The plan

“Come on, it’ll work, I promise.”

Kimberly stood, balancing the basket on her hip. She no longer wore the maid dress that she had been, traded for a simple dress and common boots.

“Are you certain? I-I can’t believe you talked me into this…”

Kelly nervously stuck his head around the corner. His blond hair was no longer tied up in a ponytail, but rather was styled slightly and resting under a black and white headdress. His cheeks were as red as his lips now were after Kimberly had put simple makeup on him.

He sighed, stepping into the open. He admitted he had only glanced at the maid outfit while Kimberly had worn it, but now that he was the one, all the pieces that could be embarrassing were all too obvious. The skirt of the black dress stopped above the knee, leaving much of the white stockings that ran to the black heels underneath free to see. The black choker was lined with white lace and fit snugly around his neck. The bow tying the feminine apron cinched at the perfect place to draw attention to the hips the waist trainer Kimberly had foisted upon him had created.

With his hair falling about his shoulders just so, there was no way to see him but as a demure maid.

Kimberly blushed, but that didn’t stop her grin. “…You’re so cute. This will work, I just know it. Follow me and we’ll get you inside for sure.”

She turned and resumed their climb of the hill. Sighing, Kelly the new maid, followed suit.

The guards seemed wary at first, but both seemed to relax a bit as Kimberly chatted casually with Kelly as they neared the gate.

“…Miss maid…who is this you’ve brought with you? Why is she wearing your uniform?” The male guard tilted his head, expression hard to read under his helmet.

Kimberly didn’t miss a beat as she readjusted her basket.

“Oh, her? This is Kelly. She’s going to be a new maid once I show her to Lord Vale. I wanted to see how she looked in the uniform beforehand though! Cute, huh?”

Kelly blushed, keeping his mouth shut, as Kimberly had instructed. If he blew his cover now, he’d be in trouble for a lot more than just trying to get into the castle.

The two guards looked at each other, before both looked Kelly over from head to feet.

“…She is…super cute.” The female guard blushed a bit, her cheeks brightening a bit as the two lifted their spears.

——-

Kelly let out a big sigh of relief as the door closed behind them.

“Glad that’s over…well, we made it.”

He turned to the basket Kimberly was carrying, where his sword and clothes were tucked away from sight.

To his surprise, Kimberly jerked the basket away from him.

“Nuh-uh-uh! Maids don’t carry swords, Kelly! Silly girl.”

Kelly’s mouth fell open. “W-what?!”

Kimberly stepped forward, placing a finger on his forehead.

“Use your brain, silly maid. Kelly the squire can’t walk the castle halls and go give Lord Vale his warning…but Kelly the cute maid can!”

She gave him a thumbs-up.

“I’ll take your things to the maids’ quarters and keep an eye on them. Once you’ve warned Lord Vale, come there and you can get changed.”

“But…” Kelly hated to admit it, but she was right about that. Dressed this way, he looked as though he belonged and there was no reason for anyone to assume any different than him just being a new maid.