Vivienne's tearful, astonished eyes glimmered like a pair of silver coins. The shock stole her breath, and her knees trembled like those of a newborn calf. It took her about five seconds before she managed to squeeze out:
"Hello!"
The master stepped closer and extended his hand. Vi responded in kind, and he didn't deny himself the pleasure of kissing the young girl's hand. She found the gesture very romantic, though entirely out of place.
"Forgive me again for keeping you waiting. That's not something I usually do, —but we don't see days like this often. I came with gifts and saw little Emily sitting here all alone. So I thought I'd wait for you."
"Yes, I'm sorry, I just… I was waiting for a message in the lounge… over there," Vi replied uncertainly.
"Ah, I see. Well then, shall we take a walk and talk in private?"
"Y-yes, of course! Emily, wait for me here, all right?"
But Emily was far too busy with her new toys and dolls to pay any attention to Vi.
And so Vi wandered with the master through the western wing.
"This castle has stood here for six centuries," the master said as he climbed the stairs. "Its last three owners worked hard to bring everything into order. Even installing electricity alone was a huge challenge. And of course, someone has to look after all of this, —that's why you're here."
They reached the third floor of the western wing and walked down the corridor all the way to its end. At the very end stood a spiral staircase leading upward, into the tower the master had turned into a small amateur observatory.
"It all started with my grandfather," the master continued as they ascended into the tower. "The old man loved watching the stars, a habit from his years at sea. And he made me fall in love with them too."
The staircase was steep, and Vivienne was badly out of breath by the time she reached the top. At last, they arrived. The master lifted the hatch, and bright sunlight poured through the stairwell. He offered Vi his hand and helped her climb onto the viewing platform of the old, weathered tower.
And then, in an instant, Vivienne was faced with the most beautiful landscape she had ever seen in her life. Looking west, she saw the endless sea washing against the mountains. While the sun hid behind the clouds, a cool autumn breeze drifted in from the water. To her left, she could hear the wind stirring the treetops that covered the mountain slopes. For the first time in all her eighteen years and one day, Vivienne beheld such beauty. She had never even suspected such magnificence was right beneath her nose. The sense of wonder overwhelmed her so deeply that she allowed a tiny tear to slip down her cheek once again.
And at that very moment, for some reason, Vi decided to turn and look at the master of this magnificence. Now, in the clear daylight, she could see him properly.
Before her stood a young man, a head and a half, maybe even two, taller than she was. Slim, yet sinewy and striking. She noticed that the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, giving her a perfect view of the veins along his neck—especially his Adam's apple—and a small mole just beneath it.
His hair was slightly long, barely brushing his shoulders, with a high forehead. His large grey eyes, with the faintest shade of blue, were half-veiled by long lashes, and his thick brows had such a pleasing shape they made him look like a tiger studying its prey. A prominent but well-shaped nose, and slightly full lips. Though he had the audacity to hide them beneath a thin line of goatee, the light stubble along his cheeks doing little to conceal it. His hairstyle, together with the triangular shape of his face, stretched his features, making him look even taller and thinner.
Vivienne admitted to herself that he truly was handsome. And yet she couldn't understand how eyes so beautiful and deep could possibly hide such vice. He stood beside Vi, gazing out at the sea, completely unaware that the girl had been studying him for several minutes already. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept past.
"Storms were forecast for today. We'd better head down," said the master.
"Yes, of course!" Vi answered, puzzled yet smiling.
He reached out his hands to her and helped her descend.
"I do hope you enjoyed the view. There's so much beauty around here."
"Yes, it was incredibly beautiful!" Vi replied shyly, though unable to hide her awe.
"I'm very glad!… But tell me—why did you agree to take this job?"
Vivienne froze for a moment. Still, she held on to the thought that honesty was always best.
"I've heard a lot from the older ones at the orphanage, and I know what easy money usually leads to. But Valentina planted something entirely different in me, and I just gave in to my emotions and agreed."
The master smiled, showing nearly all of his teeth, something Vivienne couldn't help but notice.
"Oh, y-es! Valentina is extraordinary at her work! She's a perfectionist to the core, my complete opposite. Yet somehow we managed to live and work together in perfect harmony. The comfort of this house is mostly her doing. And I do hope you and your sister will like it here as well."
"We already love everything here! Especially our room! And the living room is so cozy! And the kitchen, it's like in a real restaurant!" Vi exclaimed with delight.
