A/N: Hey! did you guys checked my Devaintart page for awesome CGI illustration for Fairytail, Erza x NAtsu? It's work in progess and check it out there!
Also, my Pa-tre-on lauched! The link should be up in my profile, if you just want to see arts, then please take a look!
But aside all those craps, here's the long waited new chapter! please enjoy!
Do you know that sound? The sound of the world trembling before you as if the Armageddon itself fell upon you? Rendering you senseless, legs were shaken and don't know what or how to feel? I knew of that sound, and it approached me in the form of recurring, resonating heavy echo in the hall. It was a kind that makes your whole life flash before your eyes. Those deafening sounds and I knew exactly where it came from.
I screamed top of my lung, my guts churning and my eyes snapping open at the source of the sound: A dragon.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
Yes, a dragon. A size of a house, and its teeth as large as my arm, it hurled towards me as if I was a freshly prepared beef for it to chew on. Its saliva drooled out of its mouth as it approached me, and there wasn't much I could do.
In fact, there was nothing I could do. I had no weapon, nor I had magic! And my human strength can only be so strong against the monster like that. The chance of me stopping that was naught. I flailed my arms and tried to run away. However, my feet refused to listen. I knitted my brows in a mixture of shock and confusion below, realizing that they weren't moving at all. It was as if they were frozen solid in the glacier.
They wanted to hold the ground, and that wasn't my doing! Was it my overwhelming fear or was it a mountainous shock that irresistibly captured my nervous system? I didn't know which was which, nor the difference between them at the moment. My mind was constantly asking itself why my legs aren't moving, and the chain of petty thoughts circled my brain repeatedly. Then the rest of my mind was as white as the blank paper. My spine grew chill, and the cold-inducing sweat rolled down of my skin as if I was drenched in the rain. The back of my head became senseless, and my heart pounded to the point I felt my own vessel pulsing in and out.
I watched the dragon closer than ever before, and it stood no farther away than few meters now. I whisked out my air as I squeezed my pair of lungs. I shut my eyes tightly and clenched my teeth for the inevitable to come.
"T…this is the end!" I thought.
Then I waited.
I waited a little longer. Tears that forcefully squeezed out from my eyes dried out and my heart rate receded a bit. I slowly opened my eyes fearing the worst, yet bewilderment bombarding my brain to seek out the answer.
Carefully, I opened them up fully, soaking the light in. The dragon was gone.
"Heh?" I gasped out, stumped, and unsure how to process. It wasn't like I was stupid either! I wasn't stupid that much I knew! But then, how did the dragon could just simply disappear like that? How was it even possible?
I lowered my eyes down, and I met a little girl standing in front of me. She had a white hair that slowly turned lavender at the end. Her eyes were colored in deep mesmerizing sapphire like the color of a blue hole, and they glittered like the surface of the ocean. Her skin was fair and white just like her hair and looked no older than 7. Judging by the dark maid cloth she wore, she was a maid? From everywhere I looked, she was a human child.
She was little too young to work in the kitchen, yet alone as a royal maid in the castle. I secretly cursed Mao for child slavery. I chocked out, forcing out an awkward smile to not get any bad impression from a child.
"Oh, hey there! Ummm… Did you happen to come across the dragon down there? It's really big and dangerous…" I trailed off, unsure what to say next.
The little child did not respond to me right away. I realized she was trying to regain her own breath. The girl stood with her hands supporting her on her knees, and her little frame stirred up and down before finally replying to me.
"um…. Dragon?" She questioned, and the child seemed a bit frightened by me. I supposed that's normal as I am yet to be introduced. For a small child like her, it would be quite terrifying to see an unfamiliar face all too sudden.
I watched her tiny hands grasping onto the frills of her dark maid outfit.
'She must have been terrified…' I exclaimed inside my head. Perhaps it wasn't me that she was truly terrified of, it could be the dragon. Then again, didn't Mao told me that dragons and demons coexisted in this place…? But still, that raging battle starved dragon was a terrifying creature to anyone, yet alone a girl like this.
The child fidgeted her fingers before she looked up to me. "W…what kind of dragon was it, miss… miss…" She spoke as if she committed a crime, and how she stared at me reminded me of the look of the eyes of prisoners on the block.
I pointed to myself, "Erza. Erza Scarlet." Then I proceeded to explain about the beast. "Well… I am not so sure about the details… But I it was white in general with some mix of purple… It was huge, but I remember its wings to be too small for its size."
I answered as I rubbed my index on my chin. I glanced down at the girl looking down at herself, and her face turned almost blue. I lowered myself down and questioned her as held her by her tiny twig like arms.
"What's wrong?" I knitted my brows in concern. The girl shyly replied, not trying to make an eye contact with me. But every part of the girl was too adorable to bear, even though I was still in the enemy territory, I still had conscious to adore the pretty little thing like her.
"um… the dragon… had white scales…?"
I confirmed it with an assertive nod. The girl answered, pointing to herself. "Um… I think I am that dragon you are talking about?"
I blinked. And I blinked again in bewilderment while I continued to gaze at her. My brows lifted in inquiry, and the look on her eye was the same.
I hastily back paddled and shouted in disbelief. "Ehhhhhh?!"
I could have sworn Sayla holding her laugh behind me. I didn't give too much thought as I was occupied with a little white-lavender haired girl.
The girl watched me with teary eyes and urgently begged as her cutesy voice climbed an octave higher. "I…I'm sorry! I did something wrong, didn't I?! I'm so sorry! I won't do it again, I promise!"
