Chapter 187: Skins are a Serious Matter (2)
Chapter 187: Skins are a Serious Matter (2)
I’m not trying to start a deep philosophical debate on maid uniforms, but anyone looking at this would undoubtedly call it a "maid uniform."
"Emma. Can you really not see that maid uniform?"
"Uh, well..."
"I’m not trying to give you a hard time just because you share a name with the Head Maid, but saying you can't see it is a bit much."
A maid uniform visible only to the good-hearted.
That was the uniform I had prepared for my exclusive maid team.
"...My apologies, Young Lord. It seems I am not a good person, for I cannot see it."
"Oh dear."
I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or just cynical.
Maybe she thought that if she couldn't see it, it wasn't a maid uniform at all, but Emma was clearly brimming with discontent.
It wasn't that I was thinking, 'How dare a mere maid...'
But disparaging one of the candidates for the maid uniform chosen by the Young Lord himself? That was a bit uncalled for.
"Can you see it, Young Lord?"
"Of course. It is the most beautiful maid uniform in the world."
"Then please, decide on that one. In fact, why not make it the official uniform for the entire Count's Castle?"
I knew it.
Her sarcasm was starting to cross the line.
How did I know? Because Laura’s movements as she licked my cock were gradually slowing down.
If even Laura was sensing the tension this keenly, imagine how I, the one she was actually doing it to, felt.
‘Still, it’s not like I’m in the wrong.’
I could see it.
Anyway, I could see it.
Even if I couldn't, I could.
Laura could see it, and Amy could see it too.
The only one here claiming they couldn't see it was Emma.
"Spoken like a maid who used to wear glasses."
"...I don't believe glasses have anything to do with the current situation."
"Hmph. If I say they do, they do. Since when did you start talking back?"
"My apologies."
Any complaints or dissatisfaction were suppressed by the sheer power of the man known as Ruji Fermaton.
However, even after suppressing them like this, the resentment remained. To truly resolve that, I’d usually have to use some form of persuasion or conciliation.
But...
Did I really need to?
Wasn't it about time I started moving a bit more aggressively?
I scrutinized the ten maids Amy had brought in, one by one.
The faint marks of glasses frames.
That was proof they belonged to the Imperial intelligence organization.
Of course, some people might wear glasses simply because of poor eyesight.
To them, I’d simply say: blame the Imperial spies for using glasses as a tool for espionage.
And so, I had abolished glasses.
I had made it against the Fermaton dress code to wear glasses, and I offered no special exemptions for those who couldn't see without them.
Those who absolutely needed glasses left the Count's Castle, and only those who could function without them remained.
And most of those remaining were lackeys of the Kingdom or the Empire, trying to dig up information on Fermaton.
In other words...
Man, they still won't leave? Talk about persistent.
Under the pretext of "revising the costumes," I was currently in the process of managing the "spies" Amy had rounded up.
An operation to purge the parasites within Fermaton.
And the start of that operation was the maid uniform visible only to the good-hearted.
"If there is anyone else who cannot see that maid uniform, raise your hand immediately."
"......."
After Emma stepped forward to challenge me, the others began to hesitantly raise their hands one by one.
In the end, four people raised their hands.
Some had marks from glasses, some didn't.
"Does that mean the rest of you can see it?"
Six of them didn't raise their hands.
They were still trying to read the room, glancing between me, Emma, and Amy.
"Ah, yes. Um, well."
"Hmm, good."
If I asked them to describe what kind of maid uniform it was right now, it would be too much of a provocation.
The spies whose identities were exposed might react drastically and commit suicide, or the ones who hadn't been caught yet would get scared and hide even deeper.
‘I have to provoke them gently.’
Like a negotiation.
First, you propose something unacceptable, then gradually lower the requirements until the other party accepts.
—The company isn't doing well this year, so we've decided to freeze salaries.
—No, that’s ridiculous. With inflation the way it is, a salary freeze?
This is the easiest way for the "Alpha" in a negotiation to maintain the upper hand.
—Well, what can we do? A freeze is the best we can offer.
—Please, just a small raise. Going into next year with the same salary is truly dangerous.
—...I suppose the best I can do is slightly adjust the figure you proposed. Would you be okay with that?
—Ugh...
By setting an absurd standard at the start, you narrow the scope of the negotiation toward your actual goal.
—Look, if you could just give me a 4-million-won raise...
—Oh, really? Then let's go with 4 million. I look forward to working with you. Hahaha!
—...Why are you reacting like that after giving me 4 million?
—I thought you were going to ask for at least 6 million. Haha, sorry. That’s just how my job goes.
—.......
And so, in the end, the outcome is adjusted to exactly where the Alpha wanted it, and the negotiation ends in the Alpha's victory.
