“I’ve already had a doctor examine this half-elf maiden.” [Merchant]
“Baldy, do you hear me? Pot-bellied baldy.” [Ava]
“… She is in perfect health.” [Merchant]
“Baldy on the cape!” [Ava]
“…… Her purity is intact…” [Merchant]
“Thou name is… Caped…! Baaaldy!” [Ava]
“SHUT THE-!!!” [Merchant]
The merchant angrily yelled at Ava with a red face, but he managed to stop himself halfway through his sentence when he remembered the people watching him. There were his two men in charge of moving the cage, the knights lining the walls, and most importantly, the royal family.
“Ahem… P-please forgive me. We haven’t had time to train her properly after finding her.” [Merchant]
“That’s what you call getting attacked by twenty armed men? They were well-trained, by the way. Professionals. I could tell it wasn’t the first time they ganged up on one person… Wait, that doesn’t sound like a complement.” [Ava]
“Aha… Hahahaha… I am terribly, terribly sorry for the rudeness of my product. Once properly trained, I will present her to your majesty again.” [Merchant]
Feeling like his life would be in danger if he let the half-elf continue talking, the merchant decided that it would be wiser to retreat now before he was arrested for disrespecting royalty. He would train the girl into an obedient slave and sell her off at an exorbitant price at another time.
However…
“… My king, stop touching my thigh during an audience.” [???]
The queen’s cold words caused him to cease moving.
“You know it’s fine to call me honey, or darling, or my love~.” [???]
And the king’s spoiled voice made him at a loss for words.
“Absolutely not. We are at work, so behave in a manner befitting your title.” [Queen]
“But, but this is just about selling some slave. We don’t need any… Ah? Could it be that you’re jealous? He’s trying to sell a girl to me, after all. You’re jealous that I might buy her, right?” [King]
“Not at all since that would free me from having to spend my nights with you.” [Queen]
“… Eh?” [King]
“I can then quietly sleep in peace instead of listening to your snores.” [Queen]
“W-wait…” [King]
“Could I ask for my own room? One that kings cannot enter.” [Queen]
“I’m sorry! I was just trying to make you jealous!” [King]
Sitting side by side on their thrones, the king and queen were quarreling. More precisely, the wife was giving her husband the cold shoulder, so he was desperately trying to regain her favor. The two rulers were in their late thirties and wore luxurious clothes with a blue base. The queen donned a beautiful blue dress with wide sleeves while the king had a red cape draped over his shoulders and a golden crown on his head.
These two individuals possessed attractive looks that many envied and that their children inherited. The husband had silky brown hair and blue eyes while the wife had long, glossy blonde hair and grey eyes. With his handsome face and sharp eyes, the king normally gave off an aura full of dignity as he took charge of the country, but right now, he looked pathetic as he apologized to his wife.
“Father and mother really get along well.” [???]
Giggling in a bell-like voice, their daughter smiled happily at seeing their lover’s quarrel. The fifteen year old girl looked just like a younger version of her mother and wore a blue dress with short sleeves. She was the kingdom’s princess, their only daughter, and had received many marriage proposals since she was young. But, they were all rejected mercilessly on grounds that the potential candidates weren’t good enough for her.
Or at least, that was what the king said as he refused them.
“Brother?” [Princess]
Sitting next to her mother, the princess leaned forward to look at her brother who was four years older than her.
“What’s the matter?” [Princess]
Normally, he would agree with her after sighing tiredly, but he was being uncharacteristically quiet. Noticing this as well, their parents stopped their little quarrel and turned their heads to look at their son.
“Dreck, Lisa is talking to you.” [King]
The king said to his son who was quietly sitting next to him.
“Yes, I heard. I was just examining the merchandise.” [Dreck]
Dreck answered while smiling to show that nothing was wrong. Usually, he could fool his family and anyone with his smiles. It was a great way to hide his true thoughts and it even had the added effect of making women blush.
