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Description
Chapter 4:
As the soon-to-be-princes rode, they looked out the window at what they were to inherit. Shops that had been long shut-down flooded the kingdom, people were on the streets, and it seemed never-ending. As they passed, however, they saw the brighter side of things as well. Bustling Farmer’s Markets were scattered throughout the land, children played in a sunflower field nearby, and the people seemed generally hopeful that things would get better, and that hope lit up their faces when they saw the seven carriages ride through the streets. They waved, shouted greetings, and grinned from ear to ear.
Upon their arrival, they saw handmaidens and servants waiting in a line in the courtyard, all with eager looks on their faces. The horses pulling them slowed to a stop, and the doors opened. The boys climbed out slowly, careful not to land on their faces. Once they had all exited, the carriages left, and the servants descended upon the boys, each one being surrounded by at least half a dozen serfs.
Sebastian stepped away from the king. “Now, gentlemen, if we are to make you into the future of this kingdom, you must look the part. These young men and ladies are here to bathe, groom, and dress you, so that you may convince the kingdom that you are the greatest hope they have, and that King Frederick chose you for a reason. Now, then, Ladies, Gentlemen, have at them.” The boys looked stunned, but didn’t have time to protest as they were herded inside the magnificent castle, with the occasional cry, shout, or laughter echoing throughout the halls.
“There, now that they’re being taken care of, let’s take care of you, Master.” He said, turning toward the king, and lightly grasping his arm. Frederick, worn and exhausted, was led to the parlor, to sit in a large, plush armchair. His features twisted, and then relaxed, as he settled down into his lavish seat. He looked rather pale, and sweat was starting to bead up at his hairline, and drip slowly down his face.
Sebastian looked concerned for a moment, and then cleared his face of emotions. He strode over to the door, where a pipe was set up to call servants or maids. “Ms. (Your name), can you come down here?” Sebastian called into the tube, and walked away to stand by the kings side while he waited. A few moments later, a young woman with (Your hair color) entered the room, her uniform sweeping around her as she turned to shut the door behind her. She turned, and walked to Sebastian.
“Yes, your majesty?” she asked, only to find that he had fallen asleep in his chair.
“I called for you, Ms. (first name). Could you please call the doctor, please?” Sebastian asked.
“Right away, sir,” She nodded.
“Very good, and then meet me in the dining room to help set up for dinner. We need everything to be suitable for our new masters.” He added, and waved her off, turning toward a cabinet filled with blankets. She walked to the door, and began to leave, but stopped long enough to see Sebastian cover the king in a tightly knitted blanket. She smiled, and left to perform her duties.
*** *~\(*°)/~* Follow the magical time-skip zombie. Don’t worry; he’s had his flesh for the day! ***
Soon after her call to the doctor, she ran to the dining room to find Sebastian already there.
“Am I late?” she asked, rushing over to the silverware and napkins lying in a pile at the end of the table.
“Of course not, I just arrived here early.” He stated plainly, setting the plates in their proper place before moving on to the bowls. (Your name) set the glasses while Sebastian set the vases in the center of the table. In no time at all, they had set the table in a beautiful fashion.
“I knew you were head maid for a reason.” He said, giving her one of his gentlemanly smiles. “Now, if you would please stand at the head of the table, I must fetch the king and the young princes for dinner, and then we can bring the meal together.” He asked, as he walked into the doorway.
“Of course, Mister Sebastian, right away.” She said, and he walked out to fetch the young soon-to-be royals.
With Sebastian:
He walked down the halls, lightly humming “London Bridge” as he went along. He reached the base of the grand staircase that graced the entrance to the castle, and strode up to the wall. He rang a bell that hung there, and waited, humming the last verses to himself.
A few moments later, shouting was heard at the tops of the stairs, and twelve clean, well-dressed, teenage boys were pushed within his view, Gilbert almost falling down the stairs, but he was caught by Francis and Antonio. They stood awkwardly at the top, some pulling on their shirts or pants, and others looking around at the others, or their new home.
“Welcome to your new home,” Sebastian said, loudly so it would project to the top of the stairs. “In a moment, I shall walk you to the dining room, where you shall sit and wait for just a moment. We shall then bring in the king and queen, and they will sit. Ms. (Your name) and I shall then bring in dinner, each specialized to your individual preferences, and I will then introduce her to you. It is important for you to know who she is, as she will be a big part of your lives. Since you cannot report to me, as I strictly serve just the king and queen, she is who you will go to if you need something, or something has happened. Understand?” The group of boys nod, a small “Vee~” escaping from the small Italian boy on the right. “Good. Now, follow me, and I shall lead you to the dining room, and seat you.” He began to walk, knowing that the boys were close behind.
Soon after they began the trek toward the dining room, Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, and saw that the boys had formed a single-file line. The odd part, however, was that it was formed in the order they were announced in back at the orphanage, with Yao in front and Kiku in the back. He smirked, and looked forward, answering little questions here and there, most of which came from the two Italians and the Spaniard in line.
The General Boy’s POV:
Once we entered the dining room, Sebastian strode over to a young woman at the other end of the table. She had (Hair Color and length) and a spotless maid uniform. Various greetings came from our group, ranging from nods, to full-on flirtatious greetings. They then rushed over and started leading us to our seats, one at a time. She seemed as efficient as Sebastian at her job, as they finished at the same time. Soon after, Sebastian left to get the king and queen, and the young maid rushed out of the room, heading in a random direction. It wasn’t long after, however, that they returned, Sebastian seating the royals, and the girl moving a large cart, covered in platters of all sizes. Sebastian walked over, and together, they placed a platter in front of each person. With a snap of the girl’s fingers, the covers were lifted by servants that were previously hidden in the shadows of the room.
