The Mistress

I turn around as I hear the door click open, still pondering my next steps to take.

"You are finally awake."

Standing in the doorway is a woman dressed entirely in a black gown. Somewhat of a mix between Victorian style with modern sensibilities, decorative white and silver trims but missing that crinoline to give volume to the skirt. I certainly quite like it despite it looking like something more than what just a head steward would wear.

Straight, midnight black hair neatly flowing down her shoulders and amethyst eyes that seem to glow in the dark. She speaks with a fairly emotionless and… modulated voice. Her features matching that of a traditional Scandinavian beauty. Quite tall as well, perhaps 180cm or slightly less.

This must be Eclair, I'm quite sure. She's holding a tray using both hands. Seems like a breakfast tray.

"My Lord?"

I nod to her, uncertain how else to respond for now.

She walks across gracefully and sets the tray down at the table. Guess I'll be eating breakfast right here.

As I walk to the chair, I realize what I hadn't noticed before. Her footsteps were completely quiet. That possibly explains why I didn't hear her walk to the door to the study earlier.

Regardless, after I sit down on what feels like a throne rather than a chair and sink down in the five inches of just cushion, I get to take a proper look at the breakfast tray.

It's a picturesque looking croissant along with what seems to be orange marmalade on the side, of course plated in exquisite looking porcelain. There's also a glass with a milky red liquid in it, I assume some kind of juice. Certainly quite appetizing.

She takes the silverware which glimmer as if they're actually made from silver and cuts a piece of the croissant with the knife. Then using the knife to spread that orange jelly which I assume is orange marmalade on it. After which she uses the fork to skewer that piece of croissant and holds it out to me in an elegant and practiced manner.

Wait… Is this how it's supposed to be? I can't tell.

I gently bite on the piece of bread as she pulls the fork back and prepares another piece for serving.

I feel like I just got taken advantage of… Oh well, guess I'll be pampered like this for now.

The croissant itself is exceptionally delicious, a soft and creamy texture with each bite and that sweetness which contrasts perfectly with the orange zest from the marmalade.

As I enjoy the breakfast, I wonder on how to proceed. Well first would probably be to confirm her identity and then maybe just ask her what's my plans for today? No need to overcomplicate things.

Maybe that rush of sweetness is affecting how I think, oh well.

After eating another bite, I start in a simple manner.

"Eclair?"

"Yes, My Lord?" She replies while preparing the next serving, probably the last one.

At least that's confirmed, she really is Eclair.

"Did I have any plans for today?" I ask the follow up question.

"Certainly, today My Lord planned to acquire the heirloom from the basement, sign on the duchy's monthly report as well as prepare a speech for tomorrow as the start of the academic year, amongst other things."

She concisely states the agenda for today. As expected of a good secretary, but is she even a secretary? I'm not quite sure what her actual position is. Mistress of the house seems more like as the head of the other servants in the house rather than something else.

Speaking of, are there even any other servants in the house? It sure seemed quite empty… Other than those suits of armour of course.

I finish eating the croissant and she holds out the glass of what I can only presume is juice for me to drink. Well at least I get to do that on my own.

The glass itself looks like a classic wine glass, perhaps a bit unsuited for its contents but not like it matters anyway.

I gently take a sip from the glass of milky red liquid. As expected, it's a strawberry shake or at least tastes like one. And certainly, very delicious and matching my flavour preferences too, surprisingly. Almost as if it was made with my tastes in mind.

"Hopefully My Lord is not planning to shirk the responsibility of meeting the city populace yet again. Letting the people get familiar with oneself is key to gaining popular support."

She continues on with that neutral voice of hers… Wait but I didn't even say anything. Though it does sound like something troublesome.

I am doubtful if it's actually neutral because of her previous behaviour but no point thinking about that right now.

I put the now empty glass back down on the tray and stand up from the chair.

"Oh by the way Eclair, are you familiar with how this item works?", I say as I point towards that antique pocket compass that I kept on the table.

She wordlessly picks it up and examines it.

Well, I do look at her and try to discern any clues but she really does have a perfect poker face on at all times. Matched with the neutral voice she sure seems like an unfeeling woman. But I feel that's not the whole story.

"This must be the artifact that came along with the letter from the Lady. It seems to be pointing towards the academy. Regrettably, I am unable to figure out much more from it." She remarks after a little while of poking the compass as if waiting for its reaction.

