Xander closed the door to his room behind him as he entered, and took slow steps toward the little table and chair set up in the room. The day was a long one, and not inherently productive. He was relegated tasks by Lostra that included cleaning up messes, serving desserts at a small get together of nobles, and folding a lot of laundry. It seemed that gaining ground with the house guard did nothing to relieve him from time spent doing labor.

It also meant that he made little progress on researching the assassin. He remembered the words of the members of the High Guard that visited Sali during their ‘relaxation session’. The poison was from the North. It was possible someone from Nodru, the lost lands directly West of the capital, was making an attempt on the royal family’s life.

He took off his jacket, and draped it across the back of his chair before pulling himself to a seated position. A box was there on the table, he grabbed a key from his breast pocket, unlocked the box, and pulled a small book from inside, bound in dark leather with a black metal band locking it closed. He unlocked that as well, and fanned past the early pages. 

Poisons, they were a cruel but useful method of attack. They weren’t his specialty, but like any Zindu, a wide variety of skills made it possible for him to go through the motions. Geil was right to be suspicious of him, he could have poisoned the young girl in the hall given the time and a proper plan. 

Instead, he was looking up proper antidotes, and the symptoms of common poisons. 

This didn’t solve a critical problem Xander had with the whole attack. Why attack a maid? He had a growing suspicion that there was something about the maid he wasn’t being told, something that she had on her person. Now that Sali had accepted his assistance, maybe she or Yalle would be more forthcoming. He just needed to be discreet. 

There was a knock at his door, and before he could say a word, the door opened and a Field-folk maid walked inside before sliding the door shut. Xander adjusted his posture, and jumped up from his chair.

“Can I help you?” He asked. 

The maid turned to him, and smiled. Something about her wasn’t right. No, multiple aspects were just off. For one, her uniform was not the usual. The dress was short, ending in frills high on the thigh. To most others, it would just be inappropriate. For Xander, she was in danger of exposing herself if she bent over at all.

Her demeanor was also different than most of the Field-folk girls he met. It was an unavoidable difference in attitude when you were barely 18 years of age, and serving people 50 years your senior, or more.

“Whoa,” She said with a laugh, “You really are small.”

Xander resisted frowning.

“Sorry,” She said, bowing, “I have met Tianu before, of course, just never a Xin.”

In the halls, the occasional servant stopped and pointed, enjoying a distant conversation about him. This was his first break in.

“We’re derivative, yes,” Xander said while grabbing the book off the table and closing it, sealing the lock, “We share many aspects, primarily our size. We do not live as long, but we also mature faster.”

“So you’re still a boy?” She asked. Xander could hear her shift, it was a physical recoil.

Xander turned, “No, that is another difference. We physically mature, but we never reach the size of a mainlander.”

“Normal size,” She corrected with a finger out.

He climbed on the chair and put the book back in its box, “Where I come from, I’m a little tall. This is normal.”

She giggled, and Xander looked over his shoulder. She straightened up, and nodded as if to tell him she had it under control.

“Is that all?” Xander asked, “I am taking a break before my evening tasks.”

She frowned, “Shit, am I late? I heard you took requests, you know.”

Xander felt a chill go through his body.

“Requests for who?”

“Princesses,” She said, elaborating with a sweep of her hand down her body.

Xander rolled from the chair, landed on his feet, and then bowed before the woman. Was that what was odd? The Queen’s spark in a Field-folk woman? Then why the outfit, unless his evening was about to become strange.

“Your highness, I apologize,” He said, “I was being familiar.”

“No, stand, please,” She said, her arms flailing, “My name is Vera.”

“Princess Vera,” Xander said before bowing again.

“No,” She growled, stomping loudly and squeezing her fists, “Just Vera, just call me Vera.”

That was a dangerous request. Being informal with clients, nobles, royalty, was typically avoided at all costs. The primary danger being that when the client changes their mind, they can use their own request as a weapon against you. Of course, a request is a request, and avoiding it was a problem.

“Okay,” Xander said, “Vera.”

Vera gave an excited clap, and gave him a toothy grin, “I was so afraid you were only helping the top 7, but Irella told me you work with any of us.”

“Top 7?” Xander asked, lifting an eyebrow.

She rolled her eyes, “Oh you know. The top 7, the eldest, Azel, Bretta, Dalia, Fayla, Galana, etc. Mom’s favorites.”

He never thought of the order of the princesses, or the politics between them. Considering the current atmosphere with a girl having been stabbed, it was something Xander needed to keep in mind. 

