"Let's play with this weird looking fishing pole, Luke!" Flora said with glee.

"You need to tie the fish first, Flora!" Emmy exclaimed.

"Oooh, it's just like fishing then!"

The two happily dangle the fishing pole and Luke reacted by trying to grab the toy fish, as if there's nothing else to do... Sigh...

I'm really happy that they're all having fun...

But...

Why am I the only one tied up while wearing this maid outfit!


Chapter 3: Evaluation of the Servant

"You managed to dress me as a cat maid, but why am I tied up!"

Emmy took a glance at me, "You were trying to fight back, so it's your fault for being in that state you are."

She looked away and played with Luke again. Sigh... I wonder if it's a good thing that I chose this job; all I'm gonna do is just babysit a doll-faced boy, but then again... the professor said that it's a high paying job... I wonder why? In what I experienced since yesterday, Luke is only in danger of female maniacs ambushing him wherever he goes...

"Oh! I forgot one more thing..." What now, Emmy? Cat whiskers? "I forgot to take a picture of you two!"

"Eh? ...Wait wait wait, WHAT!"

"You think I'm just gonna play with you and not take a picture? Of course not! What's the point of dressing you like this if I don't remember it?" T-This is her prime motive for dressing me up? What kind of hobby has she been doing with Luke all these years! I wish I could cover my self in Luke's cloak...

"You could be beside Clive, Luke!" Flora said, with her happy face and cheerful tone...

Luke went beside me with a bunch of cats following him. What is with these cats? They follow Luke like he's communicating with them... but that can't be possible!

"L-Luke...? You can't be possibly wanting to take a picture while wearing that... thing!"

"..."

"And I don't want it either! So please untie me and we could avoid this mess!" The two answers I know what he will say or do was that he going to untie me, or just say...

"Meow..."

That...

"I'm not a cat, Luke..." Too late now though, Emmy has reached for her camera...

"Now it's time too... Oh! I have another brilliant idea!" Oh great... What now! All this cat maid thing had really lose my pride and dignity as a man, and how come I'm the only one bothered by this! If the professor came and saw us... I'll be drowned in the Thames...

"Hand me the tea, Flora."

"Here you go!"

Emmy hold a plate full of tea and assortments of cake, "I want you, Luke, to hold the tray. Clive, you'll hold the tea pot and pour it to the empty tea cup in the tray Luke is holding."

"...I'm tied up..."

"Hmm... if I untie you, then you'll escape for sure. You'll just stand next to Luke then." And here I thought I'm gonna be home free.

"I think an eight year-old boy holding a tray next to an innocent civilian who is tied up by an evil woman, while wearing a cat maid, with cats in the background, will make a pointless, and a ridiculous, picture." I spat, now annoyed at the idea.

"There's no need to be mad, sheesh..."

As she was about to take a picture, The door suddenly flew open followed by a familiar sound.

The door hit Flora, who was standing in front of the door, and then bumped into Emmy, then me, and finally Luke, just like a human domino. But when I bumped into Luke, the tea and cakes were flying and spilled onto me and Luke! The good thing is, the tea isn't that hot so I don't think Luke will hurt much from the heat. But the cakes is a different story.

"There you are, Flora!" The sound of a pompous woman came from Ms. Dahlia Reinhold, "We're going home right now! I can't believe the shop with that pretty necklace is closed on the weekend..."

"Aww... but it was only an hour since we played..."

"We're still going home! ...By the way, where did these cats come from? And why are you two in a mess?"

"Umm..." Flora's face turned red, since she's the one who brought the cats in the first place.

Because I'm now a 'butler' of sort, I must not let the guest of the Triton Manor be scolded in public. "The cats got into the mansion, Ms. Reinhold. And they accidentally knocked over the tea and cakes to me and Master Luke..." That was a good enough of an explanation...

"Hold on, are you tie-"

"Oh dear... this is quite a mess..."

That voice came out of nowhere, but I'd already suspected who it was, "Welcome back, professor..."

The professor scanned around the room, and I know what he will deduce from all of these evidence.

