488 You'll Start As A Newbie Here

"And this is the kitchens," Katsuki gestured, ushering Eldoria and myself into the place where the sweet magic would be made.

After Mother bought over the patisserie chain, Eldoria was taken in as one of the maids in our house.

She was told that she would be training as one of the maids and would need to take on all the responsibilities expected of a maid from the Nilm Family but she said she was fine with that.

Apparently her desire to make sweets for me just triumphs over everything and I don't even know why.

From what I know, she would still occupy the position of head patissier of that chain though it would be a part time position instead of full time. There's other business related stuff like the chain receiving the Nilm Family's support or something which Mary didn't elaborate on but Aruule seemed to understand.

I even thought Aruule would be upset about this new arrangement but surprisingly, he was practically exhilarated when he realised this was the new arrangement.

He even claimed that we were offering him too much money for this.

Right now, we were giving Eldoria a tour of the mansion. Or more accurately, Katsuki was the one giving the tour, I'm just along for the ride.

Eldoria took a single step inside before visibly shuddering.

"I… I see now… I was so naive… I was just a lowly frog in the well who didn't know anything…"

Err… Where did that come from?

Heria, our resident Trasif chef, stepped out from the corner of the kitchen while carrying several baking pans.

"Oh, good evening Young Mistress. Are you here for a late night dessert? If you are, I'm afraid I'll need some time to prepare them but I can send them to your room once they're done. Oh! Is that a friend?"

I looked at Katsuki.

My Inugami maid got the message and spoke on my behalf, "She is a new maid that would be assigned as a pastry chef in the kitchens. Eldoria, this is Heria. Heria, this is Eldoria."

Heria placed the baking pans aside and smiled at her, "Ah, that means you will be working under me. Don't worry, I'll show you the ropes here properly."

Eldoria frowned, "Show me the ropes? I will admit that I am lacking in the maid department, but I do have a cooking skill at tie… Ahem… I mean I was the head patissier of Laruule Patisserie, I don't think my skills are that inferior?"

Heria smiled at her, "Oh really? Hmm… Normally I would take that as a challenge but let's see here… Ah!"

The Trasif maid went towards the counter and opened a cookie jar, picking out one of them before skipping towards us.

"I made these in the afternoon, Young Mistress. Why not have one while you wait?"

Oh!! Don't mind if I do!!

Nom~

Ahhhhh!! It's so gooooood!!

Even though the cookie isn't freshly baked, it's still so good!!

When I came back to myself, I found Katsuki wiping my mouth with a handkerchief.

On the other hand, Eldoria had collapsed on her knees and was even sobbing quietly.

"It's not even a freshly baked cookie… Ho… How?"

Heria giggled, "Ehehe~ Do you want to learn? I'll teach you~"

"Teacher!! Teach me please!!"

…

"What happened, Katsuki?"

She folded the handkerchief calmly, "It's nothing Mistress. She just realised her shortcomings and is coming to terms with it."

… Ok…

"Do we just continue with the tour?"

Both of us turned to look at Eldoria who was already crying while hugging Heria's leg.

"I think it would be best that we conclude the tour here, Mistress. I will check on her again after she has calmed down."

"That sounds good."

We then left the kitchens, allowing Heria to take over Eldoria instead.

The moment I stepped out though, a particular purple skinned Infrid charged towards me and leapt into my embrace. More specifically, she hugged me in such a way that her face was smushed into my boobs.

"Asteeeeerrr!! What is this?!! I heard you're engaged to the Princess now and she's even staying here?!!" Lisa groaned.

Eh? Didn't I tell her? Umm… I guess I forgot…

"Umm… Sorry… I meant to tell you but well… Things happened," I apologised.

"Mnnngghh!! Not fair! I want to stay with Aster too! Let me stay here!"

Err…

Katsuki spoke up from behind me, "If Mistress is not opposed to the idea, the Madam has already set up a room for Miss Lisa to move it whenever she wants."

"Waaa! Mother-in-law really did that for me?! I'll go and thank her right now!!"

