The rest of the meal and evening was pleasant. She was slightly disheartened when her song didn't reach the heavens, but that was nothing unusual. She had never been able to have the ear of the spirits with her songs, but she shoved the thought out of her head and made the best ability possible to enjoy the meal prepared and listen to what was said between Zavra and the Lord. It seemed these storms prevented any sort of permanent civilization being kept here at all. Odd, really. These windmothers must be quite powerful spirits.

When it was over though, Isabella was glad that Gracie mentioned a bath. She'd love to finally get out of this armor and into something a bit more comfortable. With an appreciative nod to the Lord and Zavra, she would follow the slaves to the bath.

Soon enough, the two of them arrived - there was a small room with a large tub in the center, maybe large enough to hold three if they crammed in there.  One of the slaves anxiously addressed them.  [b]”H-Hot water my lady?”[/b]  Letting Isabella relax, Gracie nodded in reply as they scurried off, likely to prepare the water for them.  Glancing around, the maid noticed that there were two pipes above the wooden tub - the wood was high quality, something that wouldn’t have been found back home.  Maybe made of the same trees outside that withstood the storm?  Gracie’s thoughts were cut short as she suddenly realized she had a job to do.

Heading behind her mistress, the maid shut the door - the pipes made it unlikely the slaves would have to personally pour the water, though she was surprised this place had any sort of technology for how dour it was.  [b]”Please relax, your highness.  You did very well at dinner.”[/b]  The woman shifted behind the twenty year old’s back, moving behind her and beginning to undo her armor straps.

She was exhausted both physically and mentally after that whole thing. In some ways, it certainly hadn't been as bad as she was expecting it to be, but in others it was…far worse. The thought of what Zavra did still caused her to shiver lightly - it wasn't unusual but…she never felt comfortable doing that to people. At least she finally had a chance to relax a bit.

Taking a seat at the edge of the tub, Isabella did as she was told by Gracie, leaning lightly back into the maid as she started undoing the straps to this armor.

[color=ed145b]"…What…do you think of Zavra and Lord Hasingwrath?"[/color] She questioned.

The maid paused for a moment before responding.  [b]”The slave girl was out of line but … it was obviously just a mistake.  Truthfully, that terrified me.  I’m glad your my mistress and not them, though … I’m not sure what deal we struck with them, but I’m sure things will turn out fine.”[/b]  Really, Gracie never thought of Izzy as ‘owning’ her per se, and she didn’t think the princess did either.

However, the point of this bath was to relax.  And besides, it would probably be best to ask some of the others for advice.  They’d all have opinions on how to deal with this.  Gracie finished removing the final piece of clothing and the sword, placing them in a small hamper in a corner.  She’d clean them or something while Isabella slept.  The maid reached up towards one of the two pipes - it was cold.  The other one was warm, and Gracie quickly drew her conclusions as she turned that knob and hot water began to pour from above into the tub like a shower.  [b]”Let’s clean you off before you sit down, alright?”[/b]  Gracie pushed the now naked Izzy to stand under the faucet, letting the water begin to clean off the worst of the offending grime from the trip so she didn’t bathe in it.

The still clothed Gracie removed her shoes, moving to stand in the towel and preparing to soap the princess’ hair.

Isabella placed a hand on her chest, sighing in mild relief, glad to know that her and Gracie had a similar opinion on the matter. She'd be mildly upset with herself for being so soft if she hadn't. Well, no matter. She needed to relax a bit. Constantly being a little ball of nervousness was just going to shorten her lifespan.

Isabella made a small whine as the hot water was dumped on her from overhead. Definitely not a mechanism used at home. At least Gracie was good at scrubbing her clean. For the most part, she'd remain silent and let her servant take care of her.

Gracie began to run her hands through Izzy’s hair with the soap and adopted a less serious tone.  [b]”Little Izzy, relax.  Hmmm …”[/b]  The maid started to try and think of a topic that would help the girl relax.  [b]”... what’s your favorite thing about being away from home so far?”[/b]  She didn’t want to give her charge painful reminders of a land she’d never return to, and maybe it’d cheer her up a bit.

