Half an hour later
Ango was breathing heavily, his chest was heaving up and down and he was sweating profusely. He had to run all the way from the settlement to the palace due to what happened. he had just arrived inside of the palace through the servants' entrance when he saw the overseer.
"47, You're late" said to overseer in an authoritative tone.
Ango who had just arrived was plunged into despair, he couldn't take another punishment; the events of last night reappeared before his eyes. He instantly dropped to his knees and prostrated himself.
"Forgive me master, I'm sorry please forgive this lowly slave" he said with a trembling voice.
The overseer wanted to say more and send him off to be punished but his eyes caught sight of Ango's mutilated back and realized what might have happened.
'hmph, the punishment will take some time and this scum won't be able to do his duties afterwards' he thought to himself
'I'll punish him after the guest has left'
"Count yourself lucky that we have a guest today, get up and start with your duties come back here before noon so you be prepared for the guest's arrival"
He then caught a whiff of Ango's smell; a disgusted expression appeared on his face and he added "Make sure to properly clean yourself before coming back, you smell even worse than the rest of your kind" and then he left.
Ango let out a sigh of relief and quickly got to work.
Hours passed and it was nearly noon. The servants were standing in the hallway of the servant quarters, waiting for the overseer and Ango was among them.
The overseer had left some time ago to inquire about the guest's arrival from the messenger that had arrived. A few tens of minutes passed but the servants did not talk to each other even once; it was forbidden for the servants to communicate with each other in the palace.
They heard the sound of footsteps and could see the figure of the overseer coming down from the wooden steps. It wasn't only the steps that were wooden; the palace was carved inside a giant tree a hundred meters tall.
The voice of the overseer reached their ears as he said "the guest will be here later than expected. She will reach the palace by nightfall so go back to your duties and return by sunset. You might have to stay here at night if she arrives even later. Now go"
The servants hurried back to their jobs; Ango too went back to emptying and washing buckets.
Hours went by and it was now past sunset. The moonlight was shining through the window-like openings in the palace, passing through the multicolored leaves. A beautiful sight for anyone who paid attention to it but the servants didn't have that luxury.
The servants were now fully clothed in yellow dresses with orange streaks, adorned with the symbol of house Folium which was a solitary maple tree leaf. They were also wearing wooden masks without any pattern or opening except two slits to allow them to see.
Usually when serving the lords they had to be fully naked unless ordered otherwise due to two reasons; one for the masters' entertainment and two, to show that they were lesser beings compared to the elves.
"Good, now the esteemed guest won't have to dirty her eyes with your lowly faces" the overseer who was standing in front of them commented. One would imagine that they would feel angry or discontent but for them this was the norm. Humans were considered the same as cattle, less than beasts in the eyes of the higher races and since they were never shown respect, they considered this behavior natural.
The overseer then began to tell each of them what their duties were.
"you two will kneel at the gates of the palace with the guards and offer the guest towels"
"you three will show her followers to their quarters and provide them whatever they ask, if it is something beyond you, inform me"
"you ..
..
"And you two will be in the drawing room, will be the cup bearers" he said pointing at a dark-skinned boy named Pat and Ango.
"Understood?" he asked loudly.
"Yes master" the servants answered in unison.
"Remember if anything is found lacking, the punishment is death, now leave the esteemed guest will be here any moment now"
..
Ango entered the drawing room alongside Pat and they each stood behind a chair. The room could b described as a piece of heaven; vine and grapes could be seen surrounding the exquisite wooden pillars, the table was made out of a bright brown colored wood with green glowing veins all over it, a light breeze could be felt with the refreshing smell of fruit and flowers and the floor was carpeted but what could only be described as a fur of leaves that caressed their feet as they walked.
They waited for a while for a good fifteen minutes before the door opened and Ango saw the lord of the castle, Arbor Folium enter with the guest. The lord was 1.8 meters tall with a small frame and white hair tied in a high ponytail behind him. He had sharp golden green eyes, a medium-sized beard, wearing a green luxurious dress with the emblem of his house on it.
The guest …
When Ango looked at the guest, his eyes could not move anymore; she was the most beautiful elf he had seen in his life
No
She was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life and her smile was hypnotizing.