“I doubt your, the Queen, sees it that way,” Xander said with a shrug, “She is the bright spot after all, she takes care of all of us.”

Vera locked her arms in front of her, and walked forward, “Oh yeah? Want to bet that she remembers your name before she remembers mine? We could go to her chambers and check right now.”

That wasn’t a bet he wanted to take, “I will take you at your word, your highness.”

She huffed, “You’re doing it again!”

“Vera,” He corrected, “My apologies. My training is hard to ignore. Plus the atmosphere among the servants has been stressful.”

Vera put a finger to her cheek and looked to the ceiling, “Oh yes, one of the girls was stabbed. What was her name, Cena?”

Xander stood with his mouth open. 

“What?” Vera asked.

“Nothing,” He said, “Just, none of your sisters have seemed all that aware of the general staff and cleaners.”

Vera smiled, “I told you, I’m not in the top 7. You’re dealing with the bottom of the stack, just little old Vera. The other lesser daughters, we are a lot easier to deal with. Well, some of us.”

“Lesser daughters?” Xander almost choked on the words, “Your… Vera please, don’t talk like that.”

She laughed, and walked through his room, “You’re cute when you do that. I mean it isn’t like I’m a beggar. We just know the reality. Outside of some terrible disaster, we aren’t needed. We’re extra. No one asks us for advice, or begs to speak with us, or asks us about mother. We have to make our own place in this world.”

Xander followed after her, “Well, know that you always have my assistance. That is my place here, by your mother’s command.”

She turned back with enthusiasm in her eyes, “Okay then, first, what are you working on?”

He stiffened, “Working on?”

“Come now, I’ve seen you going back and forth, you even go into the guard offices. You’re up to something,” She said.

A request was a request.

“I am doing my best to figure out the identity of the assassin.”

Vera frowned, “Aw, that’s a little lame.”

“It is important,” He added.

“Hmmm, have you talked to Madame Noe? She always used to make use of Cena. Maybe she knows what happened?”

Speaking with those who the attacked girl served. Xander hadn’t thought of that. It might reveal something, maybe they were trying to get at this Madame Noe? Maybe Madame Noe knew what Cena would be ferrying that would get her killed.

“I’m sure the guards have spoken to her,” Xander said, “But I will follow that up. Thank you, Vera.”

“Wait no,” Vera said, her hands stretched out as if to grab him, “We should go now. I can help. I’ve seen Noe before, and if we go together we can pretend to clean up her suite, take a look around.”

Did she expect some kind of investigation? The look in her eyes were desperate for something, anything, and Xander realized exactly what he was dealing with. Vera wanted to be involved, she wanted to help, that was her request. This was his task, to take her with him, even on a fruitless mission.

He walked over and grabbed his coat, “Okay then, let’s be on our way.”

“Yes!” She cheered, “Come, I’ll show you the way.”

They went to the hall, walking side by side. Xander followed the eyes of other maids as they passed. Some looked at the princess, but most others still watched him. It was interesting to think that at times, she might move through the halls without being followed. Did the guards realize she was a princess? There was one way to know.

They came to a line, different maids and servants lined up to answer a short question or two from two Galan standing there. When their own time came up, he recognized one of them.

“Vera,” She said with a nod, then looked down at Xander, “Oh, if it isn’t the little man. Didn’t imagine I’d see you here too.”

Like before, she kneeled down in front of Xander, and looked him over, “What’re you doing with our very-special-maid, Vera?”

That was all the confirmation he needed.

“She has enlisted my help in cleaning up a particular room,” Xander said.

The other guard looked at Vera, “Are you being safe?”

Vera smiled, “Always. I’m the picture of inconspicuous.” 

The two guards looked at each other, and shared a small smile.

“Get her back in one piece,” Said the kneeling guard.

“I’ll be fine, Lili,” Vera said while grabbing Xander and dragging him through the checkpoint.

Vera crossed her arms and grumbled as they got back into the hallway. She looked as if being protected at all was enough to annoy her.

“They are always tracking me,” She said, “It makes the other girls feel weird, so annoying.”

Xander shook his head, “They are just following orders.”

“Whatever,” She whispered before stopping in front of a door, “We’re here.”

He held up his hand to knock, and Vera blocked him with her palm.

“Before we go in,” She said, “Please, just treat me like any other maid, okay?”

He didn’t know how to respond to that, so he nodded. Not that he worked together with a lot of the maids, Lostra made sure he worked alone whenever possible. Still, he tried to work well with any other staff he had to cooperate with.

