Part 12
It was alright.
Everything was going to be alright. Siesta told herself. Everything was going to be alright.
And if it wasn't . . .
Then she would still survive this. She told herself.
It was going to be alright.
If she repeated that enough. It was going to be alright.
It was going to be . . .
"Everything will be alright, my dear, just you wait and see." Siesta's head shot up to meet the black eyes of the man sitting upon the opposite sofa.
In her time at the Academy Siesta had ample opportunity to witness many fine noblemen going about their business. The most impressive of them looking every bit the storybook knights. Proud, vigorous, and handsome . . .
The Count de la Motte was none of those things. In fact, he looked a bit like one of those proud handsome young knights if he had been cast in wax and left out to age in the sun.
"If Milord says it, it must be true." Siesta said automatically. Inside she was thinking about Madame Didina and what the head of housekeeping had said about the Count. 'He will lose interest in me in time.' Siesta told herself. If she was patient and endured it then there would be a time after this.
It was going to be alright . . .
"Quite the stroke of luck that my man crossed paths with you." The Count mused, he sipped down the last of his wine and then looking from the glass to Siesta, he gestured.
"O-Of course, Milord." She murmured, getting up and proceeding to the wet bar that occupied a corner of the room. The Count's rented accommodations in Arrun were befitting a member of the high nobility, a man who had a seat in the house of Peers and the Queen's ear in certain important matters. She felt his eyes on her as she went and as she came back.
"Such dull clothes." The Count frowned.
"They are my travel dress, Milord." Siesta supplied simply. "I am sorry if my appearance is not pleasing to you." She lied.
"Perish the thought, my dear. The problem is merely with the clothes and not at all with you. It will be solved once we get you out of them." De la Motte said genially, his eyes wondering up and down as she returned with his wine. "I've always told Monsieur Jaun Carlo here that the real girls of Tristain grow up in the Country. Have I not?"
"Indeed Milord." The dour little chief agent glanced up from his paper. It was in the Faerie script, Siesta noticed. She also noticed his brow knit as he made slow steady progress reading the contents.
"So tell me, Siesta dear." The Count gestured for her to sit beside him. "You are from the North? Tarbes yes?"
"That is correct, Milord."
"Beautiful Country. Beautiful Country! A shame about your Count . . ."
"Milord?"
"I was just thinking. My father used to have endless good things to say about Count Radley. But he has become such a recluse after his ordeal in Ghallia. I'm amazed he's allowed to hold onto the lands he has. He barely sees to his duties you know. Much less protects his subjects . . . "
"The Count . . . Is a very fine and kind man." Siesta blinked as she realized what she was saying. "And I have heard he has been doing better in recent in months to fulfill his duties."
"Hmm." De La Motte made a little noise deep in his throat. "And you heard this from . . . you family in Tarbes? I assume they write you."
Siesta's throat tightened as the Count placed a hand in her lap, smiling, it was almost a familial gesture, something a kindly uncle or grandfather might do, but not quite. That 'not quite' changed everything about it.
It was going to be alright . . .
"Tell me about your family."
"Milord?"
"Oh I just believe an employer should take an interest in his staff." The Count chuckled. "After all, your livelihood depends on me. It's the least I can do. Your family is from Tarbes, I believe you are related to the village chief? But of course you would be in such a one horse town. Any brothers?
Sisters?"
It wasn't going to be alright. Siesta thought as the barriers broke down and she felt her skin crawl It wasn't
ever going to be alright.
It wasn't going to be alright ever again . . .
"Oh and, Jaun Carlo?" The Count looked away from her for a moment and she gasped for breath.
"Yes, Milord." The little man was suddenly very attentive.
The Count's expression turned dark. "As pleasant as this fortuitous diversion has been, we will have to do something about those
urchins that have been serving as a couriers as of late. The Faerie Court has declined to stop them. They say only official missives fall under the review of my office."
"That has . . . always been true, Milord." Jaun Carlo folded his paper.
