Chapter 2: Aldous' Aftermath

     As I had suspected, cleaning up after the usurpation was a nightmare. What made it even harder is that I had to have two toddlers trailing behind me the whole time. It’s not like  my job wasn’t already more challenging than the other maids'. They just use magic to mix soaps, reach high places, even some simply use spells that automatically clean things. I dipped my mop into the soapy water, I checked on the twins, they were hopping along the stones, trying to keep their little feet on a single stone at a time. I felt it was safe enough to turn my back. I slopped the soapy mop on the blood-stained floor, to think that this might be all that remains of someone I once knew. I was lucky in my old life to not live in a very violent place. Yet another thing I took for granted.

     I heard some heavy footsteps coming from behind me. I turned my head to check on the children, they were right in the way of a demon and a man from the dark dimension. I swung my mop around, using it to push the children against the wall. The demon sneered at me as he walked by. “Keep a better eye on those kids or they will be trampled.” When he turned his head away from me, I stuck my tongue out at him.

      I turned to the twins as I returned my mop to the bucket. “Biff, Esmee, you need to keep an eye out. If you see any of the new people coming through, you move out of the way and let them through, even if they can just go around you, move out of the way as much as you can, okay?”

     “Okay.” The twins nodded.

      After awhile of cleaning, with everyone on edge, Esmee tugged on my skirt. “Auntie Ami? Why do the new people look so strange?”

     “They are just from far away places. Some of them are even from other dimensions. We look strange to them, because we look different from what is common where they are from.” I watched as Esmee processed what I had said.

      “Okay!” She then went back to playing with her brother.

     “Hey, Miss Amice.” One of the other maids whispered to me. “Why did you tell her that? You know they look like that because they are evil.”

     “No. I told her the truth.” I quietly snapped at her. “Evil doesn’t have a look, and no one is born evil. Trust me, the prettiest of people could have the ugliest of hearts.”

      She gazed into one of the rooms where monsters were drinking and bragging about their kills. “Then explain that, how can someone gloat over killing people just trying to defend their home?”

      “If we had won, the words would still be the same, just the people saying them be human.” I answered her without missing a beat. She stared at me as she realised, I then continued. “Maybe they see us as the countless generations of evil. Our men never hesitated to kill goblins or boar monsters that wandered into our territory, so why should they hesitate with us?”

     The maid scoffed as she pondered what I had said. She shook her head. “Why are you defending them like that?”

      “They will be here for a long while. We better get used to it and play nice.” Ignored the scowl she gave me, and we continued our work in silence.

      Later that day, I was ordered to help repair the floor in the throne room. I had put the twins down for their nap just before, I was glad I did. When I entered, this first thing my eyes were drawn to, was Harriette chained up. Her hands were trapped behind her back, a metal mask was over her mouth, a chain wrapped around her shoulders and another around her elbows. We locked eyes, her expression said everything she needed to say. ‘Are the kids okay?’

      I gave a subtle nod as I went over one of the destroyed parts of the floor. As I worked, I couldn’t help but keep my eye trained on Aldous sitting on the throne that was occupied by another man just a day before. I couldn't exactly make out what he was saying, but I knew he was enacting new laws and policies. He keeps looking at Harriette, is he just making sure she hears him, or is it something more? I need to get my degenerate head to focus on the task at hand, we are playing the long game. What is wrong with this cement? It’s too dry. My dad didn’t take me with him to work at construction sites when I was little for nothing.

        I stood up and addressed the maid in charge of the mixture. “Hey, I think this is off, let me try something.” I poured more of the primitive concrete into the cauldron.

         The maid in charge made a face. “Well, if your so smart, why don’t you mix it yourself.” She then released the stir stick she was controlling with her magic. I caught it before it fell into the concrete, destined to be lost forever. Without a word I began to stir with all my might. I hate to show off the strength like this in front of Aldous and his lackies, but if I let the concrete go bad, we might get beat. “Freak!” The maid screeched at me. It wasn’t her opinion I was worried about, but the ones of the bosses across the room. That snob that calls me her colleague is drawing too much attention.

       I snapped my eyes up to check what was happening up by the throne. Ignatius was laughing his butt off; Narcissus was also laughing just not to the same extreme. Aldous seemed amused, his eyes kept drifting to Harriette. “The little maid must have run out of MP!” Ignatius squawked as he covered his eyes. “These humans are so weak!”

       Ignatius is actually one of my favourite villains. I quite enjoyed his boss fights; he wouldn’t be laughing like that if he knew I’ve defeated him at least twelve times. I’ve watched him beg for mercy before being sealed, he doesn’t scare me as much as I let on. I’m just another meek maid to him, but soon enough, I’ll be the one laughing at him.

