The maid’s thoughts…
As I walked into my Mistress’ manor, I cast a glance back to the mage trailing behind me. They had given her name as ‘Lukas’, and to most observers, would appear to be male. I had met quite a few like them in my time, and the air surrounding ‘Lukas’ was that of a caged bird, begging to be set free. It was visible in the heavy burden they carried as they walked, the nervous nibbling of their lips, and the defeated air about them.
They were of middling height, and as they lowered their heavy hood, I could see that their soaked silver hair grew down to their shoulders. Their baby blue eyes were distant and hollow, carrying little of the spark of life behind them. I felt a shred of pity for them, my heart begging me to hug them and get them all cleaned up and taken care of. Given that this was an Imperial Mage however, a shred of caution was warranted. Imperials this far south would mean trouble, especially given the local's attitudes towards the Empire.
I turned away from the little mage and allowed myself a quiet smirk as I removed my damp cloak. I would be more than happy to help them open up.
But first…
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Lukas’ Perspective
As I stepped inside, the first thing I noticed was that the mansion was warm, downright hot in fact. I knew the area was known for hot springs, but did it really get This warm? Without a frame of reference I had no way of knowing, so I decided it would be better to just enjoy the feeling of having my chilled bones begin to warm back up.
The woman removed her cloak, revealing her perfectly tailored servants’ clothes underneath. The black dress hugged tightly to her curves, and the white ruffles accenting the sleeves and hem were quite cute. I eyed the pretty white apron covering the front, a silver chain was trailing out from one of the pockets. Her blonde hair was neatly tied up in a bun and covered by a cap, which let her long pointed ears be on full display. My gaze finally drifted down to the woman’s bespectacled green eyes, her lips were turned up in a knowing smirk.
“See something you like?”
I quickly averted my gaze from her, feeling heat rush to my cheeks. That was quite rude of me to stare so intently, and I could feel the stinging whip rush to meet me.
But it never came, and as I turned back to the elf maid, I gave her a confused look.
“You aren’t mad at me for staring?”
She shook her head enthusiastically. “Nope~ If anything, I’m flattered that you enjoy my tailoring so much!”
Wait, she had made that dress? My thoughts must have shown on my face. “Oh come now, it’s not That uncommon for servants to sew their own uniforms, every manor needs a good tailor.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but then closed it once I realized I couldn’t think of a response. I took a moment to absorb my surroundings. The entrance hall was quite large, with two doors on either side leading into other rooms. Just down the hall could be seen a large double staircase, and two halls leading elsewhere on either side. The floors were in black and dark red tiles, lending everything a feeling of high class while still being homey. I quite liked it.
It was only when I heard a soft “Ahem” that I realized the maid was trying to get my attention, and I stiffened up like my uncle had just caught me stealing. The elf woman was really quite attractive too and I couldn’t help but look into her bright green eyes-
“While I’m glad you find the manor so appealing, I would appreciate you handing me your clothes so you don’t Drip everywhere.” I was indeed dripping water all over the floor, but something about the way she’d said it made my cheeks turn pink.
“Oh sorry, I don’t mean to get your floor wet.” Truly it was a shame to get the nice floors soaked from my stubborn insistence on walking through the rain.
The maid took my cloak and outer robes from me, and tossed them into a hamper just behind the door. I was glad to be rid of the soaked things, though now I was left only in a shirt and my pants, which were also soaked through. My cheeks only turned a bit more red in response, they were so wet that you could see my body through them.
“Oh you poor thing~ Let’s get you to the fire, and I’ll fetch you some dry clothes.” She led the way to a nearby door, and I followed her into the lounge area. I’d been sent here to investigate, but surely it would be fine if I took a moment to rest?
Inside was a pair of couches facing each other with neatly folded blankets, a table with a stack of books, and underneath them a plush red carpet. The red and black tiles were here too, and everything was swept meticulously clean. Lining the walls in every open space were rows of bookshelves, closed off by glass paneling to protect them from the elements. A door led out to our right, and after setting a towel on the back of the couch the maid attending me bowed and walked towards the door.
“Make yourself comfortable Master ‘Lukas’, I’ll be back soon with some tea and a change of clothes.”
Maintaining her air of refined grace, the maid hurried away at the pace of a fast walk. “W-Wait, uhm…” I tried to say, but she was already gone. I realized that I hadn’t even caught her name, or asked to speak to her Mistress, Lady Azalea.
I decided to take her advice and made my way over to the couch. There was another hamper by the exit the maid had just taken, so I stripped out of my soaked clothes and took the towel that the Maid had laid out on the couch and began to dry myself off. Once I was reasonably dry, I wrapped my clothes up in the towel and set it to dry by the fire.