"Yes but until now it has never been more than a pittance." He threw an arm over the sofa beside Siesta. He smelled . . . rancid . . . beneath a mask of cologne. "But the brats are becoming highly favored for small priority parcels. Favored and
trusted. Even the Duke Valliere uses them for his missives to the Faerie Court. I do not like it."
"Milords service and discretion has always been of the greatest value to the Crown." Jaun Carlo noted.
"Indeed! It's almost as if . . . " A knock at the door interrupted the Count's thoughts. "What the devil is it now?" He shook his head. "Well don't just sit there!"
"Of course, Milord." Siesta made to rise, anything to put some distance between her and the Count only to feel a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"Not you, dear. Jaun Carlo!"
"Of course, Milord." The little man got up from his table and strode to the door. Touching the holstered wand at his hip as if for assurance before turning the lock.
"Who disturbs the Count de La . . ." Jaun Carlo's voice trailed off and then restarted in a stammer. "M-Milady!"
Siesta stood by force of habit, curtseying as the Chief Agent stumbled aside, bowing furiously to the woman who everyone, even mere maid servants, knew was tantamount to Faerie Royalty. The Lady Sakuya, Countess of Sylvain. Her forest robes gathered around her, long green hair flowing nearly to the floor. She surveyed the room, powerful green eyes in a delicate face, then gave a slight nod to the Count de La Motte who had stood nearly as quickly as Siesta for the Faerie noblewoman.
This was, after all, a Faerie city, and while it was not the Sylph Lord's personal fief, the Count was in a very real way her guest.
"Count De La Motte." She glanced to Siesta and smiled kindly. There was no trace of insincerity in that smile. It was as open and friendly as the one that had welcomed a stranger into its home.
It almost made Siesta's heart break to be so close to something so kind when her fate seemed so bleak. She wanted to cry out. To throw herself at the Sylph Lord's feet and beg this beautiful being to help her. But what use would it be? A Faerie Lord was far too glamorous a savior for her to ever hope for. Even if Lady Sakuya was exactly as she appeared, she had so many more vital matters to concern herself with. Siesta's pleas would fall on deaf ears, and the Count's wrath would fall on her and her family.
"Ah, Lady Sakuya. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"I come before you on behalf of one of my subjects." The Sylph Lord replied serenely.
"Oh?" The Count frowned. "I can assure you I have been diligent in following the laws and customs of your fine city. Please, if there has been any transgression . . . "
"No transgression, my good Count." The Lady of the Sylphs raised a mild hand. "Though perhaps a small misunderstanding. I should allow her to explain for herself. Please, come in."
The hard yet quiet sound of carefully measured footsteps upon tile and then . . .
Siesta swallowed as a young woman entered the room. If anything she was as lovely as Lady Sakuya. Some lesser retainer?
The very first impression was of her hair. Beautiful golden hair woven and plated until it was like a veil or a cape falling past her waist. It shone around her like a halo in the afternoon sun. A reserved green gaze, frosted by golden lashes, set in a calmly sylphic face. She wore a white faerie short gown threaded in gold beneath long sheer green silken coat, hands clasped before her holding a small matching purse.
And the way she moved. Perfectly balanced, unswaying, yet light on her feet. Noble girls at the academy spent years learning that poise.
The Count's eyes darted to his Chief Agent. Jaun Carlo shrugged helplessly. "And you are?" He started and then spluttered as the woman walked right past him and came to stand before . . .
"Siesta." She said, voice firm and completely self assured. It was the sort of voice owned by someone like the Duchess Valliere, neither proud nor doubting. "What are you doing here?"
"I . . . I . . ." She stammered.
Then more gently. "You should be back at home preparing dinner. I saw that you got everything. Curry rice? Really?" Her lips twitched, just the smallest curve of a big open smile.
Siesta's eyes widened, and she wondered how she couldn't have seen it until now. Servants were supposed to be good with faces.
"I beg pardon." The Count de la Motte snapped. "What is this about dinner? This young lady happens to be a servant of my household!"
