A change of duties

After a day of recuperation, Leaf was called into Ma’am’s office. “Hello Leaf, I trust you are feeling better?” said Ma’am in her head housekeeper voice. She was increasingly used to treating Leaf as one of her girls.

“Yes, thank you, ma’am. Beyond the concussion, he didn’t get a chance to do anything to my body beyond some scrapes and bruises. Pip was a huge help.”

“Good. You have become close to Pip?”

“Yes, she is my best friend in the maids,” said Leaf, happily.

Ma’am gave a small smile. “I hoped you would. I felt like both of you needed a friend and the other maids are warming up to Pip thanks to you.”

“Really? That’s great. She’s just a bit misunderstood.”

Ma’am went serious. “Leaf, I feel like I have to ask you one more time. Do you want me to remove any of those chains?”

“No, thank you. I want to stay like this as long as I can. I know it’s selfish and I’m sorry for making you worry but I still have a little time and I want to stay like this.”

“Even after what happened?”

“More so because of it. Rose, I’ve never had people be nice to me just because they want to be nice to me. Even though you were my pet and Gob I had threatened and cursed so it doesn't feel the same as much as I care for both of you. I have friends who want to take me out drinking and who cried for me when I got hurt not because I am the Maou but because they like me.”

Ma’am reached out and touched Leaf’s hand. “I understand and I am happy for you but call me Rose one more time in this body and I will have you on latrine duty for the rest of your time. Clear?”

Leaf couldn’t help but smile a little, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Very well. Speaking of duties, we have a meeting of several race delegations coming up and I am going to need extra servers. I am moving you to the dinner service to train you up. They are aware that the Maou will not be present but we are only acting as a venue for the delegates not hosting so Karus will be looking after the delegates. I should warn you, there is a lot of tradition and ceremony involved with food serving. I am aware that you have attended countless banquets but I am also aware that you pay very little attention to details like these so pay attention. Report to Graff and ask to be assigned to a server so you can shadow them. That is all.” Leaf stood up and curtseyed to ma’am before heading to the Kitchen.

Graff looked huge. He had always looked big but in this body, he seemed massive and very intimidating. It was a good job that Leaf knew he was one of the softest demons in the palace once you got past his gruff exterior. Graff looked her up and down. “Human eh? Not seen one of you since my military days. Go and find Trish, she’s a half-vampire, blonde hair, very pale. She knows the rules better than anyone so tell her I said she should teach you.”

Leaf knew who Trish was. She was her least favourite maid to have sex with. She was impossibly beautiful, even enough to rival true demons but she was so unemotional and dispassionate that it was like doing it with a doll. There was just no feedback and she even sounded bored during the whole process no matter what she said about how good it had been. She often ended up in some dignitary's bed but only once.

Trish gave her one look and then slowly looked away. “Come on then,” she sighed and started walking away. Leaf followed her. In credit to Trish, she did know an awful lot about the nuances of service and she was sure to pass them on in her dull, monotone voice. It was a real struggle to maintain enough focus to pick up everything but after a couple of days, she was entrusted with doing it independently.

A couple of days later, Leaf was helping with the last tidy-up before the end of her shift when a familiar green figure walked into the kitchen. “Gob! She shouted before running up to him. “Are you staying around or on your way somewhere?

“Just starting my shift. You guys are a bit late wrapping up tonight,” he replied with a smile as he looked at the chipper human girl.

“Great. Let me get back to helping and then we can catch up,” she said and she skipped off to finish the clean-down.

Several of the maids whispered to Leaf. “How do you know Gob so well?” and, “You should be careful around him, he’s a bit of a pervert.”

“Don’t be silly. Gob’s my friend. He’s always been great to me. Maybe it’s his goblinishness that puts you off. I think he’s sweet,” she replied, trying to help Gob’s social standing.

“I heard that he blackmailed one of the admin staff to being his ****,” said one.

“Miss Tuppin? I don’t think she was blackmailed,” replied Leaf. “From what I can tell she is obsessed with him.”

“Obsessed? Why?”

“I think he’s rather good in bed,” said Leaf. “I wouldn’t know personally but I think he’s handsome in his own way.”

“Ha, you didn’t know him before he got taller. You wouldn’t have said that about the stumpy little creep who kept trying to peep on us changing.”

