A group of tall women with long silky black hair walked down a dirt path that now had a cement pathway on both sides for pedestrians to walk along. They wore a strange monochrome maid outfit with a short skirt and back opening.
These girls were a few of the newest Arachne to join the mansion in the town named Adelvania. It was a rundown town struggling to pay its yearly tax and bring in newcomers to improve income.
The townspeople were miserable, and their lord didn't seem to care. That changed several months ago when two beautiful women came back claiming to be the proxy lords. The residents were doubtful at first; however, the two girls were far beyond their understanding.
A lizard woman with fire like hair took control of the finances and used the barons' hidden funds to support the loyal merchants. She held several interviews to determine the direction of the territory. They settled on selling the silk of the Arachne as their local product. It overjoyed many of the craftsmen finding out they could use the silk at a lowered cost.
Thanks to Emura's reforms and gentle appearance during meetings, she had earned the title. "Beauty of the gentle flame." She longed for the day to show how much the townspeople loved her. Emura never forgot to use Lucian's name when doing things, so they realised their Baron had cared for them deeply and was struggling with his grief of losing his parents.
Vampires differed from humans. They either felt emotions to the extreme or felt nothing at all. It was a strange state of mind that many scholars wished to find the reason for. So many of the human and vampire residents could understand easily as they worked with more efficiency and joy.
The town of Adelvania changed its gloomy atmosphere to one of improvement.
Marina also worked hard during this period. She had taken part of the money to purchase over 100 unwanted Arachne. Most of them were her former retainers and followed her easily. The rest just desired a sense of purpose and freedom.
She wished for them to follow Lucian, so told the tale of how he chose her over the princess Alice. These women were all the big type of Arachne who desired romance and gentle love the most. Her actions seemed to indoctrinate the spider girls into becoming believers of Lucian. There was a shine inside their eyes, hoping that he would also treat them with a gentle and affectionate touch.
Marina trained the girls in various ways, from combat to service. She wanted them to serve her darling perfectly in battle and in the bedroom. Arachne didn't mind other women mating with their lover as long as they remained the number one and kept the title of wife.
We remodelled the mansion's rooms and added a small room above for the Arachne maids. So the girls could climb along the ceilings and enter the rooms unseen during a time of danger or if the master needed subtly and quiet.
This helped the maids to improve their combat training, sometimes fighting in groups on the roof of the mansion to determine the rankings. The girls now felt a sense of purpose. Their lord would eventually marry Marina and Alice, so he was a second lord to them, even without the slave contract.
Marina used Lucian's name to create the contract. It was her sign of her loyalty to him. Thus, Baron Lucian Von Silver became an icon of worship for the girls.
They made small areas within their nest and filled it with pictures of him. They had bought from a shady merchant who had pictures of all the beauties and hunks in the kingdoms. The girls aimed to be drawn like this with the baron one day.
Thanks to Marina's comments, they erected a large wooden wall around the town. She knew the likelihood of war was coming, but they lacked the ability to create a stone wall in haste. The Arachne maids used their agile bodies.
She looked down at the last letter addressed to her. They stamped the letter with red wax.
It read 'Chuchu Your Lord And Master.'
(Emura POV)
I sat down on the comfy leather chair in my lord's study. We had worked nonstop for over three months. My eyes wandered to the maid Marina had assigned to me in the corner. Her looks were very similar to Marina, with long black hair and red eyes. She neatly folded her spider legs behind her back and stood elegantly.
'Marina really worked hard to train these warrior girls into competent maids. Now they seem to worship Lucian... Haha, I wonder how the master will respond.'
My eyes looked through the various plans from the more talented residents. They provided ideas to improve the town's farmland. How to benefit from our spider silk for more profit. There was even a document about people who wished to serve the Lord as a militia.
"I don't really like the thought of trusting these outsiders to defend the territory, but I have little choice. We will weed the ones who wish to join for fun out with a gruelling selection training!"
I noticed the maid's eyes shine with excitement.
Her sisters were very talented at combat and sneak attacks. I thought using them to make the people give up easier would be more efficient than using big magic attacks and wasting scarce money.
"Clarise, would you and the other girls be able to make a training course that would make normal humans and vampires despair and give up and leave only the most diehard and dedicated ones?"
The maid girls seemed shocked to be asked before she started thinking. Her cute spider legs were tapping each other.
"I think we could. It would need the help of Princ... Head maid Marina. We should be able to have it ready in a week at most." Clarise responded.
'Good, that's not too slow. Lucian said we have a year at most. I don't want to waste even a second... Master.. I miss you so much already!' I thought as Clarice left the room to greet Marina.
Emura lit a herbal pipe and started smoking. She then returned to her documents, illuminated by a single candle and her pipe.
"Just wait, master. I'll make you proud of Adelvania!"
'Are you doing well? You didn't charm too many more women, right? I want to see you again.'
In her hand was the pendant Lucian gave her. She filled her body with a blazing red dragon's mana.
'Day by day, my love for you only grows! This power is a proof of that! Thank you for trusting me with your territory.'
(Emura POV end)
(Marina POV)
My body was skittering along the web training course with my fellow sisters. It was very tiring to do this every morning.
My darling's mansion started off as a crumbling mansion. Now we've completely renovated it. I used the renovation to help train the other girls as maids. They were reluctant at first, but now look! Hehe, they all speak to my darling's picture at night before sleep.
'The old bricks replaced by jet black stones just like our hair will impress him!'
Marina, remain calm. You must be the one that stays proper. I cannot afford to break this image!
She sorted the 150 maids into three groups. Scouting, Service and Soldiers. I made the more agile girls scouts. We made girls who lacked combat ability into full-time maids and taught subterfuge.
My former nanny was among the slaves. Senna was a former knight of my mother. She had experience in all area's. I gave her a small amount of gold to find some of her old subordinates and she had now made a small commanding unit of 5, including herself.
They only helped trained the girls currently but in the future I am sure their experiences and skills will help darling.
'I miss my sister and that loud rabbit quite a lot. They helped to amplify my neat and proper appearance. What should I do if my darling wants all my sisters!?'
My body fell from the web because of my shocked feelings. I latched my web onto a window and swung onto the side of the mansion.
"Hah... I am still not good enough. I let such a stupid thought distract me."
She looked towards the north where her beloved should attend college soon.
"I will become the greatest maid ever. My countless sisters will serve you until death, whether in battle or in bed!"
Her body flung back onto the training course as 100 Arachne girls filled with fighting intent.
"Haha! A princess or not, we shall have our master's love!"