The young maiden and the golden fish pt 1.

“Could you fetch me a jug of water please?”

Serena nodded her head and went on her way to the mansion's kitchen to fulfill her mother's request. She made her way through the centuries-old hallways, lined with old paintings of the family's ancestors. Even though Serena had been away for half a year, she had no trouble navigating the gigantic mansion at all. In fact, she could probably get to the kitchen blindfolded. She had been living here for her entire life after all. The hallways seemed mostly deserted, a big contrast to the always brawling hallways of Yamamoto Academy. There used to be many more inhabitants living here in the past, but many of them moved away and went to pursue new opportunities in the city. Currently, only the master's wife, mother, and his two teen daughters were at home, aside from the servants like her of course.

When Serena arrived in the kitchen, she grabbed a decorated silver can and brought it to the sink. While she was waiting for the can to fill up with water, her father, which was also the family's cook, came walking into the kitchen. He smiled at Serena and asked her if she could help her with dinner preparations later that day. The family was hosting an important guest that evening and they needed all available hands to help out.

While making her way back - with a jug of water in her hands - she started panicking. An important guest? How scary! A shiver ran down Serena’s spine. When she was a little girl she used to hide away in her room every time a visitor came to the mansion. But since she is a maid in training now, she is now expected to help in formal situations like these. This is not just pretending like in school, if she messes up, it may tarnish the master's reputation. Serena wished her friends were here to support her. Although now she thought about it, they’d probably screw the whole thing up with all their shenanigans. Mona would drop something, Ti would try to fix it but then Nia gets annoyed and makes it even worse! Serena chuckled thinking about it.

“Hey look out were you going!”

Serena was shaken. She had gotten so lost in her thoughts that she almost knocked over a statue of the old master. After he passed away a couple of years ago, the family had this statue made to honor his memory. Kate, the master’s oldest twin daughter was now yelling at her.

“How could you be such an incompetent!

“Didn’t they learn you anything in that servant school you go to?”

“Which my parents pay for by the way!”

Kate added. Serena turned red and apologized a thousand times. She needed to pay better attention. After the apology, Kate sighed.

“Anyway, let this be a lesson, we have an important guest over tonight and we need you to put on the best act. You understand?”

“Yes miss”

The dress

After delivering the jug of water, Serena excused herself and went to her room. She laid down on her bed and hid underneath the blankets, still distressed from the encounter with Kate she had earlier. She couldn’t even carry a jug of water! Maybe she just wasn’t suited for being a maid. Anyway, she wasn’t ready for the important guest tonight! Couldn’t they hire another maid, anyone, really?

Suddenly the door flew open with a big boom.

“Rena-chan! Look at what I have for you!”

Mary, Kate’s twin sister had just walked into the room carrying a cute-looking summer dress in her hand. She looked really energetic as always, having a big grin on her face.

“I bought this new dress and I think it would look so cute on you!”

“Let me help you put it on, this will be so awesome”

“Even thinking about it makes my heart beat faster”

Mary spoke so fast that Serena had no time to even consider answering her.

“Are you already tired Serena? My friend said you shouldn’t lie down in bed unless you're going to sleep. Instead, if you feel tired, you should drink a glass of cucumber water and then stand upside down for a few seconds. Let me show”

Mary tumbled around and made a handstand against the wall.

“Look at me I am upside down!”

Her crazy levels of energy made Serena want to hide even further away from her. But Mary had already started a run-up and then jumped upon Serena’s bed.

She lay down next to Serena and padded her on her shoulder.

“What is wrong Rena-chan? You seem more quiet than usual”

Mary said to her with a quieter, more relaxed voice.

“I am tired”

Serena mumbled, keeping her true thoughts bottled up.

“Ohh Rena, is it the dress? Don’t you like the color? I could bring it back if you want to”

“The dress is - nice”

“Thank you, miss”

Mary smiled, come on let’s put it on then, that will make you feel better.

Not wanting to go against her mistress demands, Serena stood up, picked up the dress, and took it behind the room dividers - which divide the front of her room from the back - the part she uses for dressing up and storing her clothes. Serena undid the buttons at the back of her uniform, pulled it down, and put it over the chair. She then picked up the summer dress and put it on. Serena took a look in the mirror. She looked so pretty in this dress! Way too pretty.. a mere servant didn’t deserve to wear an expensive dress like this. But then Serena worried, this is going to draw a lot of attention to me! Serena was someone who preferred to blend into the background, the last thing she would want was to be the main point of attention!

“Are you done Rena-chan?”

Serena carefully stepped behind the divider, looking down at the ground and nervously holding her arms before her. What if Mary didn’t like it?

But Mary did love it, she jumped off the side of the bed where she had been sitting and started clapping.

“Oh my god, this looks so awesome on you. I knew it!”

“Just must wear.. no I demand you to wear this every day Rena-chan!”

Serena

“I… I.. can’t accept this gift”

“No stupid, it’s yours - I bought it - especially for you. This color doesn’t match my hair you see”

“Thank - you”

Serena bowed before Mary to show her gratitude.

“No need for that Rena-chan”

She then preceded to pat Serena on her hand, which made Serena blush.

The picture

“What is all this commotion about!”

Kate had walked into the room.

“Why aren’t you wearing your uniform, Serena?”

“You should go help your father with diner preparations”

Kate looked at Mary, pointing her finger in the air.

“Stop treating her like your little dress-up doll - she is an employee now - and needs to be treated like one!”

“She’ll only dirty your expensive clothing”

Mary then responded.

“I bought that dress for her, so she should wear it!”

Kate sounded even angrier.

“You bought her WHAT? Maybe you should also buy some gifts for your sister!”

“Serena is our sister you stupid! Stop treating her this way”

Mary quieted down and smiled.

“Remember when the three of us used to play together with the dollhouse?”

“We are no kids anymore Mary, Serena simply isn’t cut from the same wood as us”

Serena wanted them to stop fighting, but she didn’t know what to do. The twins and Serena used to be the best of friends until they went to middle school. The sisters did go to a different school than Serena, and that is where to distance between them began to grow. Spending too much time with other rich girls didn’t do the twins any good. They, especially Kate, started looking down upon Serena since in the end, she was just the daughter of the mansions housekeeper and chef cook. Thinking back at the olden days, saddened Serena. A tear ran down her cheek.

Mary saw the tear and looked up at Serena and hugged her.

“Look at what you're doing to Serena, please stop being so mean”

Kate was silent and sighed.

She noticed a new picture frame and walked up to it.

“So Serena, how are you doing at school? Are these your friends?”

She pointed at the picture.

Serena nodded.

“Let me see!”

Mary sprinted up to the picture. It was a photograph of Mona, Ti, Serena, and Nia at the school festival. Ti had printed one out for every one of them before they went home for the summer break.

“Wait.. is”

Mary tried to say something but Kate hushed her.

“That are some pretty-looking girls. I was worried you’d have a hard time making some friends, but I guess I underestimated you”

Kate quickly said and then rushed out of the room.

“Don’t worry too much about Kate, she is just a sour pear okay?”

“See you, la - ter!”

And Mary followed her sister through the door. Through the crack in the door, Serena could just about make up Mary jumping on Kate’s back - after which Kate screamed and struggled to throw off her sister again.

Serena sighed and mumbled to herself.

“It’s fun being home again, isn’t it…”