He went to knock again, and she blocked him again. “Actually, sort of like a new maid, if that’s okay.”

“Your highness, I mean Vera,” He said with his brow furrowed.

“Just,” She tilted her head back and forth, “Act like I work for you, and don’t go easy on me, alright?”

It was an odd request, but this was why he was here. What the princesses requested, was his life. He nodded, and knocked on the door, and listened as someone approached the door on the far side. It opened, and an older Medika woman stood before them. She was well into her adult years, though Xander had to estimate she was less than twice his age.

“Madame Noe?” Xander asked with a bow.

“Yes,” She replied with a dry tone, “Did I call for anything? I don’t remember.”

Vera bowed as well, her dress flitting up in the back, “Ma’am, we are here for a routine deep cleaning. We apologize for the inconvenience, I was supposed to come tell you in advance.”

The woman’s face twisted up in frustration, “Why yes you should have. Do I have to leave for this?” 

“No,” Xander added, “Not likely. Unless we find anything that requires mop and bucket, we should be quick.”

Noe stepped aside, and they walked into the suite. It was much larger than Xander’s little room, with a space that sitting room that lead to an open doorway, and a bedroom beyond that. Obviously Noe occupied the room for some time, as it was filled with her personal effects, books, paintings, artifacts. It was typical of a Medika, objects that signified the stars and sun, mystical-looking paintings, a motif that was central in their culture.

They stood for a moment, and then Vera turned to Xander. “Sir, where should I start?”

They didn’t exactly come prepared for a lot of cleaning. He reached into his coat, and pulled out a small duster with a collapsing handle. He placed it in her hands, and Vera frowned.

“You can dust,” He said, nodding.

“Just, anywhere?” Vera said with a shrug.

“Yes.”

She was glaring at him. For a moment he couldn’t imagine what more she wanted. At the door, she said he shouldn’t go easy, he was starting to suspect what she actually meant was she wanted it hard.

“Okay then,” Xander looked around, unsure what would actually be a challenge, “The bookshelves, start there. Clear the top, every item should be kept in proper order, and then dust the tops until they look new.”

Vera took in a breath, “Yes, sir.”

As she walked away, Madame Noe watched and then turned back, “Well, thank you for coming. I heard word that a Xin was in the castle, but I never hoped to meet you.”

Xander focused in on Madame Noe, “It is a pleasure. I haven’t met many Medika.”

The Madame didn’t smile, but she did seem pleased with the opportunity to speak at any length about herself or her people, “Maybe more than you think. We have a tendency to be confused for others when in a crowd. We aren’t nearly as distinct as you Xin, or the Galan.”

“That is something I will keep in mind,” Xander replied, “But I had another topic in mind…”

There was a groan of frustration, and they both looked over to Vera, who was standing on a chair, and had a handful of items in her arms as she climbed down.

“Do I have to have them in perfect order?” She said, “I mean, like exactly the same?”

“Well,” Xander wanted to turn and leave, but that wasn’t an option. At this point, he was mostly her caretaker, and she was deep in a lie. He looked to Madame Noe, “Is it okay?”

Noe let out a sigh, “I will rearrange them dear, it is okay.”

Vera nodded.

Xander turned his full attention back to Noe, “As I was saying, I heard you know Cena.”

Noe’s face brightened, “Why yes, I heard the poor girl was ill, and it has had me worried. She usually comes to take my mail and laundry.”

“Is she the only maid that does that task for you?” Xander asked, tilting his head as he spoke.

He felt a tap on his shoulder, and found Vera standing beside him, bent forward, some dust wiped off on the side of her face.

“Can we talk for a second?” She said with a slight grin.

He looked to Madame Noe, then back to Vera, and then nodded, “Yes, okay.”

She walked him to the corner, covered her mouth from Madame Noe, and then whispered to Xander. “You’re being too nice. I said be hard on me.”

Xander glanced over to Noe, and then back to Vera, “I wasn’t concentrating on that.”

“Well you need to focus, try a little harder, okay?” She said, “This is important, you know.”

He didn’t know, and quite frankly he didn’t understand. That wasn’t his task at the moment, so he last that fact go. Instead he nodded, and Vera nodded as well. Then she went back to her task over at the bookshelves.

“What was that?” Madame Noe asked as Xander returned.

“She had a question, and she gets embarrassed.”

A bad feeling was developing in his gut. While before he was hoping Princess Vera may be more stable than her sisters, more clear and responsible, he was starting to believe she could be more troublesome than the others.

