The journey was many hours and by the time they arrived it was already dark.

Ronnik led Elinora to her room and left her there to rest from the journey.

"Anything you wish to ask, Mr. Edmond, I am at your disposal. You may rest now and tomorrow I will show you around."

Elinora thanked him but hesitated to ask what she wanted.

"Mr. Ronnik, is there a key to my room?"

"Certainly," he said, and took from his pocket the key which had a string tied to it, "here, it's yours."

Ronnik left, leaving Elinora alone.

It was time to relax from the tension of these days. The death of her twin brother, her disguise, her coming to this place, it all happened so fast that she didn't even have time to come up with a good plan to get out of this situation.

After tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep because her belly was growling, she thought she should go to the mansion's kitchen to get something to eat. But she didn't want to wake up Ronnik, nor did she know if she was allowed to go there.

Finally she decided to go to the kitchen. The only problem was that she didn't know where she was.

I think I need to see if there is a side of the mansion that is for staff. I'm sure the kitchen would be near the maids' quarters, she thought and left the room.

She had seen stairs which were heading downwards.

She picked up a lamp and began to carefully descend the stairs. It was dark but she was not afraid.

She came to a hallway where there were doors to the right and left. She moved on further when she reached a room that had no door. She had finally reached the kitchen and went straight to open the cupboards.

Opening the cupboards she noticed that there were a lot of vegetables and fruits but they seemed to have been there for some time. They didn't look stale but they didn't look fresh either.

So she decided to eat an apple so that no one would know that someone had taken from the supplies.

He opened the cutlery drawer and took a knife to clean the apple when the kitchen light came on and a voice was heard saying: "Are you a thief or are you just really hungry?"

Elinora jerked in fright, causing the knife to fall from her hands. She turned towards the voice and in front of her she saw a petite old woman who approached her.

"I am so very sorry! I didn't know I wasn't allowed to come. I've just been hungry since yesterday and I wanted to eat," Elinora said and put the apple down on the table.

She didn't expect any response from the old woman. She was about to leave the kitchen and return to her room. But she held on.

"That Ronnik! Don't tell me he left you fasting for so many hours?"

She nodded.

"Well, an apple won't fill you up. I'll fix you something to eat," the old woman continued.

"No, no. No need."

The old woman didn't hear anything. He made her eat a vegetable soup and the two of them began to talk.

"Are you the new guy?"

"Yes, I'm the Duke's new aide. My name is El- Edmond Jaden."

"That's a nice name! I am Agatha, the housekeeper of the house."

Elinora was having a good time and the hour passed pleasantly. Before she left, Agatha gave her a piece of advice.

"Mr. Edmund, don't abandon Victor. Whatever you hear about him, please stay by his side."

She was taken aback by this advice.

Agatha was Duke Alaric's old nanny and had great affection for him, but Elinora did not understand why he had said such a thing to her. From their conversation it appeared that many helpers had come for the Duke but none stayed more than three days. But Elinora was different. No matter what, she would not leave, she had nowhere to go.

If she returned home, the same life she had led back then awaited her. Locked in a room to hide, she was her parents' disappointment because no boy was born.

She had no intention of leaving. She knew her job here was hard but there was no way she was going to give up easily. She would work hard and try to

She went to her room and lay down. The next day was very important and held surprises for her.