Part 4

Part 4

That afternoon, the kitchen of the Barack family home was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed herbal tea. Elise was busy carrying a tray with a cup of tea for Mr. Abraham. Her appearance was simple yet captivating. Standing at 160 cm, her petite frame appeared graceful. Her shoulder-length black hair was always neatly styled, even though her face was rarely adorned with makeup. Her gaze was gentle, suggesting a patient personality, though her heart often harbored feelings of unease.

Despite being just a servant, Elise exuded a unique aura. She appeared calm, yet there were traces of strength from her difficult past—a childhood in a house full of arguments that taught her to restrain herself and face every situation with composure.

One of the senior servants, Greta, whispered to her colleague as she watched Elise pass by them.

"Look at her. She’s only been here a few days and already so confident serving Mr. Abraham. Usually, other servants run away within a week," she said, her tone sarcastic.

"I don't know," the other servant replied, "Maybe it's just an act. Let's see how long she lasts."

However, Elise paid no attention to the comment. She knew that being a servant in the Barack household was an opportunity not everyone got—above-average pay, and everyone surely raced to secure a place in this house.

When she entered the family room, Mr. Abraham was already sitting in his wheelchair, surrounded by a stack of morning newspapers. The elderly man straightened his back, though his wrinkled skin revealed that he was nearing ninety years old.

"Your tea, sir," Elise said softly, placing the cup on a small table next to him.

Mr. Abraham looked up, staring at Elise intently for several seconds before a sudden smile appeared on his face, surprising anyone who saw it.

"Ah, Elise," he said, his voice warmer than usual. "You know how to make this tea just the way I like it. Not too bitter, not too sweet."

Elise gave a small smile, trying to hide her nervousness. "Thank you, sir. I just followed your instructions."

The old man chuckled lightly. "You're too modest. You know, for years, no servant has been able to make tea like this." He raised the cup and sipped the tea with appreciation.

Elise didn’t know how to respond. Meanwhile, Greta, who happened to pass by the dining room door, stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened. Mr. Abraham, the man known for being gruff even with his own family, was being so kind to Elise.

"He must be sick," Greta muttered, her tone filled with envy.

Back in the family room, Elise gathered her courage and asked, "Is there anything else I can help with, Mr. Abraham?"

The elderly man shook his head, still smiling. "Just this. But sit with me for a moment. Keep me company while I read. You have a calm voice, perfect for reading the political news today."

Elise was surprised by the request but immediately complied. Carefully, she took one of the newspapers and began reading aloud. Her voice was gentle, and Mr. Abraham listened attentively, occasionally nodding or making brief comments.

From a distance, Reiner stood behind the door, observing the interaction. He could hardly believe his grandfather was being this gentle with someone. Normally, his grandfather would dismiss a new servant within a week, but Elise seemed to be the exception.

"What’s so special about her?" Reiner murmured quietly, his eyes never leaving Elise. There was something about the woman that piqued his curiosity, though his ego refused to acknowledge the feeling.

---

The family room had begun to empty when Abraham motioned for Elise to come closer. With hesitant steps, Elise walked up to the elderly man. On the other side of the room, Reiner sat on the sofa, casually sipping a glass of wine, but his gaze never left the scene.

"Elise," Abraham’s voice was soft but firm, "It's getting late. It's not safe for you to go home alone. Reiner will take you."

Reiner immediately put down his glass with a deliberate clink, looking at his grandfather with a disapproving glare. "Grandpa, I’m sure she can get home on her own. She can call a taxi, or one of the guards can take her. I don’t have time for that."

Abraham glanced briefly at Reiner, a small smile on his face that seemed to say, "You have no choice, son." "I don’t care how you spend your time, Reiner. You will take her."

Elise, feeling like a burden, spoke up. "Mr. Abraham, thank you for your concern, but I can go home by myself. There's no need to trouble Mr. Reiner."

"No debate, Elise," Abraham cut her off, his voice leaving no room for refusal. "I don't want anything to happen to you. Reiner will make sure you get home safely."

Realizing that arguing would only make the situation worse, both Elise and Reiner finally gave in.

The atmosphere in the car was tense, especially with the heavy silence. Reiner held the steering wheel with a relaxed yet tense posture, occasionally glancing at Elise through the rearview mirror. Elise sat with her hands in her lap, her gaze fixed on the blurred cityscape outside the window.

After a few minutes, Reiner finally spoke. "So..." he began flatly, "How did you manage to work at that party? It wasn’t easy, I know. The servants there had to do more than just serve food. Some were even asked to do... other things."

The cynicism in his voice didn’t escape Elise’s notice. She turned slowly towards Reiner, her eyes meeting his with a calm gaze. "What do you mean, Mr. Reiner?" she asked without emotion.

Reiner shrugged, not taking his eyes off the road. "You know what I mean. A job like that isn’t for a decent woman. I know the people there."

Elise smiled faintly, not because she was entertained, but because she was used to such prejudice. "Mr. Reiner, I just work to earn money. What others think or do is none of my business. I’m there to work, not to judge or be judged."

Her response silenced Reiner. He hadn’t expected her to reply so calmly without even flinching at his words. Instead of feeling satisfied, he felt slightly... unsettled.

"Elise," he said finally, his tone softer, "You didn’t answer my question. How did you end up working there?"

Elise looked out the window again, as if unwilling to continue the conversation. But after a few seconds, she replied flatly, "Someone recommended me. I needed the money, and the job paid well."

Reiner snorted softly, half-mocking. "So you really just relied on luck. Ah... or maybe money can buy you anything."

Elise smiled thinly, suppressing the discomfort from his insinuation.

The car finally stopped in front of a modest house on the outskirts of town. Elise opened the door and stepped out gracefully, then turned to Reiner. "Thank you for the ride, Mr. Reiner. Goodnight."

Reiner merely nodded slightly, his eyes still following Elise as she walked into her house. For the first time, he felt curious. She was different from what he had imagined. And for a reason he couldn’t understand, that disturbed him.

Before the car drove off, the sound of something heavy falling from a height was heard. Reiner saw Elise quickly enter her house, as if something had happened.