Joseph was a high ranking noble, living in the finest life he was born into, maids and butlers at his beck and call. But one in particular always stood out to him, the peculiar maid his mother personally chose for him when they found her in the dumps abandoned by whoever left her there many many years ago. Joseph wasn't that much older then her, probably 3 or 4 years, but nobody knows for sure. His mother gave the girl a name, a date of birth, a identity, to the child, it was everything she could ask for. Living under a roof and no longer in the trash, having a good and decent meal every day instead of scraps and starving to death every day, the ability to stay clean and not covered in disgusting dirt and bugs. Joseph was always curious of her, she didn't speak much, most likely from a habit of getting abused when she was younger for talking back. He tried to make small talk, but it always ended up in hums and quiet yes'. It frustrates him as he wanted to get closer with the people he worked with, but he knows she's not very talkative, simply, he respects her space and keeps her around for company. Despite the most often very quiet rooms, Joseph loved the peaceful mutual feelings of silence over a chatty person who never knows when to shut up.

"Sir..?" The maid walked in quietly after knocking on the door twice, with no response she walked into her masters room to find the blonde man still asleep. Setting aside the breakfast she picked up from the kitchen, the maid pulled apart the curtains slightly to let some light in. The blonde shifted in his bed groaning from the sudden light hitting his eyelids.

"_____..?" He pushed himself out of his sleep position to rub his eyes as the maid finished pulling out his attire for the day. She simply turned around and nodded, walking over to give him the breakfast tray. Joseph simply thanked her as she read the list of things to attend to today, his schedule was all cleared out and crammed into yesterday or tomorrow as today was special, he was meeting 2 of his possible brides to be.

"Brides to be huh?" Joseph was annoyed, he wasn't interested in having a wife right now, after all he's only 18 and constantly spend time in the family's library absorbing himself in any story he can find. He took his last bite of his omelette and got out of his bed, walking over to his 3 sided mirror, _____ took the time to take off his pajamas quickly switching out with his formal attire. After buttoning down the Prussian blue cloak at the front, Joseph stepped down to sit down on his chair. _____ took his favorite hair brush and simply brushed through his messy bed hair, the soft texture gliding between her fingers as she ties it up loosely with a yellow ribbon as always.

"Thank you ______." Joseph stood up turning around to smile at the younger girl, her birthday was coming up soon and he requested a day off with his mother to spend free time for once. The maid hummed and gave a small smile as she bowed and grabbed the left over dishes leaving his room. The lonely silence coming back hitting Joseph. He put on a smile as he stared into his mirror, his sky blue eyes reflecting back at him. "Let's see how unholy these women can be."

Joseph walked out of his room wondering around greeting any servant he walked past until he reached the lobby where his mother and _____ were waiting. His mother quickly rushed over to him patting his face and clothes ranting on about putting on a good show for the ladies. _____ stood on the side gazing off the distance outside the window, smiling peacefully in the wake of calm.

"Ah they're here!" The mother bursts out as she hears horses stopping at the front entrance. _____ stood to the right of Joseph, a little behind him as the front doors open. 2 beautiful ladies walked in, one wearing a red rose gown, many many gems and fancy ribbons decorated her dress. Her hair was brown as pools of honey, pinned up into the most extravagant hairstyle ever.

"Lady Marie Beaumont." The butler introduced, Joseph smiles in greetings, holding her hand to give a light kiss. Marie gave off the snottiest giggle known to man kind. The other women walked over upon Joseph letting go. "Lady Anne Alexandre." She curtsied and gave her hand to Joseph. She was wearing the most creamed colored dress, nothing too expansive, but enough to know she most definitely a noble of high ranking. Her hair was light curled, the bangs a bit more then the ones resting on her shoulder. Her hair was white as snow, giving the impression of being a albino.