Underneath we all our favorite foods! Everyone wanted to start, but we all knew that we had to wait for the king to start first. After he began to eat his potato and leek soup, everyone dug into their food, some of us being more polite than others. After a while, we started to slow down, food filling us, and making a few of us feel a bit sick. When it was clear we could not eat anymore, the girl snapped her fingers, and the dishes were carried away by the same servants that brought them. Sebastian cleared his throat, beginning an introduction.
Reader’s POV:
After the servants had taken away their dishes, Sebastian cleared his throat, and, knowing he was going to introduce me to the new masters, I straightened my apron a bit.
He stepped forward. “Now that we’ve gotten dinner out of the way, let me introduce the one that made it.” He gestured toward me, and I stepped closer to the table. “This is Ms. (Your name). As we’ve discussed, she will be the one you go to if you need anything important, or in the rare event that something dangerous happens. Her official title is head maid, but she has talents in cooking, cleaning, teaching, dancing, gardening, and is magnificent at making tea.”
I interrupted. “It is not as good as yours, Mr. Sebastian.”
He chuckled. “Quite right, Ms. (your name) also has extensive military training, so for those of you who request it, she can help you prepare for anything.” He eyed a young man with slicked-back blonde hair, and continued. “Besides your tutors, she is here to teach you how to become the young princes the kingdom needs. Besides that, she is also helping me plan your coronation, and will be stopping by your rooms on occasion to gather certain information as needed.” He looked at me. “Do you have anything to add?”
I nodded. Looking at them, I started my mini-speech. “I am going to try to make your transition as easy and natural as possible. There will be responsibilities and duties, but that is only half of the job. You need to be people that the citizens can look up to, children and adults alike. You all possess different qualities that the people need to be reminded of. For some, it is discipline, for others, it is fun. Some people need to learn routine, and order, while others need to relax, laugh, and live life to the fullest. You are going to teach the people these lessons, and make our kingdom bright again. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you in turn, and helping each of you learn your role in the kingdom.” I paused, thinking for a moment, and stepped back, proud that I hadn’t forgotten anything.
“Well put, Ms. (Your name).” He turned toward the boys again. “It may seem odd that she possesses qualities that each of you can get along with, but this was no accident. She has been chosen specifically for her traits, so she can better perform her duties. Some of you enjoy cooking, while others enjoy dancing and laughter, while others still enjoy discipline and training. We have chosen her because she can do all of these, and this allows her to get you know you all just a bit better.”
He paused for a moment. “Now then, if you are feeling up to it, you are free to explore the castle; if not, the lounge is down the hall on the right. Those of you who choose to explore, be careful. We have a…. um....dog… in the garden, and he likes to jump…” He looked slightly uncomfortable at the mention of Pluto, but the boys looked excited. They each went their separate directions, two boys heading toward the lounge, the others scattering in different directions.
I began cleaning up the table immediately after they left, when Sebastian stopped me. “I believe the young masters will need help settling into their new home. Would you mind making sure they are all comfortable, while I check on His Majesty and his Queen? It would be a great help to me, and they would be able to get to know you better.”
“Of course, Mr. Sebastian,” I nodded, and carefully handed him the discarded silverware. I walked out, heading first for the lounge.
Upon entering the room, I saw a blonde boy with hair to his ears exploring the bookshelves, while an Oriental boy was sprawled on the couch, breathing heavily, but not yet sleeping, and wearing a red dress shirt with black pants. He had a panda toy lying next to him, and he looked at the fire place with drowsy, lazy eyes. As I walked over, he slowly shifted, and I saw mahogany eyes looking back at me, wisdom settled deep into his irises. The blonde boy had noticed my presence, as well, and walked over next to the couch stopping in front of me. In the firelight, I could see that his deep green shirt set off his forest green eyes, and one of his…rather large eyebrows was up, showing his curiosity.
“Hello, there, love.” I was mildly startled at his English accent, but recovered quickly enough that he didn’t notice.
“Hello, sir. Are you enjoying your stay so far?” I asked, since I had to accommodate him in any way possible…as long as it was appropriate, at least.
“Yes, I rather am. Well, I could have done without the forced bath, and I could have dressed myself, but other than that, I am well.”
“That’s good, and how are you, sir?” I asked the Asian teen.
“I’m full, and very tired, aru. How did you make fried rice that well?” he asked, tilting his head to look at me fully.
I was interrupted before I could answer. “Yao, we should introduce ourselves to the lady first.” He said with a pointed look at the boy, apparently known as Yao.
“I know that, Ahen*!” he shoots at him, and then looks back at me. “I am Yao Wang, though I guess my last name may be different now, huh, aru?” he looks at me with his head slightly tilted. I shrugged, not really knowing the answer.
“I am Arthur Kirkland. It is a pleasure to meet you, love. Though, I really must ask, how did you make the beef stew taste that wonderful? I’ve tried everything, but I can never get it to taste right, or look right, or even smell right. Yours, however, was fantastic!”
I blushed. “Thank you, but I was taught these recipes by my mother, so it’s really her doing.”
Arthur smiled. “Is it possible for us to meet the lady anytime soon? I’d love to get tips on….hey, are you okay?” he asked, concern flashing over his features.
I was puzzled, until I realized that I must have looked upset. “Unfortunately, young master, she is no longer with us. She died when I was ten.”
They looked at each other with sympathy, and then returned their gaze back at me. “I’m sorry, love, I didn’t know.”
“If it’s all the same to you, almost all of us have lost our parents at a young age, as well, through death or abandonment, so we know what you went through, aru,” added Yao, who was now sitting up on the sofa.
“It was a while ago. After she died, I worked at a boarding house with my dad, serving food and cleaning rooms, when he caught the flu. That killed him the end, and I was stuck waiting tables. I ended up leaving for a bit, doing…..a bunch of different things.” I paused, wondering exactly how much I should tell the young masters. I decided to tell them what was necessary for now. “I eventually came back and started working here again. Then, one day, Sebastian found me, and asked me to work here. It didn’t take much convincing. Now, a few years later, here I am. Now I get to take care of all of you.”
