The Maid

-----Yui's POV

We all moved inside, with me heading upstairs to my room. Other maids seeing the maid following me up the stairs offered to help, but I declined. It's odd enough to be getting dressed by someone, let alone multiple people. Maybe when I get more comfortable with this, then maybe I'll be more open to that idea. Although something does feel off about this. I'm about to get dressed by someone who I don't even know. I've never once thought of remembering every single maid and butler in our household, but I guess I can make a start now.

Yui: "Hey."

Maid: "Yes, young mistress?"

Yui: "Growing up, I never really bothered to get to know you guys."

Maid: "You mean us servants?"

The term "servant" does make it sound wrong, it feels like they are working against their will or something. But I know my mother wouldn't do something like that. Plus everyone who works here seem to be happy.

Yui: "Yes."

Maid: "I don't think you have to worry about that, miss."

Yui: "No, but I will worry. So could I ask what is your name?"

Maid: "My name?"

Yui: "Yes."

Maid: "Natalie."

Yui: "Pretty name."

Natalie: "Th-thank you, miss."

I do find it interesting that she didn't say her last name, but I guess I can save that for another time. I'm happy enough to get such a bashful reaction from her as is. We finally get to the top of the stairs as we make our way to my door.

Yui: "You're pretty young though. Have you just started working here?"

Natalie: "Yes, I'm only a few years older than you, miss. Lady Iris took me in just under a year ago."

We continue our conversation as we open my door. My room was spotless, with not a single spec of dust in sight.

Yui: "How did you find my mom?"

Natalie: "My father's recently been struggling with trying to make enough money to support my mom and I. And with the birth of my little brother, I felt it was necessary to leave. It was actually on that same day that Iris snatched me from the street, hehe."

I learned recently how calculative my mother can be, so I wouldn't be surprised if she saw that coming before it even happened.

I was going to quickly undress myself, but Natalie stops me. I did choose for her to do this after all, so I may as well go through with it. Embarrassed after having been stripped out of my clothes, leaving me in just my underwear, I sit down on a chair that Natalie brought out before I take my hair out of the pony tail. She begins to dry my hair with a towel, and I already notice how different she does it compared to when I do it. When I dry my hair, I just scrub it randomly, but she's splitting my hair into parts, making sure to dry gently to not break any of my hair. It's actually quite nice as the feeling of Natalie drying my hair is washing away the tension from earlier when she undressed me.

Yui: "And you like working here?"

Natalie: "Oh, most certainly. The pay is one thing, but I would've thought working for a duchess would be a lot more scarier than this."

Yui: "I see."

Natalie: "Heh-"

Yui: "Hmm?"

Natalie: "Nothing. Just thought it was funny."

Yui: "What is?"

Natalie: "You talking to me like someone on equal standing. Lady Iris did inform me of your quirks, but talking with you first hand, I can totally see what she means."

Well that's because I still don't see myself as someone important enough to have servants look after me. Sure I now see myself as my mother's daughter, but now I'm trying to understand living as her daughter.

Yui: "I just don't like it when people put me on a pedestal."

Natalie: "But you're the duchess' daughter. That's quite a high pedestal you're on already, miss."

Yui: "I know. I guess I'm just trying to get used to it."

Natalie: "Is that why you accepted my proposal to help you dress?"

Yui: "Yes."

Natalie: "Pfft."

Yui: "What's funny now?"

Natalie: "You're 15 years old and you're only just now starting to think of yourself as a duchess' daughter?"

Yui: "Mmmm."

Natalie: "Alright~ All done."

There's no such thing as a hairdryer in this world, but I have to say, after checking my hair, it feels a lot dryer than I thought. It's still damp, but it's spread evenly throughout all my hair. Thankfully my hair was in a pony tail earlier, so my hair isn't too knotted.

Natalie: "Oh, no allow me, miss."

I stop inspecting my hair as Natalie takes over, gently brushing my hair to get rid of the excess knots in question.

Natalie: "I'm not hurting you, miss?"

Yui: "Nope, thank you."