“Father, the product has a bad mouth, but she is a half-elf. Her kind is rare and valuable. There is a lot to learn about them and who knows when we’ll come across another half-elf.” [Dreck]
“Hmm? You want to buy her out of curiosity for her race?” [King]
“At the very least, I am not against it. Think about it. For some reason, half-elves cannot conceive, and they are strangely discriminated by other races. It may simply be that mixed elven blood cannot bear new life and that the elves spread malicious rumors themselves. But, there might be something more. Half-elves are so few, no one really bothers to study them. Knowing more about different races is beneficial to our future since we learn more about the world. Aren’t you the one that taught me that?” [Dreck]
After hearing his son’s words, the king rubbed his chin and grew quiet for a short while.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Hmm… Merchant.” [King]
“Y-yes, your majesty!” [Merchant]
“We could use one more maid to help around the place. We’ll buy her off you.” [King]
“T-than-!” [Merchant]
“But, she’s not exactly disciplined and her looks are superficial if she can’t do her job properly. So, sell her at a reasonable price and we’ll ignore everything she did.” [King]
“Of, of course. In my excitement, I brought her before your majesty without properly training her first. The fault lies with me.” [Merchant]
While sweating nervously, the merchant deeply lowered his head, happy that he wasn’t going to lose it. The deal was then made and he pocketed quite a fine sum. Unfortunately, it was less than half of what he was expecting. If only he had disciplined the half-elf properly instead of rushing to sell it to royalties. Her kind was rare and sold for a lot, but no one wanted a slave that wouldn’t listen to orders or call their master a baldy. Sighing, the merchant left the castle with his men while scratching his head full of black hair.
As a result, a few strands fell off.
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“After encountering bandits, she gets captured by slave traders. Her luck is horrible.” [King]
Moving from the audience hall to a private room, Dreck decided to tell his family the truth on how he had previously met the half-elf. His family sat in a soft and finely crafted sofa with frilly cushions while he occupied a one-seater couch.
“You could have just said that you wanted to buy her because she was an acquaintance.” [King]
“A ruler shouldn’t act on his emotions, but on the country’s benefits.” [Dreck]
“So you spouted those various reasons like discovering important mysteries and learning more about the world.” [King]
“Yes, and if it looked like we were too eager to buy her, that merchant would happily sell her at twice the price we got.” [Dreck]
“Oh? Seems like we were thinking the same thing, though our reasons for purchasing her were different.” [King]
“Then you wanted to buy her from the start, father?” [Dreck]
“Correct. Showing no interest in the half-elf, touching your mother’s thigh and tearfully apologizing to her was but a ruse.” [King]
“That’s a lie.” [Dreck]
“Father is lying.” [Lisa]
“Don’t lie to me, Glen.” [Queen]
The king’s family refuted the claims that he proudly told in a flash. His composed expression broke and he tearfully looked at his wife who said his name in a very cold voice.
“L-Louise, it’s only us and the children now. You can call me hon-.” [Glen]
“That doesn’t matter.” [Louise]
Cutting her husband short, the queen turned her attention to her front. On the other side of the table, sitting on a similar sofa big enough for four people, was the one they had just bought.
“What matters is what we do with her.” [Louise]
“You could just kick me out if I’m too much trouble.” [Ava]
Said Ava as she stared at the interior decor of the room. The royal family gazed at the half-elf that was wearing a frilly red dress and a metallic collar around her neck.
“There is no way we can simply let you go after using a small fortune to buy your freedom. Proper compensation is required. Young lady, you shall be working for us as a maid.” [Louise]
“I really don’t wanna be a maid…” [Ava]
Towards the queen’s strict words, Ava had a reluctant expression on her face.
“Even though she’s a slave, she’s really pretty just like a princess.” [Lisa]
“That’s because they forced me to take a bath before wearing this dres-wait, aren’t you a princess yourself?” [Ava]
The curious princess wholeheartedly admired Ava’s beauty, but the half-elf didn’t seem too happy about it.
“That’s right. I am Lisa Rivald Troyas. So, is it true you met my older brother before and he saved you from bandits? Is that why you were making a scene in the audience hall? Because you knew my brother would save you again?!” [Lisa]
“Pretty much.” [Ava]
“Then-!” [Lisa]
“Then that would mean that my son saved you twice, yet you refuse to work for us?” [Louise]
Louise cut into the conversation, one eyebrow raised at the half-elf’s impolite attitude.
“Should you not show a bit of gratitude towards someone whom you are indebted to?” [Louise]
“Ugh, using logic on me.” [Ava]
Ava roughly scratched her head and considered her current situation. She was in a foreign country with no money, no home and no belongings. Working for them until she got her bearings was a viable option. Although she didn’t like royalties much, the prince saved her and his family didn’t seem too bad. Ava furtively peeked at them while sitting with her right foot on her left knee, her right elbow resting on her right thigh and her right hand supporting her head.