With Izzy’s hair all soaped up, Gracie moved her hands down to the girl’s neck.

[color=ed145b]"Uhm,"[/color] Isabella let herself relax a bit, exhaling contentedly as her hair was finished being scrubbed.  Favorite thing about being away from home? [color=ed145b]"Traveling is…fun…"[/color] She replied quietly. [color=ed145b]"Finally get to leave the castle…"[/color] She had never been allowed to leave the palace grounds very much before, at least not unsupervised by a dozen guards. It was difficult to enjoy such things if you couldn't move around freely. [color=ed145b]"O-oh, and I get to see more people, too."[/color] Isabella smiled sheepishly from admitting that. It was a simple, slightly childish thing to say, really.

[b]”You?  Enjoy meeting new people?”[/b]  The maid smirked, poking Isabella in the side in the hope of receiving a cute yelp.  [b]”That’s a surprise.  Then again you did sing at dinner with that wonderful voice of yours.”[/b]  Moving from the neck down to the shoulders, and chest.  [b]”I’m glad you enjoy the road, at least.”[/b]

And yelp adorably Isabella did, flinching in a mildly comical manner as Gracie's finger poked her side.

[color=ed145b]"G-gracie…!"[/color] She shot a pouty glare that was decidedly non-threatening as a glare could be at the maid.

Gracie simply smirked at her mistress.  [b]”That adorable pout is what I strive to see more of in my life.”[/b]  Izzy had never even really thought about punishing her, so the maid wasn’t afraid of any sort of retaliation.  In fact, she seemed to enjoy being messed with a little bit.

Grabbing Izzy’s hair, Gracie turned the princess’ head back to face forward again gently.  [b]”You don’t get to turn around yet Mistress, I’m still scrubbing you.”[/b]  The maid began to work the soap into the armpits and the arms, rubbing down to her fingers and spending a while to make sure she got beneath the fingernails.  [b]”How about the sword then?  Things a little … strange.”[/b]

Isabella simply pouted some more as she was teased by her maid, face reddening somewhat as she was instructed to stay facing forwards. Ooh, she wasn't that cute, was she? Sure she looked good, but no more than anyone else, but maybe that was just her being too critical of herself.

[color=ed145b]"Valiant?..."[/color] Isabella echoed as Gracie mentioned the talking sword. She was right - it certainly was strange, but she found it surprisingly easier to speak to than humans. [color=ed145b]"…Uhm, it's not strange. W-well, maybe a little…"[/color] She frowned, wondering how she should go about this. [color=ed145b]"…Have you ever heard of talking swords, Gracie?"[/color] She asked quietly.

Gracie paused in her scrubbing.  [b]”No.”[/b]  The maid looked at her a bit incredulously.  [b]”Is the sword … magical?  Does it have other powers?”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"I don't know…"[/color] Isabella continued. [color=ed145b]"But it told me it's name was Valiant. He's the one who told me about the storm…"[/color] She was relieved that Gracie seemed to at least believe her somewhat, though it was easy to see she was a bit skeptical.

Gracie paused, blinking a couple of times and forced herself to continue scrubbing as she thought about what had been said.  [b]”Well, tell this Valiant thank you for me then.  We probably would have died out there …”[/b]  The maid paused for another moment, thinking.  Why didn’t the sword reveal its abilities?  


Or more likely, why hadn’t the princess asked.  [b]”If the sword can talk, have you tried asking about its powers?  If you haven’t, you should do so tomorrow.  Storm will be here a few days at least according to the lord and the … young lady.”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"….!"[/color] Isabella winced a bit, realizing that was an incredibly obvious thing she should have probably asked the sword. She could have given an excuse like 'there hadn't been enough time' but it'd be a rather obvious lie. [color=ed145b]"R-right…I'll do that."[/color]
The maid rolled her eyes - it was probably a good thing the princess wasn’t looking at her.  As Gracie finished up the hands, Izzy would feel another finger poke her in the side, but this time a hand on the back of the Princess’ head would prevent her from turning around.

Gracie didn’t need to see the pout, she knew it was there as she moved down to the princess’ stomach.  

