Louis’s P.O.V

Somehow I fixed myself a date with Isabella

It wouldn’t be much of a date to her, though

After finding out the pitiful situation she is in I couldn’t help but feel bad about her

So I forced her into shopping with me

But I don’t regret it, not one bit

I have already roughly planned the date in my head

Once I Isabella wakes me up tommorrow

I will tell her to change into clothes more...royal?

I have an idea of how they would treat her when they figure out she is my maid

Not to mention how much fuss it would create when they know that I am there (Not to brag)

So I aranged so clothings we can go in

We aren’t going as master and servant

Instead we will go as an engaged couple!

This would also make her see me as someone more then her master

Or at least I hope so...

But before the date begins I have to do an important thing first

Then I guess it is time to sleep

Isabella’s P.O.V

I woke up master as per my daily schedule

As usual he kept ignoring me for some time as I lightly tugged his shoulder’s

But when I started rocking him from side to side he suddenly jerked and said

“Isabella!” He shouted in a half-awoke voice

“Yes, master”

“What time is it?”

It is between 7:30 and 8:00

“Did Berth leave?”

“I am afraid I don’t know. But I presume he has”

When I left for my daily bath I didn’t check on him

I was made aware by my mother that ignoring master due to my mother was very irresponsible

And indeed it was

I won’t repeat my mistakes again

So I didn’t go to talk to my brother before he left

I am sure he will understand

“You went bid him goodbye, right?”

“No, master”

My master’s mouth dropped open in shock

I wonder why?

“Come on, we may still be able to catch him if we leave right now” He said getting off of his bed

“Did you want to bid him farewell, master?”

“Yes I did, but more than that I know you want to too”

...

He sometimes surprises me

My master really does

When I was following master I found my mask getting weaker as I found myself hoping that my brother hadn’t left

These feeling should not be there when I serve my master

So I buried them again

Or at least that is what I thought

Instead, I found myself particularly relieved when I saw the carriage still there

It seems my brother was just about to leave before we caught him

I may have not been able to see him for another decade if it would not have been for my master

For this, I am truly grateful to him

“Could have informed me before leaving, Berth”

“I thought you were sleeping. So I decided not to disturb you”

“I want to tell you these days were wonderful. Thank you for coming and also for that advice ”

Advice?

“It was my pleasure,” Berth said bowing

As always his form is incorrect

If it would have been me from yesterday I would have scolded him immediately

But mother told me it is not polite so I was warned to reframe from these kinds of acts

Master glanced at me and I lowered my eyes instinctively

“Isabella, don’t you want to say something”

I thought for a moment

“I do not, master” I answered

Berth, as if realizing something, whispered in master’s ears

How impolite of him!

“I give you permission to say what you want to your brother”

?

Did Berth just tell him about my mask...

“Write me a letter when you get home,” I said, doing what I was permitted to do

“Yes, sister”

“And also your form was incorrect, before”

“Hehe” He laughed nervously

“And...Goodbye”

I sighed the last part

I wonder when will I meet him next

Perhaps another decade

“So long, sister”

My eyes started getting heavy and tears started appearing

I saw them in his eyes too

“Don’t make it so dramatic I am going to call him for your next birthday too...or maybe it would be my birthday, who knows” Master’s voice lightened the atmosphere

“Haha, then” He boarded the carriage

As the carriage started moving

“My best of luck to both of you!” He shouted

?

I don’t understand it

But...best of luck to you too, Berth

“Now, shall we get moving?”

Oh, yes! I almost forgot

Master and I are going to town today!

He generously offered me to buy myself some clothes

“So, change into these clothes, will you?”

“Yes”

These clothes are those of a minor duchess

Very close to the ones you will find in towns

But why am I wearing these clothes?

!

I got my answer when I saw master in the same types of clothes

“Master, are we-”

“How am I looking? Oh, Yes we are going as an engaged couple”

????!!!!!!

Engaged couples?!!

“So for today, you are my fiance!” He said cheerfully

“I... I am not sure I deserve that title even in my wildest fantasy”

His face suddenly grew very sad

“I don’t mean it in a bad way, master (*╯-╰)” I tried to reassure him

“I know...”

He still seems sad...

But once we boarded the carriage his mood started lighting up

Seeing his flawless smile my mask broke and I found a small smile appearing on my face too

I didn’t correct it in an attempt to please my master

Sometimes a person with no emotions is the scariest one to be with

Although, other times he/she is the most reliable one to be with

A maid knows these times

That is what we, royal maids, specialize in

Timing

As we moved deeper into the city the crowd became denser as the marketplace kept getting closer

And soon enough we were there

“It seems we are here, master”

“Yes”

Out of the carriage, we saw hoards of crowds

Mostly men and women dressed in rich, duke-clothes and their servants to carry the loads

You can also see some people with dark skin

Must be from the southern district

This is the place where the clothes brought from the north and east are traded

Silk yielded from the best of the worms, Cotton made into the finest fiber and clothes made from the best tailors in the whole nation

In other words, not a place to bring your servant to

But if master desires then I will do so

“Ah, Sire did you come with your mistress? If you are looking for some clothes then I must recommend taking a look at these”

A trader, a quite experienced one at that, called from his stall, at the corner of the road

The growing bald spot on his head reminded me of grandpa

“Yes,” Master said proudly

He waved his elbow, pointing me take his hand

I did so

It must look natural to them

But holding hands with the Prince is...

I did so...

I passed my hand below master’s armpits and touched his arm with other

I never understood the meaning behind holding a hand like this

But experiencing it first hand, I can see why women do it

The warm sensation near my chest tempts me to touch his arm with my chest

I have never done such a thing in my life, but still, somehow I know it will feel good

I presume it is instincts

“So which one do you like?”

“Yes, master?”

Suddenly the trader eyed me and then shifted his gaze to master

“Yes, love? I was saying which one do you like?” Master said

The trader eyed me one last time then sighed to himself

Master’s quick judgment saved us this

“Miss, I must say red would look quite good on you”

“I, think blue would look even better”

“Yes, Yes but please consider this yellow dress here,” He said, smiling at me nervously

Beads of sweat started appearing on his face

“Yes but blue still looks better”

Master exchanged looks between me and the trader

Of course, he is confused

I apologize master but I can’t explain as of now

“Then...blue it is”

I won!

Later master asked me why I was so determined to buy a blue dress

I explained to him that blue color lasts longer than other colors

Especially red and yellow which fades earlier

“Wow...” He sighed

“This is basic maid knowledge. Any maid knows that”

“But still... You are of my age and you still know a lot more than me” He said that staring in empty space in front of him

His eyes had sadness in them

This look was surprisingly familiar to me

“That is wrong, if I may say so”

“Hmm?”

“I am a maid. So I naturally know how to run a house. You are a future ruler. You know a lot more than what I know about running a kingdom, master”

“No, I don’t”

Even though he said that I still saw a smile on his face

We are individuals

We are all good at what we do

If someone is good at doing something then there has to be a person who is bad at it

Similarly, the opposite is also true

So you don’t have to waste your time thinking about how bad you are at some things

You should, instead, spend the time searching for things you love and are good at

And try to improve them