"Lady Lena," the old housekeeper of the Mowish family looked at the elf before him, his brow deeply furrowed not because she was shirking her duties, but because she was... too industrious.
Ever since Lady Anna arrived two days ago, her exclusive maid appeared within the Golden Palace, acting like the pickiest of guests, yet also like the strictest of maestresses. She cleaned one room after another, attending to every corner that the regular maids couldn’t possibly have time for, even repurposing the trophy room of previous kings and dukes—polishing those trophies and sweeping every nook, like a tireless machine.
Upon hearing his call, the elf turned around. Though she wore a beautiful gown, an apron for cleaning was draped over it. A discordant combination but unexpectedly charming, even her headband seemed like an ornamental addition.
The old housekeeper had heard his own master mention this outfit more than once, expressing a desire to have their maids dressed similarly.
Presumptuous as it might be, the old housekeeper couldn’t help but say that his master was a bit too idealistic—after all, no human maid could ever truly compare to an elf maid in appearance, just like the two ladies. No matter how much respect Lady Manli commanded, she couldn’t eclipse Lady Anna’s overwhelming beauty.
"Old Jim, what is it?"
"You see, you have been busy for quite some time, don’t you think you need a break? Let my subordinates take care of the grand hall on the first floor," said Jim, the oldest among the butlers, smiling at the elf.
"I think..." The lady seemed reluctant to cease her work, but as a little Rat-man maid scurried into the hall, she finally raised her eyebrows, "Alright, the first floor I’ll leave to my sisters." After speaking, she set down the bucket she held and reached out to lift the little mouse up into her arms.
The old housekeeper nodded, watching the lady depart with her subordinate.
The Mowish family now had three sets of housekeeping systems. One was Jim’s own, the old Duke’s faction, his family having served the Mowish family since his great-great-grandfather’s time when they were merely dukes. Now, Jim managed the family’s affairs in The Capital and its direct territories. He was loyal to the Mowish family banner and only to the current head of the house. The two ladies, several young masters, and mistresses were only passing figures in his life. Apart from His Majesty, nobody should presume to posture before a 67-year-old, and of all Jim’s talents, staring death in the face was something he practiced both day and night.
The second set was governed by Lady Manli’s twin elf butlers who were the lord master’s followers, and who would later serve alongside Jim’s descendants in the Mowish family.
And the third was Lady Anna’s head maid, Lady Lena, an elf with a troupe of Rat-man maids who seemed to cling to her like shadows.
Old Jim disliked Rat-men because these beastfolk had a bad reputation. In the Middle Ages, these Rat-men were natural-born thieves and pickpockets, some even becoming spies and assassins.
But considering they were ultimately Lena’s followers, Jim found it inappropriate to complain, since she was a legendary battle mage’s follower and head maid, as well as a demi-legendary elf huntress. Perhaps... indeed, she needed some little beings to do certain things she couldn’t do herself.
Regardless, Jim had resolved that as long as they didn’t steal, he would ignore their existence. As for cleaning or organizing, he didn’t expect much from them.
Ah... perhaps having a nest of Rat-man maids to warm the bed might not be such a bad idea after all.
"The person Lady Lena told us to track, we’ve dug up big news!" the released Rat-man maid squeaked: "They’re going to kill Malin! Kill Malin!"
Lena laughed, "It seems just as the lady predicted, there would always be those who couldn’t resist making a grand, earth-shattering statement. Tell me, who’s involved?"
"Cohen Vanter, Willow Jin Rong, Zhao Konghe, Engma Roben, and Cassie Marem," the little maid responded in her shrill voice.
After pondering for a moment, Lena furrowed her brows, "Not quite what I expected, seems like two are missing, Hiddell of the Renaud family, and Shelton."
The Rat-man maid blinked her large eyes: "Both of the men you named were present! But Mr. Hiddell did not join the conspiracy! Mr. Shelton is a giant! Everyone says a giant won’t fight a giant!"
"It seems there are still people who can appreciate the value of life, very well, tell your sisters that they’ve done a good job on this assignment, this is your reward. Your performance was commendable, and I will recommend you to Miss Faye to serve as her exclusive maids," Lena took out a small stack of paper money and handed it to the rat-maid.
"YES! YES! We of the Red Scarf Tribe are loyal rat-folk!" The rat-maid with big round ears took the money, put it in her small side-bag, and her face blossomed with joy as if flowers were smiling, "Miss Lena! Let us handle these conspirators! Kill them all! DIE! DIE!"
"I’d better do it myself, you little things are good at gathering information, but when it comes to killing them, you might not be able to beat them. Take the money, and go find Miss Faye tomorrow. Tell her, that having a big-eared fox as a maid is in poor taste," Lena mentioned the big-eared fox, clearly unhappy—perhaps because of an apprentice big-eared fox of the same age during her childhood... Anyway, those Foxkin are no good at all.
With that thought, she waved her hand, "Remember to serve Miss Faye well, and you must also help with whatever her sisters need, got it?"
"Got it! Big sis! We are going to be the miss’s maids from now on!" The big-eared rat-maid’s eyes widened, "Big sis! What about Malin? Do we need to warm his bed?"
"He has plenty of girls to keep him warm, it’s not your turn yet... Ah, right, I just remembered, he also has a sister, a Panthso cat-folk," Lena suddenly felt like she might have done something wrong.
Sure enough, the rat-maid bristled instantly, "A cat-folk! Kill! DIE! DIE!"
"Don’t you dare lay a hand on her! Otherwise, no one can protect you!" Threatened Lena.
"Then we’re doomed!" The rat-maid clutched at the hair on her little head, her face stricken with terror.
"She is Miss Faye’s sister; Miss Faye won’t let her eat you..." Lena said, breaking into a smile, "But really, how long has it been, and you’re still holding a grudge against the cat-folk?"
"This feud is as deep as the ocean!" replied the rat-maid, still bristling, "Grandpa said his village was burned down by the cat-folk when he was a child!"
"But I’ve heard it was because your village stole from their granary first." Lena interjected, reaching out to ruffle the rat-maid’s head, "Besides, when your father couldn’t support you, it was Lady Anna who bought you, to serve Miss Faye, not to send you to your death."
"We have a blood feud with the great cats of The Great Forest Land!" The rat-maid sulked, unhappy.
"But she was raised in the human world," Lena said, scratching the maid’s nose with a smile, "You might even become friends."
"Eh, she’s not a Great Forest Land cat-folk?" Upon hearing this, the rat-maid seemed less tense and looked up at Lena curiously, "Big sis, really?"
"Really, you can meet Miss Faye tomorrow, why not see for yourself?"
Finally convinced by Lena’s explanation, the rat-maid nodded, "I will tell my sisters."
"Off you go, and tell your sisters, if you work well, you can get an annuity from Lady Anna each year, and your little brother will receive a small gift as an offering for his advancement to tier eight," Lena said.
Upon hearing this, the rat-maid’s face lit up with joy, "That’s wonderful, I will definitely tell my sisters. With Lady Anna’s word, even being eaten would be worth it!"
Watching the rat-maid scamper out the door, Lena couldn’t help but shake her head with a mixture of laughter and tears, what were these little girls thinking? Miss Maya got fed every day by her brother Malin and sister Faye, she really didn’t care for your sour meat.
However... the thought that the little rat-kids who were taken in by Lady Anna out of compassion were now all lovely girls, and that they would be able to help Miss Faye... was an amusing one indeed.
Next, they must all work hard for the family, little girls.