Genesis sat on the floor of the cinema room, her back resting against a chair, eyes fixed on the screen. She watched the movie with such intensity, so fascinated, that the maids seated behind her exchanged surprised glances.

When they were first told there would be a new madame in the house, they had assumed it would be someone like Veronica—sharp, commanding, maybe even more cold. What they hadn’t expected was her. A shy little thing with a childlike wonder for cartoons and movies, who couldn't speak and had a softness about her that tugged at them all.

And they adored her for it.

She was the reason they were...