She was on the verge of flooding the level with water.
"Y…you did nothing wrong!" I quickly responded, holding her by her petite shoulder. I slammed my own chest, trying to show her that the blame was not on her.
"No! It isn't your fault…! It…it's mine! I…I…"
I couldn't think of a reason to blame her tears on mine. I was never good with kids anyways in the first place. Train them for the army, supervise them for the camp, and punish them for their disobedience was what I was used to. Not that I particularly enjoyed, but that was all the interaction I had with them.
Trying to act like I am a generous kind-hearted woman, not a general, was a tough gig. It wasn't like I could go stern on this little creature, not after I realize that this tiny thing was actually a giant blood thirsty dragon.
"L.. listen, it isn't your fault! I was just surprised, that's all…" I mumbled out, and but that my point across to her. She stopped crying, but shimmering tears remained on her eyes, making her deep blue eyes glitter even brighter than it was.
Her body trembled lightly as she responded, gathering her little hands to herself,
"R…really?"
"Really," I reassured. I had nothing more else to say than that. How did the normal interaction with little kids go? Then again… This was a dragon! Dragons… I still had problem wrapping head around that. How can a child this adorable can be that murderous creature? Yet again, I wasn't a foreigner to any dragons.
Or I thought I was, never met an hatchling ever in my life. I supposed there was a first to everything? My breath had gone shakily, and it became cold.
I ignored that decided to ask her name. She was a maid, likely, and there was a possibility that I might end up working with her. It seemed like a good idea to know of her, and then the rest of the Mao's maid squadron.
It was that again, my military mind kicking in, and I protested no objections. There was not a single moment I thought I was here to relax. The revenge had to be made, no matter the cost, Mao must die, whatever he did to prevent me from dying. For the sake of my friends and family, my people and everything that revolved around it.
"Hey… um, kid, what's your name?" I questioned as I folded and tugged aside those thoughts.
The child answered all too innocently like she had never seen a drop of violence in her life.
"M…my name is Priscilla Dragneel! I go by the name of Priscilla Dragneel… uh…uh… please call me Priscilla, Miss Scarlet!"
Those additional mumbling only added cuteness to the tiny creature. I questioned her again. It felt almost bad trying to mine the information out of her, almost, but I saw no harm in it.
"Are you a maid by any chance…? I mean, I see you are wearing a maid outfit…" I pointed out at her garment. She exclaimed cheerfully as her smile blossomed like a rose after the rainy day.
"Yeah! I… I mean, I am a head maid of the royal maid, Miss Scarlet!"
It was my second time to blink at her. I blinked again, trying to digest the situation.
"Ehhhhhhhhh?!" I exclaimed. "This little kid is a head maid?!"
.
.
.
MR. DRAGNEEL AND HIS MAID!
.
.
.
"Sayla-sama! Sayla-sama!" Priscilla's tiny and clear voice rung like chimes and glass, and from that emotionless dull-minded demon, a gentle mother-like smile appeared. I rubbed my eyes and confirmed it again, and there she was standing… Smiling…content at what she was watching.
It came to my realization that she was trying to act professionally during the work. I… could understand that for that matter. Sayla the demon was a stern being towards her work, it seemed. After, I wasn't much different when I was still under the protection of my liege.
"What is it, Priscilla?"
The demon's hand raised, then gently rested on the silver haired girl's hair. She stroked the sun-glittering strands lovingly as she answered. The tiny creature squealed in delight. I could see her mouth puckering in trying to suppress her glee, and her cheeks swelling and her white skin dusting with pink.
"Sayla-sama! I tried my best to come early today! Did I do a good job?"
Sayla's smile didn't falter. "Priscilla, it's way too early to be at work! It's still six in the morning."
The girl waved her arm in the air, drawing a circular motion as she indicated something large.
"But..but… I and rest of the maid have this~much things to do! So, I'll have to start early!"
"Speaking of work…" The demoness trialed as her focus shifted to me. Her smile dropped faster than a fly dropping dead when her dark pair of eyes met mine.
'Just say you hate me, you damn demon!' I screamed inside my head.
"I have a recruit who wishes to pledge her royalty and her service to Mao-sama. I believe you both already had a brief introduction?"
The girl nodded playfully. Sayla replied, "Then allow me to introduce her to you officially, Priscilla. This…" she paused as her eyes studied my form, almost contemplating what to call me.
"…perverted tsundere is Erza Scarlet, former Hero, and the First God of Ishgar. Mao-sama has appointed her to be his personal maid, by himself."
My temple just gained another throbbing vein. The demon addressed the little girl.
"As you know Yusa Scarlet, this is Priscilla Dragneel, head maid of the castle, and your superior. When Mao-sama is not around, you are to follow her without question, understood, Yusa?"
I grumbled at my luck. To be a subordinate of this…. Little child. Mao had gone just too far!
"Like hell, I'll listen to a little kid…" I crossed my arm and looked to the other side. But I stopped when I felt something tingling on my face. I veered my eyes at the little girl, and tears gathered on her big and adorable, ocean blue eyes. She started to sniffle, and those tears were seconds before trailing down to her tiny rosy cheeks.
I hastily shouted, "I…I get it! I get it! I just have to listen to her, fine! Fine!"
Priscilla wiped her tears off and smiled brightly at me, and her smiles were too innocent, I was certain this girl didn't even know what Yusa or First God of Isghar meant. 'I bet you don't even know what a sword looks like!' I mumbled in my own thought.