"Now then, let's have some tea shall we?" The mother introduced, as the trio headed over into the garden. _____ stood beside Joseph as a habit he insisted when she started being his personal maid, which definitely didn't go unnoticed by the 2 girls behind them. Joseph wasn't exactly happy with the choice he had, but from looks alone, one definitely is better then the other. The group finally reached the vast garden, the mother breaking off the group to give them some space declaring she will be back before the evening. _____ stood by Joseph's side as they walk through the garden, arriving at the center where a massive marble and granite gazebo stood, maids and butlers already prepared the food, snacks and tea. _____ pulled a seat back for Joseph to sit down as he thanked her, giving her the okay to wonder around the garden, a activity she loves to do to clear her mind and let the world absorb her.

"Oh Joseph, you are even more handsome then the photographs portrait." Marie started off taking a sip of the tea.

"Photographs are what they are, I'm currently investing my time to improve the current camera and capture the soul in the real life photographs." He replied, already bored with the day, he wanted to go back into the library enjoying the comfort of silence as he has already realized Marie is the very talkative type. Marie went on and on about her personal life, talking about how she had to fire so many maids and butlers because they couldn't do a single job right which eventually brought up the topic of ______.

"My maid? She's wonderful, after all my family treats everyone here with respect, because we all know my family couldn't be living a nice life if it wasn't for them. So my mother raised me to have respect for even the smallest person we have." Joseph was wary of Marie, she was very obvious with her goal and was horrible at hiding it.

"But she's so, loose if I put it. She doesn't look fit to be a maid." Marie glared down the younger girl as she sat by the pond, little ducks surrounding her as she gave them their daily food. Tiny ducklings just crowding around her as they try to climb into her lap to have snuggles and affection.

"I gave her the free to move around simply because my mother found her in the dumps at a very young age. She's done her job quite well and I have no intentions of letting her go soon." Joseph was starting to lose it with this girl, and it's only been what??? A couple of hours??

"I think it's wonderful your family was able to give her a better life. The streets are getting worst by the passing day and the orphanage is constantly getting new children every day because families can't afford to house their children anymore." Anne said quietly, she glanced at the maid as a duck somehow made their way to the top of her head, ______ looked so happy and peaceful living here.

After another few hours of them chatting about who knows what because Marie can't shut up, Joseph finally lost his patience and stood up declaring to leave for the night, it was almost dinner time anyways. Anne quickly stood up and greeted him a happy evening as she followed a butler back to the main entrance, Marie standing behind crossing her arms in disappointment. Joseph gave off the biggest sigh he had in the longest time, Marie was a handful and Anne was quite understanding which is strange for noble girls as usually their parents pamper their child too much.

"_____, come here." Joseph walked down the gazebo as the maid walked over, Joseph pulled her into a quick hug. "Let's get me ready for bed shall we? I am absolute exhausted." The maid nodded as she followed Joseph back up the stairs into his massive room. Quietly, Joseph undressed himself a bit and let the more annoying parts be dealt with. He pulled the yellow ribbon out of his hair as the loose curls unravel around his frame, _____pulling his coat off.

"Do you want me to get your dinner?" _____ asked looking into his blue eyes. Joseph nodded, as she pulls his freshly clean pyjamas out of his closet handing him the white clothing as she left. Joseph sighed in disappointments as her tiny figure left his room. He was thinking of ways to celebrate her birthday, perhaps go to a restaurant in disguise, or have a nice quiet walk around the forest, or simply enjoy each other's company at the fairy lake not far from his mansion. After buttoning his last button, Joseph stood by his window, the sun starting to disappear on the horizon. Many thoughts ran threw his head, his mind couldn't stop racing as he tried to collect his thought, resulting in simply failing.

"Master? Tonight's dinner is soup du jour, beef ragout and a cheese soufflé for dessert." _____ pushed the cart in after knocking taking Joseph out of his trance, the noble simply gave out a shutter as he turned around to greet his friend.

"_____ can you do me a favor?" He asks sitting down at the table he had laying in the corner of his room. The maid nodded as she plated his food in front of him. "Can you get your dinner as well? I want us to eat a meal together." _____ luckily had just put the soufflé down as she choked on her spit.

