He straightened his cuffs, adjusted the links, and looked down at his shoes where remnants of soup were turning into crusty gunks. Then his eyes met his hands, where the wine was turning into sticky red stains on his skin. From there, his sight locked onto his suit's cufflinks, the rustic silver engraved with marigold flowers was marred with a yellowish residue that released a thick odor.

For a long moment, he stood there, squinting at the unpleasant mess littered on his clothes, hands, and feet.

With a sharp exhale, he brushed dried soup crust from his cufflinks. He was ready to leave, but the clatter of plates and silverware made him halt in his tracks. He rotated around to spot the sight of a maid clearing the table. She worked diligently removing unfinished meals and empty wine bottles, placing them into a sliver service cart accordingly.

"Miria," he said, easily recognizing the maid by thin stature and reserved demeanor.

He glanced around the hall before pacing over to her. "Hello again." A relaxed smile eased onto his face.

Miria stiffened, locking her bones as a rigid as a plank. Constricted by a snake of anxiety, her lips parted but no words came, only a garbled loosely vocalized sound similar to a gasp. Her face crinkled in hesitance as she searched around the room.

"Oh?" He watched the cup she was preparing to put away wobbled in her flustered grip. "You're worried?" Like hers, his eyes briefly bounced around the empty hall before settling back on her. "Don't worry. It's just us right now. Besides, I know you’re the one."

Miria’s eyes went wide as he continued.

"I must admit, today was unexpected," he sighed, taking the glass cup from her hands and placing it delicately inside the service bin. "Lord Sutherton, Lady Sutherton, and then Erina Sutherton. They are indeed something else."

Miria's face inflated, her brows raised wide and her mouth tugged open. Hurriedly, she reached into her apron pouch and plucked out a square chalkboard and flaky chalk stick. For a second, she cast a heavy stare to the floors before placing the worn black chalkboard against the table, quickly scribbling quickly down words. When she was done, she flipped the board towards him.

He read the board, absorbing the words with an exhale. “Yeah. I know.” He brushed his hair back. “I know.”

Pulling a long face, she reached into her apron pouch and took out a white flower embroidered handkerchief, offering it.

“For me?"

She nodded.

He smiled, taking it. “Thanks.”

Without another word, she nodded and dismissed herself to finally leave him alone. Or at least what he believed himself to be alone.

“What’s happening now?” Samira asked as Naeun continued to peep from the door.

“He’s cleaning his uniform.”

“He’s taking it off?” Samira swiftly tried to squeeze next to her.

“No, you pinhead horndog!” Naeun turned and shoved her back.

She landed on her bum. “Ouch,” she grimaced. “You said he was cleaning it so I thought you meant he took it off to clean it.”

Naeun sighed, shaking her head. She went back to the door to peek. “He’s not leaving. He’s just cleaning his uniform and---.” She paused.

“What?” Samira was back on her feet and back to squirming to get a view.

“Why is he doing that?”

“What? Doing what? Is he really taking it off?” Samira grew even more frantic to get a view. She pulled and tugged hard on Naeun.

“Just what exactly is he doing?” Naeun peered.

“Nae? What is going on! Come on you’ve been hogging this! Let me see now! I wanna see!” She begged like a child in a candy store. “Nae!” She pulled harder.

“Samira!” Naeun whipped her head to her. “You need to quiet down. Do you want anybody to see us eavesdropping and fidgeting like two schoolgirls? Do you really want Mister Ezra to see us---!”

“Ladies.” They heard a man’s voice right by the doors.

Both of them stopped their bickering and squabbling as they peered to the doors.

“Can you move from the doors? I can’t get in,” Ezra popped his head in between the door crack they were once using to snoop.

The girls looked to each other and hurriedly got to their feet.

As he stepped into the small room, they stepped back.

“Mister Ezra.” Samira stood taut, straightening her dress and tidying her hair.

“Mister Ezra,” Naeun said as well, standing firm.

They were silent for a few stiff moments as Ezra looked between the two of them. But he cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “I came in here to set aside the rest of the dishes.” He smiled, highlighting the stack of plates in his hands.

