With the exception of the plot and the original characters that are depicted in the story, the author makes absolutely no profit off of this work of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended on the franchise(s) of Inuyasha and Sincerely: I Became A Duke's Maid that rightfully belong to its respective owners: Rumiko Takahashi, Joora, and Roha.

A big shout-out to MyWorldHeartBeating, for being an awesome co-writer and making this story a reality. If you're interested in being updated on this series or would you like to ask some questions regarding Devotion feel free to drop by my blog on Tumblr under the username, thedrowsymoon.

So without further ado, let the story continue~!

Day Three.

A sigh escaped her, the sight of her own reflection in the mirror presented back to her. Well, she certainly looked the part of a maid, but conforming to this new way of life would certainly be difficult. Who would have guessed she'd transverse into that story book? At least her appearance remained relatively the same, and spinning slowly, she softly smiled at her reflection. I'm as presentable as I'll ever be, I guess.

"Kagome, could you give me a hand with the sheets?"

The sound of Ibelina's voice carried from across the room, and shifting her aqua gaze to the female in question. Ibelina's long auburn hair was braided messily over her shoulders and sweat perspiring from her cheeks, Kagome quickly hurried to offer her assistance. "Coming."

Together, they managed to strip both their beds free of linen sheets, as well as the pillow cases and quilts before tossing them into two large baskets, which they would then bring outside to clean and hang in the sun. The task was fairly simple, nothing she hadn't dealt with back home or even in the Feudal Era, and after spending three days in this world, she found herself adjusting quite well.

Truthfully, she found this entire situation implausible; how on earth could a storybook possess such powers that it would literally pull someone into it? While the well itself contained many secrets, and Kagome couldn't deny it's illogical method of time traveling, she had assumed it's powers manifested with the jewel which had unknowingly remained dormant within her body. But this was on a different level of madness altogether.

"Why does this remind me of that manga I read back in middle school…" She mused. Was it called Fushigi Yuugi? Kagome shrugged it off, the memory a thing of the past. Right now, I'm definitely inside the book, and from what I've read, it mainly centers around the main protagonist, Alejandro. Too bad she never got around to finishing the story, only barely managing to reach four chapters. Looks like I'll have no choice but to follow along with it, and maybe, just maybe by some stroke of luck, I'll manage to weave myself out of the pages and return home!

That definitely sounded like a possibility. Right? Thankfully Ibelina and the other maids had bought her little lie days' prior to her initial discovery on the wrong side of the residence. After that dreadful encounter with Anna, a maid in which Kagome faintly recalled after reading the text before all this madness started, she'd come to learn that aforementioned area was off limits to all maids, all except the head maid, who, no surprise , was away on a family leave. Talk about luck.

With that kind of information, it wasn't difficult for Kagome to put her plan into motion, and while it wasn't entirely thought out, she was sure it would at least sustain her enough freedom to figure all of this out. Play the part of a newly appointed maid and try not to get in trouble!

While there was no clear evidence to support her suspicions on how to escape from here, the only thing she could do from here on out was survive and hopefully not get caught by the head maid upon her eventual return. There was a very high chance that if she was discovered to be a fraud, she might just likely get kicked out of the residence, or worse, receive some kind of unforgiving punishment; she didn't want to think about what the latter would be. Let's just hope the head maid isn't so bright.

After hanging the laundry to dry, sweeping multiple halls and rooms, as well as assisting Ibelina and the other maids with the gardening, it wasn't long before late afternoon rolled by. Exhausted from the chores, with perspiration falling down her cheeks, Kagome somehow managed to slip away as soon as one of the male workers started talking up a storm with the others.

As she walked the halls, faintly accessing every inch and cranny for a sign of filth cobwebs and rodents, she was fairly pleased when she saw nothing but cleanliness at every corner. The maids in this residence were no joke; and while they were mostly around fifteen young girls, most within their early twenties and younger, it was amazing how much work they could put in a day's worth.

