Geese & Car Oil

Y'know, in a fantasy world you'd think dragons were the most terrifying creatures in the land. Not in this place. In the world of 'Dears Of Yesterday', it's fucking geese. I wish I was joking but I'm not. Those volatile, teeth having birds of destruction that are somehow everywhere in the world. Why would I ever be mentioning this? Well, the answer to that would be that every single servant including me was trapped inside, unable to go wake up their masters for breakfast and their first-ever classes due to those demon birds surrounding the servant's quarters.

We had tried everything. Chasing the demon birds away? Someone had almost been mauled. Using magic to kill them? If those broken windows said anything, hell no. Sneaking out the back or windows? The geese had surrounded the damn building. We were totally and utterly trapped.

Why the fuck are there so many birds?! This is ridiculous! Ophelia may be able to take care of herself, but I still have shit to do!

I couldn't help but sigh. Speaking of servants, I had met my roommates last night. Unironically, one of them was Rachael, who looked worn out, tired, and just about ready to burst into tears. She wouldn't say why but I could guess that something had happened with Carole. The other two residents were Tiffany and Petra, Tiffany being the maid of Baron Kinshield's daughter Jane and Petra the maid of Marquis Tyronie's daughter Flora. Both of the noble girls would ironically actually eventually befriend Ophelia and share her contempt for Carole. I liked Petra because she could play the harmonica, so we had something in common. I was still a bit iffy on Tiffy because of her laying on my bed when I walked in. After a good chat, she knew it was mine and stayed away. I didn't threaten her I swear.

Anyway, since I was sure that there was no way we'd be leaving the servant's quarters anytime soon, I began doing some of my morning stretches. Just because I was away from home didn't mean I could slack off with my training. Someone needed to protect Ophelia, and I actually liked the exercise. Amazing what years of it being ingrained in your daily routine can do.

I had noticed Tiffany staring at me like I had lost my mind, emerald green eyes wide. I playfully stuck my tongue out at her and finished up my stretches before dropping to the ground and beginning my one-hundred push-ups. Following the push-ups were squats and then a little jogging in place. Tiffany ended up watching me the entire time. Not that I blame her, if someone randomly started exercising in front of me I'd watch too. Finishing up with a bit of stretching again, I ended up staring right back at Tiffany before finally saying something.

"Did you want to work out with me or something?" Tiffany went rigid at my words, though I'm not sure why.

"No it's just... Where did you learn to exercise like that?"

"Home."

"I didn't mean where, I meant who."

"But you said where."

I really do feel like the bitch in this situation, but seeing people gaping at me for turning the situation against them was a bit fun. Am I turning into a minor villainess? If so, I'd be fine with that. Tiffany's mouth was closing and opening at me for a short while before she turned away from me in a huff. I couldn't help but laugh. Tiffany was undoubtedly older than me, so seeing her act like an upset toddler really made my day. It was already getting closer to midday and no guards or anyone had been deployed to come to get rid of the geese. The geese also still waddled around the outside of the servant's quarters, leaving no spots for escape.

I ended up noticing one goose in particular out of the entire flock. Why? Well, this geese was pink and noticeably bigger or fluffier than the other geese. The normal-looking ones made way for it as it walked through them. The alpha geese. Do geese even have alphas? I don't really care at this point. I watched the pink geese for a long while through the unbroken window of the front room as many other servants migrated back to their rooms to either sleep more or plan to escape the building. I still continued to watch that pink goose and eventually, it watched me too. Beady black eyes glared into me as if posing a challenge. I don't even know why, maybe my stare was like a challenge to its leadership? These are some weird-ass geese.

As I watched the strange goose, it progressively got closer and closer to the window until it without warning banged itself against the glass. I jumped back quickly. It banged against the window another couple of times. If that thing breaks through another window I swear to-

Crash.