"I'm very glad!" the master laughed. "Ah, by the way, before I forget. Tomorrow you're not on duty according to the schedule, so at noon you and Emily must be dressed and ready for a trip into town. You'll gather everything Emily needs for school. It's already late September, the school year has started, but she'll be enrolled without any problems. And tomorrow you and all the new girls will receive your advance pay."
Vivienne looked at this young man, growing more and more astonished at his inconsistency and duality. She searched for words of gratitude, fully aware that a simple "thank you" would never be enough to convey how much it all meant. And so, in her straightforward manner, she said:
"I have no words to thank you for all this! No one has ever done more for us!"
"Don't say that. You're part of this house now! Valentina must have mentioned that more than once."
"She did! She really did say it many times."
"Excellent, then! No matter how big this house may be, no one is ever alone here." The master looked at Vi and gave her the kind of smile one only sees once or twice in a lifetime. He reached out his hand to her. "It was a real pleasure meeting you, Vivienne!"
Vi reached out her hand in response, and now she hoped he might kiss it. But it was nothing more than a handshake. Her heart wouldn't give her peace. All she wanted was to press herself to his chest and breathe in his scent!
"Well… you're that way… to the east wing over there. And please tell your sister we'll give her doll some tea another time! But we will, definitely!" the master said with a smile.
Vi blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed, but returned his smile, wished him a good day, and headed to her room. She couldn't believe this man was truly the perverse master of the castle. There was too much purity and innocent playfulness in him for that. And yet, knowing it was true, Vi kept Diana's words in her mind: she must under no circumstances fall in love with him!
Vivienne's room was empty. For a moment, she worried that Emily had wandered off somewhere in the castle, but then she heard laughter down the corridor in the living room. As soon as she stepped out of the dark hallway into the light, everyone rushed toward her.
"Where have you been? What happened to you?" Diana asked. And while everyone stood there, impatient for an answer, Emily ran up to her sister and hugged her tightly.
"I was in the western wing with the master."
"For that long?" Lily asked in surprise.
"For that long? What time is it now?"
"Almost five," Jane replied. "You've been gone for over three hours."
"Yes, we were starting to worry!" Lily added. "So… what happened? Are you okay?"
"Yes! I'm fine! He just wanted to meet me personally and brought toys for Emily."
"Oh, I wouldn't have refused toys like that either! Such cool dolls!" Lily laughed, calling Emily to continue playing.
Finally, everyone calmed down and drifted around the living room. Lily, Anna, and Jane played with Emily, while Joan sat nearby, laughing and endlessly sipping the cocoa she adored. Vi moved to the window, watching the approaching storm with relief. Diana slid in beside her.
"Well… so…" Diana started. "Come on, come on, tell me. What do you think of him? Surprised?"
Vivienne smiled and hid her eyes, afraid to admit it even to herself.
"Well… yes. He does make an impression, that's for sure."
"No kidding, such a proper master of the castle, huh?" Diana laughed.
Vi laughed in response, but then suddenly stopped and asked,
"Listen, Diana, do you happen to have another one…" — Vi made a hand gesture everyone who smokes knows, and even those who don't.
"Oh, that? Come with me."
Diana led Vi to her room, where her strategic stash was kept. Diana's room was smaller than Vi and Emily's, but much cozier. She had replaced the standard bedding with silk sheets she bought with her very first paycheck. Christmas garlands hung over each window, and her vanity table was cluttered with all sorts of lipsticks and other beauty essentials.
Diana opened a small cabinet and asked,
"Which flavor do you want?"
Vi saw at least thirty, maybe more, packs of e-cigarettes. They were all bright and colorful.
"I really liked yours. The grape one, right? You mentioned it."
"Yeah, here. If you don't smoke much, this should last a week. But me… I smoke a lot. I just order them every couple of months, that's all."
"Thanks! I'll definitely pay you back!"
"Don't worry! Let's just call it a gift for your birthday yesterday!"
They laughed and returned to the living room.
The rest of the day brought nothing new, except for the storm and another message for all the girls. It was their work schedule, looking like a regular calendar with each girl's initials marked on certain days. Vivienne saw her initials, but didn't understand the meaning of another symbol.
"Diana, what's 'SS'? I have some kind of 'SS' on Wednesday."
Diana's face stretched in extreme surprise and embarrassment, which scared Vi a little.
"Vivienne… 'SS' means 'Special Shift'…" Diana said, looking at the frightened Vi with a mix of astonishment and a smile. "It means that on Wednesday, you'll go to the master for the night."