But her smile infectious. Too much. As I gazed at her petite pink lips spreading her tiny cheeks, flashing her pearly teeth and adorable fangs at me, I couldn't help to feel… Somewhat odd about her.
Butterflies rose from my stomach and lung, and heat condensed on my face. I immediately looked away but ended up blushing at the sight again.
.
.
.
A moment later, more maids gathered, and we both exchanged several introductions. There were total 8 maids in total, and that was very little work force. But I realized that these maids were very special, even among the royal maids.
Apparently, there was another group of royal maids who did all the minor tasks, specializing in cleaning, preparing ingredients, attending to guests and other chores. These minor maids were called Eridanus Maids. They deemed no importance to me, but these special 8 maids…
These 8 maids, introduced to me by that child Priscilla, were called Messier Eights, and I could feel the significant power radiating from them despite their positions. Each of them had a power equivalent to lesser to mid-level Wizard Saints. They were no ordinary maids, no doubt.
The members were, Sorano Alpha, Yukino Beta, Julia Gamma, Kamika Delta…There were others, but these were the names that I found the easiest to familiar with. Perhaps because they were mostly humans. It was oddly satisfying to see another human in this foreign land. However, for rest of another half, I couldn't say the same. In fact, I wasn't sure if they were humans at all. Then I heard one of them, the one represents Omega rarely shows up.
The rest of the members, at least who were present were little more difficult to talk to. But nonetheless, I managed to memorize their names. The one with the messy violet hair was Cosmos Zeta. Then there those two, which they claim themselves as siblings, but looked completely apart. Their names were Heine Theta and Juliet Lambda.
They were completely different because their appearances did not fit the term, sibling. Despite their similar height, Heine had eyes of a tiger and had jet black hair and matching eyes. She also adorned a golden crescent ornament with the violet-navy head band. Then the latter, Juliet had orange twin tails with brown eye color, and she was just as bubbly and dull-minded as one of those oblivious whores.
They were literally day and night apart…
I carefully observed their movements as they busily strolled through the kitchen. Their coordination was too perfect to be called ordinary like they were a squadron of elite forces, they moved with unprecedented precision. It was like the military, but with differences in locations. Even that bubbly girl Juliet and bashful Yukino were excelled at what they were doing.
…Who are they cooking for exactly anyways—
"Ah!" I gasped in pain as a knife cut through my finger tip. Yukino rushed up to my sides. "Erza!"
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Her concern sounded like mockery in my mind. I'm sure that wasn't her intention, and I was aware that it was just my mind playing tricks on me but… Knowing who I am, who expertise on bladed weapons, to be injured by a measly potato knife…
How could that not be embarrassing? I looked away in shame, and even my trained mind couldn't stop my cheeks to heat up again like I am a fool in training. I hurriedly refused as I winced in pain.
"I'm alright."
It was just a small cut on my index finger, and it was only bleeding a bit. There was nothing serious here.
The woman of dark, twin tailed girl commented from her station, her sharp eyes closing briefly as she had been expecting all this.
"Pathetic. No wonder why we humans were doomed from the start."
Anger rushed up my stream the moment I heard that I growled through my teeth as I shot needles at her. "Kamika Delta—How dare-!"
Sorano complained, stopping the imminent fight. "Oi, Oi! Stop it! Today's an important day~! It's already crammed enough with all of us, and I don't want this place to turn into a freaking turkey farm!"
Her younger sister, Yukino questioned as she removed herself from my finger. "Turkey Farm…Big sis?" She knitted her brows as she didn't understand the concept. Sorano waved her hand as she returned to her task.
"Well, The Erandanusi told me that it's very noisy. It's just a—never mind."
The younger sibling returned, bearing that bashful smile. "Erza? Umm… This is the first day you are working with us, so don't push yourself!"
I replied, not much interested, but still thanking her appreciations. "Uh, alright. Thanks."
Then the woman named Julia suggested from her spot. She was the furthest away from my position, but the kitchen wasn't large. Thus, I could hear her perfectly fine, even though her voice was slightly muffled by the constant clattering of kitchen wares.
"Erza, was it?" The woman was the tallest from all of us, in the early twenties, she seemed to have the similar muscle mass to my own. Although her bigger size made her look more intimidating. Her hair was blonde and had sharp eyes like those of a dragon.
"This is your first day, so handling these ingredients could be challenging for you." Then she groaned a bit as she ripped something meaty from her station.
"These are incredibly rare stuff, and only we are allowed to handle. You don't have that expertise yet. Maybe you can try something easier."
Despite how intimidating that woman looked, she was calm and had quaint personality. "Don't get too worked up on the first day." She added.
I looked down at my spot, my right hand holding a knife, and other hand holding a potato looking plant. It was purple and had disgusting tentacles wiggling around on its sides. I thought to myself as I put it back to the crate, where dozens more of those. My lips curled up in disgust.
"What is this anyways! D…demon potato?"
Yukino responded, smiling like this disgusting thing was nothing. "You could call it that. Why don't you see Priscilla-chan see if you can change your task?"
I didn't say anything as I placed everything back, and Yukino took over. As much as my pride didn't allow it, this wasn't a real task for me, so I had no real attachment.
My mission stood elsewhere, and why not just pick something easier when I am in such situation? From this shameful moment, I thought it would be better if I could alleviate my life a bit.
As I exited the kitchen, I looked back at the maids again. Certainly, they weren't normal. These were mages, with significant powers that could not be looked over. Then why exactly are they in the kitchen as if they were regular maids preparing for master? What was their real purpose? That was the question I had.
