Story Hub: [link]
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Countess Cretense entered the New Celene Palace with a haughty step and a fury in her heart. She was a noble on a mission, and one does not come to the royal palace with just any old goal. No, this high noble was here on a matter of the highest importance that couldn’t wait, not one day, not even one second. The mere fact that Lady Aré hadn’t come to greet her at the door was half the reason she was angry. The other half was because her own servant staff were taking their sweet time following her inside, something about “signing in” and “stating your name and business”, dumb, pointless stuff that would never cross the mind of a noble of her caliber. But it was no matter to her. The palace was full of perfectly good servants she could order around instead.
“Now then,” Cretense tossed a lock of her magenta hair out of her face as she scanned the room. Her audacious beehive hairstyle was the talk of the kingdom, but not for any reason she would like. Finally, the noble locked her gaze onto a group of servants carrying things around and cleaning. So, for all intents and purposes, doing nothing, ergo being lazy, ergo she would give them real work to do. “One of you,” Cretense snapped her fingers, “prepare a room for me and call for Lady Aré. I will not wait one more minute. Also, fetch me tea and snacks. I grow faint from walking through these giant halls.” All the servants immediately scattered to the wind, leaving a single young man with dirty blonde hair.
“Um,” the young man looked around and realized he had been thrown to the wolves.
“Do I need to repeat myself, boy?” Cretense threatened. “If you cannot do something so simple, perhaps you’d prefer finding work elsewhere?”
“Right away, ma’am,” the young man zipped away.
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Cretense was ablaze with indignation. The room the foolish servant boy put her in was far too small. Who would be satisfied with meeting in a 140-square-meter room? A low noble outcast, that’s who. No, even an outcast would demand better. Worse yet, that servant had yet to return with tea and snacks after five whole minutes. Two minutes would be pushing it, but five wouldn’t be justified if both his legs were broken.
“I hope he enjoys spending the rest of his life on the streets,” Cretense huffed, already drafting up her ‘you’re fired’ speech for him. No, it didn’t matter that he didn’t actually work for her. He was a worker, and she was a noble. It was basic math. The high noble made the ever so drastic act of getting up off the luxury couch and stomping towards the door. She’d find someone who would actually do their job even if it took her ten minutes. And where were her own servants?
“You!” Cretense burst out of the room and pointed at the first worker she saw, a brunette maid. “Fetch me tea and snacks immediately!”
“Certainly, ma’am, I’ll do just that,” the maid turned around before rolling her eyes and running away at full speed.
“You have two minutes, or your time in this palace is over!” Cretense shouted at her as she disappeared around the corner. “You!” The countess turned to a tall silver-haired maid walking down the hall with an empty tray. “Call Lady Aré down here immediately. I grow tired of waiting, our meeting was set to begin in an hour, she should be here by now!”
“Ha, sure I’ll be right on that,” the maid laughed and casually walked away, enraging Cretense more.
‘I will take great pleasure in removing her from the palace’s service,’ Cretense seethed. “You!” She snapped at a short maid with long silver hair who absolutely reeked and looked like she had just crawled out of a septic tank. “Never mind, just go away,” she gagged. The high noble didn’t even have the wherewithal to threaten the maid. She just wanted that smelly child as far away as possible. The short maid just shrugged and went about her business.
‘What has happened to the palace staff? They were supposed to be the most professional workers in the world, yet I’ve found nothing but the most incompetent, disgusting, and rude servants possible.’ Cretense was nearing her limit. ‘No more miss nice noble, the next servant I see has five seconds to prove their worth before I send them to the streets.’
Cretense charged down the hall until she found one more servant, a raven-haired girl carrying a delicate package slowly. In other words, another servant doing nothing of value. The noble took in a deep breath as she conceived her greatest demand.
“You, maid! I demand you bring me a handkerchief this instant. I’ve had to walk three meters unaided, and I’m starting to sweat!” Cretense ordered.
“Apologies, ma’am, but I’m very busy doing an incredibly sensitive task,” the maid refused (the audacity).
“Child, a noble has given you an order. There is nothing else in the world except to heed it. If I ask you to jump, the first and last words out of your mouth should be ‘how high?’ and nothing more,” the countess screamed at the maid. “If you do not perform this simple task right this instant, your time in the palace is over!”
“What?” The maid looked at the woman as if she had two heads. “Do you not know…? Regardless, I apologize again, ma’am, but I’m performing a very sensitive task for Lady-”
“That’s it, out now! You’re no longer welcome in the palace, girl. We have no need for a lazy, insubordinate servant such as yourself!” Cretense roared.
“I’m fired?” The girl was more confused than shocked.
“Yes, you’re fired, you incompetent girl!” The countess confirmed.
“Just confirming,” the maid said as she set down her package. “I’m free, I’m free,” she hopped and skipped down the hall. “This is the greatest day of my life!”
“What?” Cretense was taken aback. Firing a worker should be the greatest dishonor and disgrace one ever faces, a fate worse than death. Yet, this one seemed not only happy but as if her greatest desires had been granted all at once.
“That’s not how it works, and you know it,” Lady Aré appeared from nowhere and snagged the maid by her collar.
“I know,” the raven-haired maid rolled her eyes, “but couldn’t you have let me believe the lie for a few minutes longer?” This also threw Cretense for a loop. In what universe was it okay for a worker to speak like that to a noble, let alone the number 3 person in the entire kingdom?
“Just get back to work, I’ll handle this,” Lady Aré set the maid back down. The maid picked up her package and carried on with her day while Aré came to speak with Cretense. “I apologize for the wait, Countess, but we were supposed to meet an hour from now…tomorrow.”
“Lady Aré, such an important matter could not wait, not even a second, let alone a day,” Cretense regained her composure.
“And another important point, Countess,” Aré glared, “you are a guest in the palace, you have no right to threaten to fire the staff. Not that anyone could fire them, as I must remind you and every other noble who visits the palace. Most of our workers cannot be fired, under almost any circumstance.”
“How ridiculous, how do you punish workers who fail or misbehave?” Cretense huffed.
“We have our ways,” Aré looked aside, “anyway, what is so important that brought you here in such a foul mood that you felt the need to terrorize our servants?”
“Why only the greatest of matters,” Cretense exclaimed, finally, her voice would be heard. “The proposed flower arrangements for next week’s religious festival are hideous, I mean, who would suggest mixing reds, whites, and golds in this season?”
“…” Lady Aré stared at the noble with murderous intent. The answer to her question was not delivered not with words, but with unbridled fury. It was Lady Aré’s idea for the flower arrangements, and she was not one to accept criticism. And unfortunately for Countess Cretense, that meant she would soon find herself out of a job.
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Proper termination of employment is important in maintaining a balanced workplace. Done too frivolously and you'll lose the faith of the workforce, made too difficult and you risk a toxic environment or unnecessary team bloat.
Author's Note: I can't believe my last Maid in Fantasy short was back in January, so here's this one to rectify that. I promise the next proper chapter is on its way, I'm in the editing phase right now so it should be done soon.
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.
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