"To-together?? Isn't that f-forbidden between a master and a m-maid..?" She was startled with this request, Joseph often doesn't ask for much besides her company.

"Please mademoiselle? I've had it today with those 2 ladies and I missed the quiet we had." Joseph only spoke French to her when he was being serious, _____ barely knew the language as she grew up in the streets of Britain, only picking up bits and pieces because of her young master.

"I-if you in-insist...I'll go get my dinner..." the poor blushing maid covered her face once she's outside his door, blushing so red it make roses jealous. After taking a few breathes, she walked away into the kitchen to pick up her meal. As always the servants don't eat as extravagant as the nobles, just some simple potato soup and bread, and on the weekends, the kitchen staff treats them with egg tarts for dessert as a thank you for everyone making sure everything runs so smoothly around the mansion.

"Ah here to get your meal _____?" The front line server greeted her with a smile.

"Yes Sebastian, can I get a bit of a extra though? Today has been very tiring."

"Of course! I heard about the whole bride situation, Marie sounds like a absolute mess from what I hear with the gardeners." ______ Starr's in confusion, more or less she never paid attention to the people surrounding her. It was a self defence mechanism she developed at a young age from abandonment, to this day, she promised to never get too emotionally attached to anyone every again. "Here you go, a extra large bowl of potato soup, a small salad and a loaf of baguette."

"Thank you." _____ took her tray as she left the dinning hall, praying that no one is following her and notice she's heading to Joseph's room. Luckily for her, almost everyone was in the dinning hall enjoying their hour of peace and not working, catching up with each other. She held the tray as she stood in front of the tall white door, holding her breath, she knocked twice before hearing a come in. Joseph say there in all his glory, a blush visible on both of their faces as _____ walked into closing the door, she sat across from Joseph starring down at her food. The simple level of difference of the food was heavy, but she didn't mind much, she was happy just to have something to fill her stomach everyday.

"Here." Joseph cut off a piece of his beef ragout dropping it to the small plate with the salad on it.

"Joseph please, I can't take your food."

"You aren't taking it if I'm giving it to you against your will. This is my order and that's final." Joseph sat down in his seat as they eat in peace. Small sips can be heard between the 2 as they drink their soups, ______ only asked for extra as she's tired, for some odd reason her energy has just been depleting.

꧁—————꧂

Joseph spent the next day relaxing in the library, continuing his read on a fantasy novel he picked up about a girl traveling the ocean to save her village. He hummed in his sofa chair flipping through pages after pages engrossing himself with the story.

"I brought you a afternoon snack sir." _____ walked in with a tray of biscuits and tea. She closed the door with her foot as she placed the tray at the coffee table in front of Joseph, the man still emerged in his story. The maid walked over to tap on the page he was reading, taking him out of his fantasy as he glances upwards.

"Ah sorry ______." Joseph sat up properly and took his cup of tea sipping on it elegantly. "I was thinking _____..." the girl looked up from the spot she sat in staring back at him. "Since your birthday is coming up, I was wondering if you like to go to the forest for a walk and enjoy the scenery." The maid sat with a confused face, of course, in the time she's been living here, this was the first time her master as asked her to go outside to celebrate a day she didn't seem as important.

"Master please, I'm not worth the time-" she stumbled on her words as she stood up to disagree to his idea.

"No. You've been dealing with me since I was 8, I want to celebrate your 16th as something special as a thank you." Joseph insisted as he held the girls hands. Without even trying to use his usually charms, she was a blushing mess not often used to any form of affection or touching.

"W-what if people see us t-though....it's not right for a n-noble to be seen in public with their maid..." oh how much Joseph loved it when she became a mess when he asks for something that's over the limit of a master/maid relation.

"We're going into a forest _____, besides, ill wear my most common class looking clothes if it makes you feel better." Joseph wanted this badly, he really wanted to express how important _____ was to him.