[color=ed145b]"Graaaaacieeeee."[/color] Isabella whined, pouting like the maid had assumed as she was teased again, though she didn't do anything aside from letting the maid continue her work.

Gracie’s hands wrapped around Isabella’s waist, cleaning her stomach and moving to her back before addressing her butt … by the time the princess might notice she spent a bit longer than necessary cleaning it the maid moved to the outer thighs.  [b]”Yes Izzy, is something the matter?”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"You're teasing me."[/color] Isabella replied, still pouting, not noticing the maids lingering hands. [color=ed145b]"Stop it."[/color]

[b]”Apologies, mistress.  I won’t poke you again.”[/b]  Gracie rotated her hands around to the inner thighs, letting herself wash there for plenty of time with a smirk.  [b]”You’re very pretty, mistress.  Your tailors must love to make dresses to accentuate your curves, especially with this cute bottom.”[/b]  The older woman ran her cloth briefly out to the girl’s behind before returning it to the inner thigh.

[b]”You never talk about your romantic life with me - hmmm?”[/b]  With some nails, Gracies fingers went down the insides of Isabella’s thighs before the girl began to down her legs.  [b]”Have you ever had a little crush on anyone - oh, maybe a lucky guy on this trip?”[/b]  None of them were nobility, but that didn’t mean one couldn’t admire a guards muscular physique.

Crush on someone? Pretty? Looking at guards on this trip? Isabella's face was a deep shade of red again. Cute bottom? I-It wasn't that cute! Isabella pouted a bit more as Gracie seemed to still tease her in an entirely different fashion this time. How could she reply here? She hadn't been looking at anyone like that at all? Certainly, she had suitors previously, but there was nothing official or had been decided, though she had been pressured recently into fixing that at least until she left.

[color=ed145b]"R-romance?"[/color] She stuttered out, sheepishly looking away from Gracie. [color=ed145b]"I-I don't know about that…"[/color]

Gracie giggled a bit as she leaned around and caught the red creeping down Isabella’s neck.  [b]”Princess, I can see your blush from behind, you know.”[/b]  She didn’t stop cleaning though, finishing up the legs and moving onto the feet - the wag was washed off and the maid turned off the faucet, rotating to her highness’ front and directing her with two fingers to sit down on the ledge as she kneeling in the drained tub - her hands began to work into Isabella’s feet, with the added advantage of there being a nice sight of that adorable, blushing face.  [b]”Whooo is it?”[/b]  The maid asked, teasingly.  Despite having formerly been a member of the nobility, the life of a servant got to her and gossip was a very important thing to know.

Isabella fidgeted uncomfortably, obviously not too happy with this line of questioning. Ooh, Gracie was doing this on purpose, and she knew it. She hadn't intentionally meant to avoid the question, but it seemed like she had done so anyways. The question now was, did she say who it was? She didn't want to cause problems for the rest of her entourage. They had enough unreasonableness to deal with already, what with having to follow her to the ends of the earth for all she knew.

[color=ed145b]"…Uhm…uhm…"[/color] Isabella stuttered out, nervously tapping her fingers together. [color=ed145b]"W-well…Kinsey is…nice…"[/color] Of course, she was being a little dishonest with herself on that front. Not that she'd currently tell Gracie that or who she did in fact, like.

Gracie raised her eyebrows and had to prevent herself from giggling immediately.  [b]”Kinsey, really.”[/b]  It was rather obvious the princess was lying, and a couple giggles escaped which made her lack of belief obvious.  [b]”Mistress, if it’s Valiant I understand.  He’s longer and wider than any man could hope to be …”[/b]

This is one of the few times Gracie was prepared to dodge something from Izzy in her entire life.

Isabella expected teasing about it. Kinsey was a good person, after all and she wasn't exactly lying, but it certainly wasn't the whole truth. What she certainly wasn't expecting though, was Gracie suggesting the sword. Valiant? Longer and wider than any man could hope to be? What did she mean by-

oh

[i]Oh[/i]

For a few seconds Isabella simply stared forwards, her face slowly turning the deepest red it had been that day. Well yes, he certainly was wider and longer than any man could likely be. In fact, if the sword was a he, he was probably - she cut herself off mid thought.

