I stand in front of the first room I am tasked to. Lord Shun of Arcana of Envy. Without hesitation, I knock at the door three times as dictated by norms. If there are no answers, then we, the servants, may enter without delay to do our duties.
I place my hand on the knob and turn it.
As I open the door, I immediately came to a realization that the whole room is bathed in darkness. Entering the room, I can already see the cause of such brazen darkness. The curtains use in this room is pitch black that blocks any sign of light.
I proceeded inside and close the door behind me.
……
How in the world…?
When I was still a devil, darkness such as this won’t even hinder my vision, however, right now, my eyes are trying hard to seek any figure inside. But as I stand there, I can feel that my eyes are gradually adjusting to the dimness.
But before I can fully adjust my sight, I hand suddenly grabs me in the neck and threw into something soft which I assume is a bed. I tried to struggle but to no avail, my strength I am so familiar with was nonexistent now as both of my arms are easily held by one hand from the culprit.
What I’ve seen beyond this darkness is a man with pitch black hair and eyes full of dark shade under it. His hair is messy and his chin is covered with stubble.
This is…Lord Shun…right?
“Who are you? Ah…you must be the new servant…how vexing…”
“Lord Shun, I am here for my duty.”
“Tsk! Why does a disgusting devil like you have such face!? Why are you, a devil, look more blessed than me?!”
“I am sorry but…this is how it turned out…”
“Turned out, huh? Let’s say that’s it.”
“Yes…”
“Sooner or later, someone would want to grab such delicacy as you. I don’t want to waste my time envying someone like that so I guess I better take you now!”
“Wha--!”
From his words, he lifted my skirt and parted my legs with his own legs. My struggle found nothing as magic started creeping up my whole body making me lose my strength to resist. Even as he let go of my hands, it stays tied up with something and I cannot move.
My thighs are caressed and he presses his lips into my nape. Something heavy and daunting inside my chest is about to burst. Since I am a devil, such feelings are unnecessary and unwelcomed. However, why…
Why do I feel so disgusted…?
He was about to press his lips against mine. At that very moment, I recalled something about physical contact such as kissing. An act that are done with someone you are in love or intimate with. An act where you show your affection towards your counterpart...
I avert my face from his advance…for reason unknown to me…
“Tsk. Leave, you’re just so boorish, a disgusting devil pretending to be a disgusting human with disgusting emotion. You hate it that much that you need to cry…”
Before I notice it, he was correct. Tears are rolling down from my eyes. It’s not my intention to cry or rather, how come I cannot control such act at will?
I pick up myself and promptly head towards the trash bin. I retrieve its content and bring out the dimensional container. The garbage is stored inside the dimensional container and I close the lid again.
Without turning back, I left the room.
Why do I have such emotion?
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.
.
The Arcana of Greed, Gurlock, is absent from this mansion so I was able to do my duty without any fuss. Lady Hydrangea, the Arcana of Wrath, is not present in her room because she does some work early in the morning so I performed the task too and that goes the same with Lord Dylan, the Arcana of Sloth who I assumed to be severely punished.
However, the flawless streak of my duty has reached its end as I stand before a certain room, Lord Flow room, the Arcana of Gluttony. He warned me before that I should steer clear from his sight for reason I don’t have any idea.
I knock on the door three times before opening it after getting no answer for several seconds.
As I lay upon the room, it was also dim like Lord Shun’s room but there are ray of lights that spills from the curtains. In the luxurious bed, there’s a lump indicating that someone is still asleep and that someone is Lord Flow.
I steadily and quietly retrieve the garbage from the trash bin and put it away in the dimensional storage like how I am instructed to. With that done, I hastily find my way towards the door when…
“What do we have here?”
WHOOSH!
BAM!
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An arm with sharp claws scooped up my neck and slams me into a wall where I was suspended in the air. I reflexively grasp the hand that held me up but unfortunately, it won’t budge even a little. Also, fighting back with magic now would cause me no good…
“This is bad, really bad. I can’t help myself not to do this!”
