Jenna turned to the side of her bed, trapping the pillow between her thighs as she slept peacefully. Pushing a strand of her hair behind her, she snuggled in closer to her blanket, opening her eyes and exhaling.
She had been so stressed out the previous day, she didn't remember coming home, but she remembered leaving the store with so much anger and frustration.
A little sleep and she now felt better. The saying was true that joy comes in the morning.
"Uhmmm," Jenna yawned. Pushing her body up, she sat on the bed and rubbed her eyes tiredly. Standing up from the bed, Jenna entered the bathroom to wash her face and get ready for the day.
Just as she scooped the cold water and poured it on her face, she recalled falling on the ground the previous night. Jenna looked down at her shirt and pants; they were the same from yesterday. She had been too exhausted to change or wash herself.
She poured the cold water on her face, took a sip, and gurgled it. Jenna tilted her head as she washed herself. She could recall being carried home by the young man she had saved. Another memory crossed her mind from the previous night, and she frowned.
Done with bathing, Jenna dressed up and left her room. She walked straight to where her servants stayed, and she found them gathered in one place, eating.
"Good morning, Mistress." Mabel was the first to notice her; she stopped scooping the porridge and bowed.
Jenna acknowledged the greeting with a smile, "As you were," she muttered, then turned her eyes away, searching for someone.
"My Lady, I'm fine now. You don't need to worry about me," Percy stopped eating, his eyes looking down and a smile on his lips, feeling valued that his mistress was worried about him.
Jenna nodded, her eyes still all over the place. She had someone else in mind she was looking for.
"Sure, eat more, Percy," Jenna said without looking at her servant.
Percy smiled sheepishly, digging into his meal with even more vigor, trying to impress his mistress. "More soup, Mabel," he ordered.
Bruno, who was quiet, took a large bite from his meal and began. "Tomorrow night is the Festival of Maidens, right?" he turned his attention to Henri, the eldest.
"Will you be choosing a maiden tomorrow?" Bruno asked, returning his attention to his meal.
Henri chuckled at the young boy's words but didn't say anything.
"That's true. We have to get dresses ready. Who knows? Mabel might find a husband tomorrow too!" Harriet clapped her hands excitedly, nudging her friend.
Mabel blushed, curling her hair with her fingers. "Who knows... I'm not as beautiful as the maidens there... A lot of unmarried maidens would want men like Anne."
Jenna moved away from where her servants were discussing. She left the small house with four rooms used by her and her servants. When she didn't see anyone, Jenna retraced her steps, turning back inside the house, but stopped when the corner of her eye caught someone.
Rhane was coming out of the small bathroom located outside for the servants. He had his trousers on but not his shirt, which he hung on his shoulder. His hair was wet, proof that he had just washed up.
Jenna noticed how the wounds on his body were healing well despite him not taking care of them properly. Her eyes roamed his body for a second. When she recalled what she had done the last time she saw his body, Jenna quickly averted her gaze.
"Master," Rhane's cool voice was heard. With a relaxed strut, he closed the distance between them.
Jenna cleared her throat before turning. "Yes..."
Rhane raised his brows, his eyes filled with excitement as if he were waiting for something.
"Anne,"
Rhane sighed.
"Is everything okay?" Jenna asked when she noticed the disappointment in his tone.
Rhane's hazel eyes moved up from Jenna's face and settled on her lips. "Not at all, Master," he replied.
Jenna nodded. "Good." She glanced at his shirt that was hung around his neck. Jenna was curious about something, the sweet scent she perceived on Rhane's shirt the previous night.
She wasn't sure, but it was there, a floral, creamy scent that was almost honey-like.
Jenna eyed him suspiciously, her eyes narrowed. She had seen how close he was with Beth the previous day, and it made her curious.
"I didn't see you yesterday until at night. Care to explain where you had gone?"
Rhane noticed the suspicion in his master's eyes. He moved his head to the side and took his time before saying, "I returned home to get the place cleaned out for Percy to rest."
Jenna raised her brows. "For Percy?"
"Yes, Master. He was hurt yesterday," Rhane replied without blinking, his eyes intently on Jenna's lips.
Jenna noticed this. She pressed her lips, and Rhane finally looked up.
"So you weren't at Beth's house? Or she didn't invite you later?" Jenna narrowed her gaze. When Rhane shook his head, she nodded with a small sigh.
Jenna turned to leave but halted. She wanted to really confirm this young man wasn't playing tricks on her and lying about losing his memory.
"What do you think when someone touches you this way?" She placed her hand on his chest and traced it with her fingertips.
Rhane didn't flinch, his eyes on Jenna's face. A curl at the corner of his lips could be mistaken for a smile, but his stoic gaze remained.
"I don't think anything. Master can do whatever she wants to my body," he replied, meaning every word of it.
Jenna's face turned pink, and she took back her hands to herself. She was trying to make him blush, but it fired back. "Do you know the meaning of what you just said, Anne?"
Rhane nodded. "That I belong to Master." He didn't blink.
"Oh, what do I do with you," Jenna gushed, turning her face to the side to giggle. She didn't know why, but his words were so innocent. At the same time, they made her stomach turn. If he truly had his memory, he would know what his words meant.
Jenna tried to use her hair to cover her blush. "Rhane, you..." her voice trailed. When she raised her face, she cleared her throat.
"Go have breakfast with others, and let's see at the market."
Rhane bowed. "Yes, Master."
Jenna gave him a quick glance, her cheeks still getting redder. When her eyes fell on the shirt around his neck, she hummed and walked away.
Rhane's eyes lazily followed Jenna until she was back inside the house. He took the shirt from his neck and donned it on his body. A line forming between his brows.
"Why can't she remember my name?" he asked himself.
Percy, who had just finished eating, had met his mistress halfway and noticed the blush on her face. When he stepped outside and found Rhane standing there, his frown deepened.
"You!" Percy pointed at him. "Where were you yesterday when our mistress was being bullied?"
Rhane raised his brows, taking his time before he said, "I returned home to prepare a room for Percy," he said, walking past Percy.
Percy turned around. "For me? I'm Percy... mmm," he sniffed the air. "That sweet smell... beeswax?" he ran after Rhane.
"What did you return to prepare for me?" Percy asked, his voice slightly raised.