Curse 14: The Castle Grand Tour

"Welcome to the castle, Mistress Tristis. Sir Peritia." The blond maid held on to her dress and bowed. The remaining four maids and the five butlers bowed to us as well.

Peri and I were now inside the Castle's yard.

And yep, it was way bigger than I originally thought.

Cut grass, lots of bushes shaped in many forms, a well, many chairs, a dozen statues of the king, five smaller houses, an entrance to someplace—it seemed to have five types of locks, two ponds, a regular tea party table, a giant tea party table (must be where I should be for my meeting with Mirari), and, last but not least, a smaller garden section full of trees, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

I was betting there were more, but it seemed to be the gist of things. This castle had its own village without even trying.

And I wasn't sure if I should be happy... or a bit angry at that.

Wait, more importantly, I'd say the place is big enough to slip away in case of a discovery...

I noted to myself.

"Now then, I know the journey was tough, but please bear with it for a little longer." The blond maiden raised her index finger. "Our king wishes for me to give you two the grand tour while the rest of the butlers and maids prepare some meals for your stay."

"Huh?" I tilted my head.

Peri shook his head and then waved his hands in shock. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Back it up! Who's staying here?" Peri raised his brows.

"It is you and Mistress Tristis. The king figured that you two should stay within close range to observe your activities in person whenever he got free time." The gold-haired maiden answered with a small frown. "I'm sorry. Was that a bit rude of me? Shall I get a slap for disobedience?"

Peri waved his hands. "No, I'm good. I'm not your boss or anything."

"... Hold on. Are the maids and butlers for us?" I looked at each and every one of the butlers and maids.

"Indeed, ma'am. The prince gave a third of his servants, while the king did the same. There are around a hundred maids and butlers who are trained yearly. Not just for this kingdom, but for other kingdoms as well." The gold-haired maid explained. She placed one hand in front of her dress and one hand beneath her chin.

"To be frank, from young to old, those of us who are in the butler and maiden positions are usually people who either lost their homes, don't have jobs, are slaves, or all of the above."

"Wait, so you all are just... people that'll have to take orders from those higher than you?" Peri frowned and formed both of his fists.

I placed my left hand under my chin. "... Makes sense. The world needs order, and sometimes in order to achieve such a feat, you must have positions. Some are more pleasant than others."

"I assume you two are around my age, correct? Then, if I could be so bold, may I be two of your personal and main maids in need? The others shall still assist, but will be very busy with many tasks for inside and outside of the castle." The gold-haired maiden raised her right hand with a curious expression.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. I don't feel right taking advantage of someone who's the same age as me." Peri pouted and scratched the back of his neck.

"I see. Then maybe I should prove myself to you two and cast away my dignity." The maiden slowly untied the string on her neck.

Peri blushed madly and turned away as I flinched at her action.

"Whoa, whoa! Let's not do that!" I panicked and fixed her tie back.

"... Strange. Prince Matthew Luna always commands me to take off all my clothes to see my youthful body." The gold maiden stated without a care in the world.

Peri placed his hands on the gold-haired maiden's shoulders.

"Have you considered... suing that prince?"

"I cannot. I don't have the right to deny my masters of the castle." The gold-haired maiden responded.

Peri backed away in shock. "You don't have the right—listen! I don't give a damn if he's the savior of our friggin' world himself! A young woman must save herself, showing off to someone whom she deeply cares for and is in love with!"

"But he is one of my masters, and I'm only a maiden. My body and soul belong to them." The gold-haired maiden tilted her head.

"Peri's right, though. I may not fully understand it for me, but in your case, you should probably not do that type of thing." I added.

"YOU SHOULDN'T LET ANY GUY WANT TO SEE YOUR BODY, TOO, TRISTIS!" Peri barked at me with his cheeks turning red.

I raised my brows at my red-haired friend.

"What's so great about my body?" I asked honestly.

"Mistress has a beautiful body. Hence why Sir Peritia got, how you say, 'pissed the hell off', so to speak. And I agree, you should preserve it more." The gold-haired maiden answered with a straight face.

"If you agree with me, then why don't you get that you should do the same?" Peri raised his right brow at the maid.

"Because I am no one important to worry about such trivial things." The gold maid answered bluntly.

Agreed there. I'm more worried about other people than my well-being and body.

"WHY ARE YOU TWO WORRYING ABOUT EACH OTHER'S BODY AND NOT YOUR OWN?!!!" Peri went close to the gold maiden's face, breathing hard, showing rage in his eyes.

"Ah." The gold maiden reacted, her mouth forming a triangle.

Peri then went close to my face.

"WHY ARE YOU WOMEN NOT FIGHTING BACK FOR YOUR RIGHTS?! YOU TWO SHOULD STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES MORE! TELL SOMEONE WHEN THEY'RE MAKING YOU UNCOMFORTABLE!!!"

"Ah." I reacted the same way as the maiden. My mouth formed a triangle as well.

Peri backed away and held his head.

"Where is your dignity?! Why would you let a guy do whatever they want!?"

Peri rolled up his sleeve and started to slam on the closed giant door where the maids and butlers were forming two sets of lines.

"HEY KING! I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TREATING PEOPLE AS EQUALS AND NOT ENTERTAINMENT!!!"

"H-hey, now! Calm down! Don't just slam your fist on the doorway!" I panicked.

"KKINNNGGG!!!" Peri continued to slam the door hard.

Wham!

"Hiyah!" I forced my palm onto Peri's back, slamming him hard against the door.

Peri slowly slid his body down the door to the ground.

I sighed deeply and effortlessly carried his tall body on my back. "Good grief, sometimes your sweet side can cause trouble!"

