Eight years later the town was a much different. There was a sense of gloom over the land and few were rich anymore. All the riches went to keeping the Puella Domina happy, and as she got older the taxes got higher and higher. The penalty for not paying taxes was cruel. The eldest son of the offender was to become servant to the Puella. When this occurred the son was mourned as if he was dead, because he soon would be.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtjSAK6cZ3
The mansion in the centre of town looked different now. The flowers were gone. The elaborately designed windows and doors had been replaced by simple wood. Now all that was left was the dark grey stone the children had once been afraid of.
One day there was a fire in the mansion's kitchen. It was small and no one had been hurt, but the burnt food meant something much more to the servants.531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4POZtrxkEh
"How could you let this happen!" The head cook yelled at a servant.
"It was an accident, sir." He replied, his fingers trembling.
"Do you know what she'll do to me?" His face was still but his voice was shaking.
"Hey you!" Said a voice. Both the servants turned to see who had spoke. Before there eyes was a tall, thin man with long brown hair and a cruel face. This was Darius, head of the servants. He was the sort of man who loved having power and using it.
"It's lunchtime!" He growled. "Why hasn't the food come?"
"Well.. W-we've had a slight problem with the stove." The cook explained under Darius' disapproving stare. Suddenly a smile came to Darius' face.
"Then you're coming with me."
"No." The cook pleaded. "Please, no!"
But before he could say anything else Darius grabbed his arm and pulled him through the halls. He pulled him through the dark, stone halls until they came to a pair of big wooden doors. They entered the room. Inside were several servants. In the middle was a large throne with a small child on it whose hair was long and blonde and her eyes red. Her expression was so void of emotion that her eyes seemed to be made of glass.
"Where is the food." She asked, stoicly.
The cook stuttered nervously. "Well... um... It's not ready yet. A few more minutes and... um..."
"I'm hungry now." She said.
"There's nothing I can do. I'm sorry."
She fixed her glance on the cook.
"No! No! Please, no!"
The red filled her eyes and the other servants looked away as the cook slouched over, onto the ground. There was silence in the room for a moment, until the girl spoke again.
"I'm hungry."
Darius turned to a servant. "Make sure lunch is on its way."
A nearby servant nodded and hurried out, obviously happy to be leaving.
They all looked at the Puella as she looked around the room. Suddenly she stopped on something outside a nearby window.
"Who are they?" She asked. Everyone looked out and saw two happy children playing on the street.
"They're just some children, your grace."
"What are they doing?" Puella asked.
"Playing." A servant answered.
"Why?"
"Because..." The servant wracked his mind for an answer. "That's what children do."
Puella looked at him, he winced under her red stare.
"Aren't I a child."
"Of course."
She turned back to the window and the servant exhaled slowly. There was silence.
"I want one." Puella said.
"What?"
"I want a child to play with."
They all looked at each other in fear.
"Of course." Darius responded finally. "We will bring you one, your grace"531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1G2248HtX
Darius motioned for two of the servants to follow him as he left the room.
"What are we going to do?" One of them asked once they were safely out of Puella's gaze.
"What do you think?" The other said.
The first gave him a look of disgust. "We can't just take a child off the street."
"well do you want to end up like our friend in there?"
"Gentleman!" Darius exclaimed giving them a mischievous glance. "I think I have an idea."
The servants looked at each other then looked at Darius.
"There's a family living by the mountains who have an eight year old son," Darius smiled. "And they haven't been paying their taxes."531Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43oucELRE3