“Oh.” Samira was first to respond and first to believe that he hadn’t heard them. “Well Mister Ezra you don’t need to help with that. We would have gotten it.”

“I know. But I heard some departments are currently a bit understaffed. Something to do with Lady Erina?”

“Yes, that’s true.” Samira studied him from the impressions of dimples on his cheek to the lines in his lips. "But still, Mister Ezra, you don't need to do that. That’s below your duties and plus you start work tomorrow, not tonight."

“Ah, but what can I say? I’m desperate for something to do other than unpack my things,” he jested, brightening his smile.

Soft laughter came easily to Samira. “Still, don’t worry over it. Yew---you, look like you’ve been through enough already. We’ve got it.” She approached him to take the plates.

He handed them over, their fingers momentarily brushing against each other. “I see just two of you though. Are you two sure you don’t need help?”

“Y-yes.” Samira sat the dishes into the sink, blushing.

“Yeah, we’re sure.” Naeun responded as well, folding her arms over her chest. “So?” She set her eyes on him. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Ezra turned his attention to her. “Do I have anything to say?”

“Yeah.” Naeun peered at him.

“Well.” He blinked, thinking. “I suppose I do have something to say.” His eyes bounced between the two of them. “This is our first time, and you two have yet to introduce yourselves!”

“What?” Confusion rammed into Naeun’s face.

Samira clasped her hands together, happiness blooming in her eyes. “My name is Samira. But all of my friends call me Sami or Sam.” She offered her hand.

“Alright, nice to meet you, Sami.” He took her hand, and gazed at soft round-faced young woman. Fiery red ginger hair peeked out from under her black bonnet. She wore the common indoor maid uniform, a black tunic dress frilled at the neck and dress hem, topped with a plain white apron. The only noticeable change to the uniform was a rusted silver broach in the shape of a bumblebee pinned to the chest of her long apron.

When he released her hand, Samira lowered her gaze and bashfully played with her hair.

“And you are?” Ezra turned his sight to the quiet Naeun. She was shorter than Samira, with pale skin that had a slight yellowish tint. Her eyes were angled and cut thin like a fox and her cheek bones were flat and raised high. She wore a similar uniform, her sleek straight hair pulled into a tight ponytail.

“Naeun.” She didn’t offer her hand.

“It’s nice to meet both of you. I’m sure you know, but I’m Ezra.” He smiled.

"Yes, of course we know who you are!” Samira gushed cheerfully with a smile.

“And now I know who you two are,” he returned her giddy happiness.

“Yes, I suppose you do.” Samira placed a hand over her mouth, and giggled like a modest maiden. “So?” She started twirling her loose hair. "Mister Ezra, how are you faring so far?"

“Me? Oh well, I’m fairing---.”

“What were you talking with Miria about?” Naeun cut him off.

“Excuse me?” He furrowed his brows.

“Ignore, Nae! She’s not---.” Samira tried to cover up their tracks with a panicked addition, but Naeun interrupted.

“I know you heard us and saw us peeping in. We will admit it, we were watching. But we weren’t watching to disrespect your privacy. We were just curious after we heard all that commotion, and that’s why we’re watching. Now, you.” She folded her arms over her chest, continuing to fire line after line at him. “Fellow worker to another, would you mind telling us what you were doing reading the letter Lady Sutherton specifically gave for Lady Erina’s eyes only? Is that something you do on your first day of work? Read through people’s private letters?”

Ezra stared at her for a long moment, as if he were considering his words. After a few seconds of stares and stillness, he parted his lips. “It’s been a long night. I should see to it that I get some rest. Goodnight, ladies.” He smiled, and waved them off.

Without waiting for a reply, he simply turned from them and left the same way he came.

“Wow.” Naeun scoffed, shaking her head scoldingly at his leave. “Can you believe that?” She glanced at Samira. “Sure, I get we shouldn’t have been spying, but why not confront us? He just brushed us off. We don’t do that here. We talk to each other, because everybody knows everybody is always sticking their nose where it shouldn’t be.” She huffed, unfolding her arms. “The way he acted it was---.”

“--So, mature of him, right?” Samira lovingly exhaled.

“No, I was thinking more, suspicious.”