Then those humans… Why are they working alongside here? Weren't they supposed to be boiling with a vengeance? Like me? Or are these traitors from my world? I didn't know, but I thought it would be best if I put some distance on them while I figure out their real intention. Then a thought popped into my head again.
'What are they cooking anyways? Who is this for?'
.
.
.
"Wait… this… this is all for Mao!" I half shouted as I looked at hundreds of dishes flying out. Perhaps hundred was an overstatement, but the cart was already full with bizarre and exotic dishes. Despite how ugly their ingredient looked like, the result was surprisingly pleasant. It was almost a bewitching experience, their fragrant spices, and mouth-watering aroma enthralled my mind like I was a starving zombie.
I had to break out of it by slapping myself. Priscilla tilted her head as if she didn't understand what was going on. "It's for Mao-sama?"
"Mao-sama is great! So, we must prepare the best for him!" It shouldn't be surprised, for a demon overlord to have the luxury to have this splendid meals… then again…
I argued,
"But I thought Mao can cook! He also used to bake cakes for me-!" I slapped myself mentally for slipping that out.
Priscilla's eye light up. "R..really?! Miss Erza! Ah~ to eat cakes baked by Mao-sama himself… It would be an honor!"
She said that little louder than I hoped she'd be. The Messier Eights rushed out from my sides upon hearing that. I had never seen someone excited to this extent, even that twin tail woman, Kamika Delta's eyes were lightened up with stars as she managed to poke her head through the group.
"Wha…what did it taste like!" Kamika blared, her face dusting up with rosy color. I watched her with my eyes spreading wider than a full moon.
'What the heck?'
I opened my lips to respond. I wanted to say they tasted absolutely delicious, the reason why I only bought his cakes, and even going as far as pre-ordering them. But I as much as their immaculate strawberry, shortening flavor, I didn't want to admit it. IT was made by Mao, and because of it, it made me want to throw up again.
I suddenly felt defeated and betrayed all over again, to know that handsome, cute guy to be the demon overlord… Keeping those in mind, I responded to her.
"They tasted shit! They... they are the worst! Worst cakes I've ever eaten!"
My mouth almost hurt when I said that. Kamika rushed up to my face and argued urgently as if this was a matter of saving the world.
"You liar! There's no way his cake's bad! Besides, how could you insult his amazing culinary skills! You should be honored that you ate his own cooking!"
I shot back at her, already disliking this woman from the previous report.
"Well, his cake tastes shit! It wasn't you who tasted his cake! It was I, Erza!"
The twin tail's response was mixed. From judging from her contorting expression, she must have been thinking she had been outmatched by me. Of course, I was the greatest intellect-…
"But that doesn't mean his all other foods are bad is it!" She responded, and this time, I felt my head going blank.
From the sides, Yukino gathered her hands and asked. "Well, um, Erza, then can you at least describe how did it taste like?"
A light bulb appeared above my head as my mind clicked. 'Now there's something I can answer!' My lips grew into a confident smirk and used this to escape from Kamika's assault.
"Well, since you put it that way, hmm but should I really answer?!" I felt like I owned the world for a brief second.
Then something tugged my skirt and felt something else grasping on my belly. I looked down at the origin, but my heart stopped beating for a moment at what I saw. It was that little creature, Priscilla, tugging on my skirt like little baby she was, and biting my stomach with her lips.
She spoke as her voice was muffled, her lips still touching me.
"Pwease?" The girl's eyes shimmered with the plea and whimpered like a lost puppy begging the owner to take it away. That was the look that she was giving me, and it struck my heart, felt stronger than anything before; it made me feel guilty.
I sighed deeply and looked around the group. Every member of Messier eight, the exception of Omega, were here. Even the hardest of the group, Heine Theta was awaiting patiently for me to answer with those predatory eyes of hers.
Juliet, the oblivious bubbly girl that I just couldn't start a proper conversation- because she never shuts up and obnoxiously loud- kept her whole demeanor in check. Julia, the tower of the maids, looked uncharacteristically enthusiastic to listen to my answer. Sorano and Yukino as well, were no different as they beamed me with those glares. I groaned in hesitation, a mixture of regret, and embarrassment.
I was The General, I thought was used to gaining attention, but not like this. Back then, all those attentions were a necessity, they felt highly systematic, but this time, these girls' stare had so much anticipation behind them, as of they were staring me with admiration. Then, to know they were gleaming at me about the strawberry cake baked by none other than Mao, it was nearly suffocating.
Unable to handle the pressure any longer, I gave out with a defeated sigh.
"Fine… I'll tell you."
The girls rushed in closer. I gathered my will and pointed my index up in the air, like as if the lecture's going to start. I confidently announced to the entire kitchen.
"Alright! His cake was soft and fluffy as a pillow, and had such a perfect texture that it melted like snow in my mouth! The taste was smooth and airy, yet had absolutely wonderful balance of cream and shortening! And its fragrant, and deep strawberry flavor electrocuted my taste buds with such pleasure- his cake was a piece of art! I can't wait to eat another!"
Everyone blinked at me, their face stupefied, yet I did not know why.
"Ah! So you loved Mao-sama's cake~su! I knew it~su! I knew Mao-sama's cake won't be bad~su!"
Someone shouted, and that tone of voice would be recognizable even if I sprinted miles away from her. It was that obnoxious orange twin tail girl, Juliet Lambda.
A realization kicked in like a slap in my face. "That's not it! He…!" My words came out strangled as Kamika approached me with a smug face, then she haughtily closed her eyes and lifted her chin.
