After a while, the heavy silence was shattered by a loud, booming voice echoing through the hall.
"HEADDD MAAIIDD! II AMMM HUNNGGRRY!!"
"Ara, look who's here," Mother Isafold said, her melancholy instantly replaced by a sweet smile. She stretched her fingers slowly, cracking her knuckles one by one as she stood up with deliberate calm. "Head Maid, why don't you bring that brat here?"
"Yes, Madam." The Head Maid walked away briskly and returned moments later with Maren and Oliver trailing behind her.
"Oh, let's eat, let's eat, Head Maid!" Maren said excitedly, practically bouncing into the room. "I worked really hard today you know! I should get extra food today to compensate for all my energy! Hehe, I was the best out there! Tsk tsk, Oliver can't even think of succeeding without this amazing person's help—AAHHH!!! MYY EARRR!!"
Maren had barely stepped fully into the servants' resting area when strong, precise fingers reached out and grabbed her ear firmly.
"My hardworking daughter," Mother Isafold said with a dangerously sweet smile, her grip tightening slightly. "Why don't you help your mother a little? Come with me—we have our own work to do today. Right, Oliver, dear?"
She began pulling Maren toward the door, ignoring her daughter's protests.
"Haha, Mother, please be safe out there," Oliver said with his most charming smile, though his eyes sparkled with amusement at Maren's predicament. "And thank you so much for giving us a hand with everything. Truthfully, I'm one hundred percent sure everything will go perfectly if you're helping us. You're the best."
"You brat," Mother Isafold said affectionately, reaching out with her free hand to pat Oliver's head. Her touch was gentle and warm. "Don't worry, just focus on your work. Leave everything else to me—I'll take care of it."
She paused, then added with a sly grin, "And just because you say nice things doesn't mean I'll go easy on her."
Mother Isafold smirked at Oliver, who laughed awkwardly. Then her gaze shifted to the young maid. The girl blushed so deeply she practically glowed, quickly gesturing for Mother Isafold to keep quiet. "Shhh!" She pressed her fingers to her own lips, silently pleading for her not to say another word.
"GAAHH!! BETTRAYYAALLL!!" Maren roared, trying desperately to dig her heels into the ground. "HEAD MAID, YOU BETRAYED ME! MOTHER, LEAVE ME ALONE! I DON'T WANNA GO WITH YOU! NOT THE TRAINING! ANYTHING BUT THAT!"
But Maren couldn't escape her mother's iron grip. The pitiful child and the proud smiling mother went away together, Maren's protests echoing down the hallway until they faded into the distance.
"Ahm! It looks like everyone's here now," Oliver said warmly, his voice drawing everyone's attention. The servants turned toward him, curiosity flickering across their faces.
"Actually," he continued, his tone growing more earnest, "I wanted to ask for your help—with my business and some other... dangerous work." His expression turned serious. "There's too much to handle, and with just a few of us, it won't be enough."
He looked at each of them in turn, meeting their eyes with sincerity. "This won't be your usual kind of work. But right now, I don't have many people I can truly trust. So, one last time—I'm asking for your help. With my business, and in supporting the Queen Mother and Nat."
A faint, hopeful smile touched his lips. "As for the business… I'm confident it'll work—really confident this time. So, if you're willing..."
Oliver bowed deeply, his fists clenched at his sides, his head lowered in genuine humility.
The maids and butlers looked at each other, exchanging glances and small smiles. Then they all turned back to their Young Master with warmth in their eyes.
"Young Master, please raise your head," the maid with the baby said gently, stepping forward. She carefully reached out and lifted Oliver's chin with her free hand, her touch kind. "Actually, we were quite angry at you for not involving us in your work earlier! We also want this house to rise in prominence again. So please, tell us how we can help you. We're ready."
Hearing this, Oliver's face broke into a genuine smile. He straightened and gently poked the baby's chubby cheeks with his finger. The infant subconsciously grabbed his finger with his tiny palm, holding on tight.
"Yes, yes, we want to help!" everyone said excitedly, gathering around Oliver in a supportive circle. Their faces were bright with determination. "Tell us what you need! Let's make this house the best house in the city!"
"Yes, Young Master, please tell us!" the Youngest maid came forward, her voice low but filled with earnest sincerity. "I want to repay you for everything you've done for me."
"Hmm, I understand. Thank you, everyone," Oliver said gratefully, his voice thick with emotion. He looked around at all of them—his small, loyal family. "And you, our Youngest—you've been doing such a great job for the past month. I'm genuinely impressed. Thank you for your hard work."
