A few hours pass and you awaken to sounds of your car going up a long, spacious driveway. You yawn, able to lift your eyelids a bit and look at your surroundings outside the window.

The car stops and Karl nudges you with his shoulder lightly to make sure that you're awake. "We're here." He confirms. You instantly shoot up and unbuckle your seatbelt, quickly getting out of the vehicle.

Karl gets out of the car as well, going over to the trunk.

You adjust your bag, mainly the strap that rested on your shoulder connecting to it and look up at the tall mansion in front of you in awe. To be fair, it was quite beautiful.

You also stare at the fountain that stayed in the middle of the driveway. It was very pretty. As well as the plants surrounding the whole driveway, it was actually more than pretty, you change your mind. It was gorgeous. This whole place was gorgeous.

Taking slow strides up the stairs to the door, you stand in front of it, politely waiting for Karl. He soon arrives with the luggage in both hands, and the two of you wait a few minutes in silence. It seems you were both nervous for what would happen. Karl sets the luggage down to catch his breathe, once his form straightens out and he picks the luggage up again, he gives you a nod. He's ready. Once you see the action, you rap your knuckles against the large door.

It was an agonizing few seconds before you heard approaching footsteps from inside the house. The door opens revealing a tall man with a golden and black masquerade mask with a fancy matching suit.

"Welcome." He states, and looks over the both of you. He seemed pleased with how you had dressed, nodding at you in satisfaction, before looking over at Karl. His small smile depleting into a slight confused look.

"I thought the invitation stated no poor people." He chuckles to himself dryly while Karl's mouth opens with a silently offended gasp. Yikes. You grimace at the jab, although it was slightly funny. "So, can you please tell me what your estate is? What is your assets?" He asks suspiciously.

"Oh don't worry I'm not poor, I stream Minecraft." Karl seemed confident in his answer, reassuring the wealthy man in front of you both that the two of you were very rich.

You raise a brow at your companion, you two weren't that rich. Hopefully his career would get you to that place in life, but it hasn't happened yet. You don't correct him, instead nod and agree with your friend's white lie.

The man before you gasps dramatically, his face doing a 360 back into a big grin. "Ooooooh", he drawls out, "A rich person! Rich people!" He corrects as he acknowledges you as well. "Come in, come in, right this way! I didn't know we would be having BILLIONAIRES at this party!" His arm is now outspread towards the inside of the manor, beckoning us to come inside.

The both of you walk in, although a bit reluctantly. The rich man closes the door, the loud sound of it echoing.

"Welcome to my one of many manors," He throws his arms up, seemingly proud of his own words as he showed off the entrance room. "Although.. it is one of my smaller mansions. It would have to do for now though." He rolls his eyes, "I suppose the smallness of it provides a nice.. cozy feelin'. You know?"

Your eyes widen at that slightly, looking over at Karl whose mouth opened and closed as if just as shocked as you. "I am Sir Billiam III." He lays his right hand flat on his chest while the other was behind his back. He bowed to you both in welcoming as he introduced himself and glanced over at you seconds later, giving you a soft smile. Both you and Karl return the bow. He snaps his fingers and starts walking up the stairs with the two of you in tow right behind him

"Truth be told I am not here a lot so I have no idea where the rooms are." The man shrugged. He then interrupts whatever Karl was going to say with a yell, "BUTLER!" You tense a bit due to the sudden booming voice.

A man in a suited uniform appears, his gold with above the right eye a green jewel while above the left was a red one. He bows to the both of you kindly as if saying welcome despite not speaking.

Karl jumps, "Who is that?" He asks, looking at the sudden man that quickly appears before you. Sir Billiam motions to the man, explaining, "This is my butler! A hideous poor person," The man acts repulsed, "A commoner! Is my butler. I let him live here in exchange for absolute loyalty and 24/7 service!" He grins, you look at Karl who looks slight uncomfortable with the insults at the poor guy, "And sometimes!," Billiam adds, "I let him sleep!" He says proudly.

