In the Service of a Madman

by Safetyfar

The story follows Tule, a Kirlia who inherits the responsibility of serving Baron Marcus Van Braun as his sole maid. She grapples with her duties, interpreting signals and hints from her master while cleaning the Baron's grand but dusty manor. Rated M for explicit content, suggestive themes, and mild violence. WIP initial draft, might restructure later once the story is completed.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

Under the shroud of night, the moon hung low, casting long, haunting shadows upon the cobbled path. The air was thick with tension as Tule's mother, Seraphina, summoned her with a voice colder than the bitter winds that swept through the estate. There was no warmth, no maternal tenderness left in her tone.

"Tule," she called, the syllables sharp and unforgiving. The name hung in the air, carrying with it the weight of unspoken expectations.

Tule, her emerald hair cascading over her shoulders, veiled her crimson eyes from their gaze. She stared at the ground, defeated, as her father, Percival, motioned for her to follow him. There was no room for argument, no space for protest. The dread that lingered in the back of her mind grew more palpable with every step.

They traversed through the winding corridors of their estate, a silent procession of three figures cloaked in the night's embrace. Eventually, Tule and her father emerged into a desolate alleyway, where a human man stood, his features obscured by the shadows.

"She is quite small for being in her twenties," the man remarked, his voice tinged with a businesslike detachment. "I believe we agreed on one silver and five copper."

Percival's voice cut through the stillness, firm and unwavering. "One silver and fifteen copper is what we agreed on."

Tule's heart pounded in her chest, the realization of her worth, or rather the perceived lack thereof, stinging like a thousand needles. She remained silent, her spirit crushed by the hushed negotiations that bartered her life, her future.

The night seemed to stretch on, the seconds dragging like heavy chains. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her father and the human man met in the middle, a compromise forged in the shadows. The deal was struck, the price settled upon, and Tule's fate sealed with an invisible ink.

Her hands were placed in cold, unforgiving iron shackles, a physical manifestation of her captivity. The weight of them pressed down on her, a cruel reminder of the betrayal that had unfolded under the cover of night. She was led away, her heart heavy with the knowledge that the very blood that flowed through her veins had betrayed her.

As Tule disappeared into the inky blackness, her parents lingered in the alleyway, their expressions hidden in the shadows. There was no remorse in their eyes, no hint of the love that had once bound them as a family. Only the coldness of ambition, the unrelenting pursuit of status and wealth.

The night swallowed them whole, leaving behind only the echoes of a broken bond and the lingering scent of treachery. Tule's story had taken a dark turn, her path now veering into unknown territory, where her resilience and strength would be tested beyond measure.