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The sunlight that slivered between your thick velvety curtains and into your chambers casted a golden light across your face, from your eyelids to your chin. It wasn’t enough to wake you; you were always a heavy sleeper. You were huddled into yourself beneath your duvet, surrounded by pillows and your soft plush companions that kept watch over you while you slumbered. Your favorite was a green frog that you’d received for your birthday over a decade ago. The ribbon she came with still adorned her neck and her body was made of the softest material that felt like you were cuddling a cloud. You don’t care if it was childish or unbecoming of you as a lady, especially at your age. Such things still bring you so much comfort, especially now that your life is so different.
The glow suddenly strikes you all at once, and is now impossible to ignore. A tired groan vibrates against your throat as you pull the thick sheet over your head and turn over. Your butler looks back at you over his shoulder and chuckles. He’s always been so fond of you that even moments like this can’t bring him to find you the slightest bit annoying.
Victor Anderson. He’s a relatively new addition to your staff. In fact, he’s the only one that remains in your home. He was hired very shortly after your parents were involved in a gruesome accident. Rumors say that it was a conspiracy and someone was targeting your family name. You didn’t care to find out if it were true or not as you were too busy grieving their abrupt loss. After your parents had passed on, you were left with their inheritance and an entire estate to manage on your own. It was overwhelming, causing your health to spiral even further due to the stress of it all. Victor made it easy, though. As did the rest of your staff. They were always like family to you, having been a part of your life and far before it, since your father’s father before him.
Things eventually got easier. Until they didn’t.
As time passed, you found your mansion was growing quieter. Emptier. Some left due to “personal circumstances”, others without so much as a letter of resignation expressing their gratitude for their service under you. It was…strange.
By the end of that year, it was just Victor. Fresh faced, bright-eyed. Always happy and willing to serve by any means.
Despite everything, he adapted to the abrupt changes very quickly and accommodated to your needs without any hesitation. He was really good at, well, everything! Not just simple chores and handiwork, but he also helped you with your paperwork and other complicated tasks that came with being the master of such an expansive estate such as yours. Plus, he was very charming and friendly so it didn’t take long for you to warm up to him early on.
With no one else around now, he’s grown to be more than just your butler. He was a trusted confidant. Someone you could depend on when you needed it the most. It was something Victor prided in, something he relished. More than any other ordinary butler would.
The sunshine from the window behind him made his orangey locks glow around his head like a halo. His thick mane was tied back, revealing more of his beautiful features that softened further at the sight of you. He walked over to the you-shaped lump in the bed and gave it a gentle shake.
“Good morning, my lady. It’s time to get up.”
You whined even more, burrowing deeper into the warmth of your spot, “Five more minutes, Victor. Please…!”
He muttered a fond expression in his mother tongue under his breath before gently peeling the covers away from your face, “You know I can’t do that. Besides, your physician advised that you not spend the entire day in bed.”
You mutter something under your own breath. Not so fond, but not directed at Victor, but at the concept of waking up early altogether. You dragged yourself upright and stretched your arms over your head, your yawn drowning out the pop in your joints. Victor held his hands towards you, one had your daily medicine carefully cradled in his palm while the other held a glass of water. Wordlessly, you take your dosage and swallow it down like clockwork before swinging your legs over the edge of the bed.
“I’ve prepared breakfast for you, and have personally selected your attire for the day. Something appropriate for today’s forecast as it seems to be getting a bit more colder these days.”
You nod, flashing him a tired smile before handing him your plushie to go wash up. He looks down at the green offender, forcing a smile. You look back at him and giggle at his expression, “Seriously, what is your deal with frogs? They’re completely harmless!” He scoffs at that, but is still respectful enough to place her neatly on your wooden nightstand before making your bed. “They are slimy, disgusting, uncouth creatures. I’m still rather shocked that even my lady would have a fondness for them.” You take no offense to that. You simply snicker before disappearing behind the door to the bathroom. Victor listens intently to the gentle flow of water as he finishes with your sheets. He props the rest of your toys against your pillows, giving your teddy bear a little pat on the head.
