Disclaimer: The events that will transpire are intended to entertain you, the reader. If you feel that these events are highly unlikely or purely stupid, it's because it is meant to be. Hence why the genre is humor. In other words, don't be trollin'. Enjoy the chapter!

XIV. The Baker, Observed

It had happened again.

Maylene decided to feign sleep as she heard light footsteps approach her fellow co-worker's bed. They belonged to the baker girl, whom was still in her nightclothes. She looked as if she had been rundown with the stress of many tasks, her hair tousled in an unruly way and her face blotchy with red. The maid wondered absently if Pluto had anything to do with the short girl's state of disarray. The massive hound did have a habit of becoming too excited now and then, sometimes, transforming into that handsome form of his…

Feeling the blood rushing to her face. Maylene removed Pluto's human form from her mind and continued trying to decode her roommate's situation. Over the period of two evenings, Mer was sneaking out of their room. Her mood went from mildly depressed to slightly giddy, or lost in thought when she returned. The claret-haired woman struggled to understand what was going on, but she did not want to ask the baker girl directly. It would be quite rude of her.

The maid relaxed once she heard Mer's soft noises of slumber. A mystery had unfolded, and her curiosity was going to consume her if she did not try to solve it.

But…where to start?

When the sun rested on the horizon the next morning, Maylene (with a sense of duty that could rival most soldiers) gathered her co-workers, and told them of what had been transpiring.

"Maybe she's just going out for air," suggested Finni, green eyes twinkling under the brim of his hat. He was gardening earlier. That is, if you could call butchering every specimen of plant life that. He stroked his chin in contemplation as he brought his thumb and forefinger-stained with chlorophyll-to his chin. "She doesn't sleep well at night, sometimes."

"There ya go, Maylene. There's no mystery, 'ere!" Bardroy concluded, quick to shut the maid's hopes down. He scratched the back of his head distractedly. "Mer's probably havin' trouble sleepin' an' all!"

The bespectacled servant was swift to give her rebuttal, flailing her arms in a repetitive motion. "But she's been sleeping well now! I saw her; yes, I did!"

As Maylene resumed validating her reasons for wanting to launch a full-fledged investigation on Mer's suspicious behavior, she was oblivious to the cook and gardener's horrified expressions and sweat-covered foreheads. She only began to come to the conclusion that something was wrong when she felt a rather oppressive aura bear down on her back.

"I believe that idle chit-chat isn't on your agenda, you three," an elegant yet menacing voice reminded, turning the maid's stance rigid. She whirled around to see the calm fury Sebastian Michaelis was famous for, his maroon eyes critical and sharp.

"We're sorry, Mr. Sebastian, sir!" they all apologized frantically, as if their lives depended on it.

The butler simply nodded his head and went off to handle his own duties, leaving the servants in mutual confusion. Sebastian's usual tongue-lashings would last much more longer than that, jam-packed with all sorts of threats if he believed that the servants were negligent in their tasks. This only convinced Maylene that the butler was acting strange as well.

Just what was going on?

Finnian went back to his tasks in the yard. He was making some significant (yet destructive) progress when it came to his attention that Pluto had not come to greet him, yet. Setting down his shears, the green-eyed boy ran around the area. The large hound was not anywhere to be found until he saw Mer sitting down in her usual spot near the manor, humanized Pluto laying on her lap.

"Plu-Plu?" Finnian almost called out, but decided against it. The baker was talking to him, and not in a way how ignorant people talked to the light-haired man. She seemed to be holding a conversation with him, like Finni himself would. Supposedly, he was the only one who knew that Pluto could talk. According to the scene before him, the baker was in on the secret, too.

The joy in the duo's features should not have worried the young man, however the bits of the conversation taking place did not help stifle the negative emotion blooming throughout his chest.

"Was everything to your liking last night?" Pluto was asking, eyes blinking bashfully. Mer giggled, becoming as red as his eye color before patting his head.

