Lior was sleeping peacefully in his bed.
He wasn't dreaming—there was nothing but him and his exhaustion slowly being restored.
The catboy was truly tired; it had been a lot of work for a first day. On top of that, his mind had already been worn down since the day before, his body was weak, and he suffered from constant hunger.
Even so, he hadn't asked for food, and he avoided—only barely—dwelling on his worries, because he knew he wasn't in a position to do so.
Lior's mission was to survive as a slave. Now that he had a place where he could live and eat, it was easier for him to forget his problems.
"..."
The boy slept…
His face was free from his long bangs, since he was lying on his back.
From a top-down view, Lior was covered up to his neck, with both hands hidden beneath the blanket.
He looked so peaceful, as if nothing bad had ever happened.
His tail stuck out from one end of the blanket, limp and pointing toward the door.
Everything about Lior's drowsiness radiated calm—it was a very comforting and cozy scene.
[Lior: Nyaah…]
From time to time, Lior made cat-like sounds. It was strange, but his vocal cords did it frequently.
The catboy slept and slept, most likely lost in some kind of dream. His body shifted now and then, adjusting itself on the bed, accompanied by those soft cat noises.
[Lior: Nhm…]
Tranquility… peace…
Sleep…
Sleep…
Sleep…
"..."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Awakening…
Awakening…
Awakening…
Lior felt something trying to wake him up, but that something wasn't very strong.
For the moment, his consciousness was buried deep in sleep, since he felt utterly exhausted and—
"Wake up…"
What? What was that?
"Wake up."
Hey, there's something being heard…
"Wake up."
A voice? What?
"Wake up."
?
"…"
Ah… well, look at that, it went quiet.
"…"
[Chiyo: WAKE UP!]
[Lior: KYAAA!]
Lior was wide awake.
[Lior: Wh—! Ah… gods…]
[Chiyo: You woke up…]
[Lior: Hah… Hah…]
[Chiyo: It's already very late. How could you even think of sleeping this long? You have work to do, and you've failed to complete all your morning duties]
[Lior: Ah… shit… my heart…]
[Chiyo: Get up! You'll be given a penalty now. You'll receive more work than yesterday]
Lior still wasn't fully lucid. His head was crawling back from the abyss called sleep, and in the blink of an eye, he'd been yanked out like a fish.
The catboy looked to his left and saw a beautiful catgirl dressed as a maid.
[Lior: Ah…]
At first, Lior was confused, but then—
[Lior: Cough… P-please forgive me! Forgive me, M-Miss Chi—]
[Chiyo: Don't apologize. Just accept the consequences. You'll have double the work today, and you'll eat the leftovers for lunch]
[Lior: …]
The catboy's eyes opened wide, his body tensing up instantly.
"Ah…"
Wait—he could still defend himself. He wasn't used to this yet…
[Lior: I—]
[Chiyo: You're expected in the kitchen, wearing your uniform and with it clean]
[Lior: …]
After saying that, Chiyo shot Lior a harsh look and turned back toward the bedroom door. She grabbed the doorknob as she stepped out, closing the door behind her.
[Lior: Nya…]
The sensation Lior felt was pure exhaustion. He had just woken up and could barely stay lucid.
[Lior: What just happened?]
His mind was still half-lost, not fully refreshed yet, and his dreamlike thoughts still weighed on his head. Being woken so abruptly left him with a dull headache.
[Lior: I have to get up… fast]
Now that he understood what had happened, he realized he'd overslept. He couldn't ignore the fact that a punishment was coming, so to avoid receiving another one, he had to hurry.
[Lior: Nya]
Lior jumped out of bed and hurried to grab his uniform, which was neatly folded on top of his nightstand.
The catboy quickly took off his pajamas and tossed them onto the bed. The first thing he did was put on his stockings. Then he grabbed the harness that connected the long stockings to his underwear and strapped it onto his legs as fast as he could. After that, he took his black shoes from the side and put them on.
Lior picked up his other garment—the main one—the dress. He dressed himself completely, covering his delicate body. Then he put on an apron and both gloves.
He also took a coif—the same one he had worn yesterday—placed it properly on his head, and looked at himself in the mirror to check his appearance.
[Lior: Done…]
Now it was time to wash up, in the servants' bathroom.
[Lior: …]
Lior left his room and headed toward the bathroom nearby. He walked delicately but in a hurry; he didn't have time to get distracted.
[Lior: I hope there's no one there…]
There he was—the catboy standing in front of the door.
[Lior: I'm really embarrassed to go into the women's bathroom, but my master treats me like one]
Lior was torn between going straight to the kitchen like this—dressed but unwashed—or going into the bathroom and being clean.
"Chiyo would complain…"
Most likely, yes—especially since yesterday his master had said he wanted him clean.
[Lior: Ahg… fine… nothing to do about it]
Gathering his willpower and throwing his pride in the trash, he closed his eyes.
[Lior: gulp…]
He grabbed the doorknob and—
Opened it.
