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Preview from chapter one
KNOTWOOD CHRONICLES
Season 1
MAIDS, THE MASTER AND MANOR
Chapter 1
One morning when last days winter faded, a man with a thin beard, a small scar on the left side of his chin, and a hard face stepped out of a windowless black van after parking it in the side lot in front of the old manor. He looked up at the gate where the words “KNOTWOOD MANOR” were written. Wearing a dark navy suit over a plain dark brown T-shirt, he climbed the steps toward the entrance. He knocked on the door three times, but there was no answer from inside. Then his hand pressed the antique doorknob and found it completely unlocked. He stepped inside.
He found himself in a large central hall with an old chandelier hanging above. There was a sofa in front of him, a bedroom door to the left, and a staircase leading to the upper floor on the right. On his third step, he stopped and took in the situation. From the corridor on the left side came the faint sound of a woman talking, distant, as if from the dining room. He continued walking toward the sofa and sat down, waiting for the manor’s residents to come and greet him.
And indeed, not long after, a girl with pink hair that reached her neck appeared. She was wearing a black-and-white maid uniform, the cleavage of her breasts pushing out from the uniform.
“Sorry, who are you, Sir?” the girl asked.
“I’m Mr. Padderson. I already knocked on the door three times, but no one answered, so I just came in,” said the man who introduced himself as Padderson.
“Oooh… sorry about that, Mr. Padderson. There should be a sign next to the door that says ‘Pull this rope until the bell rings.’ We forgot to put it up. Who are you looking for, Mr. Padderson?”
“What’s your name?” Padderson asked.
“I’m Helena, Sir,” the girl answered simply.
“Who’s the head housekeeper here?” Padderson asked.
“The head housekeeper is Mrs. Henderson, Sir. If I may ask, where are you from, Mr. Padderson?” Helena asked.
“I’m from Braighton. I came here to check out this manor. It looks like it has potential as a tourist place,” Padderson answered.
“Oh, I see. So, you want to meet Mrs. Henderson, Mr. Padderson?” Helena asked.
“That’s right. Is Mrs. Henderson here?” Padderson asked.
“Mrs. Henderson is in her study, on the second floor. Would you like me to take you there, Mr. Padderson?” Helena offered.