"I can't say no to my master can I..?" She whispered looking down at her held hands.

"No, but I promise you will have fun." Joseph smiled oh so gently, kissing the back of one of her hands. He knew he loved her since he was 16. Only repressing his feelings due to the unwritten laws of social status, but he can't help himself to flirt with her ever so often to see her happy and smiling.

꧁—————꧂

Joseph has everything ready and packed, he asked the kitchen staff to make some simple egg sandwiches, egg tarts and any other food that won't perish in a few hours. He picked up the basket filled with food and instructed a butler to take it to the carriage, telling off a maid to get _____ dressed in a fancy enough outfit. He was excited, ready for the entire day he will spend with the person he loved. Joseph stood at the carriage, waiting anxiously for his friend, the wait was absolutely killing him as he paced back and forth. Waiting for around 10 minutes, he noticed a small figure stand at the manor entrance, looking up, he saw the long hair half pinned up into a bun, her cheeks a rosy red along with her lips. The dress she wore was a light sea foam color, the sleeves made of mesh stopping between her wrist and elbow, running down to slightly past her knees. It's was more then fancy in her opinion and there was even more heavy detailed gowns she turned down for the sake of not feeling worthy enough. Joseph was drilling at the sight, he sore if he wasn't so pale his blush would go unnoticed. He held his left hand out to ______ as she took it, walking over to the carriage.

"You look extravagant ______." Joseph smiled in glee as she sat down.

"Everything else was so, fancy, I couldn't dare to think of myself wearing clothes meant for a higher class..." her hands twiddled together as she starred downwards. Joseph got into the cart and sat beside her, hitting the roof to let the driver know to move.

For the next half hour, the 2 say in silence as ______ stare outside seeing the world fly past her, animals and trees speeding past. Joseph smiled at the girl in wonder about the world, he was excited to show her the lake he found on one of his solo days to break off from the world. The place was a sight to behold, it had a small waterfall flowing into the lake followed by breaking off into streams of tiny rivers. The sun hit the place just right to have sparkles everywhere, the perfect place to relax.

Upon arriving at the road stop, the driver unlocked the door as Joseph stepped out holding his hand out to _____. She grabbed his hand as she stepped down, amazing by the amount of trees surrounding her. Joseph grabbed the picnic items as he called out her name. She turned around to follow him into the forest. The walk wasn't very long probably 20 minutes or so as they arrive at the lake. The smooth rocks acted like a small beach between the grass and water, the liquid was crystal clear as you can see some fishes swimming around.

"Pretty isn't it." Joseph called out, _____ turned around to see a blanket set out with the basket filled with food sitting there with Joseph.

"It is master."

"Call me Joseph please, we're alone, I made sure of it." The maid blushed as Joseph patted the empty spot beside him. She sat down as she bit into the sandwich the noble gave her, enjoying the egg sandwich as she absorbed the scenery.

"Master...?" Joseph looked at her in surprise, this was the very first time in the 10 years of being in the same room for several hours has she spoke up to him.

"What is it _____?" He turned around to face her, absolutely ready to answer whatever question she had.

"Why...why do you put up with me for so long..? I'm just a street girl and yet you seem to love having me around..." he was expecting every question but this one. Internally, Joseph can feel his heart being ripped in two from the thoughts that this was how _____ felt.

"_____, don't ever say that again. You mean the world to me. I....I don't think you even realized it but...I...I love you, and I don't want to change it for the world. I love your company, the way you let the world absorb your mind as you gaze off to daydream, the way you blush at the smallest signs of affection I give you, I love everything about you. I hate this whole engagement thing because it means that I can't be with you, I want to spend the rest of my life by your side..." tears streamed down the girls face, as Joseph poured his heart and soul into his confession, he didn't know what to do but panic as the girl in front of him began to cry even more.

"I-I'm sorry m-master...I just...I don't think I'm worthy to receive your love..." Joseph gave out a sigh in relief, he held _____'s face with his 2 hands as he gave a heart warming smile.