The gold-haired maid nodded. "Seems like it does. However, for some reason, I appreciate his concern for my well-being."

She rested her right hand on her chest area and chuckled. "What a strange man. Seems like he deeply cares for those around him despite not knowing them. A heart of a true knight!"

"Huh?" I blinked at the maiden. I smiled and gave a peace sign. "Yup! He's the hero of justice!"

***

And so, with Peri on my back, I was given the grand tour of the inside of the castle.

And... oh boy.

Where to begin?

Well, for starters, there were five kitchens, four dining rooms, three secret bunks, two drinking bars, one bathhouse on the roof, and two of them on the first floor, behind the second kitchen... I think.

There was also a weapon room, a vault of the king's deepest treasure, Prince Matthew's treasure vault, Prince Clarus Luna's treasure vault, the family tree's treasure vault, another kitchen for the outside, another vault hidden underground, a training room on the first floor, another training room, and there was an alarm button on the first floor near the third kitchen area...

And that was just half of the castle.

The second half of the castle was basically a repeat based on what the gold-haired maid told me.

She then showed me the entrance to the library of truth. It had four different locks on the door, too.

"Mistress Tristis. I know the king and his two sons allow you to use this library, but for today, you should take a rest and roam around the castle for the day." The gold-haired maiden suggested.

"I see."

I looked at Peri, who was still knocked out from my attack earlier.

"In that case, would you mind showing me Peri's room for now?" I asked.

"Oh. My apologies, mistress! Sir Peritia must be heavy for you!" The blond-haired maiden bowed to me.

"Oh, no, it's not that. You see, I have an acquaintance of mine coming over by the garden, so I must get ready for that." I explained, pushing Peri's body up since he was slipping from my palms.

"I see. Strange, no one has made an appointment to visit the castle, I don't think." The golden-haired maiden tilted her head, placing her index finger under her chin.

"I see." I nodded.

Oh, well. So much for our deal, Mirari...

I used one hand to hold Peri's body, and I dug in my brown bag and took out my mirror. "Then, I should let Mirari know that—"

"Wait a moment. Did you say Mirari? Mistress Mirari Exploratores?" The golden-haired maiden looked surprised by the name I called out.

"Huh? Uh, yeah..." I nodded, a bit curious. "Do you know Mirari?"

"Certainly!" The golden-haired maiden smiled proudly and rested her right palm on her chest. "Mistress Mirari is my little sister."

"... Huh?" I became dumbfounded.

Eh? Huh?

Little sister? Mirari? She was the maiden's little sister?!

"... Then, is your last name also Exploratores?" I asked, still shocked by this turn of events.

The golden maiden widened her eyes in shock, her mouth forming an oval.

She paused. Thinking about something.

But the maiden slowly smiled and closed her eyes, her hands in front of her.

"I had lost my rights to my last name. Ever since I was sold to the king and his sons by our father ten years ago!" The maiden said it in the sweetest voice, but it was the worst thing I had ever heard.

Her father sold her?

I furrowed my brows.

How messed up could you be to sell your own flesh and blood?!

"No need to give that reaction, Mistress Tristis." I heard the golden-haired maiden's voice.

I saw what I could call the most innocent smile I had ever seen.

"Mistress Mirari was able to live out her dream thanks to me being sold!"

"..."

I looked at the floor to take in all the information I had just received.

So they were sisters?

"... Hey. What's your name?" I whispered to the gold-haired maiden.

"I'm sorry?" The gold-haired maiden asked. I looked up and saw her tilting her head, being confused.

"I—"

"She asked for your name." I heard a voice from behind me.

Wait. Peri was awake?!

"Peri?!"

Peri slowly got off of me and started to spin his right arm.

"I couldn't sleep well after hearing that shit your pops did to you." Peri walked next to me and folded his arms. "So. What's your name?"

"..." The gold-haired maiden looked conflicted. "... Will you hit me for saying it?"

"Heck no." Peri shook his head.

The gold-haired maiden sighed in relief.

"... It's Amissus. Just Amissus." Amissus bowed to us. "Please, don't say anything to anyone outside the castle. Otherwise, my little sister would be in danger."

Peri scoffed and scratched his face.

"Like I would do something that horrible! Don't worry! A hero doesn't sell out his allies even for money!" Peri smiled and waved his hand at Amissus.

"An ally? You mean me?" Amissus pointed at herself.

"Who else?" Peri then patted her golden hair since she was around the same height as me.

"..." Amissus slowly closed her eyes. "I see..."

Amissus then removed his hand from her hair. "Sorry for being so bold, but not even I would accept a guy cheating on his girlfriend."

"Is there ANYONE in this castle that DOESN'T do that joke over and over again?!" Peri sweated and held his forehead.

"Ehehe!" I giggled on my fist.

"Mistress Tristis. My little sister will be here in five minutes; I suggest taking a shower and meeting her on the king-size tea party table." Amissus offered her hand to me.

"Huh? I get it, but why are you offering your hand to me?" I blinked.

"I'll scrub you, of course." Amissus tilted her head at me.

"N-no need! I can take care of that myself!" I waved my hands at Amissus.

"I see." Amissus nodded to me. She then looked at Peri. "Shall I—"

"No," Peri answered quickly.

"... I see," Amissus answered, sulking.

"I really need to talk to the king about this..." Peri sounded annoyed.

Well, I guess my life inside the castle has officially started. I'd take Amissus's advice and take a shower, then meet her little sister Mirari.

I wish I could go to the library of truth, though...

It stank that I couldn't do what I came here for, but I'm already on the threshold. There's no need to rush it.

For now, I'd meet up with Mirari, then go from there.