I had a moment to look down at my body, and felt the same disappointment I’d felt a thousand times before. Nothing about me looked right, I wanted to look more like the maid I’d just seen. I realized that when I was staring at her before, I just wanted to wear Her clothes and have that same smile that came so easily to her beautiful features.
Sighing bitterly, I took one of the blankets from the couch and wrapped myself up, and took a seat by the hearth. The fire inside was burning at a slow and steady pace, emitting a comforting warmth that spread to the rest of my body. True to her word earlier, I began to warm up. Sitting on the plush carpet, wrapped in a soft blanket, by a warm fire… when had I last felt this comfortable? This safe? This welcomed?
I knew that it wasn’t Really true. I was here on an investigation after all, and the only lead I’d managed to find pointed to this manor. By all rights I was deep in a dangerous place, possibly enemy territory, and here I was stripped down to nothing, getting comfortable by the fire while my only other lead walked away to get me some poisoned tea.
But…
In truth, I didn’t really care all that much. I hadn’t wanted to be on this assignment after all, I was just being sent away. Always a nuisance, always unwanted. I felt a hot, wet tear fall from my eye, and drop onto my thigh. I never cried before now, why was it happening now?
As the comforting warmth enveloped me, I let out a sigh and quietly shook my head. I didn’t care about the Academy, or their secret plots. They could be practicing blood sacrifices in the next room over, and I wouldn’t care.
It’s not like I could do anything to stop them anyway.
Laying down my side, wrapped up in the blanket by the fire, I felt my eyes grow heavy as sleep covered my senses like a shroud.
Fuck this investigation and fuck the academy.
If I died here, at least I would feel comfortable for the first time in years.
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Meanwhile, in the kitchens…
I poured the clear vial into the pot, and let out a soft sigh. In truth, ‘Lukas’ didn’t seem to be much of a threat, but when a mage from the Imperial Court showed up, there was no room for error. A simple sleeping potion would suffice.
I checked the watch carefully tucked into my pocket, and realized it had been ten minutes since I left ‘him’ in the guest lounge. I was moving a bit slowly, but in some fairness, I had also been very close to turning in for the night when the bell rang.
I sighed, adjusting my glasses as I gathered up the teapot and a cup, placing them on my favorite silver tray. With the tray carefully balanced in my right hand and the change of clothes hanging on my left, I exited the kitchen and made my way back to the guest lounge. Even if it was late at night, and even if our guest was a mage from the Imperial Court, I would not have it said that I was anything other than punctual.
I Carefully knocked on the door.
“Master ‘Lukas’?”
There was no response.
“I’m coming inside…”
I slid the door open, but I didn’t see ‘him’ anywhere. Taking a few cautious steps inside, I checked my corners, and then caught sight of our guest. ‘He’ had wrapped themselves up in one of the blankets and was now quietly curled up by the fire, sleeping as peacefully as a baby.
Blinking a few times, I set the tray down on the coffee table and laid the clothes down. For an investigator, this mage certainly was careless. Part of me felt insulted that we were being taken so lightly, but the greater part of me was glad that I didn’t have to administer the potion to ‘Lukas’. ‘He’ really was quite adorable, all curled up and dozing.
A smile slowly spread on my lips as I reached down, and with inhuman strength, lifted the mage, blankets and all, up into my arms. There was no way I could stay mad at such a cutie. There was the leftover streak of a single tear left on ‘his’ face, and I gently wiped it away with my finger. Whatever this poor child had been through, I resolved in that moment to make it all better.
As I exited the lounge again with my guest in hand (arms?) I began to head down the hall towards the guest rooms. My thoughts turned to the girl in her arms. Originally the plan had been to drug her, take her downstairs and then conduct an interrogation. Perhaps that wouldn’t be needed now.
Maybe we can bring her into the fold.
Entering the first guest room, I gently set ‘Lukas’ down on the bed. I couldn’t help but catch sight of a number of scars and bruises on ‘his’ body, most of which looked quite old. My teeth clenched in anger, and I shook my head.
How could anyone be This cruel to someone like ‘Lukas’?
I took the extra blankets from the closet and tucked the mage in, making sure that ‘he’ would be well insulated from the cold. I smiled softly as our guest’s troubled expression turned softer, and ‘he’ seemed to relax. Doubtless we would have much to talk about in the morning, but for now, ‘Lukas’ should get a good night of rest.
“Good night ‘Lukas’.” I closed the door, and turned the key, locking it tightly.
So very cute! She is definitely baby.
I love this maid