After breakfast, you made your way across the manor to your father’s study to take care of some professional matters. A gentle hand rests on your shoulder and stops you before you can fully open the thick mahogany. “My lady, why don’t you go and relax? I can take care of it.”
“Thank you, Victor, but it’s the end of the month and I need to sign off on a few things. It won’t be long—”
“I insist.”, he cuts you off, placing your hand between both of his. His green eyes met yours, crinkled with quiet reassurance and adoration. “A lady like yourself shouldn’t waste her time doing such monotonous things. After all, it isn’t good for your condition.” He brings your hand to your lips, brushing your fingers against his warm skin.
A gesture you should be used to by now, but for some reason makes your chest feel funny out of nowhere.
“Go to the library and relax. I shall bring you some tea once I’ve finished with everything.”, Victor’s command is as sweet and soft as freshly baked bread and his emerald eyes are just as warm. Even behind the thick frames that sit against his nose. Suddenly, your mouth and throat are completely dry. All you can manage is a nod before sliding your hand out of his hold and quickly moving down the hall.
Victor’s smile remains as he watches you leave, admiring how the silk of your regency gown compliments your complexion perfectly. He thought everything about you was perfect, even if you were a sickly fragile thing most of the time. It didn’t matter to him, for he was utterly devoted to the daughter of his late master. He would do anything for you: chores, paperwork. Anything. His devotion and loyalty ran deep.
So deep that even being rooms away from you gnawed at his heart, but he mustn't let it affect him. No, he shouldn’t. He’s better than that. After all, Victor and this manor is all you’ve known since your parents’ death. As long as he’s still around, he intends to keep it that way.
It’s almost an hour before Victor appears in your library. Three gentle knocks rapped against the door before he enters, rolling in a tray of tea and sweets for you just as he promised. Your eyes brighten at the sight, and you almost immediately bookmark your chapter before making your way to the table. He abandons the cart and pulls a chair out for you before serving you your tea. “Today’s selection is assam black. I trust it will pair well with my recipe.”
“You mean that?”, you gesture towards the small tray that steams on the cart. You curiously watch him cut a perfect square serving onto a dish. The smell of warm cinnamon and baked apple wafts through the room and makes you salivate.
“Yes, my lady. They are apple cinnamon rolls. A treat that was rather popular with my previous master. I hope that you’ll enjoy it as well.” Victor watches as you reach for your fork and break off a piece. It’s stabbed with your utensil and disappears behind your lips. He watches intently as you eat, quietly. Nervously. Either he’s waiting for your honest opinion or he’s simply admiring the way your mouth moves when you indulge in something delicious.
Perhaps it’s both.
A satisfied hum escapes you before you scoop another piece into your mouth. Then another. You sip down some more tea before delivering your verdict, “Oh, Victor! These are incredible!” His grin stretches across his face, ear to ear. “I’m…very flattered you like them, my lady!” You simply nod, wasting no time on the second half of your roll. After a minute of silence, you meet his gaze once more. He’s still watching you, and something about that bothers you.
“Victor?”
He perks up at the sound of his name on your lips, like a dog awaiting his next command, “Yes, my lady?”
“Would you like to eat with me?”
He blinks at you. Once. Twice. Expression blank, like you just spoke in a completely different language.
“I’m—m-my lady…?”
You shrug, twirling your fork around your fingers, “It’s just…you work so hard. You do everything for me, and I really appreciate it. So…”
Your face and ears warm and tint crimson, and you suddenly can’t look him in the eyes. You shouldn't be reacting this way. Not with your butler. It’s completely inappropriate, as your etiquette instructor would squack at anything she didn’t approve of. Maybe it’s your chronic illness that’s causing you to flush and be a little delirious, expect it’s not delirium. It’s something you can’t quite name.
Victor sees it: the way you blush, your stutter, the way your eyes can’t quite meet his. That same ache in his heart grows into something satisfying, but he bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself composed. His lady is not only praising his efforts, but she wants to spend time with him. A lowly servant. Him!
“It would be my honor, my lady.” Victor serves himself a roll before sliding into the chair closest to you, instead of furthest away like more servants would their master. He’s so excited that he’s forgotten his place, but neither of you seem to mind or care since it’s never addressed.