I haven't even finished my other tasks Ibelina set aside for me, and I'm already exhausted.

From the sparkling marble floors to the shiny vases on display and cleanly dusted colorful tapestries hanging on the walls, Kagome's thoughts returned three days ago. If the maids were in charge of keeping this place clean, then why would they ignore the halls belonging to the young master? The very master of this compound named Alejandro.According to what I know already, the poor boy was ostracized by his own parents, practically locked away in his room. If the maids are failing to clean those halls, then I'd hate to see the state of his room.

A terrifying thought soon surfaced, and she bit her lip worryingly. Kagome recalled reading from the text how sick the boy had gotten, how malnourished he became at such a young age due to neglect. Pausing in the middle of the hall, her gaze lingered left towards the path leading up those forbidden stairs, to the very room she was sure Alejandro's room was located.

Now that I think about it, Ibelina was the one who originally nursed Alejandro back to health, but when it was found out by the head maid, she was stripped of her duties at the residence and cast out. As for what happened next, Kagome had no idea. Thinking about it though, why was she kicked out again?

While she stood there in stupor, trying her hardest to retain the knowledge she sought, someone unexpectedly bumped into her, and pulled from her reverie, Kagome gave Anna a surprised stare. "You…"

But she only spared her the faintest scowl before shuffling off, mumbling something about preparing the dishes for the duke and duchess. As she stood there, watching the young maid disappear around the corner rather quickly and out of sight, Kagome squinted her eyes. Anna. Kagome recalled her name mentioned quite a few times at the beginning of the story.

Now I remember! Anna was the one who had Ibelina kicked out! Not only had the girl been a troublemaker, treating Alejandro like he was nothing more than a pest and brown nosing her way with the nobles, she was also a liar and a thief. Poor Ibelina and Alejandro! And now that I'm thinking about it, I faintly recall something like this happening in the book, only it was Ibelina who'd been bumped into.

Turning her gaze in the direction of the staircase, the same direction Anna had recently come from before taking off quite quickly, Kagome had a faint suspicion the girl had done something. And that something would likely result in the head maid's interference in the days to come. Well, I have three choices. I could either go back to the kitchen and rejoin the other maids, or I chase after Anna and demand an explanation, but if I did that, I might unintendedly change the plot and possibly get Ibelina into more trouble.

The third option pointed her towards the young master's room, but if she followed through with that plan, then she was almost certain the story's route would change Ibelina's punishment. If that happened, Kagome was almost certain Anna would eventually place the blame on her and somehow make a thief out of her. Too bad Kagome wasn't as dumb as some might assume the new maid would be.

But while she was in the process of determining the right decision, something loud fell into hearing, the very noise startling her out of her reverie and causing her to jump. Turning back to the stairs, she realized the sound came from the forbidden halls, and without even a second thought, she found herself running up those dirtied steps and towards the double doors of Alejandro's room.

Not even bothering to knock or even call out to the young lord for permission to enter, Kagome pushed the right door open. The first thing that greeted the maid-in-training was darkness, followed by a pungent odor. Crinkling her nose, she slowly walked inside, closing the door behind her. "Hello? Is everything all right? Are you hurt?" Kagome paused, hearing a small 'crack' and looked down. She squinted. Is that...food? She seemed to have walked in a mess, quite literally.

Shattered porcelain, steak, green beans, there was even white sauce on the carpet. Kagome gagged at the pungent odor, covering her nose. How long has that been here?! He shouldn't even have this type of food in his current condition! Her eyes darted from left to right. The curtains had been drawn, there were empty glass pitchers on a varnished table, drawers were open, and clothes thrown over a couch. This room was a godforsaken pigsty.

"Who is there?"

Looking up, she saw a small boy in a white dressing gown, curled up on a bed. His dark hair was tousled, and his blue eyes were dull. Or at least that was what she could see with the sliver of light pouring in from the door behind her. Kagome bowed her head. "Just … a humble servant who has come to help you."

