And so, nearly ten weeks after I had collapsed, I found myself standing in front of the gates of the gloriously enormous Rhinestadt estate, arguing loudly with the stationed guardsman. 

“I’m not a weird person!! I just wanted to say thank you to Lord Rhinestadt!!”

The bored guard wiped his stupidly long and narrow nose, clearly uninterested in my reasoning. 

“Git lost kid. Even Barons don’t get to meet with the lord wiv’ out a appoin’ment; what makes a street urchin ‘ave that right?”

“It’s not like I’m gonna steal anything!! Listen, I’ll- I’ll give you a ha’penny if you let me in!”

“Are you trying to bribe me? Wiv’ a ‘alf-penny? Do you even know wot a bribe is, kid?”

“It’s all I have…” I rummage through my pockets once again, desperate. “What about a piece of candy?”

“Nah’ that’s more like it!!”

“Really?!”

“No! Now fuck off, would’ya? I’m gonna get yelled at by the boss if I keep wasting me time wiv’ you.” The guard wiped his runny nose again, doing his best to ignore me.

“What about a handkerchief? It looks like you need one.” I pulled out a rag from my pocket, the best one I owned. 

“What?! Are you making fun o’ me nose?”

“No? I just saw how long and runny it was…”

“Listen here you lil’ shit-”

“Is there a problem at my gates?” A lazy drawl interrupted our banter, causing the guard to leap to attention as if shocked. I looked past the gate to see a tall man with broad shoulders dressed in a sharp fall jacket. His face was dreadfully handsome; perfectly symmetrical, with grey eyes and slick black hair. Yet his features could not disguise the cold and cruel look in his eyes, one that sent shivers down my spine. 

Guessing at his identity, I quickly gave a low curtsy. “My lord, I wanted to-” 

“Was I speaking to you, girl?” His voice was suddenly curt and irritated. 

My mouth quickly shut itself in shock, my fear only growing. In my eagerness to see Lady Violette, I had forgotten how dangerous her father could be. 

Ignoring my trepidation, Lord Rhinehardt turned to the long nosed guard. 

“Explain why my morning stroll was so rudely interrupted by childish bickering?”

“Yessir! This girl claims to have been saved by your lordship, and wanted to enter the estate to give her thanks!”

I quickly held up the bouquet of hand picked flowers I had brought as proof, but the Duke didn’t even bother hiding his sneer. 

“I don’t recall doing such a thing.”

“If I may, my lord.” I managed to draw up enough courage to make my lanky ten year old body speak, but I waited until he nodded before continuing. “I was the girl who fainted at your daughter’s baptismal. I-I wanted to give my thanks for paying for the doctor’s fees.”

A light of recognition dawned in his cold eyes, and he seemed to relax somewhat. But I knew it wasn’t because he saw me in a better light; it was because he realized I wasn’t a beggar or a spy. 

“I remember now. You made a full recovery?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Hmph. Hopefully that money wasn’t wasted. Very well, I will pass on your thanks to my daughter; it was she who convinced me after all. You may leave.”  With that he turned and began to walk back towards the enormous mansion in the distance. 

Surprise filled my mind as I processed his words. Violette, the girl who was known as being as cruel and vicious as her father, was actually the one who saved my family from a lifetime of debt. The image of the little girl standing before an enormous crowd, desperately trying to hide her fear flashed through my mind. And in that instant, I made a decision that would forever change my life. 

“My lord!” I shouted out, suddenly disregarding etiquette. “My lord, do you need another servant?”

Rhinestadt paused, his back still turned. Then slowly, he looked back towards me, revealing  a condescending sneer on his face. 

“Who knows? Perhaps if you had value. Hmm… when you turn twelve, prove that my money wasn’t wasted in the squireship trials. Then we’ll see if you are of any use to me.”

With that, he marched away without another glance in my direction, likely expecting to never see me again.