From Ashes to a Proper Maid.

The sisters were as horrible as I imagined. Personality-wise wise mostly, physically, one was a bit too bony and the other a bit too plush, but not unbearable if they'd been decent people. But then I just enslaved poor Ella, so who am I to talk?

Speaking of Ella, she'd gone from shy to downright downcast as she followed me from the manor. And all she had on her was her cinder greyed dress, her stepfamily had squandered her entire inheritance, even if they'd let her have some of it. Well, I'd fix both of those issues soon.

First off, I shocked the hell out of Ella right outside the gates.

"Okay, up you go." I was about to lift her up on my horse, but she shied away.

"What? No. I couldn't."

"Ella, you've got no shoes, I'm not going to make you follow me barefoot on hard cobblestone until we can do something about your clothing."

"Do something?" The poor thing was obviously in shock, well why wouldn't she be? Her family, horrible as they were, had just sold her.

I sighed. "Look, we need to get some things straight. I'd hoped to get someplace better for this, so I'll just stick to the basics." Ella just nodded sadly, poor girl didn't seem to even have any tears left in her. "So you get that I own you now, right?" Another sad nod. "Now I also own my horse, does she look well cared for? Happy? Or does she look neglected, dirty, and dressed in rags?"

Ella looked a bit shocked to be compared to my horse for a second, but then really looked her over. "She looks very well cared for and treated well."

"Exactly. I bought you to get you out of a horrible situation, and I see great potential in you. I'm sure it's not ideal from your point of view, but you will absolutely be treated better by me than your family ever did. Think of it more as working for me than being owned. And as a sign and a promise right off, I'll have you wear this."

I pulled one of the silver bracelets out of my pouch, the one with a sapphire that matched her eyes, and clasped it on her wrist high enough that her sleeve could hide it. Her eyes were wide in wonder, both at my words and the jewelry I'd just given her.

"Feeling better about things now?" I asked her, and she gave me a nod with a genuine smile. Excellent, and the default 'punishment' of emotional numbness to any negative thought about me or her situation should condition her to stay positive. "Now again, as I don't want you damaging your feet walking barefoot on hard cobblestone, I'm going to put you up on my horse for now. Don't worry if you can't ride, I'll be leading her at a walk. Ready?"

Another shy smile. "Yes. And thank you. I should be grateful and not sad. I've been treated as a servant for so long I should be used to it."

I lifted her up into the saddle. "No, you've been treated like the lowliest of slaves. Worse than a dog. No proper noble treats their servants this badly. You have my solemn promise that I will treat you well. Trust me Ella, from this day on, your life will be much improved."

Leading Silver on, I was rewarded with the sound of Ella humming in contentment, happiness even. This wasn't the fairytale ending she was fated for, but I was improving her lot. Soon the bracelet would capture her, and I'd be one Princess down. I already knew she was a hell of a hard worker, she'd make an excellent servant.

Stopping at a good-sized inn, I made with the second part of my plan. Enough gems had the innkeeper more than happy to have a seamstress sent for as his wife helped Ella scrub down and get really clean for the first time in a very long while. No fairy magic here, just lots of soap and effort.

More gems and talking with the seamstress got me several very nice gowns made for Ella in the French maid style. One, a quite scandalous version for 'special' occasions. These would take a couple of days to get made, but that was fine. The innkeeper had a couple of gowns for their own maid staff that could be altered easily enough to fit Ella for now. Getting her new shoes was even easier and did not involve any glass at all.

Washed and in new clothes, Ella looked marvelous, and she was ecstatic. "Thank you so much, my lord." She gushed as we headed on to the castle, with her now walking with me as I led my horse.

"Ella, please. When it's just us two do call me Guy. I may be your owner and employer, but I'd like us to be close." Very close.

She blushed and couldn't meet my gaze. "Thank you... Guy."

Back at the castle, there was no trouble getting back in, and I led Silver back to the stables. There, I asked if I could get someone to lead me to my room. Well rooms. Phillip himself showed up, he seemed eager to please. I was definitely going to tip this lad well.

"Greetings again, good Phillip. Tell me, do you think there would be any problem with Ella staying in my sitting room?" I winked at Ella, who tailed behind us, gawking at the splendors of the palace.

"I wouldn't think so, my lord, there's the large couch there she could sleep on."

"Well, that doesn't sound too bad. How does sleeping on a plush couch sound Ella?"

"Far better than the stones before the fireplace, my lord." She said with a smile. Both Phillip and I winced at that.

The rooms were far more than nice. French ostentation in Disney style. I made sure Phillip got a ruby the size of a quail's egg for his efforts, though he tried to tell me it was too much. I persisted, and he left much richer.

"Make yourself comfortable Ella. Consider this your room for the duration of our stay. I'm going to get changed in my room." Having had an excellent brunch at the inn, we didn't have much to do before dinner. Well, I'd have to check back in with Henry, he'd be sure to be curious how things went at the Tremaine estate.

For now, I had something I needed to see. I checked the Tempest app on my Company device, Cinderella 70 hrs. Well, I wasn't expecting that. The poor thing had been in such a shit situation she'd totally given herself over to me already, putting the bracelet on the minimum time needed for capture. I had zero problems hanging out here for three days before moving on. I'd just tell Henry the Tremaine daughters were a bust, as he likely already suspected, and ask to rest up here before heading on to my next destination.

I wondered what the first rung reward would be for the quest.

Redressed in fresh clothes and refreshed with some actual good wine, the room had its own cabinet. I left Ella to rest in my rooms with orders to let anyone who stopped by know that she was my retainer and that I was off visiting Prince Henry.

"So how was the trip?" Henry was all smug smiles, he knew how bad it was there.

"Just as you said, and worse, I'm afraid. I'd say this trip was a bust, save for two things. Making the acquaintance of a fine fellow such as yourself and liberating the Tremaines of a servant they weren't worthy of."

He looked shocked. "I wasn't aware they had the money left to keep a servant on staff."

"She wasn't kept very well, I tell you, and will be far better treated working for me. I've installed her in my sitting room for now, if you don't mind."

He clapped me on the shoulder. "Not at all, old chap! Please treat the castle as your home while you are here. I do hope you won't be off before dinner? My father, the King, is dying to meet you."

"Of course! It's been quite a trip getting here, I tell you, and again, if you've no objection, I'd like to stay and rest up a few days before the next leg?"

Henry looked excited to have the company. I got the feeling there weren't many young men around amongst the nobility for him to hang around. "Stay a week if you like, we'd love to have you!"

I smiled and clapped his shoulder back. "Three days is more than enough, and then I must be on. But tell me, you must have more accurate maps than the old scraps my father keeps. I need to find the Kingdom of Germonia next now that this leg of my journey has panned out."

His eyes got wide when I mentioned Germonia. "Direction is easy there, my friend, the journey may not be so easy though. That kingdom lies on the other side of the Enchanted Forest."

Oh yes, the Enchanted Forest. Well, how bad could it be in only a danger level one world? "No reward is without its risks, my friend, and I've heard tales of a most precious rose hidden there." And if the timelines lined up, since Ella was still sweeping ashes, Snow should still be at the castle and not have fled to the forest. At least I hoped so, finding the castle should be a whole lot easier than a Dwarf mine. "But if it eases your mind, I'll hire a tracker that knows the forest to lead me and my companion there."

Henry nodded, smiling again. "Sounds like a most excellent plan, my friend. Now come, less tales of going and let me show you about the place."

"Lead on my friend, lead on."