Cats everywhere, Flora's large bag, cat toys, Emmy with a camera, Luke in a cat maid outfit with food splattered all over him (which he's STILL as calm as ever), myself in the same situation as Luke, just tied up, and of course... the spilled tea and cake on the floor. It's not hard to imagine that we're playing dress-up which I was suppose to prevent.

"I'm going back home now, Hershel. I'll leave this mess to you."

"Of course."

"Let's go now, Flora!" She grabbed Flora's wrist, Flora waved a goodbye to us before she went out of the room. The professor smiled for a farewell.

But that only lasted until he stared at me and Emmy.

"It seems... that not even you could stop Emmy from trying to use the master as a dress-up doll..."

I gulped. Emmy didn't say a word, I could see by her expression that she's too scared to talk against the professor.

"Go back yo your post, I will decide your punishment later."

"Y-Yes sir!"

Her wavering tone was obvious, she even saluted to the professor. Emmy then scurried out of the room with her camera in her hands.

"Now for you, Clive..." I know I'm in trouble, and I don't I will get a punishment as that big of Emmy's... But I don't what I should react when the professor is pulling out a sword from his cane! I'm not joking! He really did pull out a sword from his cane! "This might hurt a bit..."

I shut my eyes tightly, not wanting me to see where he will slice or stab me.

I can hear the sword swinging, but it didn't went through my body. When I open my eyes, the ropes were cut and I was finally free.

"Did I cut you, Clive?"

"N-No, thank you for releasing me, professor..." That was close. I thought I'll turn to mince meat!

"Ah, Master Luke," He picked up a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the mess that was on Luke's face, "You're a mess! I'm very sorry for letting this happen to you..."

"I'm all right, professah..." assured Luke, now saying words instead of 'meow'.

"I see you didn't injure yourself, master. But you need to take off the ridiculous costume." Ha! I knew it was ridiculous!

"Does a hot bath sounds good to you, master?" He nodded a yes.

I'm so glad all this is over... "Clive?"

"Ack! Y-Yes, professor?"

"Please take the master to the bathroom and accompany him there, I will take care of the cats and the mess here."

"Yes, r-right away. Come on, Luke."

"..."

I took Luke's cloak and went to the bathroom along with Luke, I hope you manage to catch all the cats, professor...


"Hmm... There! The water is filled up."

The tub has been filled with warm water for Luke to take a bath, and he went into the tub. I can't wait to take a bath when I'm done with Luke, I don't want to wear this stained cat outfit any longer! I'll make sure to burn that thing when I take it off, "From what the professor meant by 'accompanying', I guess he meant that I need to wash you then. Am I right, Luke?"

Luke didn't answer. He just stared at me with no interest.

"Then it's a yes."

I'm like a maid now, a food smelling maid with cat ears and a cat tail anyway.

I try to find the shampoo, but Luke grabbed my hand and tugged me, like he was trying to pull me in the tub. "What is it, Luke?"

"Tub."

"Tub? Is it too hot?"

But he kept tugging me. Is he actually asking me to join him in the tub? "You want me to take a bath with you...?"

He nodded a yes.

"I,uh..."

I was forced to take a bath with Luke. If I refuse Luke's 'order', I might get the professor mad and I'll be a dead meat, literally... and I know I'm no match for him. I've already known that the professor is a dangerous and a skillful swordsman, ever since I've met him for the first time at that competition...

"Well, this is... nice..."

I need to think positive... I got it! It's like brothers taking a bath together, just that me and Luke are not even related in the first place!

"Now turn around so I can wash your hair, Luke." He did what I say. I feel like a maid all of a sudden, with the cat ears and cat tail included... Maybe conversation will make things more ease, "Can I ask you something, Luke? The professor gave me a note that I'm not allowed to let Emmy to dress you up. But when I was gone, you let Emmy dress you up according to her wishes, why?"

"..."

"And what's with the deal you made with Emmy! I have to wear a girl's outfit because of you."

He stayed silent for a few seconds, but answered after that with a voice more quiet than a whisper, "...Embarrassing."

"Excuse me?"