“Well,” Madame Noe said, “What were we talking about again?”

“Cena,” He said with a smirk, “Did you have a lot of mail carriers?”

“Oh no,” She said, “Until this happened, she was the only one. She was good at the job. I believe she worked with a few others in this area, but not many. Now I have had a new girl every few days, they may not be able to handle the stress.”

“Stress?” Xander asked.

“Well if anything happened to our mail, or our belongings, can you imagine what an incident that would be?” Madame Noe said with a flip of her hand, “They are on the edge of causing a political crisis every time they come in to work.”

There was a loud cracking noise, wood hitting wood. They both turned, and Vera hand her hands up like a child caught in the act, and a sheepish look on her face. 

“So sorry,” She said, “Was it important?”

The object itself looked like a cross of two pieces of wood, a black stone was tied in the center, with other occult-like objects around it.

This was the moment, her trigger. For Vera, she may as well have been exposing herself to a crowd. Xander couldn’t miss it for what it was this time.

“That?” Madame Noe began, her voice passive.

“That is enough!” Xander shouted, making Noe and Vera both go straight, “I can’t believe they assigned me a clumsy imbecile like you for such an important guest. You aren’t fit to serve a beast.”

“Sir,” Madame Noe tried to interrupt with a hand on his shoulder. 

Xander swiped it off, and stomped toward Vera, “To your knees, this instant.”

Vera’s mouth was hanging open. She didn’t move.

“Knees!”

She fell to the carpet, and he could see a shake in her shoulders. 

“Now pick up every grain and slice of wood that fell to the floor, with your hands.”

Vera nodded, “Yes sir, I’m sorry sir.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Xander said, putting a hand to her forehead, “Just make it right.”

She was blushing, but she bent over and began to clean, turning and looking over the long carpet for every piece of the broken artifact she could find.

Xander took a few steps back to Madame Noe, “I’m sorry we keep being interrupted.”

“No, no,” Madame Noe said, “I guess discipline is important. It is just the first time I’ve seen it in person.”

“It is my mistake,” Xander said as he turned back to face Vera. Her butt was facing him now, and there was no chance that was a mistake. Her rear was exposed, framed by the white fluff of the uniform’s underskirt. Her panties were there for all to see. “Any other day I wouldn’t bring a bumbling sow to clean for such a great woman.”

He heard a sharp breath from Vera, but she kept working.

“Is there that much trouble among the servants?” Madame Noe asked.

“Not everywhere,” He replied, “But you may have noticed the guards. There has been some unruly activity.”

“I heard rumors of an attack, are we in danger?”

Instead of answering that, Xander turned and put his foot to Vera’s ass, shoving her forward to the floor.

“You’re not picking flowers, you’re cleaning, it is your job,” He barked.

She turned to look at him over her shoulder, “I’m doing it, I’m doing it!”

He paused for a moment. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. Had he gone too far? No, this was her request, and he knew she could stop it at any moment. He had to continue as if this was what she wished. 

“Head in your work!”

She turned around and dipped her head closer to the floor, which only served to push her rear further up than ever. Was that smell in the air her? Like a beast in need.

Xander turned back, “The guards would be who to ask about that. I just follow their rules.”

Vera sobbed, and Xander walked to just alongside her. 

“What is it now?” He snapped, “Is being a maid too hard for you? Do you want to go back to being no one?”

She sniffled, and she truly did look sad, “The pieces are too small, I can’t get them all.”

“You can’t.” He said.

“It’s impossible.”

“Then you’ve ruined someone’s belongings. Should we let her own you now, as payment? Is that what you want?”

Vera shook her head, and she sniffled loudly.

“Then you want to be punished,” Xander said, the words as much for him as for her, “Bend over the table.”

She looked at him, and for the second time she had a true look of surprise. Xander thought, for a second, that he may have gone too far. Maybe he found the line she wasn’t willing to cross. If that was the case, he could be saved a moment he wouldn’t want to discuss with Lostra later.

Instead, Vera nodded meekly, and laid against the table. Her rear popped off the edge, her knees just off the ground, her stomach pressing down into the fine wood.

“Sir,” Madame Noe spoke up, and he could hear a fear in her voice, “Do I need to be here for this?”

Xander looked at Madame Noe, “It is important, for her. She needs you to see her punished, it is the only way she’ll learn.”

Noe nodded, “I believe I understand.”

Xander unbuckled his belt, and pulled it free. He bent it, and then struck it loudly against the edge of the table. 