“He hasn’t done it recently though has he? Maybe he grew up a bit when he got taller,” suggested Leaf, trying to excuse his past misdemeanours

“Maybe he’s too busy screwing his **** girl.”

“Don’t slaves have to agree to be slaves first? Sounds like between his **** and Miss Tuppin he knows his way around a lady.”

“Huh, maybe. Anyway, we are done Graff,” called the maid.

“Go on then, away with you,” grunted Graff who was experimenting with a sauce. The maids all headed out calling their goodnights to Graff. “Not going too, Leaf?”

“No, I want to catch up with Gob,” said Leaf, who was going over to join Gob who was sitting by the fire.”

“You been making friends, lad?” Graff called to Gob.

“Leaf and I know each other pretty well,” said Gob, not entirely sure how to answer.

“When I had my trouble, Gob rushed up to make sure I was okay,” said Leaf

Graff grunted. “I wish you’d been with her. You’d have scared off the likes of him and ma’am wouldn’t have had to make such a public display. They are still talking about it.”

“I wish she hadn’t done that,” said Leaf.

“Me too, girl. I don’t have the stomach for **** these days. Here, try these.” Graff brought over three ramekins of sauce and some teaspoons. They both tried them.

“I like this one,” said Leaf.

“I thought that one was a bit sweet,” said Gob. “What’s it for?”

“A new dish I’m making for the Maou,” said Graff.

Gob chuckled. “Go with the one she said then, I think he’ll like it.”

“Aye, that boy does have a sweet tooth. That decides it then. I’m done for the night. Goodnight you two.” With that Graff took off his apron and headed out of the kitchen.

Once he was gone, Leaf and Gob looked at each other and laughed. “I wasn’t about to suggest something else when I heard who it was for,” laughed Gob.

“Oh but I feel a little bad. He was going to surprise me with it and now I have already tried it.”

“At least you know it will be good,” said Gob, putting the kettle on the stove. “Would you like a coffee?”

“Are you sure we’re allowed?”

Gob’s face cracked into a smile. “As long as we don’t tell anyone. They will just think the Maou drank it.”

Leaf giggled, “Yeah, of course. Yes please.”

“You’re sticking with the maid thing then?”

“Yep. I only have a little time left and I want to enjoy it while I still can.”

“Are you okay though, after what happened?”

Leaf looked sad and said, “It was scary. I’ve never been scared like that before.”

“It’s okay to be upset by it,” said Gob walking up to her.

Leaf sniffed, “I know. I just, a part of me wanted it to happen. It seems so wrong to say but I felt like I deserved it.” She looked at Gob with watery eyes. “I’ve killed and tortured so many people, Gob. I never wanted to. You weren’t there at the transition of my reign. I had to massacre half the orks before they would accept my leadership. Some of the true demons thought they could best me and I had to make public examples of them. I did terrible things to them but I had to. Without leadership there is no peace and more would suffer and die but I can still hear their screams. I should have been **** and killed,” she shouted.

Gob grabbed ahold of her and pulled her close to his chest. She bawled freely into his shirt and he stroked her hair as he waited for it to pass. “I’m sorry you had to do those things but I’m glad it was you who did them.”

Leaf looked up at him with her face blotchy with tears. “What do you mean?”

Gob used his thumb to tidy her face. “Better to have someone do these things reluctantly rather than someone who takes pleasure in them. You did what you had to and nothing more. Not many in these lands would have had such restraint.”

Leaf sniffed and gave a sweet smile. “Thank you Gob. Do you think you would have done the same as me?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want people to suffer but if I had your power, I’m not sure I wouldn’t be corrupted by it. It says a lot about you, in my opinion, that you haven’t been.”

Leaf smiled openly, reached up to take Gob's face and kissed him on the lips. The kiss was not passionate but neither was it chaste. It lasted but a moment but a moment too long to be merely a sweet gesture of thanks. She pulled back and smiled at him. “I’m going to go,” she said, pulling away from him.

“What about that coffee?” he asked.

Leaf shook her head. It’s the Maou’s coffee. He can have some when he gets back.” Leaf walked towards the door. “Goodnight, Gob,” she said with a shy wave before heading out.

As soon as she was a little way away from the kitchen she paused and touched her lips for a moment before smiling to herself and heading back to her room.