Only after I've left the megaron and proceeded through the hallways of the keep, I started to count my blessings. Somehow this whole unfortunate situation worked out just fine, at least for now. I was yet to figure out what I should be doing next, but for a time being the princess approved of my culinary ideas, which meant less problems for me. Right now I'll go with the flow, until something better shows up, that's about as good as it gets for me.

After reaching the stairwell it hit me - I had no idea where to go. I couldn't even remember the way back to the kitchens, and that is the only place in the keep I know. The princess said something about a bed for me to rest, but where do I even start looking for that?

As I proceeded going down, I noticed someone standing at the bottom of the stairs. It was a young girl, sixteen or so years old, wearing a maid's outfit. I wasn't really good with remembering faces and I didn't pay much attention to other maids in the kitchen to begin with, but if I had to guess, I'd say she was one of the girls Clem brought. She had shoulder length brown hair and right now she was grabbing her head with her both hands in despair.

I was going to let her be, but then a thought occurred to me - I should ask her where I could find Clem, after that I'd just force that little rascal to take me to my room.

"Hello, excuse me."

"Argh! I've found you! Oh goodness," she shouted right at me.

"No, you have the wrong guy."

"No, I think that's you. Tall, dark hair..."

"Could be anyone..."

"... stupid expression on his face..."

"Yeah, that's definitely me, then."

"Also is cuisiner to the princess..."

"Nice to meet you."

She smiled a bit nervously. I was sure she looked familiar, so I must've seen her before. It must've been in the kitchens, but I couldn't be sure. Living with prosopagnosia is tough, I tell you.

"Yes! My name is Judith."

"You can call me Aili."

"And you can call me Judith! I prefer being called by my name and not girlie."

"Oh..." I realized.

"Yes?" she smiled innocently.

"About that," I began, not quite sure what to say. "Sorry, I really didn't mean to say something that stupid..."

"You don't have to apologize, Aili," she said seriously. "Not to me, at least."

So was it her who I called 'girlie' before, or not?

She quite clearly was one of those people that were incredibly tiring to talk to. We've been talking for less than a minute and I already felt exhausted. And I still had no idea who she really was.

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"Anyway, I've been asked to wait for you and then show you back to the kitchen. But while I was waiting for you to be excused, I suddenly had this intense urge to go to the bathroom..."

"You really don't have to tell me..."

"And when I returned you were already gone! So I went looking for you all over. Thank goodness I've found you," she looked genuinely relieved, so I decided not to point out that she didn't actually find me.

"Shall we go, then?" I offered.

"Yes! Follow me, please," she happily agreed. "You know, you're becoming quite popular," she said once we were walking through the halls of the keep.

"I am?"

"Yes," she laughed. "You weren't at first, I mean, everyone did think that the rumors were exaggerated or that you were a show-off and a fool, then you went ahead and insulted all of the maids, set a fire in the kitchen..."

"You really don't have to remind me."

"... and you just look all around stupid. But then, when we finally tasted the chicken, was like everyone forgot all the mean things you did..."

"I'm really not as bad of a person as you make it sound."

"... and now everyone can't wait to taste what you'll make next. Wanna hear a secret?"

"Not really."

"I think the rest of the girls got really jealous when I was the one selected to escort you," she giggled, pleased with herself.

"Are they afraid I will cook you something on the way there?"

"Can you?!"

"Of course not."

She stopped and turned to me, pouty. I guess she thought I was teasing her or something? Judith turned again and opened the doors to the kitchen. Inside, were a few familiar faces. The two people I actually knew by name, Clem and Athena, weren't there, but I did recognize the older princess's attendant from before, as well as the rest of the maids.

"Ah, sir cuisiner," the older lady addressed me. "Please, come join us."

She was sitting around one of the kitchen tables with four other maids, snacking on cheese and fruit, waiting for someone or maybe just relaxing after a hard days work. Under the curious looks of other maids, Judith and I went ahead and sat on the two empty seats near the table.

"The princess was very pleased with what you have prepared," princess's caretaker said once we sat down.

"Didn't you leave before she was done?"

"Sir cuisiner, how long do you think I have been with the princess?" she laughed. "There are very few things I do not know about her and to me it was plain as day, how much she liked today's dinner. You may not know this, but she was looking for someone like you for a very long time."

"I've heard..."

It was a bit weird having a dozen eyeballs set on me, so I shifted my view to the table.

"We were about to eat dinner, will you be joining us?"

Once again the thought of basic necessities managed to escape me for a good part of the day. I didn't even realize how hungry I was before she mentioned it...

It was also uncomfortably clear to me right now, that I haven't been to the bathroom since midday.

"I would love to," I said and tried to stand up.

"No, no, sit down, let us take care of it."

A few of the maids stood up, one passed along eating utensils, another poured soup and the last one was carrying said soup. Soon enough, the seven of us each had a plate of steaming pumpkin soup in front of them.

"Isn't this the same soup?.."

"Athena's soup? Yep!" Judith happily cut me off.

"Won't she be joining us?" I asked stupidly.

"She's... Not feeling too well, today," one of the maids offered uncomfortably. Clearly it wasn't a pleasant topic and I even knew who's fault was that.

"And the head maid is usually already asleep this late at night," someone tried to change a topic. I wasn't sure what time it was, but it couldn't have been that late.

"Sir cuisiner, let me introduce myself," the attendant said. "I am Meredith, attendant to the princess of Jarenbourg."

"Nice to meet you, please call me Aili."

"Ah, hello, let me introduce myself, I am Cait, a maid to the princess of Jarenbourg."

"You don't have to say the exact same thing Meredith did, you know."

"Nice to meet you, please call me Amber."

"And my name is Sameen."

"I am Iggy, it is a pleasure."

"Yes, nice to finally meet you all," I said, trying to sound cheerful.

Look at me, eating dinner with a bunch of beautiful girls, making new friends. So there was Meredith, the older attendant, Judith, the brown haired maid, and the rest of the maids whose names I have already forgotten.

Don't you just love meeting new people?