"Really? That sounds like indentured servitude." Karl laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head with his right hand. The butler nods frantically, causing a 'PFFT' noise to leave Karl's mouth. "Yes— but you have to consider that commoners aren't people, they're poor!" Karl looks the butler up and down, as do you, "Do you stream Minecraft?" Karl asks the commoner who just stands there staring at him.

"No of course not!" Billiam answers for his servant. "Look at him, he barely has clothes! I gave him clothes!" You look at him again, the suit and vest he was wearing did seem to fit loosely on his form.

"So uh where's the party? The masquerade?" Karl asks the question for you both.

"You both are a little bit early," Billiam confirms, "Which is why I was a little confused that you showed up here already.." He claps his hands suddenly, making everyone in the room flinch, including the butler. "But for a man— and woman—" He holds up a finger and adds, looking at you, "Of your status.. there's no issue! No issue at all!" The butler nods, affirming his boss's words.

"Our other guests have yet to arrive, they are not very rich." He groans dramatically. "Let's hope the commoners can't get in." He pauses and glances over at Karl who suddenly falls off the railing, flailing his arms wildly as he crashes to the ground with an 'Oof!' sound. You wince, looking over the railing at your friend but he gives you a thumbs up. Giving a glance to the guy you stood next to, he shooks his head with a sigh.

Karl gets up and rushes back up the stairs to where you and Sir Billiam stood quickly, despite him probably going to bruise pretty badly later. You're just glad the fall wasn't that high, making his injuries not so severe.

"I forgot to show you a tour.." Sir Billiam shrugs and motions to the stone and wooden rails, "Number one, the stairs, which do in fact have railing." He exaggerates the last word to get his point across to Karl who looked down at the floor sheepishly. "To which, so idiots cannot fall to their deaths." His lips stayed in a thin line as he stared at your friend. "They are 99% effective." He flicks his hand and turns around. You snicker lightly at the statement. While looking over at Karl to check up on him, you see his cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

You pat his arm comfortingly, all you receive is a friendly smile along with his hand patting your own. Sir Billiam glanced at the two of you, eyes narrowing at your interaction. Seeming confused as to if you were just friends or more. Either way, he continues speaking.

"Over here we have a very large room." He motions to the room a little away down the hall. "Wow." Both you and Karl say at the same time. Sir Billiam looks over at you both with a smirk, "Sometimes I like to stand here when the other large room is—" He shakes his head and cuts himself off, "I'm just not vibing with it sometimes, you know? You feel me?"

You, Billiam, and the butler, stare in silence at Karl who held onto the edge of the railing, having climbed to the opposite side that you're supposed to.

Karl nods, agreeing the Billiams words, "I feel like I'm living on the edge." You roll your eyes, amused at Karl's pun. "Sure looks like it." You cross your arms at your friend's silliness.

Sir Billiam on the other hand looked slightly exasperated, "You know— see that—that-" He groans in frustration at his own stuttering he was bewildered as well at this point, "There are these rails here. So people would not do what you are now doing. Specifically so that you would not fall off." Karl does just that, letting go and falling the short distance again. You gasp and look over the railing, frowning when Karl gives another thumbs up and runs out the door to get back to the three of you again. "La La La La La!" Karl shouts, his voice a bit distant.

"Starting to believe this guy when he says he's a Minecraft YouTuber." He whispers to both you and the butler, the butler nodding along. You chuckle. Billiam looked at you, pleased to have gotten a laugh at his joke.

Karl finally makes it to you guys again after less than thirty seconds. Despite falling over a railing twice. Although, you all moved to the stairs to see meet him there faster. He was laughing too so he must've heard Billiam's earlier words.

Sir Billiam goes through another door, all of you following along with him through there as well.

"Alright, this is a spare bedroom." SPARE? You question wildly, looking around. "This is a spare bedroom?" Karl voice your thoughts, shocked as well. "This is in case like twenty-three relatives are here and a twenty-fourth shows up. They get to sleep in this tiny, tiny room. There's barely any space in it." Keyword barely. Alright this guy is flaunting his wealth.