"Huh, pathetic. Lying about Mao's culinary skill won't get you anywhere, Erza Scarlet. To his presence, we can never even attempt to think about challenging him, even in the world of cooking. Know your place."
Then she continued to shot daggers at me, and everything about her screamed ice and frigid cold glacier. But then she suddenly narrowed her eyes at me, "However, Erza Scarlet, it angers me that you had the privilege to eat Mao-sama's cooking and yet insult it so openly! That must not go unpunished!"
She lunged at me, but Yukino quickly intercepted her. Standing in between of us, the snow haired girl held Kamika by her wrist as she weakly giggled in panic.
"M..maybe Erza-chan likes Mao but doesn't want to admit it…" She commented loudly, and that spread like wild fire again. Priscilla yelped behind me as her face brightened up with a sun-like glow.
"MISS ERZA is a TSUNDERE?!" She cupped her face as her blue eyes turned into hearts.
My heart stopped when hearing that. I could feel electricity spiking up through my skin, and thrusting upwards through my hair. My face heated up with intense heat that even in this rather revealing maid outfit, I felt like I could burst into flames, and turn into the sun.
Steam escaped from my ears, and panic set in. I quickly rushed up to the little girl and cupped her mouth and screamed with all my might to the entire kitchen.
"THAT'S NOT IT! I DON'T LIKE MAO AT ALL AND I'M NOT A TSUNDERE! HE IS THE WORST! YOU HEAR ME! WORST WORST! WORST!"
But their expression never changed. Sorano let out a chuckle at my outburst while Julia remained with a smug similar to Kamika, but a lot calmer. She had her arms crossed even.
Sorano patted my shoulder and spoke a thing of her mind, and felt like she was trying to spur me on, but it just felt like an insult to my injury.
"It's okay, Erza. It's fine to love and admire Mao-sama! He's always caring and loving person! Of course, it's only natural to fall in love with him, he's so handsome, cute, intelligent, has a really nice personality, and really really strong! Besides, he knows how to cook! Don't we all love a responsible and capable man who can raise a family…?"
An image of Mao's unkept pink hair locks and his chiseled-smooth face floated to the top of my head, followed by his impressive stature. Then in my imagination, I was back in my house in Ishgar, Inside my kitchen. Mao was swearing an apron, cooking something only gods could taste, and that was all just for me. Roses and cherry blossoms alike circled behind him as he greeted me with his perfect smile, flashing his pearl like teeth. His voice echoed deeply inside my brain.
"Hello, Erza. How's your work? You must be tired…"
He approached me with glittering jewel-like eyes of his.
"Come on, after the meal I've cooked, we can both have a hot steaming bath… and then, I'll give you extra special massage I've just prepared only for you…"
I felt something drooling down from the corner of my lip and from my nose, but I quickly ignored that.
Tears sprouted from my eyes again. I found myself crying a lot, and it was all Mao's fault. My lips quivered as I tried to deny it, but tears were strangling me.
"No… that's not it! T..that's not it! You got it all wrong!"
Then Julia licked her lips. "I dig him. How about you, Sorano?"
She replied, "I dig him too. I bet Yukino does as well." My teary eyes traveled to the latter girl, who was blushing extensively as she tried to cover her face with clothing. She meekly nodded her head. Kamika, from the side, commented out loud.
"If Mao-sama orders me to share a bed with him, then I'll gladly give up this body for him. What say you, Cosmos."
That was the pink haired girl who kept herself quiet all the time, perhaps she wasn't affected by-
My thoughts instantly vanished when I saw her clenching her heart in the corner, smiling perversely thinking god-knows-what. I could even see her nose bleeding like a river as well.
'She is hopeless, no they are all hopeless… I'm hopeless!"
I could only wait for this teasing to end, and the entire moment felt like torture. There's no way I can withstand their constant teasing, I angrily turned back and rushed to the station.
Everyones's eye followed my footsteps, and they continued to smile smugly.
"Now~now~, look where Erza's heading back to. Can't handle the truth?" Sorano teased, and I rebutted back, nearly screaming.
"T…that's not it! I can cook well just as Mao! Just watch! His cooking is nothing special!"
I was, of course, gloating at him, and claimed something that which I could not. I had no culinary skills, but of course, no one expects for the war-hardened general to be so well versed in cooking, and no one asked for it.
I had no personal chef, despite my position, I lived alone, spending all my money on improving myself. As for my meals, I never thought about making my own because I always had 'him' to rely on. When I joined this place to be 'his' maid, those skills that what I deemed as unnecessary suddenly became a necessity.
That was why I was handling those 'basic' ingredients in the first place. But after all these people doing it, and Mao did it, made me felt like I can do it as well just as easy as they did. Maybe it was it was their performance, or maybe it wasn't as intense as the work space I was used to, I had this feeling that maybe I could do it.
I was starting to feel rather arrogant, but I had no mal-intentions. Not yet, not unless I infiltrated deep into their system. Right now, I convinced myself as this was some sort of sick competition.
And I was part of it. But then, and the idea emerged out of my head. If I was in charge of preparing the meal for Mao…
A smile grew on lip my lips.
.
.
.
Without knowing, the time flew pass by quickly, and when I finished the preparation, I was with rest of the Messier Eight, as well as the Priscilla Drangeel, their head maid. Still, there was no Omega around.
We were up in the building, even perhaps higher than the balcony that Mao showed me. One could practically say this was the roof top. Yet, there was no harsh wind or turbulence up here. Higher up one goes, greater the wind resistance there will be, then again, Mao wasn't Mao for without reason. I was certain that problem like this was nothing compared to what he can do.