"You've gotta be kidding me- HOLY SHIT!" I ended up screaming as the pink goose came running at me full speed, murder most likely on its mind. My scream must've alerted everyone else because before long other servants were peeking their heads out of their rooms to watch a pink goose shriek at me. Well, honk at me threateningly and run to me. I ended up using my magic impulsively to repel the thing but it just came back again. And again. And again.

This is one persistent goose. Is it really that mad at me?

Turns out it was. The goose continued to come at me and no one offered any assistance, the cowards. Then again I'd probably watch someone get attacked by a goose so there was no point in me being upset. I finally got fed up and just let it run at me before promptly grabbing it by the neck carefully when it got close enough. I remembered reading about how to catch goose or swans or some long-necked bird and keep them from attacking. First the neck then the body and wings. The goose rebelled against me with all its might but in no time I had it pressed against my side with its honking head far away from my face. It had bitten my cheek once and I learned fast.

"Foolish human! Release me at once! You know nothing of my pedigree!"

........Did this weird-ass goose just yell at me?

"I am NOT a goose! I am a purebred feathered floon, you buffoon!"

The fuck is a floon? I've never heard of that animal before. Wait, was this goose- FLOON! Floon, talking to me mentally? That's interesting. Never met a creature that could do that, despite this being a magical world. That reminds me. Carole ended up meeting a male side character in the forest who was a humanoid creature. He was haughty, annoying, and.... and pink-haired. Oh fuck.

Um... Floon, goose, whatever. Do you have a name?

"Name? Of course I have a name. It's quite prestigious. You might faint from shock when you hear it!"

You gonna tell me it or not, goose?

"Hmph! Very well, I'll tell you my name peasant. This floon's name is Alexander Remigus Erwald The Third! You may praise me! Isn't my name magnificent!"

..... I wonder how floon tastes. Perhaps it'll make a good broth for soup.

Alexander made the most terrified face a goose could make with its limited facial muscles. Well, it was now officially confirmed that this was one of the side characters Carole led along, the prideful and arrogant Alexander. Also known as Alex or Pinky. He had a dedicated fanbase, I can remember that much. He wasn't really a favorite of mine, but he was better than Floyd. Speaking of him, shouldn't he be having an event with Carole anytime soon? Ugh. I got so into my thoughts that I literally forgot about the fluffy pink side character in my arms and the fact that the goose outside had begun to disperse.

"Could you put me down now? As much as I love being pampered, this is a bit exCESSIVE-"

I dropped him onto the floor without hesitation and pressed my foot into Alex's back.

"Shut it. I'm trying to think." I grumbled, putting some pressure into my foot to prove my point. His mental screaming went silent. Thank god. Now, what was the event again? Oh yes, Carole and her protagonist halo would bump into Floyd while being lost on her way to a class. She fell in love at first sight supposedly, even though she knew Floyd was betrothed to Ophelia from talking with Rachael and began to chase after him. Floyd took fleeting interest in her due to her cute appearance and blah blah blah. Shoujo shit. I couldn't help but sigh at Ophelia's bad luck. The boy she's engaged to can change sides just because of a random encounter with someone 'fairy-like'. Bullshit. Carole knew what she was doing, getting revenge on Ophelia and getting herself a high position in society in one swoop. Manipulative genius. I unconsciously pressed down on Alex, causing him to honk in pain.

"Oops. Sorry about that." I picked him up off the ground again. "That reminds me. I should tell everyone all the geese are gone."

With Alex underarm against his will, I went room to room letting people know it was safe to go outside. It was now around 9:00 am, as we servants woke up very early in the morning. Those geese had kept us here and awake for at least four or five hours. Everyone was relieved to be leaving. Rachael especially, even though she stared at Alex for a long time.

"Is... Is that a....."

"Goose? Yes. He was being rude so I caught him."

Rachael stared at me in disbelief before sighing. "Just like I thought, Ava is on a completely different level from us...."