The boys looked saddened at my story, so I tried to come up with something that would make them smile again.
“So, what is your favorite part of the castle, so far?” I asked, allowing a smile to cross my face once more.
They seemed to notice the attitude change, but allowed the topic to flow where it may.
“We haven’t exactly been allowed to explore before now, and I am too tired to get up, aru” Yao said, leaning back on the sofa cushions and closing his eyes.
“I have been meaning to look around a bit. Would you mind showing me the kitchen, tomorrow, that is?”
At this, Yao’s eyes shot open, and he sat up quicker than I would have thought possible. “Don’t let him anywhere near the kitchen, aru!” He nearly screamed. “He’ll burn the entire place down, with all of us inside!”
“My cooking is not that bad! You just don’t like it because you didn’t make it, and you have no taste!”
“You nearly killed Kiku with it, Ahen! He was too polite to say no, and that “scone” of yours nearly did him in!” Yao was standing now, and yelling in Arthur’s face. I froze, not sure what to do. I could try to break them up, but I’m not sure what will happen. I could seriously hurt them…
Luckily, before I could act, Arthur backed away, and Yao turned, facing the couch again.
“Hmph. No matter, I should be getting to bed, soon anyhow. Ms. (your name), was it? Would you mind accompanying me to my room? This place is so large; I fear I may lose myself on the way.” Arthur asked, looking back at me.
“Of course, Master Arthur, I shall assist you immediately.” I turned to the young Asian boy. “Master Yao, I shall be back shortly to help you prepare as well.” I had bowed my head as I spoke, and, upon raising it, I saw a faint blush on the faces of both of the masters. I smiled, and walked towards the door, knowing that Master Arthur was close behind.
After climbing the main staircase, and walking down dozens of halls, all the while answering the occasional question from the British boy behind me, we finally reached the hall that housed the rooms of each of the twelve boys. Upon entering the long corridor, Arthur’s eyes grew wide. A marble vaulted ceiling rose twenty feet from the polished granite floor, with a long scarlet carpet running through the middle down the length of the hall. Tan columns reached from floor to ceiling all the way down, fifteen feet apart, and stood in mild contrast to the white walls. Alternating mahogany doors and paintings of famous scenes and past rulers in golden frames decorated the areas between each column, and all of it looked brand new.
“This wing of the castle was specially created for our young masters. Since we knew we would have at least one new master, we anticipated that he or she might bring guests rather often, and built enough rooms for all of their friends to stay. Of course, we had not anticipated that His Highness would choose twelve boys, but luckily, Mister Sebastian was able to make both the rooms and the hall itself sturdier.” I chuckled. “Of course, we had already equipped the entire castle to withstand enemy attacks, since you can never be too careful, but we thought ‘Better safe than sorry.’”
I stopped in front of the second room on the left. “This will be your room. Master Yao is the first on the left, and Master Alfred will be the third. Master Francis will be across the hall, and, if you need anything, just speak into the tube by your door, it reaches into the servant’s quarters. When you do so, I, or another servant, will be along shortly to help. If it is an emergency, please ring the little bell next to it. Please, do not ring the bell if it is not an absolute emergency, though, Mister Sebastian gets…..testy… when the bell is rung, and it is not dire.” He looked as though he had something to say, but I interrupted him. “I also feel as though I should add that the rooms are soundproof, so, unless you desire to, you won’t hear what your neighbors are doing in their rooms. Now, if that is all, I must say, ‘Goodnight, Master Arthur, and pleasant dreams.’” I started to walk away.
“Arthur.”
I turned around. “Excuse me, sir?”
He looked at me, a faint blush on his cheeks once again. “Just call me Arthur, none of this ‘Master’ nonsense, at least, not when it’s just us around.” The blush got darker.
I smiled. “All right then. Goodnight Arthur.” I walked away, my cheeks feeling a tad bit warmer than they were on the way up.
~~Mini timeskip~~
I walked back into the lounge to find Master Yao sitting up on the sofa, his back toward me. I walked over as soundlessly as I could, which, considering I’ve been wearing these shoes for years, wasn’t as hard to do as it once was. Rounding the side of the couch, I looked to find him gazing intently at the fire, as if all the answers to the universe were hidden in its embers, and would reveal themselves if he only looked long enough. I cleared my throat, which appeared to have startled him, since he jumped off the couch and stood to face me. It was then that I realized that he was taller than me, though, not by much more than about five inches.
“Please excuse my entrance, Master Yao, I should have knocked.” I bowed slightly, my hands folded in front of me.
“No, no, it’s fine, aru,” he said, shaking his head. “I was just thinking.”
“Might I ask what?”
“Just…. everything; I mean, I woke up this morning in an orphanage, and now, I have a stomach full of my favorite food, and I’m being told that I’m going to live here from now on, aru. Am I dreaming?”
“I should hope not, sir, you boys are the hope of the kingdom. Our future rests with you.” He looked uneasy at this. “I will teach you everything you need to know, and you, in turn, will teach the kingdom what it needs to remember. You might not see it yet, but you all have skills that we need to make our kingdom prosperous once more.”
He looked like he wanted to speak, but then decided against it. He turned back toward the fire, and sat back down on the couch. I stood by the arm of it, gazing at the fire, trying to see what it was he was searching for inside.
I can’t tell how long we stayed like that, him sitting, and I standing, both entranced by an ordinary fire in an ordinary fireplace. After a while, I broke away, and glanced at Master Yao, who was still mystified by the fire.
“Master, it is getting late. You should get to bed.”
“Shi, I will, but, may I have some tea first, aru?” He asked, exhaustion showing in his posture.
“Of course, sir, what would you like?”
“Some Oolong, please, aru.”
“Right away, Master Yao, I will return in about ten minutes,” I said, walking to the door. “Please try to stay awake that long,” I added, smiling, before slipping out the door.
