Proofread by Thomas F
Lucia Rose
'Room 13, finished.'
The voice rang out in my mind. A moment later, the image of the room appeared in front of me as I activated Image Share.
I also activated Inspect Room, inspecting every inch through the link.
Everything had been cleaned, including the sheets, which had been changed, as well as the toiletries, perfumes, and other items. It happened within ten minutes, done by a team of three.
'13, clear,' I relayed it to the desk.
Speed is key to our work; we get informed the moment the patron vacates the room.
First, my people check whether the patrons have left anything behind and determine if it is a gift for the girl or something they forgot.
Once that is accomplished, the cleaning begins.
Unlike conventional places, Velvet Garden doesn't gather any dust. That doesn't mean there aren't places here that require cleaning.
Many places need to be cleaned regularly. The rooms, especially, needed to be cleaned after every patron. We clean every room multiple times during the day.
There are hundreds of rooms in Velvet Red alone, which I am responsible for.
I am the head of cleaning for Velvet Red. The promotion I received came after my boss left over a month ago, when the undead were approaching.
He had returned, but he didn't get his job back, not even with a demoted position.
Many of my peers left, but I didn't. I was with the Velvet Garden, before it was even named Velvet Garden. I was among the first people they had hired.
Since then, I have done many jobs. I was initially a cleaner before becoming a server.
I even worked as a dishwasher in the kitchen before becoming a cleaner again.
I was then promoted several times, reaching the position of head of floor cleaning before being promoted to my current role.
Soon, another room emptied, and I sent the people to it.
I also went there when they finished. I stopped and looked at the room with my own eyes. Checking everything carefully with Inspect.
The people are good, with each one of them above Lv. 20, but they are not perfect.
I also couldn't let them get complacent. It is why I always check at least a fifth of the rooms with my own eyes.
Velvet Garden is a legacy and one of the best on the continent. So, we need to maintain a rigorous standard.
They are very generous and even forgive the mistakes, but if you don't learn from them. The madams don't hesitate to fire people.
Hours passed, and soon, it is eleven fifty-five. Like always, Arvas stopped beside me.
She is a middle-aged woman, beautiful with blond hair, who moved with a grace that I could only envy.
"Miss Lucia," greeted my junior. "Arvas," I replied. She is new, having been hired three months ago. Previously, she worked at the Taurus Theatre before joining Velvet Garden.
We were in the same position until a month ago, before I was promoted.
"Are you applying for initiate, Miss Lucia?" she asked.
They announced the recruitment for the initiate in the morning. It is all everyone is talking about; it is the same thing in the telepathic network.
What got everyone excited was that anyone with six months in the legacy could apply.
Arvas couldn't apply, but others are applying—even many of the guards. They are not excluded from it either.
"I haven't decided yet," I replied. This job has already created enough trouble for me at home. Applying for initiate would make him fly in a rage.
Though I would be lying to myself. If I said I didn't want to apply for it.
I want to. Desperately.
Once the people are selected, they will train us in college, just as they do the women of Velvet Garden, and allow us to rise alongside them.
She opened her mouth, likely to ask why, when she closed it, as if reading my thoughts.
Soon, its twelve midnight. I handed her the charge and walked out.
I reached the staff elevator and stepped inside. There are many people there; a lot of shifts end at midnight.
A few seconds later, the elevator stopped underground, and I stepped out.
Soon, I reached the office of the housekeeping department and walked toward the changing room to change out of my uniform.
"Lucia, Madam Lorle wants to see you," said Triss, a teen orc girl at the desk. "Did she tell you why?" I asked, but the girl shook her head.
Seeing that, I sighed and walked toward Madam Lorle's office.
Until three days ago, Madam Breve was running things here, along with several other places, but a few days ago, they made changes in administration.
Now, the department is led by a newly created Grade IV instead of Grade III; she is now the head of the Housekeeping Department.
I feel a little scared of her.
I have known Madam Lorle since the day she came. She is from the third batch, beautiful like most girls of Velvet Garden, and strict.
She had worked in the cleaning department for a few weeks as a trainee.
In that time, she had shadowed the cleaners as well as floor leaders. She had even cleaned the rooms and bathroom with them.