“L-Lord Flow…please…let me go…”
“Hahahaha! That face, that hair, those eyes and now, even your clothes are strikingly same! My blood just boils just laying my eyes upon you!”
“I…! I don’t …know…what you are talking…about…Lord Flow!”
“Oh…bad…really bad…”
His hand that was holding my neck tightens. I feel like my neck will snap at any moment.
“P-Please…L-Lord…Flow…have…mercy…”
THUD
Lord Flow releases me from his grasps and turn away from me. I started coughing violently as I try to find comfort for my constricted neck.
“Hmm…yeah…you really do look like the same, however, you may not emotionless but that woman, has the worst smiling face ever…it’s a sweet and gentle smile full of confidence that it pisses me. As long as you don’t have that kind of smile, maybe you can survive…”
“Ah…haa….haa…”
“Also, she didn’t even show a slight fear from her face, a branded warrior that closes the gaps I fighting ability with wits and trickery. Unlike you whose face was distorted in pain, fear and anguish. Don’t ever show a face like that again…you spoil that warrior’s face.”
I…showed a face of fear…again?
I silently walk away from Lord Flow and never turn back even once. My face is full of sweat and my breathing is labored as my limbs trembled.
How can such emotion such as fear exists inside me?!
I learned, I read books for knowledge, to gain it, to grasp it. But at the same time, knowledge lodged such unnecessary concept inside of me. Is gaining ego means naturally have to wield such thing?!
I am a devil, an Arcana magician, the Arcana of Earth.
Checking this fact, I know that I myself is sufficiently strong and without emotions, I surely will be stronger.
.
.
.
I enter the room with a calm but low voice of Lord Cr'thgor.
Lord Crothgor is the Arcana of Pride and said to be extremely powerful. I already prepared my mind for what’s about to happen. But what beholds my sight is something different, a sight that took me for a surprise.
“Oh, are you the new devil servant? You’re just in time! I just finished baking this cheesecake. Take a seat and I’ll serve you an earl grey.”
“I am called Topaz. Lord Cr'thgor, we devils do not need any sustenance.”
“Don’t be shy. Even your sisters dearly enjoy such delicacy.”
“Even them? Well then, I shall partake in this delicacy you are referring to.”
I make my way to a vacant seat inside Lord Cr'thgor’s room. I sat on a wooden furnished chair with a table laid with decorative table cover. At the middle of the table is a fresh flower in a vase that gives a good vibrant.
Lord Cr'thgor set down a plate with a yellow spongy thing on a plate in front of me together with a cup of tea with aroma that tickles my nose.
“Is this that cheesecake you are referring to, Lord Crothgor?”
“Indeed it is. Just let me know if you find any discomfort.”
“Such things for us devils aren’t even poss--!”
As I eat a spoonful of the cheesecake, my mind halted from thinking and my body shivers in excitement. A strange comfortable feeling sprouted right from my cheeks as the flavor of this cheesecake spreads throughout my mouth. I can feel my face slackens from such soft and fluffy texture that my teeth grinds.
I chew the piece of cheesecake inside my mouth while savoring it until it completely goes down to my throat. The tea that Lord Crothgor served me also look appealing to me so I sip a little of it.
Ah…
The taste of this tea greatly compliments that cake earlier! It doesn’t give any discomfort to my tongue as it cleanses that taste of the cheesecake while using its full potential to finally boost what remains of that cheesecakes taste!
……
Oh no! I am still in duty!
“Lord Cr'thgor…!”
“Don’t worry. Take your time. You can have two or three more slices if you’d like. I love baking sweets after all.”
“Such thing…how could it done so much to me with just one taste…”
“You see, every girls, regardless of race, disposition or lifestyle will always have a soft spot for sweets. You are no exception.”
“I am by no means, a mere existence to be swayed by this…”
“That’s not true. You just showed a very calming and happy expression. You are not special but you are someone special.”