'Damn it, am I starting to admire Mao now? Hmph! Hardly!'
On this rooftop- balcony like area, there was a single table only fit for four or six people. It wasn't as fancy or extravagant as other furniture that I've seen in this place, so I assumed this was one of Mao's personal belonging. Thus this entire area was his personal space. To be frank, the white ceramic plates on the tables looked too good to be on this table like this…
And there were four pairs of silverwares, places neatly on each seat. I could see that one was for Mao no doubt, but whose was the other three? Were there actually individuals who Mao considered as his equal?
This was indeed unnerving. Perhaps scheme with my cooking was a bad idea, I thought he would be eating alone!
The things I've added to his dish… But just like the rest of the eight maids, including the head maid, I waited patiently for Mao to come.
Finally, the door opened from behind, and as expected, that demon whore was here again. She announced.
"Mao-sama. The breakfast is ready."
Then Mao's voice strolled in, but his regal tone was nowhere to be seen. He rather acted like a child than an adult.
"But please… let me sleep some more… I want to skip breakfast…"
Sayla immediately ordered to the maids, did that included me as well?
"Mao-sama does not wish to eat breakfast! Cancel the meal right away, effectively immediately please, everyone!"
Priscilla bowed at the demon secretary. "Yes, Sayla-sama! It will be done!" The rest of the Messier Eights rushed in and brought out a large plastic trash bag, and started to throw their dishes in. I panicked when Kamika reached for my dish, but another urgent voice interrupted them all.
"No! Wait! I'll eat it! I'll eat it!"
It was Mao. He added. "Besides, I've got plans to discuss with her in this morning…by the way, is she here?"
I wondered if he was talking about me. My heart skipped a little though I did not want to admit it. Sayla answered him.
"My apologies, Mao-sama, but she'll be joining you shortly."
My ears twitched a little by her response. 'so it means there's definitely someone else… and it's a woman. She must be an important person.' My thoughts echoed.
Mao walked around and looked at the tables and the maids. He exclaimed, "Wow, you guys worked really hard… I can definitely tell. These look amazing."
All the maids bowed in unison, and I didn't know what to do so I just followed them.
"We are not worthy of your praise, Mao-sama!"
I could tell Mao's voice becoming slightly uncomfortable by their responses. Clearly, Mao disliked being treated like this…?
"Uh… well, no, you all deserve it. But next time, don't work yourself too hard. It's just breakfast. Just simple eggs and bacon will do."
Julia Gamma raised her voice, but she quickly covered her mouth in shock. "But, Mao-sama!... I…I beg your forgiveness, for me to raise my voice like that…"
He just waved it off. "It's alright, Julia. But if you guys keep pushing yourselves hard like this, I'll make my own breakfast, next time! Got it!"
The entire squad answered with unison, "Understood Mao-sama!"
Even though I was repeating after them, this wasn't something I could get used to. Being a maid cosplayer and actual maid was completely different… But their devotion to him, it made me feel go numb. Like stupid numb, like I've been struck with a hammer on my head, I felt dumb.
When I shook myself contemplating which action was the correct response, Mao walked towards me, stopped only centimeters away. He spoke.
"Erza? What are you doing here?"
I stumbled for words, as I tried to make sense of what I had to say.
"M..mao-sa… ugh… go..Goshiijin-sama.. I… I…" I felt pathetic. Really. Really REALLY pathetic. I just wanted to crawl back into little cave, and never come out- if there was one.
Then I felt his fingers touching my chin and lifting my gaze to meet his.
"I thought I told you to meet the people and explore this place… not working with them."
My eyes spun like a whirlwind as my consciousness was thrown into a whirlpool.
"Um…Uuuuuuu….uheeeeeehhhh… I… I thought… I…" then I decided to blame on the dark-haired demon whore. "It…it was Sayla's fault!
Sayla bowed at Mao without giving me her resentful glare or hatred. But she spoke truthfully, and because of trust that Mao has on Sayla, I believed it wouldn't matter if She lied or not. But then again, her absolute royalty to Mao would never allow her to do that.
"I beg your forgiveness, your highness. I had thought allowing her to blend in with other maids will allow her to be accustomed to us all. However, if you deem it needless, then I shall remove her from work immediately-!"
"No, wait." Mao stopped her and focused on me again, his focus was all on me. He carefully examined my eyes and my expressions, and his dark orbs were delving deep down to my soul. For a moment, I found myself captivated by his heart pounding gaze.
He gently opened his lips after the longest minute of my life. "I want her to be my side. She is my personal maid, after all… but
His contact broke away from mine, and I looked down in embarrassment, unable to contain my uprising turmoil of many emotions.
If that's what will allow her to get used to everyone, then I'll leave her as is temporary. But I do not want her to partake on difficult or time-consuming tasks. That's not why she is here. If anyone questions, then tell them that she responds to me, and I alone."
Sayla bowed in acknowledgment. "Should I tell them she's under your protection as well, your majesty?"
He nodded as a smile broke out on his face. "Yes, do that as well."
I could hear him breathing, and sighing deeply as he was so close to me, but I never managed to stare him back. All I could do was to purse my lips as I complained how he was dealing me like I was his belonging.
"Now then," He chirped, he turned away and situated himself in the seat middle of the table. "I'd like to have a private chat with her and Erza. Sayla?"
The demoness instantly understood his command, as she bowed to him respectfully once more and faced the little dragon girl.