[color=ed145b]"Gracie you perv!"[/color] Isabella Shouted, standing up and making a rather comical, though definitely not hurtful slap to Gracie's cheek. Ugh, why'd she have to go and suggest something so dirty…

Gracie was so stunned by the fact Isabella was capable of shouting that she didn’t even try and dodge the slap.  Isabella was mostly finished being washed anyways, and they were friends in a way.  [b]”I’m sorry mistress, I’ll try to be less pervy for now on, even though it makes you a cute little apple.”[/b]  This was very out of place for a maid, but she tried to put on a slightly more innocent expression as the giggles ran through her mouth.  It was nice to joke with the princess, especially when it made her blush.

[b]”I didn’t realize you could speak so loudly, Izzy, but if I need to tell you more jokes so you can learn to raise your voice ...”[/b]  The maid paused, leaning forward a bit with a grin.  [b]”Soooo … who is it really~”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"B-being embarrassed does not make me cute!"[/color] Isabella retorted, though in her usual tone. Did…did she really want to know? Isabella wasn't sure if she could really say it so easily. It just wasn't something she could say. Every time she had tried saying something before, her voice just got caught in her throat. Now wasn't any different, either.

[color=ed145b]"…uhm…"[/color] Isabella looked towards the ground, unable to make eye contact with her maid as she continued to pout. [color=ed145b]"…"[/color] She answered finally, but her voice was far too much of a mumble to make out coherently.

Gracie this time returned to kneeling in front Isabella - she didn’t want to force the girl to do it, but she’d be damn proud if she did.  She gave the other woman an encouraging touch on the knee, along with a look of approval.  [b]”I know its hard, Isabella, but I have faith in you.  You can raise that pretty voice of yours, I know you can.”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"…G-gracie…"[/color] Isabella replied quietly, still averting her gaze. [color=ed145b]“... Y-you ...”[/color]

Gracie in reply simply blinked a couple times as if confused.  [b]”I-Izzy?”[/b]  The older woman wasn’t nearly as nervous as the girl in front of her, but even she stumbled over one of her words.  The maid was a little stunned - she wasn’t exactly wasn’t sure how to process this, but a blush of her own ran across her face.

[color=ed145b]"Uhm uhm!"[/color] Isabella quickly stuttered out in reply. [color=ed145b]"I-It's just, ever since I was small you've…you've helped me."[/color] She held her hands together in front of her chest, words spilling from her mouth in a cascade of words that the princess had never deemed possible to say. [color=ed145b]"W-when I was too nervous or scared to speak, or w-when some of the other lords said I was cursed because I couldn't speak well. Y-you always took up for me and and-"[/color] She paused for a moment, voice catching in her throat again. [color=ed145b]"W-hen I was exiled you still came with me and I-just- I don't know!"[/color] She raised her voice a bit as she continued.

[color=ed145b]"Whenever I was in trouble you'd always comfort me. Whenever I needed help, you'd always just be there. More than my brothers, or parents, even."[/color] She didn't even know what she was saying herself at this point. All of it was just words - noises - coming from her mouth she couldn't stop. [color=ed145b]"E-even when I asked you to come with me to the dinner you didn't want too because you wanted me to do it myself, right?"[/color] She closed her eyes as the nervous little ball of feelings in her chest did it's damndest to escape.[color=ed145b]"You always, always help me Gracie and I don't know what I'd do without you! All throughout this trip I always think of something bad that could happen. W-we could get hurt. Bandits. Monsters. I don't want to lose anyone and I never know what to do, but you always lead me in the right direction. A-and when I think about bad things that can happen, above all I'm terrified that I'll lose you o-or you'll get injured protecting a weak, pathetic, Princess like me who was exiled and can't even speak properly without being goaded into it! I-I don't know if it's love or whatever it is, I don't know romance I wouldn't know where to begin b-but…I like you…a-a lot, a-a-and…"[/color]

Throughout the entire confession Gracie sat there in stunned silence.  Partially because Isabella had probably spoken more in the past three minutes than she had in the year prior to it.  But also because the maid was a bit stunned - yes, she had planned on ‘rewarding’ the princess for being good at the feast, but hadn’t dreamed that the princess would have a crush on her!

