Danuki Diary - pt 4

    Well this morning has started rather odd, I’m writing as events happen. Though to bring you up to speed Journal I awoke this morning to find that Lady Miyabi had left for a ‘meeting’, or that’s what the maid that I bumped into in the hall told me. Further inquiring revealed that I was “free to do what I wished”, so I began wandering, well until a maid stopped me. I’ll once again transcribe interesting bits of conversation down as to build a record of who said what.

“Good morning Sir Anon, would you care for some breakfast?” The kikimora asked, looking at her I noticed unlike Matilda her feathers were stone gray rather than the earth brown that Matilda sported.

I thought for a second before coming to a solid answer, “fine, but I’m not eating in that empty dining hall.”

“Then where would you prefer to take your meal sir? In your room?” The maid asked.

“I’d figure I’d just go eat where you normally take yours,” my tone as dry as ever. “I’m supposed to be help anyways, so I might as well eat with the others.”

My words seemed to perplex the maid, “Sir Anon are you sure you’d…” I didn’t have time, I wanted to eat and get some free time to look for things to use as future journals so I cut the maid’s word off.

“Yes…”My mind stopped, “excuse me but what was your name?” My question caused the maid to snap to attention it seems, my theory is this is how the kikimora normally behaves.

“I-It’s Nadia,” She stammered out a sort of accent slipping through, which I’ll have to get around to asking where she’s from next time I see her.

    As we passed into the kitchen I noticed there were more maids, most of them seemed to stare at me. Motioned me to a island in the middle of the kitchen surrounded by stools, as I sat down I noticed some of the maids were still staring at me, some seemed to be gossiping. Looking around it hit me there were no men around, thinking now since I arrived here a few days ago I’ve not seen one other man. Nadia reappeared not too long after, handing me a plate of eggs and some toast. Again more whispers and stares as I ate, I ignored it up until a rather aged woman strode up to the table. Her age really showed, even more than Lady Miyabi.

“Ahh so you’re the one Lady Miyabi brought around, now why would you be here?” The woman asked.

“I’m part of the help aren't I?” I said, forgetting my manners and speaking with a mouthful of egg. “I should be back here with the rest of you then, by the way who are you?” I said swallowing the egg I had in my mouth.

“I’m Carmen, the head maid of the estate, and what kind of man are you that you have no manners? Finish eating before talking!" Her glare reminded me of mom’s every time I messed up, "what are you an animal?”

“Terribly sorry Ms. Carmen.” I said, honestly I felt a bit embarrassed that I needed to be reminded of something so simplistic, my foul mood about this entire situation is probably clouding some judgment

“Well you’re not under my eye so that means Lady Miyabi considers you special, I mean you’re the first man I’ve seen Miyabi keep around here that wasn’t a guest for a party.” Carmen said, taking my empty plate away.

    I left, thanking Nadia for the breakfast and waving goodbye to her, Carmen and the maids that lingered. The ones still gossiping were quickly dispersed by Carmen, who despite her heavy-set figure was rather swift at chasing them off towards their duties. What I find odd is Carmen’s words in what she said, it’s still bouncing around in my head.

    Now that my log is up to speed currently I’m wandering around inside, since most of the help here seems to be women I’ve been knocking on doors before entering, lest I walk in on the help using a lavatory. Each wing appears to have no windows to the outside, a rather deep red carpet stretches from one wing to the other and the doors are rather all similar, oaken doors, though some rooms are double doored. So far the rooms I’ve checked on the west wing barring my own and Lady Miyabi’s seem to be nothing but guest rooms and one rather large bathroom I used last night, but that’s obviously not note worthy. I’ll start looking at the eastern wing, see what is there.

First four rooms examined are as followed for future reference, the  rooms are marked as they are starting from the door on the far wall opposite of the entrance and going from there; The first room is a Study, a hearth rests along the wall across the door. A lot of books in here, I do like to read so I’ll keep this room in mind, there might be some blank books or journals in here I can use. Closet across from it, seems to just be storage really so nothing special about it, lots of cleaning implements, might be the main storage for the second floor maybe? This investigation might go on, I need to finish up the insides with more haste. The room adjacent to the study is a bathroom, 2nd door inside the bathroom seems to lead to the aforementioned study. The 4th room is rather empty it seems, nothing in there, hold on though it seems a maid is approaching.

“Sir Anon, do you need assistance with anything? You seem lost,” The approaching Kikimora maid asked me.

“Just looking around, Lady Miyabi said I was free to do as I wish, so I’m just going to wander.” A lie wrapped with the truth, I didn’t want to give away my intentions.

The maid spotted my journal at this point, “Sir Anon, what is that book in your arm?” She asked.

    I thought as fast as I could for something to say without raising too much suspicion, this was a maid under Lady Miyabi’s employ, who knows if she would be alerted to this book’s existence.

“A personal effect, nothing more.” The best answer I could muster, but it got the point across.

“I understand, but may I make a request of sir?” The maid said, “The 1st floor of the eastern wing is our living quarters, I can’t stop you, but would you refrain from entering them?”

    The request confused me, why not just tell me not to, I’m part of the help after all...aren’t I? Though I did use this as an opportunity to keep this journal’s existence a secret.

“I won’t, but under the condition you won’t tell Lady Miyabi of the book in my arm.” I said, my offer on the table.

The maid bowed to me, “I understand and accept sir’s condition.” she said, though it’s confusing me more and more.

    The above was a transcript between the maid who approached and myself, now that I know the contents of the eastern wing’s first floor it’s less time spent in here, but I do hear the automobile pulling up. I best hurry back to my room and hide this journal, I’ll conduct more investigations of the grounds at the earliest possible time I can.