Chapter Text
You were briskly walking through the halls of castle Dimitrescu, sweating bullets and wringing your hands nervously. You’d been called to Lady Dimitrescu’s quarters abruptly with no information. The maid that had fetched you simply stated, “the mistress has requested your presence in her chambers immediately.” And with a whispered ‘good luck’, she left you. That was it.
You were halfway across the castle, and Lady Dimitrescu was not known for her patience. You were content in your normal role here, confident that you’d proven yourself at least useful enough to not be recycled. Few of the maidens brought to the castle stayed in their position for long. You were one of the lucky ones.
Until now.
The mistress had taken a surprising interest in you recently. She’d been turning up more often around you, as you used to not come in contact with her much depending on your rotation. You saw her nearly everyday now.
And she saw you. Lingering gazes. Fingers brushing yours when you’d hand her the cup of wine she’d requested. Acting more cordial towards you as opposed to merely tolerating your presence. But never calling you to her chambers so suddenly. And so late at night.
No, this was a peculiar and troubling development. You didn’t even know she knew your name. Not well enough to ask specifically for you.
Now, here you are. Standing outside of the large door, heart racing and temples damp. You took a deep breath, letting it go with a slight waver, and reached up to knock.
“Enter.” You heard called before you’d even made contact with the wood. You gulped and obeyed, slowly pushing the door open.
The room was dim, the fire in the hearth being to only source of light in the room. You scanned the area and saw her at her desk, her back to you.
You stepped further into the room and cleared your throat. “You requested to see me, my lady?”
She looked at you over her shoulder, eyes sharp and glowing gold in the dim light like a feline. She stood to her staggering height and turned fully towards you. You couldn’t help but scan her body, taking note of her outfit.
Or lack there of.
Lady Dimitrescu was towering before you in a thin black robe that reached just above her knees. Since you were so much shorter than her, you noted the pale expanse of muscular legs before you. You never really saw them, usually hidden by her floor length dress. They looked soft and strong. Her wide hips drew your attention next, as they tend to do when you catch her meandering about the castle.
As your eyes continued their ascent, you saw the robe was tied, thankfully, but open enough at the top that her large breasts were nearly spilling over. You were shocked there wasn’t areola visible with how much cleavage was on display. You usually tried to keep your wandering eyes to yourself, at least in front of her so openly, but it was late and this was unexpected and she was just so attractive. Not to mention you’d never seen so much skin on display.
You swallowed thickly and got to her face. She was staring at you with a smug smirk and piercing eyes like she was reading your thoughts. It did not help your trepidation.
“I asked for you nearly fifteen minutes ago. Dare I ask, what took you so long to get here?” She asked in a low voice.
“I apologize for the delay, my lady. I was over by the west wing. I came as soon as I received your call for me.” You answered quickly, bowing your head slightly as a show of submission and respect.
“Hm.” She grunted. You chanced a glance back up at her. Her eyes were narrowed but she didn’t seem angry. “I’ll let it slide. This time. Do not make a habit of keeping me waiting.”
“Of course, my lady.” You assured, lifting your head fully and waiting patiently for the reason she brought you here.
“Now, I’m sure you’re wondering what brought you here at this hour.” She mused, reaching down to her desk and picking up her ornate cigarette holder from where it had been resting in its tray, still lightly burning. “I’ve been keeping my eye on you recently. And I’ve noticed a behavior that I find troubling.”
You furrowed your brow. This really couldn’t be good. What had you done? Were you, perhaps, too confident in your position that you’d somehow overlooked or neglected your duties? You didn’t think so. You were always attentive to details, keeping close tabs on the four Dimitrescu women and their preferences for how things were done.
Lady Bela preferred things to be neat and orderly. Everything had a place and needed to be in its place. You’d spend hours just on her room and preferred common areas to ensure it would be comfortable and clean enough to satisfy her. She allowed you limited entry into her lab, only to replenish her disposable items from time to time. She never seemed particularly keen on you, but she also never snapped or scolded you either; instead giving you a calm side eye when she’d find herself in the same proximity as you, which for her was basically like a warm smile.
Lady Cassandra was standoffish and aggressive, but fairly simple to understand. She liked to toy with her prey, sure, but you weren’t her target. So, you made sure her weapons were kept in working condition, her rooms clean but no where near as meticulous as Bela. Her sickles and instruments she enjoyed playing with were made readily available and easily accessible. She never acknowledged you, really, which was fine by you. You knew she cared immensely for her family and would go to great lengths for them. So, as long as her gaze wasn’t on you, you felt safe.
Now, Lady Daniela, she was more difficult to pin down for a while. She liked playing with the maids. You remember when you were on the receiving end of her games, shortly after your arrival. She would play like she was hunting you occasionally, stalking you like a lioness and popping up in random places. She warmed up to you eventually, though, and was actually the most pleasant of the three now that you’ve been with them long enough. You’d often find her in the library, so you made a point to keep that area tidy and comfortable for her.
So, this must mean that whatever it was you’d done must have been on your rotation with Lady Dimitrescu herself. You bowed your head deeply again. You felt so stupid to have, not only screwed up, but screwed up with your direct superior and the most dangerous of the four. “My lady, whatever I’ve done wrong, you have my most sincerest apologies. Please forgive me.”
