I, Riccie Rouen, recently turned ten years old.
I’d been an apprentice maid at the Ho family manor in Kalakumo for as long as I could remember. It was a nice place to work. Lord Rook and Lady Suzuya were so kind that they even let their young servants learn reading and writing from a retired scholar if they wished.
Lord Rook was well loved by the people, while Lady Suzuya was kindhearted and gentle. Some military men still had their doubts about Lord Rook, but the wise leadership he’d shown in Kalakumo was undeniable. People here generally agreed that life had gotten easier under his reign, and the population had grown richer.
For a long time, that peaceful city was where I lived and worked. Then, one day in March—not long since the start of the new year, and just as winter was giving way to spring—I learned that my peaceful life would change completely.
The matron of the household—Lady Satsuki—had been woken up at dawn by a messenger who’d arrived with urgent news. Lady Satsuki then had everyone in the manor out of bed, and she gathered the most important people for a meeting.
Then came a rush of activity, followed by rumors spreading through the household. Everyone who heard the news was enraged. They reacted like our world was coming to an end.
On the evening of that same day, Lady Satsuki summoned everyone together so we could hear the true story from her, rather than all the wild rumors. The truth turned out to be no different from the rumors I’d already heard—Lord Rook and Lady Suzuya had both been killed with poison.
I’d refused to believe it was true, but now I could no longer deny it. I dropped to my knees and wailed in despair. How could someone murder a gentle husband and wife who’d treated everyone with such kindness?
Lady Satsuki spoke at length about the circumstances behind the incident, but it was all too complicated for me to follow. All I could do was wipe away the constant stream of tears as I continued to sob.
A kind couple, beloved by everyone, had died a painful death, coughing up blood from the poison. Such things weren’t compatible with the peaceful world I inhabited. I felt it had to be some mistake, but I couldn’t understand why such misfortune would befall them, of all people. It all suggested that the world was horribly unfair, but trying to come to terms with that left me so unbearably sad that I couldn’t accept it.
As I remained there on my knees in tears, no one patted my shoulder or scolded me. Through my bleary eyes, I saw that adults and children alike were all crying with me. Some of those tearful faces were twisted into expressions of intense hatred, while others were simply mourning the loss.
Another morning came after everyone was allowed to spend a day mourning.
A young man had flown to the manor by eagle and landed near the birdcages. When loud cries heralded his arrival, the adults abandoned their work and ran to the windows. I followed them to see what everyone was looking at.
The young man had left his eagle in a birdcage and walked toward the manor.
Another maid who I got along well with happened to be standing next to me. “Riccie, take a good look,” she said. “He’s going to be our master from now on.”
“Is he? I wonder what he’s like.”
I’d never seen this man—named Yuri Ho—before. I knew that the couple had a son, but he’d moved away to the royal capital before I’d begun working here. I’d been told many times that he’d been here to visit, but I’d never managed to see him—he’d always left by the time I heard the news.
“He’s going to be a hero. You can count on that.”
That wasn’t the reply I’d expected. I looked at the maid and saw an expression I’d never seen her make before. It was a little frightening how intently she was staring at the young man.
✧✧✧
Several days later, I was summoned to Lady Satsuki’s room. She told me to enter when I knocked, so I opened the door and stepped inside. There, I found not just Lady Satsuki, but also a woman dressed in an unusually fine maid outfit.
“I am at your service,” I greeted them. “My name is Riccie Rouen.”
“Good to see you,” Lady Satsuki said. “Now sit down.”
It was the first time I’d ever had permission to sit on a couch in the parlor—though I had secretly sat on it once before while cleaning it by myself. I’d been caught by another maid who’d scolded me for my disgraceful behavior.
I’d been ordered to sit on it this time, so I had no reason to refuse. As I nervously took my place on the black leather upholstery of the couch, my behind sank into the springy cushion.
The woman in the fancy maid outfit sat on the couch opposite.
“My name is Cafetti Lotti,” she said. “I would normally work alongside you, but I’ve been employed at the family residence in the royal capital as of late.”
Oh, now I see, I thought. That’s why she looks all refined, like a city person.
Maids working here at the head household tended to look up to the maids of the royal capital residence and considered them a rank above us. They got prettier outfits, for one thing, but more importantly, they got to live in the royal capital. Many maids wished they could work in the royal capital, but only those who performed their duties flawlessly ever got the chance. Unlike the head household, where we were almost always serving the residents, maids at the royal capital residence also had to serve other chieftains, people known as witches, and perhaps even royalty. The slightest show of rudeness before guests like those would make the Ho family look like country bumpkins. That’s why their manners had to be perfect and their uniforms incredibly smart.
The woman in front of me looked perfectly smart too. Her hair and uniform were both immaculate. There wasn’t a single flaw to point out.
“Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.” I bowed my head.
Cafetti must have escaped from the royal capital residence. I assumed that she’d be staying in the head household for some time. But why did she call for me? I wondered.
“She gets passing marks for etiquette,” Cafetti said.
“Oh, good,” Satsuki replied. “Do you think she’ll be useful?”
“Yes, though I’ll conduct a more thorough assessment—if I may borrow her for a while.”
“Take good care of her.”
Cafetti stood up straight and turned toward the door. “This way, Riccie.”
“Oh. Yes, ma’am.” I got up from the couch, bowed to Lady Satsuki, and followed after Cafetti.
I wasn’t sure what she meant by an assessment, but I imagined she’d be testing me on my manners and checking I did all my chores properly.
“We’re going to keep each other company today,” Cafetti said once we were in the corridor.
At first, I thought I’d misheard her. “Keep each other company...ma’am?”
I doubted that Cafetti had summoned me just because she wanted someone to spend her day off with. But then again, I was friends with some maids who often took me places, so it wouldn’t be unheard of.
“Yes. That’s going to be a very important aspect of your new job.”
“Keeping people company?”
“Yes, Riccie. Now change into your own clothes and wait for me by the entrance. I’ll be changing too.”
“V-Very well. I’ll see you shortly.”
I left Cafetti and returned to my room.
Soon after, I had lunch with Cafetti, met her parents at her home nearby, and went with her to a tailor to be measured for a new maid’s outfit. Finally, we parted ways.
It was a different maid who took me back to the tailor the next day so I could try on the clothes while temporary stitches were in place.
I was told to make sure I had all my luggage together by tomorrow.
After another day passed, I collected two new suits of maid clothing, and a lone knight armed with a spear took me away from the manor I’d known for so long.