episode_0005

On a morning when the sunlight gently fell, the hands quietly opening the curtains by the window had become quite accustomed.

She carefully approached my bedside.

And quietly held out a note.

[Good morning, Master.]

At that title, which felt both unfamiliar and familiar, I looked at her with a slightly surprised face.

But she didn’t say a word, just smiled meekly.

That way of speaking, as if learned somewhere, was awkward yet cute, and also a little ticklish.

“…Yeah, good morning.”

I smiled slightly and threw off the blanket.

She quickly opened the wardrobe and took out the clothes for the day.

Glancing at her as if unintentionally watching, I saw her choosing with a very serious expression.

These days, she was learning etiquette, language, common sense, and more from the head maid.

Although she had only communicated with her hands, she could now express many things with gestures and expressions.

And sometimes, using the word ‘Master,’ she would hold a small smile.

“That title, where did you learn it?”

I asked playfully.

She hesitated for a moment, then wrote this in her notebook.

[The other maids call you that.]

[But I call you with a slightly different feeling.]

[You are the Master in my heart.]

I laughed it off, trying to hide the slightly ticklish feeling in my heart.

She followed me all day.

During reading time, she quietly turned the pages beside me,

When we went for a walk in the garden, she walked behind, following my shadow.

Sometimes she would pick a flower and hand it to me,

Sometimes, when I was about to stumble, she would quietly extend her arm.

She truly tried to be ‘by my side’ quietly, yet very diligently.

In a way that made me lean on her, even when I didn’t expect to.

“You worked hard today too.”

Towards evening, I closed the book and said to her.

She lowered her head and carefully took out her notebook.

[I’m happy because Master praised me.]

[I will work harder.]

[Because I am Master’s maid.]

Her crimson eyes sparkled in the night light.

There were no words in them, but they held countless feelings that I could hear.

That night, I lay in bed and thought quietly.

Perhaps the title ‘Master’ is a little heavy word.

But knowing the reason she chose it, I decided to accept that word.

She is not just a maid.

She is a connection I picked up, now a family growing together, a friend—

Perhaps, the beginning of an emotion yet unnamed.

And the next morning, she stood quietly by my bed again.

[Good morning, Master.]

I smiled and greeted her.

“Yeah, good morning. Looking forward to today too.”

She nodded brightly and quietly prepared my day.

Beneath the clear, sunny sky, a faint sound of small laughter echoed softly in the garden.

“Come here. Isn’t this flower really fascinating? The color keeps changing.”

At Master’s voice, I carefully shifted my steps and approached. The hem of my white dress brushed against the grass blades, fluttering slightly in the wind, and Master’s eyes followed its movement.

[Really?]

I tilted my head slightly and wrote in the notebook. Master looked at my notebook and smiled widely.

“Yeah. It got deeper as you came closer. It seems the flower likes you too.”

I felt my face turn red and covered my cheeks with both hands. I wasn’t used to such playful words, so my reaction was clumsy every time, but I didn’t dislike it. Rather, my chest felt ticklish and I felt good.

In the middle of the garden, sitting together on a bench, we basked in the sunlight and were silent for a while. The fact that the silence wasn’t awkward spoke volumes about how comfortable this relationship was.

After a moment, Master asked carefully.

“You know, it’s a bit… strange, constantly talking to you without a name, isn’t it?”

I slowly nodded my head. Honestly, I had felt that for a long time too, but as someone who couldn’t speak, it was a topic I couldn’t easily bring up. I had gotten used to being called ‘you’, but living as an existence without a name was sometimes sad.

Master took out a small box from his pocket. It was a luxurious box made of wood. He opened it, showed it to me, and said.

“This is… an old pen my mother used to use. I want to give you a name, so I’m going to use this today.”

I quietly looked at the pen. Not a shimmering golden light, but a calm gray light steeped in time. It felt as if it contained Master’s sincerity.

[I… It’s alright. Without a name.]

“Is that really so?”

I avoided his gaze. He quietly took my hand.

“I know what you were called before. Without even asking you, after reading that notebook you left… my heart ached so much.”

[That’s… It’s alright. Not anymore.]

“But I, I really want you to forget that name. I want to call you as the existence who is with me.”

At those words, I slowly raised my head. Master’s eyes were warm and unwavering. There wasn’t pity there, but respect filled with sincerity.

“So I gave you a name. I thought about it for a very long time. Thinking about who you were from the beginning, what kind of heart you had.”

He took out a piece of paper and carefully wrote a name with that pen.

― Siena

[Siena…?]