‘Such polite young men,’ I thought, walking down the hall toward the kitchen. ‘I’m positive they’ll be great leaders for this kingdom…’
I stepped into the kitchen, heard a yell, and dove behind a counter in time for a pot of stew on the counter to explode, coating every available surface with the thick soup. Peeking over the counter, I saw a stew covered Bard standing, looking shocked at where the pot used to be, the ladle still in his hand. I slowly stood, and walked over to where he stood. His stew-soaked blonde hair was stuck to his head, and he somehow managed to keep that bloody cigarette in his mouth.
“Bardroy….?”
He glanced at me. “Oh, hey, (F/N), how’s it going?”
I felt my eye twitch. “‘How’s it going?’ Is that all you can say for yourself?” I heard my voice rising, and I lowered it to a suitable volume.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, that’s all I really can say. I actually was not responsible for this mess.”
I looked at him. “Are you honestly saying you had nothing to do with this, at all?”
He shook his head. “Not at all, I know how to cook a stew.”
I took a swipe of the stew off the counter, my finger leaving behind a clean streak, and tasted it. I immediately made a face as a bitter flavor overtook my tongue.
“Bard, you don’t put vinegar in stew!” As I looked at him, I noticed a small pile of white powder hidden behind the counter where I took cover from the boiling mixture. I walked over and smelled it. “Or baking soda! You should know better than this!”
Of course, gravity took this opportunity to make a potato, previously stuck to the ceiling, fall on the top of my head. I saw Bard struggling not to laugh, and something inside me wanted to snap. I turned and tried to storm off, but, as it turns out, gravity decided to work overtime, making me slip and land on my back, a burst of pain exploding in my lower back and the back of my head. I thought I heard Bard try to walk over, but a small quake in the floor suggests that he fell as well. I slowly but surely got back up on my feet, and I carefully walked over to where he laid. I helped him up, and he stood, awkwardly rubbing his arm. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a faint stew trail leading down an adjacent hallway, not a full-on trail, but little dots that seemed to have traveled far past what they should have, and a small smear mark that almost looked like someone stepped in it. I walked over, and upon closer inspection, saw that it was indeed a smear, and that the drops led down the hall and around the corner.
I sighed, and went back to the stove, knowing that at least one of the new arrivals had something to do with this. I cleaned off an area, and put on a kettle of water. While that was boiling, I stepped into the pantry to get to tea. When that was done, I set about rinsing and warming three ceramic tea cups and the ceramic tea set. I added the tea leaves, then the boiling water, wiping away the white bubbles when I was done. Then I waited a few moments for the tea to steep, and poured the cups, making sure to distribute the last few drops, which were rich in flavor. After inspecting the tea’s color and aroma, I declared that it was done, put the cups on the tray, and walked carefully down the hall to the lounge.
I carefully opened the door, using my left elbow to turn the long handle, and entered the room, briefly setting the tray on the table to shut the door. I picked up the tray again and walked over the Master Yao, who was slightly hunched over, and seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep, and another young man, this one sitting up straight, his amber eyes gazing at me as he nodded to acknowledge my presence.
‘Good thing I remembered to prepare an extra cup,’ I thought, and smiled at him, setting my tray on the side table. The boy’s black hair was straight, and was cut in a bowl-like fashion, ending at the middle of his ear. He wore a white dress shirt with white pants and black shoes, all of which suited him nicely.
Upon noticing my arrival, Yao sat up straight and smiled at me, then looking at the other boy.
“Ms. (Y/N), this is Kiku, he is like a younger brother to me, aru. Kiku, this is (Y/N),” he said gesturing between the two of us.
“Ah, yes, Ms. (Y/N), I have been meeting to tark to you. I wanted to sank you for se dericious mear sat you prepared for us arr. I don’t know if anyone erse had sanked you yet, but I know sey appreciate what you did,” Master Kiku said, his calm, quiet voice reaching my ears. He bowed his head, and looked back up at me.
I smiled. “Why, thank you, Master Kiku, for thanking the others on their behalf. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.” His face turned slightly pink at the word “master”, and I figured that it must be because they are teenage boys, and certain….thoughts, might arise out of that phrase. “I made oolong tea for Master Yao, you are welcome to have one.”
He smiled at me, a small polite little smile, and nodded. “Arigato gozaimasu, (Y/N)-san.” I handed him a cup and saucer, and handed another to Master Yao.
“This is amazing, aru,” Yao proclaimed after taking his first sip.
“Doukan desu*, (Y/N)-san, where did you rearn to make sis?”
“You pick up a few things, being a waitress around here. It was requested a lot at the Foxtail.”
“Foxtair?”
“The boarding house I used to work in.”
We sipped our tea in silence, and, when it was done, I took the tea into the kitchen again. Bardroy was in the process of trying to clean up the mess before Mister Sebastian found out, and was doing a surprisingly good job of it. I shook my head, and walked back into the lounge.
“It is time for bed, young Masters. You’ve had an exciting day, and you need to rest.” They got up, Master Yao trudging, and Master Kiku slowly walking over. I lead them up the stairs, and through the many corridors it took before leading them into their hall. Master Yao didn’t really react to the style of the hall, but Master Kiku looked interested, until I lead Master Yao into his room, then he looked even more tired than before. I lead him to the sixth door on the right.
“I’ll tell you all about this corridor tomorrow, but you must go to bed, now. There are….much calmer servants inside to help you into your nightclothes, and to tuck you in, and there is a bathroom in the door on the right. In the morning, if you wish, there is a hotspring I could lead you to, along with a changing room, of course, filled with robes for you to change into afterwards. If you’re interested, just call me through the tube by your door, and I will lead you there.” I smiled, and carefully ushered him into his room. "Just call if you need anything, and, please, don’t ring the bell, unless it is an emergency. Good night, and pleasant dreams, Master Kiku.” I quietly shut the door, and walked down the hall. Now to find out who made the mess in the kitchen…

Description
Chapter 4:
As the soon-to-be-princes rode, they looked out the window at what they were to inherit. Shops that had been long shut-down flooded the kingdom, people were on the streets, and it seemed never-ending. As they passed, however, they saw the brighter side of things as well. Bustling Farmer’s Markets were scattered throughout the land, children played in a sunflower field nearby, and the people seemed generally hopeful that things would get better, and that hope lit up their faces when they saw the seven carriages ride through the streets. They waved, shouted greetings, and grinned from ear to ear.