I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted. Needless to say, I was left the only one in the servant's quarters with Alex still securely in my grip. He honked at me vocally so I finally set him down outside.

"Don't bring your friends here again. You really caused some problems here today." I sighed, making shooing gestures at him.

"You... You don't want to keep me as a pet? Or sell me off?"

"What would I gain from that? You're way too loud and annoying to be a fitting pet." plus you're important to the plot "My sole focus is my mistress anyways. I have no time for pets."

With that said, I left Alex in the dust as I made my way to where the plot event should be happening. The hallway containing the magic classes which was nestled away from other buildings due to student's magic going out of control and causing destruction and just problems in general. Magic was magic after all. It was easy to get there and it seems I got there just in time to watch Carole crash into Floyd. Deja vu. With myself hidden safely behind a corner, I observed Carole and her eventual *barf* husband that originally belonged to my lady.

I'm not mad, just salty he didn't disappear earlier.

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Carole couldn't help but mentally scold herself. First, she was to be late for her second class and she had once again managed to send herself crashing into an innocent bystander. That girl had been right..... Like she'd ever say that! Anyone on their way to class would be rushing and who else would be in the halls at this time of day?! She couldn't help but let out a groan from the marble floors of the hall, rubbing her lower back. She didn't even want to look around at her scattered school supplies. There's no way she'd make it to class.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention to where I was....going...." The brunette slowly realized that she hadn't knocked down the other person and slowly looked up to have her voice caught in her throat. She was in a state of shock.

The man standing before her was wearing the male school uniform and looking down at her with blank, snow grey eyes. He was extremely handsome(gorgeous). Pale skin, dark black hair, and those eyes... Carole was smitten within seconds. She couldn't tear her eyes away. She was dropped out of her thoughts by the man before her speaking. Carole could've fainted from his voice.

"It's quite alright. No one was injured. Just be more careful." He spoke calmly, seeming to be disconnected to the entire situation. He reached out his hand to Carole to help her up, which she accepted without much hesitation.

"I-Is that so? What a relief."

".... Oh, you're that girl..."

Carole blinked in surprise. "You know me?" She asked, pointing to herself.

"Yes. I heard you caused some problems for my fiancè. What was your name again...." He let out a hum. "Oh yes, Carl."

(From a faraway place, one could hear a choked laugh.)

"Um... No, it's Carole..."

"Car Oil? What a strange name."

"No, Carole."

"Carton?"

Carole couldn't tell if this man was hard of hearing or messing with her. And who was laughing? He had said something about her making problems for his fiancè, who was that? The only person she had problems with was...AH!

"P-Prince Floyd?!" She gasped, jumping back as if he was fire. Floyd only nodded to confirm her suspicions. While the brunette was in shock, he spoke once again.

"If that's all, please make your way to your next class immediately. They should be ending within five minutes." With his statement given, the crown prince walked away, leaving a stunned, lovestruck young lady behind.

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I couldn't stop myself from laughing through the entire situation. It was different from the original moment but had the same effect. Carole was now deeply in love with a to be married man and Floyd's interest in her had been sparked. Technically, everything was moving according to plan. What I wasn't expecting was the sudden painfully familiar voice from behind me.

"Ava, what's so funny? And what're you doing here?" Ophelia was looking at me with a curious look in her eyes. But I could also tell she wanted me to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

...... Heheh. I'm in danger.

[ Hey guys! This chapter name and content was especially inspired by LuminescentFoxel's comment on the last chapter which practically made my day! Thanks for enjoying the story, it means a lot to me. Next up on the agenda is that a while ago I posted two other stories that I totally forgot about, mainly for just in case I lost some inspiration writing this one. You're welcome to check them out on my page when you finish this chapter! Finally, thank you all so much for reading my stuff and giving it a chance. I really do appreciate it with all my heart. Per usual, leave a vote and a comment if you liked it and I'll see you guys next chapter! Bye~ ]