He paused, then added softly, "But still, depend on others when you need to, okay? You don't have to carry everything alone."
Oliver reached out and patted the Youngest maid's head gently, his touch warm and reassuring. She smiled beautifully in response, her whole face lighting up, and nodded.
Gathering her courage, she spoke quietly, "Umm, Young Master, my grandmother and grandfather wanted to meet you. She asked me to invite you to our house." She looked down, suddenly shy. "I don't know when you're free, but in the future, if you could please—"
"I WILL GO," Oliver said immediately, cutting her off before she could finish her sentence. His smile was radiant as he continued patting her head with one hand.
"Huh?" The Youngest maid looked up in shock, her eyes wide as she saw her master smiling beautifully down at her.
Oliver continued without hesitation, "I'll go today. Let's have dinner at your house tonight. What do you say? Will your Grandparents will be happy if I came over for a bit after today's work is done?"
He gently slid her hair away from her face and softly touched the scar on her eye area, his fingers tender and careful. "And don't hide your scar anymore, okay? Slowly, as you get more comfortable, try to embrace this part of you. Otherwise, you'll never be able to truly love yourself."
His voice grew quieter, more personal. "I already have one woman in my life dealing with this kind of struggle, so you shouldn't become like her, okay, Youngest? You're beautiful just as you are."
Oliver smiled sweetly, his eyes kind and understanding.
The Youngest maid's eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill over. She nodded heavily, her whole-body trembling with emotion. "I WILL, YOUNG MASTER!" she spoke loudly, her voice ringing with conviction.
She smiled beautifully, radiating pure happiness that seemed to fill the entire room. Everyone presents smiled happily as well, moved by the genuine moment.
"Ahm!" Oliver spoke after a moment, breaking the emotional atmosphere. "Actually, the most helpful person for today's work will be this little one right here."
He glanced back at the baby, who was still holding his fingers tightly with surprising strength for such a small creature.
"Youngest, go bring that bag over there," Oliver said, patting her head to bring her back to reality from her emotional high.
The Youngest nodded quickly and ran to fetch the bag. She carried it back gently, as if it were the most prized possession in the world, cradling it carefully in both arms.
Oliver took the bag and spoke, "Here, let him wear this."
He handed the bag to the mother maid, who nodded seriously. She turned around, blocking everyone's view, and began dressing the baby in whatever was inside the bag. The other servants crowded behind her curiously, craning their necks to see what could be so special about this outfit.
"Huh? Oye, Mother Maid, move a little! I can't see what Young Master brought for the baby," another maid complained, trying to peek around her shoulder.
They watched as the mother maid stood completely still beside the table, her body frozen mid-motion. She didn't move a muscle.
For several long seconds, she didn't respond at all. Everyone finally decided to walk around to the front to see what had rendered her speechless, and what they saw—
FWOOOOOOOSH–!!! FWOOOOOOOSH–!!! FWOOOOOOOSH–!!! FWOOOOOOOSH–!!!
THUMP THUMP! THUMP THUMP! THUMP THUMP! THUMP THUMP!
The sound of multiple bodies hitting the floor echoed through the room. Blood began dripping from several noses as servant after servant collapsed.
The baby was dressed in the most adorably devastating outfit anyone had ever seen—so cute it was literally lethal.
"GAH! THIS IS DANGEROUS!" one of the maids gasped, clutching her chest as blood streamed from her nose. "MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!"
"TRULY, I DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR YOUNG MASTER ANYMORE!" a butler spoke dramatically, trying to crawl away toward the door like a wounded soldier. "I CAN'T BEAR TO SEE THIS LEVEL OF CUTENESS! IT'S TOO MUCH!"
"Hey—hey! Don't give up now, you weaklings!" Oliver called out, stepping over the fallen bodies with practiced ease. "Youngest, hurry and inform your grandmother that I'm coming tonight, then come back here quickly! And Mother Maid, don't just stand there frozen like a statue—MOVE! MOVE! We've got actual work to do!"
Oliver grabbed the Youngest by the shoulders and practically tossed her gently toward the door to get her moving. Then he turned back and carefully lifted the baby from the stunned Mother Maid's trembling arms, cradling the infant securely.
He stepped past the scattered maids and butlers still lying dramatically on the floor, blood pooling beneath their faces.
