It’s early. Early enough that no one should be in his home, yet. It may be an inconvenience and hardly a traditional gestures, but Jade finds no comfort in his servants living on his property. Indeed, he requires that they find other housing and consider his home not their own but as their place of employment.
There is one exception.
He’s never been questioned about it directly, of course, but he knows people will gossip and believe every whimsical tale their friends can weave. He recognizes that of all his employees, one remains with him night and day. Not only does he have no other home, but the opportunities presented for him to leave the estate at all are limited. By Jade’s own design, of course, although he frames it differently for the replica.
So, when he descends his staircase, sleepwear shrouded by housecoat, he expects to find that other, sole resident at the source of the noise.
“You’re up early, aren’t you? There’s no need to start before your shift, you know.” If, indeed, chores were the younger one’s objective.
@spliitheart