Thankfully, she didn't shadow me. Though she did, Arvas. The woman has been scared of her since then.
I have seen her many times, since she came to Velvet Garden, but I haven't had much contact with her. I know all the women in the first batch, and I think that is one of the reasons I rose quickly.
I reached the door and opened it before taking a step inside.
As I did, I nearly stopped. Madam Lorle isn't alone in there; there is another woman.
"It's been a while, Lucia," said the woman. "It is sis..Headmistress," I replied a moment later. I nearly called her sister like I used to before correcting myself.
It's been a few months since I last spoke with the woman. It was around three months ago that I met her during my shift.
"How have you been?" she asked. "I am good, Headmistress," I replied.
"Take a seat, Lucia," said Madam Lorle. I hesitated for a moment before sitting beside Headmistress Margaux.
"You must be wondering why we have called you here?" asked the Headmistress. I nodded at that, hoping it's not bad news.
I am the only one currently earning a living. I can't afford to lose this job.
I earn well here, better than most people in the city. My salary further increased with the promotion.
"You are one of the oldest employees of Velvet Garden and one of the most loyal." She said. It made me relieved; she wouldn't be praising me if she wanted to fire me.
She wouldn't have been here to fire me. Madam Lorde would have been more than enough to do the job.
"I consider it my home," I replied, and it is true.
The first time, the agency sent me to work in Velvet Garden. I was opposed to it; I didn't want to work in a brothel, but I was desperate.
I barely had money to eat. So, I accepted. Since then, so much had changed.
"We consider you as family as well. It is why, I hope, you will apply for initiate." She said. Her words surprised me, but also made me glad.
A person like her saying it means a lot. It also means I might get selected if I applied.
"You will be directly accepted into it and promoted to trainee within three months."
"In six months after that, we will promote you to Grade V Manager (Vice-Madam) as long as you pass all the tests, which I have no doubt you will," she stated.
Saying that I am shocked is an understatement. I had envisioned many things, but not this.
She is saying that I will be accepted directly and promoted to Grade VI in three months, and then to Grade V in six months after that; I will be on the same level as Madam Eryna and others.
"This is too much," I said. I should have thanked her instead of blabbering about what I had in my mind.
"Don't think about it too much. Think of it as Velvet Garden, giving you back for the loyalty you have toward it," she replied with a smile.
"Thank you," I said, finally, and walked out of the office.
For a few minutes, I was so lost in thought that I didn't remember going to the changing room to change out of my uniform or even walking through the carriage station.
"Lucia!" It was only when my name was called out that I realised where I was.
There is a carriage in front of me, and seeing the number, I stepped inside. Familiar people are sitting there; all live in the same area as I do.
Velvet Garden provides carriage services. It saves me and others a lot of money.
Soon, the carriage moved out of the underground into the park. I was still preoccupied with my thoughts, but I could hear the chatter around me.
It is about the same topic that people have been discussing this morning.
Many of those who could apply are applying. I'm unsure whether I would apply, despite what the Headmistress said.
As minutes passed, the carriage began to stop, and soon it came to a halt at the police station near my apartment building.
"See you all tomorrow," I said to them and stepped out of the carriage.
I walked toward my apartment building through the empty street. Only the main roads surrounding the legacy are filled with people and carriages at this time of night.
Here, aside from the police, I could not see a single person.
Before Lord Silver took over, I used to fear walking through the city streets so late. I have been harassed and even mugged a few times.
Now, there is not even a hint of fear; the streets are lighted and patrolled.
Soon, I reached the five-story building and walked inside, before climbing the stairs to the fifth floor. It's my apartment; I own it.
I had purchased it when prices fell drastically, due to the undead. I hadn't told him yet.
I wanted to, but didn't. Seeing everything, I say, seemed to make him angry now.
I reached the fifth floor and opened the door of my apartment.
The moment I did, the thick smell of alcohol hit me. I smell it every day, but today it is especially intense, mixed with a foul odor.
I walked inside and saw him sprawled across the floor of the living room, with vomit across the carpet.
Seeing it, I felt like vomiting.
As if he heard me, he opened his eyes before slowly getting up.
"You had not gone to look for the job?" I asked despite knowing the answer.
