Chapter Text
People of the castle doesn't have much work aside from maintenance and serving the royalties. Which meant a lot of work with a lot of people. The castle itself is enormous and clearly would take more than a noble's amount of maid to clean it thoroughly. It also meant that more work for the household manager like Clown.
'He' doesn't like being a manager. It's too much work for a single person to manage more than thirty people to be in line of work and not stray further than authorized areas. It gave out good money though, Clown won't complain about that, or at least won't complain too often that 'he' get caught talking behind the royalties.
Just a little more handing out assignments to the staffs then Clown should be good to go.
" Your job this week is to help the others prepare for the soon arrival of the Spades Prince "
" The cleaning of the staffs zone would be halt to increase the efficiency for this occasion "
" Is that clear? "
" Yes sir. "
With that assigned to the rest of the remaining staffs, they all left to do their own things, Including Clown. By own things Clown meant to go rest in 'his' own room, separated from other people. No other people would dare to knock on his door at this time. Fidgeting with the crimson dagger in 'his' left hand, Clown looked towards the open window in 'his' room. Clown wonders how long can 'he' keep up the schemes about 'his' own life. The life literally no one saw beyond the expressionless mask on the face.
Clown saw every disadvantages the maids of the castle had to bear everyday and it is eating at 'his' mind. Woman had no rights to be in a position of power above men, that is the social norm of the time.
So how would the mission continue if the fact the Clown is not a 'he' but is a 'she' instead?
Clown had kept this fact for a long time. To lie and conceal every feminine traits left behind on her body. Just to be in a position of power above all. To hide behind a mask and a fixed tone of voice to not give it all away. Clown had came so far for the mission, if it fails right now it would be a terrible fate upon her.
Or Clown had simply spiraled too far from the exhausting work load and just needed to clear her mind. No other time has ever made Clown feel so suffocating about the sexism towards women in this era. A simple nightly hour walk in the town below wouldn't hurt, would it? So she waited. Clown waited until the inky black veil of stars had fallen onto the land and no light of the sun can be seen. Having already changed into a peasant-looking clothing and concealing her face behind a smiling mask, different enough from the normal one 'he' always wore for work. Clown climbed down from the window in 'his' room to the town's flaming lights below.
It has been a while since Clown had came down to walk in the town. Clown knew that they rapidly change and cycle their decorations for each season, but 'he' rarely keep tracks on what the town folks are doing in the season. It's not really the job of a household manager to report it to the royalties. It wasn't a part of the job unless commanded. Judging by the looks of it, it's currently Halloween season, the time where abnormalities appear..
'He' should beware for signs of bad lucks on the walk then. With every step on the road, 'he' could hear a fight break out between a married couple through the cracks in the walls of buildings. A tragedy isn't far away for them if they kept pushing on down this path of life. Clown saw an owl perching on a tree branch next to a house, seemingly unfamiliar to 'his' eyes. Since when did anyone move into the town below the castle?
Clown did not realize when had 'his' legs move towards the house. Must have been the curiosity inside one's mind that engineered to move forward. The house had a nice scenery filled with florals and plant life, that gave it some kind of disconnection to the rest of town- Correction, this house is disconnected to the town. Clown had just realized that as 'he' walked closer towards the house near the river.
A white cat rested on the swing under the very same tree that an owl is perching on. An odd combination of animals to see, but not impossible with the cat still sleeping. Clown would like to pet the cat if 'he' didn't knew any better about properties. They're a very serious topic among the town folks, and 'he's' not going to risk a life for a cat.
Clown just wanted to observe this place and then go back to the castle, that is all 'he' intended to do today. Maybe come back down to talk with the new person here for a little to gather even more information about the mission, but there seems to be no sign of the place's owner currently.
Clown thought it was a job for another time until 'he' turned around and saw a lady holding a basket of fruits staring at him. Gosh 'he' probably looks like a creepy man now. Great. Just Great. Clown just lost 'his' reputation straight from day one of meeting a new person. At least, so he thought.
" Hello? D- Did you need something? "
" I just wanted to see who's the house owner "
" I thought it looked nice "
" Oh! In that case I knew the owner of this house, I actually live here! "
" You do? "
" Yeah! would you like to come inside? "
" I prefer not to step into another's house "
" Uh- would you like to sit at the table outside and have some tea then? "
Clown thought about it for a second, 'he' actually wasn't supposed to think about it and deny it immediately, but the lady looked like she couldn't hurt a fly. It's just a one time thing. One time wouldn't hurt to try. It won't affect the mission much. Clown didn't have a lot of free time to do something like this anyways.
" That would be nice "
The lady simply nodded and went into the house with the basket she carried. Not long after that she came out with a tea set and the fruits from earlier. She guided Clown to the backyard table mentioned earlier. Pine wood table and chairs nicely maintained with a lit lantern hanging from the pole next to the fence, seperating them from the water. Clown took a seat and glanced towards the tea set.
It reeked of chamomile, a calming scent. The lady slid it to Clown. Clown willingly accepts it no question asked. She sat across from Clown, which isn't far since the table was rather small. Now that Clown had a better view of the house's resident, She had curly mahogany hair and grass green eyes. Her skin honey like with freckles on top. What a perfect combination for an innocent helpless girl.
" It's odd to have a lady walking out at night don't you think? "
" The same goes to you, disguising as a man really worked out well didn't it? "
" You- "
Clown had never stood up from a seat so fast in her life. Words kept failing to come out of her mouth.
" I mean you already knew that I- I'm not a regular woman, am I? "
" I hold a piece of your information, you hold one of mine "
Never had she failed to find a word to reply. Clown found herself speechless at the words of another woman.
" What are you going to do about it? "
" Nothing, unless you decide to report me to the authorities "
" How would I know that you wouldn't try to use the information against me? "
" With that strength you could've get rid of me "
Never had Clown ever had to place a trust in a woman she didn't know other than her own mind.
" The name's Branzy "
" Clown. "
" A name fitting for a your looks! "
" Hush it "
Seems like this isn't going to be as simple as meeting another new person now.