Loading User Commands:
[X] Head to the garden. The maids are working outside.

---

Grey peeks out one of the few windows in the hallway. The azure sky is dotted with wispy clouds, and the early afternoon sun feels pleasantly warm. No wonder the maids are working outside. The weather is quite nice.

"Why don't we step outside for a bit?" says Grey. "The garden looks lovely today."

"E-eh? But shouldn't we be investigating?" inquires Koakuma.

"Exactly. Most of the fairy maids are working at the garden. Maybe we can ask them a few questions." he replies.

"Ah! That sounds good," the bat-winged girl says. "One of them may have noticed something important."

"Shall we go?" he asks. Koakuma nods in approval.

After making their way through a few more hallways (they didn't encounter anything unusual), they found themselves outside at the garden. To the left, he can see the front gate at a distance. The gatekeeper should be around the area, but he doesn't see her. Perhaps she is taking a break of some sort (but wouldn't that be slacking off...)? Far to the right, he can see a well maintained hedge maze. He isn't really surprised, since this sort of thing fits the already extravagant mansion pretty well. It does look like a good place to have a walk, though.

In front of him, he can see several fairy maids hanging the laundry and dusting some mattresses. Grey motions for the little devil to follow her toward the staff. Upon seeing them approaching, several of the maids smile and wave. A few even give a bow and a curtsy. One of the fairy maids walks toward them.

"Good afternoon," she says. "How may we help you?"

"Sorry to bother your work," says Grey. "After seeing how nice the weather was, we couldn't help but step outside for a bit."

The fairy maid nods slowly. At first glance, her uniform seems to be the same as the others, but after a few moments, he notices that there is a unique insignia on her dress. Perhaps she has a higher rank than the others.

"When the weather is good, we prioritize hanging the laundry and other similar tasks," she says. "Lady Sakuya is very practical when she gives instructions."

"Speaking of Sakuya, have any of you seen her around recently?" he asks.

The fairy maid blinks at him curiously.

"We haven't seen her since this morning," says the maid. "But she always appears at the appropriate times to give new instructions. Perhaps she will arrive after we are finished here."

"I see," says Grey as he thinks. "In any case, have any of you noticed anything unusual happening this morning? Anything at all?"

She pauses to think.

"Sorry, nothing comes to mind," she says. "You can ask the others, if you like."

"Alright, thanks." he replies.

The fairy maid gives him a bow before turning around to return to her work.

"Wait," says Grey. This one seems a lot more reliable than the other fairy maids. "May I ask for your name?"

"E-excuse me?" replies the maid in surprise.

"That is, if you would care to give it," he says.

"O-of course, Master Grey," she returns. She strokes the strands of her short blonde hair nervously. The way she wears her hair is familiar somehow, especially how one side is longer than the other. Even without a hair ornament, it looks quite attractive, if not a bit boyish.

"My name is Elena," she says with a bow. "It is my pleasure to serve you."

Grey watches as Elena returns to the others. A few of the fairy maids run up to her and chatter excitedly, but she seems to be answering them calmly. Perhaps she is the type to take her work more seriously than most.

A slight tug at his sleeve grabs his attention. Koakuma looks at him thoughtfully, as if asking him where they should go next.

[ ] Head toward the hedge maze. Take a walk with Koakuma.
[ ] Take some time to question the other maids. Perhaps one of them noticed something unusual.
[ ] Walk toward the front gate. Where is the gate guard anyway?
[ ] Go back inside and wander around. Are any of the vampires awake?
[ ] Check the opposite side of the mansion. There may be a few places of interest at the back.
[ ] Custom