The first thing a maid like Erica was expected to do each morning was to rise before dawn.
The girl began her day by soaking herself in warm water, always taking her time doing so.
It was the only perk she liked about being kept by her lord.
Though it was her greatest wish that someday she would escape being a plaything, she was never free from looks of envy for being one.
If it were at her discretion, she would have allowed anyone to replace her without hesitation.
But a servant like her had no say, and so she had to endure.
Perhaps because the royal family preferred plebeians as servants, Erica's elevated status—or at least how it appeared—was too enviable to the ignorant rest.
At this point she no longer let the jealous stares from maids twice her age bother her anymore.
The girl smoothed back her damp black hair and straightened her uniform.
Next, she swept through the mansion's rooms with the other servants, airing them out and readying the house.
She lit fires in the hearths and changed the bed linens.
As a "female" valet, she was also normally expected to attend to a host of early tasks: preparing breakfast, dressing him, arranging his belongings, and ensuring everything was perfect before he even stirred.
But her master was different.
He slept late, often deep into the afternoon, so many of these duties were delayed or unnecessary.
Therefore, Erica was never forced to rush her mornings.
While other servants hurried to their tasks, she moved towards a specific room an hour later and would wait in the antechamber until her master summoned her.
The room was located just beside the lord's bedroom, connected by a discreet doorway.
Ledgers, novels, and other texts lined the shelves, left by previous attendants.
A basin and towel rested on another small table.
The walls were kept plain.
The stone floor was a little chilly.
A sliver of morning light, streaming from the high window, illuminated the room.
Every morning she waited there; sometimes she read books, other times she painted.
She even practised drawing magic circles on a few occasions.
Today, though, was odd.
The first unusual thing was that her master woke up early.
Even when he needed to go to school, the man never woke up early to care if he was late.
Still, if it were only that he woke up early, the irregularity could be easily dismissed as him being sick.
Like every other day, Erica was sitting silently with her hands folded, but today she was alert.
Fixing her eyes on the door, she put all her effort into hearing what was going on the other side.
Her master had been talking to himself for quite a long time now; this was the thing she could not so easily dismissed.
Ever since she reached her outpost today, the sounds of murmurs, self-jesting, and occasional loud laughter had echoed repeatedly.
A few of the snippets she could overhear included, "system open up," "Abra Kadabra," or "I have to just rawdog everything by myself?" and many others that made little sense to her.
"Is someone out there?... Uhh... Servants, any servants?"
So, when he finally called, she was startled.
'Odd how he doesn't call my name... His voice is too soft also,' she thought.
'Perhaps a spell has been cast to take over him? But is there even such a thing? Should I notify Sir Garrick of the matter?'
Before she could consider anything further, her lord called again, this time in a slightly louder voice.
'For now, I shall observe him closely.'
Deciding that was the best course, she stood at once, inspected her dress to see whether there was any flaw, and then opened the door.
The first thing Erica noticed after walking inside was that he stood bare except for his grey underwear; later, his expression.
Even if she was forced to speak nicely of him, unless she were to make up a complete fairy tale, there was nothing but unpleasant things about him she could say.
One of such unpleasant things was his expressions.
Even she, who had been serving him for an extended length of time, hadn't ever seen him happy.
Only anger, discontent, arrogance, drunkenness, and worst of all, that debauched look she hated most.
His emotions had always remained consistently one-dimensional.
But currently the one plastered across his face was warm, almost pleasant even, with a slight smile.
He had that relieved look of a friend who has been searching for you and suddenly finds you in a crowd.
Paired with his slightly long silver hair and scarlet eyes, he appeared divinely radiant.
She did not know why or what, and to be honest, there was nothing in her head at the moment, just as there was nothing on her face.
"... At your service, M'Lord."
"... Aha... Hey, little maid, I want to get dressed, but first can you prepare my bath? I smell sour." He said, speaking very slowly.
'Little maid?'
She was not tall, but her figure was perfect.
She stood only a head shorter than him, yet he was not so tall either, nor old enough to call her little.
"... Yes, M'Lord. Pardon me."
Erica clasped her hands in front and bowed slightly.
She felt his eyes all over her body, but it no longer bothers her.
A second later she stepped forward with a fresh robe from the nearby wardrobe, holding it out at arm's length without looking at him directly.
"If M'Lord permits, your robe first."
He did not receive it immediately; instead he was distractet by how she actedz. Then, without comment, he covered himself.
Meanwhile, she moved towards another wardrobe and picked out a pair of sandals.
She put them in front of him, waiting until he stepped into them.
Once done, she motioned towards the door.
"Mmm..." He hummed once and followed her lead, now modestly covered.
The short walk passed in silence until he broke it.
"Little maid, do you think my hair is a bit long?"
He pinched and twirled a strand. "It's pricking my eyes a little."
Erica's expression did not change. Truth be told, she did not know what to change it to.
In the past, he had demanded very little from her; only her duties as personal attendant, and opening her legs when he felt like it.
She could probably count on one hand the number of times the two had spoken in complete sentences.
"... "
"Why are you so on guard? That was not an inquiry. Just think of it as a passing gentleman commenting on the weather."
"..."
Maybe he found some amusement in her anxiety; he chuckled lightly, though not pressing the conversation further.
They reached the bathroom soon. A few servants were waiting outside, and a few more inside.
Upon seeing Erica, all of them promptly left the place, with steam already rising from the spacious stone tub.
The distance from the master's chamber was short, yet today it left Erica unusually tired.
Bowing again, she moved aside and let her master through.
