Chapter 8

Whenever I looked up, there was always a silent, smiling face waiting for me—like the moon. The face was silky-white, with narrowed eyes and a smile that was just as present as it was absent. More than mere delight, it was an expression that oozed satisfaction. It was the smile of a person who found joy in simply existing. She was probably making the same face in this exact moment, while doing the chores, as her apron transformed into long, white hair that shone like silk. She was a silkie, after all—a fae species that lived in people’s homes and helped with the chores. I first realized she was a different species from me when I reached the age where I could nestle my face in her ample bosom. I always thought she was just a sweet, gorgeous maid. No matter how much clothing she washed in the winter, the work never took a toll on her skin, and the other maids said, “She has magical hands.” They were all jealous of this special maid. She had been by my side ever since I was young, almost like a sister. Yet as I faced her, I started to realize there was an odd sensation in my chest. I learned soon after that this sensation could be called “throbbing.” It was even later that I finally learned what that throbbing meant. She was my first love. * “…Stunk, you’re disgusting.” Meidri spit the words out like venom, folded up her wings, and stared icily toward his table from the shadow of the bar. “Was there any good reason you needed to touch me?” Crim stuck their head out from behind Meidri. Stunk puffed on a cigarette and blew in their general direction. He was staring at the purple smoke rising from his cigarette. Just staring. He hadn’t even touched the bar snacks and ale on his table for over thirty minutes. “…It looks like he’s just staring blankly into space.” “He always looks like that…but today does seem a little different…” Stunk let out a sigh of grief. Meidri scratched her upper arm over the top of her waitress uniform. “Are you sure he didn’t get smoke in his eyes or something?” “No way! His eyes always look glazed over like a dead fish’s, or like he got rancid sap in them, or like he’s a warthog in heat. But today, and today only, he looks almost sentimental—an honest-to-goodness thousand-yard stare! This is an absolute anomaly!” “I know what you’re trying to say, but really, you should take into consideration—” Clunk— A mug of ale slammed onto the counter. Next to Meidri and Crim, Zel was holding a drink in one hand and looking incredulous. “No, no, you’re both wrong. Even men have moments when they just want to mull things over.” The clearly drunk elf always playing sidekick to Stunk spoke up. He might have actually hit on something. “Zel, when words like that come out of your mouth, they’re a little—no, they’re very creepy.” “Who the hell are we to you, exactly?” “A couple of sex-crazed good-for-nothings.” Zel didn’t even look fazed by her scathing remark as he took another sip. Sex-crazed customers were far from rare at Ye Pubbe. Yet Stunk and Zel were easily the spearheads among them. They had become quite popular with the locals ever since they started reviewing succubus joints. The red-hot passion they poured into their reports were an invaluable asset to district hopefuls. Of course, for a waitress who wasn’t a succu-girl at all, they were a constant headache. “But, Meidri.” Crim stepped forward and started tried to appeal to her. “Even Stunk and Zel have human hearts. When they first saved me, they really went out of their way… I mean, in the end, I learned some pretty messed up stuff, but…they just show their kindness in…different ways, so—” “You’re all the worst.” “Crim, if you’re gonna back us up, do it right.” “I guess some people just can’t be reasoned with.” “You might be even more fork-tongued than Meidri herself, eh?” As the three of them bantered without a care in the world, there was movement at the table. Stunk took out an ink pot and started writing on a piece of paper with a quill. “Another pervy review?! Unbelievable! I swear, all this guy does is go to succubus joints…” “But Stunk just presented his review from yesterday. There’s no way he would’ve had time to go to a new spot.” Stunk’s quill glided across the page without pause, as if he was in a trance. One could say his writing was the antithesis of his sharp, violent swordplay: It was elegant. “Come to think of it, Stunk actually has immaculate penmanship.” “Now that you mention it, you’re right… His reviews are always easy to read.” “Seeing that, I think he is well-educated after all. His mannerisms are also somehow refined… Well, that might be a bit much, but I’d believe he learned proper etiquette at one point in his life.” Meidri furrowed her brow in disgust at Zel’s comment. “Are you hallucinating? Did you hit your head, maybe?” “No, it’s just that, well, I don’t really believe it myself. Perhaps he’s just had many opportunities to rub shoulders with aristocrats through his trade, or maybe he just studied up for the sake of sexual pleasure.” Zel nodded repeatedly at his own statement. Clearly, he had convinced himself. “Well, men certainly have their ways.” “No doubt women have their share of secrets as well.” “You’re right about that…men and women both.” As the three of them said whatever came to mind, Stunk’s pen continued flowing. When he looked up from the page, his gaze drifted far into the distance. Each time, his eyes filled with a dim, listless light. * He loved the way she worked. She always completed her tasks in good time, with the minimum amount of movement required. Her chores included scrubbing, sweeping, bed-making, sewing, weaving, inspecting foodstuffs, assisting with cooking, attending to visitors, cleaning the yard, caring for the horses, and more. She could handle any assignment, whether in the house or in the yard. If anyone ever lost anything, she would find it almost immediately as long as it was somewhere on the property. Silkies simply had that sort of special power. His father told him, “They’re different from humans. They’re fairies who live in houses, yes; they’re a species closely related to brownies and house spirits. Their main difference is the fact that they look like women of marriageable age. There’s also the matter of their opaque, ivory skin and their snow-white hair…yes, their hair. Her hair seems to blend in with her clothing sometimes, doesn’t it? In truth, silkies can transform their hair into clothing. It’s their special skill.” At the time, he didn’t understand why his father explained the peculiarities of the species in such detail. Looking back on it, he realized his father wanted to stress the fact that she was not family. But he didn’t understand, so the words practically fell on deaf ears. She took care of the chores with incomparable skill and endless dedication. To him, she had always been the perfect maid. He couldn’t look away, and peeking at her through the cracks of open doors became his daily routine. Whenever she had a small break in her duties, she would look back at him, and their eyes would meet. “Is there something on my face, young master?” Looking concerned, she would touch three fingers to her mouth. This simple gesture was part of the playful ritual that caused him to stir below. “Young master, you shouldn’t snack so much!” In the kitchen, she bopped him lightly on the head with an oven mitt. He throbbed. “Young master… I don’t mind myself, but it’s rude to stare at a lady’s breasts or bottom so nakedly. Women are very sensitive to the eyes of others.” But…she was so well-endowed. With every slight movement, her chest would bounce and sway, stimulating him further. So many times he had fallen victim to her charm… So many years he had spent pining for her. Then, one day, he discovered if he massaged the part of his body that became hard when he thought of her, he felt unbelievably good. He shut himself in his room and worked tirelessly to alleviate the feeling. “…Young master? I believe I heard you calling my name, albeit softly.” Opening the door without knocking was unusually poor manners for her.