All of them appeared very much dead from cuteness overload—except one.
"Oy, wake up," Oliver said calmly, kneeling beside a particular maid who lay motionless. "I've got a lot of work to do today. Help me out a little!"
"Hm? Young Master? Oh, sure, sure," the maid replied instantly, suddenly springing up with surprising energy as if she'd never been down at all. She stood straight and proper, brushing off her uniform.
Oliver stared at her for a long moment, then sighed knowingly. "Here. Hold the baby for a minute."
He placed the infant carefully into her arms.
"A-ah! Yes, Young Master!" The maid fumbled slightly at first, then settled the baby securely against her chest. She smiled sweetly down at the child, her expression instantly softening with natural maternal warmth.
As soon as she had a firm, comfortable hold, Oliver stepped closer. He gently fixed her messy hair, tucking the loose strands behind her ears with careful fingers. Then he bent down and straightened her maid attire, adjusting the collar and smoothing out the wrinkles in the fabric.
While doing so, he spoke quietly, his tone firm but caring.
"How many times have I told you to take better care of yourself? Tell me honestly—what happened this time?"
"What do you mean, Young Master? Nothing happened at all," the maid replied cheerfully, clearly not taking his concern seriously. She rocked the baby gently, avoiding his eyes.
"Did you cause trouble again?" Oliver asked directly, ignoring her deflection. He straightened up and looked her directly in the eyes, his gaze penetrating.
"Ah—well…" She looked away, embarrassed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "You know how my mouth runs sometimes. I may have... said a few things in front of Madam Dreka."
"Huh. That's nothing new for you," Oliver said calmly, though there was a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Don't worry—your words didn't hurt her. She's completely fine and doesn't hold it against you. But what exactly did you say?"
He took the baby back into his arms as he asked, his movements gentle and practiced.
"Why should I tell you? It's nothing special," the maid huffed, crossing her arms defensively. "Just... secret girl talk."
"Fine, fine. Don't tell me then," Oliver sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping with exaggerated sadness. "I'm only your Young Master and your childhood friend. We've spent so many years together, practically grew up side by side, and you're still keeping secrets from me."
He turned away, putting on the most pitiful expression he could manage as he began talking to the sleeping baby instead.
"Right, little one? Friendship has no value these days. People just abandon you emotionally and physically such a sad world we live in…"
"Gah! Young Master, don't emotionally manipulate me like that!" the maid snapped, quickly catching up to him and grabbing his sleeve. "And aren't you the one keeping secrets from me? Who is this new lover of yours everyone's talking about? Why didn't you tell me about her first? I have every right to know—we're supposed to share everything! I'm angry, very angry!"
She pouted genuinely, her lower lip jutting out.
"Oh, her?" Oliver replied casually, though his eyes softened at the mention. "A lot has happened in just a few days—so much, you wouldn't believe it. We haven't had proper time to sit down and talk. That's why I couldn't tell you yet. I'm sorry."
He looked at her apologetically. "I'll explain everything soon, I promise. But right now, we've got important work to do that can't wait."
His eyes suddenly lit up with genuine excitement, almost glowing.
"I've finally cracked the code to my success! Want to hear about it?"
"Heeeeh?" The maid sighed heavily, shaking her head with a knowing smile. "Fine, I can wait to hear about your mysterious lover. Go on, tell me about this 'code to success.'"
She paused, then added teasingly, "But don't you say this same thing every single time? Are you absolutely sure you'll succeed this time? For real?"
"Gah! Don't underestimate your Young Master's power, you big-mouthed idiot," Oliver said, nudging her lightly with his shoulder. He was careful not to disturb the sleeping baby in his arms.
"Hehe… you know, I trust you with all my heart," she said softly, her teasing tone vanishing into something genuine and warm. "I believed in you as a kid when everyone else laughed, and I still believe in you now. No matter what."
"…I know," Oliver replied quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you—for always staying with me, even when things got really bad."
He bowed his head slightly in sincere gratitude.
"I stayed because I want to meet handsome men through your connections and live like a queen in their embrace," she said cheerfully, immediately breaking the emotional moment. "So if you're thankful, bring me handsome, sexy men as payment!"
"Oh? But you never like it when I actually introduce you to anyone," Oliver said with a knowing smile. "You always refuse to talk to them and hide away. Remember that merchant's son? The artist? That—"
"Gah! They're just not handsome enough for my refined tastes," she replied, waving her hand dismissively. "I've been spoiled by looking at your face every day, so now my standards are impossibly higher. It's your fault, really."
