She was tired of waiting. She got up from the chair and put the mask on as people passing in the corridor gave her a glance, even just for a second. She got a weird feeling, so she put the mask on and started looking around. She thought, Isn't he taking too much time? Is this just my punishment or something? Because it's the first time I've seen a transmigrated character go to a therapist. I'm really worried — are they going to catch me? And if they catch me, there is no doubt they're going to send me to a mental hospital. Ahh, it's getting so messy that I cannot even guess what's coming next.
She was walking back and forth when Noel came out. He looked at her and said, "Let's go." She followed and thought, Am I following him too much? Is he my guardian or something? For now I don't even feel like going with Ren because I don't want to meet a new tragedy. It's too much. My brain has stopped braining already. When I read this novel I surely put my brain aside and now I am regretting everything.
As they arrived outside he already sat in. As she also sat down he said, "I am dropping you at home." She nodded and then asked, "Whose home?" He looked at her like — are you serious — and said, "Whose do you think?" She forced a smile and said, "Oh, I mean, is it Grandfather's or my father's?"
"When you arrive there, you'll see for yourself."
The whole ride was silent. She just looked outside. Despite being winter it was a little warm evening as the sun was settling down. She was feeling so sleepy still, but she woke herself up forcefully, thinking — just at home I'm gonna sleep and then I should surely figure out the plot whatever it takes. Hopefully Sir Naad already sent my bag home.
As the car stopped she came out. It was Grandfather's estate. She knew it from since arriving. Finally seeing the assistant — the woman came towards her when the gate opened, greeting her. "Welcome home."
She greeted back, "Thank you." Then without realizing she started staring at the woman thinking, Wow, is it an old age look? Like who even wears the same dress? Wow. In reality it's really giving the feeling like you are rich.
Then the little cough of the head maid — maybe as she was looking older than the others — and she said, "Madam Helena, would you like to rest or should I set up lunch?"
Aika cut in mid saying, "Oh, we already had lunch." As she said it her whole fatigue was gone. She was so excited inside to talk to them as they were not looking rude at all. Aika's brain was just again start calculating. She didn't realize Noel had already gone back — he didn't come inside, he maybe went to the office. She just forgot everyone and was just excited to talk to them.
She started asking questions. "So ma'am, how long has it been that you've worked here?" She was feeling awkward but on the other side the person didn't even realize it. When Aika asked, the poor girl maid looked sneakily at the head maid. She nodded, giving permission to answer.
The girl replied, "I am working as a part-timer here since last month."
Aika was like, "Ohh so you are new! Wow, such a hardworking person. You are quite young for your age. By the way your height is pretty good, girl. What do you eat? Most girls' height stops at 5 feet but yours is good. Oh leave that actually — what was I asking? Ahh yes, I had to ask — did Sir Naad send any bag? And by the way where were you all when I arrived here yesterday?"
The girl was so scared. She was now not sneakily but fully looking at the head maid as if trying to say, Madam please answer her question and save me.
The head maid came forward and said, "Oh actually Madam Helena, yesterday we were on leave as Sir Ren arrived yesterday from abroad. So from today our duty officially begins."
She nodded and then asked about the bag. The maid replied, "Yes, Sir Naad sent it. It is in your room. And as well, do you need any help or anything?"
But Aika sensed how the head maid scanned her from head to toe. Aika was getting self-conscious and realizing she can't get comfortable. She had to put on Helena's dressing otherwise people were gonna judge her with their eyes. She still recalled how the girl scanned her at the hospital.
She asked, "Oh actually head maid, I have some favour — truly I want to ask but first can I get a glass of water?" Her brain was like, Wow, they didn't even give me water since I first came back. Like I am also thirsty after that tough question-and-answer one quiz with Dr. Haan.
The head maid showed the girl maid — whom she was asking questions previously — and just a look was enough to order the girl to go bring water.