       After finishing repairing the floor, I went to go wake up the twins from their nap. As I opened the door to their room I called out to them, “If you two sleep in any longer, you won’t go to bed tonight.” I gasped. The twins were gone; their room was a mess. It was clear that they had been playing in here before they got bored and left. They usually don’t close doors, so now I’m wondering if someone took them out of here. I can’t keep them safe if I don’t know where they are. “Biff! Esmee!” I began to call out as I scoured the castle. I went out to the courtyard, they weren’t there, not even hiding in the bushes. When Harriette finds out I lost her kids she is going to kill me.

        As I scurried through the halls, I began to ask the other servants if they seen the twins. All said no. I checked the main library, not a soul. They weren’t in the toilet room or bathroom either. At this point I even started asking some of the monster soldiers, some were a bit rude, but most were nice about it. I was running out of ideas of where they might be, even less where they might be still alive. I decided to check the kitchen, if they weren’t there I would have to try and sneak into the dungeons. I stepped into the kitchen slowly, pretending to be needed there.

         Suddenly, a voice yelled at. “Maid! Get over here!” I did as I was ordered. The chef that yelled at me handed me a tray full of food. “Take this to the king, he is in the throne room. Hurry or it’s both of our heads!” I nodded and headed towards the throne room.

      Finding Esmee and Biff would have to wait. Still, the longer they are missing, the more places they could be. I sure hope they are alright. I passed a maid on the way there who whispered a “Thank you,” to me.

      I took a deep breath as I stood before the doors. I tried to conceal my worry for the children, time to put on a show. I pushed open the massive door with my shoulder, as I stepped in my face went pale. Across the room, Biff was hanging onto the armrest of the throne as he jabbered away to Aldous. Esmee sat nearby, playing with a little doll. I felt like I was about to have another heart attack. I gingerly stepped forward, careful not to tip the tray. I stopped when I made it to the stairs to the throne. “Come forward.” Aldous commanded. I ascended the stairs.

        As I passed Harriette, I could understand her muffled words. “I’m going to kill you.” Her eyes appeared like they were bugging out of her head. I felt that her killing me would be reasonable, I was to look after her kids for one day and I failed miserably.

         Biff turned his little head towards me. “Hi Auntie Ami!” He squealed as if nothing is wrong.

        I extended the tray towards Aldous as I bowed my head. He took some of the food and ate it. I kept my eyes trained on Biff, who just stared at me, grinning like there was no tomorrow. When Aldous spoke, I made a little jump, I may not be truly scared of his generals, but he does scare me. “Weren’t you the one who was supposed to look after these little ones?”

       My mouth gaped open. “Y-yes sir.”

     “You are to address me as ‘my liege’.” He growled.

      “Yes, m-my liege.” I couldn’t steady my words or my hands. “My apologies my liege.”

     “You know,” he started, then took another bite of food, before continuing to speak with a full mouth. “These little ones remind me a lot of my younger sisters. They would sneak off to who knows where all the time.” He gazed over at Biff; they both did that little head tilt thing. “Harriette’s children also seem to be the only ones here that don’t hate or fear me, perhaps they are too young to know what I am capable of.” Aldous then made eye contact with Harriette, what he said next was clearly directed at her. “They will make a fine addition to my forces someday.” He then motioned with his head towards Narcissus and Ignatius, “Hopefully they don’t turn out as suck ups like those two.”

      I couldn’t help but smile. Ignatius and Narcissus didn’t seem too bothered being called suck ups, but then again, I can’t see their faces. Aldous chuckled for a moment. He then raised his hand. “I’m finished; you are dismissed. Children, go with your aunt now.” We waved us away.

     “Okay! Bye-bye!” Biff squealed as he started toddling down the stairs.

    “Bye-bye, see you later!” Esmee then followed her brother, I trailed behind.

       “Generals, make note of this! No one is to harm those children.” Aldous’ ordered, Ignatius and Narcissus nodded in response.

      I stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Thank you, my liege.” I murmured. “I assure you this won’t happen again.” I left with the twins.

     What happened next, I was told by Harriette later. “Narcissus,” Aldous began, “what were her stats?”

      He immediately answered, “Her HP is a nice three thousand, but her MP, my liege.” He paused. “The boy wasn’t lying; she has no bar or even letters. She is completely magicless.”

     “Then why was she hired to work in the castle?” Ignatius thought out loud.

       “She must have been a charity case.” Aldous determined. “Still, there must be more to her then we know.” He turned his head to try and read Harriette’s expression. “We will keep an eye on her, after all, she is my trophy’s best friend.”