N/A YAY!! My first The Cat Returns ficcy! LOL!! Yes, this is another Cinderella in the Cat Returns. By the way, Alvalon is the country where they live and it's perfectly normal to see a half cat in these parts. Haru's kinda unused to it though. LOL
Disclaimer: I do not own The Cat Returns, which is my current obsession.
The pain was nullifying, it was terrible. It crawled to her spine like a cold touch, traveling downwards and upwards again to spite her as she scrubbed harder. Legs tucked under her feet, back down, sweat dripping, she didn't even blink as the salty sweat dripped down her brow. It didn't matter, the stain on the wooden floor mattered more than her discomfort. 'How on Alvalon does it stay so stubbornly?' The young girl thought to herself darkly, 'Come on, you stupid stain! Ma'am and the hags are nearly here!' In that thought she scrubbed harder. She definitely did not want to get whipped and sent to bed without dinner again.
The echoes of high heels clicking against the floor caught her attention. She looked up desperately in the kitchen doors and back again to the obnoxious stain, she scrubbed harder and felt her whole body freeze in terror as the door creaked, swinging open languidly and revealed a beautiful and elegantly dressed woman in her mid thirties. The maid gulped and scrambled to her feet clumsily, bowing so deeply that she could touch her nose with her knees.
Her voice quivered in fright as she spoke meekly, "Good evening, madam. H-how was your visit to the palace, my Lady Eliza?" Brown eyes dropped to the mucky small stain that would foil the young girls dinner. She squeezed her eyes shut and shuffled to the stain and stepped in it.
"Quaint," the word rolled of her tongue easily, "I trust you prepared dinner, Haru? Is Butler here?" She walked amiably towards her young tattered looking maid and her velvet red dress softly brush against her mousy colored hair, making the lady frown in disgust.
"Yes, ma'am. Tonight's dinner will be Caesar salad and corn soup. Would you like some red wine to accompany your meal, ma'am?" Haru still dared not to look up, terror struck her whole as she struggled not to cry in front of her. Whippings taught her not to long ago.
"Yes, that'd be lovely. I have a guest coming over for dinner, so be a good girl, understand?" scrunching her nose, she turned to leave, only to pause as Haru softly said, "But madam, I only prepared for four, not five. How are we to accommodate your guest?" But they both knew the answer to her naïve question. Of course they did, it happened once too many times, after all.
Lady Eliza Larayne didnt bother to look at Haru as she replied with a wicked smile, "Well then, don't bother eating then. You need to go on a diet anyway." With that being said, she closed the door firmly and laughed inaudibly to herself.
Haru groaned in the kitchens and glared at the stain under her feet, "What was the purpose of hiding you if I don't get dinner, anyway?" She muffled a frustrated scream and stomped in it multiple of times, "Gah! I don't know why I bother!"
"Because you need dinner, ya skinny Chicky!" A deep mreaow made her stiffen and turn towards the voice. A very large white cat perched in the window sill and licked his paws without a single care in the world.
The maid shook her head and walked over to him, "No, I'm not. I'm just.... hungry."
"Been hungry for days, thats what you mean." The fat cat flicked his tanned tail and scowled up to her, "Face it, skinny, you need to eat and your stupid hag of a step mother is exploiting you to the point of death." To emphasize his point he stood up his hind legs and put his paws in his hips, glaring at her.
"Muta, you know I can't do anything about it. I need someone to put a roof over my head and take care of me until I get a good husband," Haru sighed dejectedly, "and that isn't much hope considering my family situation right now."
Muta snorted in disgust and jumped down to her feet, "Take care of you? Humbug, your taking care of them, not the other way 'round. I say, like I did a million times, to run off and go to one of my associates. He says that he needs a nanny, its a good chance." He walked around her feet, brushing his white fur against it comfortingly as he tried to coerce her into giving up.
Sadly, Haru already knew about his little tricks and walked past him, unfazed. "And if I'm not accepted, eh? What am I going to do? Like I said, a roof sounds much appealing than the gutters, Muta." Having said that, she began preparing her mistresses dinner. She ran around the kitchen down to the basement for the wine, warily watching the kitchen clock as the fat cat made himself comfortable in the small plush bed. The Larayne family had always liked cats, but unfortunately, cats didn't seem to share the same affections. Finally, the clock struck 6:30 and a twinkle of a bell alerted Haru and set the food in the grandly decorated serving trolley. Casting one final 'look' at Muta, she scrambled ungracefully to the dining room.
She peeked through the small gap of the lavish doors and chocked back a gasp. Four people sat regally around the white table, chatting pleasantly with each other. Her step family, Lady Eliza and her two twins, Louise and Ivette, giggled at their male guest. The said male guest was a cat in a suit. A handsome ginger cat too. Haru blinked and shook her head, 'Stranger things has happened in Alvalon.'
She walked through the door, and four sophisticated eyes were already staring at her with either shock or impatience. Haru blushed, shame faced and kept her head low as she served the food to them. The first one to serve was Lady Eliza. She had a sickly sweet smile plastered in her face as Haru served the soup. "Don't embarrass me, Haru." Despite her charming smile, she looked at her meaningfully as she whispered it to her. Haru could only nod and stare at her feet. The next ones was her step sisters, they were easier to distract as they hanged on to the words of the gentleman cat.
