Pre-Chapter Note: Disclaimer

I in no way oun any of the original works depicted and/or referenced in this work of Fanfiction. Nor do I receive any form of monetary currency of any sort associated with said work.

Chapter 4: Maid to Serve

Their first look at Fort Caerbannog as they took a last turn in the wide mountain path was of a stone watchtower nearly twice in hight to an adjacent three story manor house, like those seen in an old Ameri-gaijin Western film, nestled in a grassy cratertop plateau.

The riders upon arrival, made their way to the till now out of sight stables taking up much of the first floor to unload the wagons.

Once everything was unloaded, the girls were lead through a separate door from the men by what appeared to be a sleepy eyed cat-eared redhead of a maid, given her long sleeved dark dress with white blouse top and half-apron. She lead the sisters down an adjacent hall and into a sizable stone room with a steaming fountain with corner pool and a side wall composed of door sized open windows; several hung sheets fluttered in a slight breeze.

"For now, strip and wash yourselves quickly and I'll return with your uniforms momentarily." she commanded with a stern glint in her sleepy bronze eyes. "There should be something in storage that'll fit."

With a click of a latch the sisters were alone once more. Quickly divested of their stained rags and week old panties, they scrubbed vigorously. Having gone through a few wooden tubs of water gone murky from dust and grime, they were sitting half submerged in the pool as a short elderly maid who's coiled ivory horns somehow accentuated the curls of aubern hair in an almost regal manner entered to set her two cloth bundles on an upturned tub, and informing them that the menfolk should be washing up soon so they'd best be dressed shortly for dinner before leaving just as abruptly.

The twins dried and dawned the provided sleeveless white short gowns beneath low-cut brown overdresses with their heavy skirts and charcoal weave, to grant a blouse-like modesty while reusing their washed panties (as the voluminous shorts provided were uncomfortably loose). Small Shield tucked away once more, they were inspecting the dark corset-like pieces when the earlier redhead reamerged with some kind of tall leather sandals in hand.

Half apron and sandal clad in a manner worthy of a Maid Cafe, they were lead up a set of stairs and into a small library to begin their maidly training under the instruction of the White Rabbit of Caerbannog.

* * *

Hurriedly, but not overly so as to draw any unwanted attention, Arnya passed through the main halls like a woman on a mission. Quickly smoothing her skirts and setting her mask of indifference as to appear presentable, she gently wrapped her knuckles upon the open portal to Her Ladyship's study so as to not intrude on the occupants' conversation.

"-and have them stationed in the north-northeast side quarters for the time being," Geralt, Master of Arms concluded with a swift salute moments later. Nodding in tern, Lady Iosefka deftly gathered the array of loose paperwork into a neat corner of her desk and with a dept flourish of her fountainpen handed the reports back so he may take his leave.

As the door swung closed and Arnya stepped forward, Her Ladyship bayed her entrance with a slight gesture and sprawled gracelessly across the padded arms of her lounging chair, long braids came loose in metallic rivlets of hair that nearly brushed the sprewce paneled floor. "What's the condition of the new staff."

"The boys are settling into their duties fairly well save a few recruits' shenanigans; the Trebond child has taken the role of protector so there shouldn't be any incidents." Arnya replied as she settabout mixing a pot of tea. "As for the girls, Mistress Eléonore speaks highly of them. Both are quiet, obedient and well mañored with a foreign etiquette befitting of a noble household. Where ever did you acquire them?"

"A rather wealthy gentleman, one of the Queens' Shadows I suspect suggested the locale, stating that someone outside Sir Beloukas' perview had acquired some exotic merchandise." Her Ladyship answered airily, accepting the fine china and topping it with a pale liquor from a crystal decanter. So exotic in fact that they needed translation enchantments of such shoddy workmanship as to interfere with their Crests.

Such thoughts were shelved for later with a final glance at her party menu as she went about her administrative duties. Duties soon to belong too her idiot betrothed.

* * *

The large tome closed with a quiet thump that echoed between the three figures by the long table bestuned with writing slates and used chalk sticks as midday shadows pooled beneath ceiling high windows, the dull reverberating tole of the tower bell rang from above. Without any expression save the flick of her long snowy white ears, the maid Eléonore silently marvelled at the sheer incompetent genius of whatever Alchemist employed the translation spell imbued in the metal collars adorned by those seated before her. While the ability to speak and understand a language not their own sounded great, the reality was far from it.

During her lessons to educate, it quickly became apparent that the written aspect was lacking, not from illiteracy for they seemed qwite fluant in not one but two languages judging by her charges' progression. The problem ley in the fact that they had to use spects of their second, non-native language in order to even begin to understand the fundamental basics of written Melromarcian.

Such a lazy method of cross communication had nearly cost the worth of such a potential investment, she idoly thought to herself while leading them twords the kitchens.

Unaware of the musings of those around them, the Kobayashi Sisters seated themselves on a pair of empty stools among the other maids crowding the rooms' central table topped with a large pot of thick stew and a basket of bread loaves.

"Be sure to eat your fill," the stout and busty young woman told them, a slight lilt of amusement in her voice, short blonde locks swaying with the tilt of her horned head. "There's plenty more where that came from."

With wooden bowls full and hard bread devided, the two youngest steepled their hands before them to murmure a silent prayer of thanks as the others made a separate more intricate gesture to do the same.

"So you're not from Melromarc are you?" The only purely human looking woman asked, dark eyes flashing behind gold rimmed spectacles as she noted the difference in pre meal ritual. "My name's Priscilla, by the by."

"My sincerist apologies, I believe a round of introductions is in order." The rabbit eared Eléonore spoke then as she primly used a lacey kerchief to dab at her pale lips.

"To your left is Myrcella, our cooking mistress." She nodded toward the bovine looking woman who'd served the twins stew before indicating the slender catgirl on her other side. "Beside her is Arnya, she tends to the main hall and ground floors."

"There is another, or was I should say," Myrcella chimed in. "Old Lady Galatea is to retire with her grandnieces soon."

"We, the maid staff, are the caretakers of the keep while the men take care of the stables and training of our esteemed Calvary Dragons." Arnya huffed at Priscillas' statement.

Clearing her throat Eléonore continued, "ladies, our new girls are Hannei and Kagami, though I forgot who is who at the moment."

'"Please call us Kobayashi,"' the twins introduced themselves.

The rest of the day consisted mostly of cleaning floors and windows and than more lessons with Eléonore in the evening, followed by assisting in Myrcellas' domain by chopping vegetables as night descended for the evening meal. They were then lead half asleep into the attic were all the maids shared a room together.

Post-Chapter Note:

Sorry once more for the wait, this short chapter has been sitting in revision hell for the last couple of weeks with what should've been the second half in constant rewrite after rewrite. I should Hopefully get it done next month ends.

Fingers crossed.