Clemont turned the knob, and slowly entered in, with Misty following him silently, glancing towards the ground. Mr Ketchum was not present there, but Mrs Ketchum - a browned haired lady, about forty five years old - was seen packing some formal shirts in a suitcase.

"Mrs Ketchum, the girl you called for", Clemont said, bowed and left the room, leaving Misty all by herself. He should have waited!

"Good morning ma'am ",Misty said remembering her lessons, and bowed her head in respect for her master.

"What is your name, dear?", Mrs Ketchum asked sweetly. She flashed a little smile, seeing the young girl's nervousness, so as to ease her.

"Misty Waterflower", Misty said, her voice slightly more confident than it was before.

"You seem to be educated", Mrs Ketchum complimented. It could easily be made out of her speaking manner, ascent and fluency.

"I've completed my basic schooling", Misty replied. Misty studied in a little poor local school which was run by an NGO which was on the outskirts of the Northern Hills region.

Delia looked at the redhead girl, thought of something for a few seconds before speaking, "What did you say your surname is?"

"Waterflower"

"There was a couple working here, a year ago...", Delia Ketchum started and her voice trailed off in the end.

"They were my parents", Misty said remembering the memories of her happy family. Her eyes turned glassy, tears threatened to slip down her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, dear", Delia said with sympathy lacing her voice. Realizing that it was getting too emotional for the young girl, Delia decided to change the topic, "Well, now for your work; you're responsible to keep the things on time. Keep a check that the workers are doing everything punctually. I've noticed the workers being slow lately. The neatness of the house should be maintained twenty-four-seven. You're mainly supposed to administer"

"Yes Mrs Ketchum", Misty replied obediently, forgetting everything and focusing on Delia's words.

"Tell Clemont to explain you the timings of all important activities", Delia said quickly as she heard the turning of a door knob, "You can leave"

Misty nodded, bowed and walked out of the grand bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Just as Misty closed the door and walked away, Mr Ketchum walked out into his room from the washroom, wiping his face with a white napkin.

"Who was it?", Robin Ketchum's stern and manly voice never failed to frighten Delia. He picked up his files and started leafing through them.

She looked at him and curved her lips in small smile replying, "The new lady-in-waiting"

Robin's ears alerted, and he looked up from his files. After a long pause of almost a minute, he said, "Did you explain her all the things?"

"Yes"

"Told her to stay away from Ash?", Robin asked more sternly and strictly than his previous question.

"Clemont will explain her about it", Delia said giving an unnoticeable shrug, in voice that was more eased.

"What!?", Mr Ketchum yelled turning abruptly towards her, "You should have told her! I don't want any girl lurking around my son, just like the previous one did"

"I trust Clemont. He knows what he has to tell her", Delia said barely whispering, looking towards the ground.

"Look! I don't want any girl around him. I've already found someone for him", Robin said sharply looking at his wife, with no trace of softness or love in his voice.

He then pressed a button on the wall in his room sending a ring down the butler's quarters. Within no time, a young male servant stepped in the room, he picked up Robin's suitcase, and walked out.

"Keep in mind, what I said", Robin spoke in a deadly voice, fixing his tie and left like storm.

Down in the Servant quarters hall, Clemont was explaining Misty about the various things she needed to keep in mind (according to Mr Ketchum) during her stay in this mansion.

"So..", Clemont started, " My first and best tip to you is 'stay away from Mr Ash when Mr Ketchum is around'. By Mr Ash I mean the boy you bumped into", Clemont said.

"Oh, that guy? Hmm Okay", Misty said, nodding without intriguing further.

"You're the first girl that said so. Don't you want to know the reason why", Clemont asked, slightly surprised. All the girls that had been here before Misty always asked the reason behind this condition.

"No! I don't feel like knowing"

"Okay, but that is because Mr Ketchum does not want Mr Ash to have any girlfriend or girl who is friend either. He does not allow any girl near him.", Clemont said, fixing his glasses up.

"Oh", Misty said, thinking about a valid reason in mind as to why Mr Ketchum made up that rule. Was he like "I believe in class differentiation"? Or was he that overprotective about his son?

"Actual reason is, he found a match for him. But this alliance is more like a business deal", Clemont continued further, clearly thinking about someone.

"A business deal?", Misty said, now taking interest in the topic.

"Yes. Mr Ketchum is an extremely professional man. He keeps his business and reputation above all. Even above his own family. He has signed a business deal with Mr Yvonne and to strengthen the ties he proposed this idea of marriage", Clemont said, still thinking about a particular person.

"That Mr Ash has to marry his daughter ?", Misty asked. Well she wasn't so dramatic to think like that, but because of the utterly amazing movies she watched back then in the quarters with those girls who kept on squealing occasionally, now she could imagine anything.

" Yes", Clemont said nodding his head.

"That's sounds sad. It's like they have taken all freedom from him", Misty said, with pity in her voice, plumping down on the soft old couch, which once belonged to one of the guest rooms buy now was too old and worn-out to be a part of it.

"But he's getting wealth and publicity in return", Clemont said crossing his arms against his chest. Every one wanted Wealth, Prosperity, Publicity - that's what Clemont learned from the grand business parties he had to cater.

"Nothing can buy freedom", Misty stated firmly against Clemont's opinions about the rich, " I agree he has everything, but if he doesn't have the freedom to love and marry the one he loves, I would say he's got nothing"

Misty spoke these words confidently, unaware of the fact that Ash heard the conversation from outside.

Ash was passing by the servants quarters when she noticed the familiar flash of flaming orange hair just like the hair of the girl he bumped into earlier. Unknowingly, his legs carried him towards the servants quarters where he could see the girl and Clemont sit and gossip on the couch from the glass of the doors. He was really impressed by her thoughts.

It was like she had spoken his heart out. Ash did not want a life like this. Doing what others say - You have to dress like your father wants, wake up and sleep at time your father wants, speak like you father wants you to, behave like you father tells you to - all because he thinks he's making you a gentleman.

Although having everything, Ash felt so trapped - No being awake till late night, no hanging out with friends especially girls, no bringing friends home, just being an 'anti-social potato'.

He had no real friends except Gary Oak, son of the owner of the famous Oak Estate. Robin thought that Gary matched their standards, so he was allowed hang out with Ash.

Ash always was trapped in between his father's wills. It was just like a ringmaster in a circus, whipping animals to make them listen to him. Ash felt like one of those animals.

He looked at Misty who was smiling as she spoke to Clemont.

Little did the raven-haired knew, that many things in his life were about change soon.