"I'm fine. You don't need to be here. I can take care of myself."

"At least let me clean this mess! I'll be right back!" Curtsying towards the young master, Kagome rushed out of the room and down the stairs. As luck would have it, she spotted some supplies at the foot of the staircase: a broom, a bucket with water and a rag. She smiled. Perfect!

Collecting them quickly, she ran up back up the stairs and back towards the young lord's quarters. Announcing her arrival, she stepped back in the room. Fortunately, he hadn't moved from his spot, especially with so many glass shards littered upon the floor. The small child remained lying in his bed, stagnant, his gaze fixated to the ceiling, or at least, that's what she could somewhat discern in the faint darkness of the room.

"I'll just be a moment. Don't mind me." Using the broom, she swept up the discarded food. Realizing she didn't even have a trash can, Kagome ultimately resorted to untying her apron, using it to clean the mess, as much as it pained her to do so. Ibelina will wring my neck if she finds out I dirtied her uniform again. Forgive me.

After what seemed like a good five or so minutes, Kagome sighed in relief, the floor spotless and the filth thrown away. "There, that looks much better! How are you feeling?" She asked suddenly, turning to the boy once more, his gaze looking anywhere but at her. "Would you like something to eat or drink? I could prepare something—"

"No need. I already have food."

"It's no longer edible..." She slowly replied, her elated smile falling suddenly. "I'll be back with something."

"There's an extent of rudeness a person can have!"

Kagome tutted, turning to strike him a surprised look. "Nonsense! It isn't good to sleep on an empty stomach. Sit tight." Grabbing the bucket and the bundled-up apron, she closed the door and toddled down the stairs for what seemed like the third time. Well, so much for first good impressions. I hate to admit this, but he's just as difficult to please as it was mentioned in the book. Then again, I guess I can't blame him; he's been neglected for so long. Just the sight of his room like that really unnerves me!

Thankfully during her tour around the mansion, Ibelina had shown her a shortcut to the kitchens. Pushing the door open, she entered. As to be expected of a facility belonging to high ranking nobility, it was pristine in cleanliness and the air was perfumed with an exquisite scent of stewed vegetables and baked bread. Seeing all the eyes of the kitchen staff on her, Kagome swallowed.

"Excuse me, could you please prepare a bowl of porridge for the young master?"

Σ

Claudia had been serving the Vel Laviti family for over twenty years. Although she had never had the honor to see the duke and duchess, the chef knew their marriage was a political one. They refused to be in the same room unless decorum demanded it; to them, having a child born from their loveless union was just another problem they pretended to ignore. The chef wanted to do something for the poor child, anything, within her power. Claudio pondered on the child's meal - would it be fish and steak again, or something else entirely -

"Excuse me!" Claudia looked up from her workstation and saw a maid she hadn't seen before - flushed in the face, wide-eyed, and carrying a bundle in her hands. "Could you prepare a bowl of porridge for the young master?"

Claudia blinked. "Porridge?"

The maid nodded. "Please. I'm afraid the meals that have been sent to him aren't … agreeable to him. In his current condition, he might be able to handle soft foods." Claudia's hazel orbs widened as realization dawned upon her. Soft foods? Goodness, why hadn't she thought of it before? That would definitely explain why some of the plates that had been returned to the kitchen were either half eaten or untouched!

Anna's supposed to be in charge of the young master. Could this young lass be taking Anna's job while the head maid is away?

Claudia smiled, wiping her hands on a rag. "Of course. Please give me a bit, and I'll have it ready for you on a tray." The smile she received from the maid was bright, almost enough to possibly illuminate the room. "Thank you so much! I'll be back momentarily!" And just as quickly as she appeared, she vanished.

Such a strange girl. But for the young master, I can do this much for him. Humming softly, Claudia rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a knife, directing the sous chefs on different tasks before she personally began to prepare a meal the young master she hoped would enjoy.

