I awoke with a giant headache. Maybe I did drink a bit too much…

I groaned as I crawled out of the bed.

"I think I can help you." Hatsumi offered.

"Huh? Why are you here…" She was standing in my room, dressed in her maid uniform, looking at me and smiling.

"While Helena's home should be safe I decided to ensure your wellbeing, since you were slightly… incapacitated. I spent the night here." She pointed at a door. Actually, there were two doors, besides the entrance. I had not noticed any of them last night.

"What?" I just asked. "Ouch." The headache was really unpleasant.

Hatsumi came closer and took my hand. I felt a small prick, then my headache receded.

"Uh, thank you." It allowed me to think a bit clearer now. "What are you doing?" I looked at my hand.

"Blood magic. I have been practicing a healing skill recently." She replied.

"Healing? Normal healing does not work for undead." I pointed out.

"Sadly true, although there might be a way to modify it. I can already heal myself with blood. Nevertheless, I learned a heal for living creatures. I am also trying to learn a way to clear poisons. Sadly, my blood magic is not quite the same as Skadi's. My magic always has a slight necrotic element. The good news is, it won't hurt you. So I can ease your headache." She explained.

"You… you spent time training a spell for the sole purpose of healing me?" I asked.

"Of course. I am your maid and your defender. It is my duty to look after you! I will never be as proficient with it as Skadi but it will help in emergencies. And if you drink too much."

Did I hear a slight judgement in her voice when she said the last part? She sounded more like a mother than a servant…

"Um… um…" I was not sure what to say.

She petted me on the head.

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"There is a bathroom here, connected to your room. There is also a small chamber for a maid, which is where I slept. Martha explained that some guests have a personal servant they want close. I could have also shared the general maid quarters but here I can provide you with more protection." She explained.

I finally got up and took a shower. While the warm water splashed in my face I contemplated Hatsumi. Having someone look after me did feel good, even if I was now slightly embarrassed. Was this how it felt to have a mother?

After my shower I got dressed. Hatsumi was humming a tune while she was making my bed. When she saw me leave the bathroom she said: "What would you like for breakfast? I can go to the kitchen and bring you something."

"Oh. How does breakfast work? Do we all eat together?" I wondered.

"I can simply ask the kitchen to prepare something. They have a full time chef." She explained.

"Wow. Uh, maybe some scrambled eggs and sausages? With bread? And coffee." I decided.

"Sure. I will have them bring it to the dining room you used yesterday." She replied.

"Thank you." I said, then I left to find the dining room.

Once I arrived Helena was already there. She looked surprisingly fit.

"Morning." I said.

"Morning!" She replied. Helena was currently buttering some toast and I saw a steaming mug of coffee in front of her.

"Meow." Nyx said, who was sitting next to Helena. And she was chewing something. I had no idea where Nyx had been the entire night but apparently she had found someone to give her treats.

"You are really cheerful, no headache?" I asked Helena.

"Of course not! We have a water affinity, it would be rather embarrassing to let ourselves be dehydrated!" She grinned. "And there is a water heal too. I assume you used that as well?"

"I… I forgot." I admitted. "Hatsumi helped me with her blood magic."

"Hatsumi can do that? Awesome!" Helena replied.

"Only for me, sadly. You need to be resistant to necrotic mana. She can't keep it out of her blood magic entirely." I explained.

"Ah. That is a shame. But it will make her blood magic even more deadly." Helena mused.

"Are Skadi and Cassie still asleep?" I asked.

Helena shrugged. "Probably."

Soon my food arrived and I started eating. Hatsumi stayed around after she delivered my food. It did not take long before Cassie and Skadi joined us as well.

"Did you sleep well?" Hatsumi asked them, sounding mischievous.

"Um, yes." Skadi answered while Cassie was busy imitating a tomato.

I frowned. "Why are you blushing?"

"Um… um…" Cassie stammered.

"We, uh, we are dating now." Skadi replied.

"What?" I asked with wide eyes.

Skadi was now blushing a bit as well. "You see, it kind of started after the new year. Cassie was leaning on me on the way home and it felt sort of nice. And… and we have grown closer since. Last night we sort of shared a room and decided to make it official."

They both stood there and I noticed they were holding hands.

"Congratulations!" Helena cheered.

"That is great for you! Now you don't have to pretend you are interested in Derrick anymore!" I added. I was still processing what happened. I knew that they were close but I had not paid that much attention. Or maybe I was just bad at noticing things.

"Thanks!" Cassie replied, now looking relieved. Had she expected we would judge her? "But… I doubt my mother would approve. Skadi is not even a noble and we can't have children…"

"Eh, the important part is that you are happy." Helena said. "If there is a problem we will help you deal with it!"

Skadi and Cassie looked relieved that we accepted them. They quickly became their cheerful selves again and joined us for breakfast. But the revelation made me think. I had not really considered romantic relationships myself. Leo was repulsive. I had not met any men who interested me. I looked at Helena, who was currently smiling as she told a story. It had felt good when we shared a bed, or when she petted my tail. Was… was I attracted to her? Were we just friends, or was there more?

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