"NO!" Layla's eyes opened in terror. She clutched the covers of the comfortable big bed she was lying in. Her heart was beating fast, faster than she knew it could, and she was sweating.
She sat up on the bed, looking around and realizing that she was still in one of the chambers in the castle. She looked down at the nightgown she was wearing, clutching it in the chest area. "It was just a dream... Yes... They might be sleeping in the same room... But Orion would never do that to me, no?! He would never!" She sobbed into her hands.
It was clear. Layla was just dreaming about Electra trying to make a move on Orion. Despite knowing that it was a dream, she was still afraid and saddened, mainly because of the fact that she had such a dream.
Someone knocked on the door. "I'm coming in, Young Lady." A calm, collected voice, rid of any emotion, called, and so the door was opened. A sapphire-eyed maid with short brown hair walked and bowed to Layla.
The girl wiped her eyes, looking at the maid, trying to remember her name, but she couldn't. "Uhh... Hi... Good morning... uhh-"
The maid raised her skirt respectfully, a proper manner when it came to introducing yourself to someone of a higher status. "My name is Selene, and I will have the pleasure of serving you for the time being." She looked at the clock, which was hanging above the large window.
"It's already noon, so it's about time to visit the bathing room," Selene added, walking up to the bed.
Layla looked down at herself, crossing her arms above the nightgown around her chest. "Can I get my clothes? I don't want to be rude, but I'm sure that I would feel kinda weird walking around the castle in those... uhh... clothes..." Her cheeks slightly reddened.
The maid shook her head. "Milady, after bathing, you will receive new clothes, more fitting for walking around the castle." She said firmly. It wasn't cold or mean, it was just straight up professional.
Layla got off the bed, looking everywhere for her clothes. "But where are my clothes?! Ellie bought them for me!" She looked in the wardrobe, under the bed, even behind the window, but found nothing, not even a sock.
The maid started making the bed as she spoke calmly. "The clothes have been taken away in order to clean and fix them up. You will receive them back when you leave the castle."
Layla was dumbfounded, frowning in anger. "What do you mean by 'have been taken away'?! Give me my beautiful clothes back!" She yelled at the maid.
After making the bed, the maid stepped towards the door, looking straight at Layla with the same emotionless look on her face. "I apologize if I have angered you, Young Lady, but I'm just following the orders I have gotten from my superiors." She said calmly, grabbing the handle and opening the door softly. "But now, please follow me, as you need to follow your daily routine and go to the bathroom."
Layla scowled, following the maid out of the room into the long hallway. There was a never-ending red carpet on the ground, candlesticks on the wall, massive windows, and a lot of doors leading to other rooms.
The maid walked with grace, and Layla followed her slowly, crossing her arms above her chest, uncomfortable walking around such a place in a nightgown. "Where is Elaine? I am her bodyguard, so I should be with her all the time."
Selene looked over at Layla, a strict expression on her face. "Lady Elaine is with a servant who was assigned to her. You will have the chance to meet her during breakfast."
"I should've never taken that job! I could be lying in bed with Orion now! In a nice comfy bed! Hmph!" Layla pouted, looking at the city through the window.
A few minutes later, Layla and the maid entered the bathroom.
It was a large room with an enormous pool in the middle, which took up most of the space.
There were already a couple of completely nude maids cleaning themselves and relaxing in the hot water provided by the water and fire mana stones.
"Take off your clothes, my Lady," Selene said calmly.
"N-No!" Layla squeaked in embarrassment, feeling her blood rush to her cheeks.
The maids looked at her in surprise. A nude amethyst-eyed maid with long, flowing blonde hair walked up to them, tilting her head to the side and poking Layla's cheek softly.
"What a beautiful Lady you've got here, Selene~!" She chirped, her voice very sultry.
"The girl was assigned to me, not you, Maia. Just forget it and go away." Selene said coldly, her icy glare on Maia's eyes.
"Soo cooold~!" Maia shivered mockingly. "Even to your boss!" She chuckled, her eyes flicking back to Layla.
"Hello, beautiful. My name is Maia, I am the head maid of this castle~!" Maia cupped Layla's cheeks, caressing them.
Layla looked away, trying not to look at Maia's large chest, which bounced and jiggled every time she moved.
Selene sighed deeply, shaking her head in annoyance. "Lady Layla, I will be right back with suitable clothes, so make sure to clean yourself." She said calmly, her annoyance disappearing as fast as it appeared as she left the room.
Maia smirked, grabbing her breasts and pushing them up. "Don't worry, beautiful. Don't be embarrassed, you can look as much as you want~" She licked her lips.
Layla's cheeks turned crimson, she looked down at the ground without saying a word.
Maia stared at Layla's face in amazement. "Never seen such a beautiful girl before-" Her smirk widened. "Other than my mother, of course~"
"T-Thank you...?" Layla murmured under her nose.
"So, why won't you take those clothes off and bathe with us? You don't need to be embarrassed, honey. Quite the opposite, you should be proud of such a beautiful face, skin, body, hair, eyes, and everything else." She said softly, reaching over to Layla's head and caressing her hair.