As the girl left, the head maid said, "You got tired, Madam. If you stand here you should sit down in the living room. They will surely bring everything."
Aika also felt something — so much like authority, or like she was just used to following orders from elders. Whatever they said, she just nodded and followed into the living room. There was no one there. She sat down on the sofa. A heated room and a cozy sofa — enough. She was feeling so relaxed, at least for now. No one here to make her realize she is in a novel.
The girl brought back the glass of water with some snacks and the head maid was still standing as if waiting for her to complete the sentence about the favour. Aika picked the glass and took a few sips and then said, "Oh what I was asking is — could you help me out settling the wardrobe? As I actually just came in."
The head maid nodded, "Yes sure, Madam," and came behind as Aika got up and started walking to the room. At least she remembered the room as shown by Ren.
As she entered the room it was not anymore the same as she did the night yesterday. She looked back at the head maid. She understood and clarified, "Oh, it is our duty to clean so we just put it back at the same state it used to be."
Aika felt sad. It's so much hard work she did to make it according to her taste. She smiled back — a fake one — and said, "Actually yes, so what I need is — so many things. First thing, help me out in making the room according to my taste. And first thing is that — remove the pink. And as well those..." she pointed out towards the decor of everything.
The room was way too empty. It's true it is luxurious but it feels so lonely and empty despite having things. She said, "I need changes in furniture as well. Is it possible?"
The head maid nodded and said, "We can do that, but for furniture you need permission from the head. As for purchasing whatever you need, we can help you in settling all things."
She nodded and then Aika said, "Oh as well, the other maid is busy removing the pink things..." Aika was fully not in the mood to let the head maid rest. She said, "Follow me and help me out with dresses. As you know I got a little issue with memory and my taste as well got changed. I need a change of clothes but still want to look the same. Is it possible?"
The head maid smiled for the first time. As she saw it Aika couldn't understand and didn't even notice. The head maid said, "Very well, Madam. For that I may help you out."
Aika also said, "Oh could you please help me out with hair as well? Do you know any hair things? I mean how I used to style them?"
Seeing the maid smile gave Aika actual chills. Her brain immediately spiraled. What the heck is she smiling at? Did I say something wrong? Dang it Aika, don't be negative. Maybe she's just being polite. Yes... just polite.
Then the head maid herself said, "Miss Helena, it's been days... you finally came back to this room."
Aika's brain was like — hai what? Ahh Helena, why didn't you leave any script?! But she smiled back a fake smile and said, "Why? I mean, didn't I used to come to Grandfather's house?"
She said, "Well, you used to come... but you never came in this room."
Aika asked, "Why?"
She said, looking hesitant, "It's actually a room decorated by your late mother."
Aika got confused. What should she reply? It's Helena's personal matter, on her personal feeling base. She can't just say something which made everyone suspicious on her — as in the room at least three maids are working including the head maid. So she asked, "Oh is it?"
She nodded in reply and said, "Madam, you used to be very much distant with everyone. But now you are trying to talk."
Aika smiled and now she was just a little scared — is it that the maid caught it? Oh crap. She was ignoring eye contact. She thought — maybe she is just feeling adjusted — and said, "I am just trying to change a little. Because of the amnesia I just can't recall anything and I just don't want to be sad about it and sit in a corner trying to remember. Instead I am trying to use this as a sign to make new memories with a little change to my usual self."
The head maid smiled back and said, "If you need any help we are all here."
She smiled back and said, "Yes I do need help in many things as I told you — the problem of dressing and hair. I cannot able to do that properly. So is it okay if you help?"
She said, "Yes please." So she had to go out. Aika was not in quiet but still — can you just do something? She can't clearly say that her hair is just so much coming in the way and her braid is too rough now and everyone is looking at her weirdly.
But first Aika said, "Adjust — wait here. I'll be back in a sec after changing. Just help me okay?" The maid nodded.