"Yeah.. this is tiny." Karl agrees as he sits on the bed and runs a hand along the sheets. You feel troubled, your face showing just that for a flicker of a second before it returned to normal. Your reaction however, was noticed this time. The butler eyes you carefully, looking between you both with silent wariness.

You decide to mirror Karl's action, sitting next to him. "They should've gotten here earlier." Billiam dismisses and walks out the room. You and Karl get up— even though you didn't sit for long— following him as well. The butler trailed behind you both before shutting the spare bedroom door.

"As I said before, I'm not usually here. I live in my larger mansion." Billiam says as you all go in the room across from the one you were just in. "Thi-" Karl starts, "This is one of the better bedrooms right here." Billiam interrupts him and shows the bedroom. It was more spacious than the last you had to admit, even more so elegant than the first.

You all go through the other doorway, stopping in front of two paintings. The other painting ignored in favor of staring at the one of a skeleton-like creature. "Mm.. this one's my favorite." Billiam hums, staring up at the painting. "Why?" You ask, searching his face for an answer as he doesn't move, his gaze frozen on the painting. The butler stands next to you, awkwardly shifting his feet and brushing basically nothing off of his black vest.

When the silence starts getting unbearable, someone interrupts it, "What about that one is your favorite?" Karl follows up your earlier question, expression curious yet body language uncomfortable all at the same time.

Billiam seems to finally come back to reality and looks between you two, then back at the painting. His eyes darkening as he scanned over its entirety intently. "I don't know.." The look he had kind of creeped you out that whole time. You knew it was doing the same to Karl, if his awkward fidgeting was anything to go by.

He walks off. "Moving on, this is the balcony." He says simply and tries to get back on track, lighten the mood maybe. He pauses, quickly grabbing the back of Karl's hoodie before the former had the chance to jump off. You grab Karl as well, who gave the two of you a smile. "You're insane." You deadpanned. Billiam brushes his hand off on his suits pants, shivering as if germs covered it just from touching Karl.

"Agreed.." Billiam whispers, probably mostly to himself. You weren't completely sure.

You all overlook the beautiful front yard from the balcony it one last time before you all started talking amongst yourselves again.

"Why is the butler talking so much?" Karl jokes. Billiam took it seriously though, staring at his butler closely. "He's not sayin' anything?" He looks over at Karl questioningly. "He's being a bit obnoxious." Karl continues, earning a punch in the shoulder from you. "Shut up, dude." You mutter. Billiam chuckles before looking back at the butler.

"It's true, it does disgust me. Butler!" The man perks up, "Get out of here! Leave!" He does just that, quickly running down the way you had all come from. "I will call when you are necessary!" You three just stand there for a minute, looking down the hall where the butler ran off to.

"God, I hate that guy." Billiam huffs, Karl agrees almost robotically. This whole time it's been as if he was really trying to impress the guy. You don't indulge it, just trying to get this over with without too much interactions. You weren't really.. fond.. of this rich man.

You tune them out, staring at the ground before Karl taps your shoulder. Billiam stood there waiting for you both and the two of you trail after him once more. Continuing on.

"This is one of the smallest libraries I have ever seen." Billiam motions to the room and quickly walks past it, not bothering to go inside. You grab Karl's sleeve and yank him back when he tries to enter the room. Nosey, you figured. But you didn't want to get lost.

You all go back through the bedroom, pausing when the butler is crouching next to the nightstand. "Butler!" Billiam points his hand to the bedroom door so fast you could hear a bone pop, "I said out of sight! Shoo!" The butler quickly walks away, looking back at you three before leaving the room. "That'll be twenty lashes later!"

Billiam throws the words over his shoulder, walking out of the opposite door that the butler went through at a fast pace. You all reach the main area once more, walking down the stairs to the first floor again.

"Oh my god, did I just see the butler again." Billiam asks to nobody in particular while looking up the stairs. You and Karl do the same, seeing the flash of a golden mask exit your view upon hearing Billiam. "Unbelievable. No food for a week!" Said man shouts to the top of the stairs.

"It's fine I usually don't give him food in a week. It's barely a punishment." He waves off you and Karl's surprised noises.

