Fall of Autumn, Week 5, Day 2

Juniper wanted. She wanted so much that her stomach turned. She wanted so much that her mind went hazy when she thought too hard about all the things she desired. She wanted money, and Skills, and power. She never wanted to be looked down on for being born a commoner again.

She never wanted to go home.

No, what she wanted was a better place to call home.

Which was what the Dawn Estate could have been.

It could have been the way she worked to rise up, she would have started in the kitchen as a hireling, using her meek attributes to do the most mundane of jobs. Then, she would work hard and with gusto to become a full member of the staff. She would scrub her hands raw as she cleaned dishes, she would nearly lose fingers chopping vegetables, she would dodge oil threatening to burn her. And, when the time came for her to tier up, she would gain a Class worthy of the estate. A [Daylight Cook] or a [Twilight Maid]—or even something more sinister, something more necessary for the family that ran the estate.

It was known, that when those Classes were required, they would find themselves offered to the most loyal of subjects. And Juniper, despite her want, knew that it would serve her to serve the Dawns.

All of this, to Juniper, was far from ruined. It had actually become a reality.

She dusted and mopped until her arms and legs were sore. She washed linens until her fingers were chapped. She learned to be graceful and learned the etiquette of a Lady's Maid.

Juniper was eight years old, and she was a full member of staff, ranked higher than all those she had looked up to. She was below only the Head Butler, Gristle, and the Head Maid, Melinda. And even they no longer had the power to remove her.

But for all of that, Sylvie tormented Juniper—and Juniper could not wait for the day that Sylvie would be shoved to the back of the manor with Erie.

Erie, who looked radiant. Erie, who was usually as pretty as a mouse. Juniper's smile was strained as she looked at the young woman, and she was having a hard time hiding her want.

Juniper wanted to look as beautiful as Erie did in that moment. As beautiful as Lady Nora had made her. A sparkling crown of dusty rose decorated Erie's hair.

"You'll still do me next, my Lady?" Juniper asked, trying to keep her voice even.

If Lady Nora noticed her warbling voice, she didn't change her expression.

"Of course, June," the young noble said, a small smile on her face. In her palm were several shining, iridescent threads and several thicker, deep blue pieces of ribbon. "Are you okay with blue and grey?"

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Juniper nodded, fighting back the urge to shove Erie out of the low stool she was still sitting on—Erie's eyes glued to her reflection and her mouth agape. Gently, Lady Nora tapped Erie's shoulder, a rare look of peace in her eyes. "Erie? It's time for me to do Juniper's hair."

"Oh, yes, of course, my Lady," Erie rushed out, a flush crossing her cheeks as she jolted up —then, as if terrified of her hair coming undone, she went straight to the mirror.

Juniper settled into the chair, feigning patience but unable to contain her excitement fully. It was evident, she was sure, in the way her legs bounced and hands twitched. Juniper sat there, her Lady running a magic comb through her hair, and she found herself wanting.

More and more, Juniper was beginning to feel insatiable, and then, as if Lady Nora could read her mind, she would be full—of gratitude and opportunity. Juniper's life had changed from the moment she ran into the other girl that day in the garden with Hans. Hans had been Juniper's personal torment from the moment they met. He was also a hireling, but he had an [Uncommon] Class and was fast-tracked through the manor's staff selection. Juniper was sure that she would be left behind if Lady Nora took notice of him too.

So, Juniper had gone out of her way to separate them.

Juniper had never been prouder to have a plan work so perfectly. She was certain Lady Nora had not even seen Hans since that day. A smile crawled its way onto Juniper's face. It was satisfied and cruel all at once.

As Juniper was lulled into relaxation by the rhythmic brushing of Lady Nora, she was also proud to say she'd received several Skills a Lady's Maid required over the few short days she'd been working.

Whether it was due to her own aptitude or the quality of education, Juniper was sure it had to be the former. Most of Sylvie's 'teaching' was thinly veiled animosity and repetition.

Juniper had gained the Skills: [Press], [Shine], and [Clean]. [Clean] was the most difficult to use, as it drained Juniper's meager mana reserves almost instantly. She had a lousy 3 in her Magic attribute, which meant her mana veins were shallow and her Skills more draining than empowering. But it did leave the item she was cleaning dust-free, which was the goal, Juniper supposed.

Juniper bit her cheek to keep herself from yelping as Lady Nora wiggled a ribbon close to her skin—though Juniper could hardly feel the Lady's hands touching her. It made Juniper worry that Lady Nora was using odd magic on her, but Juniper was sure enough in Lady Nora that she didn't think the other girl had that kind of maliciousness inside of her.

Lady Nora was unlike any other noble Juniper had met so far, from the Day of Sermon in town to the brief time Juniper had tried the Sword Academy. She wasn't sure how the other commoner kids did it, how they put up with the difference.

Juniper's mother hardly cared what she did, and so Juniper had to scrounge up the tuition from loose change around the house over the course of years before she Awakened. Only to be able to afford a single month.

It had been a rude awakening to the dire straits of her family.

Her father, who hardly worked due to the vials he had to consume to stop his mana from eating through his skin, to her mother, who worked at a small general shop in Fellan proper from early morning to night. It was just Juniper and her brothers. Her brothers, who clung to her. Her brothers, who got everything Juniper was denied—acceptance and love and treasured glances from their parents.

It was as Juniper was stewing in her envy that Lady Nora tapped her on her shoulder and said softly, "I'm done, June. Do you like it?"

Juniper turned her head, feeling the heavy braids falling around her. Dozens and dozens of braids had been twisted and twirled and attached back to each other, again and again, to create a draped fashion.

Juniper wanted. It was a tenet of her personality.

But in that moment, she simply enjoyed.

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