“Yeah. It means ‘strong and pure like a flame.’ In my eyes, you are such a person. Quiet and reserved, but with a heart warmer than anyone inside… and beautiful.”

I couldn’t answer for a long time. Not words, but emotions surged up first, filling my chest. My fingertips trembled, and my vision kept blurring. To me… someone gave me a name. And one with such a beautiful meaning.

[Really… would it be alright? Someone like me…]

“Because you are someone like that. Because it’s a name that suits you. It’s something I want to give, and you are someone who can receive it.”

Master’s hand carefully stroked my head. It was a gentle and cautious touch, as if handling something precious.

“Come on, tell me. Now, what should I call you?”

I took out my notebook and carefully wrote.

[Please call me Siena.]

“Alright, Siena. Now it’s your name. Never forget. You are someone more precious than anyone, and you don’t need to be confined by that past name anymore.”

Something hot welled up in the corners of my eyes. Tears fell quietly, and Master silently offered a handkerchief. I took it and gripped it tightly. Such a warm name, given to me by such a warm person.

From that day on, every morning I stood in front of the mirror and practiced saying “Siena” with my mouth shape. No sound came out, but every time I put that name in my mouth, I felt like I had become a better person.

Now I am a person with a name.

A person who can smile at someone’s call.

Living by the name Master gave me, Siena.

For me, it was the beginning of a second life.

And I will never forget that name.

Siena, having received a new name, somehow changed a little. Previously, she had only focused on moving according to Master’s instructions,

But now she felt as if she had become a ‘person.’ The name wasn’t just a title; it felt like her existence held significant meaning.

That day, when we were spending time together in the garden. Master suddenly approached me and said.

“Si… ena, what would you like to do today?”

Hearing those words, I paused for a moment. There was no one besides Master who would say such a thing to me. ‘Siena.’ The moment I put that name in my mouth, a small tremor was felt in my heart.

[Master, this is the first time you’ve asked that.]

Master smiled and extended his hand to me.

“Then, let’s do something you like together. Anything.”

I thought for a moment, then took his hand, always showing how much I liked it.

“Then… I want to plant flowers. That’s good.”

“Alright, then let’s go plant flowers!”

Master and I went together to a small patch in a corner of the garden. There were already a few kinds of flowers growing there, but I wanted to plant new ones. Since Master always enjoyed connecting with nature, I naturally enjoyed the moment with him, planting flowers together.

While planting flowers, Master said.

“Siena, I will give you this flower as a gift.”

“What kind of flower is it?”

“Well, this flower… it symbolizes ‘purity.’”

I held the flower and gripped it in my hand. Touching that small and delicate flower, I felt as if something pure and beautiful was blooming in my heart as well.

[Purity…?]

Master nodded and smiled.

“Yes, like the name you received, I hope you keep a pure heart.”

My heart warmed. And so, Master and I planted flowers together, spending a peaceful time in nature.

That night, after having dinner together, I quietly entered Master’s room. His room was always cozy, and there were various books stacked on the desk where he sat. I picked up one of the books and approached the sofa where Master was sitting.

“Master, were you reading a book again today?”

Master raised his head and looked at me.

“Yes, I thought it would be even better if Siena came and was with me.”

As I sat beside him, Master gave me a warm smile. That smile was always a great comfort to me. At that moment, I said in a small voice.

[Master, I really like the time I spend with you too.]

Master looked at me and slowly extended his hand. I didn’t hesitate and took that hand.

“I also like the time with Siena the most.”

That night, we sat close together and spent time reading books.

Those moments were simple small instants in everyday life, but for me, they became moments that were so precious and happy.

The next morning, Master gently woke me up and said.

“Siena, what would you like to do today?”

Seeing Master ask what I wanted to do now, I was a little surprised. Before, I had just lived according to the flow of daily life, but now, at Master’s words asking for my opinion, my heart was also changing little by little. I thought for a moment and then answered.

[Today… I want to draw together.]

Master smiled and replied.

“Alright, that sounds good. Then let’s draw.”

Master and I began to draw under a tree. I still couldn’t draw well, but Master always encouraged me.

His gaze was always warm, and it felt like he cherished every drawing I made.

We spent time together, getting to know each other’s hearts a little more.

Emotions that could only be expressed in words before now began to appear little by little through actions. In every touch, in every small look, there was meaning.

And so, peaceful days were passing.

The name Siena had now become a very natural name to me, and the time spent with Master became the most precious gift to me.

Lately, she has been receiving the daily schedule from the head maid every morning and writing it down.

Although she couldn’t speak, her fingertips were now diligent, and her eyes moved sharply.

