As Siesta trailed Seito through the courtyard, making sure that it merely looked as if she was heading to a similar destination as him to avoid seeming creepy, she had to ask herself why she was doing this. The maid had chores to do, after all. While she still had plenty of time to get them completed before anyone complained, free time wasn’t exactly a major part of her schedule. Yet here she was, following a random guy she didn’t even know. She supposed that the major reason really was because her empathy was telling her to comfort another commoner, someone who was unwittingly forced into a terrible position. While he seemed to be mainly mad now, Siesta had been nearby at the time of his summoning, and the major emotion he was displaying there was genuine fear.
Before the maid knew it, Saito had come to a stop and was merely staring at a wall, lost in thought. She realized she couldn’t keep up the façade of just going on the same general path anymore, so she took a deep breath and approached the young man.
“Hello there!” she greeted amicably. “How’re you today?”
Saito looked like he nearly had a heart attack upon hearing the sudden introduction coming from behind him, which made Siesta instantly regret her approach. She was trying to make small talk, but she already rattled the poor guy. Figured. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for him to re-compose himself.
“Oh, hey! I’m doing…well, I guess saying okay would just be a lie, huh?” the young man said ruefully. “But, um, anyways, who’re you?”
“Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself first,” Siesta said, mentally slapping herself. “I’m Siesta. And your name is…?”
“Saito Hiraga!” the Familiar said proudly, before muttering, “A.K.A., new servant of some bratty pink-haired girl.”
Siesta shook her head. “It really is unpleasant to hear that. You’ve had the misfortune of becoming Miss Louise’s Familiar, and she’s well-known for having quite the hot-head.”
“Ha! Hot-head is an understatement!” It seemed as though Saito was using this as a springboard for a rant. “She’s been treating me horribly. I’ve only gotten stale bread eat and water to drink, I haven’t been given a new change of clothes yet, tonight I’m going to have to wash her clothes, and I have to sleep on a straw mat on the floor, in the draftiest part of the room! Seriously, how is any of that even legal around here?”
The raven-haired girl was honestly appalled to be hearing of such conditions flowing out of her new acquaintance’s mouth. She knew Louise wasn’t the most pleasant of individuals, but to treat someone like that?
“Th-that’s awful!” she blurted out. “I had no idea… she’s truly that cruel?”
“Do you think I’m making any of this up?”
“No, of course not! You’d have no reason to. And I mean, it’s not as though the idea of a Noble acting poorly is a foreign idea to me...”
Saito cocked his head at this. “Hm?”
“Well, you know of the relations between commoners and Nobles, right?”
The young man scratched his head, looking at her as if she had grown a second head. “No, don’t have any real idea about that.”
“You see, commoners are people that can’t use magic and haven’t been given privilege by the Royal Family. But Nobles are people whose families have not only done impressive enough things to gain the Crown’s support, but are also skilled magic users. They not only hold the highest political influence, but they’re also physically the most powerful, as well.”
“Woah, really?”
“Mm-hm. Granted, not every mage is a noble; there are a few commoners that can practice magic, although they usually come from families that used to be part of Nobility, before they fell from grace for whatever reason. But everyone who attends this Academy is definitely one, and so they think they’re a lot better than us commoners. It’s just a fact of life.”
“What?! But that isn’t fair!” Saito shouted out indignantly. Upon realizing his only audience was siesta, though, he immediately lowered his volume. “I mean, no one’s better than anyone else, or at least not like that. What right do they have to treat people like slaves, anyways? I don’t care how powerful they are, that’s still no excuse trample over those weaker than you.”
Siesta nodded her head furtively. She couldn’t agree more with what was just said. Of course, she and Saito could talk about this all day, but she knew none of it would actually make a difference. It was nice to talk about, at least. She had been expecting this, and was perfectly fine with the route the conversation was going.
“So, that’s why we need to rebel.”
This statement, on the other hand, could’ve knocked Siesta flat on her ass if it was a physical force, it was so unexpected.
“Huh? What do you mean?” the maid asked, blinking.
“Exactly what I just said,” Saito said, a new form of confidence gracing his visage. “You and I need to show those stuck-up Nobles what we’re made of!”
He put his hand up to his chin, seemingly pondering over something before snapping his fingers, startling Siesta a bit.
“Hey, I got an idea. You’re a maid, so you work in the kitchen and dining hall, right?” he asked.
“Um, yes, I do,” Siesta said uncertainly.
“What do you usually eat?”
“Well, usually some bread, rice, a bit of porridge…”
“Are you kidding? That’s barely any better than what I get! Have you seen what those Nobles eat? The dishes that’re put out for them wouldn’t be out of place in front of Kings and Queens!”
“*Sigh* Don’t remind me…”
“Why not? You’re going to be getting some of that delicious grub, too,” Saito said with a wink. “And you’re going to be using your position as a ‘commoner’ to do it.”
Siesta blinked as she tried to process this statement. After what seemed like a dozen statements rushed through her mind, she said the most complex thing she had ever uttered in her entire life: “What?”
“Come on, Siesta! You have to help serve and clean up after all those Nobles. Don’t tell me the idea of trying just a little bit of one of those pies, or those cakes, or heck, anything, never crossed your mind?”
“Um, I’d be lying if it hasn’t, but wouldn’t I get in trouble?”
“Yeah, you would… if you got caught. But anything worth doing has some sorta risk involved, don’t you think? I’m just saying, try one of those pies, for example. That’s your challenge. I’m still gonna think of mine, but considering how some of these jerks act, I don’t think it’ll be too long before I decide on something.”
The young man gave Siesta one of the warmest smiles she had ever seen, and looked at her expectantly.
“So, whaddya say?”
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