But the last one, it was difficult. Haru struggled not to stare at his long ginger tail that smoothly flicked about. A bemused chuckle met her ears as she set down his soup and salad, "I don't mind, just so you know." Instantly, she turned to him and gaped. Two piercing jade eyes met her dull ones and smiled kindly. His whiskers moved and she stared.
The words stumbled out before she could control it, "Are you a real cat?" Haru mentally hit herself with a bat after it came out. She heard her sisters and step mother gasp in horror and she knew for sure the whip was ready to go.
Without so much of a blink, the cat man smiled graciously, "Yes, yes, I am. Well, more like a human turned cat, but nonetheless a cat." He reached for his wine that she had poured and sipped it quietly.
Her interest tripled at this, "Human? How did you do that?" 'If I get whipped, might as well make the most of it.'
"Everything and anything can happen in Alvalon, milady. It doesn't matter of which your rank or social standing, it always comes down to talent." The catman smiled again at her wide-eye stare, "Where are my manners? I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, please call me Baron. And does the sweet lady have a name?"
She nearly fainted, "Y-you mean... me?" He nodded and she looked at him, bewildered as she stammered out her name, "Um, m-my name is Haru, sir. Just out of curiosity, aren't you, what I mean is, isn't Baron von Gikkengen, well, the Wizard?"
Baron took a sip again, "I am. Just out of curiosity, why are you serving me while you are clearly a member of the family?" His gaze swept towards the Lady, who stared dumbstruck at their conversation.
"Oh- erm, my good Baron, whatever are you saying? She's my Maid-of-all-work, we have no familial relations whatsoever, right Haru?" She casted a smile to her and instantly, the young maid knew what it meant. Haru nodded numbly and scuttled back to her little corner, ignoring Baron's stare.
Louise tittered across the table, "Baron, I never got to ask why your visiting us, may I ask the reason?" Her golden locks fell on her shoulders as she leaned closer eagerly. Under the light of the chandelier above them, it gave the young woman's face a ethereal glow.
"Please, do tell, Baron." Her sister, Ivette, was a mysterious beauty, she was neither good or bad to Haru in all the years they lived together. She preferred to keep to herself. Ivette's raven hair was pulled up into a bun and stray hair curled around her face, framing it perfectly as her grey eyes glittered in interest.
The Barons eye tore away from the plain maid and smiled pleasantly at the two eager and beautiful young ladies, "My apologies, ladies. Tonight I have visited because of an invitation from the royal family. The young prince Lune is going to choose his bride in the ball. All ladies in the kingdom is invited." There was a gasp in the room, this time, it was pure delight. A chorus of "Oh my!" and "Marry Prince Lune?!" was heard. The Baron nodded, "That's right, by all ladies, Lady Eliza, I mean, all ladies." He casted her a meaningful look and began eating his food.
Tight lipped, Eliza glared at Haru but smiled pleasantly at the Baron, "By all means, yes! I have been meaning to reward my good maid, such a splendid job she does with our house, don't you think?" But Haru could see venom and ferocity rearing its ugly head already.
Baron swallowed, "Ah, yes. You have quite a charming house, my Lady."
"Haru is very dedicated to her work around the house, I don't know what'll we do without her!" Louise exclaimed, miffed about being ignored. "How is the Palace, Baron?"
He paused, for the first time Haru had met him, there was uncertainness in hie eyes, "It's fair, milady. Excuse me." Finishing his food, he looked at Haru, "Would you mind telling me where the washing room is?"
She debated whether to tell him or guide him, Eliza caught her eye, "Haru, please guide our guest, please." After Baron had bowed, Haru wordlessly guided the cat man out of the dining room. In a matter of minutes, there was silence between them as they walked soundlessly in the empty hall.
"Miss Haru, do you like your life here?" Haru stopped and behind her, Baron stopped too.
Uncertainly, she started, "W-why do you ask?"
The Baron smiled and simply replied, "I grant wishes." A pregnant pause filled the air. Haru felt her heart race. 'Wishes,' she thought, 'I haven't thought about that ever since-' Baron continued, slicing through her thougts, "Do you have anything you want?"
Skeptically, Haru turned to face him, "Why would you, a stranger, want to know mine?" Her, a maid, an all too thin maid with no future, even if she did seek out her fortunes and run away from this place.
Out of nowhere, his top hat appeared in his head and he took it off, bowing elegantly to her, "Besides being the Wizard, I am also a Wishgranter to those who needs it, impractical or practical." His tone was smooth and careful and his smile was small but genuine. There was something about him, an aura that pulled Haru in.
Despite herself, Haru grinned, "That's rather foolish. Impractical or practical. Ok, I guess a wish won't hurt anyone," She folded her arms across her chest and paused. What did she want? She didn't know, maybe a nice bed to sleep on at night? Dinner every night? Her mouth moved and to her surprise, she told him something she least expected with overwhelming emotions, "I wish.... for a chance in life."
The Baron straightened up, grinning as he wore his top hat his emerald eyes glinting in untold mirth, "Your wish is my command." As those words rang in her ears, Haru gasped as a blinding light appeared.
'What on earth-?!' She thought as the light engulfed her, promptly knocking her out.