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Fantasia Resort had been packed with visitors since early morning. That day wasn’t just an ordinary holiday, but the New Eridu's long-awaited anniversary celebration. (A/N : Happy birthday ZZZ!)
As one of the main sponsors, TOPS had no intention of letting such a perfect opportunity to improve their public image. Almost all citizens of New Eridu received an open invitation to join the events, while VVIP guests from various major corporations were granted access to more exclusive areas.
When the name TOPS comes up at an event, people immediately become cautious. The corporation had built a reputation that was... intimidating. Somehow, every business idea they came up with sounded brilliant on paper, only to end in a disaster that left everyone rubbing their temples.
This time TOPS might be taking a safer approach to make a profit. After various incidents involving them, TOPS's representatives seem serious about clearing their name. Not through another ambitious project, but with an entertainment event that was... actually entertaining. Then again, It wouldn’t be TOPS if they didn’t want to create something that would attract attention.That’s why Phaethon accepted the VVIP invitation they received.
As soon as the cafe’s main door opened, Wise and Belle stopped in their steps.
“...”
"..."
Standing along the entrance were two rows of tall, muscular men whom they recognized immediately. Their shoulders were broad, their arms bulged with muscle, and their faces were as serious as if they were standing guard at a military base.
Yet they were all dressed in full maid uniforms. White aprons, long-layered skirts, headbands, and even white gloves worn with great care. Despite the absurd combination of cute attire and intimidating physiques, every detail looked impeccably put together.
Before Wise and Belle's brains could even process what they were seeing, the entire line bowed in perfect unison. Their heels shoes struck the floor at the exact same moment, the synchronized sound echoing throughout the café. Then, with deep voices that resonated across the hall, they spread their arms in a formal gesture of greeting.
"Welcome, Master."
Wise immediately turned pale. Without noticing, he had already hidden behind Belle as if she could serve as his human shield. It seemed a flash of déjà vu had crossed his mind, a feeling that struck him like his own trauma whenever he saw a man dressed as a maid. (A/N: he was the OG maid crossdress)
In contrast, Belle stood even straighter. With her hands on her hips, she savored every grand welcome with a wide smile.
“Wow. Turns out being a hero of New Eridu has its advantages."
She had always been a little into cross-dressing, no matter the occasion. Belle even waved cheerfully at the muscular maids, who returned the greeting with another respectful bow without changing their stern expressions.
Once the greeting had been well received, the buff maids finally parted ways and returned to their respective duties. Belle narrowed her eyes, her curiosity growing by the second.
"Okay... who was the genius behind this event?"
"Ehem." A soft cough sounded not far from where they were standing.
Damian stepped forward, tidying the maid apron that hung neatly over his slender frame. Wise and Belle didn’t even blink for a moment when they saw the man. Is this even Damian ? Why he act cute as someone who stressed out himself in TOPS almost his entire life..?
"Me," he answered with calm tone. "I wanted to make a good impression on Miss Zhao."
Wise was still half-hidden behind Belle’s shoulder, daring to reveal only part of his face..
"...How did you go from managing Porcelumex to running a maid café like this?"
Damian smiled. "Well... Porcelumex's revenue has been slowing down again. Miss Zhao gave me some very valuable guidance. She told me to come up with something 'unique' instead of making another decision that could end up costing TOPS." He gave a small nod, as if he was still proud of the long process it had taken to get here.
"So I did quite a bit of research. I studied service trends, entertainment concepts, marketing strategies... and then, I met someone who was more than happy to help me bring this idea to life."
Belle rubbed her chin, "...I know exactly who that someone is."
Before she could name the person in her imagination, the sound of high heels approached with joy. Judging from the way they approached, it almost looked as if someone was running like a cute heroine straight out of a shoujo manga after spotting the main character.
Hugo's eyes lit up the moment he appeared in front of them. "Hi, Phaethon! So, what do you think? Do you like my idea?"
The room fell silent for a few seconds. Wise and Belle looked at each other before letting out the same long sigh.
Of course. Hugo.
Wise finally gathered enough courage to step out from behind Belle, though his eyes were still wandering across the rows of muscular men in maid dresses with a complicated expression. After taking a deep breath, he turned to Hugo, who had been wearing the same cheerful smile the entire time.
“…Seriously. At this point, you’re completely obsessed with everything related to maids. Why don’t you just collaborate with Victorian Housekeeping?”
"I already did."
Hugo’s reply came so quickly that it was before Wise had even finished his sentence.
"I'm not shameless enough to steal their idea. I went straight to Lycaon. Every outfit they're wearing was sewn by the girls from Victorian Housekeeping themselves. Didn't they do a wonderful job carrying out my request?"
Silence fell over them once again. Belle and Wise exchanged another glance, their conversation as telepathic as that between siblings.
