"Come in." I called after grabbing my robe and wrapping it around me. I wasn't very sure, but I had a hunch that the beast was at my door. I wasn't afraid; in fact, I needed to know if we was the one who I saw that night. The one with the blue eyes.

That was the first thing I saw, his blue eyes. I didn't want to look at any other part of him, scared to offend him and also because I didn't want to.

His eyes. They were blue.

But those blue eyes seemed to dart away as soon as he saw me and he turned around. "I, um, have your new clothes, Madam."

"Are you alright?" I asked, bluntly.

"Of course." He replied simply, his back towards me.

"Why are you turned around?" I insisted. I looked in the mirror near my chair, and I didn't see anything wrong with me.

"I-It is not polite, to look at a lady who...isn't...properly..." He stammered before I realized what he meant.

At first I was embarrassed; I hadn't realized that was a sort of custom here. But then I was a little annoyed. "Well, I had to wear a robe!" I insisted. "I mean, my clothes were starting to stink, and I didn't want to stink up the entire Manor, of course. Besides, at least I'm wearing something."

"Of course, Madam." But he did not turn around. His clothes seemed rather tight on him, which was sad, as I began to assume not a lot of people turn into beasts, as I would hope if they did, they would at least make proper clothing.

I assumed he wasn't born a beast. Lady Bastillion did say he had met a terrible fate that he did not choose, unlike my brother. Maybe he was cursed, maybe he was born a beast. Either way...he didn't choose it.

"You don't have to call me that," I insisted, walking towards him and grabbing my clothes from his hold. He seemed to stop inhaling once I took the clothes from my hands, almost as if he would explode if he exhaled. "You can call me Rose. That's my name."

"Of course, Rose." He nodded, talking to the wall still and not me.

"And...?"

I was only responded with anxious silence.

"You're name would be...?"

"Oh, right! My name! My apologies, Mada- er, Rose." He replied nervously, correcting himself. "My name is Nolan. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

"Nice to meet you, Nolan." I smiled, but there was no point, as he refused to look at me. "Are you a guest at the Manor as well?" I knew it was a stupid question to ask; there was no reason for a guest to bring me clothes. But I didn't know the situation.

"N-No, I'm a servant; Lord Bastillion is my master."

"Oh." I would hate to be in his place; Lord Bastillion doesn't seem to be the most kind of a man. "I'm sorry."

"Whatever for?"

"That you have to work for such a...insensitive man." I shivered, sitting down on my bed, folding the clothes again. "I got such a weird vibe from him when I first met him. I hope I don't see him too much."

I looked to Nolan, his muscles tense and I couldn't hear him breathing anymore.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken like that." I rubbed my eyes. "That was rude of me; he is your employer, after all."

He laughed quietly. "No; words well said, Miss Rose. As for our relationship, he is not my employer. I am his slave, he only pays me in food and shelter."

"Slave?" I gasped. "Last time I checked, that was illegal."

"Perhaps in your world." He sighed to the wall. "But in mine it is very much real; chains embrace my wrists although not seen to eye, and I must follow his every wish even if I want to defy it; even if I know I should defy it. I must obey his every whim, and it's terrifying sometimes."

I felt goosebumps rise to the surface of my skin. "Yes, it doesn't sound very pleasant."

He kinda just stood there, staring at the wall. "Are you okay?" I asked, again.

"I cannot leave until you dismiss me."

I blinked, the clothes in my hands almost dropping to the floor. "Oh." I stated rather simply, feeling suddenly awkward and out of place. "Um, you may leave. Thank you for the clothes."

"My pleasure, Miss Rose." And without turning around to meet me in the eyes, he left, closing the door behind him.

I looked through the clothes and found a lavender-scented nightgown, and put it on, my skin thanking me. I climbed under the covers and slept properly.