The night before after she had finished cleaning and putting away her clothes laid in bed in her nightgown with a burning determination. A determination to prove herself.

But how?

She gasped sitting up in bed, obviously she should do her job, but beyond that how?!

The next morning she had woken up extra early in order to get shit done, she yawned as she shuffled to the kitchen. Talking to herself on the way as she walked through the servants halls covered her mouth as she yawned.

“For my first day on the job, I must show my competency!  My young master is already so independent and easy to take care of. What I have to do is show that I'm useful so I should wake up extra early in order to make him a nice and healthy breakfast and pick out his clothes! Oh yeah!”

She blearily peered into the kitchen, “Oh you’re awake just in time I was about to go and get you for breakfast, it's a bit bare today since I’ve only been ordering enough for me, but by this coming Sunday I should have the order down.”

Her young master was standing there.

Her young master was cooking in the kitchen.

Her young master-

“Well, what are you waiting for, oh do you not like anything that I prepared? Do you have a specific diet?”

It was barely after dawn break and she had already failed in her endeavor to prove herself.

She shook her head hiding her disappointment, “Not at all young master! Thank you very much, but you should rely on me. I can make breakfast and clean!”

He blinked in surprise setting down the pan, “Ah… sorry-”

“No, please! Don’t be sorry, it’s just… well you kind of make me redundant ya know! It’s very impressive that you can do all of this, but, I’m your maid young master please rely on me with at least this! I can do it!”

She looked really impassioned while she spoke Aster looked at her with narrowed glaring eyes, but she would not be deterred even if she did annoy him.

‘Oi, oi, oi… how did I get so lucky to get a maid who’s so earnest, thank whatever god that I didn’t get some sneaky type that would work with my enemies to see me fall… though I think that only happens in romance novels… and to people with enemies...’

He was feeling touched and looking at her with kind and understanding eyes, then he sighed which made the girl freeze, patting her shoulder he nodded, “I see… I will try then, but please forgive this one if he ends up doing something to make you feel useless, it’s a bit of a learning curve for me as well. For today though let’s eat, you can make me lunch, I’ll be in my study for most of the day anyway.”

He settled down and those piercing eyes finally left her. She could breath in relief, Belle let out a silent sigh patting her chest, ‘Holy shit I thought I was gonna die!’

“OH MY GOD! THIS IS DELICIOUS!!!”

She gobbled up her meal without much thought Aster looked at her with a sort of amused sadness, ‘She really is a kid… she reminds me of them…’ shaking his head he closed that thought and finished up his meal taking it to the sink he had to physically stop himself from automatically washing his plate and the pans as he felt the piercing stare of the girl behind him.

“I’ll be going then.”

“Of course, young master, have a good morning! Please ring the bell if you need anything, I’ll run up immediately and do anything I can to help!” 

She stood and curtsied as he left, he paused and nodded as he walked out the door.

She looked after with sparkling eyes and an awed smile, “My young master is so considerate and kind! I must work hard in order to prove myself!”

.

“KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! MONEY!!!”

That’s the considerate and kind young master, Aster looked over his finances and though some things obviously were overpaid the kid had obviously been a finance genius because he had managed his allowance so well he generally had extra at the end of the year. 

A single tear escaped the corner of his eye, “I'm sorry little Aster bro, but big bro will make use of this capital!”

He grinned and if anyone were there they’d think he was planning to topple the kingdom with how rotten he looked. 

“Well first I’d actually have to know how this place’s economy works… then I’d have to find out how a business can be started… then…”

Aster murmured to himself as he looked over the books in thought pulling out a few he thought he could use, he would use the money well he had always wanted to open up a small shop when he was back in his own world, but now he actually had the ability to do it.

He felt giddy.

As he looked over the numbers after hours of studying he grinned,  this could actually work a knock on the door  made him jump. He frowned, setting to put away the papers on his desk, ‘Probably shouldn't show that to anyone just yet…’

“Come in!”

“Young master, I came to get you for lunch! Would you like to eat here or somewhere else?”