He ran a hand along the smooth marble wall, pausing to examine the intricate patterns near the floor.
He stepped toward the caldarium, glancing at the large sunken pool and the rising steam.
Inside, a row of chair-like structures rested at the edges.
He studied it with quiet curiosity, as if seeing it for the first time.
Meanwhile, Erica removed her clothing smoothly, storing it in the wooden cabinet.
The scent of warm stone and faint lavender filled the air, but the man remained still.
"Permit me to assist you, M'Lord."
The maid moved forward to reach for the robe's sash, when all over his body goosebumps rose.
As he looked at her, the sight of her only in underwear made the boy distance himself.
Erica pulled back her arm, slowly raising her face to look at him.
"Should I call for a healer? It would be appropriate that you took medication before getting wet."
"... What?"
"Or... shall I fetch another attendant, M'Lord? Do you fancy anyone for my calling?"
"No, I'm well, why... First of all, why do you suggest calling for a healer?"
Erica's emotionless, sapphire eyes bored into him without moving.
"Because you clearly are unwell, M'Lord."
They held eye contact for a moment, his expression shifting from bewilderment to something inexplicable.
"No... Uhhh, unnecessary... I'm also tired from the previous acquaintance you see... Mmm," he mumbled, looking around and nodding once.
"Today you just wash my back. I will work on the rest myself."
"Are you certain you can do it, M'Lord?"
"Yes." He said heavily, "I am certain."
When she did not go away even after handing over the robe, he was a bit puzzled.
But then he saw where her eyes were looking.
He creased his brows, then sighed.
"Forgive me, I am still drunk." With that he removed the still remaining cloth.
The naked girl nodded her head, then went back to pick up her uniform from the wardrobe and dressed again.
The boy was seated on a wooden chair facing away from her when she came back.
He kept his eyes on the marble carving as the maid reached for his shoulders, her touch light.
'Why are you acting so strange?' she wonder, her hands moving carefully.
'Is he seriously ill?... Or has something changed?'
The difference between the him of today and the one from yesterday was stark.
"Done, M'Lord," she said, stepping back.
"Thank you. Now you can leave."
Initially Erica was planning to just leave as he commanded before a thought struck her.
'I should probe a little more to ensure he isn't under any influence.'
"... I shall stay."
"Hmm?..."
Erica flinched a little as he considered her frame. Still, she kept her stance, though her eyes inevitably fell to the floor.
"If M'Lord is unwell, it is my duty to attend until you are dressed."
"I am not ill."
"... I shall remain, lest something be overlooked."
The man watched her meek posture, then looked away, rubbing his temple.
"I don't know why you are worried at all for a bum like him." He muttered under his breath.
Rubbing his neck, the boy sighed again.
"Fine then, stay."
"... As you command." She bowed.
"... Since Lady Margarett is arriving soon. Best to be prepared."
Her eyes moved discreetly to remember everything unusual as she said the last sentence.
"What¿..." The prince looked back at Erica to ensure he had heard it right.
"I see that you have forgotten, M'Lord."
"Aah ha... No, I remember... It was today."
'I must inform Sir Garrick as soon as I can.' Thinking as such, she moved to the corner.
"Hey, little maid."
"... What is it, M'Lord?"
"Can you notify the kitchen to prepare a soup, or something light for breakfast? I'm not in the mood for grease."
After speaking, he began cleaning his body.
"... As you wish."
Erica approached the door, instructing the servants there about his message.
Today, like yesterday and the day before, they looked displeased.
Being ordered around by a much younger commoner hurt their pride most likely, but what could they do?
The blonde girl with pixie cut had the most unkind expression of them all.
Her skin was peachy and tender; it made one fear they might harm it with a mere glance.
She was a head taller than Erica; because of that, it appeared her body fat was distributed more equally.
However it was not her curves that were her most noticeable trait, it was the obsidian earrings on her left side.
They appear sharp to the touch, complimenting her body and sharp face well.
As self-deprecating as it must sound, Erica thought the expression weirdly suited her.
This girl was the youngest of the senior maids, yet with the most power.
Erica and she did not have the best relationship.
Before they went on their way, the girl's hazel eyes scanned Erica up and down before speaking.
"Don't stand around too much, junior, I'm guessing your knees are quite bruised..."
She stopped mid-speech to cover her mouth, giggling and donning an expression of revelation.
"Oh surely, your throat must also be sore, I shall bring you warm water with honey."
The other maids laughed at what she said, though there was hardly anything funny about it.
After her little provocation, with her arm straight down, she curtsied with a demeaning smile and left.
Erica looked at her back as she went to inform the chef what he should prepare.
Because that maid was from quite a prestigious noble family, Erica could never have a comment.
Only her body could react, and never her mouth.
The whole time, even if her face showed no reaction, everything else was affected.
She bit strongly, her hands clenched, and she was shaking with anger, or was it sorrow?
It did not matter either way.
Tears threatened to fall, but the little maid wiped them off quickly.
"Surely you all must know I am not doing it because I enjoyed it..." She wanted to shout so loudly, alas she could not be so impulsive.
She raised her head to look at the marble ceiling, exhaling violently to calm her rabid heartbeat.
A little while later, she went back and observed the boy closely, noticing his discomfort in being seen naked as he rinsed his body and washed his hair.
Maybe it was due to her watching him, but he moved quickly and quickly he dived inside the caldarium, splashing water high in the air.
But as he did not tell her to look elsewhere, Erica continued watching him, noting down everything faulty with his behaviour.