Step 9: RESPECT!
Elaine wound up staying up all night, thinking about Alois. His facial expression burned in her mind. Elaine's face flushed pink every time she closed her eyes. Elaine moans in pain, realizing that the sun was rising. She gets up and goes to her bathroom and brushes her teeth. She stares at the bags under her eyes, messy hair, and terrible expression in the mirror. "Oh my GOSH, what did I do to my face!?" she yells at the mirror. Elaine grabs a brush and forces it through her hair, wincing as hair was pulled out in the process.
Elaine was used to her hair being brushed that way. Her mother always struggled to detangle Elaine's hair, and even Katydid's, and her hair was far shorter than Elaine's. Elaine brushed her teeth, and washed her face after the long minutes of hair pulling, and brushing. She took a quick sponge bath, changed out of a towel, into her maid uniform, and rushed out of her room, but wound up bumping into Hannah. The redhead's face was squished between the senior maid's bosom. Hannah chuckles, and Elaine raises her surprised gaze. "Miss Hannah! Good morning!" Elaine grins. Hannah takes a step back, and bows.
"Good morning, Elaine." Elaine walks with Hannah down the hall, heading to the kitchen to help with breakfast. As they made their way down the stairs, Claude stood at the bottom of the stairs, and his piercing gold gaze fell on Elaine. "Elaine," he began. Elaine rushes down the stairs, and salutes. "Y-yessir!" "I need to speak to you, privately." Claude walks out to the garden. Hannah lightly pushes her shoulder. "Don't worry, Claude won't bite." Elaine nods, and jogs after Claude. Claude was picking a few dead flowers from the bushes. He looks up, and tosses the dead flowers on the ground.
"What is it, Claude?"
"Your attitude has a approved, hasn't it?" Elaine nods slowly. She only spoke differently because she did not want to make Alois upset, because it "bored" her. Claude continues. "There was a whole cake, bread and milk missing from the storage. Might you know anything about this, Elaine?" He pushes his glasses up to the roof of his nose. Elaine gulps. He's on to me! Elaine's thoughts panic, and she couldn't think of response. Claude shakes his head. "You are awfully silent, Elaine. You know who stole the food, don't-"
"Alois and I took them! La-last night…?" Elaine flinches. Claude cracks small, almost not visible, smile. "I was expecting you to lie, Elaine." Elaine stiffens. "... EH!?" Elaine jolts, deadpanning. "You knew!?" Claude nods. "I was watching you both. Do you really think that sneaky little thieves could get passed me?" Elaine sulks, and Claude rests his gloved hand on her head. "Quit your sulking. I won't punish you, but if this happens again, you're sleeping outside!"
"... That's what he told me." Elaine finished, after explaining to Canterbury, Thompson, and Timber what Claude spoke to her about. They nod, and Canterbury speaks up. "I think Claude fancies you." Thompson's eyebrows raise in slight surprise. "But wouldn't that be a bad thing?" Thompson replies. Timber shrugs. "Canterbury, you lie. Claude would not try to do an amatuer like Elaine." Elaine chops his head with a newspaper. "It'd be great if you three would stop talking like I'm NOT here!" The three brother looks at her. "You were still here?" Canterbury asks. "You were so tiny, we hardly saw you anymore." Timber added. A vein pops on Elaine's forehead. "Alright that's-"
"YOU THREE!" Alois marches to the squad of four, and the triplets fall silent, stepping away. Alois shoots a glare at Elaine. "My office. NOW!" Elaine jumps at the sound of his raising voice. "Y-yes, Sir!" Alois returns to his office, Elaine following far behind. What is angry about this time? Did he notice that I broke a China plate again? Wait, I forgot to wipe the windows this morning! Oh no oh NO–
"Strip." Elaine looks up, suddenly in his office. Alois sits in his seat, which was in front of his desk. He shoots a glare. "Strip! NOW!" Elaine backs away. "W-what? I'm not taking my clothes off!" Alois holds his dark stare, and Elaine sighs, and lightly kicks her shoes off. She unbuttons her top, and takes it off, revealing her corset, which covered her small breasts. "Uh, i-is this enough?" Elaine looks down, flushed red. Alois narrows his eyes. "Remove the shirt you buffoon." Elaine slides her skirt down her legs, and it falls to her ankles. She now stood, wearing a Fudoshi, and stockings that reached her thighs. She blushes more. "I-is enough now?" Alois stands from his seat, and walks toward her. Elaine stiffens, ready to punch him if he tried to assault her. Instead of what Elaine feared, Alois rests his head on Elaine's chest, slowly untying the strings of her corset. Elaine gulps, feel the corset come loose, and slip off.
"H-hey!" Elaine covers her chest. "D-don't look there!" Alois smiles. "You're just too beautiful not to look at," he says, catching Elaine by surprise. "E-excuse me?" Alois grabs her hair, and forces her lips against his. Elaine's face flushes redder than before, and she kicks him into his desk. He coughs, and Claude walks in. "Young Mas–"
"YOU LOOK AWAY TOO!" Elaine flies a kick at him, and races out of the room. "You monster! That was my first kiss! My first kiss stolen by a little braaaaat!" Elaine runs to her room, and slams the door, locking it. She slumps down on her bed, leaning on her elbows, hands covering her face. Elaine began to cry. "That jerk. . . what a jerk!"
Yes, this chapter is super short. I know :( I've been dead for a while now. Damn... I've been feeling gloomy this week. :^) Good for me.