Instead of responding, he turned his head to me a bit and gave me a look that says he won't say it twice. But... if I perceive it closely, I could sense he's giving me this following message: If I'm going to dress up as a cat maid, then you also have to dress up with me and go through all the humiliating events because you're my butler/guardian. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what he's telling me.

"You're one cruel master, Luke..."

"..." I sighed as I turned my head, thinking why did I even agree to have this job...

Well, Luke's hair is filled with bubbles now, what to do next? "So should I scrub your back? ...Wait, Luke?"

Instead of seeing a quiet boy, I only saw water with bubbles on top of it. Which led me to panic, "D-Did Luke just went out of the tub without me seeing him? Oh no... Oh NO!" If I let the professor see what happened... I don't even want to know what he'll do next with that sword!

I was trembling and thinking of going out of the tub to find Luke, but I noticed something was coming out of the water.

I looked at it, and a head popped out from the water...

"You were... hiding... at the water..."

What a playful, yet solemn master. How does the professor react to this I wonder? They must be close, since Luke can say sentences to him than to me. Maybe I could ask him after we dried ourselves...

"Don't do that again, okay, Luke?"

He just turned away from me.

"Sigh..."

We finish quickly. I dried myself first with the soft towel that was placed at the bathroom, and proceeded to dry Luke's hair, "So Luke, do you have a good relationship with the professor? I mean, are you two close? It seems you get along well with him, but that's my assumption anyway..." Is he listening? Was the question a bit personal?

He stayed quiet, but looked at me with those innocent blue eyes of his.

"What's the matter, Luke?" I stop drying his hair.

"...The professah is..."

"The professor is...?" Is this the answer to my question just now?

"The professah is..." In an instance, his eyes changed into something more 'delicate' as you put it, "...my closest guardian and parent...!"

Guardian? Parent? For some odd reason, it sounds so deep and sad... I understand why he called him a guardian, but to call him a parent as a replacement to his father... he must be really close to the professor and lonely...

Poor boy...

"There, all done. Here's the clothes..."

After this conversation, I don't think I can look at Luke in the eye for a moment. If Luke is this close to the professor, what does the professor think of him? Does he share the same bond as Luke? What am I talking about! I'm sure he does, though he might get scary... really, really, scary... he's rather nice and friendly to Luke as I recall. I remember him holding hands with Luke this morning, and even the letter with the blood on it! I noticed he didn't mention Luke with 'master' at one of the sentence, he must have met Luke in a different situation than me.

But seriously, where did that splotch of blood came from? I'm a bit afraid to find out...

Shortly, we put on to our normal clothes, if you consider clothes that look like nobleman's clothes normal.

I escorted Luke to wherever he wanted to go. More specifically, I just followed him wherever he goes... But the professor appeared in our tracks, "I believe the master is clean?"

"Y-Yes, with no dirt in any part of him..."

"Good."

Luke quickly went to the professor and cling to him, "P-Professah..." He tugged the professor, which seems he wanted the professor to go with him instead of me... It feels depressing when you're not wanted...

"I'm sorry, Master Luke, but could you go by yourself? I need to have a word with Clive. I promise I will make you tea and play with you after I'm done." M-Me?

"...Okay."

Luke went off, to who knows where. But the though of the professor to want to talk with me is already giving me horrid images of what to happen next. "So, professor... what is it do you want to talk about...?" I said, pretending to be dumb.

The professor's kind eyes revert to his evil one, as what I called it, but with his smile in place. Talk about creepy!

"I'm very sure you got the note this morning, Clive."

I tried to stop shivering from the intense gaze the professor is giving me, "I-I'm very sorry! I... I caught off guard, and Emmy... took advantage of it..."

Instead of speaking with his scary tone, he sighed, "Not even you could handle Emmy, how unfortunate... It seems I will have to handle her myself then." I relieved myself, I thought he was going to give another one of his frightening lecture, "And I suppose the cats were from Ms. Flora, am I right?"

"Very."

"It took me much time catching all those cats ... But other than that, I've bought you breakfast. Is not much, but I hope you will gain your energy." He gave me bread that was inside a plastic bag, "Let's talk while we walk to the young master's play room, Clive."

