The Scarred Wolf

Chapter 7 Bully Me?

-Rose-

The leading maid Susana is a middle-aged woman who greets everyone with a smile. It is a relief to know that my new leader is caring and easy-going. The first day I went to her office, she introduced me to other silkworms, including three guards, a gardener, an embroiderer and a house cleaner.

My memory is not bad so I manage to memorize their background information shortly after I chat with them.

The three guards, Agate, Axinite and Kunzite are strong male wolves with muscles. According to them, they had been properly trained before they were employed by the house. They greet me sweetly, bragging and boasting their strengths and power. They eagerly volunteered to be my protector and kept me from harm. I thank them for their kindness but deep in my heart I do not believe this promise. I can’t forget the fact that they whipped Harlot Sapphire to die. To me a person must be cruel enough to whip others and it is wise to stay away from the heartless creatures, despite their tempting sweet talking. I’ve fallen into Hans’ trap once, and I won’t make the same mistake again.

I do not speak with Simon, though. He is a mute gardener, the same age as me, shy and cute. To communicate with him, we convey messages via a writing board. I eventually make him smile when I praise the flowers he attends are beautiful.

The embroiderer Echo is two years younger than me, a talkative girl full of energy. However, she can be very focused when she is doing embroidery. I ask her if she will feel bored if no one talks to her. She laughs and says it is fine because she can talk to the threads.

Evelyn is my roommate, responsible for tidying the floor and changing bed sheets. She is skinny and gloomy. When I meet her in the dormitory, she is mind-absented because she is busy complaining to Susana. As Evelyn claims, Coral, the girl who is supposed to run the kitchen ordered Evelyn to prepare the supper on behalf of her.

“Why don’t you say no to her?”Susana frowns and asks.

“I told her so. And Coral threatened to kill me if I disobeyed her.”Evelyn says in terror, “She follows Lady Ruby like a tail and Lady Ruby likes her. I am not afraid of Coral but I fear Lady Ruby will punish me. See what she did to Sapphire! Madame Pink simply turns a blind eye to the issue. She doesn’t give it a damn as long as Ruby can make money for her…”

“Stop nagging Evelyn.”Susana orders. When Evelyn shuts her mouth, the leading maid softens her voice and lets out a heavy sigh. “Since you’re already aware of the situation, you’d better not mess up with Coral and Lady Ruby.”

“But Coral didn’t do her own job! She is making me do her jobs all the time.”Evelyn huffs as she crosses her arms in front of her chest, standing in a defensive position. “You’re the leading maid, shouldn’t you help me?”

“What do you expect me to do? Coral didn’t listen to me, either. She wrote an application for being Lady Ruby’s private maid, which Madame Pink has approved.”

“What?! What about her previous chores?”Evelyn asks in terror. “I can’t run the kitchen for her! The air there is suffocating and my wolf hates fire and smoke…”

“I can do it. If you let me.” I volunteer myself, causing Evelyn to notice my presence for the first time.

The knit between her eyebrows are gone. She stares at my face, or rather, the scar on my face and asks,“Who are you?”

“She is your new roommate. Treat her well, will you?”

“Alright.”Evelyn shrugs and gives me a toothy smile. “Thank you for taking over Coral’s job.”

“My pleasure. I love cooking anyway.”I reply.

“Preparing supper for the whole house is a tiring job. You can ask Simon to help you when he is available.”Susana suggests.

In the following week, I get along well with the silkworms and gradually fit in the new environment. Over time, I hear many tales from them, not sure if what I heard are facts or simply rumors. For examples:

Echo is in a relationship with the guard called Agate, but they’re on the edge of breaking up because Echo doubts Agate is cheating on her with Coral.

Simon wasn’t born mute but lost his voice in an accident. The horrible experience traumatized him and he cannot speak since then.

Before Madame Pink opened the brothel, she was an omega who had been rejected by her mate five times.

The butterflies all have their special tricks to hook the clients. Emerald’s trick is her sensitivity to the client’s needs, which enables her to provide them with emotional support. Ruby’s trick is her ability to feign moaning. Pearl’s trick is her round t**s and pretty p***y. Amber’s trick is her great knowledge of b**m and she can satisfy clients with kinky interests.

There is a mysterious client who regularly visits the brothel and the butterflies credit him as the Harlot’s Favor. He is rich and handsome, most importantly, generous. He treats everyone with respect and kindness. The butterflies all wish to be his mistress but the gentleman rejects them all, saying he is a playboy wanting no relationship but one-night-stand. Evelyn once asked me about my opinions towards this Harlot’s Favor, I said he wasn’t like a good man to me. Why? Because what kind of good man will be a regular guest at the brothel?

Whether they are true or false, the gossip enriches my life. I also obtain a sort of sense of achievement from my works. The meals I prepare wins praise from both my fellows and the butterflies. Madame Pink especially loves the homemade cake I bake. This morning she asked me to prepare more so that she can send some to the important figures to leave them impressions. Echo is assigned to help me because Evelyn dislikes the kitchen. The heater makes her wolf unsettled.

By 4 p.m. we have all the bread dough kneaded and stored in the refrigerator. Just when we sit down to have a little break, the kitchen door is flung open and Ruby steps in.

“Good afternoon, Lady Ruby,”we immediately stand up and greet her.

Ruby rolls her eyes and signals Echo to get out, “Leave us alone, Echo”

Echo sends me an uncertain glance, unmoved.

“Are you deaf?”Ruby tilts her head and shoots Echo a threatening look, which makes the latter shiver and rush to the door hurriedly.

“What if she called someone, my lady?”Coral asks as she watches Echo’s back.

“She didn’t have that guts.”Ruby sneers while approaching me. “Shut the door, Coral.”She circles around me and for a moment I feel like I am a dying body haunted by the vulture.