He then motions to a long dining table. "You're telling me the butler doesn't even get a nibble of these cakes and pies?" Karl asks, marveling over the sweet smelling baked goods. Billiam shakes his head instantly. "Hell no. These are for display. Can't just let the commoners eat it. Are you crazy?" He looks at Karl as if he was a psychopath.

"..Are you sure you're a billionaire?" He asks skeptically. Eyeing the both of you. Karl nods frantically, "Of course I am." You nod along with him. It seemed to be a satisfactory answer for the man at the current moment. Billiam walks off, although still suspicious. "Very well.." He stops in front of another doorway.

"I have a confessio-" You slap a hand over Karl's running mouth, glaring at him. He made up this lie, he might as well go with it. Why blab about it after all of this now? Billiam, oblivious to the situation, motioned to the black and white tiled kitchen. "Obviously the kitchen. I do not step in here since this is where the help works."

Karl makes an exaggerated hissing noise, as do you for dramatic effect. "Exactly, I can feel my net worth declinin' just being proximity to it." He quickly gets away from the room, not wanting to be near it any longer.

"I don't know what this is." He says leading you both down a long wooden hallway, shelves stocked up with books. You glance up at a shelf, stopping upon noticing a certain book you like.

You hear footsteps approach. "You can have one if you'd like." Billiam stands next to you, hands behind his back and looking at the same object you currently are. "I don't read any of these anyway. Nobody really does." He clicks his tongue, "I really need to get rid of some of these so it'd be a big help to me." You perk up, "Really?" He nods, affirming. "Why not?" You smile and walk over to the shelf, huffing at how high the book was located. An arm reached up, grabbing the book you stared at and dusted off the layers of dust before handing it to you. He then rubbed his hands together to get rid of the dust now caked on them as well.

"I've actually read that one once. Good plot." He comments. You thank him, holding the freshly dusted book tightly to your chest. "Don't mention it." A light smile rested on his face, specifically directed to you.

You both snap out of the moment and turn your heads to the sound of a piano playing, walking down the rest of the hall to investigate. Karl sits there, messing with the piano keys. "Remind me to have the butler clean this place. I feel like sneezing from all this dust." He pouts and enters another room, similar to an actual library.

"Oooh." Karl looks around, starstruck. It was just as wonderful as the rest of the house. This library was a lot bigger. One with a lot more books as well. You could probably come down here if you asked nicely.

"I actually had a painting make this spider one again. Commissioned both of them. These are my second favorite paintings." He motions to the spider paints on the left side of the room. The decorations looked good in this part of the library.

Finally after mesmerizing the huge room, you guys stroll back to the main room. You put a hand on Karl's shoulder, slightly exhausted from all of the walking. He pats your back lightly as you caught your breath.

"This is my chandelier." Billiam points upwards before walking through one of the double doors that led to the big room you all had seen earlier. Karl closes the doors behind you all once you enter the room as well.

"This is where we have our balls." Karl grins and looks at him. "You place your balls right in here?" Billiam's lips thin, unamused. He then turns to stare at Karl blankly as the innuendo— metaphorically— flies over his head. You facepalm, concealing a laugh at the same time.

"No. I—" Billiam stutters, cutting himself off with silence and then trying again, "This is where we have the balls." He says again, this time a bit slower and now unsure of himself. He didn't have a clue what Karl had meant. Karl gives up, giving a simple 'okay' before approaching the bar towards the end of the room.

"Butler!" Said man rushes through the double doors, bowing once more as he reaches you three. "What took him so long?" Karl frowns. You jab him in the ribs, making him hiss and hold his stomach, hanging his head to look down at the floor. Billiam ignores it, "What the hell, it took him like ten whole seconds! What's wrong with this guy." The butler seems apologetic, a sheepish look on his face.

"See it to be done that these rich people receive some wine. Me included!" The butler nods curtly, "Pronto, chop chop." Sir Billiam claps his hands, "Get out of my sight!" He adds, his servant quickly responds and runs off to fetch the requested drinks.