Upon their arrival, they saw handmaidens and servants waiting in a line in the courtyard, all with eager looks on their faces. The horses pulling them slowed to a stop, and the doors opened. The boys climbed out slowly, careful not to land on their faces. Once they had all exited, the carriages left, and the servants descended upon the boys, each one being surrounded by at least half a dozen serfs.
Sebastian stepped away from the king. “Now, gentlemen, if we are to make you into the future of this kingdom, you must look the part. These young men and ladies are here to bathe, groom, and dress you, so that you may convince the kingdom that you are the greatest hope they have, and that King Frederick chose you for a reason. Now, then, Ladies, Gentlemen, have at them.” The boys looked stunned, but didn’t have time to protest as they were herded inside the magnificent castle, with the occasional cry, shout, or laughter echoing throughout the halls.
“There, now that they’re being taken care of, let’s take care of you, Master.” He said, turning toward the king, and lightly grasping his arm. Frederick, worn and exhausted, was led to the parlor, to sit in a large, plush armchair. His features twisted, and then relaxed, as he settled down into his lavish seat. He looked rather pale, and sweat was starting to bead up at his hairline, and drip slowly down his face.
Sebastian looked concerned for a moment, and then cleared his face of emotions. He strode over to the door, where a pipe was set up to call servants or maids. “Ms. (Your name), can you come down here?” Sebastian called into the tube, and walked away to stand by the kings side while he waited. A few moments later, a young woman with (Your hair color) entered the room, her uniform sweeping around her as she turned to shut the door behind her. She turned, and walked to Sebastian.
“Yes, your majesty?” she asked, only to find that he had fallen asleep in his chair.
“I called for you, Ms. (first name). Could you please call the doctor, please?” Sebastian asked.
“Right away, sir,” She nodded.
“Very good, and then meet me in the dining room to help set up for dinner. We need everything to be suitable for our new masters.” He added, and waved her off, turning toward a cabinet filled with blankets. She walked to the door, and began to leave, but stopped long enough to see Sebastian cover the king in a tightly knitted blanket. She smiled, and left to perform her duties.
*** *~\(*°)/~* Follow the magical time-skip zombie. Don’t worry; he’s had his flesh for the day! ***
Soon after her call to the doctor, she ran to the dining room to find Sebastian already there.
“Am I late?” she asked, rushing over to the silverware and napkins lying in a pile at the end of the table.
“Of course not, I just arrived here early.” He stated plainly, setting the plates in their proper place before moving on to the bowls. (Your name) set the glasses while Sebastian set the vases in the center of the table. In no time at all, they had set the table in a beautiful fashion.
“I knew you were head maid for a reason.” He said, giving her one of his gentlemanly smiles. “Now, if you would please stand at the head of the table, I must fetch the king and the young princes for dinner, and then we can bring the meal together.” He asked, as he walked into the doorway.
“Of course, Mister Sebastian, right away.” She said, and he walked out to fetch the young soon-to-be royals.
With Sebastian:
He walked down the halls, lightly humming “London Bridge” as he went along. He reached the base of the grand staircase that graced the entrance to the castle, and strode up to the wall. He rang a bell that hung there, and waited, humming the last verses to himself.
A few moments later, shouting was heard at the tops of the stairs, and twelve clean, well-dressed, teenage boys were pushed within his view, Gilbert almost falling down the stairs, but he was caught by Francis and Antonio. They stood awkwardly at the top, some pulling on their shirts or pants, and others looking around at the others, or their new home.
“Welcome to your new home,” Sebastian said, loudly so it would project to the top of the stairs. “In a moment, I shall walk you to the dining room, where you shall sit and wait for just a moment. We shall then bring in the king and queen, and they will sit. Ms. (Your name) and I shall then bring in dinner, each specialized to your individual preferences, and I will then introduce her to you. It is important for you to know who she is, as she will be a big part of your lives. Since you cannot report to me, as I strictly serve just the king and queen, she is who you will go to if you need something, or something has happened. Understand?” The group of boys nod, a small “Vee~” escaping from the small Italian boy on the right. “Good. Now, follow me, and I shall lead you to the dining room, and seat you.” He began to walk, knowing that the boys were close behind.
Soon after they began the trek toward the dining room, Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, and saw that the boys had formed a single-file line. The odd part, however, was that it was formed in the order they were announced in back at the orphanage, with Yao in front and Kiku in the back. He smirked, and looked forward, answering little questions here and there, most of which came from the two Italians and the Spaniard in line.
The General Boy’s POV:
Once we entered the dining room, Sebastian strode over to a young woman at the other end of the table. She had (Hair Color and length) and a spotless maid uniform. Various greetings came from our group, ranging from nods, to full-on flirtatious greetings. They then rushed over and started leading us to our seats, one at a time. She seemed as efficient as Sebastian at her job, as they finished at the same time. Soon after, Sebastian left to get the king and queen, and the young maid rushed out of the room, heading in a random direction. It wasn’t long after, however, that they returned, Sebastian seating the royals, and the girl moving a large cart, covered in platters of all sizes. Sebastian walked over, and together, they placed a platter in front of each person. With a snap of the girl’s fingers, the covers were lifted by servants that were previously hidden in the shadows of the room.
