Olive worked at the Greket manor. The family that called it home were a branch of a noble family that lived in the capital. The Grekets did not think of themselves any less. They certainly had the wealth and aire of royalty. And the number of staff and hired help that worked their estate could almost be comparable to the number of residents at the Mage Academy. They had fields worth of crops, lands worth of tenants, and one mountain full of game. They even raised their own chickens now, which could no longer be used as excuse to leave the property early morning to go see her master in town.
As Olive strolled leisurely through the orchard path towards the great house, she wondered at their affluence and fortune. Every tree in this orchard was properly cared for.
The branches were strong enough to climb when she was younger. She would often find herself at the top of the tallest tree with the younger of the two daughters of the master of the house. They would get into mischief together and get scolded together too, usually the beatings were only restricted to herself and Violet would only receive the threat of a beating.
It was still fairly early, and no one at home should be awake yet. Olive thought this was a perfect opportunity to climb a tree and maybe steal some breakfast. Not that it would be stealing, because she was allowed to partake of anything from the property as long as they weren't already packed into containers.
Olive set down her basket of eggs at the base of the tree she decided to climb, tucked one edge of her frock into her belt, grabbed a low branch and lifted her leg up as high as she could. She always climbed trees strange. Ever since she fell from the walls separating the gardens and twisted her knee, she hadn't been able to climb as easy as she used to. It showed now. She sweated bullets trying to get up to the first branch. When she finally reached as far as her limit allowed, she leaned against the trunk and looked over the green-orange canopy. She recalled the old times when she had less responsibilities.
Her partner-in-crime no longer spoke to her like an intimate friend, let alone participate in these shenanigans anymore. Violet was a lady now, as her older sister Blanche finally convinced her, she could no longer roll around in muck like a savage with a servant girl.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3blvo3VdM9
From an orange yellow streak marking the horizon the sunlight washed over Olive surrounding her in a warm glow. She was up there so long, the men who work the orchard were beginning to appear in the path through the orchard. Someone yelled from below to get out of the tree, and Olive quickly complied. She stuffed a fist full of leaves into her blouse, grabbed the basket and dashed in the direction of the house.
There was one more stop before she could return however, she needed a red flower from the edge of the forest. This would mean running along the length of it until she could spot one. There was no time to dawdle, the early morning light was necessary, any later and she would have to do it again tomorrow.
Of course after walking the entire length of the forest edge of the property she didn't find the flower, so it must mean she was too late. She would try again tomorrow if the client was willing to wait that long.
She heard movement in the garden as she entered it. It was the gardener in charge of the south gardens. She quickly slipped behind a tall hedge and sneaked back into the house. She didn't want them to ask her questions. She couldn't hide from the butler and the housekeeper however, they somehow always knew when she was up to something.
Bartlett cornered her in the kitchen and demanded to know why she went out. She pulled out the leaves and twigs from her skirt pocket, twisted her ear and pulled her hair, with the threat of more violence in the future if she ever brought more filth into the house and sent her on her way. It was almost time for breakfast, and the breakfast parlour and table needed preparation.
With smarts on her cheek and tears in her eyes, Olive silently began to do her chores.
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