The queen had her index finger between her eyebrows, closed her eyes and sighed tiredly. Perhaps she was appalled by the half-elf’s lack of manners. The king was busy staring at his wife’s thighs and holding himself back from doing anything. The princess was gazing at the unusual guest with sparkling eyes while her brother was smiling charmingly.
“Alright. I’ll work for you. But, not as a maid.” [Ava]
“Excuse me?” [Louise]
“I’ll be a butler.” [Ava]
“… Excuse me?” [Louise]
“Because pants are better.” [Ava]
“… What?” [Louise]
And so, Ava began working as a maid.
“I want to be an unparalleled butler.” [Ava]
“… Clearly, we need to start with your behavior.” [Louise]
----------------------------------------
“Why am I a maid?!” [Ava]
“There’s no need to ask that same question every morning.” [Dreck]
Five days after officially working in the castle, Ava had grown accustomed to her job. She handled chores around the place along with the other maids who more or less accepted her. That was because, although the newbie’s work was impeccable, she was a half-elf and, more importantly, her attitude when interacting with others earned her the title “Strange maid that I don’t really want to get involved with”. Still, her life was peaceful and her coworkers didn’t really ostracize or harass her since, unlike them, she was chosen as the First Prince’s personal attendant.
“It’s freaking important so I need to keep saying it. Why am I a maid?! Hell, why am I YOUR maid?!” [Ava]
“I see my mother’s etiquette lessons haven’t changed your way of talking today either.” [Dreck]
Inside his bedroom, Dreck was sitting on his large bed while happily chuckling at the sight of an annoyed Ava. While grumbling, the half-elf deftly pulled open the curtains to let in the morning sunlight, wet a towel in a shiny copper basin of warm water and placed the prince’s clothes that were neatly folded on his bed.
“You don’t want to help me change?” [Dreck]
“No way. Do it yourself. You’re already, what, eighteen?” [Ava]
“Nineteen, and It’s one of a maid’s duties to help her master change clothes.” [Dreck]
“I owe you twice, which is why I’m wearing a dress while serving you. But, yeah, that’s not gonna happen, kid.” [Ava]
“Hmmm, maybe we should lower your salary.” [Dreck]
“Oi.” [Ava]
“I’m joking.” [Dreck]
Dreck smiled charmingly at her before washing his face with the warm towel. He then proceeded to take off the loose white shirt he slept in, revealing his body that was forged from training. The muscle lines were well-defined, his shoulders were broad and his waist was slim. Coupled with his handsome face, any woman would turn red and swoon at the sight. That was one of the reasons why the prince chose to not keep a personal attendant around to help him.
The main reason was that he wanted to be alone instead of always having someone following him around.
When Dreck looked at Ava, she was sleepily waiting by the wall for him to finish changing while yawning. Her long black hair had a glossy sheen after being carefully combed and her flawless pale skin seemed to reflect the light. Because of the queen’s repeated warnings and her job’s requirements, Ava was taking care of her appearance, but her manners still needed work.
The half-elf was wearing a pure white apron on top of a pure black dress with sleeves that covered her arms and a long skirt that reached her ankles. Adorning her head was a white headdress that all maids in the castle wore. It was a simple uniform and certainly lacked charm compared to the gorgeous, colorful and expensive dresses of the noble ladies that Dreck saw many times. However, not one of them caught his eye like Ava did.
“What? What’re you staring at?” [Ava]
“Oh nothing. I just thought that you were beautiful this morning too.” [Dreck]
“Don’t call me ‘beautiful’.” [Ava]
“There is no harm in saying the truth.” [Dreck]
“You’re a natural lady-killer, aren’t you?” [Ava]
“No. I don’t offer these sorts of compliments to anyone. It’s embarrassing.” [Dreck]
“Says the guy taking his pants off.” [Ava]
Dreck chuckled. He didn’t think that he would get to see her again or speak to her like so every morning. Moreover, she was working as his personal maid.
“Ava.” [Dreck]
The brown-haired man of royal blood muttered the name of the black-haired maid with elven blood.
“What?” [Ava]
“I just felt like saying your name.” [Dreck]
“Huh? Why?” [Ava]
“You never told me your name when we first met.” [Dreck]
The name of the girl he met by chance.
“I told you when I agreed to work here, so does it matter?” [Ava]
“Yes, it does matter.” [Dreck]
The name of the girl he fell for by chance.