Chapter 4 - Part 10 (Book 1 - Fantasy World)

Mel, Cally, and Amory were like hatchlings in how they moved together toward someone they trusted. Sniffling and trying to keep their emotions in check.

Though Bethany hadn't interacted with the three maids often, she didn't know how to settle them down, but she did know that the three girls were hard-working employees at the inn. It was only due to the unusual circumstances that caused them to behave in such a manner.

"Girls, it is not appropriate for the three of you to act in such a manner. Such behavior is very unbecoming," Bethany dismissed how she had acted in such a lewd manner moments ago.

"Yes, miss," The three lowered their heads, ashamed of how they acted.

Seeing that the girls understood that they hadn't behaved in a manner acceptable at their place of work, Bethany mentally nodded approvingly.

"Now, have you heard any news?" Bethany looked at Mel.

Mel shook her head, "I asked one of the village guards to send word to my family, asking for them to come here since Miss advised me to stay in the inn. Just in case something happened, I figured it would be better for us to be together instead of separated."

Bethany slowly nodded, relieved that the maid had taken her advice seriously. Outside the inn, the air slowly continued to become more stifling as panic increased, and people did what they felt was necessary to survive, regardless of the consequences. She could only imagine what would happen to three innocent young women out of the protection of Leaf Village walls as they became refugees.

"I overheard the merchants," Cally lowered her head, clasping her hands together against her chest. "They said they needed to get away, stating the Empire soldiers would do awful things to the women they find." The young maid squeezed her eyes shut, tears beginning to form.

Mel and Amory moved closer to Cally and placed their arms around their friend, their eyes beginning to tear up again. Their shoulders trembled as they shakily breathed in and began to sniffle.

Seeing the girls like that, Bethany reached out to lay a hand on Amory and Mel.

Their wet eyes turned to look up at Bethany like the quivering eyes of small animals.

Bethany felt the familiar pressure numerous times in the past training newly hired employees. It was a pressure that she'd become more accustomed to as she grew in seniority.

With the village on the precipice of being destroyed by a cruel and heartless nation, Bethany couldn't help but feel the extra responsibility of dealing with her juniors to be a bit much. At the same time, she more than understood that it was the reason why seniority existed. Being a pillar of support was what allowed any organization to survive during difficult times.

It didn't help that Bethany imagined the three innocent girls covered in blood after being discarded long after they'd been mentally broken with every ounce of value violently dragged out of their bodies -- used to merely exist as a sexual release for thousands of men. Their lifeless eyes desperately beg for an explanation for why she didn't help them that day.

Bethany felt her chest squeeze from the heartache of a real future that lay ahead of them.

"Do not worry, I am here and will do everything I can to keep you safe," Bethany tried to provide even slight relief from their rampant imaginations weaving unspeakable horrors.

Amory wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her forearm. "What about the noble?"

"Noble?" Bethany raised her eyebrows, forced to remember the young noble's face.

Nodding, Amory said, "Susie said that a noble had arrived at the inn."

Recovering, Bethany smiled, "I am sure that the noble will be able to handle his own affairs. You know that they do not travel without sufficient security."

"But no one saw any people that usually come with nobles," Mel said after she had pulled herself together. "I heard that the carriage just has that monster and the woman driver."

Bethany tried to remember the people that arrived with the young noble, her eyes opening slightly wider. She realized the young noble hadn't come with anyone who would typically be considered guards. She thought of the village's guards, which had numerous weapons on their bodies on top of sufficient armor. But the people included in the entourage could only be considered noncombatants. This was especially the case with the women, whose smooth skin didn't display any indication that they had to even lift an eating utensil.

Though Bethany did remember the one woman with white hair and leather covering little of her voluptuous body, she blushed for even imagining the woman's shapely body. The woman did have a whip attached to her hip.

Bethany wondered if the whip was decorative. But even if the whip wasn't for decoration or other nightly activities, it was hard to imagine such a delicate woman being able to fight off the hardened soldiers of the Empire. She suspected even bandits would be able to disarm the woman without much effort.

Smiling to the girls, "I assume that the young lord has plans in case any dangerous scenarios occur." Bethany tried to brush off the concerns which now infected her thoughts.

Mel's eyes grew large upon remembering something, "The noble has that monster!" A large smile grew on her face.

Furrowing her brow, Bethany asked, "Monster?"

Mel quickly nodded, "The carriage is pulled by a large monster that looks like a dragon. Some of the other workers got too close, and the woman driver warned them to be careful, how the monster wouldn't mind eating them if it felt bothered."

Hearing about a monster with the appearance of a dragon, Bethany felt a strange sensation grow from deep within her chest. She remembered how the young noble's gaze had enchanted her, giving an impression that he knew far more than he revealed.

Though Bethany tried to pay attention to anything that occurred in front of the inn, she likely missed the monster due to the placement of the glass windows. The glass windows allowed her to see outside and the arrival of guests. Now they only presented an image of chaos and devolving of civil order in the village as guards desperately attempted to maintain order.

Bethany couldn't help but think that something was special and unique about the young noble, making her feel an attraction towards him. In addition to the beautiful women surrounding him, how he seemed to have control of her emotions and the financial power he casually displayed, she couldn't help but be mesmerized. She never thought of being a woman easily swayed by a man who carried influence and power, but her body told a different story.

Even at that moment, a portion of her thoughts continued to make suggestions of how she could take advantage of the chaos outside to walk up the stairs to stand in front of his chambers. Bethany sighed at the idea that only her uniforms were of a certain quality standard compared to what she regularly wore. She imagined that he would look at her more if she wore clothing similar to his attendants -- how each outfit seen would display more of her skin if worn by her.