Wild Crimson Rose: Beloved Handyman Prince’s Courtesan Wife

Hollow's Eve, otherwise known as Halloween. To the West, it is the day before Autumn fully sets in when groups gather and scavenge for food that could help them persevere through the winter months. It is also the day when the souls of the departed return to visit the living world. Along with the souls of the dead, it is also when evil creatures such as witches, vampires, werewolves and other local demons are the most active. Therein, the tradition of dressing up in costume, as one of the "nightly creatures" came to be. In order to prevent one and their families to be the target of such beings. In the East, however, where time flows differently, where they already have a holiday to honor the spirits, Halloween is nothing more than a day to have fun. It is an excuse for dressing up in whatever clothes one wishes without being stared at or reprimanded. A day for the young ones to party and unleash their feelings. Even in the West, many have long forgotten the purpose in the holiday and merely play with their friends. Though it is of no consequence, as for humans, that is how many events end up. However, will the spirits and "nightly beings" disappear just because they are slowly being forgotten?

... 

This never-ending Wonderland~ If only I can show it to you~ But the Mad Hatter told me-

"Ugh..." A girl with black hair and purple highlights clicked her phone and closed the alarm on it. Groaning, she sat up on her bed and rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes. She glanced at the window next to her bed and casually flicked open the curtains with a yawn.

Letting out a sigh, she flipped her covers and got up form her bed. Putting on her house slippers, she stood up in her camisole and pajama pants, and opened the door to her room.

The room itself was not big but it wasn't small enough to feel cramped either. On the opposite wall from the door, there was window with a small ledge. The curtains were messily drawn but sunlight still spilled in to light up the room. Right under the window was the bed that the girl had gotten up from, the blanket messily thrown aside. Unlike what one would expect of a girl's room, there was nothing else on the bed. No stuffed animals, no clothes, and no dolls. The bedframe was equally simple, pure white with a flower motif at the headboard being the only indicator of the owner's preferences. Next to the head of the bed was a nightstand. There was a lamp and a phone, plugged into the socket in the wall. Leaning on the wall that faced the foot of the bed was a table and chair set. The table was of a glossy, wooden sheen with three descending drawers on one side and a large compartment on the other. In the middle was an extendable table where one could put food and drinks if they wished. The chair itself looked decently priced, seeming to be stable and cushy with wheels on the bottom. Near the door, the wall on the right, where the nightstand stood, was a protrusion that made the entryway into the room narrower. There was a floor-length mirror door on the side, which could be slid open to reveal the girl's closet. 

*Click*

The girl went to the room next door, with the floor covered in tiles. She closed the door, but not all the way, leaving a small opening. Opening the mirror cabinet door above the sink, she took out one of the toothbrushes, a tube of toothpaste and one of the cups and put them above the sink. Turning around, she took a towel from the rack next to her and doused it in the sink water. As she looked up after washing her face, there seemed to be a black thing floating behind her, emitting some kind of aura. She looked back but didn't see anything. Turning back around, there was no longer anything showing on the mirror of the cabinet. She returned the towel to its place with a shrug and began brushing her teeth.

After she finished, she returned to her room and rummaged through her measly closet. Though the space of her closet was big, there were not nearly enough clothes in it to fill it up. At most, there were ten sets of clothes. And the smaller closet at a corner of the closet, which held her undėrġȧrmėnts, wasn't in any better shape. After changing into a t-shirt, jeans and a white jacket she walked along the wooden floor and descended from the polished wooden staircase. 

"Mother, good morning." The waft of food had long swept up to her room. And she could hear the boiling of the pots.

"Ling'er, you're awake." A warm voice sounded from the kitchen downstairs, followed by an older woman emerging. The woman looked much older than the girl, her face already displaying wrinkles that should not be there for her age. But the lines around her eyes were the most prominent. There were a few strands of greying hair that disappeared into her simple bun. The sweater and pants she wore were old-fashioned and worn. 

"Mother, I told you I could make breakfast. There was no need to trouble yourself." The girl, Ling'er, smiled for the first time that morning. Though she intended to reprimand the older woman, the affection in her voice rendered her words useless. 

"Nonsense. My precious daughter, you're already working so hard. How could I let you do all the work? Your mother, this old woman, ah, may not be bale to help you with much but I can at least cook some food for you. Of course, it won't compare to those high-end restaurants but it is still good food nonetheless. Better than those instant meals you find at markets." Ling'er had strode over and her mother held her hands in hers. 

"Mother, what are you saying? You've painstakingly taken care of me for so long, it's my turn to take care of you now. I'm still young, a little more work won't hurt me. And it's not like I can't cook." 

"You're such a good child. It is my life's greatest fortune to have a girl like you." Her mother's eyes was wet with tears. 

They continued to chat like this as Ling'er half-forced her mother to let her set up the table. As she finished, she felt someone with less than good intentions staring at her and turned around but there was nowhere there.

"How do you like the apartment, Mother?" Ling'er asked as they sat down and started eating their breakfast of soup dumplings and onion bread.

"It's beautiful. And it's much bigger compared to our old place. There's enough room to fit all out things and still have some for other things. I feel like we could fit a swimming pool or something in here." Her mother's eyes shines brightly as she speaks. 

"Haha. That's not possible, mother. We don't actually have that much space and it would be a pain to maintain. Speaking of which, should I have Kurama hire a housekeeper? This place is too big for you to clean alone and they can help with the cooking too." Ling'er asked. She brought a bigger place so they'd have more space but she wanted her mother's opinion before she hired an outsider.

"Hm... Are you sure? Will it not be a burden for you?" Her mother's face immediately twisted in worry.

"It'll be fine. I have more than enough money for something as simple as this. I'll make sure he finds a reliable and honest housekeeper. Also, your breakfast will get cold if you don't eat it, Mother." Ling'er pointed at her mother's breakfast that had only been half-eaten. .

Her mother gasped and hurriedly but carefully ate her breakfast. After breakfast, Ling'er went to their house's computer room, which she was the main user of, to get her ŀȧptop and bag. As she left, she said goodbye to her mother and went to her classes. Despite her boasting earlier, she was taking the train to campus.

She purposely bought an apartment near a train station for ease of transport. Despite having enough money to rent or buy a car, she decided to take public transport, since she felt it was a bother to get a car right now. Well, it was also much easier to find than someplace in the middle of a maze. Though whether it was a bad or good thing, she wasn't sure.

As she was walking to the station, she pulled out her new smartphone and phoned the second number in her list. 

"Kurama? Can you help me find a housekeeper for the new apartment? Make sure they're reliable and their hands won't be too touchy.. Mother might want to help out too so take that into account also."