The hint of a smile vanished as lips pursed, and the kindness in the forest green eyes drained away as they closed. "Your servant?"
"Yes! MY servant!" The Count tried to glare down the Sylph. But it was less than effective.
'He has to look up at her.' Siesta realized. Yes, Miss Leafa was wearing heels, but it occurred to the maid servant that the soles of the Count's boots were rather thick . . .
"I was under the impression that Miss Siesta worked for the Royal Academy and that her contract was recently released." Miss Leafa said, eyes remaining closed in meditation.
"Indeed, and I offered to have the contract transferred post haste!"
"Then you have a signed a receipt of transfer?" Miss Leafa asked.
"I . . . I am having it drafted as we speak!" The Count snapped. "This city is short on clerks who can draft such a contract."
"A failing I must apologize for, my good Count." The Lady Sakuya bowed slightly from her place beside the door.
"Then it isn't too late." Miss Leafa reasoned.
"Too late for what?" De La Motte's head spun about. "I demand an explanation!"
And so Miss Leafa provided one. Siesta watched as the Sylph calmly opened her purse and very deliberately unfolded a piece of paper. She handed it to Siesta to read. The script was in Fae runes paralleled by the words in Tristin. Siesta could read Tristin quite well and it took her only a few moment to understand.
"This is . . ."
"You told me once that a commoner cannot be a guest in a noble's home." Leafa told her. "I can't convince you otherwise, Siesta-san. Not in just one day. But I can give you this. You've been a wonderful help these last few days and you have asked for nothing in return. So, I would like to know if you would consider working for us from now on. For our family."
"I . . ." Siesta began.
"Work for you?!" The Count seemed to be struggling to retain his composure. "Oh I see what this! Trying to snipe one out from under me! Well I won't have it! Siesta won't sign that. It's a breech of etiquette! She already accepted when she came here with my man!"
"A verbal agreement. Yes?" Miss Leafa nodded.
"Yes." The Count answered. "Tantamount to the signing itself. Siesta . . . I'll let every household from here to Tarbes know you don't keep your word!"
"Except you'd be making yourself a liar." The Sylph said coolly.
"I beg pardon?" Siesta quailed at the outrage in the man's voice.
"I have dozens of witnesses that for the last three days, since she left the Academy and arrived in Arrun, Siesta has cleaned our home, cooked our meals, performed the duties of a ladies maid and a nanny, tended to our laundry, retrieved our groceries, and performed admirably in every other aspect of being the Maid Servant of the Yuuki-Kirigaya household. We couldn't possibly be more pleased with her. So pleased in fact that I asked our family's lawyer to right up the contract just today on behalf of myself, my brother, and my sister-in-law."
"But that's . . . I . . . " Then something strange happened. The Count, who had seemed nearly ready to detonate, began to suddenly deflate, an expression coming over him. "Wait . . . Did you say Yuuki . . . As in Dame Yuuki?"
"The Prince Valiant's Faerie Knight." Miss Leafa nodded curtly. "My sister-in-law."
"The White Comet." Count de La Motte murmured. "And Kirigaya . . ."
"The Queen's Faerie Knight."
"You mean the Black Knight."
"I am sure they are both amused by their titles." The Sylph observed. "They're like your quaint little runic names."
Siesta shuddered at the way the Faerie had just mocked one of the very pillars of noble etiquette but the Count seemed far too distracted. "Yuuki." He murmured. "Kirigaya."
Siesta could practically see the Count calculating. She knew exactly what was happening inside his head because it was exactly her own thinking. Like the formulas on the academy blackboards. They were two sides of the same equation. What balanced for her, also had to balance for the Count.
"So you see. If your man intimidating Siesta into compliance Counts as a verbal contract then I would be happy to contest it with the evidence of her intent to serve our household." The Sylph finished calmly. "Of course, with that said, there is a simple way for this to all be settled." De la Motte grimaced as he listened. "We need only let Siesta decide for herself."