Σ

Once she placed the apron in a dirty hamper and straightened herself a bit, Kagome quickly returned to the kitchen. Upon seeing the steaming bowl of the requested meal placed on a tray, the newly hired maid rushed back to the young master's room though she had to be careful so it wouldn't spill on herself or the sparkling clean floors. When she returned to Alejandro's room, she knocked this time.

"Enter…"

So, she did. Alejandro still hadn't moved from the bed. Whether that was a blessing or curse, Kagome couldn't tell this moment.

"I've brought some porridge. It's still a bit too hot to eat. How about a bath while it cools?" She offered, believing that once the child moved from the bed to wash away the grime coating his body, he'd feel rejuvenated, but she was rewarded with an unexpected scowl.

"When will you understand that I don't need any help?" Alejandro remarked irritably. "Just leave it there. I do not need an attendant."

So stubborn. Sort of reminds me how Souta behaved when he was younger, throwing a fit until things went his way. Shaking her head, Kagome wordlessly placed the tray on the table and disappeared from the room. It took her a few moments to find the bathroom. Turning the faucet, she ran the water and searched the washstand for the medicine he uses, towels, soap, and wash rags. That should do it. Nodding, she returned to the room and poked her head inside.

Upon doing so, though, Kagome saw the young child rise unsteadily from his bed with one hand stretched out. When his hand tipped over a glass of milk, he lurched forward just when it shattered onto the floor. Kagome immediately raced to his side, blue eyes widening in horror as he slowly crawled towards the shards.

"Hey, watch ou-"

"Leave me alone!"

Kagome inhaled and released a steady breath, trying to contain her annoyance. "If you take one step, you'll find yourself walking on shards. I'm only trying to look after yo—"

"I said leave!"

Kagome puffed her cheeks, clenched fists planted on her hips. Is that how he wants to play? Fine. Inhaling a deep breath through her nostrils, she stood up from the floor and pulled the boy along with her, a calloused hand gently coiling around his quivering fist. She was stunned at how small it was. I didn't think it was this bad. He's practically a skeleton. Kagome frowned grimly.

"L-Let me go!" Alejandro yelled.

"No can do," She remarked, shaking her head. "If you get hurt by stepping on those shards, I'll be the one who gets blamed and punished." Kagome didn't want to image what sort of punishment the maids regularly received, if any at all. A logical conclusion would likely be kicked out of the residence, but somehow, she imagined it was probably different in this world. "Besides," Kagome continued. "just be grateful that I actually care, Alejandro. If it were anyone else in my shoes," she fell short.

If anyone where in her position they would likely just run off and do almost anything to make sure he didn't throw a temper tantrum or throw them out. Shrugging, she continued. "What sort of person would I be if I ignored others?"

"First you have the audacity to call me by my name … and secondly … you aren't making any sense. I don't even know who you are."

Well, in technical terms, Kagome was just fine. After all, that's who she was. Kagome Higurashi. "A maid," She simply replied. "And now," She carefully lifted the boy in the air, cradling him as she carried him over the threshold - one arm coiled around his shoulders and the other under his legs. "This maid will help the young master take a bath, and help him eat so that he will sleep well tonight." Although she was speaking in a calm voice, Alejandro flailed in her grasp, his yells echoing in the room.

"How dare you! Release me! Don't touch me! You can't - "

Rumors say that if you touch the young master, his curse would be spread unto you.

That was the gossip that had been passed through the staff, including Kagome. But she didn't believe in such rumors. "If you keep this up, we won't reach the bathroom at all," She chastised. Feeling him stiffen in her grasp, she took it as a sign to proceed. Much to her relief, Alejandro remained silent and still on the way to their destination, walking down the hall and turning right when they reached the end. But the moment they reached the bathroom, he squirmed again.

