Nathaniel came into the room not a moment after the outburst, unable to hide a small smirk at his Young Master's overreaction. It always amused him how she could go from completely docile to... Whatever this was. "Yes, My Lady?" he asked, bowing per usual and glancing at her expectantly, a smirk still tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Is the paperwork proving to be more than your equal? Or is something else on your mind?" She seemed stressed, never a good sign for him. It meant that she'd be fussy throughout the evening, no doubt complicating their schedule. And how he hated to deviate from the schedule, it should be followed by the letter. Still... It was up to her how they went throughout he day, he simply played along.
By the ever talented Lillian Thorne!
"I. AM. GOING. TO. EXPLOOOODE!" The mistress of the house exclaimed, squeezing one of the papers in her fist. "My math is all wrong, Lord Bonnefoy is arriving in an hour, and then Vincent's arriving for dinner tonight I JUST CAN'T DO IT!!!" She exclaimed, her eye twitching. "I'm losing my mind, Nathaniel."
Nathaniel sighed softly, looking at his Young Master with a hint of amusement. So easily worked up, it was a mystery she was left to run the family's fashion empire. Still, she was his master, and he was to help her. Making his way behind her, he placed his hands on her shoulders, expertly massaging them to relieve stress. "All you need to do is but order it and I'll take care of the papers for you, My Lady." he pointed out, smirking a bit. "Bonnefoy will be no issue, I'll see to that, as for your fiance... Well, that much is left up to you." Nathaniel almost felt like a babysitter more than a butler at this moment, consoling the child like this. But so was the life of a butler, he supposed, removing his hands from his young master. "So then... Your orders?"
By the ever talented Lillian Thorne!
"Finish this paperwork for me, please. My mind is melting just being in the same room as it." She said with a sigh, a hand running through her hair. "Oh," she said, standing, "please make sure the others don't blow up the estate, as well." She murmured. "Please excuse me." She said as she left.
"But of course, My Lady." Nathaniel replied, bowing once more before taking Araena's place at the desk. He waited for her to leave, sighing dramatically before grabbing his pen and easily beginning to fill out the papers. Heir to an entire company and she wouldn't take care of the trivial matters herself, how bothersome. Not as if paperwork was the worst thing he could be ordered to do. Filing shipment logs, spending expenses, employee records, Nathaniel knew all of it anyways, it was easy enough to do. He pondered what his young master would be doing if not this. Perhaps go back to bed he though, smirking at how annoyed she was for having to wake up.
By the ever talented Lillian Thorne!
Dashing into her room, Aranea sat down on her bed, looking at her hands. "Can't even do my own paperwork. No wonder Father wanted to leave the estate to Arnold." Frowning, she looked out the window, and then at her pocketwatch. "Hm. I could go for a stroll before my partner arrives. Clear my mind a bit." And with that, the sapphire heiress stepped out of the room, post-haste, dashing down the hallway, down the stairs, and out the door into the rose maze.
Meanwhile, a pair of eyes watched the girl in blue, a smile appearing on its lips. The plan was already set into motion.
Nathaniel liesurely went through the papers, though even so he was making quick progress. Double check a few numbers, put down a signature here and there, not too difficult. So why was his Young Master so inept at doing them? Smiling a bit amused, he sighed and shook his head, setting the last of the papers in a neat pile, placing them on the corner under a paperweight for now as he went to Araena's room to inform her the task was complete. He knocked lightly before entering the room, an amused smirk on his lips. "Young Master, I-" he began, pausing when he noticed she was not in her room. Lovely... She'd gone and run off again. Never a dull moment with her he thought, shutting the door and making his way down the hallway slowly. When the girl didn't want to work she tended to bumble off somewhere, leaving Nathaniel to find her. No matter, he could always do so, it was easy enough thanks to the contract.
It was always easy to find her, things would be out of place or doors left open, something the servants of the estate would know better not to do. His search brought him to the front door which had been left wide open, obviously she'd gone through there. The only one likely place she could have gone to hide, the maze, was in front of him. So she'd run off in there, a place she tended not to venture into, lest she get lost in the thickets. Chuckling softly he took a seat at a nearby bench, eyeing the maze thoughtfully. Have your fun Master, I'll be here when you need me,
By the ever talented Lillian Thorne!
Aranea had picked a white rose to complete her bouqet. Something to place in her room to brighten up the place. It was a shame that roses didn't come in the sapphire shade she so adored. Holding it up to the light, the ravenette female didn't even notice a white figure slips behind her and cover her mouth with a white gloved hand. In the glove was a rag of some sort. Aranea didn't know her way in the world of chemicals much - that was the chef's job - and she didn't know what chemical made her feel like this... so tired... so weak...
A word remained on her sapphire lips as she felt to the dirt with a thud. "...Nat..hani...el..."
Nathaniel perked up at an odd feeling, a discontent frown coming to his face. He felt an unpleasant aura nearby, one of grace an order. The word near came out like vomit as he spoke softy, snapping the arm of the chair he was in angrily. "Angel..." How he loathed them and their ideals, their "Grace" was simply imposing their wills on others. Angels and demons were similar in some ways, leading humans to believe they would help, hiding ulterior motives. The thought of one on the estate grounds was simply unforgivable, he would have to see to it's removal immediately. Without a thought he turned and raced into the maze, hurrying towards the angel. Much to his alarm and anger, when he found the Angel he also found Araena fast asleep in his arms, undoubtedly knocked out.
"Well... Isn't this unpleasant..." Nathaniel said softly, smirking at their new visitor. His eyes, normally a deep amber, shone red as blood, he was clearly irritated by the angel's presence. He grabbed a knife from his coat's pocket, brandishing it and stroking the blade of it haplessly with a fingertip. "I suggest you release my Young Master, otherwise things may become rather violent." His tone seemed normal, though a definite sense of warning was carried with it. He couldn't attack the angel without harming his Lady, but something had to be done. He'd stall for time, waiting for a chance to strike.
By the ever talented Lillian Thorne!
The angel smirked. "So the young lady has recruited the help of a demonic butler? How is one allowed to be protected by an agent of darkness in this era? Especially one of a sickly, disturbing bloodcolor? It pains me to see that you have gone and corrupted her young mind into thinking YOU are the righteous here. My angelic heart cries." Peering straight into Nathaniel's eyes, blue on red, his smirk morphed into a full on evil grin. "'Tis a shame, but I will be taking your master now, and without her to give the order to save you, I do not believe you can do a thing. Or am I wrong?"
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