Chương 30: Chapter Twenty Nine: Introduction Time!

The other two women are still curtsying before me and I studied their features from my place on the couch. Those clothes… Similar to Kissae's but complete with an embroidered black skirt instead of pants. They're symbolic of a first-grade maid. Unlike Lily or Sarabase. Who I think are second-grade or third-grade maids. The difference between the two isn't completely clear to me but I know that one holds more importance and respect than the other. That one's a light elf most likely.

Her blonde fringe is carefully styled and hangs in ringlets down her face but the rest is otherwise comped into a sharp ponytail behind her back. Her tan skin tells me she probably spends more time outside than I do. Which means she has intel on the outside world! But the other has no particularly special features indicative of her species. Sleek black hair is also tied back into a ponytail and a slender figure in comparison to the blondes. No pointed ears or other quirks to notice. No tail or scales to be seen.

Could she be human? I glanced at them before looking back at Freesia. Who's apparently waiting for something? They all are... Oh. I clear my throat and say softly." You may rise." The two maids rose from their previous stance. The blonde introduces herself first cheerfully." Greetings Princess! My name is Kelly. It's a pleasure to meet you. Please guide me in the future." Freesia nods at me subtly and I squeak out an ok. So polite. The second maid introduces herself to me in a hushed tone.

"Greetings, Your Highness. It's an honor to be in your presence and employ. I will serve you to the best of my ability. Please guide me in the future. My birth name is Mei Xue." I nod and can't help myself from asking.

"Are you perhaps human?" The room grows a little tense as Mei Xue nods lightly. I smile at her excited to learn about her culture.

"That's novel. I don't think I've ever met a human before. It's nice to meet the both of you." I'm going to ask you so many questions later. Besides Dorothea, there aren't any other humans in the residence to my knowledge. Kelly looks flattered and Mei Xue simply nods in response. Freesia taps my shoulder and I look up at her.

"Would you like to confer a second name on the two?" I process that sentence in confusion. Freesia locks onto my unawareness and explains softly that sometimes mistresses and masters confer second names on servants. Sometimes it's so that they can bond with one another other times... they do so to erase the past of the servant.

"No. I like their names." Freesia nods and then proceeds to tell me about my schedule. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"In an hour you will attend basic etiquette training with me, then we'll have an hour of free reading time in the library, after which you will have lunch, and then we'll meet your new tutor. You'll have dinner with your Second Mother—" I raise my hand to signal I have a question and Freesia stops.

"What's a Second Mother?"

"..." Freesia pauses, collects herself, and explains who that is to me along with who my First Mother is. Niathe, my birth mother, is who she refers to as my Second Mother due to her status as a second wife of my father. Dorothea, my father's first and legitimate wife, is my First Mother. Basic etiquette demands that I refer to both by their proper title. Although I'm a little confused I roll with the new information and move on.

"After dinner with your Second Mother. We'll exercise, bathe, and sleep." Nowhere in there did I hear a nap. This seems kind of demanding for a toddler but she looks so serious. Fine. I'll try it out. If I get tired I'll just fake a tantrum.

"Ok."

"In the future, I would like you to answer in this manner. Yes, Nanny."

"Yes, Nanny." Freesia smiles down at me and I puff out my chest a little.

"Good." The rest of the day is spent just like Freesia said. None of my usual escorts are around me either. Helen was completely replaced by Kissae and Lily was replaced by the two new maids. None of them let me out of their sight at any point. Freesia taught me how to properly walk, talk, hold myself, smile, and breathe while we walked down the hall. My face and back were covered in sweat by the time we got to the library.

Instead of exploring by myself, Mei Xue collected books for me and brought them to a desk I sat at located by a window. Kissea just watched from the side and made small talk with Kelly. This is what it's like to live like royalty huh? Not what I thought it was going to be. At lunch, Freesia frequently corrected me on my manners. Sit up straight, bring the food to you with a utensil, no elbows on the table, don't reach across the table, etc. I was bone tired by the time we met my new tutor. You guessed it.

Lady Anne. Ugh. That damn duke chose her on my behalf. She looked me up and down before speaking with Freesia in detail about my future lessons. My ears buzzed as everything they said went in one ear and out the other.

"I can't do this." I threw my utensils down in exasperation.

"..." Niathe looked at me over her glass of wine. Her eyes regarded me indifferently. No sadness, joy, or hate present. Just appraisal. Her velvety voice rolled over me."Which part?" She turned her fingers and tilted the wine glass so that the liquid would cover every side in its rich rotten red juice. I complained.

"All of it. This is too much. I just turned one! How can I be imposed with so many rules so early?" She took a whiff of her wine and then savored it all along with my question before responding serenely."Are you a commoner?" I sense a trap in that question. I refrain from answering and just stare at Niathe. She continues after realizing I won't respond.

"If you would like to live like a commoner I could arrange that for you…" I sense a but in there... nevertheless, it's a good—"But you'll have to return what you owe to me." I ask cautiously.

"Which is...?" She spits out two words.

"Your life."

"..." Needless to say, my conversation with my Second Mother about reducing the duties on my schedule was…unsuccessful. However, I suspect my conversation was leaked to the Super Nanny. Because she is currently torturing me. Forcing me to do intense yoga. Insanity.

"When is it over?!"

"Almost."

"You said that twenty minutes ago…" I gasped for breath and stumbled. That's enough. I looked at her with every intention to fire her immediately but she scooped me up and brought me to the bathroom before I could say anything. She then undressed me and bathed me while giving pointers to the other two on how to clean me thoroughly. Then she left me to do the business by myself. Finally some dignity! After which she massaged me with oil until my body felt like a wet noodle. That's it. I'm done.

I passed out under her satisfied gaze and was brought back to the Soul Space. Guess who was waiting for me? It was clear on her twisted face that she was furious but she held in her anger.

"Ria. Do you have a task for me?"

"What did I tell you about being annoying?"

"..."