Vera shook with the impact.

“Ask for each blow,” Xander said, “Tell us why you’re being punished.”

Vera bit her lip, and looked away. 

“Go ahead,” He said.

“I’m clumsy,” She whispered.

Xander put the belt against the fatty part of her rear, reached back and snapped it against her. It let out a resounding smack, and Vera’s whole body went stiff with the impact. Her legs went straight for a moment, pushing her further up the table, and then relaxed again.

“Again,” Xander said.

She sobbed, “I’m clumsy, and dumb.”

He reached back again, and struck her on the opposite cheek. She hissed as it hit, her arms going stiff, her whole body shaking as it landed. He could tell pain from pleasure, could see the small shivers of joy. This was Vera.

“I’m so weak,” She said.

Xander let out a sigh. He ran the belt along her leg, let his finger slide over the smooth and warm flesh. Then he ran back up, feeling the increase in heat where he had already hit her. Then he whipped her again, and she cried out in pain, her mouth hanging open for a moment. After she came down from the blow, she shook with sobbing. Her whole shriveled in as tears flowed down her face.

“Say it louder!” Xander shouted.

“I’m weak,” She gasped, “punish me.”

He hit her again, and instead of a cry, she let out a loud moan. 

“Yes,” Vera said, “oh yes.”

Xander turned, “That is all you need to see, Madame. If you step out, we will have the room clean by the time you return.”

Madame Noe was still, her arms crossed over her chest, a hand on her cheek. Her eyes were locked on Vera, and Xander knew that she had a clue what she was seeing. She only knew the half of it.

Noe nodded, and then went to the door. She paused on her way out, then closed the door behind her.

“You hear that?” Xander said, “Your little show scared away a noble.”

Vera frowned, “I didn’t mean to. I just, I couldn’t hold it back.”

Xander’s belt struck her rear again, and she gasped in surprise. 

“Isn’t something like this a little odd for a princess?” Xander asked, running his free hand over the middle of her back. “Or does it not count, when no one knows who you are.”

Vera whimpered.

“You think you get a free pass to act like a child?” Xander said. 

Another blow came down, and Vera’s thighs squeezed against each other, she pushed herself up onto her toes. Her breathing became raspy, her face red. She was far gone.

“Please,” She said, “Do it again, please.”

He ran his hand over her bottom, ran over the material of her panties. They were wet, without him ever touching her there. She was desperate, he was sure she would accept anyone at this point, so far gone into lust. He squeezed his fists, held tight to the belt, and pushed the thoughts away.

“You’re right, you are the bottom of the stack,” Xander said, then struck her again. 

She let out a sharp cry, and her whole body shivered and shook. 

When he touched her after, it was like he had hit her again, her butt rising into the air, her mouth opening in shock and pain. Was she in such a sensitive state?

“Vera,” Xander whispered.

She sobbed. Her face slid into her crossed arms on the table.

“Vera,” Xander repeated, “Look at me.”

She pulled her head up, and looked. Her eyes were still soaked, and her face was crimson. It was hard to read her. He knew, what she wanted didn’t stop it from hurting. There was little in the book of the Zindu about this. He was no torturer.

“We’re done here,” He said, “Are we done?”

She nodded, and then wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. 

She whispered, “Thank you.”

He hugged her in return, and let her stay there. Her arms wrapped around him, tears flowing down her cheeks, body hot as if she just finished a run. 

“Are you sure you don’t want something in return?” She asked as she let go, “This was a little more than I expected. A lot better too.”

Xander ignored the flutter in his gut, and shook his head while putting his belt back. “It isn’t my place to ask anything of you.”

When he looked up, she was watching just below his belt, “Are you sure?”

He put a hand on her cheek, and wiped away the wetness with his thumb. He leaned forward, and kissed her on the opposite cheek.

“Sit here,” He said, “I will clean this while you relax. This is no work for a princess.”

Her shoulders went flat, and she leaned against the table as Xander began his work. She twiddled her thumbs, and watched the ground. He couldn’t help but envision her deep in thought.

“You didn’t mean any of it,” She asked, “Did you?”

Xander stopped, and put down the artifacts in his hands. He went to Vera’s side and wrapped his arm around her as best he could.

“Not a word,” He said, “You’re as great a princess as all the others, your highness.”

She pulled him in and kissed him deep, Xander’s eyes popping open as he felt her tongue alongside his.

When she let go, she wiped away a new tear, and then giggled. “You really are cute.”