“…I’ll take two more slices please…”
“Gladly.”
“I…will just partake in this indulgence…”
“Hmm…are you perhaps troubled by something? I am all ears for your woes.”
“…it’s nothing.”
“I see…here’s your cheesecake.”
I ate cheesecakes made by Lord Cr'thgor. I never knew such food will enthrall me. It is not my intention or my mishap but, it was so irresistible that I even ate another serving after my third slice. After having my fill, I did my job and retrieve that garbage and transferred it to the dimensional container that I carry and left.
That was…kindness…?
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.
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“I’m coming in.”
I said as I enter another room.
This room is Lady Sistina’s room. It was completely different from the maid’s quarter or even to Lady Hydrangea’s room. It painted pink and it has so much dolls lined up. It’s stylish and eye-catching that my eyes reflexively wander around the room. Even the furniture are seems to be self-decorated with flowery stuffs. The room overall is so girlish…
And so, I found Lady Sistina hugging a dragon doll that is larger than her. Her only clothes are a revealing camisole and lingerie. She just glared at me as I proceed to do my task. Retrieving, dumping and leaving the premises. I hope this would simply end with that but, Lady Sistina called out to me…
“Hey!~ That maid uniform you are wearing…so lame…!”
“Is that so, Lady Sistina?”
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Topaz.”
“Pfft! How lame.”
“…...”
Am I…being insulted?
This is just one of those problems I never needed to have from the start if I wasn’t given this form. It is just simply burdening.
“Come here, Topaz of Lame.”
“Yes…”
“Don’t be so grumpy. I just can’t stand that someone lame like you will walk around the whole place. You better not pick up any bad fashion sense from that stupid dragon.”
I came over as instructed. I stand in front of her on the bed and watch her darted off in one of her large cabinets. She begins rummaging for clothes inside it while mumbling to herself.
“Ah, this will be good!”
She throws clothes here and there towards the bed without abandon. When she’s done, she put everything back into the closet and stride towards the clothes she threw earlier to the bed next to me.
“Here, here. Take your uniform off and I’ll give you better garments!”
“That’s a bit…”
“Take it off!”
“Yes…”
I did as I was instructed and stripped a large layer of my clothing revealing everything. From top to bottom, no fabric was left. I say, it is a bit embarrassing…
“Well, from the start, that lame uniform didn’t even have any designs at all. It’s plain and crude with nothing but simple lines that hurts my eyes. Couldn’t Hydrangea give you better clothes?”
“It is duly unneeded.”
“Unneeded my ass! Look at this face! It’s cute and pretty that I can be a crime! But of course, I am much prettier. The point is, you should probably try to dress up a little more even if there’s no occasion to boost your confident or something.”
“That’s not…I am not worried about confidence.”
“Geez, just wear this, this, this and this!”
“The sizes are…”
“Those are dragon fiber cloth, they will automatically scale your figure and resize the fitting for you!”
“I shall.”
Upon her instruction, I wore everything she recommended. With a new set of uniform with a new set of undergarments and accessories. She made me wear a frilly skirt and ribbon ridden thigh highs. A large ribbon behind my back hangs and more frills in my clothes. However, it does not bring any discomfort to the skin.
“Maid uniform, Version 2!”
“Umm…when do I return these?”
“Return? You’re tarnishing my good will?”
“That’s not my intention, Lady Sistina.”
“You don’t need to return that! Also, it doesn’t need to be repaired or washed because the clothes can clean and repair itself with magic. Take care so it may not be stolen from you.”
“Why…?”
“Why? It’s on a whim. However, from now on, I’d appreciate if someone stylish like you could serve me, isn’t that right?”
“Yeah…I don’t know if I understand it but I guess this is far comfortable from the ones I am wearing earlier. Thank you, Lady Sistina.”
“Yeah? Scram off now. You still have a job right?”
“Yes…well then, see you later Lady Sistina.”
I left the room with unwind face. It feels good to be complimented but it felt equally bad when you are insulted.