In the meantime already the maid left who were changing the pink theme. Only the previous maid whom she talked to and the head maid were left. The maid asked, "Is she really okay, Madam? Being in this room?"
Head maid nodded slowly. "Maybe she has overcome her grief and forgiven her mother. Late Madam Susanna... may she rest in peace. She suffered so much watching her daughter from heaven. Perhaps this recovery, this change... maybe it is a sign that her prayers were answered."
The head maid wiped away a stray tear. She had been the closest person to Susanna, and seeing Helena "soften" felt like a gift. The new maid just nodded, not knowing the full history.
In the meantime Aika was in the changing room. She moved fast, swapping the stiff itchy clothes for comfortable pajamas. She did a quick wash-up and stepped out sighing in relief. "All done! I just needed something that didn't get in the way, you know? Like itching on the neck."
The head maid looked at the pajamas, then at Aika's messy hair. The "rich girl" image was completely falling apart but the head maid's expression was soft, not judgmental.
Then the head maid said to the young maid, "Malia, go bring some snacks — bring the ones I mentioned."
Aika quickly added, "Oh yes, as well... could you just..." she pointed toward the bed. "Tell me which armoire has more pillows? I tried to find some yesterday but I couldn't."
The maid replied, "I will surely put them on your bed, Madam."
Aika nodded back. She didn't dare say "thank you" because she could sense the head maid was catching every single change in her behavior. She didn't want to become the hot topic of maid gossip.
The head maid walked over as Aika sat down in front of the mirror. Aika avoided looking at her reflection but the maid's hands were already at work starting to untangle her hair. Aika tried her best not to make eye contact.
Her hair was badly tangled because Aika hadn't untangled it properly — she had just rolled it up and barely managed to comb it before making the braid. Now the poor head maid was trying her absolute best to untangle the mess without hurting Aika's head.
Sensing Aika was avoiding her, the maid started the conversation. "How was your day, Madam? Since you went out with Sir Ren and Sir Noel?"
"It was... just so-so," Aika replied. In reality it was just normal, she thought.
"I see," the maid replied. "What would you like for dinner?"
Aika looked in the mirror for the first time. "What are the options?"
"You can choose whatever you want, Madam. It will be made ready."
Aika sighed internally. The toughest question — food. I never choose, I just eat whatever is available. I hate boiled things except dumplings but they probably don't have those here. Whatever, I just want to sleep and figure out this plot.
She looked at her reflection. Helena had such a pretty face, sleek hair and smooth skin — but it seemed no one truly cared for her. Aika cleared her throat. "May I ask... what I used to be like? Maybe it will help me recall."
"Of course Madam. What do you want to know?"
"How was I at home? Did I stay here or at my father's? And was I close with Ren and Noel? Are they nice or just don't like me?"
Aika realized she was asking too many questions too fast.
"You mostly stayed out, Madam," the maid explained. "In both houses you preferred to stay away from everyone — especially your father's house. You never even went there just even if you didn't stay the night."
"So I stayed here?"
The maid smiled sadly. "No, Madam. As I told you, you didn't like either house. You stayed out mostly... with friends perhaps? I don't know for sure but you never stayed in these houses."
Oh, that's why everything feels so unfamiliar, Aika realized.
"And as for who you were close to... I can't say much. Within the family you weren't close with anyone. Sir Ren only came back a day ago from abroad with your grandfather. And Sir Noel... he doesn't stay here. He stays at his own home."
"He has his own house?"
The maid nodded. "Yes. This house is mostly empty. We usually work at Sir Noel's house when the others are away. When they came we come here as well. Some of the maids also work at your father's residence — they just get rotated."
"I see. But what about Ren and Noel nature-wise?"
"You were not close to them as much as I know. You preferred to stay away from everyone. About Ren — no, Sir Ren is not that type of person. He is very kind person and good personality. No one hates him nor does he hate. And about Sir Noel — he is also a very distant person so I can't tell much about him."
