Punishment

“Scrub the stain properly”, the worker said happily smiling, arms folded. Darun was wiping off a red stain from the castle wall. The boy was synced with his work. Dab the cloth, rub for a while, dab again.

After that afternoon, Celestine stayed true to her words. He shared his knowledge of different subjects. Last time they talked about germs. Her face turned to an ‘O’ by the knowledge of microbiological beings.

“Where is he?”, a girly voice could be heard.

“That way my lady.”

The young lady approached the servant busy with his work.

“How long may it take, Daerun?”

No response. He is just rubbing.

“Greetings, Daerun.”

He dabbed the cloth in the bucket.

“Daerun?”

Doubtful if it was someone else, she went to his side, and saw it was the same slave who shares his wisdom with her.

Her forehead wrinkled in anger. She pulled the boy by the back of his collar.

“Woah!”, he tripped, “Who— Lady Vox…!”

She kept dragging him.

They were in the shade.

“I am sorry for not hearing you, my lady.”

“Be careful next time.", she said firmly, anger dripping from her face.

“Yes, my lady.”, the boy truly regretted his carelessness, his voice low.

“Let's get going.”

“Where today?”

“You tell.”

“It is very hot now, so garden will be good, we will get good wind.”

“Then, my room will be better. It is on the second floor, there is always wind.”

“Mr. Torrens told me not to go to the second floor.”

“Is that so?”, looking at me she thought something. “Okay, then my room is left for another day,” she turned and started walking, “let's go to the garden.”

Walking gracefully, she said, “666 plus 372.”

“One o three eight.”, I said first, she was a bit late. “537 plus… 722”.

“One two five nine!”, we both said together.

“86 plus 68”, she said.

“One fifty-four!”, she said first. “Hehe.”, she smiled cheerfully.

“Haha.”I laughed lightly, too.

It was a game we played. One of us would give a random calculation, and see who can solve first.

Beneath a tree, in the garden, we sat on the grass and as usual, we started our class. She would often pull me off from my work in the morning for these classes.

In her, I think I found a friend in this castle. Though to a noble like her, I may not be more than just a useful slave. Still, whenever I see her laugh or lightly smile or firmly talk or get angry, it makes the work of the entire day worth it.

*****

I started seeing that black haired girl again around. Her actions are amusing as before. Today I had already completed my session with Lady Vox, and was sweeping the floor near the stairs. She was observing me from behind the huge wooden frame of the room, which acts as a border between the two rooms.

I kept sweeping and slowly got closer to the other room, while getting away from her. The goal was to turn at her completely and see what she does when she knows I saw her fully.

And… I turned!

She was taken by surprise from my confrontation. She couldn’t even process her next move. For a second or two, her deep black eyes were wide open at me. She had very pale and delicate skin.

“Uh.”, she said and like realising late she was caught, she ran backwards, only to trip over and fall. “Ah…!”, she cried softly.

“Lady Esmeray, are you alright?”, Torrens stretched his hand to her.

“I am alright, Torrens.”, she stood up. Eyes filled with tears. She angrily glared at me before turning on her heels, leaving a soft pained sound behind. Did she hurt her knees that much?

“What have you done, boy?”, he angrily asked.

“Sir, I am sorry, I did not mean to…”

A tight slap burned my cheek. Tears fell involuntarily. He grabbed my hands and started pulling me to the corridor.

“You will be thoroughly punished for that.”

“Stop.”, a girl said. Torrens turned to her.

“Lady Esmeray. Do you need anything?” She was behind the door…

“Leave that boy alone. I fell on my own.”, she said firmly.

“Still my lady, this lowly slave needs to know how to behave in front of his masters.”

“I…”, she was at a loss for words. Confused, she declared, “I will teach him that!”

“But my lady, can you do it?”

“I know Torrens. Leave him to me.”, she had fire in her eyes.

“As you wish my lady. Boy, do as she says, and if I hear of any defiance from you, then the punishment will be tenfolds of what lady Esmeray is giving.”

I followed her. Maybe I will be whipped. Or something even worse. Will my dying body be able to digest the beating? Maybe today is my last day.

We kept walking. She took me to the second floor. We kept walking and walking. I had seen the same corridor three times by then.

She halted.

“That will be your punishment for today.”, she said. Her forehead wet from sweat.

“What will be, my lady?”, I asked, genuinely concerned.

“This.”, she said seriously in her bright voice.

I looked down. Then right and left. After meeting her serious eyes, I then looked up too. But I couldn’t see anything like a punishment anywhere.

“Forgive me for my lack of knowledge, my lady. But, what is my punishment?”

“You have walked around the floor three times. That was your punishment.”, She said sternly, which in her voice was equally… cute.

“But my lady, you…”, I wanted to point out, you also walked the same path, so haven't you also taken the same punishment? “My lady, I apologise for my ignorance in my earlier actions. Please forgive me.”

“You are forgiven. You can go now.”

“I am grateful to you, my lady. And, if you do not mind, may I bring in a bucket of water and towel to your room?”

She looked at me for a second, then put a hand on her forehand and wiped the sweat.

“Send in a maid.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

“And, what is your name, slave?”

“Darun Nikov, my lady.”

“Darun, then. I will punish you more severely if you ever try to surprise me again.”, she said in a scolding tone.

“Surely, my lady. I will be more careful in my manners. Please forgive me this time.”

“You are already forgiven. Now you may leave.”

She saved me from Torrens’s beating. I was truly grateful to her. Even if she observed me in the future, I do not plan to tease her ever again.