Caliste has seen a lot of things in her life.
As a maiden sent to serve the Duke and Duchess Cecil, she's seen history unfold as a bystander.
Of course, she didn't see everything. She's merely a human; she's not old enough to be alive when the old King ruled the nation in an iron fist. All the adults also don't tell her anything about it to her for some reason.
However...she's certainly seen the fruits the current King brought in his reign.
The obvious fruits are those immediately noticeable to the townspeople. When scholars are sent to negotiate with the neighboring Dragons, Caliste was there in the crowd standing at a distance and witnessing the significant event.
When an envoy of the princess of the fae lands came, Caliste and her mother were among the women to welcome the foreign royalty by laying flowers at their feet.
Ones made of fabric, of course, since using real flowers may unintentionally incite anger. The King had made sure that will not happen--and so such efforts paid off when a peace treaty was signed that very same day.
And Caliste had been about 15 years old that time.
She does not know of the state of the kingdom before the current King. But she's gotten used to the normal established in the current reign.
This was a kingdom that isn't solely for one race. Where humans can coexist with elves, dwarves, all kinds of races--regardless if they are magical or normal.
And to tell the truth, even if this place wasn't perfect--especially since the elves and dwarves have this sort of rivalry going on, and some humans think beating a giant could earn them bragging rights--it was home for Caliste.
It was hectic. There were some things she really doesn't understand.
The fact of the matter is still that Caliste has seen a lot of things.
But truthfully?
She'd never seen anything like the new mistress of the Cecil Dukedom.
Caliste has met all kinds of people. Imps, dwarves, elves, all kinds of humans in this country.
Yet they're all incredibly unlike Olivia. And that's not always a good thing.
Sure, Olivia has offered ideas that contributed greatly to the household financially. She's also a cheerful and lively soul to have around here.
However.
"How do you think we should go about fixing the ceiling?", the girl was saying as she stared up at the rather large hole that was made from her...invention. The sugar pillar. "Do you guys have bricks? Uh, those that are made of stone? Wait, can we even use stones for the ceiling...?"
As the other cooks stared up and try to figure out a solution to the problem, Caliste's gaze is solely focused on this girl.
The one thing she understands very well is baking. It's her role in this kitchen--Amelie is in charge of the meals, Sylvie is the taste-tester and the one who cooks the meat, and Caliste is the one in charge of bread and pastry.
She knows very well how hot the oven should be, how to make the yeast to use for the cakes and bread, and how much sugar should be added to make the taste just right.
However, barely a day into her residency here and Olivia managed to create a sweet treat in a new way, and make a new kind of pastry. This...cupcake with buttercream that this girl called.
This wasn't real, yes? Or, if it were, this was just something Olivia brought from her homeland.
Wherever it is.
What's the point of making things for other people if those people wouldn't enjoy it? That's what young lady Cecil had said, too.
... wasn't that terribly naive? Only an inexperienced worker would say that. Because, yes, it's important for those buying for your treats or food to like them.
But you can't sustain yourself if you just give them for free. There were so many things that could have gone wrong from this whole thing.
People could have kept coming back and eating the crystals for free, for one. The customers could have also threatened them--and yes, that absolutely happened more than once without the samples. The day could have ended in a fight.
The whole scheme was clearly reckless.
Yet Olivia had done it anyway.
"Caliste?"
Blue eyes perked up at the sound of her name, reflexively turning to meet green. Clearing her throat, Caliste straightened up and inclined her head. "What is it, my lady?"
The other girl opened her mouth. Closed it. She looked away a little, rubbing the side of her neck uncertainly.
--that reminds Caliste. Didn't Olivia collapse during her debut?
Caliste only got there just in time to see Olivia cough out blood while their sponsor--the one who gave Olivia to this house in the first place--loomed over the girl.
No one knew who their sponsor is, only that both the Duke and Duchess seem to respect her. They didn't know her name, where she came from, what species she even is.
Only that she comes and goes as she pleases, and she had brought this strange girl with strangely brilliant ideas for treats to be taken care of under the Cecil Dukedom.
That very same sponsor who didn't even look back when Olivia actually passed out, pale and shaking. The same sponsor who told Caliste. "Remind her of her place."
And now Olivia is trying to get on with her life, regardless of what happened to her.
Caliste can't understand it at all.
It is still good fortune that there was no lasting damage on the young later whatsoever, though. Olivia was even well enough to ask her. "Do you know of any builders around here? I feel really bad about the home I made..."
Caliste looked at her. Then she glanced on the hole in the ceiling once more. "Do you plan on not making more of those sugar pillars?"
"...I promise I won't make them inside the kitchen."
The blonde baker sighed. She supposed that's good enough.
"Actually, I have so many ideas about it!", Olivia went on. Why are her eyes shining?? "I can make tiles from ceramics to replace the bald spot on the second floor after it's patched up...theoretically, at least? Um, I haven't really put into practice..."
Blue eyes squinted. Cera? Mics? Tiles? Cement?
What are those?
But then green eyes are now back to her. And, oh stars, they're as pitiful as a small kitten! "I'll pay for it! It's my fault, anyway!"
Caliste felt her eyebrow twitch.
Those big eyes are still staring at her.
...this is so ridiculous. "I may know someone."
Olivia's whole face immediately lit up. With no warning at all, arms reached out to wrap around her. "Thank you!!"
The blonde baker could only take it, stiff as a board.
This--may need some getting used to, honestly.
==
Uh.
Caliste was well aware she should've been prepared for everything.
Yet this is absolutely ridiculous.
Why, pray tell, is their Crown Prince at a local construction guild?