Underneath we all our favorite foods! Everyone wanted to start, but we all knew that we had to wait for the king to start first. After he began to eat his potato and leek soup, everyone dug into their food, some of us being more polite than others. After a while, we started to slow down, food filling us, and making a few of us feel a bit sick. When it was clear we could not eat anymore, the girl snapped her fingers, and the dishes were carried away by the same servants that brought them. Sebastian cleared his throat, beginning an introduction.
Reader’s POV:
After the servants had taken away their dishes, Sebastian cleared his throat, and, knowing he was going to introduce me to the new masters, I straightened my apron a bit.
He stepped forward. “Now that we’ve gotten dinner out of the way, let me introduce the one that made it.” He gestured toward me, and I stepped closer to the table. “This is Ms. (Your name). As we’ve discussed, she will be the one you go to if you need anything important, or in the rare event that something dangerous happens. Her official title is head maid, but she has talents in cooking, cleaning, teaching, dancing, gardening, and is magnificent at making tea.”
I interrupted. “It is not as good as yours, Mr. Sebastian.”
He chuckled. “Quite right, Ms. (your name) also has extensive military training, so for those of you who request it, she can help you prepare for anything.” He eyed a young man with slicked-back blonde hair, and continued. “Besides your tutors, she is here to teach you how to become the young princes the kingdom needs. Besides that, she is also helping me plan your coronation, and will be stopping by your rooms on occasion to gather certain information as needed.” He looked at me. “Do you have anything to add?”
I nodded. Looking at them, I started my mini-speech. “I am going to try to make your transition as easy and natural as possible. There will be responsibilities and duties, but that is only half of the job. You need to be people that the citizens can look up to, children and adults alike. You all possess different qualities that the people need to be reminded of. For some, it is discipline, for others, it is fun. Some people need to learn routine, and order, while others need to relax, laugh, and live life to the fullest. You are going to teach the people these lessons, and make our kingdom bright again. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you in turn, and helping each of you learn your role in the kingdom.” I paused, thinking for a moment, and stepped back, proud that I hadn’t forgotten anything.
“Well put, Ms. (Your name).” He turned toward the boys again. “It may seem odd that she possesses qualities that each of you can get along with, but this was no accident. She has been chosen specifically for her traits, so she can better perform her duties. Some of you enjoy cooking, while others enjoy dancing and laughter, while others still enjoy discipline and training. We have chosen her because she can do all of these, and this allows her to get you know you all just a bit better.”
He paused for a moment. “Now then, if you are feeling up to it, you are free to explore the castle; if not, the lounge is down the hall on the right. Those of you who choose to explore, be careful. We have a…. um....dog… in the garden, and he likes to jump…” He looked slightly uncomfortable at the mention of Pluto, but the boys looked excited. They each went their separate directions, two boys heading toward the lounge, the others scattering in different directions.
I began cleaning up the table immediately after they left, when Sebastian stopped me. “I believe the young masters will need help settling into their new home. Would you mind making sure they are all comfortable, while I check on His Majesty and his Queen? It would be a great help to me, and they would be able to get to know you better.”
“Of course, Mr. Sebastian,” I nodded, and carefully handed him the discarded silverware. I walked out, heading first for the lounge.
Upon entering the room, I saw a blonde boy with hair to his ears exploring the bookshelves, while an Oriental boy was sprawled on the couch, breathing heavily, but not yet sleeping, and wearing a red dress shirt with black pants. He had a panda toy lying next to him, and he looked at the fire place with drowsy, lazy eyes. As I walked over, he slowly shifted, and I saw mahogany eyes looking back at me, wisdom settled deep into his irises. The blonde boy had noticed my presence, as well, and walked over next to the couch stopping in front of me. In the firelight, I could see that his deep green shirt set off his forest green eyes, and one of his…rather large eyebrows was up, showing his curiosity.
“Hello, there, love.” I was mildly startled at his English accent, but recovered quickly enough that he didn’t notice.
“Hello, sir. Are you enjoying your stay so far?” I asked, since I had to accommodate him in any way possible…as long as it was appropriate, at least.
“Yes, I rather am. Well, I could have done without the forced bath, and I could have dressed myself, but other than that, I am well.”
“That’s good, and how are you, sir?” I asked the Asian teen.
“I’m full, and very tired, aru. How did you make fried rice that well?” he asked, tilting his head to look at me fully.
I was interrupted before I could answer. “Yao, we should introduce ourselves to the lady first.” He said with a pointed look at the boy, apparently known as Yao.
“I know that, Ahen*!” he shoots at him, and then looks back at me. “I am Yao Wang, though I guess my last name may be different now, huh, aru?” he looks at me with his head slightly tilted. I shrugged, not really knowing the answer.
“I am Arthur Kirkland. It is a pleasure to meet you, love. Though, I really must ask, how did you make the beef stew taste that wonderful? I’ve tried everything, but I can never get it to taste right, or look right, or even smell right. Yours, however, was fantastic!”
I blushed. “Thank you, but I was taught these recipes by my mother, so it’s really her doing.”
Arthur smiled. “Is it possible for us to meet the lady anytime soon? I’d love to get tips on….hey, are you okay?” he asked, concern flashing over his features.
I was puzzled, until I realized that I must have looked upset. “Unfortunately, young master, she is no longer with us. She died when I was ten.”
They looked at each other with sympathy, and then returned their gaze back at me. “I’m sorry, love, I didn’t know.”
“If it’s all the same to you, almost all of us have lost our parents at a young age, as well, through death or abandonment, so we know what you went through, aru,” added Yao, who was now sitting up on the sofa.
“It was a while ago. After she died, I worked at a boarding house with my dad, serving food and cleaning rooms, when he caught the flu. That killed him the end, and I was stuck waiting tables. I ended up leaving for a bit, doing…..a bunch of different things.” I paused, wondering exactly how much I should tell the young masters. I decided to tell them what was necessary for now. “I eventually came back and started working here again. Then, one day, Sebastian found me, and asked me to work here. It didn’t take much convincing. Now, a few years later, here I am. Now I get to take care of all of you.”