I loved having her dry my hair, but it's even more relaxing having someone else brush your hair. I close my eyes for now, enjoying this sensation. Wait! Isn't Natalie still drenched? I only just realized she's doing all this while soaked.

Yui: "Wait. What about you?

Natalie: "Hmm?"

Yui: "Won't you get sick being in soaked clothes?"

Natalie: "I guess, but you're more important. I'd like to get you taken care of first, miss."

Yui: "But I'm not going to let my maid get sick because of me."

Natalie: "Oh? 'Your' maid?"

Wait. That came out on it's own! Even now, I can feel my embarrassment from before come right back, as I avert my gaze as she continues to brush my hair.

Natalie: "Pfft. I'm teasing, sorry."

Now that I'm giving it some thought, I don't think I can do this with everyone. I know I told myself I'd try and let maids do stuff for me now, but it's bad enough with just Natalie.

Yui: "Well, you'll be the only one doing this for me, so it kind of slipped out."

Natalie: "Just me? What about the other maids?"

Yui: "It's bad enough as is!"

Natalie: "You asking me to be your personal maid, miss?"

I know mom has personal maids that attend to her, so it might not be a bad idea. I'm not quite naked right now, but I don't think I can show myself like this to the other maids.

Yui: "...Only if you want to."

Natalie: "Hmm? You letting me decide?"

Yui: "Of course. I don't want to force it onto you."

Natalie: "Hmm~ Then allow me to think about it."

Yui: "Okay."

I don't know why I'm smiling at that, but I guess I'm glad to hear that she didn't deny it straight away, making me think that she has no one to personally serve. After a few moments, Natalie  finished brushing my hair.

Natalie: "Sure!"

Yui: "Huh?"

Natalie: "I'll do it. From today onwards, I'm all yours, my lady."

Yui: "That was fast."

Natalie: "Well, it was quite an interesting request. The daughter who doesn't let anyone serve her, now being served by me. It's too much of a tempting offer."

Yui: "T-then I'll be in your care."

Natalie: "Yes!"

With that declaration, I hear a click before I feel my bra suddenly becoming loose. I quickly press it back against my chest as my embarrassment only continues to rise. Maybe this is a bad idea after all.

Natalie: "Come on now, we have to get these off of you as well."

After some time of hesitation, I let go as she begins to strip my bra off of me. But surprisingly, she allows me to take my panties off as she goes off to get me some dry clothes. I take this opportunity to quickly take them off before covering myself lower half in a towel. "OKAY! Scary part done!"

-----Kaede's POV

I made up my mind to see the wyverns for myself, but only a peek. I don't plan on actually taming one now, since it might be problematic to have a wyvern flying around Inasdale. And even if it's miraculously not a problem, then I'll be seen as even more of a freak in class. Also I'd like to tell Yui about it before I go about actually doing it.

It was my first time being teleported, but it wasn't as bad as I thought. I guess my head feels a little fuzzy, but nothing major.

Mai: "Here we are~"

Looking up, I could see a wide range of mountains with a dense forest behind us. However, I don't see any wyverns flying around like Mai told me back when she first saw them.

Kaede: "Where's the wyverns?"

Mai: "Well, this is where I last saw them. My guess is their nest is somewhere up in those mountains."

Is she implying that we have to climb? I know this body is quite strong and athletic, but just the thought of climbing such a mountain is exhausting.

Kaede: "So... We're climbing this?"

Mai: "We could just float up."

She then begins to slowly hover off the ground, making it seem like it's the most natural thing in the world.

Mai: "Try and... Uhm- Do this."

Yeah no, that's not helping.

Kaede: "Are you trying to teach me right now?"

Mai: "Yes."

Yeah, I didn't know what I was expecting when she agreed to teach me, but this doesn't help one bit. I try to visualize myself flying into the air like her, but my body refuses to move.

Kaede: "Can you teach me better?"

Mai: "I'm not sure how to describe it. This is my first time teaching after all."

Kaede: "Yes, yes~"

After several failed attempts, we gave up for now as Mai casted flight magic on me herself. I must say, it's quite surreal to be flying like this. The fear of falling is plaguing my mind as we slowly ascend the mountain.