Chapter Eleven: “Andusia” in the Vine Conservatory

Belfinger, also known as the rabbit-eared girl, finished explaining the basic rules of the shop to Hersia and then led her upstairs to the 38th floor to change clothes. The 38th floor was generally off-limits to the public; half of it was dedicated to preparing food and drinks, while the other half served as the staff lounge. A few employees would take their lunch breaks or work night shifts there.

“What’s your size, Hersia?” The rabbit-eared girl swiped her ID card to unlock a wardrobe, revealing rows upon rows of meticulously arranged black-and-white maid outfits.

“Well…” Hersia hadn’t really measured herself before.

“Let me measure you then, hehe~” The rabbit-eared girl gave a mischievous smile, causing Hersia to take a step back in surprise.

“It’s nothing—just a quick measurement.” Seeing Hersia’s startled reaction, she smirked slyly.

Belfinger then picked up a personal terminal and circled around Hersia.

“All done.” Personal terminals had become increasingly versatile; Hersia hadn’t even known about these functions before.

Shortly after, Hersia, now dressed in her maid uniform, stepped out cautiously.

A black maid dress adorned with intricate white lace, a fitted apron that accentuated her waist, white ankle socks, black platform shoes, and a white cat-ear headband.

Belfinger pulled Hersia in front of a mirror for a close inspection, occasionally flashing a satisfied smile.

“You really weren’t mistaken. No wonder the manager approved you so quickly.”

“You know, someone else applied just yesterday—supposedly the school beauty from a certain high school. But the manager scrutinized her for ages, like interrogating a criminal, and ultimately rejected her.”

“Why’s that?” Hersia asked, puzzled.

“Probably because the manager thought she had too much of a worldly air...” Belfinger tilted her head, recalling.

“Most girls here are quite innocent, which makes them easier to manage. At least, that’s what the manager always says.”

“She says if even one girl becomes ‘tainted,’ the whole pool would get contaminated quickly. So she’d rather have fewer girls than bad ones.”

“Can the manager really judge a person’s character at a glance?”

“Apparently so. Although the manager usually keeps to herself, she’s pretty accurate in judging people. Rumor has it she’s been in this business over twenty years and hardly ever made a mistake.”

“She boasts that she’s a seasoned fighter without fame. Once she finds the right people, she can save a lot of energy and work quite leisurely.”

“But can she really keep people around that way? The pay listed in the job posting isn’t very high…”

“Hmm?” The rabbit-eared girl suddenly stopped and looked at Hersia with surprise, even a hint of shock.

“Were you really raised in Arpeggio City?”

“Well… I suppose so.” Hersia suddenly felt unsure under that question.

“This is Topstar Tower, the landmark of Arpeggio City, a federally owned grand estate with the highest security level and the priciest district in the city. Do you really think the pay here is poor?”

“Maybe so.”

“Haha, although the base salary listed is low and the guaranteed pay minimal, that’s not the real issue. Most of our income comes from guests’ tips and performance bonuses.” The rabbit-eared girl smoothed Hersia’s hair and continued.

“For example, I spend mornings at the bar greeting unfamiliar guests, guiding them. In the afternoon, I do specialized work—playing games with guests. By the way, I’m quite the gamer.”

“Other maids have their own roles too: some make desserts, some chat to cheer guests up, some do fortune-telling, others craft handmade items, and some even sew clothes for guests…”

“Some guests are really peculiar—they just like watching a maid sew by hand stitch by stitch. They say it gives them a warm, homely feeling.”

“When the clothes are finished, half the money goes to the shop, and the other half to us, so the earnings aren’t bad at all.”

“All done with the styling.” Belfinger stood behind Hersia, gazing at the girl in the mirror.

Her once-quiet gray hair now looked much cuter with the white cat-ear headband. One side of her bangs was braided into a fine plait, pinned down with a hair clip, draping beside her face and revealing the delicate, fair ear beneath—a sight that naturally evoked affection.

A black ribbon tied in a cat-ear shape adorned her neck. The black-and-white maid uniform was layered distinctly—the inner layer white, the outer black, with white collars and wide, intricately laced sleeves extending from the black underlayer.

Even without much knowledge of fabrics or fashion, Hersia could tell this maid outfit was costly and exquisitely crafted.

“Awesome!” Belfinger gave a thumbs-up.

“All right, today we’ll take our little princess out to meet guests~”

“Meet guests?” Hersia asked anxiously.

“Don’t worry, just joking! But we should at least meet the other staff. Maybe I can introduce you to some friendly guests.”

Belfinger escorted Hersia out of the changing room and headed downstairs. Since it was noon, there weren’t many guests.

“First, let’s see Sister Ann.”

The rabbit-eared maid led Hersia toward the southern side, where a glass-enclosed area was filled with various potted plants and blooming flowers. A maid in her twenties was inside, watering and trimming the greenery.

“Opening the glass door and stepping into this wisteria-covered glass room felt like entering a tranquil forest, with flowers blooming in profusion and verdant vines hanging overhead.”

“Sister Ann, I’m here,” Belfinger greeted expertly as she walked into the quiet depths of the wisteria.

“Got it, but no snacks ready for you this time,” came a voice.

Hersia rounded a corner draped with wisteria and saw a blonde beauty standing before her. Dressed predominantly in white maid attire, her curves full and exuding a mature charm unlike the others.

...

“So this is the new companion? Hello, my code name is ‘Amdusias.’” She glanced at the girl behind Belfinger and, after a brief surprise, resumed her calm demeanor.

“Hello.”

Hersia was then pulled by the rabbit-eared girl to sit and chat with Amdusias.

Amdusias: The 67th-ranked demon among King Solomon’s 72 great demons, originally a unicorn. When summoned, she can transform into a human form upon the summoner’s request. She can temporarily produce sounds from various musical instruments or bend trees according to the summoner’s wishes.

Compared to Belfinger, Amdusias was far more serene and mature, radiating a loving aura. Being with her made one subconsciously want to lie in her embrace for an afternoon nap.

No wonder adults might seek comfort from someone like Amdusias—it suddenly made sense to Hersia, who began to understand a bit more about how this establishment operated.

But the day was still long ahead. Under Belfinger’s guidance, Hersia would soon meet more maid companions in the shop.