Testing My Luck in the New World

"Here's your tea, Master."

Erika tilted a foreign-looking teapot over the cup she prepared for me and a perfect stream of milky brown liquid poured from the spout. A compliment to her skills, she didn't spill a single drop.

"Thank you."

She quietly poured herself a cup as well before carefully setting the teapot on the dining table. After smoothing out her skirt, she sat across from me, but not before making sure her fluffy tail had plenty of room to move.

"The thanks belongs to you, Master, for letting me share a drink with you," she said with a polite, but genuine smile. "This is one of the more expensive teas Elane has collected."

"What, did she not share with you before?"

"Sometimes, but she rarely asked me to make it for her. It's usually reserved for guests."

Seeing that she was waiting for me, I went ahead and took a drink first. While it couldn't compare to the brew the Goddess gave me, it still managed to warm my soul and light up my tastebuds with a delightfully earthy flavor.

Finally, braving the steam emanating from her own cup, she took a small lady-like sip, only for her tail to give up the act by flicking happily. She, however, was quick to reprimand herself by forcing her tail back under the table.

I laughed.

"Erika, I know I'm technically your master, but you don't need to act so stiff around me. Just relax."

"O-Okay. Sorry."

Erika let out a breath, though the only relaxing she let herself enjoy was a slightly slackening of her shoulders. I pretended not to notice and took another sip.

Considering how she and the other maids thought I was going to drag them to bed the moment I took over as their master, I figured I had some waiting to do before they all lightened up around me.

Fidgeting in her seat like she didn't know what to say, she eventually broke the pleasant silence with a small bow.

"Sorry Silla and Mary aren't here to greet you. And June."

"Haha. Come on. I said it's fine. I'm mainly stopping by because I had to drop off the potions I made at the apothecary."

By chance, Erika had sent Mary and Silla out to the market to fetch some things for their dinner right before I teleported back to Elane's mansion. Because of this, and because June was currently upstairs trying to put a Tailor-maid dent in her new bed, Erika and I were all alone.

After the incident with Elane last night, we'd brought her straight back to our cabin in the middle of nowhere, just in case she woke up still wanting to fight. Unfortunately, she hadn't woken yet. The Force Sleep spell doesn't knock you out for a set amount of time, so she was out night while I passed the time working on my potions.

Yua and Mana had elected to stay back with her while I finished up with Madame Turquesse, but for two very different reasons. Yua planned on keeping an eye on Elane just in case, while Mana took off to go play in the forest behind our house.

In Mana's case, I easily conceded to her the right to play around in the trees in her usual nudist fashion. She grew up naked in the forest, but thanks to our place being so secluded, and because her ears were so sensitive, I had no worries about others seeing her. So long as she covered up and came back in the event some unknown person showed up, she was golden.