She looked pretty excited and he sighed, ‘If I stay in here I’d probably just let it sit there…’

“Can you set up a table outside in the southern gardens, I should probably get some air.”

She nodded excitedly, bowing, “Certainly young master!”

.

.

.

“Oh this is a surprise, middle brother is outside for once.”

A girl with short hair that was obviously cut by herself spoke up with not so much surprise as vague interest.

“Quite so, young mistress.”

“That’s weird right, he never comes outside at this time of day… or ever I wonder if him getting that little starling chick is the reason maybe he wants to show off… how funny. We should go greet him?”

She had lost the vague interest in her expression as she started to walk without waiting for a response, the man next to her looked off into the middle distance, ‘This can’t end well…’

.

“This is rather good, thank you very much Tania.”

The maid looked at him giddily, “Oh really! No thank you for eating my food young master, and please you can call this loyal servant by her first name!”

He looked at her with a glare and she felt sweat drip down her back, ‘Maybe I overstepped asking something like this-’

“Belle then.”

He continued eating and she let out a sigh as she stood near him at attention waiting for any words, he looked like he was going to say something when suddenly the food on his plate spilled on him. He stared at the food and Belle panicked grabbing a towel as she kneeled going to clean him, a hand though stopped her.

“Middle brother you're alive, you haven’t left your quarters since elder brother left I thought you had finally croaked?”

Belle stood then and turned to the newly arrived guests. She took a step back and bowed her head. She knew this girl, “Thalia, was there any need to do that?”

“Aw come on as if it wasn’t impressive, besides should you really be eating that it’ll upset your stomach! Peasant food isn’t fit for us Rosewoods, you should send your little maid to remedial lessons if this is the best she can do.”

Belled bit her lip, hands clutching at her skirts and apron.

Then a sigh escaped the boy in front of her.

Aster looked at the young girl with a glare and she looked back with dull and bored eyes, “Thalia there’s no need to worry, I find simple foods to be better for me especially when eating al fresco. I would’ve asked you to join me, but you obviously do not agree with my standards.”

He said this as he picked up the food from his lap, standing and dusting off anything left on, he nodded to her, “I’ll be going then.”

“What! No way! This is the first time in months you’ve been outside come and play with me!”

She had frozen him, he felt sweat trickle down his forehead and Belle lifted her head as she made to reach for him with worried eyes, he glared at her and it froze her.

“I can’t Thalia. I have things to do and my lunch has been ruined, there’s no reason for me to stay out here.”

She stomped her foot and the pavilion shook with her power, she no longer looked bored, she looked close to having a tantrum, cheeks red and eyes fiery, “No way, no way, no way! Play with me, play with me, play with me!!! You don’t even have work, the old man would never trust you with anything important! Why are you trying so hard you know you’ll fail! You always fail! So play with me instead, at least that way you’ll be doing something useful FOR ONCE!!!”

Silence fell over them as she breathed heavily, Aster didn’t respond still frozen, but not from magic he just couldn't move. Then he relaxed and a sigh escaped him Thalia flinched and Belle who looked close to attacking the girl snapped to attention and turned to him her eyes went wide.

Dragging a hand down his face he turned to the girl, “Thalia I’m leaving now, please don’t do that again. Come on then.”

Belle blinked in confusion, nodding hesitantly as she picked up the dishes and pulled the cart with her. She followed after her master hurried in her steps.

Belle looked down at the ruined meal, and then looked to her master's back and thought not for the first time, that he was a strange guy.

‘I wonder why he was smiling…’

Aster in front of her grinned as he walked he barely managed to school his face into a frown when he turned to the girl but this was great news, ‘I’m not trusted with anything important and I still get such a big allowance, aw yeah that means there’s not even an inkling of a chance that I’ll become the heir!’

Inside his mind he was cheering and pulling out the champagne this meant a whole slew of good things for him.

Left behind Thalia Rosewood was gritting her teeth as she looked to her booted feet, before she turned away from the place nose in the air huffing as she stomped away feet leaving cracks as she stomped off.