"That is . . . I . . ."
"I . . ."
"You can't really mean . . ."
"I . . . "
" . . . but . . . surely you don't . . . "
"I MUST APOLOGIZE!" The voice rang out loud and clear over the stammering Count. Everyone in the room turned to the flush servant girl breathing heavily as she realized what she'd just done. She'd spoken over her betters! But it was too late to stop now. "I . . . I must apologize to the good Count de la Motte."
"Siesta!" Miss Leafa looked at her alarmed.
"Please!" She looked into the Sylph's eyes. So wonderfully kind. "I must apologize . . . for you see . . . I have wasted the honorable Counts time by not informing his man that I had already found new employment. I . . . " She couldn't hold back the tears any longer as it all came out. "I must decline the Count's generous offer. I am afraid I am just a silly headed girl who could never be of any use to the honorable Count de La Motte!"
Leafa stared. Lady Sakuya stared. Jaun Carlo stared. Most of all, the Count De La Motte stared, dumbstruck as a Faerie noblewoman took a commoner girl by the hand.
"That's okay, Siesta-san." Leafa smiled warmly. "We like silly headed girls in our home."
But if the Count heard that kindness, he didn't seem to notice either. He was still standing confused as Leafa lead Siesta from the room. Lady Sakuya bowed slightly. "I am happy to see our business concluded, Count De La Motte. Please enjoy the rest of your stay in Arrun." And then she too departed a pair of waiting guards falling in behind her as she followed Leafa and Siesta.
A lightness filled the maid servant's breast as she was carried away . A feeling that she must be dreaming. She was going to be alright. Everything was going to be alright!
For her at least . . .
As for Miss Leafa.
"Miss? Are you . . . Are you alright?" A tremor had entered the elegant woman's step, a tremor that turned to shaking. The further they got from the Count and his quarters the more she began to wobble . . .
It was like in the Fairytales when the spell that had turned the commoner girl into a Princess started to come undone. Not in appearance, Miss Leafa remained just as beautiful, but the animating spirit that had filled her up was draining away by the moment until Siesta felt compelled to offer herself for support. Lady Sakuya did the same and the two of them together helped the Sylph who now seemed very much younger than a fine elegant lady and very much gasping for breath, find a quiet place to sit down.
"Please, give her some air." Lady Sakuya waved back her guards. "She might need some water, if one of you could get it, please!" A guard nodded and hurried to find a fountain.
"I . . . I'm alright!" The young Sylph said breathlessly. She was smiling, tears in her eyes. "M-my heart is just p-pounding so hard I feel like it's going to burst. I've never done anything like that before."
"You were magnificent, Leafa-chan." Lady Sakuya assured her with a smile. "You kept the Count off balance the entire time. He's probably still wondering what happened."
"But I could only have done something like that with your help." The Sylph said as she caught her breath. "I would never have known what to do on my own. I'd never have been brave enough." Taking water offered by a guard, she regained more of her composure. "But won't the Count hold a grudge over this?"
"Leafa-chan, half the house of peers hates my guts." Lady Sakuya said, matter of fact. "That's the price of even breathing in the same room as nobility. The Count isn't going to waste precious time and energy on something like this. Just . . . maybe warn your brother and sister-in-law if they ever have dealings with him."
Leafa nodded and then began to turn sickly pale again. "Oh no." She said in a small voice.
"What is it?" Sakuya tilted her head.
"I had Boulanger sensei make that contract without being sure we can even afford a maid servant." The sylph looked mortified. Siesta thought she should feel the same way, but she had been pulled in far too many directions far too quickly and now she just felt calmly detached. Whatever was going to happen . . . it would be alright.
Sakuya smiled. "Leafa, I am sure it's well within your family's means. Your brother and sister-in-law are Knights of the Kingdom. Their compensation acCount for a small personal household. I would not have gone along with this if I wasn't sure it would be fine."