A few maids waved to her softly. "Come on! We don't bite!" They yelled, encouraging her to hop in.
Layla looked up into Maia's eyes, her blush slightly fading away. "F-Fine..."
Her legs were shaking as she slowly took off the nightgown and underwear. She covered her crotch and chest with her arms.
Maia smirked, pulling Layla's arm away from her chest and dragging her into the water. "Come on, girls! Let's clean our Lady up, brush her hair, and give her a soft massage~!" She yelled mischievously.
Layla's blush returned to its crimson state as she looked at all the maids around her. "Please... don't call me a 'Lady'... I'm j-just L-Layla..."
"La-La-Layla?" Maia teased, taking a bath brush.
"You're quite skinny!" A maid said softly as she cleaned Layla's back.
"Then it's settled! We will make sure that Lady Layla gets to eat enough!" Another maid yelled with excitement.
Maia caressed Layla's skin as she brushed her body with the bath brush. "And if our little Layla will get to eat enough, her body will be happy... and Layla herself will be happier, no~?"
Layla passed out of the embarrassment she was feeling because of the maids.
She woke up in bed in a fresh pair of new underwear. Selene was already here, staring at her with the same emotionless expression form before.
"H-Huh? What happened?" Layla looked around in confusion, not understanding why she was suddenly back in her room.
"Maia made sure to surround you with too many people, even tho Lady Elaine mentioned that it's a bad idea." She said calmly, holding a folded charcoal dress in her arms.
Layla sat up on the bed, tapping the floor with her toes. "That didn't explain what I am doing here!" She pouted, annoyed out of her mind.
"You passed out, my Lady." The maid sighed. "But now, please dress up." She walked over to the bed, placing the folded dress on it.
Layla took the dress, slowly putting it on. It was a short charcoal-grey dress with a subtle black trim, the color mirroring her hair and eyes. It was simple, but also perfect for her, not too big, but also not too small, fitting her waist perfectly. A black ribbon was included to tie her hair back, making her look like a true noble.
Selene took out a mirror, holding it in a way so Layla could look at herself.
Layla's eyes widened, and she smiled softly as she spun around a couple of times. She was amazed by the dress.
"It's... amazing! I love it!" She hugged her maid tightly. "Thank you, Selene!"
The maid didn't flinch, nor react in any way, but the corners of her lips raised slightly. "No problem, Lady. I have chosen it for you personally, and it seems that I had a good feeling." She said calmly, not hugging Layla back, just staying professional.
Later, Selene and Layla finally reached the dining room. It was a big room, not like the bathroom, but still big. There were many candlesticks on the walls and a long table in the middle of the room, a table covered with various dishes and delicacies.
Lancelot and Elaine were already seated by the table, a personal maid behind each of them.
Layla was holding her hands in front of her hips, feeling a little shy. "Hi..." She waved shyly.
Elaine smiled softly, patting a chair that was next to her. "Good morning, Layla. You look outstanding in that dress." She said kindly, patting the chair again. "Come here, sit down next to me, after all, you're my bodyguard."
Layla nodded, walking over to the chair and sitting down on it. Selene followed her and stood behind the chair as she sat down.
Layla looked at all the food that was on the table, saliva filling her mouth. She swallowed hard, putting her hands on her lap. "It looks tasty... I have never seen so much food before..."
Lancelot leaned away into his chair. "HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT, HUH?!" He groaned, his stomach rumbling.
"Lancelot, don't be so loud. Don't forget where we are, and behave yourself." Elaine said calmly, sipping tea from a cup.
Layla looked around. "Where is Mr. Alaric?" She asked curiously.
"Duke Caer is in the adults' dining room, Lady," Selene said calmly, pointing at the ground. "This is the dining room where the children are eating."
Layla looked at the door, her hands shaking in fear as she just realized what, or precisely who, was coming.
The double doors opened, and fourteen-year-old boy with brown hair and grey eyes walked into the room, furrowing his eyebrows in annoyance as he sat down. Maia followed him into the room. She was now clad in a maid's attire.
"Why the hell do I need to be with those children when Morgana is with the important people, huh?!" He muttered under his nose in anger.
Elaine bowed her head towards the boy. "Good morning, Prince Gareth. How are you doing?" Elaine asked kindly, a soft smile on her face.
Lancelot smirked. "Long time no see, Gareth!" He yelled.
Gareth didn't want to speak to them, as he saw himself as someone superior to them.
Maia pulled his ear softly. "Greet your guests, young Master." She whispered into his ear firmly.
Gareth sighed deeply, looking at the other side of the table. "Yeah, yeah! Nice to meet you two-" Seeing Layla, staring at him in confusion, he paused. He was stunned to the core of his soul, his heart started beating faster in faster to the point that he could hear it.
"Oh!" Layla thought that he was mad, and a shiver ran down her spine as she tried to do something to avoid any trouble.
She stood up and bowed her head nervously. "Nice to meet you, your highness. My name is Layla, and I am Elaine's guardian!"
Gareth turned his head towards Maia. "I want this one." He whispered into her ear, fully certain of what he just said.