As she finished, the maid tied Aika's hair into a secure bun. Aika stood up. "Thanks for the hair. Call me when dinner is served. I'm tired and need to rest."
The maid bowed. "Rest well, Madam."
As the door shut Aika let out a massive sigh. What an informant! That lady is dangerous. She has so much detail... I have to stay away.
As the maid left Aika practically jumped onto the bed. The fluffiness was overwhelming and the new bedsheet smell made her feel incredibly sleepy. However the maid hadn't put the extra pillows out yet.
Aika got up and looked at the armoire the maid had pointed out. When she opened it — yep, there they were. So many pillows. She pulled out five or six at once and piled them on both sides of her. It was Aika's natural habit — she couldn't stay in an empty bed. She needed the "assurance" of being surrounded by pillows.
Finally done, she was ready to sleep. She lay down carefreely, reaching for her bag on the couch. She pulled out her diary. Now let's see the plot...
She realized she hadn't grabbed a pen. Forget it, she thought, tossing the diary aside. She hugged the pillows, hooked her leg over them, and fell asleep while planning her next move — not even realizing she was drifting off.
Ren arrived back at the estate after dropping Cecilia home. He saw the maids preparing snacks and asked, "Is Helena back?"
"Yes Sir," the maid replied. "She returned earlier this evening. It's almost night now."
"Where is she?"
"She is in her room taking a nap Sir. It's been about an hour. I went to knock but she hasn't woken up yet."
Ren nodded. "I see. Very well then."
He went upstairs to his own room to freshen up. Sitting freely on the couch he called Vahn. When Vahn picked up Ren asked, "Hey, what are you doing?"
"What else? Editing in the office," Vahn replied. "I just finished a meeting."
"What's the plan for today? Are you coming over?"
"Of course," Vahn said. "Is Noel coming too?"
"I don't know, ask him later. What time are you arriving?"
"Within a few hours. We're going to have dinner at my hotel."
"Okay then, see you in a few hours."
Ren hung up and started scrolling through his phone. After a moment he thought of something and stood up. He walked over to the door of the next room — Helena's — and knocked. No voice came. He knocked again, a little louder this time.
A muffled voice finally drifted through the door. "Who is it? Just... five more minutes..."
"No more minutes," Ren said. "Open up or I'm coming in. It's dinner time, Helena."
"Ahh... I'm not eating. I'll eat in the morning..."
Ren paused. What's wrong with this girl? She's surely talking in her sleep. He opened the door and saw her buried under the comforter. The room was warm but what caught his eye immediately were the pillows. There were so many on her bed — she was practically lost underneath a mountain of them.
Ren didn't just go. He announced, "Helena, hey, wake up. It's almost dinner time."
Aika's brain — which was processing way too slowly — caught the diary next to her pillow. She let go of it and got up and said, "I woke up. You already woke me by the knock." She fastly went down on the floor and came and said, "Let's go." He said, "Hey, atlas." She herself completely — "Yeah yeah I am going to wash up. I am coming downstairs. You go first."
She said, "Well okay," and left. And Aika was like, Oh crap, how could I forget that? But I really do want to sleep more. Who cares what the plot is. Nah, Aika, you do care. Let's go.
She was unaware that downstairs when Noel came back after changing, he called in the head maid in the study and asked, "So have you talked to her?"
She replied, "Yes I did."
Then he asked, "What did you talk about?"
She replied, "Cannot be sure about anything. She even — it's our first meeting. She didn't hesitate, nor does she care about the distance she used to. And oh yes, she asked many questions."
He asked, "About who? Is it about business related or?"
The maid said, "No, no," and shook her head. "She asked about herself and stay and the relations with others. That's all."
He said, "Okay. You may leave. If she asks anything related to the thing I told you, let me know. And stay close to her and keep eyes as well whenever she goes in Grandfather's study — let me know."
She nodded and said, "Dinner is ready. Head called everyone."
He said, "I'll be coming."