Unexpectedly cute.

"An artifact?" I ask, hinting for a bit more elaboration.

"Yes. However, this relic seems to contain some traces of divine energy in it rather than simply magic, but it is too obscured to pinpoint its origin. But certainly not one of the Chaos Gods."

That does give some clues. Well first of all an artifact seems to simply be an object with magic in it. It's probably more nuanced than that but I can figure that out later.

As for its origin, not being aligned with the Chaos Gods is probably a good thing. Though it does seem odd that she could say so for certainty.

She hands me back the compass which I reflexively try to put in my jacket. But… there are no pockets.

I look down at my clothes and yep. I'm still wearing that nightgown and it doesn't have any pockets. How inconvenient.

"A change of clothes first and then I can visit the basement to retrieve the heirloom." I say, recalling what she said my plans for today were.

It's only after already saying that I realize, should I have even talked as such in the first place? I ponder while still keeping an eye on Eclair.

"As you wish, My Lord." She says, walking towards the wall right behind the desk, that same wall with the mounted creature head.

There was no adverse reaction that I was expecting… Wait, why was I expecting one in the first place? I can tell definitively that I'm not taking someone else's spot. Maybe I was thinking of the normal 'transferring to another world' starter package.

Eclair on the other hand pokes a random spot on the wall which seems to make a handle extend out. She then proceeds to pull on the handle, opening the door to an entire closet that seems to be hidden flush in the wall.

Wait, there's hidden compartments here? Then secret passageways wouldn't be much of a stretch either. Why am I not surprised?

I observe as she selects a suit from the ones in the closet. It'd probably be a tough choice since it seems to contain a variant for almost every colour with accompanying texture and pattern. Definitely enough to cause a decision paralysis.

I peel my eyes away lest I start to get some sort of choice blindness, I'll leave it to the professionals.

She walks back with a pure white suit in hand. It'd certainly feel way brighter were it not for the immense detailing on it. Almost as if matching with the dress that she's wearing, this suit also has trims in black and gold instead of silver.

Well, she did remark that I'd have to go out and greet the populace. Then in hindsight this is probably a good choice for that, since white is usually associated with purity. Though I'm not sure if that's the kind of impression I want to give but whatever, she probably knows better than me in these kinds of topics.

She puts the suit aside on the table and walks up to me, swiftly unbuttoning the nightgown and taking it off before I could even raise a hand in protest.

I feel like I just got taken advantage of yet again.

"Would you prefer to wear it yourself, My Lord?" She asks, her expression indiscernible as ever.

I shake my head lightly, resigning myself to fate.

"Just finish what you started."

I look over at the suit while trying not to pay attention to myself. The suit does seem really elaborate like a noble or aristocrat of the past mixed with modern sensibilities, with various ways to fasten which I'll probably mess up. It does kind of resemble the gothic lolita fashion trend. But instead, one made for males. Quite similar to Eclair's dress.

I close my eyes let her move my arms and body like a puppet as she expertly makes me wear the suit like some kind of doll.

As I hear her step away, I open my eyes. I do like the dress but not sure if that trouble was worth it.

Eclair is looking at me with what I could have sworn is a glimmer in her eye but it disappears shortly.

There's also a cape which is a part of this dress along with gloves not that I dislike it. The cloth is very high quality and soft to the touch like some form of silk and also quite thin to not feel as bulky.

Oh well, enough distractions.

"The academy starts session tomorrow, is that right?" I ask Eclair.

"That is correct."

Great, that means the plot and events of the game should be starting right from tomorrow. Would have been even better if I actually knew what the plot was but I guess there's no use to complaining now.

She starts walking, leading me outside the study as she holds the door open for me.

I'm still not exactly sure what exactly her position is… Chamberlain? Secretary? Chief steward?

I follow her down that grand stairway, the house still as haunting as ever. I guess the only thing lacking would be ambient music.

As if on cue Eclair claps her hands and slowly the sound of a piano starts to flow through the house. Wait, did she just read my mind or something!?

Also, where is the sound even coming from? Do we have a ghost orchestra kept captive somewhere in this house?

I don't dislike the music however, despite its ominous nature.

The empty suits of armour along the way seem to salute as I walk past them, calmly following Eclair through a seemingly confusing series of doors leading towards the basement.