"Welcome to the inner sanctum, junior maid!" Sadie stood in the center of the foyer, hands on her hips as she gestured around with an air of immense pride.

"This is the maid’s dorm. Don’t go mixing it up with the servant’s quarters on the east side now. That’s where the grooms, the cooks, and the heavy lifters stay. A.K.A. The men."

Hope nodded slowly as she took in the comfort of her new home. "I’ll remember, Sadie. It’s very pretty." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Isabel stepped forward, her voice soft and maternal. "Hope, dear, since we didn’t exactly have time to prepare a room for you, and your belongings won’t be collected until tomorrow, you’ll need to stay with one of us tonight. We can get you some spare nightclothes and a warm bed."

"Oh, uhm... Can I stay with Kur– I mean! Master Rossana tonight?"

"Hahaha! Oh, little one, life’s a bit different now." Sadie let out a bark of a laugh, snickering as she leaned down to Hope’s level.

"You’re a maid of the Valentine mansion now. There’s a hierarchy to keep! In this house, maids don’t sleep with the Master. It’s... well, it’s not proper."

Then, she winked mischievously. "Unless, of course, the Master himself specifically asks for you to be there. But even then, I think Ms. Valentine might have something to say about sharing her pillow tonight."

Hope tilted her head, her innocence shielding her from the double meaning. "Really? Maybe I should go ask him–"

SMACK!

"Ow! Yuna!" Sadie straightened as she held her hands behind her dress, rubbing her butt to ease the pain.

"Stop filling the child’s head with nonsense, Sadie," Yuna commanded. She turned to Hope, softening her gaze only slightly.

"Hope, listen to me. You are now a respected member of this household. To be a maid here is a position of honor, and that means acting with decorum. You are a professional now. This dorm is where you belong."

She then gestured toward the hallway leading to their private rooms. "As Isabel said, you must choose. Sadie’s room is a disaster of discarded clothes and half-eaten snacks. Isabel’s is filled with enough pressed flowers and lace to make you sneeze. Make your choice."

Hope looked at Yuna. The girl’s eyes began to shimmer with an intense, quiet admiration. She saw the way Yuna stood perfectly straight .Every fold in her apron aligned, her authority unquestioned by the boisterous Sadie. To Hope, Yuna looked like a queen of the household.

"Can I stay with you, Yuna?"

"Me? Why would you want that? My room is for sleeping and reading, it’s plain. You’ll be bored to tears within twenty minutes. Stay with Sadie; you’ll have fun until you pass out."

"Oh. Okay. I’m sorry I asked..." Hope’s shoulders slumped. She looked down at the floor as her bottom lip trembled. The dejection was so palpable it felt like the guilt could swallow them whole.

Isabel’s heart broke instantly. "Oh, Yuna, look at her!"

Sadie, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot, pointed a finger at the serious maid. "Wow, Yuna. Cold-blooded. You finally get a fan and you make the poor little girl. Real professional."

"I did not– I am not–!" Yuna sputtered, her composure crumbling as Hope let out a tiny, shaky sniffle.

"Fine! Fine. You may stay with me for tonight.. But do not complain if the bed is too firm or if I wake you up early for drills. Understood?"

Hope’s face transformed instantly. She let out a squeal of joy and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Yuna’s waist in a fierce hug. "Thank you, Yuna! I won’t complain, I promise!"

Yuna stood awkwardly, her arms hovering in the air before she tentatively patted Hope’s head.

*Tsk* "Goodness, child. Such a fuss."

Sadie’s eyes glittered with a sudden, mischievous thought. She grabbed Isabel’s arm, ignoring the other maid’s confused protest.

"Well! Since that’s settled, Isabel and I are going to go... uh... reorganise the linen closet. Extremely important. Very time-consuming. Have fun, you two!"

"Wait, Sadie, the closet is already–" Isabel started, but she was dragged toward the stairs before she could finish.

Yuna watched them go, looking puzzled. She turned back to Hope, only to find the girl tugging gently on her apron.

"Yuna? Can I see Kurt one more time? Just to tell him goodnight?"

Yuna opened her mouth to give a firm no. But then she saw Hope’s face and the raw, lingering need for the one person who had been her anchor through the storm.

"I suppose..." Yuna sighed. "A quick goodnight. Nothing more. Take my hand, we must walk quickly."

Hope beamed, sliding her small hand into Yuna’s gloved palm.

As they entered the mansion and walked through the grand corridors, Hope watched in awe. Every servant and maid they passed stopped what they were doing to bow or curtsy to Yuna.

"Good evening, Miss Yuna."

"Good evening."

"Rain’s going to be hectic tonight, Miss Yuna. I hope you sleep well."

"You too."

Hope looked up at her guide, her chest swelling with pride. "Yuna?"

"Yes, Hope?"

"Not only are you really pretty, but you’re so cool. Everyone looks at you like you’re a general. I want to be just like you when I grow up. I want to be a cool maid."