Maid left. He sighed and leaned himself on the chair in deep thinking, then he got up and goes downstairs. Ren was the first person already sitting on the dining table. He also pulled the chair next to him and sat down and asked, "Have you not invited Cecilia?"
He said, "No. She is just today being weird as well. Seeing Helena here she is just gonna brag too much."
Noel nodded. "Okay. So are you going to circuit? Are you sure? I got to know from Vahn. Don't you have dinner here?"
He said, "I can't skip here, you know, as well he also invited you."
Noel said, "I know."
Then Ren said, "So why are you eating here?"
Noel looked at him and said, "You know, don't ask silly questions."
Ren replied, "Same then." Then Ren said, "Hey, is what Haan said—"
He replied, "Talk later," as he saw Helena coming in in rough PJs with her hair coming out from the bun. She was still looking sleepy as her eyes were a little puffy from half sleep and face was still a little wet, looking freshly washed.
She just sat in front, pulling a chair. She also realized she was getting a little normal here in the novel even, and thinking — what are they gonna serve? As well why are they even at night wearing those clothes? Are they gonna judge? But even at your own house you don't have to follow rules. But I am now feeling out of place. Should I go back and change?
In her thinking she started getting up. As even the maid was judging her — in Aika's point of view — she saw Grandfather already entering, saying, "Helena, child, sit down." Thinking she was getting up to greet him she used to and said, "Oh yes, I am just sitting," and sat back down, thinking about going in the room and changing. Ahh, it's okay. The head of the house didn't say anything so no big deal. I just had to gulp food fast and go. Is Ren not going? Why is he here now? I recall in the morning he said he had to go to the circuit but he is here — that means it's just a bluff, or his friends meet up is... I don't have to go okay. I am also not seeing up as it's okay. It's cold outside and yeah I should rest and save energy to face next day trouble.
Seeing the others' outfits Aika regretted her choice, thinking of getting comfortable, but no one came. None even noticed her outfit — she didn't know that. And the dinner was served. It was grilled lemon chicken along with rice and cobb salad. And Aika looked at the food and then at her plate. What she picked — because the dish was resting in front — was a soup which is pumpkin soup with bread served. And Aika then picked easily, fast, edible food — soup and bread — as she wanted to go fast. But she also knew she can't go as fast until Grandfather leaves.
As always even after eating she can't able to leave as her stupid manners came between. Then as Grandfather done also, he sat a little comfortable, looking like he was gonna say something. And Aika's guess was right. Ren, who was mid in eating, stopped, as Noel as Grandfather said, "Helena." She looked, sitting straight, thinking, Now what is left? Let the day end, sir, please.
Normally he said, "So I decided to talk in the morning but it's important." As she read his face she just nodded, ready to listen. He called someone then the maid came bringing a file. She was like, What the heck is going to happen? Damn, I already did sign the orphanage. But her thinking got a break as he brought out from that a file, a black card, and Aika knows what it is, and some papers as well, pen, and also he said, "Helena child, I talked to your father today in the evening and he will come here tomorrow." She nodded, as she was just listening. And then he said —
Aika's eyes fixed on the file. She was kind of having a bad vibe and yes her vibe was right as he said, "Here, this is all finance and all details in this file containing about orphanage related. You can read it as tomorrow we will discuss with your father — are you going or not. And think carefully: do you want to continue the internship in my company and work and try to recall your memory, or need a break and go handle the orphanage?"
She was like, whwhwhwhwh e e ehehehe eheheehhhhhhhhhhhh what? Her brain was like, This is a novel — won't let me breathe normally.
But she felt someone's gaze — not one on her but one on the file. And she looked and both Ren and Noel were staring, or gazing is the correct word, on the file — not on her but as they noticed she caught their gaze. They looked away. She took the file and nodded and said, "I'll surely think carefully." He said, "Well then," getting up. "Rest well dear, we will talk tomorrow."