His Headache

Herald leaned in, an air of conspiracy about him. "First things first, about the owner of the villa... The place is the property of  Max Luthers. He’s a wealthy businessman, high roller, the talk of the town. But, here's the juicy bit—word on the street is he's not just a suit and tie kind of guy. Some say he's the hidden king of the mafia world." He wiggled his eyebrows for added effect.

Amelia’s eyes widened. “The mafia? Seriously?”

Herald nodded vigorously. “Oh, but that’s not all. Now for the slightly weirder part," he continued. "Around the full moon, people have noticed he becomes... shall we say, a bit short-tempered? Those who've worked closely with him have learned the hard way. They say he gets these intense headaches that make him lash out. So, naturally, they prefer to stay out of his path during those times."

Amelia tilted her head, trying to recall. “Wasn’t the full moon just last night?”

Herald hesitated, searching for words. "That's only half the story. Princess Amelia, remember that job we applied for? Do you even know what it involves?"

She thought for a moment before replying, “Sugarbaby, right? Preparing sugary delights for Mr. Luthers to satiate his sweet tooth?”

Herald suppressed a chuckle, took a deep breath and said, "Well, in the human lexicon, 'Sugarbaby' doesn’t refer to someone churning out dessert recipes. It's more about... how do I put this? A mutually beneficial relationship where one person showers the other with gifts and money in return for their... ahem... pleasant company."

Amelia blinked, her eyes widening in astonishment. "You mean... it's not about baking sweets, but rather... being someone's companion?"

Herald nodded solemnly. "Yes, Princess. It's a bit more complicated than we anticipated."

“So I’m employed to keep him accompanied? He must be a lonely person…” Amelia commented.

"Indeed, Princess. And it's a tad more intimate than just sharing a cup of tea," Herald said, grimacing.

Herald shifted uncomfortably. “There's a bit more to it. It often includes, well... intimacy... in the, uh, physical sense.”

Amelia’s jaw dropped. “You mean...?”

“Yes. It’s believed that fulfilling certain... desires might alleviate his violent tendencies during those full moon periods,” Herald explained, trying to maintain his composure. “There was this top-notch neurologist who scanned his brain. They found that his violent and sexual urges were interlinked. The theory is, if one can overpower the other, his headaches might just dissipate. Hence, the villa's peculiar 'help wanted' ad. They were interviewing girls for the Sugarbaby job. Though, many before you didn’t quite make the cut.”

Amelia paused, her eyes gazing into the distance as she reminisced. “Oh, now that you mention it, he did have this deep furrow in his brows. Looked like a man tormented by a monstrous headache! Maybe he was under its spell then.”

Herald leaned in, his curiosity evident. "Hold on, Princess Amelia. Did you retaliate because he became aggressive with you during one of his headache episodes?"

“Not really. I just serenaded him with one of my melodies. It seemed to soothe his headache. I only attacked him afterward, but by then, his headache was gone.” Amelia explained.

“Herald's eyes widened in amazement. "Wait a second. Your healing song actually worked on him? My word, Princess, your abilities are nothing short of miraculous! So, you’re saying there’s a chance you won't have to...you know, be intimate with him? Just belt out a tune every time he gets a headache!”

Amelia nodded excitedly. “Exactly my thoughts! It's a win-win, isn’t it? I get to use my gift, and he gets relief. Plus, it gives me a solid reason to linger in this villa!”

Herald clapped his hands together in delight. “Marvelous! While you’re here using your harmonious healing powers, I'll dive back into the deep blue to fetch that darn manual for the pearl necklace."

Amelia winked, playfully challenging him, “Maybe, just maybe, I’ll find that treasure before you even return!”

Herald winked. “I trust you entirely, Princess. Just do ensure you take care of yourself up here.” With that, he made a swift exit.

Amelia, now alone, began her hunt in the room. She opened the closet and was met with an array of unfamiliar attire. Picking up a white blouse, she reveled in the sensation of the smooth fabric against her skin. Slipping it over her head, she went over to the mirror. The oversized blouse hung down to her thighs, making her look like a child playing dress-up. She couldn’t help but chuckle at her own reflection.

A gentle knock at the door interrupted her. “Miss Amelia, are you awake?” It was the butler, Ford.

“Yes Yes, I’m very much awake!” she called out.

Ford’s voice came through the door, “Lunch is prepared. Please come down to the dining area at your earliest convenience.”

With that, Amelia flung the door open, revealing Ford, who was clearly fighting the urge to raise an eyebrow at her oversized attire. “Good afternoon, Miss Amelia. May I escort you?” He gave her an amused once-over, silently pondering how she looked more refreshed than his usually lethargic master. ‘Might need to double the Red Bull quantity in the storeroom,’ he mused silently.

The dining area was a visual feast. Spread out was an array of delectable human dishes Amelia had only dreamed of tasting. She had to remind herself of her royal upbringing to ensure her dining etiquette remained intact. With every bite, her delight grew.

“This is divine! I never imagined human cuisine could be this tantalizing. Can I stay forever?” Amelia exclaimed.

Ford smiled politely. “I'm pleased the meal suits your palate. As for your extended stay, Master will discuss it with you upon his return.”

Almost as if on cue, the grand doors of the villa swung open, revealing Max.

Ford raised an eyebrow, thinking, Well, that was quick. The young master really must be smitten if he hurried back just knowing she's awake. He chuckled to himself, "Young love, so predictably unpredictable."