That was the situation now.
Since I had started by saying I’d use an absurd costume as the uniform, I could now select a slightly more "normal" costume as the official one.
Meaning...
"Then, next. How about that one?"
"...The skirt is quite short."
A mini-skirt style maid uniform.
It was a skirt length you’d rarely even see in the maid cafes of a certain "sexually advanced country."
‘This was my goal from the beginning.’
And for good reason—it barely covered the buttocks!
And you could see them!
The garter belts!
That white line connecting the white over-knee stockings to the panties!
This was the true archetype of the uniform that perfect and refined maids should wear!
‘A maid not showing off her legs is an affront to humanity!’
Old-fashioned maid uniforms with hems reaching the ankles?
Those belong in a museum.
As long as a maid is within the sight of Ruji Fermaton, her skirt should naturally be at the mini-skirt level.
While stockings might be a matter of personal choice—whether it's bare legs, garter belts and stockings, or pantyhose—that's a matter of taste.
But.
Absolutely.
Even if the debate between black stockings and white stockings happens later...
Black or white, they have to be visible first!
The skirt must be short.
"Why? Do you hate this one too? In that case, should we go back to the uniform only visible to the good-hearted?"
"N-no. This one seems fine."
"Good. Laura will wear the uniform visible only to the good-hearted, and the rest of you will change into this."
A shorter maid uniform was officially chosen over the traditional one.
Now, all that was left was the "selection."
"Now, you all just need to put these on. Change right here."
"H-here, sir?"
"Why? Is there a problem?"
The expressions of the ten maids froze instantly.
Some froze simply because they were ordered to strip in front of me.
Others froze for a different reason entirely.
"What’s wrong? I said change. Did you not hear the Young Lord’s command?"
"W-well, that is..."
"It’s not like you’re hiding anything, so why is everyone hesitating?"
"......."
Several of them wavered.
The four who, along with Emma, had admitted they couldn't see the "invisible" uniform just glanced at each other, but the expressions of the six who claimed they could see it turned cold and grim.
Slurp.
Laura stopped the blowjob and lifted her head.
Gripping my cock with one hand, she slowly turned her gaze toward the maids.
"It seems the authority of the Young Lord of Fermaton has fallen to the ground. Maids working within the Fermaton House refusing to follow the Young Lord's orders? Sigh. What a humiliation."
"Y-Young Lord. It's just..."
"What, are you following the orders of someone even more powerful than me?"
"......!!"
Their expressions changed in a flash.
Their already frozen faces contorted for a split second, and Amy, who had moved to my side, clenched her fists.
"It seems there are traitors among us."
"P-pardon...?"
"Is it not so? Maids who should swear loyalty to the Young Lord refuse to strip upon my command. How else am I supposed to take this?"
This wasn't Earth.
This was a medieval fantasy world where a noble's word was law.
"How can a maid who does not offer me her loyalty work in Fermaton? This is an intolerable issue. Amy."
Stripping and being toyed with was one thing, but disobeying a noble's order was, first and foremost, an act of lese-majeste.
"The women I'm pointing at—put bitch collars on all of them."
"Yes, Young Lord."
Swish.
In the moment a breeze seemed to pass by, Amy moved like a flash of light, subduing the maids I had pointed out.
"Kyaak...!"
"Visible, my ass."
I could not tolerate liars.
"You lot aren't 'good.' There's no way you could see that maid uniform. Why? Because that's not a maid uniform, it's just a plain robe."
It was true that it was a garment only visible to the good-hearted.
"Go into heat, you arrogant bitches."
"Ngh...!"
But it was a different kind of garment altogether.
"Why am I doing this? Do you think Ruji Fermaton has finally lost his mind? No, no. You lot only see the surface and miss the truth."
"Mmmgh...!!"
"Emma. Lift the skirt of the maid collapsed next to you."
"Y-yes, sir."
With trembling hands, Emma lifted the skirt of the fallen maid.
"Just as I thought."
And there it was.
A black, shimmering thigh band.
"Amy. Was there a regulation requiring such a black band to be worn under the skirt?"
"There is not, Young Lord."
There wasn't.
I, who saw Amy's panties every single day, knew the regulations better than anyone.
"Then what is this thing you're wearing? All six of you wearing the same—"
Zap!
"...What is that signal-transmitter-looking thing?"
The band on her thigh flashed with a magical light.
"Did you think you wouldn't get caught if you hid it under your skirts? Fools."
Exactly.
The transition to mini-skirts.
It was a preliminary move to prevent the maids from hiding anything under their skirts.
"Throw them all into the underground dungeon."
It definitely wasn't because of some dark desire to see them in short skirts, stockings, and garter belts.