"Priscilla, please have the Messier Eights to retreat back to their station." Mao held his hand up in the air, and the maids halted.
"Priscilla, can you stay a little longer?" The white haired tiny creature beamed with glee as she chirped like a bird. "Yes, your highness!"
Without their head member, I watched them silently retreating back into the building. Even Sayla followed them as well. She bowed one last time at Mao.
"Please have a pleasant meal, Mao-sama. If there's anything you need, please summon me."
Then she closed the door. The place had gotten dead quiet with him and dragon girl, and I alone. I peeked at the tiny creature standing on my left side. She fidgeted her fingers as she waited for his command. The little girl trembled, at least, I could see that much. Obviously, this was too much for her to handle, and I pitied her. She was too innocent to see violence yet.
I kept my eyes vigilant against the demon lord, who was sitting on the table, watching back at the girl and me. The air around my became as tense as ever, it was suffocating. Just what did he intend to do…?
Finally, he spoke.
"Okay, you can drop the formalities now, Priscilla." The image of the girl brightened like blossoming of a flower. She gasped loudly as she dashed by his side, shouting at him with joy.
"Uncle~!"
I could not believe unheard what I just heard from that girl's mouth. I screamed, "Uncle?!" How come this tiny creature who was so innocent, working as a maid could be any related to Mao, the demon emperor?! There was an unmistakable ranking gap between these two, it just did not make any sense. They didn't look even related at all!
Yet, Priscilla continued, ignoring my reaction. "Uncle! I thought I was going to faint from all the waiting! Please stop making me wait so impatiently next time! Or I'll start to hate on you, uncle!"
Mao patted her head, and she received his care. He grinned broadly as he continued to play with her.
"You know how it is, kiddo!" Her face was in cloud-nine as he continued to stroke and pat her hair. Then he noticed the frozen expression on my face.
He asked, "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong! What do you mean what's wrong! You and that little tiny innocent and pure angelic girl are related?! This… This is..! I just can't…. just what?!"
Yet, those two seem oblivious to my reaction, that was until Mao saw me through it, but he didn't even bother to explain it to me. Instead, he smiled arrogantly with that signature look.
He narrowed his eyes as he gleamed at me, letting out his low baritone signature chuckle to flow out from his throat.
"I knew you were stupid but… To know that you are this serious… Erza, is being stupid your whole concept?"
I knew Mao couldn't be trusted. I growled to myself believing or even imagining that he was an epitome of the idealistic male. I started to feel even ashamed of myself bringing that thought before. Mao was a Mao, and no matter how I looked at him, his every gloating and mocking words drilled into me and cleared those stupid fogs away; He made my objectives clear.
All these insults, why? Just why? Does he take pleasure in mocking ones who lost? I couldn't just listen and pretend I didn't hear him.
"Stop calling me stupid! Just stop! Does your mockery know no bound?! Enough is enough!"
I wanted to scream more, but I stopped when I saw Pricilla running down to me and tugging my skirt.
"Miss Scarlet? Please don't be angry…"
Mao approached the girl, and I instinctively blocked him from her, even though this girl was related to Mao.
He knitted his brows at me. "Really… Erza." Then he casually pushed me aside and picked her up, and sat her on his neck, with her cute hands resting on Mao's pink hair.
"I'm not mocking you, I'm just stating the facts." Bluntly he spoke, looking directly into my eyes.
"You are just stupid, that's it."
I argued back, but I restrained myself from screaming. "Wh- why am I stupid then!"
Mao squeezed Priscilla's cheek then his. "Look, we look the same, aren't we? Of course, she is my cute and adorable little nephew. How can ever doubt our similarities when the proof is right in front of you?"
I stopped for a moment and examined their faces. However, the sharp eyes of Mao and soft, untainted deep blue eyes of Priscilla proved to be everything else but similar. In fact, they didn't even remotely look close to one another… or was he hiding something?
"You two don't even look similar…" I muttered. Mao had the girl's ears covered when I spoke those words. Priscilla questioned innocently while tilting her head.
"Uncle? What did she say?"
Yet he replied like he heard nothing. "Oh, don't worry, Priscilla. I think she's just saying one of that stupid stuff. Now come on. Why don't you sit here?"
He patted the chair next to him. Priscilla asked as her eyes lit up.
"W…wait, really, uncle?! I get to eat with you? You are amazing!" she exclaimed. Mao picked her up and put her in the seat, smiling in the whole process.
"Well, I promised I'll spend more time with you, didn't I?" She nodded in glee. "Hmm!"
At this perspective, I was surprised to know that he was actually good with a child. But whether it's specifically for this girl, or just proficient with everyone, it remained to be seen. Though, whatever it was, just see him interacting with that girl made me lower my guard completely. That is until Mao called me.
"Hey, Erza?"
I returned his gaze to him.
"Why don't you join us?"
"Eh? Me?" I pointed at myself as my brows raised. He answered like it was nothing.
"There's a reason I told Sayla to prepare four seats, you know?"
"you meant to eat breakfast with me in the first place?"
Mao didn't say anything other than giving me his assertive look.
I knitted my brows to search for an appropriate action, there was no telling what he had planned for me. Yet, looking at the innocent girl sitting next to him, made me forget that.
I gulped my saliva down as my eyes tried to locate the food I made. And nonetheless, it was still there, at the corner, standing tall like a sore thumb in the work of arts. Compared to the dishes, it paled in all aspect, but I was still proud of it. Proud for many different reasons… But not enough to eat it myself. Mao, however, had to eat it.
