Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The next few weeks continued on as normal. I had my eloquence and manner lessons, father was of course as busy as ever, and mother kept herself busy with things like galas and tea parties as well, leaving me mainly to my tutors, butlers, and maids. The only real difference was Alice. To her credit, Malory was good to her word. The eyeless maid was now on more the forefront of the manor. I saw her pretty much every day, and she even became my personal tea attendant. I learned over time that she was from a relatively poor family. Not so destitute that they were near homeless, but with six children, and her being the middle child, it was decided that she would go earn money for herself and her family. Not the most original backstory, but for some reason, I didn’t expect one.

Something odd was happening too. Every conversation I had with Alice, every talk, I could swear when I looked away, I could see her eyes in the corner of my eye, if just for a second, before turning back and they were gone.

Then, finally, my tenth birthday arrived. It was a big event, a party to be sure, as, on the tenth birthday, the first vestiges of being an adult started in the family of royalty. I would get more responsibilities, I would get some say in how things work in the family, but, most importantly, I would get my own personal maid.

Now, normally this would have been odd to me, that I would be receiving a personal maid rather than a manservant due to us being different genders, but, they explained it with Julie in the game, so I already knew the lore. Apparently the very first Duke in my lineage had a personal maid rather than a manservant. It wasn’t for any sort of romantic relations reason, it was merely the person he trusted most in the world. His confidante. She just happened to be a woman. He adamantly refused to have any other servant by his side. He made his name and the Valatross family maids became something of a fixture in the nobility of this land. So, it was essentially mandatory for a male of my lineage to travel with a maid rather than a manservant.

Before the party began, my father approached me. “Ah, my beloved son, ten years old today. I’m so proud to see what a brilliant young man you’ve become. And the fact that you’ve made a full recovery has made me happier than anything else in the world.” He bent down and put a hand on my shoulder. “And, today’s a big day. We’ll be introducing you to high society where-” “Um! Father?” My mind had been racing, waiting for a moment to speak. But, seeing as he was about to go into a long fatherly speech, I decided if I didn’t interrupt him now, I wouldn’t get another chance for quite some time.

As I wasn’t one to normally interrupt, my father’s eyes went wide. He must have realized I had something important to ask, which he was right. “Yes son?” I blushed slightly and looked down. “S-sorry that I interrupted father, but I had a question.” He merely gently smiled at me. “It’s your birthday son, of course. Go right ahead.” I nodded with subtlety. “Y-yes. Um. Today’s the day I get my confidant maid right?” He gently smiled at me. “Of course son. It IS your tenth birthday after all.” I nodded. “Um.. how is it normally decided?” He put his finger to his chin. “Well, the head maid, in this case Malory would deem who she thinks would make the best servant for you. Unless of course YOU had some input. But, be careful. Picking a confidante maid in our family is a big responsibility. Switching them quickly is not something we do here.”

I shook my head. “N-no of course not. I wouldn’t wish to do that.” He looked into my eyes “But you have someone in mind?” I shyly nodded back. For being someone mentally around the age I had been when I died, he sure had a much stronger presence than I did in my old life. Like an actual regal adult, versus the skating by gamer that I was before I died.

Seeing my genuine response, he released his hand on my shoulder. “Well then, we have time. Let’s go find Malory, shall we?” I didn’t say anything in return. I merely smiled and followed him.

Luckily, Malory was already out and about, preparing for my birthday. Upon seeing both of us, she stopped and gave a deep curtsy. “Ah my lords. What a pleasure seeing both of you. The preparations are going well for the young master’s birthday.” My father smiled and put up his hand. “That’s good to hear Malory, but actually, we’re here to speak with you about something else.” This caused Malory to open her eyes slightly in shock. “Oh! Well of course master. What may I assist you with?” “Well,” My father began “It seems like Cedric here would like to speak with you about choosing his maid.”

Malory, still wide eyed, turned her attention to me. “Oh! Is that so? I was in the process of thinking who would be best for you my lord, but if you have a preference, please, let me know.” Hearing this, I looked up at her and smiled. “Yes Malory, if it’s at all possible, I would like to choose Alice.”

