~*Mandy*~
‘He, wants to protect me?’ I thought after Jason dashed out of my room. “No, I can’t allow that to happen. I’m the servant, and he is my master. But, I was told to do what he says, so if I refuse to allow him to protect me, wouldn’t that be breaking the rules and disobeying? And if I did allow him to protect me, that goes against what a valet should do in the first place…” I sighed in utter frustration and fell back onto my bed and stared at the ceiling tiles.
Even though I was rather elated to know he cared for me enough to want to keep me safe, I felt guilty. And, also, maybe even a little ignorant. When he said that he wanted to protect me, my heart stopped, and I couldn’t help but wonder how he viewed me. My mind wandered of course, but I roped my imagination in before I could get to far and have my hope shattered. It was impossible. One, I was a servant to royalty, and two, he was 17. Practically a man. And I was only a child of 13. I heard a knock on my door and it opened. The head mistress came in.
“Mandy.” She spoke with unrivaled firmness. I sat up quickly and bowed my head.
“Yes Ma’am?” I asked softly.
“I’ve considered it, and you should be with Jason at the party, so you are allowed to go. I hope you’ve learned your lesson though. Put on your best clothes and look presentable.”
“Yes Ma’am.” I answered. She turned on her heel and walked briskly out of the room. For a moment, happiness rushed through my veins, but it went away quickly as I looked through my dresser. Nothing but stained clothes lined the drawers, and the only skirt I had, had a large hole in it. Closing the drawers carefully I sighed and looked in the small mirror I had hanging on my wall. Frizzy, dull black hair puffed out around my ears and then flattened out near my chin. My tiny nose sat in the middle of my face, slightly disproportionate to the rest of my features. My eyes were far to wide apart, and fear laced them constantly. I was just a weak little orphaned girl who wasn’t even pretty or confident. A knock on my other door made me look over in that direction.
“Mandy?” I heard.
“S-Sir Jason, come in…” I answered. He entered, carrying a rather large box.
“I heard that you’re allowed to go to the party too.” He smiled delicately.
“Yea…but I don’t have anything to wear, that is nice.” I spoke sadly, and sat on my bed. I really did want to look presentable. Not only because it was a party, I wanted to look nice in the eyes of Jason as well.
“Here, I got you this.” He placed the box next to me. “I wish I could stay to see you open it but I have to go back to my room and get ready.” I couldn’t even mutter a thank you before he was gone. I blinked curiously at the box, and opened it. My heart literally stopped. I pulled out a beautiful, pure white dress with a corseted back, and a satin ball gown skirt overlaid with a few layers of tulle. Hand stitched pink roses decorated the bust around to the back and in the skirt. A matching pink diamond necklace laid at the bottom, along with a note.
Mandy,
Thank you for being a wonderful valet, and putting up with Vanessa. This is for you, and only you. I hope you like it.
-Jason
Tears dripped from my eyes and began blurring the ink on the paper. I cried, so unbelievably grateful, and happy. I wiped my face and regained my composure. I knew I wanted to look my very best, and I decided to go all out, but in order for me to do that, I would need some help. I left my room, and went to John’s room, and knocked quietly. “John? John it’s Mandy…I need some help…” I said. He opened the door.
“What is it?” He asked.
“You know how to do hair, and make up right? Because Vanessa makes you do hers sometimes?” I asked carefully.
“Yes, I can help.” He nodded. I felt my face heat up slightly.
“Sir Jason got me a dress, and a necklace for Vanessa’s party. I wasn’t to look…nice.” I finished. John smiled.
“I’ll be happy to help.” He said and stepped aside for me to come in.
“Thank you so much! If, if it isn’t too much trouble, can you straighten my hair? M-My dress is white, with pink embroidered roses on it, maybe pink eye shadow?” I asked, I couldn’t stop myself from grinning like a fool. I had never gotten the chance to do anything like this so I was rather excited.
“Of course. Good thing the mistress taught me how to do all of this.” My smile faded slightly.
“…I-I see. I was never shown how.” I said sadly.
“It makes sense with you having Jason as your master.” John said. I sat on a chair and he went into his closet and pulled out some spare beauty products and a small straightener.
“That is true. I’m not an important girl like Vanessa, so there’s no need to waste the time to teach me.” I smiled again.
“I can teach you.” John offered. He was a very sweet boy. I couldn’t believe Vanessa treated him the way she did.
“Yes, please…that is very kind of you. If I may ask, does, Sir Jason ever talk about me?” I asked John. He began brushing my hair carefully.
“No, not really, he’s usually concerned with how everyone is doing and if there is anyway he can be of help.” Even though it wasn’t the exact answer I was hoping for, it made me smile anyway.
“Yes, that does sound like my master.” John caught a snarl in my hair, but I remained silent. Vanessa’s hair pulling had made it close to impossible for me to feel pain on my scalp anymore.
“I don’t understand why he is not going to be the head of the house. He is going to be turning 18 in a month.”
“I agree with you. V-Vanessa has no right to do what she is doing.” I put my hand over my mouth. It was unacceptable that I had just said that about John’s Mistress, even if I had meant it.
“No, I agree with you.” John quickly said.
“I feel like a bad servant, but sometimes I wish for her to suffer as she makes us suffer.” I knew I could trust John with these feelings. I was sure he felt the same in one way or another.
“That’s not a good thing.” He said. Or, maybe he didn’t.
“I-I know.” I said softly, lowering my head a little, feeling shame start taking over.
“It’s just not good to wish bad things on other people.” He continued.
“How do you do it John?! How do you put up with her?!” I didn’t hold back anymore, I was tired of keeping my mouth shut.
“I have a lot of patience.” He said coolly.
“So do I, but it takes a lot more than that. I don’t know how much more torture I can take from her. Maybe you can see a side of her that I just can’t.” I shook my head a little.
“When your not looking she does have a soft side. It’s just hard to get to. I’ve seen it, it just doesn’t get directed towards me or anyone else.” I was shocked.
“What?! When? How?!” I exclaimed.
“It was brief, she was talking to her stuffed animals.”
“Oh, wow, that’s interesting…” John had started straightening my hair, and was almost done, and then it would be time for makeup.
“There you go.” He smiled.
“Wait, a little bit of make up? Then I’ll go…” I asked.
“Alright.” He pulled out some colors, and put some on me. Not a lot, but just enough.
“Thank you so much, I’ll see you in a little bit.” I smiled at him, heading for the door.
“Yes, see you later Mandy.” John nodded. I left and went right back to my room, and put the dress on. It was so beautiful, and fit me perfectly. I put on the necklace, and for once, I felt, pretty. I was excited too. It was absolutely wonderful.