She was just a maid - sure, she’d formerly been a member of the nobility, but those days were gone.  Now, she was walking around in this filthy servants uniform literally kneeling before a shining clean princess who so nearly so pretty she belonged in some sort of fantasy.

She was still confused how to respond with her own feelings, but her instincts as Isabella’s follower compelled her to stand up and walk over to the girl and give her a light kiss on the forehead before pressing that same head into her chest with two caring arms.  [b]”Shhh, shhh.  Of course I believe in you.”[/b]  Comforting fingers would run down Isabella’s blonde mane.  [b]”You are a good little princess and it's my job to take care of you …”[/b]

Isabella returned the hug, wrapping her arms around Gracie's body with a gentle embrace, finally having managed to get her voice under control. Honestly, she felt silly saying all that. It was stupid. She was stupid. Even if it was genuine affection she felt towards Gracie, she doubted the maid would ever reciprocate those feelings. She didn't even know if it was what she was feeling. Her voice seemed to have lost itself once again, however, and she couldn't bring herself to say anything more.

The maid pulled Izzy’s hair back after rocking her in the embrace for a bit, angling the princess’ head so they faced each other.  [b]”Hey, Izzy …”[/b]

The princess would feel her lips being parted by Gracie’s gently, the maid pulling back after a couple seconds with a smile.

Isabella didn't immediately respond, eyes still sheepishly not looking towards the maid, but Gracie would have none of that it seemed.

[color=ed145b]"….!"[/color] Isabella's eyes widened as she was kissed by Gracie. The instant she felt the maids lips on her own, Isabella was visibly taken aback. She should answer, right? Yes, she should say something.[color=ed145b]"…Y-yes?..."[/color]

[b]”You need to finish your bath.”[/b]  Gracie plugged the drain, turning the faucet on above her mistress with a smirk across her face.  The maid paused for a second.  [b]”And maybe once I get you ready for the night I’ll come take one myself.”[/b]  The maid booped Izzy on the nose with her finger.  [b]”Though I was thinking you’d appreciate a massage, mistress?”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"H-huh!?"[/color] Gracie was being mean! She was being teased again! Isabella pouted, making a fairly adorable sounding squee noise as she was booped on the nose by the maid. Gracie had been messing with her this entire time, hadn’t she? Not that she particularly minded, but…she was getting mildly irritated with all this.

Isabella got into the tub, still pouting a bit but her attitude quickly shifted once Gracie mentioned possibly taking a bath once she was ready for the evening.

[color=ed145b]"U-uhm…a-a Massage sounds nice, b-but…"[/color] Isabella sank low into the water, just so that her head was visible as she sheepishly and quietly made her next statement. [color=ed145b]"…we could…uhm…bathe…together…"[/color]

Gracie raised an eyebrow.  [b]”We ‘could’ mistress.  Is that an order?”[/b]  She wasn’t quite as innocent as Isabella, and could recover much faster from her initial surprise at the move.  It wasn’t that her heart wasn’t beating at all - just that having been in a relationship before certainly helped with understand the next one.

And well … she needed a moment to gather her courage to get nude in front of this girl.  She’d seen Isabella before, but … not the other way around.

[color=ed145b]"N-no! I-if you want and w-well j-just offered…"[/color] Isabella stammered out, shifting her gaze from Gracie and back to the water repeatedly. Ugh, she felt silly for making the suggestion now. Silly, she was incredibly silly and she had made a silly and ridiculous suggestion.

Gracie started giggling again, running a hand through Isabella’s hair and petting her.  [b]”Little apple, it is alright.”[/b]  The maid looked towards the water though.  [b]”Its not that I’d mind, but the entire point of me cleaning you before filling the bath was to prevent the water from getting dirty.”[/b]  A kiss landed on Isabella’s forehead.  [b]”Unless you want me to drain it so you can watch me bathe, Izzy.”[/b]  She was back in control of the situation, at least.