"Okay..."

I followed him while I eat the delicious bread that was given to me. "Do you have any questions about your job, Clive?"

"Hmm... Not really, but I would like to know a few things from this morning."

"Oh? What is it?"

I breathed in for the questions I'm going to say, "First of all, why was Luke sleeping at my room? I don't really think my room is more comfy than his..."

"I didn't asked the master that question," He closed his eyes as if he was solving a complicated puzzle, "but I think the master was getting a glass of water... and was to tired to go to his room on his way and decided to sleep on your place."

That doesn't answer my question at all! "WHY?"

"I do have to say the distance between the master's room and the kitchen was quite far away," I looked at him confused, "but yours are not, in fact, your room is the nearest to the kitchen."

"Oh... that sounds... reasonable..." Yeah, right!

"Or either the master was looking for his cloak at the middle of the night and fell asleep at your room."

I don't know if that makes more sense than the first one or not! Let's just hope the letter with the blood on it will not be what I expect... "All right, what about that little bloodstain at the note you gave me?"

"Ah, I cut my finger while I was preparing breakfast."

That was... simple... Huh, so there was no any bloody fight this morning; shocking. Wait, he was writing the note while doing breakfast? Is not really that amazing but...

"Is that all?"

That wasn't a lot of questions, isn't it? But there is one question I'm a bit curious about one thing... I wonder if it's too private? "There is one more question I would like to ask, if you don't mind..."

"Yes?"

"Are you and Luke close to each other? "

The question stopped the professor from walking. Oops... it was obvious from the start that it was personal... why did I even make such a stupid question! "N-Never mind, professor! Let's just continue our way to Luke and..." He turned his head to me. But instead of meeting eye to eye with that bloody glare of his, his eyes were more soft, as if thinking about someone precious to him- possibly Luke.

"Professor...?"

"It seems..." He turned away and continued walking, "...that you really are meant to be a professional reporter."

"W-What?" Was that a compliment? "Hey! Wait up!"

I could very much sense that the professor smiled just now, but I don't know if it's a good thing or not, "Look, I'm really sorry for asking that..."

"No, no... don't mind much about it."

"Sure..."

"Oh, yes, there is one more theory of Luke sleeping at your room."

"There is?"

"Well, the master might of..." he paused all of a sudden, then I thought I saw the professor smirked, "Never mind, forget what I said before."

"No fair!" I need to know why if Luke kept sneaking inside at my room!

But no point in arguing, we arrived at the play room where I first met Luke, and where I accidently mistake him as a stuffed doll. "Has been a while since I came here..." Oddly, I hear scratching and sounds that doesn't belong human... as if there are numbers of them... "...I hear some meowing inside the room, don't tell me Luke is..."

The professor opened the door quickly, and to my surprise, the cats the professor captured are still here.

"Oh dear..."

The play room was filled with the cats Flora bought. They were purring and playing with some of the dolls, and Luke petted stroke their fur as if bringing all the cats inside a room full of toys were a good decision than to leave them out in the street where they can be free. The professor sighed, probably because he's been working hard on capturing those cats, yet Luke round them all.

But how did an eight year-old capture all the cats?

"Master Luke... you know bringing pets inside are not allowed..."

He reacted by just staring blankly to us.

"You need to let the cats go, Luke." I advised.

A long silence followed. I could hear Luke whispering something to the cats. Aww, how cute is that? He thinks he could speak to animals... No wonder a lot of people thinks he's adorable... but does he really thought the cats could understand what he's talking about?

All of a sudden the cats went running out of the room, "W-Woah!"

"S-See, Luke? It's not so hard to-"

"I let them out... to run on the mansion... and play hide and seek..."

I didn't understand what he meant, but the professor was motionless and looking... a-angry? Wait, 'let the cats go'? Oh no...

"That's not what I meant!"

Now the cats are SCATTERED! Around the mansion hiding in every corner! T-This is bad, this is bad!

"What should we do now, profess-"

A blade suddenly was placed inches before my neck; which is not good, "Get those cats before my temper rise anymore, now."