The boys looked saddened at my story, so I tried to come up with something that would make them smile again.
“So, what is your favorite part of the castle, so far?” I asked, allowing a smile to cross my face once more.
They seemed to notice the attitude change, but allowed the topic to flow where it may.
“We haven’t exactly been allowed to explore before now, and I am too tired to get up, aru” Yao said, leaning back on the sofa cushions and closing his eyes.
“I have been meaning to look around a bit. Would you mind showing me the kitchen, tomorrow, that is?”
At this, Yao’s eyes shot open, and he sat up quicker than I would have thought possible. “Don’t let him anywhere near the kitchen, aru!” He nearly screamed. “He’ll burn the entire place down, with all of us inside!”
“My cooking is not that bad! You just don’t like it because you didn’t make it, and you have no taste!”
“You nearly killed Kiku with it, Ahen! He was too polite to say no, and that “scone” of yours nearly did him in!” Yao was standing now, and yelling in Arthur’s face. I froze, not sure what to do. I could try to break them up, but I’m not sure what will happen. I could seriously hurt them…
Luckily, before I could act, Arthur backed away, and Yao turned, facing the couch again.
“Hmph. No matter, I should be getting to bed, soon anyhow. Ms. (your name), was it? Would you mind accompanying me to my room? This place is so large; I fear I may lose myself on the way.” Arthur asked, looking back at me.
“Of course, Master Arthur, I shall assist you immediately.” I turned to the young Asian boy. “Master Yao, I shall be back shortly to help you prepare as well.” I had bowed my head as I spoke, and, upon raising it, I saw a faint blush on the faces of both of the masters. I smiled, and walked towards the door, knowing that Master Arthur was close behind.
After climbing the main staircase, and walking down dozens of halls, all the while answering the occasional question from the British boy behind me, we finally reached the hall that housed the rooms of each of the twelve boys. Upon entering the long corridor, Arthur’s eyes grew wide. A marble vaulted ceiling rose twenty feet from the polished granite floor, with a long scarlet carpet running through the middle down the length of the hall. Tan columns reached from floor to ceiling all the way down, fifteen feet apart, and stood in mild contrast to the white walls. Alternating mahogany doors and paintings of famous scenes and past rulers in golden frames decorated the areas between each column, and all of it looked brand new.
“This wing of the castle was specially created for our young masters. Since we knew we would have at least one new master, we anticipated that he or she might bring guests rather often, and built enough rooms for all of their friends to stay. Of course, we had not anticipated that His Highness would choose twelve boys, but luckily, Mister Sebastian was able to make both the rooms and the hall itself sturdier.” I chuckled. “Of course, we had already equipped the entire castle to withstand enemy attacks, since you can never be too careful, but we thought ‘Better safe than sorry.’”
I stopped in front of the second room on the left. “This will be your room. Master Yao is the first on the left, and Master Alfred will be the third. Master Francis will be across the hall, and, if you need anything, just speak into the tube by your door, it reaches into the servant’s quarters. When you do so, I, or another servant, will be along shortly to help. If it is an emergency, please ring the little bell next to it. Please, do not ring the bell if it is not an absolute emergency, though, Mister Sebastian gets…..testy… when the bell is rung, and it is not dire.” He looked as though he had something to say, but I interrupted him. “I also feel as though I should add that the rooms are soundproof, so, unless you desire to, you won’t hear what your neighbors are doing in their rooms. Now, if that is all, I must say, ‘Goodnight, Master Arthur, and pleasant dreams.’” I started to walk away.
“Arthur.”
I turned around. “Excuse me, sir?”
He looked at me, a faint blush on his cheeks once again. “Just call me Arthur, none of this ‘Master’ nonsense, at least, not when it’s just us around.” The blush got darker.
I smiled. “All right then. Goodnight Arthur.” I walked away, my cheeks feeling a tad bit warmer than they were on the way up.
~~Mini timeskip~~
I walked back into the lounge to find Master Yao sitting up on the sofa, his back toward me. I walked over as soundlessly as I could, which, considering I’ve been wearing these shoes for years, wasn’t as hard to do as it once was. Rounding the side of the couch, I looked to find him gazing intently at the fire, as if all the answers to the universe were hidden in its embers, and would reveal themselves if he only looked long enough. I cleared my throat, which appeared to have startled him, since he jumped off the couch and stood to face me. It was then that I realized that he was taller than me, though, not by much more than about five inches.
“Please excuse my entrance, Master Yao, I should have knocked.” I bowed slightly, my hands folded in front of me.
“No, no, it’s fine, aru,” he said, shaking his head. “I was just thinking.”
“Might I ask what?”
“Just…. everything; I mean, I woke up this morning in an orphanage, and now, I have a stomach full of my favorite food, and I’m being told that I’m going to live here from now on, aru. Am I dreaming?”
“I should hope not, sir, you boys are the hope of the kingdom. Our future rests with you.” He looked uneasy at this. “I will teach you everything you need to know, and you, in turn, will teach the kingdom what it needs to remember. You might not see it yet, but you all have skills that we need to make our kingdom prosperous once more.”
He looked like he wanted to speak, but then decided against it. He turned back toward the fire, and sat back down on the couch. I stood by the arm of it, gazing at the fire, trying to see what it was he was searching for inside.
I can’t tell how long we stayed like that, him sitting, and I standing, both entranced by an ordinary fire in an ordinary fireplace. After a while, I broke away, and glanced at Master Yao, who was still mystified by the fire.
“Master, it is getting late. You should get to bed.”
“Shi, I will, but, may I have some tea first, aru?” He asked, exhaustion showing in his posture.
“Of course, sir, what would you like?”
“Some Oolong, please, aru.”
“Right away, Master Yao, I will return in about ten minutes,” I said, walking to the door. “Please try to stay awake that long,” I added, smiling, before slipping out the door.