You heard a quiet purr come from her as you pleaded for forgiveness. The sound of her foot steps were near silent without her heels, so suddenly feeling her presence circling you like a predator made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
“Hm, yes. You have been quite naughty. Shamelessly staring at your mistress as though you were some hormonal brute. Going into my closet and pawing through my delicates when you’re supposed to be doing your job. The woman that let you into her home and provides you food and shelter. And all you can think about are whatever salacious little desires running through that pretty little head of yours as you sneak into my changing room, thinking I hadn’t noticed my things being misplaced.” She rattled off in that same low sultry tone.
Your eyes widened. You thought you were being careful. You do have to tidy her room when you’re on rotation, after all. You hadn’t considered that she would be paying such close attention so as to notice you’d been perhaps indulging in your shameful desires.
And you hadn’t meant to stare so openly. She’s just so attractive. Even though you’d never act on it. Hell, you’d never even been with another person before. But was it so bad to desire the flawless and unattainable countess? If you’re meant to spend the rest of your days in this castle without knowing the touch of another, was it truly wrong to crave the woman that sets your blood on fire?
Apparently so, if her reprimanding you was any indication.
“I-I,” you stuttered out, desperately trying to find any excuse for your actions, but couldn’t find the words. You kept your head down, staring wide eyed at the ground, watching as her legs circled back around and halted in front of you. You tried not to stare. Tried to ignore the heaviness in your tongue as it desired running up those tantalizingly soft looking, pale planes of skin.
“Nothing to say for yourself?” She inquired.
You shut your eyes and shook your head. “No, my lady. I-I meant no harm. I apologize for my disgusting behavior. Whatever punishment you see fit, I will gladly accept.”
You felt a clawed finger hook under your chin, drawing your head up. You opened your eyes and met her still slightly glowing gaze as she looked at you intensely. “Punishment? Yes. Yes, a punishment may yet do you some good, little mouse.”
Her finger trailed slowly down the column of your throat and you gulped. She took a long drag of her cigarette as her eyes followed the path of her finger. Once she reached the collar of your uniform she grabbed it and tugged you slightly closer to her as she leaned down towards you puffing the smoke into the air between you and giving you a predatory smirk.
“Perhaps I should take you over my knee. Strike you for every time I’ve caught you just in the last week alone.” She husked dangerously.
Your mouth went dry. You didn’t know why, but that thought excited you. You tried to keep your face indifferent and apologetic.
Her expression shifted as she subtly sniffed at the air around her. Her eyes sharpened and she grinned, flashing sharp white teeth. “Or maybe you would like that too much, hm? I had no idea a maiden like yourself could be so rapacious.”
You blinked once. Twice. “How did you-?”
She cut you off by suddenly releasing your collar roughly and standing back to her full height. “You think I don’t know everything about the maids that have been in my employ long enough? Please.” She gruffly bit out, taking another short puff. “Not to mention I can smell it on you; how desperate you are.” She answered before you even finished.
“I’m n-not-,” you tried again.
“Darling, you’re already a pervert. Let’s not add liar to the list as well. How I detest being lied to.” She shut you down.
Your cheeks lit up and you clamped your mouth shut. You didn’t know she was paying such close attention to you. You were appalled by her words, but decided against trying to convince her otherwise. Because she, unfortunately, wasn’t wrong.
“Mm, see? Compliance suits you much better than your petty little excuses.” She purred before chuckling and stepping away from you. “From now on, you’ll be my personal maid. I expect you to remain close by for the foreseeable future. Gather whatever personal effects you have in your old maid quarters and have them moved to the quarters in this wing.” She instructed. “As for your punishment, I’ll decide that in the morning. Go on now, little mouse, scurry along and do as you’ve been told.”
You watched her for a moment, completely dumbfounded, before you nodded. “As you say, my lady.” You said quietly before departing.
It didn’t take long for you to gather your personal effects, you hardly had anything to call your own. The walking to the other wing and back was the only time consuming part and, even though you were used to traversing the expanse of the castle, you were still exhausted by the time you returned to the East wing.
You knew where the maid’s quarters were here, though you’d never actually been inside since it wasn’t yours to tend to. You entered, shocked to find it so sparsely inhabited. You didn’t know what you’d expected, but at least a near full staff would have been a given. That was not the case.
Instead, you were met with only two other maids in the room. They were shocked to find that you’d been assigned here and the three of you took time to speak amongst yourselves. The two of them got to know you a little and told you of the expectations of being assigned to this wing permanently. You learned that Lady Dimitrescu is very particular about who she keeps in this wing due to the proximity to her personal chambers. She had told them having too many maids nearby is distracting, but did not clarify why, and told them to keep quiet or they’d be forcefully removed from service.
Either way, you settled in to the bed they instructed you to take after tidying up your new area. There was a bell on a string embedded in a recess in the wall next to your bed that the women advised was attached to Lady Dimitrescu’s room. Lovely. So, she could ring you anytime of the day or night now and you were expected to come calling at the drop of a hat. But, of course, you’d expected it since you were to be her personal maid, which she hasn’t had in a while you surmised, based off of the state of this side of the room.
The other two women appeared to pity you, but were obviously elated that you’d take some of their duties off of their plate. They weren’t her’s specifically but they did, of course, tend to her needs if she requested it. Now, that all fell to you.
It felt like an exchange. They’d go back to just being maids in the castle without serving the lady directly. And you’d serve her without having to be a castle maid anymore. You weren’t sure which you’d have preferred, but what you wanted was irrelevant. Lady Dimitrescu was the boss and what she says goes. Hopefully this assignment wouldn’t be so bad. Only time will tell.
It took a while for you to find sleep, your mind running as it was. But it did eventually take you.
You dreamed of dimly glowing golden eyes watching you from the dark. It was as unnerving as it was comforting.