When Aria finished preparing the food, she clumsily served them on the table. It was a rather cute sight to behold. Watching a girl in a french maid outfit tumble over her own steps as she served food.
The table it was served on was a simple and small one. Since it was just Ari and Earl living in the Magic Castle previously, all they needed a simple table placed by the window.
"Thank you. Be careful on your feet on your way back." Earl told Aria when all the food was served.
To respond, Aria took a big step back and said quietly. "Y-Your kind words are wasted on Aria, master."
"Good response. Have some head pats."
Pat. Pat.
After having his fill, Aria disappeared into the kitchen. Being the degenerate guy he was, there were certain things he could not resist teaching Aria.
"Looks like you're having a lot of fun with her~," Ari told Earl as she filled their glasses of water using magic. They were seated next to each other as usual.
"Of course. And you look like you had fun with her too!"
"Hmm. Maybe?"
They began to eat their meal. When they finished Earl asked Ari for a favour.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"I think we should send Aria to a maid school," Earl said. There was no need to elaborate any further as they were both intelligent people.
And so, that was how they ended up at the best Maid Training Institution within Ablax, the Golden Service Institution.
It was a big brown building made of old bricks which would make one think that the building was one with history. The windows were tinted a dark shade and the only iconic feature about it was the building's logo which was that of a golden feather.
Earl chuckled to himself as the building reminded him of a prison. It was worthy of being known as the Institution which brought up the finest of maids with its strict regiments. When he looked back, he noticed that Aria appeared a bit shakey.
She probably thought something bad was going to happen to her since they didn't tell her anything before coming here.
Earl took it upon himself to cheer her up. "You will be coming to this place for the next 2 months so you can learn how to serve me better. Isn't that great?" He patted her head.
Aria gave him a glare in response but Earl was totally immune to it. He thought that she looked cuter than anything when she glared at him like that.
"As expected, you are even more pleasing to the eyes when you show some emotions on your face, fufu." Without even knowing it, Earl had picked up a few of Ari's speech patterns.
They entered the building and quickly enrolled Aria into the school without a problem. With Ari's status, it was a blessing for the teachers at the Institute to be graced by her presence.
All the teachers appeared to be old, retired maids. Some had strict faces, while others were gentle. Inside the building, a glimpse of the Institute's training could be seen.
A group of maids in training were being taught the proper way to greet and bow. They were forced to hold the stance as the maid instructor fixed their postures one by one.
"She can start tomorrow." The guide told them respectfully. The guide was a retired old maid like other workers within the Institution. Earl could see how deliberate and sharp each of her movements were. The volume of her voice was controlled. Not too high, not too low. Each of her hand movements was deliberate and pronounced when she used them. When they were not needed, they were placed gently behind her back. Earl was very much looking forward to how Aria would turn out now.
"That's excellent. We shall leave now." Ari nodded and dismissed the guide.
Leaving the building, they walked back to the Magic Castle. The Golden Service Institution was within walking distances. When they arrived back home, Ari asked Aria. "Have you memorized the way?"
"Yes, madam." Aria nodded.
"Splendid. You can go to the institution on your own every day until your training is finished, then."
"Yes, madam." Aria nodded again but this time, she was also petted by Earl.
"Hehe." Her little master laughed. "Work hard so you can serve me well!"
The sight of his little face smiling cheekily gave Aria the urge to commit an act of violence. Gritting her teeth, she replied weakly, "Yes, master."
Pat. Pat.
"Have more head pats."
Later that day, Earl and Ari visited the Royal Palace.
Earl made his way to the Royal Garden as usual and as expected, a beautiful little doll-like girl with long, silver hair and soft blue eyes was playing alone by the flowers with her magic.
"Your Highness." He called out to her. His voice caused her body to perk up as she looked around for his voice.
"Earl?" She said joyfully.
"Over here, Princess." Earl waved as he approached her.
Seeing his face, Sharon faked anger and looked away, "Humph!"
"What's the matter?"
"Don't think I'll forgive you so easily for leaving for so long without telling me!" She pouted.
Earl smiled at her reaction. She was quite a cute girl indeed. To appease her, he summoned a ball of water and froze it into a block of ice. The next moment, the block of ice chipped away rapidly and turned into an ice flower.
"Woah!" The princess exclaimed at the sight of its creation process.
"Here's a gift, Princess. A beautiful flower for a flower like you." Earl handed the flower to her.
"It's so pretty!" She gently held the flower within her two little hands. The ice flower almost appeared like it was made of crystals. Each leaf was carefully sculpted to show all the little details. The transparency that came with it being made from ice gave it a wonderful brilliance.
In no time, Sharon already dropped her front. As expected, children were easy to appease.
"Teach me, teach me!"
"Of course, princess. It would be my pleasure." Earl would never slack on planting seeds on a girl who would surely transform into a very fine maiden later on. Was this grooming? Eh, who cares.