[color=ed145b]"Gracie,"[/color] Isabella pouted. Little apple? She was being teased again! Isabella puffed her cheeks out in a small frown before replying. [color=ed145b]"You're teasing me again...."[/color]

[b]”Yep, and you like it.”[/b]

The maid smiled down down at her charge, finally having gathered her courage and removing the plug from the drain.  With a sigh, she stopped petting the princess and moved towards the edge of the room.  [b]”Be a good little Princess and don’t peak, alright?”[/b]

Her hands began to undo her own apron while the princess sat in the tub, Gracie hoping she was watching in spite of herself.

[color=ed145b]"I-I object! I do not!"[/color] She pouted again at Gracie's insistence that she liked being teased. It seemed as though Gracie was in fact, getting in the bath with her. Oh dear. What should she do. Gracie told her not to peek. Why would she peek? She had never seen the maid naked before…so she was mildly curious. No no, that was inappropriate, and she shouldn't think about that.

Isabella sat on the edge of the tub, back to Gracie as she did her best to think of something other than the maid at the moment. Instead, she began to find her hands [i]incredibly[/i] interesting as she fiddled with them in front of her as she began to realize the gravity of the situation.

Gracie smiled as she saw the princess turn around, no irony lost on her about how obedient the princess was to her servant.  Soon enough the dress dropped to the floor, the maid taking plenty of time to give her little apple time to peak.

Eventually though, Isabella would hear approaching footsteps as the maid approached the now drained tub from behind her, hands sliding over her charge’s head and gently pushing her eyeballs shut.  The message should have been clear as Gracie now stood beneath the faucet herself, turning it on as she looked at the naked body of the girl who crushed on her, carefully watching to see if she peaked as she began to wash herself.

[color=ed145b]"That's mean, Gracie…"[/color] Isabella grumbled, making sure to shut her eyes for the maid. She wasn't going to look, nope. She wasn't going to look. Uh-uh. Not gonna happen. Noupe. She was busy thinking about anything other than Gracie at the moment. Anything other than the maid that had basically been there for her her entire life.

Maybe…maybe a little peek wouldn't hurt? She slapped the sides of her face lightly. Gracie told her not to so she wouldn't peek, not even a little. In fact, think about the exact opposite of that. Like…Valiant! Yes, what sorts of things could she ask hew new sharp sword friend. Maybe she should ask where he came from? She should already ask his abilities. Maybe more about his previous owner? She was curious as to his-

…

wait a minute.

[color=ed145b]"Ah!"[/color] Isabella suddenly stood up, opening her eyes as an almost far too deep red of a blush crossed her features again. [color=ed145b]"G-gracie! V-valiant-can't-be-here-he's a guy!"[/color]

Valiant did not comment on anything, but the maid did.  That wasn’t even subtle, and to be fair it wasn’t really her fault but … [b]”Isabella, the sword has been here the entire time.  If it can see, it watched me bathe you … I don’t think it makes a difference at this point.”[/b]  The maid giggled a little bit, leaning forward and making sure her chest was very obvious.  She was nearly finished washing off at this point, which was a good thing so she wouldn’t be embarrassingly dirty.  

[b]”But Mistress, I told you no peeking, and here you are with your eyes still open.”[/b]  In the stern voice she used when telling Izzy she needed to do something the maid spoke.  [b]”Turn around, put your hands on the edge of the tub, put that cute little butt of yours in the air and tell me what you are.”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"…ah…"[/color] Isabella quickly found her hands increasingly interesting again as Gracie mentioned her opening her eyes. She hadn't been thinking about that at all. That was quickly replaced by Gracies next order. What on earth…?

[color=ed145b]"Y-you want me to do….what…?"[/color] Isabella fumbled with her words again.

[b]”You are quiet, not deaf Izzy.  Bend over, stick your butt in the air and tell me what a naughty princess you are.”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"…!"[/color] Isabella fidgeted a few seconds, nervously playing with her hands in front of her again. She wants…her…to do…that? It took a few seconds before Isabella complied. She placed her hands on the edge of the tub, bending over as her mind decided to run away with what was about to happen.