Karl straightens up again as Billiam side eyes you both curiously. He directs his attention away, back to grabbing something from his dress-pant's pocket. You watch with a raised eyebrow when the man randomly pulls out a stopwatch. He stands there silently, waiting for the butler's return. To which said man appears within only a few seconds. It was quite impressive. Sir Billiam didn't seem to think so, however. Nothing the butler did satisfied him.

"That'll be twenty more lashes later!" The rich man states, an annoyed look plastered on his face. You frown at the rudeness, to be honest.. he seemed a bit spoiled. Yet nice at times? Mood swings? Although again, he's a rich guy who only prefers rich people be near him, what do you expect?

The butler hands the red-filled wine cups to Billiam, then Karl, and then you.

Sir Billiam clears his throat and turns back to you both, an aggravated sigh escaping him. "Shall we execute him?" You gawk at the suggestion, Karl instantly waves his hands in front of him, "No! No.. not yet?" A nervous smile on his face. Billiam hums, "As you wish. It can wait." His next words coming out fast, he seems to always have the same punishments for the butler. So often that they roll off his tongue as naturally as breathing air.

"No food for two weeks then." His voice sounds final. "I will say though butler, your life expectancy has lasted a lot longer than I thought it would.." Taking a quick sip of his wine, he murmurs to himself  "You should be grateful."

Before any of you could interject, he then puts two hands over his mouth, making his voice louder. "Butler! Get out of here!" The man turns around to scurry away out the double doors, "I don't want to look at you!" He disappears through the doors, closing them behind him.

Billiam seems deep in thought, contemplating something, before he pulls out a few shiny objects from his pocket and motions for you and Karl to hold out your hands. He drops nine pieces of gold into your hands, each. "For compensation of having to deal with that man. I'm shocked you've been able to put up with him for this long." You stare at the pieces, eyes widened. "Thank you for your patience." He looks at the both of you, specifically your shocked faces.

"I have too much. I'm giving it away, you're both doing me a favor." He shrugs carelessly, "Think of it that way, frankly."

Making it back to the main room, you take a seat on the steps as Billiam and Karl talk about the currently late guests.

You stare at the polished wooden floor, taking small sips from the wine you were given as you zoned out. You suddenly felt a bit paranoid and looked around you discreetly, seeing nothing. You look forward, your posture slumping in realized when you notice it was just Billiam. He seemed conflicted with something as he stared at you. You eyed him for a few moments longer before both of you look away. You, back to the floor, and Billiam back to Karl's rambling.

Not long after that, the three of you turn to the large door when a few knocks ring throughout the house. Sir Billiam clears his throat and straightens his posture. His "friendly" smile returning to his face. He eyed you both as he spoke,

"Finally!" He huffs, "Someone's here!" He looks over at the door briefly with a pleased look, "BUTLER!" The man shouts once more. You're already starting to get used to his shouting. Karl seemed used to it fairly quickly as well.

The butler appears twice as fast then as he did before, "Change of plans," Sir Billiam spits out quietly at his servant, snapping his fingers at the other and jabbing his pointer finger at the man's chest before raising his voice again, "Get more wine for our newly arriving guests." The butler nods at each sentence, "And show those rich people around this place afterwards. I've had enough walking for one day." Sir Billiam quickly adds. You couldn't agree more with that last statement.

The butler quickly runs off without another second to waste, going to fetch some more drinks for the arriving company.

You and Karl glance at each other, kind of sharing a mutual anxious expression to meet everyone. Sir Billiam fake coughs loudly at the two of you to get your attention, sensing your uneasiness.

Raising a hand before either of you could say anything, he speaks, "My.. "friends" are quite nice people. I'm sure you'll like them." He assures, pausing before continuing his words, "They aren't poor commoners. It's the good thing about having a wealthy community around you as a high-status man." He grins, "Although, they aren't as rich as me.." Distaste evident in his tone as he walks up to the large door, bracing himself with a deep inhale and exhale before open the door once more.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
[Updated - 9/7/24]

Long chapter this time!! (It's 4,190+ words.. I didn't know where to cut it off and put half of it into a different chapter 😭)