...Right. Why are we even surprised anymore?
When it came to Lycaon, Hugo almost always got whatever he wanted. Somehow, even the most absurd requests always ended up coming true, as if Lycaon were a genie from magic lamp for Hugo. Lycaon might have protested to Hugo countless times about his strange requests, but in the end there was always a way for Hugo to get his wish fulfilled.
Wise shook his head before turning his attention back to Damian, deciding it was best to ignore whatever strange dynamic those two had.
"Then, does that mean you're the one managing this entire event too? The invitations, decorations... everything?"
Damian gave a small nod. "Yes."
"...And you actually agreed to go along with his idea—" Wise pointed his finger toward Hugo before pausing. Hugo was already wearing a smug grin that screamed, Go on. Keep praising me. "—I mean... this brilliant idea?"
Damian immediately cleared his throat into his fist. "Although TOPS has chosen to turn a blind eye to the Ravenlock after the previous incident, some of us couldn't refuse the profit being offered. Especially when the proposal comes from Mr. Hugo and Mr. Lycaon... as representative of Mockingbird and Victorian Housekeeping."
He lowered his head and lifted the serving tray in his hands, using it to hide the blush slowly spreading across his cheeks. His voice softened, "A-and..The maid cafe has actually been doing very well. It's brought in far more profit than I expected." His eyes sparkled as he imagined something. "Miss Zhao... is definitely going to praise me."
Belle and Wise watched Damian who was still standing there in his maid dress, cheeks flushed, wearing a small hopeful smile behind the tray that hid half of his face. At that moment, he looked less like a TOPS executive. More like a shy maiden waiting to be complimented by the lead chara.
...Damian definitely have a praise kink.
Without the slightest hint of awkwardness, Hugo casually walked over to Damian and slipped an arm around his waist. Damian, who was still carrying a serving tray, merely cleared his throat as if the gesture were perfectly normal for them.
This scene only made it even harder for Belle and Wise to make sense of the situation. Their relationship seemed fine, but it was still hard to believe when you really thought about it.
Hugo was the person who most obviously hated TOPS. On the other hand, TOPS had never once let their guard down around Mockingbird, whose every move seemed to make their lives more difficult. The two sides should've been at each other's throats.
Yet somehow, Damian—a representative of TOPS—was letting Hugo get this close to him without a fuss.
...What kind of scheme is Hugo planning this time? Besides making Lycaon suffer, of course.
"I had the honor of organizing this event." Hugo smiled as he gave Damian's waist a light pat. "Might as well entertain the whole of New Eridu while I'm at it."
He spoke with such confidence because, back in the day, every one of his heists was always the talk of the town. But even after he stopped stealing, he never seemed to tire of stealing the attention of New Eridu's people.
"...And of course, there's one particular person I really want to entertain. You already know who." Hugo flashed an innocent grin, his sharp fang peeking out.
Belle and Wise immediately narrowed their eyes. We know... The siblings were in sync whenever it came to suspecting the same person.
This guy can't do normal thing when about chasing after his crush...
Before Belle could respond, suddenly… a deep-commanding voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"Hugo. Remind Lycaon about the order...five plates of fried rice for table ten—"
Everyone turned toward the voice at the same time. A tall figure walked toward Hugo.
His long white hair fell down his back as he walked with a calm step and his posture as straight as ever. The maid uniform looked almost too elegant on him, making him resemble a magazine model more than someone working in a café.
Belle and Wise were both stunned. Neither of them looked at his face right away. Their eyes slowly shifted upward, taking in the neatly draped long skirt, the spotless white apron without a single wrinkle, and the long white hair swaying gently with every step.
Then, their eyes reached his face.
“…SEVERIAN?!”
The man stopped right in front of Hugo before finally turning toward Belle and Wise, whose jaws were still hanging open. Even in the face of others’ surprise at his presence, he didn’t look the least bit embarrassed like Damian, nor did he seem as confident as Hugo.
He was just… the NEPD Senior Commissioner, with a gaze as piercing as they know. Even the elegant full maid’s uniform did nothing to reduce the strong aura that had earned him the nickname of the Demon Lord.
"...And ten lemonades for table seven."
He said this time in a tone that sounded like an order to ‘arrest these two and throw them in jail’, if Belle and Wise had taken his intimidating stare a little too seriously.
"..."
The siblings immediately looked away. Every time they stood in front of Severian, their backs feels chill like protagonist in horror movie. Maybe this was what Chissia had to deal with every single day while working under boss like him.
"Right away!!" Hugo answered so enthusiastic that it almost sounded like he'd just been handed a reward instead of another task. Severian's intimidating presence didn't affect him despite the fact that Severian is part of the NEPD and should have conflicts with criminals like Hugo. For some reason the two of them seem to be working together today… or perhaps they have been doing so for a long time.