"Oh, Pluto…last night was so amazing," she replied dreamily. "I never thought that we'd end up so close…"

Pluto chuckled. "Even though you have to leave, I'm glad that your last days here won't be too miserable."

Finnian left the pair to their own devices, dragging himself back to his work.

It was early evening when Bardroy was preparing dinner for the sake of being able to work in the kitchen. Sebastian denied him his right to his beloved flamethrower previously, so he was kind of dreading the fact that he would have to actually wait on the food that he cooked.

Mer was nearby, and her presence was explained as mandatory by Sebastian's orders. The blue-eyed veteran was grateful, seeing as the baker did not treat like he was completely useless. She assisted him with the meal, whittling down his impatience by conversing with him. It was odd, Bardroy observed, that the girl sounded as if she was going to be departing soon. She did not even compliment him like she was wont to do. Not like the cook was full of himself, or anything.

"Mr. Bardroy?" the dark-haired girl called, her voice soft and seemingly preoccupied. The blond shook himself out of his thoughts and directed his attention at his younger co-worker.

"What is it, Mer?" he answered, honestly concerned. He was beginning to think that Maylene was right to suspect something going on with the baker. She was less chipper than normal, and if she suspected that he noticed, she would force it.

"Have you ever fallen in love?"

A light blush decorated the baker's peach-colored face. Bardroy was sure to have the same plaguing his own visage at the subject matter of the question. Blue eyes settling on everywhere else but Mer's flushing face, the cook rubbed at an invisible itch on the nape of his neck.

"A-A coupla times," he bashfully admitted. "Not really my strong suit. Why?"

Mer smiled gently. "Just wondering. You might want to get the Young Master's meal out."

Reminded of his task, Bardroy cursed and did as told. He sighed heavily, glad that he did not have to deal with Sebastian's scathing words on how he managed to-yet again-ruin another meal for the Earl.

When the time for dinner came, the three servants gathered together in the foyer. All had much to say in regards to Mer, so they had to restrain themselves when each of their mouths started running simultaneously. The two blonds were the loudest among them, and Maylene managed to quiet them down. She asked which one of the two had the most important information and Finnian volunteered.

The gardener knew he had to be careful with this tidbit, seeing that it would reveal a whole lot more than a forbidden love. He steadied himself and began to speak.

"W-Well," the boy stammered, "I saw Mer talking to Pluto, saying how 'last night was amazing' and never thinking that they would be 'so close.' Is that something?"

Maylene squawked, her face ablaze. Could it be that her original suspicion was correct? Imagining Mer and Pluto's human form together in that way was making her quite excited, a steady trail of blood leaking out of her nostrils.

"Anything else?" Bardroy queried, shaking his head at the maid's overactive imagination.

"I-I heard something about Mer leaving, as well. What did you hear, Bard?" prompted the gardener, tilting his head curiously at the blush dusting the older man's cheeks.

"She…asked me if I ever fell in love."

"Then that settles it, then!" declared Maylene. "Mer has fallen in love with Pluto! The Young Master must have caught wind of it and wants her gone from the manor!"

"Come now, Maylene! That's just ridiculous…and w-wrong! Besides, isn't Pluto a dog! That's bestiality!"

Finnian hummed in thought. "Bestiality? What's that?"

His older co-workers stiffened considerably. It was a simple question for them to answer, right? Approaching footsteps sabotaged the soiling of Finnian's innocence. They belonged to Mer. She smiled brightly at the trio, coming over to their circle of conspiracy.

"Good evening, you three," the brown-eyed girl greeted. "You all are always gossiping whenever I see you. What is the topic this time?"

The maid tittered nervously. "A-Ah, nothing in particular!"

"Just hangin' about," Bardroy supplied. Finnian said nothing, sending a strained smile towards the baker's direction.

"Oh…all right. I suppose I'll go out and get some supplies for the Young Master's dessert tomorrow."

Once the girl was out of earshot, Maylene whispered, "We've got to confront the Young Master about this."

A/N: Ah, so many misunderstandings! Review, please!