[Lior: Ah…]
"There's no one here"
[Lior: I'm an idiot! Of course there's no one here—everyone's working]
Indeed, Lior was an idiot.
But—
[Lior: Fast, fast]
He didn't have time to waste. He really didn't have time to waste.
[Lior: I'm against the clock, against the clock]
Lior hurried to wash his face at a small basin on the side—it seemed his master had literally thought of everything.
After splashing his face with water, he had to brush his teeth… wait—
[Lior: How do I brush my teeth?]
That was the question that crossed his mind, until he looked to the side and saw some sticks.
[Lior: Ah… so it's with these…]
Lior had previously watched explanatory videos about how people used to clean themselves in ancient times, and he remembered one video where this method appeared.
[Lior: Yeah… I guess it never hurts to try new things]
Lior grabbed a wooden stick and bit it. He started rubbing the peeled end against his teeth—it was pretty uncomfortable.
[Lior: Ahg-shu]
Lior spat out all his saliva.
[Lior: Now… I have to go to the kitchen, nya]
Lior was ready; he didn't feel it was necessary to comb his hair or anything like that.
Chiyo would be waiting for him in the kitchen, most likely along with several other maids.
[Lior: I have to… stop worrying…]
Lior was extremely worried about this new day. Yesterday had already been pretty mediocre. Everything he had learned about this new place forced him to think differently. He still didn't understand why he was staying here, nor how the place was properly organized.
From what little he understood, he was in one of the lowest positions—since he was simply a domestic servant. He just had to follow the orders of his superiors, or else he'd end up in serious trouble.
Even so, his worries led him to think more about what was going to happen today—not only because he now had a punishment, but also because of why.
[Lior: Once again, today I'll see my master]
Even though Lior had just woken up, he still carried the worry and anguish from yesterday. His master had left him in a state of crisis that he had only managed to calm slightly.
Just thinking about it…
[Lior: I just want… him not to cross the line…]
Lior felt afraid of his master, since Akuma was very unpredictable. The way he acted was simply creepy; it repulsed him just to think about it.
[Lior: Ah…]
His eyes… his gaze…
[Lior: …]
He didn't want to think about what might happen—his rejection… would Akuma notice it?
[Lior: Ah… ah…]
He was bad at hiding his feelings. To him, Akuma was an incomprehensible being who had proven that fact yesterday.
His master…
[Lior: …]
Lior entered a state of dissociation, his gaze resting on the wall for no apparent reason.
"…"
He thought about what could happen, the variables he had, and what he could do.
He went over it, over it, and over it again.
[Lior: Nothing…]
There was no escape.
[Lior: Nothing…]
There was no turning back.
[Lior: I only have… to obey]
He was a slave—what else could he do? He depended completely on his master and had to accept all his demands.
"…"
[Lior: Ah!]
Lior was in a trance until he was startled by a sound.
He looked down at the floor and saw that the stick had fallen from his hand.
[Lior: Ah… Ah! Right, I have to go to the kitchen, nya]
Lior quickly remembered his errand. He had to go to the kitchen, and he couldn't be late.
[Lior: …]
That was when the catboy came back to his senses and hurried toward the kitchen. He picked up the stick he used as a toothbrush and threw it into a bucket with several others like it.
Once again, Lior checked himself carefully, to see if he was missing anything or if he was completely clean.
Then he moved to leave the bathroom and grabbed the doorknob.
He adopted his finest maid's posture and hurried out of the bathroom.
Once outside, he closed the door properly and walked in the direction of the kitchen. It was literally on the other side, at the opposite end of the hallway.
He walked and walked. Walked toward the kitchen. His steps were short but quick.
His body was much smaller than he was used to; his legs were shorter, so he couldn't take longer strides than that.
He walked and walked until he reached his destination.
"…"
Lior stood face to face with the door that led to the kitchen. He quickly checked his clothes one last time to make sure nothing was missing. He looked at his torso, back, and arms. Then he lifted his skirt a little to check his thighs, legs, and feet. After that, he touched his head to make sure the coif was properly placed, and finally adjusted the area around his hips.
He was ready.
[Lior: Okay…]
Taking a deep breath, he prepared to open the door.
"…"
He grabbed the doorknob and…
Opened it.
"…"
[Lior: Ah…]
There, the catboy saw the entire room.
The whole place was filled with maids moving from side to side. Some were cleaning utensils and tables after they had been used, others were focused on the food that was being cooked, and finally there was a chef overseeing everything.
[Lior: Uh…]
Lior felt quite lost. He didn't know where to go, since Chiyo was nowhere to be seen.
"…"
It was then, in that sea of confusion, that someone with a familiar figure caught Lior's bewildered gaze.
A red-haired maid glanced sideways at Lior, who was standing by the door. She gave the catboy an evaluative look, judging him for arriving late.
Lior watched as the maid approached him, while his tail stiffened and his ears perked up.