"Oh, then I suppose finding someone for you is impossible," Oliver said proudly, puffing out his chest slightly. "Because I'm the most handsome man alive in this entire city!"
He tried to flick his hair dramatically with his free hand—but completely failed due to the baby occupying his arms. The gesture looked ridiculous.
"Hehe, sure you are," the maid laughed warmly, reaching over to flick his hair for him properly.
"Hey! That wasn't good enough—you totally messed it up!" Oliver protested.
"BLEEEH!" She stuck her tongue out at him childishly.
"STOP THAT!"
"Make me!"
"Hahaha!"
They walked on together through the hallway, laughing and teasing each other. Behind them, the other servants in the room slowly began to stand up, wiping the blood from their noses and getting ready to work for their Young Master, their hearts full of affection and loyalty.
.
"GAAHH! MOTHER, WE'RE ALREADY HOME, SO RELEASE MY EAR! IT'S GONNA FALL OFF!!" Maren shouted desperately as soon as they stepped through the front door. "DADDDYYYY!!!"
Her voice echoed through the house like a war cry.
THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD– THUDTHUDTHUDTHUD!!
The heavy sound of multiple sets of footsteps came thundering toward them at full speed, shaking the floorboards.
"Hey, you witch, leave my daughter alone!" one of the fathers shouted, sliding around the corner.
"Gah! My little Meru is being bullied again!" another father yelled, running as fast as his legs could carry him, his face a mask of protective fury.
"You're hurting her cute little ear!" The third father arrived and finally pried Maren free from her mother's iron grip, pulling the girl safely behind him.
"TSK TSK! This demon, always tormenting my cute daughter," one of the fathers said, shaking his head. "GRR! Let's go, Maren. We have to work harder and make you stronger so we can defeat her together one day!"
He grabbed Maren's hand and began pulling her forcefully toward the training ground in the back.
"Huh! What! Father, that's not what I meant! I just wanted you to save me, not—PLEASE, DADDY! NOOOOOO!!!!"
Maren's pitiful shout echoed through the house once again as one of her fathers dragged her away toward what she knew would be hellish training. Her cries for mercy faded into the distance.
"Sigh! What a wild animal that child is," Mother Isafold sighed heavily, rubbing her neck in tiredness. She rolled her shoulders, feeling the tension.
"Hehe, don't worry about it. She's growing just fine," one of the fathers said warmly, gently taking his wife's hand and leading her to sit on the comfortable sofa. The other husband immediately brought her something cool to drink, placing it carefully in her hands.
"Here, rest a bit."
Mother Isafold accepted the drink gratefully, taking a long sip before settling back into the cushions. Her husbands sat on either side of her, close and protective.
"Tell me," one of them said seriously, his expression growing concerned, "how are you actually going to find the source of those weird energies? It seems... impossible."
"Truthfully, only if luck is on our side can we find the source," Mother Isafold explained, her tone shifting to something serious and heavy. The playfulness from earlier vanished completely. "The underground area is way too big to search properly—it's like a maze down there. Miles and miles of tunnels."
She took another sip of her drink. "The Princess Consort will only be present there for a limited time during the event. In that window, you'll try to find some clues and follow any leads you can."
She looked at her husbands. "Don't risk your life, you and the kids should be careful out there. Let's hope everything will work out in the end."
Mother Isafold grabbed both her husbands' hands and squeezed them tightly, her fingers trembling slightly. The worry in her eyes was clear—this can get dangerous really fast, and they all knew it.
"Don't worry, wifey," the two husbands said in unison, wrapping their arms around her from both sides. They held her close, sandwiching her between their warm bodies. "We'll do our absolute best. We'll protect our daughter and find what we're looking for. Together."
Mother Isafold closed her eyes and leaned into their embrace, drawing strength from their presence. For just a moment, she let herself feel safe.
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END OF CHAPTER
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AUTHOR BLABBERING
Sometimes, things simply don't go our way — and that's okay. We often picture how life should unfold, holding onto our hopes and desires, only to feel disappointed or even frustrated when reality takes a different turn. But that unpredictability… that's the true beauty of life. If everything always went according to plan, it would lose its mystery, its excitement — its soul.
So, if you ever find yourself disheartened because things didn't go as you wished, pause for a moment. Take a deep breath. Remind yourself: "It's okay. Maybe something even better is waiting for me."
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