Without wasting a single second, Hugo immediately turned around and walked quickly toward the kitchen, whistling cheerfully. He was like a kid ready to play with his new toy. Besides, he didn't need an order just to find an excuse to see Lycaon in the kitchen. Even if someone told him to deliver just a glass of water for Lycaon, he'd happily do it.
Damn it, now it was just the sibling facing the final boss. Damian had also left at some point. Apparently, even he had been swept away by Severian's commanding aura and decided it was wiser to leave while he had the chance.
"Er... hello, Commissioner."
Belle and Wise’s greeting sounded much quieter than usual. Even though the man was wearing a very pretty maid’s dress and should have been greeted sweetly like the others, what they got from this particular maid was a terrifying glare.
The contrast between such a cute and graceful outfit with Severian's unfriendly face felt so striking. His eyes alone seemed to tell everyone that he was only here because he had to be, and there was no need for him to say it out loud.
"Don't ask any questions," Severian said flat before either of them had the chance to speak. "I'm here because Seth asked me to."
Belle and Wise were shocked.
...Since when did Severian start listening to his little brother? Is the end of the world coming?
As if he could read exactly what was running through their minds just by looking at their faces, Severian let out a quiet sigh before adding another explanation.
"This event involves cooperation with TOPS' internal departments. My presence allows me to supervise the operation more efficiently while also maintaining a good relationship with various institutions."
His tone remained calm and professional. In other words, he was saying, 'Just shut up, I’m just doing my job.'
"Oh... right. Of course." Wise nodded so quickly his head almost hurt. "Besides, it probably isn't that awkward meeting everyone while wearing such pretty—"
His sentence died instantly. Severian shifted his gaze toward him right at that time. That single look felt sharper than any blade Wise had ever seen, enough to make the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"—C-cool!" he corrected himself with an awkward laugh. "I mean, you look really cool! Seth must be proud to have such an awesome older brother. Right, Belle?"
He immediately shot Belle a desperate Help me look. Belle nodded in complete understanding.
"That's true. I've seen Wise wearing a maid outfit before."
"BELLE!"
"And as his sister, I was very, very surprised that he actually agreed to wear one. Especially if it was for me? I was so touched I would cry. I told everyone how amazing my brother was. I granted every single one of his requests....for a whole week."
To their surprise, Severian's Thiren ears gave a subtle twitch. It was clearly not just the air conditioning blowing against them. His ears had always been the easiest way to tell a sign of a change in Severian’s mood, so it was very important to pay attention to them.
He fell silent for a moment before clearing his throat. That was a positive reaction.
"...I'll go see Seth."
Belle immediately smiled. For some reason, she felt a sense of victory. "Oh, yeah. I'm sure Seth will be really happy to see his big brother wearing that outfit." And somehow Belle places particular bold on certain words to make Severian even more ‘interested’.
Without saying another word, Severian turned around and headed deeper into the café. Seth was probably somewhere inside, busy serving customers. His posture remained as straight as ever, though this time the long maid skirt swayed gently with each step, moving together with his long tail swaying fast behind him.
As soon as he disappeared down the hallway, Belle and Wise both let out a long relief. At least they were still alive to continue enjoying the other services at this cafe.
Wise chuckled and shook his head. "Instead of spending any more time talking to the people here, let's just go find something to eat—“ He turned to the side. "...Belle?"
His brow immediately furrowed. His sister had already disappeared. A familiar shout suddenly echoed from the other side of the cafe.
"OH MY GOD, MANATO! YOU LOOK SO CUTE!!"
Wise quickly turned toward the voice.
In the distance, Belle had already run over to Manato, whose face was burning bright red. She was even circling around the muscular Thiren, who had become the center of attention in the entire cafe. He looks like the mascot of this cafe, specifically.
"AHHH, BELLE! DON'T LIFT MY SKIRT!!"
Wise simply stared at the scene for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh, a small smile forming on his face.
"Hello, Wise."
Wise was just about to follow Belle when he froze again at the tone of the greeting. He thought he’d have to find another place to hide to avoid some flirty maids once more...
.... but instead he found himself captivated by the tall man approaching him.
"L-Lighter..."
Wise’s eyes widened. It was only this handsome man in a maid’s uniform who didn’t make him hold his breath in worry. But he was captivated — so captivated that he didn’t even realize his hand had… well… reached out toward Lighter’s chest (?)
Lighter was about to chuckle when his hand immediately caught Wise's, which was still unaware that they were grabbing his boobs.
"If you want this kind of service, you'll have to buy a few drinks." Lighter leaned in just a little closer beside Wise’s ears with teasing smile. "...In another room."
‘Wow, this maid cafe sure is the BEST!’