Thanks to sleeping relatively early in the night, Tibaut was able to wake up early.

As he woke he ran over his tongue over his teeth. He did a few more times and got and looked through his bindle. Three sets of clothing and the book.

("Fuck, I forgot my toothbrush.")

He got up and searched around the house until he found himself in the kitchen. In the doorless cardboard, he found some salt.

("I've heard baking soda was an alternative to toothpaste mostly for its physical properties. Crushed-up salt has a similar texture to baking powder so it should be fine… right?")

He looked for something to crush the salt with and was surprised during his search when he realized there were no forks or knives in the kitchen.

("Just spoons. It seems our predecessors were really something.")

After deciding it didn't matter if it was crushed or not he rubbed the salt against his teeth using his finger and rinsed his mouth out.

("At least it's better than using soot.") He thought as he headed back to his room.

Someone's hand grabbed his shoulder. It was Elizabeth.

"Get dres- do you have no shame wearing the same thing all the time?" She asked him.

She looked at Tibaut and he was wearing the same white shirt and black pants he always wore.

"Pyjamas are a waste of time. I don't know why you guys even brought them."

Elizabeth shook her head in her pyjamas.

"At least change out of those. They have your body odour all over them." She commented before leaving.

He sniffed himself. "I don't smell that bad, right?" Said the man who used to regularly put up with not showering for several weeks.

The four of them soon assembled and went outside.

"So where are we going to meet him?" Jake asked.

"In the main building presumably."

"Mmh, Presumably?" Jake replied looking quite chipper. He did various stretches as he walked beside Elizabeth.

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"Well I talked to one of the maids and they said to go to the main building."

"I hope it doesn't take long," Tina commented as she walked behind them.

"Well I'd like to ask him a question or two so you guys can leave after we're introduced," Tibaut said.

"Oh, was it about those men you said terrorized the village?" Elizabeth responded.

"Yeah, I don't know why, but that kinda feels like cultist behaviour to me."

"You did say they were kidnapped, correct?" Elizabeth looked around at various buildings before going to one with seemingly no rhyme or reason. "I suppose that is something we will have to look into, though I have no idea why they would abduct only women. Did they take children as well?"

"(Is she guessing which building is the main one?) Didn't hear anything about that from the bartender, so I guess not." He responded while observing her.

"Hmm," Elizabeth mumbled as she walked closer to the building.

Jake looked interested in what they were talking about but decided not to join.

("What would be so odd about them kidnapping only women? I mean they kill indiscriminately sometimes but it's not like they do it for any other than causing chaos. Maybe kidnapping women makes people more afraid here.") Jake thought to himself.

They soon reached the building and Elizabeth knocked on the door. A maid came outside and briefly spoke to Elizabeth before going back inside. A few minutes passed before the finally came outside. He had silky smooth hair and pale skin. He was wearing a sleeveless black crop top with white pants.

"Another maid?" Tina commented.

"Maybe, a relative?" Tibaut stated.

"I wonder if sh-" Jake was cut off.

"That's him. Albus Bradley." Elizabeth said as she looked at him.

"HIM!?" They all commented.

A smile appeared on his face as he looked at them and went over straight to Tibaut.

He looked him over while shaking his head in affirmation.

("What's up with him?") Tibaut thought as he was getting analyzed.

A maid soon exited the door.

"How are they, Lord Bradley?"

"These girls are great! I can't wait to see them in a maid outfit, especially this one."

He hugged Tibaut.

("Huh?") Tibaut tried to escape his grasp but he was surprisingly strong.

"Um, Lord Bradley, these are the guards."

"So?"

"Two of them are men."

As he was hugging Tibaut he looked back to him.

"Ah, that's why I wasn't feeling anything on your chest."

He looked at Jake.

"Man, I thought that one was a tomboy type."

"...Could you stop hugging me?" Tibaut asked, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

"Hmmm, what do you think about a maid's dress?"

Tibaut blushed and desperately looked around for help.

Someone tapped on his shoulder. He turned around and started squinting at her.

"Do I know you?" He asked uncertainly. His grip loosened and Tibaut took the opportunity to escape and step back a lot.

"I think you have me confused for someone else. Anyway, I'd like to discuss in detail what we will be doing in your service."

He scratched his chin.

"If you guys are the guards then, you should probably talk to Avis about the details."

He grabbed Tibaut's hand and started walking back towards the building.

"Huh, why me?"

"I haven't seen anyone with hair like yours before so I want you to try on a few outfits for me."

"Hold on, help me out here Elizabeth!"

"We'll go meet with his personal bodyguard so feel free to ask him the questions you had for him earlier."

Tina and Elizabeth walked away. Tibaut looked at Jake as he was being dragged by his hand with fear in his eyes. Jake looked at him, and clasped his hands to pray before walking away, catching up to Elizabeth and Tina.

"Just outfits right?"

Albus smiled at him and kept walking.

"RIGHT?"