"Maybe." The younger Sylph sounded like a child feeling wretched having done something naughty. "But I also invoked their names without their permission." She grabbed her Lord's hands, eyes shinning. "Sakuya-sama, can you please let me use the Moonlight Mirror. I have to let Nii-chan and Asuna know as soon as I can!"
"It will be fine." Sakuya was laughing softly. It was a sound as clear and beautiful as bells. She patted Leafa gently on the shoulder as the younger woman fretted.
"Uhm . . . Excuse me." Siesta bowed to the Sylph Lord. "Then I am to assume that all of this is . . . real?"
"You mean the contract?" Lady Sakuya stood, straightening her Faerie robes. "It is one hundred percent authentic. If you sign it, you will be employed by the Yuuki-Kirigaya household with the same compensation as you received from the Academy. But . . . There is one difference."
"Yes, Milady?"
"Leafa-chan was very particular when she talked to Boulanger-sensei. Your contract is an open one, like any professional. If you sign it and later decide you don't want to keep working for the Kirigayas, you won't have to. And there won't be any social expectation that you do."
"But I can't imagine that happening." Siesta looked at the piece of paper in her hands reverently. "The Miss . . . She saved me!"
"Siesta-san." Leafa had calmed enough to listen. She stood carefully, still a little unsteady on her feet.
"Miss?"
"I'm glad you feel that way, really." She nodded thoughtfully. "But . . . You shouldn't need to feel grateful to me. You shouldn't need a noble, even a fake noble like me, to save you, Siesta-san. The law should have protected you in the first place. Instead it only protects Count Motte."
"If it's any consolation I've never liked the man." Lady Sakuya's expression had turned quite humorless and thin. "Now I can just put my finger on why. Unfortunately Leafa is right, I'm afraid all I could do was help you escape him."
"That is already more than enough, Milady. I will forever be grateful for your help." Siesta bowed deeply to the Sylph Lord who, it occurred to her, if she were to accept the contract, would be in part the ruler of the fief she lived in. 'I am to be a servant to Faeries.' She thought, the realization welling up inside of her.
As they set off again, somewhat more sedately, her Mistress's thoughts turning inward to her important work with the City, many thoughts ran through Siesta's mind. And after everything that had happened so quickly, she felt strangely liberated to ask them of the Sylph Lord.
"The world that you and the Miss come from is very different from this one, isn't it, Milady?"
"Very very different." The Sylph Lord agreed.
"She said the law should have protected me from Count Motte. Would it have done so there?"
The Sylph Lord paused in answering. It was an honest pause, thoughtful rather than deceiving. "Perhaps." She said finally. "I will not lie to you, Siesta-san. Ours is not a perfect world. There is a great deal of selfishness and injustice there. Endless cruelty exists. Just like here in Halkegenia. But there are also people who stand up for what is right. Even when the work is hard and thankless. I think about them and their struggles when I think about all the people here I must protect."
Siesta nodded. "I still do not understand the Miss' world." She admitted. "But I think, I would have been very happy to have been born into it."
"And I think if you had been born in that other world, you two would have been the best of friends." The Sylph Lord told her kindly.
"Friends with a noble . . ." It wasn't possible. But if her Mistress had been human, a girl in her village, Siesta knew she would have yearned to have been her friend.
"Leafa doesn't see herself that way. I don't know if she ever will." Lady Sakuya said. "In fact, I think she saw all of this just now a lot like a little girl playing dress up in her mother's clothes. But that's the wonderful thing about Leafa, she has a big and good heart, and it's strong enough to remain true to itself. Even if she gets a little turned around at times."
"That may be. Milady. But even if Miss Leafa does not see herself as a noble . . ."
"Yes?"
"Even if she does not see herself as a noble, she
is still noble."
And the Sylph Lord looked at her and smiled. "That is a very beautiful sentiment, Siesta-san."
"Thank you, Milady." Siesta closed her eyes and walked more quickly to be closer to Miss Leafa. To her noble mistress.
Everything was going to be alright.