I looked at him, those dark green eyes. He is the boy I had fallen in love with. We had come to the city together, leaving our destitute village to look for new opportunities.
We got them.
He got a job as a guard, while I worked in Velvet Garden. For a while, we were happy, until things began to change.
He started to drink, and soon, he began to pressure me to leave my job.
When I didn't, his behaviour became worse.
Things were bad until a month ago, when he ran away a week before the battle. He returned two weeks ago, and since then, things have become worse.
He started drinking heavily and didn't even go to look for a job since the guard refused to take him back.
"What is it to you, whore? I will do what I want!" he shouted, slurring with rage.
The pain of his insult stung sharply; it was yet another sign of how much he had changed. Since he returned, he never once called me Lucy- the name he used to say with such tenderness.
Now, all that remained was bitterness and harsh words, which he hurled at me every day, deepening the gulf between us.
"Then leave," I said finally.
My words seemed to breach through the haze of rage and shock. I am even more shocked by the words I spoke, but I didn't open my mouth to take them back.
I have been suffering for months, hoping the bitterness would disappear and he would return to his former self, but it's clear that he has no intention of doing that.
I loved him and still do, but I love myself more, and I will not bear it anymore.
"You whore, this is my house!" he roared, coming toward me. I instinctively took a step back before stopping myself.
"No, it's mine. I had bought it," I replied. It seemed to shock him, but it disappeared, and drunken rage returned to his eyes, at greater fury.
"It seemed like your lovers in the brothel were paying you well," he said, breathing in the thick stench of liquor on my face.
His words stung my soul.
I worked hard and supported both of us. Instead of being grateful, he insults me at every turn.
"They are. You are not even man enough to do that!" I replied, taking a step closer to him, that we are inches away from each other.
I shouldn't have said it, but I have had enough.
"You whore!" he screamed and did something he had never done before. He raised his hand to hit me, and he even used the skill.
Seeing his hand coming toward me. I felt the last thread that bound us break, severing the connection.
Bam!
A loud sound rang out, and he flung back, crashing into the wall hard.
He fell down and looked shocked, like he couldn't believe what had happened.
I may have been promoted fast due to my connections, but I am also very good at my job and have the levels to back it up.
I am Lv. 27 Cleanfloor Leader, while he is Lv. 12 Guard; he does not have even half of my levels.
The skill I used is a Clear Sweep. It helps me sweep away all the dust.
It could also be used to defend.
I had attended a self-defence class that the Velvet Garden had offered. They said they will try to defend the city from the undead and teach us how to defend ourselves if the undead come.
He looked at me. I looked at him before I turned and walked out of the apartment.
I used the Dustless Steps to walk down the stairs before walking out of the building. It didn't take me long before I spotted the police officers patrolling the streets.
"Can we help you with anything, ma'am?" asked the young orc woman as I stopped in front of them.
"My husband had assaulted me," I informed, and immediately, their expressions changed. I could feel them activating their skills on me.
"I defended," I clarified.
"What is your address, ma'am?" asked a middle-aged human man. "Northson building, apartment 5A," I replied.
A moment later, we began to walk toward the apartment building, while they asked me for information about the assault and myself.
Soon, we reached my building and climbed toward my apartment.
"Ma'am, it would be better if you stayed here," said the man as I opened the door for them. I wanted to follow them inside, but I nodded instead.
They went inside, and I heard a few shouts and a loud sound before everything went silent.
It remained as such for nearly a minute, when the door opened and the pair came out, with my husband between them with his hands bound.
"Ma'am, we are arresting your husband on charges of domestic assault, battery, and aggravated assault." He informed.
"We will call you tomorrow for a detailed statement. Until then, please take care of yourself," added the woman.
He glared at me, as if he wanted to speak, but no words seemed to come out of his mouth.
I watched him till he disappeared down the stairs before walking inside.
The apartment is fine, except for the vomit.
Seeing the mess, I retrieved a mop and a bucket from the corner of the kitchen. As I began cleaning, pushing the mop back and forth across the floor, while my thoughts drifted in all directions.
The repetitive motion of cleaning provided a strange sense of focus, even as my mind replayed the events that had just unfolded.
Cleaning became my way of coping, at least for the moment, as I tried to come to terms with the reality settling around me.