maid chapter 8

“Yeah, you said you didn’t like showing your body to others. I got it.”

“No, what I meant was…!” Diana clamped her mouth shut, realizing her raised voice had betrayed her. She cleared her throat. “I don’t like seeing other people’s bodies either.”

“What…? How can that be?” Ellie frowned. Fine, Diana didn’t want to show her body, but why would she not want to see anyone else’s? Did Ellie smell? She lifted her arm and sniffed her armpit. Still clean.

Diana was dumbfounded by Ellie’s unselfconscious actions. Just wait until she played the victim later. Diana gritted her teeth. “I don’t like it, and that’s that.”

Embarrassed by Diana’s intense reaction, Ellie hastily covered herself with her discarded clothes. Diana shuffled towards the door, trying to avoid looking at Ellie. “I’ll go wash up, so you can get changed. If you’re still undressed when I get back, I’ll really kick you out.”

So petty. Ellie stuck her tongue out at Diana’s back. Diana stopped and said, “Answer me.”

“Alright.”

Finally, Diana left. The moment the door slammed shut, Ellie tossed her clothes on the floor. What a spoiled little miss. They were both maids, after all.

Regardless, she’d secured a job and, instead of being kicked out, was even getting help. Such luck didn’t come often. Ellie excitedly unpacked her belongings.

***

When Diana returned, Ellie was already asleep. It was a bit odd that she’d slept without washing, but she must have been exhausted after her first day. Diana quietly sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Ellie’s back. The curve of her shoulder was visible beneath the thin nightgown. The image of Ellie’s chest flashed before her eyes. Diana sighed deeply.

In contrast, Diana’s own dress was made of thick fabric, hardly suitable for sleepwear. After listening to Ellie’s even breathing, Diana discreetly lifted her skirt. The device that kept her knees from fully extending was revealed.

Wearing it caused constant discomfort. If she didn’t remove it while sleeping, her legs would swell and become unusable. Glancing at Ellie, Diana carefully unfastened the device and hid it under the bed. Ellie showed no signs of waking. Thankfully, she was a sound sleeper. Diana had always stayed up late and woken early, so this wouldn’t be much different.

Trying to reassure herself, Diana lifted her swollen legs onto the bed. The indentations from the device were visible from her thighs to her calves. As blood flow returned, the pain intensified. She massaged her cramping muscles. Suddenly, Ellie stirred and mumbled in her sleep.

“Mmm…”

She rolled over. Diana froze, holding her breath.

Ellie scratched at her chest. The loosely tied ribbon came undone, revealing glimpses of her skin. As expected, Ellie wasn’t wearing undergarments, and Diana was subjected to a view she’d rather avoid.

Fearful of waking Ellie, Diana couldn’t turn away.

“Mm…?”

Thankfully, Ellie simply pulled the blanket up to her neck. Diana exhaled.

Even if Ellie wasn’t a threat, living like this would drive Diana to a nervous breakdown. She reaffirmed her resolve to finish her task and leave as soon as possible.

Oblivious, Ellie breathed deeply in her sleep. Diana stared at her before extinguishing the flickering candle. She was a light sleeper to begin with, but now sleep would be even more elusive.

Just as she was about to lie down, Diana frowned. She glanced at Ellie’s sleeping face once more, then plunged her fingers into her scalp.

A long tress of hair fell onto the bed. Diana craned her neck and scratched her head. Short blond hair, barely covering her ears, gleamed in the moonlight.

Diana, or rather, Daniel, scratched his head a while longer before putting the wig back on. He lay down, but sleep wouldn’t come.

The peaceful breathing of the slumbering Ellie filled the quiet attic room.