Cleaning, tidying, preparing—

Everything proceeded meticulously and quietly.

But still, there was nothing she had done ‘just for me.’

She knew that.

And one day, she made her own plan.

That day was my birthday.

I, completely unaware, was playing with the dog in the yard,

And she bustled between the kitchen and the room.

[Today… I’ll try it by myself.]

The head maid asked worriedly.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright? Preparing it all by yourself will be quite difficult…”

She nodded her head slightly.

And handed over a notebook with [Please don’t help me] written on it.

Her expression was very resolute.

She placed a sandwich on a small plate,

And carefully poured milk tea.

Although her hands were small and she tilted the tray several times,

She finally managed to put them on the tray and walked carefully to the end of the corridor.

“Huh?”

When I returned to my room, there was an unfamiliar small meal placed on the desk.

Beneath the white napkin was a note with neat handwriting.

[Happy birthday.]

[I prepared it all by myself.]

[It might not taste good, but I really put all my heart into it.]

I read the note blankly.

And looked at her, standing quietly beside it.

Her reddened fingertips and her tense expression.

A small plate of sincerity, containing everything.

I slowly sat down and carefully took a bite of the sandwich.

“…It’s delicious.”

Truly.

It was the warmest taste in the world.

Her eyes widened

She let out a small breath, and only then did she smile a little.

That night, I asked her.

“Why did you want to do this alone?”

She thought for a long time, then wrote briefly in her notebook.

[I wanted to do something just for you.]

[I wanted to be a reason why I can be here.]

[In this house, by your side.]

I couldn’t answer anything.

A corner of my heart ached.

She was an existence picked up from the street when she was young.

Couldn’t speak, and didn’t even have a name.

But now she, for me, was building a small and solid world.

A few days later, my mother officially appointed her as ‘the mansion’s maid.’

Though young in age, no one contested the work she had built up anymore.

The maids, the gardeners, the cooks, they all began to acknowledge her as a ‘small but diligent colleague.’

And somehow, after that day,

Her being by my side began to feel a little more special.

She wrote in her diary.

[For the first time, I did something for someone.]

[He smiled.]

[That was everything.]

[But I was so happy.]

Lately, she has been busy.

Instead of the time she spent by my side in the morning,

She was going around the kitchen, laundry room, warehouse, etc., with the head maid, learning everything one by one.

She was quick at learning everything, even without speaking.

She quietly watched, quietly followed, and when she became familiar, she cautiously reached out her hand first.

“This child, she may not speak, but her mind is truly clever.”

When the head maid said softly, the kitchen lady nodded.

“At first, she seemed like a cat full of fear, but now… well, her eyes are human-like too.”

She smiled quietly hearing such words,

But her eyes were always directed towards the window beyond the clock.

[What could Master… be doing now.]

The sentence written small in the corner of her notebook

Was written down during a moment when she paused while folding handkerchiefs.

Of course, she couldn’t say it directly,

But her heart was directed towards me all day long.

That afternoon, I wasn’t in my room because I was looking at books in the library until late.

She had gotten permission from the head maid and was quietly tidying up my room, holding a small plate.

Books scattered on the floor, a crooked chair, dusty window sill.

She quietly, but meticulously moved her hands.

And placed a small note on the desk.

[You worked hard today too, Master.]

[I quietly prepared so you could rest a little more comfortably.]

[…The room without Master was a little lonely.]

When I returned in the evening,

Seeing the tidied air filling the room and that small note,

I unintentionally muttered to myself.

“Should I be receiving this much…”

At night, the mansion’s yard was filled with the gentle moonlight.

She sat quietly by the window, drawing on a piece of paper.

In the drawing, there was ‘me’ smiling, and

‘She’ standing quietly beside me.

They weren’t holding hands, nor were they facing each other.

Just the image of being beside each other.

But she thought that composition was the best.

[Just being in the same space makes me happy.]

[I hope I can stay by your side just a little longer.]

[I hope you will look at me just a little more.]

The next morning.

Before I even got out of bed,

She quietly held a note by my ear at my bedside.

[Good morning, Master.]

[Today too… I am by your side.]

That day, I felt unusually good.

It was as if something warm had touched my heart at the start of the day.

She might not know the words of the world,

But she knew better than anyone how to write sincerity.

Her day began with Master,

And ended with Master,

And throughout all those times,

‘Being by his side’ was her greatest comfort and purpose.

And someday,

She secretly wrote a sentence in her diary.

[Someday, I hope Master will truly need me.]

[At that time, I won’t be just ‘someone’ picked up from the street anymore…]

[I hope I can be the one and only by your side.]