prepare herself in case the prince pressured her about her identity again. She set the thought aside..
"What about Nanny Mandy? Can you bring me to her?"
The butler paused for a moment, then nodded. "That should be allowed. I'll show you the way once breakfast is served.
Ruby obediently followed the butler's arrangement.
The breakfast was laid out in the dining room as she had requested. It was both hearty and lavish. However, although she was physically satisfied, Ruby couldn't help but feel uneasy about the whole stuffy atmosphere.
Again. Why was everything so quiet? It was as if she was the only one living and breathing in this spacious castle-like estate. Where were the maids? What about the other soundless assassins?
Although Ruby feared the sight of guns pointing at her, she feared ghosts and the likes of them even more.
Ruby unconsciously shivered. What was she thinking? Ghosts were only something from the movies… right?
From behind her, a faint rustle resounded, nearly scaring the hell out of her.
It was the butler. He had finally returned after leaving her alone for nearly half an hour.
Ruby heaved out a sigh of relief.
"Sir Butler, can I see Nanny Mandy now?"
The old butler nodded, signalling for her to follow him. Once Ruby left her seat, a pair of masked maids appeared out of nowhere, clearing the table in the count of seconds.
Ruby blankly stared at them, the ends of her lips twitching incessantly. What were they riding on? The wind? What's with the rush? Also, had they been nearby all this time? No wonder the shiver behind her back.
And here she was, thinking that a ghost might have fancied her. Ruby rubbed her arms together, speaking out her mind out of frustration.
"Sir Butler, can't the others just stay around us? To be honest, I can't cope with the silence that well. I like the crowd more."
"The Master doesn't fancy the presence of others. He prefers it this way."
The answer was obvious. Ruby inwardly pouted.
As absentminded as she was, she nearly hit her nose against the butler's back, not noticing his sudden pause.
"Madam."
"Y-Yes?"
Ruby blinked. The butler's serious tone was making her nervous for some reason.
"I advise you to wear your mask whenever we're in the master's vicinity. We never know when he may end up appearing for the day."
The matter about the masks again. Can they stop reminding her of those weird masks?
"Can you tell me why?" Ruby couldn't resist asking.
"The master doesn't enjoy the sight of human faces."
Ruby: "..."
He's truly not human!!!
…
The nanny had just woken up when Ruby arrived at the maid quarters. A head full of grey hair glanced over as her knocks landed on the door.
Nanny Mandy was unlike her usual lofty self. The current her looked exceedingly weak and fragile, her creased loose tunic clearing her off all the graceful pretense she used to obsess over.
"How are you, Nanny?"
In that instance, Ruby's gentle voice brought tears to the old woman's reddened eyes. Clearly, she hadn't completely recovered from the shock of the incident.
"Miss Rub–"
Nanny Mandy grabbed Ruby's hands as if she had just found her life-saving rope, her tongue suddenly turning stiff when her sight landed on the butler who merely stood there, silently watching over them by the door.
The butler seemed to have understood her intention as he tactfully bowed once and made his retreat, not forgetting to close the door to allow them some personal space.
It was not until the door clicked shut did the Nanny's shoulders slumped in relief.
"Miss, I think there's still a need for us to be careful. We never know if the walls can grow ears and eavesdrop on our conversation."
Nanny Mandy's words reminded Ruby of her deal with the Montclairs. Alarmed, she looked to her left then to her right, feeling the chill creeping back to settle on her bones.
The nanny's eyes started to water again. "Miss, thank you for saving me back then. Thank you… thank you so so much…"
The grip around her hands tightened. Ruby could sense the old woman's sincerity, her lips curving to form a small comforting smile.
"Nanny, you don't have to. I just did what I'm supposed to. It's good enough that we both make it out alive…"
"About your feet…"
Nanny Mandy suddenly mentioned. Although her memory was hazy, she recalled the bloody trail Ruby had left behind to carry her unconscious old body to safety.
"Nanny, it's nothing as serious as it looked. See, I can even complete two rounds just fine early this morning."
Ruby happily pointed at the dirty soles of her sport shoes, signifying her well-being. Seeing her cheerful self, the Nanny choked on her tears again.
"Really… thank you miss… I owe you my life…"
The Nanny spent the next half hour crying her heart out. She talked about her desperation, her background, her worry of the family she might leave behind—And finally, she talked about her guilt towards Ruby.
"It was as you've thought. I was sent here to watch over your actions, Miss. Any irreversible mistake, any sign of rebellion from your side and I would have to make an immediate report to the master."
"This matter is not child's play. What we're doing right now is lying towards the royal family, which amounts to treason."
The Nanny's voice suddenly dropped to a low whisper.
"Miss, you haven't forgotten about your task, right?"