[b]”Tell me what you are, Little Apple with such a cute butt.”[/b]  Gracie ran her fingernails over that wonderful, wonderful behind as if preparing it.

[color=ed145b]"I…"[/color] Isabella nervously looked around for a moment, feeling Gracie's hand on her backside. "[color=ed145b]I-I am a naughty princess…"[/color] She mumbled.

Gracie smiled widely, drinking in the royalty’s nervousness for a few seconds before sending her blow down.  

[color=ed145b]"H-ha!?"[/color] Isabella made a surprisingly loud, adorable squeal as the maid's hand came down on her butt. [color=ed145b]"G-gracie that-s mean!"[/color] She stuttered out, but she couldn’t say she minded it too much.

[hr]

After the Princess was appropriately punished (and would likely be reminded of this any time she sat down for the next few days) Gracie made sure to give her a nice [i]massage[/i] much to her little apple’s delight while telling her how good of a princess she was for being brave and talking with the nobles here.

Several minutes had passed by, with Izzy sitting between Gracies legs facing away while the maid sat against the edge of the tub - it had been a great position to reach around for play time in, and now it was a great position to hold the princess in her arms and cuddle her as she breathed heavily.

That was…that was not something she'd have thought she'd ever be doing. In her life. At all. Not once. Not that she didn't enjoy it, but she was sore, tired, and she wanted to climb into a comfortable bed and pass out. Made a pretty nice mess of the tub and water again, too. For a few minutes, Izzy simply leaned tiredly against Gracie, resting her head on the woman's chest as she collected herself.

She felt like she should say or do something, but didn't know what.

Gracie poked Izzy in the side with a smile on her face as she sensed the girl wanting to talk.  She was pretty good at that all of these years after taking care of her.  [b]”Mistress, did you enjoy your massage?”[/b]  It certainly had sounded like she did.

[color=ed145b]"Mhm,"[/color] Isabella nodded, too tired to really react much from the poke. [color=ed145b]"…It was good-ah."[/color] Isabella's sentence was interrupted with a yawn as she sleepily looked forward, leaning more against Gracie. [color=ed145b]"Hmm…Gracie…?"[/color] She quietly turned her head to look at her maid. [color=ed145b]"…why did you…come with me all the way out here?"[/color] She asked quietly. She had never asked the maid before why exactly she agreed to come with her. She could have stayed in the palace, couldn't she? Any maid or slave could have been assigned, right?

In response, Gracie kissed her on the forehead and gave her a smile.  [b]”Because you’d be awfully lonely without me.”[/b]  She decided not to mention the fact that being around Izzy and being so trusted actually meant she was one of the most powerful people in the world - and when Izzy left, she’d probably have just gone back to being a normal, insignificant servat.  And she simply couldn’t do that.  [b]”And I do enjoy your company, quiet though it may be.”[/b]

[color=ed145b]"Uhm…"[/color] Isabella gave one of her rare, faint, smiles. [color=ed145b]"Thanks…Gracie…"[/color] She turned her head to the door. [color=ed145b]"Ehe, we probably spent long enough in the bath…"[/color]

Gracie nodded, leaving her mistress in the warm water as she slipped out.

Shit.  They didn’t have any clean clothes.  The maid opened the doorway, hiding behind it and motioned to a busy slave girl.  Soon enough, some of their other clothes - now cleaned, were brought to the doorway where Gracie stealthily accepted them before drying them both off and putting the clothes on.  The maid went over to gather the hamper they had dropped everything into.

[color=lightblue]”Princess, you seem happy.  Did you enjoy yourself?”[/color] Valiant’s voice entered Izzy’s mind.

She was glad to get some decent clothes on again, not having to put on that armor, as fun as it was to wear. A simple, relaxing night gown of sorts and comfortable undergarments. As she picked up Valiant, he said something quite out of place.

[color=ed145b]"V-valiant!"[/color] Isabella immediately shouted. She had completely forgot about him. [color=ed145b]"Y-you forget everything you saw!"[/color]