The morning had come quickly, the blazing sun shining through his open window, waking Edward from his dreamless slumber.
He slowly opened his eyes, then sat up, only to flinch when the blue glowing panel of the system suddenly popped up in-front of his face.
His eye's twitched, and he held back the urge to swat the annoying thing away.
Of course, the first thing I see after waking up is this.
He glared at the panels for a moment, then slowly got out of his bed, looking around his new room in the morning light.
His room looked even tidier than it did yesterday, like someone had stepped in while he slept and put everything back to its correct place. The pillows had been fluffed, the curtains were tied symmetrically, and the carpets didn't have a single wrinkle. It was unsettling—almost like staying inside a showroom rather than a place meant to actually be lived in.
He stared at the room in silence for a moment, then rubbed the drowsiness away from his eye's before stepping out the bed. He stood still for a moment, confused about where to go, then beelined to a door when he remembered where his personal washroom was.
A crystalline pitcher of water sat waiting beside folded towels and a small mirror framed in gold. He splashed his face, wincing at the cold water, and stared at his reflection.
Soft skin. Ridiculously long lashes. Lips still faintly tinted pink despite him scrubbing them yesterday.
Still wrong...
He sighed.
No matter what, it was going to take a while to get used to this new look.
Ding!
He jumped where he stood, startled.
[ Good morning, Edward ♡ ]
[ Daily Quest Available: Begin Daytime Grooming Routine ]
[ Reward: +1 Charisma ]
[ Penalty for refusal: -5 Charm, Severe Dishevelment Debuff ]
He stared at the blue shimmering panel.
"Severe- What!?"
Before he could protest, the door to the washroom burst open and Emilia walked in, already in her maid uniform as if she had woken hours ago. Her expression was still as stern as ever, her eye's sweeping sharply over him as if she was inspecting precious goods.
She stepped inside.
"You're awake."
Edward gulped, "Yeah..."
"Good, then we begin."
He took a step back, eye's wide with fear.
"Begin what?-"
"Your day." She said simply, as if that explained everything.
He blinked, still maintaining distance. "Isn't this my day already?"
"No," She said. "This is you standing there looking like a peasant child."
He stared at her. "Wha-"
"Unacceptable." she interrupted him, shaking her head. She moved towards his wardobe. "Young master of house Myrvale or not, you cannot present yourself in such a pathetic state."
He opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again.
She turned sharply "Wash properly, then come here. We have much to do."
Edward eyed her warily. "You're not going to hit me again, are you?"
"That depends," she replied without hesitation. "Will you act like a fool again?"
He clutched his head protectively. "…I will try not to."
"Good." She nodded once, satisfied.
Edward sighed in defeat and dragged himself back to the washstand.
It was too early for this.
***
Emilia waited with the chilly patience of a winter storm while Edward reluctantly washed his face again—properly, as she insisted. She handed him soap that smelled faintly of flowers, then watched like a hawk to make sure he didn't miss a spot.
"This is excessive," Edward muttered under his breath.
"I can hear you," she said.
He stared at the basin.
Of course you can.
When he was done, Emilia handed him a silver comb.
He blinked. "You expect me to… use this?"
"Yes" she replied dryly.
He ran the comb through the silky strands, still not used to the long, soft hair falling past his shoulders. It caught the light gently, annoyingly pretty. Every minute he stared at it, he felt a little piece of his masculinity slip further away into the void.
The system chimed in the background.
[ +1 Charisma has been added ]
Meanwhile, Emilia crossed her arms. "Hurry. We are on a schedule."
"Since when do mornings have a schedule?"
"Since now."
Once he was marginally presentable by her tyrannical standards, Emilia grabbed a small round jar from his vanity and held it out to him.
He took one look at it and froze.
"…No."
"Yes," she said.
"That's makeup."
"Yes."
"I'm not wearing makeup."
"You already are."
His eye twitched. "That is a lie."
"Your skin says otherwise," she said, stepping forward. "Now hold still."
He stepped back. "No way! Absolutely not—don't come near me with that—!"
Ding!
[ Mandatory Quest Triggered ]
[ Appear Presentable for Breakfast ]
[ Requirement: Apply grooming enhancements ]
[ Reward: +1 Charm ]
[ Penalty for refusal: Public Humiliation Event ]
"PUBLIC WHAT—?!" Edward shrieked.
Emilia seized the opportunity and grabbed his chin before he could dodge. "Hold still," she ordered, voice dangerously calm.
"This is a violation of human rights!"
"Hold. Still."
He tried to wriggle away, but he may as well have been struggling against iron. Her grip didn't budge. Within seconds she had dusted a light powder over his cheeks, brushed his lashes, and added a faint rosy tint to his lips.
She stepped back to evaluate him, arms folded.
"…Acceptable," she said at last.
He staggered backward, traumatized. "What part of that was acceptable!?"
Emilia didn't answer. She was already at his wardrobe pulling out clothes.
She held up today's selection: a soft white blouse with ribbons at the sleeves, a fitted dark vest, slim black trousers, knee-high boots polished to a shine.
Edward blinked.
It wasn't... bad.
"…This is actually not awful," he admitted.
"This is your loungewear," Emilia said.
"My what?"
"Loungewear. Clothing for relaxing."
"This is what you people wear to RELAX?"
"Would you rather I brought out your formal attire?"
"No. This is fine. This is excellent. Thank you."
"Good," she said briskly. "Get dressed. Breakfast will be in fifteen minutes. Do not embarrass yourself."
He paused with one leg in the trousers. "Wait. What do you mean don't embarrass myself? What happens at breakfast?"
Emilia gave him a long, unreadable look.
"You will see."
And with that cryptic warning, she walked out and shut the door.