The man walking behind her sighed as he waved a hand everything righted itself, ‘Honestly why was I given to a fucking child… who cares how powerful and genius she is, this is more trouble than it’s worth…’

“Mori! Let’s go and work on the Vector Analysis Compundant!”

He blinked and nodded, “Certainly mistress.”

‘Ah I remember now, I could never afford to experiment  as I do if I weren’t here… still, such a pain.’

.

.

.

“Young master, do you need any help changing?”

He waved her off, “No… uh, but can you make me some more lunch?”

She nodded excitedly before wincing, “Are you sure perhaps young mistress is right? Would you like something more… complicated?”

“No. From what I ate of your meal, what you had was good, make me something similar, I’ll go change. I guess I can just eat in my study with the doors to the balcony open…’

He waved her away and she bowed, as he headed to his room and she headed to the kitchen.

As soon as he arrived he sighed, holding his face hand covering his mouth as it hid a wretched grin, he was genuinely giddy but as he passed the mirror he flinched at his expression pulling at his face in disappointment, “Geez is this how I look like… maybe I need to go to remedial lessons, this face could make babies cry, this kid just did not get a single break.”

As he changed he thought to himself, “I definitely know this guy, but from where… well it can’t be that important if I don’t remember, best to not spend too much energy on it.”

He closed the closet and set his clothes aside as he headed out to his study, Belle was already there having opened the doors to the balcony, the cart having been once again ordered with a meal. He nodded in thanks and she bowed as she served him.

He sighed, “Belle I have to ask you something this is important so be honest.”

He sat down and she froze before looking at him with a serious expression, “Of course master! This one will answer very honestly!”

He nodded, he looked deeply serious as he looked at her straight in the eyes, the air around them stifled as he stayed silent for a second as if he were gathering his thoughts, “Do I have a scary looking face? Because I just smiled to myself and honestly I think I might have made the flowers in my room die with just the reflection of it.”

She looked serious, her eyes softening, “Oh thank god! Yes, very much so master. Your expression is very… tough looking and intimidating-”

“So scary as hell huh.”

“To be frank-”

“Please be frank I need you to be honest with me okay-”

“Your face is very scary, I genuinely thought you were going to kill me at least once in these past few days! It’s very intimidating even when you smile!”

She rambled on and on about the many expressions that scared her and Aster closed his eyes and breathed. He felt a tear trying to escape him, ‘Aw man, how can I do business with a mug like this…’

Then his eyes opened as he looked seriously, but the girl just flinched and he covered his face as he groaned. She spazzed as she tried to reach for him, “Uh… please don’t fire me…”

He shook his head, “No, no this isn’t worth firing anyone over, lus that seems illegal and unfair…” a sigh made him deflate as he nearly face planted in his food, “Just life is gonna be a lot harder if I don’t get my face under control…”

She looked at him as he… moped? In silence, she friend up her resolve as she suggested her thought, “Master! Maybe I can help!”

He looked up, “How?”

‘Nice he didn’t immediately shoot me down, ah my master is so open-minded and kind…’

She leaned in close, sparkling eyes as she pointed to herself, “You can show me your expressions and then I can tell you how your doing it scary! Then after we can work on it until you can make expressions that won’t curdle milk without even thinking about it!”

“Oi.”

He looked vaguely offended and angry, but now she knew he just looked like that naturally.

“Really master, I can help with this!”

She looked excited and he sighed, and shrugged his shoulders, “Alright it couldn’t hurt.”

She nodded and cheered, “and maybe we can work on making you gain weight and get strong too! Us people from the north are known for our strength and hardiness. I promise master I’ll have you with a pleasant expression and a strong body by the next solstice ball!”

He looked to her with annoyed surprise as he reached for her, but she just left him there with food as she yelled about writing up a plan, “Hey, what the hell I just wanted some facial expression coaching, NOT A WORKOUT PLAN!!!”

Life went on and everyone was an idiot.