‘Such polite young men,’ I thought, walking down the hall toward the kitchen. ‘I’m positive they’ll be great leaders for this kingdom…’
I stepped into the kitchen, heard a yell, and dove behind a counter in time for a pot of stew on the counter to explode, coating every available surface with the thick soup. Peeking over the counter, I saw a stew covered Bard standing, looking shocked at where the pot used to be, the ladle still in his hand. I slowly stood, and walked over to where he stood. His stew-soaked blonde hair was stuck to his head, and he somehow managed to keep that bloody cigarette in his mouth.
“Bardroy….?”
He glanced at me. “Oh, hey, (F/N), how’s it going?”
I felt my eye twitch. “‘How’s it going?’ Is that all you can say for yourself?” I heard my voice rising, and I lowered it to a suitable volume.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, that’s all I really can say. I actually was not responsible for this mess.”
I looked at him. “Are you honestly saying you had nothing to do with this, at all?”
He shook his head. “Not at all, I know how to cook a stew.”
I took a swipe of the stew off the counter, my finger leaving behind a clean streak, and tasted it. I immediately made a face as a bitter flavor overtook my tongue.
“Bard, you don’t put vinegar in stew!” As I looked at him, I noticed a small pile of white powder hidden behind the counter where I took cover from the boiling mixture. I walked over and smelled it. “Or baking soda! You should know better than this!”
Of course, gravity took this opportunity to make a potato, previously stuck to the ceiling, fall on the top of my head. I saw Bard struggling not to laugh, and something inside me wanted to snap. I turned and tried to storm off, but, as it turns out, gravity decided to work overtime, making me slip and land on my back, a burst of pain exploding in my lower back and the back of my head. I thought I heard Bard try to walk over, but a small quake in the floor suggests that he fell as well. I slowly but surely got back up on my feet, and I carefully walked over to where he laid. I helped him up, and he stood, awkwardly rubbing his arm. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a faint stew trail leading down an adjacent hallway, not a full-on trail, but little dots that seemed to have traveled far past what they should have, and a small smear mark that almost looked like someone stepped in it. I walked over, and upon closer inspection, saw that it was indeed a smear, and that the drops led down the hall and around the corner.
I sighed, and went back to the stove, knowing that at least one of the new arrivals had something to do with this. I cleaned off an area, and put on a kettle of water. While that was boiling, I stepped into the pantry to get to tea. When that was done, I set about rinsing and warming three ceramic tea cups and the ceramic tea set. I added the tea leaves, then the boiling water, wiping away the white bubbles when I was done. Then I waited a few moments for the tea to steep, and poured the cups, making sure to distribute the last few drops, which were rich in flavor. After inspecting the tea’s color and aroma, I declared that it was done, put the cups on the tray, and walked carefully down the hall to the lounge.
I carefully opened the door, using my left elbow to turn the long handle, and entered the room, briefly setting the tray on the table to shut the door. I picked up the tray again and walked over the Master Yao, who was slightly hunched over, and seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep, and another young man, this one sitting up straight, his amber eyes gazing at me as he nodded to acknowledge my presence.
‘Good thing I remembered to prepare an extra cup,’ I thought, and smiled at him, setting my tray on the side table. The boy’s black hair was straight, and was cut in a bowl-like fashion, ending at the middle of his ear. He wore a white dress shirt with white pants and black shoes, all of which suited him nicely.
Upon noticing my arrival, Yao sat up straight and smiled at me, then looking at the other boy.
“Ms. (Y/N), this is Kiku, he is like a younger brother to me, aru. Kiku, this is (Y/N),” he said gesturing between the two of us.
“Ah, yes, Ms. (Y/N), I have been meeting to tark to you. I wanted to sank you for se dericious mear sat you prepared for us arr. I don’t know if anyone erse had sanked you yet, but I know sey appreciate what you did,” Master Kiku said, his calm, quiet voice reaching my ears. He bowed his head, and looked back up at me.
I smiled. “Why, thank you, Master Kiku, for thanking the others on their behalf. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.” His face turned slightly pink at the word “master”, and I figured that it must be because they are teenage boys, and certain….thoughts, might arise out of that phrase. “I made oolong tea for Master Yao, you are welcome to have one.”
He smiled at me, a small polite little smile, and nodded. “Arigato gozaimasu, (Y/N)-san.” I handed him a cup and saucer, and handed another to Master Yao.
“This is amazing, aru,” Yao proclaimed after taking his first sip.
“Doukan desu*, (Y/N)-san, where did you rearn to make sis?”
“You pick up a few things, being a waitress around here. It was requested a lot at the Foxtail.”
“Foxtair?”
“The boarding house I used to work in.”
We sipped our tea in silence, and, when it was done, I took the tea into the kitchen again. Bardroy was in the process of trying to clean up the mess before Mister Sebastian found out, and was doing a surprisingly good job of it. I shook my head, and walked back into the lounge.
“It is time for bed, young Masters. You’ve had an exciting day, and you need to rest.” They got up, Master Yao trudging, and Master Kiku slowly walking over. I lead them up the stairs, and through the many corridors it took before leading them into their hall. Master Yao didn’t really react to the style of the hall, but Master Kiku looked interested, until I lead Master Yao into his room, then he looked even more tired than before. I lead him to the sixth door on the right.
“I’ll tell you all about this corridor tomorrow, but you must go to bed, now. There are….much calmer servants inside to help you into your nightclothes, and to tuck you in, and there is a bathroom in the door on the right. In the morning, if you wish, there is a hotspring I could lead you to, along with a changing room, of course, filled with robes for you to change into afterwards. If you’re interested, just call me through the tube by your door, and I will lead you there.” I smiled, and carefully ushered him into his room. "Just call if you need anything, and, please, don’t ring the bell, unless it is an emergency. Good night, and pleasant dreams, Master Kiku.” I quietly shut the door, and walked down the hall. Now to find out who made the mess in the kitchen…