(MC POV)
I woke sensing movement near me.
Opening my eyes, I spotted the cat youkai maid beating a hasty retreat from my room, all of them having spent the night here after being incapacitated. Inspecting the room, I realised I was alone and the room had already been cleaned up, a stark difference from how it looked like last night.
It took awhile but they finally got tired enough to fall asleep last night, with me following them into the dream world not long after. Seeing how active they were when drunk, I was actually worried they were going to go through the whole night without sleeping.
Looking towards the window, I saw the sun barely peeking out from the horizon, signalling that it was barely just dawn. I'm surprised they even got up this early.
I suppose that's the life of a professional maid for you.
Since I'm already awake, I decided to get an early start to the day, maybe whip up a hearty breakfast for my cute disciples.
Just as I swung out of bed, the door opened again to let in a flustered Alpha, her cheeks blushing bright red. It was obvious she had bathed and changed her clothes before coming here, meaning she had woken up even earlier than me.
"G… Good morning Master. I would first like to apologise for our unsightly conduct yesterday…"
I waved my hand at her, "Nonsense. I meant it when I said it was for you girls to relax. The four of you have been working hard and deserve it."
She bowed her head quickly, "We are undeserving of such praise Master! It is you who has worked the hardest for us!"
I tilted my head at her, "Hmm? But we only just met two days ago?"
"I… I heard about how you protected the country, Master! When all the other Sects had only thought about themselves, you had not hesitated to help the commoners!"
I shrugged, "That seems like the obvious thing to do."
She lifted her head, "And that is why… Master is the only one for us."
I raised an eyebrow at her but she just smiled at me, not giving me any further explanation on her cryptic words.
Thinking that it was probably not important, I stood up on my feet and stretched myself.
"Should I dress you, Master?" She asked, noting my semi-nude form in front of her.
"If you don't mind?"
"I do hope the High-- Ahem… Your disciples wouldn't mind it."
"Of course."
Right as I said that, the other three entered the room, looking all freshened up for their duties.
I'm pretty sure I remember one of them just leaving the room a few moments ago and they already managed to clean themselves up? Must be a maid thing I suppose.
They were quite an efficient team for a group that had only met each other for a few days. Delta had quickly secured a fresh set of clothes for me, the elf suspiciously knowledgeable about where I had stored those in the room.
Alpha, Beta and Delta then set to work on dressing me, carefully putting my robes on me with utmost efficiency.
Gama had used her taller stature to start working on my hair, brushing it ever so carefully one might think she was handling something fragile with her hands.
Alpha was in the midst of tying my robe's strings around my waist when the door was opened again, this time a sleepy Cai Hong walking in with a pillow collapsed in her hand.
"Muuu… Papa?" She muttered, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
I was by her side in an instant, not even caring that my clothes were still not properly put on.
"I'm here, I'm here. What's wrong?"
"Mnnn… Papa…" The loli dragon hugged me, abandoning her pillow for me.
I let her hug me like a koala bear, lifting her up while she fell right back to sleep.
Oh dear, I'm guessing she might have had a nightmare of something and wanted to look for me. I do hope little Cai Hong didn't see anything traumatic over there… Or else I would have to drag that little bitch out of the Abyss and torture him myself.
Even with the loli dragon in my arms, the four of them continued with dressing me without batting an eyelid, making sure not to obstruct me from carrying Cai Hong.
A little change of plans then, I need to prioritize the little dragon first.
"Thank you," I nodded to them after they were done. "I'll go out for an early morning walk, I'll come back in time for breakfast."
The four of them bowed before filing out of the room.
I suppose a short stroll by the beach would be a great idea for the little one, the sound of the waves should help soothe her so hopefully she would feel better.
Using a simple teleportation Technique, I transported the both of us to my destination. Cai Hong shifted a little, hugging me a little tighter.
I heard her muttering something that sounded like "super bad man" and "run".
Frowning to myself, I made the decision to visit that stupid leprechaun later.
I hummed a calming tune as I walked along the beach, gently patting her back as I went, my feet at the edge of where the waves stopped.
That seemed to work as I sensed her smiling and muttering "caught you" and "nom nom".
If I had to guess, she probably caught some candy in her dreams and started munching on them. She really does have a sweet tooth.
I continued our little walk, making sure Cai Hong was still having her good dream by continuing my patting and humming.
True, I had the option of going into her dream and altering it to be happier instead of doing all this, but it would be a one time thing and she might experience the nightmare again when I leave her dreamscape.
I need to make sure that it is rooted into her subconscious that the event becomes naught but a distant memory.
With how the little dragon is now murmuring "Papa… Warm…" in her sleep, I'd say it was working quite well.
As I turned back for my second round around the beach, I spotted a few carriages that were just on their way down the road from the cliff. There was even a cavalry escort with them too.
I looked to the side to see the jeeps that Elaria had used to get here still parked there, so who could this group of new visitors be?
Making my way to the bottom of the villa's stairs, I waited for the group of carriages to arrive. It was only when they got to the bottom of the cliff did I spot the Royal Family's insignia plastered on the side of the carriages.
Oh? I'm guessing Queen Guiying is paying us a visit for some reason?
The carriages arrived in front of the steps, the coachmen reining in their horses to have the second carriage stop directly in front of me.
I continued to hum and pat Cai Hong's back, only to realise that everyone else was staring at me, as though expecting me to do something.
"Well? Are you not going to open the door to welcome his Highness?" A voice spoke out from within the carriage. "Should have known they would put the incompetent staff here."
I raised an eyebrow, who the hell is 'his highness'?