The Infrid left as sudden as she came, presumably to go find Mother, wherever she was…

"Mother already set a room for her?" I asked.

"It is natural since Lisa is part of your harem after all. And the Madam did say that she would prepare rooms for all of your harem members, Mistress."

Oh right… She did say that back when I asked why there were so many rooms… I just didn't think she was serious.

That reminds me…

"Where is your room, Katsuki?"

She tilted her head slightly at my question, "It's in the servant's wing of the mansion, Mistress. Is there a problem?"

"Oh, I thought they would let you have one of the rooms here instead."

"That would be inappropriate of me, Mistress. Someone at my station does not deserve something like that."

I tapped my chin with my finger, "But I thought you would get a room near me since you're my personal maid… Does Mary stay near Mother?"

"Not at all, Mistress. In fact, she stays in the room next to me."

"Oh~ That's something I didn't know. Can I come and look at your room? I don't think I've ever visited your room before."

"... I do not think that would be appropriate, Mistress."

"Eh? Why not?"

"This might give the other maids an incorrect impression of us, Mistress."

"Huh? How? Is it abnormal for me to visit your room?"

She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head, "It technically isn't, but if Mistress does wish to visit my room, please give me some time to clean it first."

Eh? Is she saying that she doesn't keep her room clean?

No, no, definitely not. I cannot see Katsuki leaving her room as a mess when she is already nearing Mary's levels of being a competent maid.

But now I'm just imagining Katsuki out of her maid clothes and simply wearing some kind of casual wear laying on her couch lazily while eating snacks like some kind of NEET.

… Ok, that's pretty cute, but I don't think she's like that.

I guess she thinks that for me to go there, she has to make sure her place is doubly clean before I can step foot there. That's definitely something Katsuki would do I think.

At that moment, Delmare came by while wearing a nightgown, my Siren noticing me almost immediately.

She reached for her side but stopped when she realised she did not bring her sketchbook with her.

I reached out my hand to her, allowing her to hold on to me so that she could release her shapeshift magic without falling to the ground.

Delmare got a little shy but accepted my hand with a bashful look, allowing me to pull her into my embrace.

"Mnn… What is Aster doing here? Are you also here for a late night snack?" She asked.

I shook my head, "Actually we got a new maid today. She's going to work as a pastry chef."

Delmare blinked at me, "Another one? Didn't you just get Aria and that girl… Ummm…"

"Niaris, Miss Delmare," Katsuki reminded helpfully.

"Yeah, that Niaris girl who just joined your family as maids?"

I shrugged, "I would like to say that this time it was not my idea but Mother's. Also, Aria joined because of Tiara, not me…"

"Oh. Are her pastries good?"

"Umm… She was the head patissier for a really popular patisserie chain and I do think she makes good sweets though."

"Oh! That's great! Then we can see more of your… Ahem… I mean, that means we get more varieties of sweets in our tea time now!"

"I suppose so?"

It felt like she was going to say something else but stopped at the last moment.

"And what are you doing here this late at night?" I asked.

"Oh, I am actually here for a late night snack~ Does Aster want to join me?"

I looked back at the kitchens, "Umm… I think Heria is busy orientating the new maid right now so I don't really want to go bother her…"

"Aww~ Oh well, then how about Aster accompany me for a late night song instead? I just recently came up with another song that I would like Aster to listen to~"

I made sure to keep my face neutral as I asked, "Is it another song about the time we kissed?"

"Eh? Umm… Maybe?"

I giggled, "I would love to hear it then~ Shall we go to my room?"

She gasped, "Oh! Yes please! Ehehehe~ I was afraid that you might have gotten tired of my singing."

"That is definitely impossible~ I will never grow tired of your singing~"

"Ehehe~ Oh! Speaking of which, have you decided who you want to escort you during the end of year party?"

"I… Not yet…"

"Mmm… Well no rush or anything… But what about your speech?"

"I'll think of something for that," I half lied.

Katsuki already offered to help me write the speech so I don't really need to worry about that anymore.

Well, that's another thing altogether. Right now I have a song to listen to~