"YES, SIR!"

I dashed off to find the cats that might take a whole day, and I'm sure Luke is enjoying all of my humiliation. Sigh... I just hope I can still manage to survive, from you-know-who.


"My arms... Ugh..."

Night passed so long that I thought I've been catching the cats for a week, I didn't get lunch until I got all of them and release them out to the street... and my face is filled with scratches... "Now I have to serve my pint-sized master tea, why can't the professor do it?" I don't think I should say that out loud to the professor... I'm so literally dead if he hears that after I let him down for the second time in a row...

I achingly pushed the cart to Luke's room. It seems the Triton Manor has a their own traditions of drinking tea before they go to sleep, and it's Luke's bed time now.

Must be nice to have warm tea every night, instead of cold, tasteless water.

I walked into the hall where I tried to find Luke on that night, and believe me, that disturbing smell is still here- blood.

I don't want to think about that and kept concentrating pushing this burden of a cart. I saw Luke's room opened a bit and heard the professor inside talking to Luke, "Maybe It's not the right time to go inside yet..." I leaned at the door and took a peek at the two.

What? I'm not eavesdropping! I'm just... watching them until they stop talking!

Luke was already in bed sitting up straight, and the professor standing on the side of the bed, "So, Master Luke, how did you enjoy your new slave?" Did he just call me slave? Oh, how pleasing does that sound! "Is he what you expect?"

I crossed my finger.

I waited and waited until...

"No..."

'No', I never thought it will make my heart feel heavy with regrets, confusion, and disappointments. But I do have to agree, I did mess up a lot today, and I overreact a lot, and I did let Emmy took advantage of Luke, and I did... Wow, I said too much 'I did.'

"Why not, master? He's entertaining enough to keep." Is he calling me property? And did he call me entertaining?

"He's noisy..." That's because this mansion is crazy!

"What would you describe him then?"

"A dog."

What...?

"A gullible, yapping dog." Gullible...? Yapping...? ...That's such a high vocabulary for a kid like him... and since when Luke stopped using '...'? I wonder if this is the real him. I never see Luke so... expressive.

"Yes, he is a bit loud sometimes."

"He panics too much, he couldn't fight at all, and he's attempt to please me is obvious." Umm, isn't that what I'm supposed to do? And what do you mean I can't fight? Sure, I lost to Emmy, but if I had a weapon then I might win! "He's like a chihuahua mixed with a golden retriever."

"Dogs are meant to please their master, that's why we servants obey your orders."

"B-But the professah isn't a dog! You're the best servant anyone could have...!" Said Luke, holding on to the professor, "The professah is better than a dog!" If only he said that to me...

The professor put down Luke's hand, "It's time for you to sleep. Well, after you get your tea... Where is Clive anyway? I thought i told him to..."

I quickly knocked the door, "Uh, your tea is here, Luke. I'll be going inside now..." I pushed the cart inside, and Luke went back to his usual self the first time I met him, "Was I a bit long? I'm sorry if I was..."

"I will be leaving the master to you, I will come back again later."

The professor exited, I wonder why did he leave the room? "O-Oh, now I have to serve you tea, right?"

"..." Again with the silence...

I poured him the sweet smelling tea. To tell you the truth, I don't think he's sleepy at all...

"Hey, Luke, do you want me to tell you a story?"

He looked at me with the tea still in his hands, "I know you don't actually want to sleep yet, right?" He starred at the tea, and nodded at me.

"All right then."

I sat down at the surprisingly comfy bed. Let's see... what should I tell him? It got to be interesting for even Luke to pay attention... but is there any story good enough to please him? It has to be something he can relate and be familiar too... Oh! I know! I just hope it will change Luke's perspective and his 'evaluation' of me.

"I'll tell you about how the professor and I met a few weeks ago..."


Phew, finish! This is more longer than the other chapters. Hmm, it looks like I'm beginning to write more than usual, which is good, but I hope you guys don't mind reading longer. Well, I don't have a lot to say in this chapter, an I need to continue on Maiden Love.

Please review! Any comments and suggestion is helpful and appreciated!