[Red-haired maid: You're late, miss. Your job was to help with the cooking]
[Lior: …]
[Red-haired maid: Go wash the dishes. For now, that will be your assignment. Later, you'll be given the corresponding punishment]
"…"
[Lior: Y-yes… ma'am…]
[Red-haired maid: Ma'am—Leslie Eidoriku]
[Lior: Ah… y-yes, Lady Leslie]
After telling Lior what to do, the red-haired maid named Leslie returned to the task she had been doing before.
Lior stood there, watching as the maid walked away from him.
The catboy spent a few seconds analyzing the large room he was in. He had had the chance to see it yesterday, but only for a short period of time, since after being shown his room, he hadn't seen it again.
"…"
Once Lior recognized the dishwashing area, he moved, walking and weaving his way through to reach his spot.
The dishwashing area—more accurately, the place for washing dishes—consisted of a section with a wooden chair placed near a large table at one end of the room. On the floor there was a bucket of water with a rag, and on the table there was a pile of wooden bowls, along with some metal plates and a few ceramic ones.
In these times, the most common thing was to see nobles with metal or gold plates; ceramic was a great luxury that very few could afford. All of this raised Don Akuma Eidoriku's level of nobility, so Lior couldn't understand what political position he actually held.
Lior carefully checked his surroundings and noticed nothing strange that he hadn't already seen yesterday while setting the table.
Then he rolled up the sleeves of his uniform and sat down on the chair in front of him.
"…"
The catboy picked up a wooden bowl that was dirty with something resembling a viscous liquid.
He began scrubbing it with the cloth hanging on the edge of the bucket, then submerged it in the water. When he saw that it was completely clean, he checked his surroundings and focused on the large table in the middle of the room.
Lior placed the bowl on that surface and continued with his task of washing everything else.
"…"
While the catboy washed the dishes, Leslie watched him from the other end of the hall.
She observed every gesture he made, wondering whether he already had experience with this kind of work, since, truth be told, he was very efficient at it.
Leslie was the master's second personal maid. Her mission was the same as Chiyo's: to organize and guide the other maids of the mansion.
The entire place was a hierarchy, one that was fairly easy to understand.
Because of that, Lior could adapt quickly, since all he had to do was fulfill his role as a pawn.
Her thoughts about the boy were vague, as she didn't know him as well as Chiyo did.
"Chiyo… she's been acting strange lately."
This morning Chiyo seemed more restless, as if something were worrying her. She rarely acted like that, since before she would simply remain silent and direct crushing looks.
Leslie didn't know why, but she understood the quick attachment toward the boy. His way of acting was polite and somewhat careless, but he simply didn't fit in with the environment of the mansion.
Lior, unlike all the other maids in the place, didn't seem that worried. Apparently, he hadn't experienced something that truly made him fully mature yet.
His way of acting was innocent, simple, and insecure. He only knew the basics and nothing more.
"Knowing the master… I can already imagine his intention."
Lior simply fit into that role. Although it seemed strange to Leslie, it made a lot of sense in her mind. Perhaps that was why Chiyo was taking such pity on him.
[Leslie: Mmm…]
It was uncomfortable to think about it, not only because he was a man, but also because of the idea of seeing someone innocent become corrupted. Her master was strange, but she had always tried to serve him in the best way possible; it wasn't for nothing that she was now a personal maid.
She was given this position when she reached adulthood. Her original purpose upon arriving at the mansion was to work as a domestic maid, until finally, after years of work and effort, she became a personal maid. When she was young, she suffered many abuses and mistreatment from her employers, and because of that, at some point she lost faith in something better. Her mind became an empty shell that served only to obey and obey.
Sadly, when she looked at the poor catboy, she didn't feel any particular emotion. Her mind simply told her that she shouldn't get involved in matters that weren't her own.
Lior was under the care and command of Chiyo and the master, so Leslie didn't have to worry about anything—only to give him orders from time to time so he would stay busy.
[Leslie: …]
Life is harsh; that's something the boy would learn sooner or later. Carrying that weight would be the work of his mind and his heart. If he couldn't endure it, he would surely end up like her—without emotions and without any kind of enlightenment that would make him pray for something new.
"…"
Lior was washing the dishes when, out of nowhere, he felt a strange aura to his left.
He turned to look and met Leslie's piercing gaze. It was a look that said many things and yet nothing at all. He was left somewhat confused, unable to understand its meaning.
Leslie, the moment she received his gaze, closed her eyes and returned to the work she was doing.
Lior remained slightly dazed, but quickly turned back to his task. Basically, what he wanted was to forget that it had happened, since it was probably just one of those evaluative looks that almost all the maids in the mansion threw at him. Their number was starting to weigh on him, as he had quickly grown accustomed to enduring them.
His hand scrubbed the bowl and passed it through the water, over and over again. His mission was to wash and wash. He still didn't understand how there could be so many dishes in the sink, but he trusted that at some point it would end.
And so he continued, continued and continued. With uncomfortable glances from all the maids from time to time. That was his job, and he simply had to keep going.
Like that until the end… like that until the end…
Plate by plate, bowl by bowl, glass after glass.
Cleaning and cleaning.
Washing…
Washing…