It wasn’t a very difficult decision for me. Ever since that day a few weeks ago, Alice had intrigued me. Her lack of eyes, her sort of... In the background personality, it all lent itself to this mystery I desperately wanted to get to the bottom of. Not only that, but if i didn’t have Julie at the school with me, I wouldn’t have a little snitch running around trying to pair me up with THAT girl.

“A..alice sir?” Malory responded, sounding a bit confused. I nodded. “Mhm. Alice.” Malory looked at my father and then back to me. “A..are you certain sir? Alice is but mere-“ But my father cut her off. “Now now Malory, I’m sure there’s a reason he picked this...Alice. Why don’t you just go get the young lady and we’ll discuss it with her.” Not wanting to argue with the Duke, she merely gave a curtsied bow and head off towards where I assumed Alice was.

“And you’re certain of this decision Cedric?” My father asked, not looking at me, but straight ahead to where Malory left. I nodded. “Yes father. I’m certain.” He didn’t say anything in response.

It was a few minutes before Malory returned, Alice in tow. “Apologies for the wait master, I had trouble finding her.” My father merely put up his hand. “Quite all right Malory. I trust you didn’t inform Alice here what she was needed for?” Malory shook her head in denial. “O-of course not master. That is Master Cedric’s prerogative.” My father smiled gently and nodded once before turning to me. “Go on Cedric.”

Looking up at the eyeless, confused maid, I stood my ground and lightly squeezed my tiny fists, nervous of what I was about to say. “Um. Alice. As you know, it’s my tenth birthday. And on our tenth birthday the males of our lineage choose something very important. We choose the maid we’re going to have by our side as our confidante. And Alice, I would like that maid to be you.”

I said this as authoritative as my little ten year old body could muster. However, a short silence followed. Finally, some movement. Alice clasped her hands together as her voice began to shake. “W...what my lord? You...” She said, her voice wavering with every word. “You.. Can’t mean me lord. I’m just... I’m no one I..”

I took a step forward as I placed my hand over my heart. “I, Cedric Valatross do hereby select Alice Heartwell as my forever maid and confidante. You will be my ears, my eyes, and keep my heart from straying on a path I can’t return from.” I moved my hand toward her and smiled gently. “Do you accept?”

At first, there was silence. Then, a small tentative gesture of her hand moving slightly toward mine. Pulling back, then moving back towards mine. “Y.you’d really be okay with someone like me?” Alice asked timidly. Normally, questioning someone of my status would be a punishable offense, but at that moment, that was the furthest thing from our minds. I merely smiled and kept my hand held out. “It can be nobody BUT you Alice.”

On the outside, my kind smile was radiating. On the inside, I was smirking to myself, thinking about how by doing this, I’d get to avoid having Julie follow me around on campus when the time came. I wouldn’t have to deal with her stupid comedic pratfalls, her friendship with the protagonist, and god help me, her never ending shipping of us. In the game it was BRUTAL. Every scene Julie was in with the protagonist she would go into fangirl shipper mode and talk about how Cedric and the protagonist could- ugh. I didn’t even want to think about it. This way, I’d have Alice. Someone unassuming. Someone I could trust. Someone....less annoying.

Alice, not knowing any of my true intentions, had a small smile starting to bloom on her face as she slowly, gingerly took my hand in both of hers. “If..if that’s the case, then...then yes Master Cedric. I accept! I will gladly be your confidante maid. I swear I will be there for you until the end of your days. As your ears, your eyes, and your heart shall you stray. I Alice Heartwell swear it.”

She looked back at me and smiled. As she did, something amazing happened. The empty part of her face where her eyes were began to glow a soft, yellow glow. Just for a few moments this happened, before slowly, serenely, as if being painted on by light, eyes began to form on her face. Within a few moments, the eyeless maid that stood before me, now had beautiful purple eyes. Eyes that were crying with happiness.