Yuna nearly tripped over her own feet. She looked away sharply, her ears burning a deep shade of crimson. "Don’t be absurd. I simply hold people to a high standard. But... if that is your goal, I suppose I will have to ensure your training is twice as rigorous as the others. I’ll help you get there."

Hope nodded vigorously. "Yes! I’ll work hard!" She began to swing their joined hands as they walked, her small feet skipping over the intricate carpet patterns.

As they reached the final corridor leading to the Master Suite, Yuna’s voice dropped to a serious tone.

"Listen carefully, Hope. This wing is restricted. Only Head Maid Wendy, myself, Sadie, and Isabel are permitted to walk these halls without express invitation. As a junior maid, you are never to come here unless one of us is with you. Not even the senior staff are allowed to pass here without our permission. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

"Good. Then let’s go."

They were twenty paces from the massive, double doors of the master bedroom when Yuna suddenly jerked to a stop. Her head tilted slightly, her keen ears catching a sound that shouldn’t have been there. A low, rhythmic thumping and a faint, melodic cry that sounded far too much like a woman in distress.

Or, perhaps, far too much like a woman in ecstasy.

"What’s wrong?" Hope asked, looking up.

Yuna stood frozen. The blush on her face intensified until she looked like she was running a fever. She realized exactly what those sounds were.

"Plans have been canceled," Yuna said, her voice strained and frantic. "We are going back. Now."

"But why? Aren’t we nearly there?" Hope protested, trying to peer around Yuna’s hip.

"Yuna? What are you doing here at this hour?"

The two of them spun around to find Wendy standing behind them with an unreadable expression. Yuna immediately snapped into a formal bow, her hand still clutching Hope’s.

"Head Maid Wendy! I apologize. Hope merely wanted to bid Master Rossana goodnight, but I realised..." Yuna’s voice trailed off as she gestured vaguely toward the Master’s door.

Wendy’s gaze flickered to the door at the far end of the hallway, then back to the frantic, red-faced Yuna. She didn’t need an explanation. She knelt down in front of Hope, placing a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder.

"Hope, dear. I’m afraid Master Rossana is extremely busy at the moment. He’s... engaged in a task that requires his absolute, undivided attention. It’s a matter of great importance to the household, and he cannot be disturbed."

Hope’s face fell in distress as she let go of Yuna and held Wendy. "Is he okay? He’s not hurt?"

"Not at all," Wendy assured her with a tiny, knowing smile. "In fact, I believe he’s quite content. Don’t worry. As the Head Maid, I will personally ensure your message is delivered to him when he finishes his work. For now, go back with Yuna and get some rest. You have a busy day tomorrow."

"Okay... Thank you..." She turned to Yuna and took her hand again, but before they left, she looked back at Wendy. "Goodnight, Miss Wendy."

"Goodnight, Hope." Wendy replied softly.

Once the two were out of sight, Wendy let out a long, weary sigh. She looked at the Master’s door, hearing the faint but undeniable sounds of the "important work" continuing within. She shook her head, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, and followed the others back down to the quiet of the dorms.

...

"... Ah~!...Hah~!... Ah~!"

In the master bedroom, the wood snapped and popped in the fireplace. Two shadowed silhouettes were cast onto the distant wall, transforming into enormous figures that moved together in a frantic harmony.

"Mmn~! Yes~! Just like that~! Hah~! Ah~! Rosie~!"

"Ana~ I’m cumming soon~"

Kurt was sitting on the red carpet, his back braced against the bedframe. Diana was draped over him, her legs straddling his lap as she rode him with a desperate intensity. Her hair was a wild mess around her face, damp with sweat, and her eyes were locked onto him as her moans grew louder and higher in pitch.

"Ana~! I’m cumming~!"

"Rosie... Me too~! I’m~! Gonna–"

PLAP~!

"AHHH~!"

The sound of her climax was a long, soaring moan of pure release. She collapsed against his chest, her heart hammering against his as she shuddered with the force of the sensation. Kurt let out a low, guttural groan, his body twitching beneath hers as he finally relieved himself deep within her.

For a long time, the only sound was the crackle of a dying log and the ragged, heavy breathing of two people who had pushed themselves to the limit.

Diana finally lifted her head, a lazy, blissful smile on her face. She looked down at him, her eyes misty.

"Rosie."

"Yeah?"

"I think... I think we might need a quick break," she panted, letting out a soft, tired laugh. "Goddess, we are so sticky. The carpet is never going to be the same."

"Haha... A break sounds like a very good idea. My legs are starting to go numb."

"A bath," Diana suggested, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. "A long, hot bath before we continue. My stamina is coming back already, but I’d rather not feel like a glazed pastry."

"Not a bad idea at all," Kurt agreed. He braced his arms and stood up, lifting her effortlessly as he did. Diana latched onto him like a koala, locking her arms and legs tight as he carried her toward the en-suite bathroom.

"Now, remember, Ana. No funny business while we’re taking a break. We need to actually wash."

Diana purred against his ear, her teeth grazing his lobe. "Oh, Rosie~ You know me. It all depends on how well you scrub."