Sighing, Kagome carefully placed him down on the tile floor, and though his legs were somewhat wobbly, using the cream-colored wall for support, she nearly winced when his foot slammed against a steel stool. He probably has bruises if he's this clumsy.

When she stretched a hand to help the young lord, his cold voice echoed in the room. "Didn't I tell you to not touch me?"

"Yes, plenty of times, but just because you command it, doesn't mean I can accept it. Let me help you."

Alejandro sneered. "Why are you like this? Do you pity me?"

What a perfect choice for a word, as sad as that was to admit. Kagome nodded. "If you want the truth, then I'll answer. Yes. I do pity you, but most importantly, I don't blame you for disliking me," She replied suddenly, a reaction which stunned the child, his sunken and pale complexion staring back at her with a confused frown. "In fact, I'm right there with you when it comes to despising how you've been treated up until now, and forgiving something like that is difficult, but I just need you to trust me. Trust me enough to know that I want to help you."

"You … want to … help me?"

She nodded. "Yes. Give me a chance. Okay?"

"Fine … Just don't touch my body."

She almost rolled her eyes, but she smiled nonetheless. "Of course not." Now that she had gotten his consent, she proceeded to carefully remove the black ribbon from his shirt collar and unbuttoned it. Her blue orbs widened in surprise at what she saw. The novel described the curse as dark marks covering the left side of his body, robbing the poor child of proper nutrients. It made him more like a seven year old than his actual age, which might be between eleven or thirteen years old but she was guessing at this point since she'd forgotten that part of the novel; though seeing those weird words up close, they definitely looked painful, yet not enough to warrant the title of a monster. After all, I've seen much worse.

Grabbing a rag, she lathered the bar of soap and approached the surprised child.

"What did I just say?! You promised me—"

"Don't worry. I said I wouldn't touch you."

"You idiot, just go away! Leave me alone -!"

"Alejandro!" Kagome unintentionally raised her voice towards him, and upon realizing her mistake, she cleared her throat, the child staring wide-eyed back at her, clearly unhappy and shocked by her rude behavior. "If I'm being perfectly honest with you, I don't believe you should hide behind your curse, in fact, just ignore all those rumors. They're nothing but lies anyways."

His shock faded away, though he still struck her a befuddled stare, despite her attempts to ease his discomfort. "I don't need you telling me that!" He exclaimed once again pulling free from her touch to approach the pristine white tub, which Kagome had moments ago filled with water. Thank the gods indoor plumbing exists here.

Upon noticing the young boy struggling to remove his white night attire, his small hands trembling and his countenance miserable, Kagome stepped in and gently pulled the white linen over his head, and with barely enough effort, raised him into the tub. "I'll get the soap. Just a moment."

His eyes only lingered on the reflection staring back at him, his lithe both hunched over in the warm medicinal bath. "Aren't you afraid of me?

"What's that?" Kagome called from across the room, sifting through one of the many white shelves and its glass vials for soap.

He sighed. "It's nothing."

"I found it!" She cheered, quickly hurrying to his side. "Alright, now you just relax while I do all the work, okay?" Kagome noticed the faintest of nods, and lathered up the cloth before scrubbing him. He has so many scars. If I didn't know any better, I'd say someone was bullying him. Kagome noticed the distinct brown spots blemishing his arms and sides, as though someone had grabbed him none too gently or hit him; some of the bruises were barely noticeable beneath the strange black markings covering the entirety of his left side.

"You're really weird..."

"I'm often told so," Kagome countered back with a laugh. "Does it bother you?"

"No..." He softly replied. "For today, I guess I can tolerate your unusual behavior," He soon began, side eyeing her as Kagome began washing his hair with rosemary scented soap. "What's your name?"

She smiled. "Kagome," She replied, relieved they were finally getting along.

Please feel free to review or PM me with any questions, comments, or constructive criticism. Thanks to everyone who has favorited, reviewed, and added Devotion to their alert lists. Feedback is the source of an author's inspiration and growth!