Thinking that aside as I hoped the flow of events will lead to him eating my dish, I found myself seated next to Mao, right across facing Priscilla. I looked at the empty seat and whipped my head around back at him. I pressed,
"Who's the other one, then?"
I watched his face escaping that perfect smile of his.
"Someone important." Then he added, raising my questions even further. "You know her, and she knows you. You'll see when she gets here." He finished with a large yawn.
I decided not to force him to answer, there was no point. After being treated like his…belonging, from that endless teasing and such, it was already clear that no matter how many times I'm going to ask, he'll never answer back.
That man loved mysteries and teasing people, I hated that. From that smug to his draconic eyes and exotic color of his hair, but his personality was most detestable from all.
I directed my attention to something else instead and spoke whatever was in my subconsciousness.
"You must be tired." I blurted out, without knowing what I just spoke.
He replied. "I'm fine." It seemed like he said it without thinking as well. Like those words were carved into his bone.
'Are you sure?' I questioned mentally. I studied his face carefully as he seemed to studied mine.
His eyes were pink, probably from sleep deprivation, and those faint bags under his eyes were more visible. I leaned in closer to move aside his pink hair falling onto his forehead.
"Was it really that important? You have authority to delay your work when needed. You are the Mao, aren't you?"
"I can't. My authority does not come from me, it comes from them. And I didn't become their leader to delay my debts."
But he replied, and it shocked me at least to hear that from the mouth of a demon. Priscilla tilted her head curiously by his side, but I understand her. Things like her are too young to understand the intertwined, tangled webs of politics and humbleness. He continued.
"Besides, the issues that I was handling… were difficult, to say at least. I can't simply overlook them."
"You mean the terror? Your church? The church you made under your image?"
He looked to me in the eye. "I didn't make the church. I never asked to be in god's shoe. I deserve no such treatment from my people… After all that sins that I've made."
He never explained what those sins were, nor I had any hunch…. If he truly did not kill any humans.
"So, what are you planning to do?"
I asked but was responded by his question. "What would you humans do? I mean, in your kingdom?"
I did not hesitate to give him the obvious answer. "Any threat to the throne must be dealt with appropriate punishment, that is, sending them to the block."
Mao did not answer, but his gaze shifted to the little girl, who was waiting patiently as her both eyes focused on the food in front of her. She seemed to contain herself pretty well, despite her eyes staring hungrily at the dishes with her saliva drooling.
I shifted my position to see his face again, and it was painted with disappointments all over. He finally answered.
"I am not worried about my position. It can never last forever, and someday, I'll have to pass it down to someone worthy, who can actually lead the empire. But you are right.
These terrorists are needed to be dealt with extreme measures, but I wish to avoid casualties as much as possible."
"Even if your people are being harmed by them?"
He did not answer, and I commented loudly as I stared at him as my arms crossed each other.
"You are too soft to be a Mao. I can't believe I was defeated by you nor the fact that you invaded us."
His smile returned and leaned towards me all the sudden, and I had no time to react to him. His nose was just a centimeter away from me. "Sorry to disappoint, my adorable maid."
And I had no time to prepare his teasing and was subjected to intense heat of embarrassment from my core. He raised his voice.
"Ah, she's coming!"
I snapped out the scorching heat before they spread around me like wild fire. I turned my head to meet the woman that he mentioned. I had to thank her for the perfect timing, whoever it was. Thanks to her, I didn't have to endure such degrading moment by Mao.
But alas, he was right about the woman I knew. I could literally feel the crushing magic power that surged from the other side of the door… that seemed awfully familiar. Familiar but distorted by the humongous power that this woman processed, but it felt demonic.
Was it a demon? But I knew no demoness other than Sayla. Just who was she? If I could not tell who she was then was, did it felt so nostalgic? Like…. Like the time back in the guild, when I was still with them.
Finally, the door opened and revealed an ethereal white, heavenly woman with long pure-alabaster hair. Dressed in a white and gold skin-tight sleeveless dress that reached to her ankles with a long cut across her right side to reveal her perfect thigh; the rest of her dress draped her voluptuous body tightly, showing off every inch of her goddess like curves. On her each hands, she wore a matching pair of white gloves that came up to her forearm. Then I met her eyes, her face, although she didn't seem to notice me at first. She was too busy attending her vow to demon lord first.
"I, the fourth Spriggan of Alvarez, Demon Princess, offer myself to the unassailing power of his majesty. I am ready to serve you, your grace."
Her thin and soft voice echoed like an archangels' choir in this unholy land, and she kneeled before him. I could not see her face anymore, but from the short glance I had, and that voice, that hair….
It was all too clear who she was. Tears rushed up from my bottom again, this time, deep and unwavering, it rose like a volcano from an abyss.
I heard Mao speak. "There's no need for formalities here. Raise yourself." There was a gentleness in his voice and was genuine.
The woman raised herself as he spoke, and at that moment, her saphire eyes met mine, and mine met hers.
She and I froze.
No words, even a single syllable escaped from both lips of ours. The time seemed to have stopped as well as we stared at each other like a statue like turned into stone. A tide of emotions washed my consciousness away to the shore of the eruption, and all that I kept, believed and trusted doctrine crumbled away as I saw her staring back at me.
I watched her trying to draw her breath in but failing constantly. That was okay, I was too.
Then, she finally spoke. Perhaps I didn't have courage anymore to say her name first, but she did.
"E…Erza?"
And I replied back, ignoring the tears that escaped my eyes.
"Mirajane?"