"Honest, I'm really good at baking!" Vanille said with enthusiasm.

The baker who was working on his dough didn't even bother to look up. "Look lady, it doesn't matter. I can't hire you ok? If you're not gonna buy anything, please leave!"

Vanille left the shop. She had re-amped herself and continued looking, but pretty soon all the answers sounded the same. Vanille's confidence level dropped with each "no".

"I'm sorry... we're really looking for someone with more experience. Thank you for coming though."

"Sorry, we're not looking for anyone at this time."

"I said no, miss. Now please look somewhere else!"

-xiii-

Vanille walked out of the shop. She felt disheartened and worthless. Nobody wanted to hire a 17 year old girl who never worked before. She had no experience, nothing. She continued to walk down the street aimlessly until she saw a crowd forming around the town bulletin board. It was the board that would post the daily news, messages from the King, and wanted ads. Anything that was labeled important was usually posted there. She wondered what all the commotion was about and walked closer.

"Lord Farron is hiring for 50 gold pieces a day!"

"What do you think happened to her old maid?" Asked a huge lady carrying a chicken in a basket with one hand.

"She probably cut her up and ate her!" Said the man next to her. The fat lady laughed.

Vanille upon hearing the amount ran up front to see. Lord Farron is hiring a live in maid for her estate on the hills. Her eyes widen as she saw the amount. It was indeed 50 a day and she was guaranteed two meals a day, room and board. But why was it so much?

"You're not actually thinking of applying are you?"

Vanille turned to the old gossiping lady. "Well... why not?"

"Have you not heard?"

"Oh poor dear, she hasn't heard!" Exclaimed another.

"Heard what?" said Vanille innocently.

"Lord Farron fought in the war against the L'cie. She's brutal! Killed an entire army singlehandedly!"

"I heard she even bathed in their blood for power!" Exaggerated another.

Vanille imagined the scene but then thought... there was no way that could happen. These old ladies probably didn't know what they were talking about. "So... she is a great soldier, there's plenty of soldiers..."

"When she came back, she changed. Her eyes were cold and she was quick to punish anyone who crossed her. She would challenge people in a duel and kill them just for fun! Even the King feared her. Though she's a woman, she's given the title as a Lord!"

Another woman chimed in. "I heard she knows magic, L'cie magic. She became one of them!" The other woman nodded.

"Her sister went missing the year she came back. Rumor has it that she's killed her own blood with the L'cie magic she possesses."

One of the gossipers held Vanille's hand and touched it like a mother to a child. "It's best to stay clear of Lord Farron, dear."

"I see..." Vanille turned her attention back at the posting. To say that she wasn't afraid would have been a complete lie. The misdeeds that this Lord Farron has done sounds terrifying. She realized the reason the pay was so high because everybody feared this person. A person that commanded so much fear is people's hearts, is she really that evil like the other people describe? Her eyes glued at the 50 gold pieces. She had made up her mind, she decided that no matter the danger, she would have to try for it.

-xiii-

The Farron Estate is deep within the forest on top of the hills. From afar, you could see the huge and beautiful estate standing tall and proud. The gates are bronze and pointed at the top. In the the dark, it almost looked like a haunted mansion. The gates are menacing and made it look like a place where one can never leave. Next to the hill is a plummeting fall into the great blue ocean where jagged rocks would meet the waters. The estate was literally an island surrounded by danger.

The only way up there is by carriage which reluctantly, Vanille had passed up 7 old pieces for. She figured if she had gotten the job, it would be worth it. It was a gamble, but Vanille didn't really have a choice. The ride was less than smooth, but still Vanille enjoyed it. It was rare that Vanille got to enjoy a carriage ride where she could poke out of the window and look at the scenery. The forest was a dangerous place, yet it was full of wonder. Wild flowers at every turn and the fauna was just as wonderful. The minute she saw a deer, her heart jumped and waved at it, although the deer just hopped away the minute the carriage drew near. With a bump, she had finally arrived.

"Here we are, miss." The driver said as he helped her down from the carriage. "The great Lord Farron's estate." Said the driver with an unenthusiastic voice. "Looks like a prison if ya ask me!" The Chocobo's kwehed frightfully.

Vanille looked at the mansion ahead. Aside from the gate, the estate was even more beautiful up close. She turned to the driver. "Would you be able to pick me up before sundown?"

"At sundown...? In this forest? That would be way too dangerous. I would have to double the cost."

"What?... there must be something you could do..." Vanille gave him the best puppy dog eyes she could muster out.

A wolf in the distance was heard howling. The driver started to panic. "Listen lady, I'm sorry but I can't help you." He quickly got into the carriage.

"Wait! The cost is fine... I have no way to get home!" Vanille panicked.

The driver sighed. "Alright... Look, I'll show up right before sundown. But I can't guarantee I will stay. I will be gone when night falls!" The chocobo kwehed once more and left.

"Oh..." This time she heard the wolf howl closer. She turned to the estate. "Fang... is gonna kill me..." She pushed the gates open and went inside.