After showing the kitchen, Martha led them deeper into the dormitory.
⠀On the left, they came across four separate rooms, each clearly marked.
⠀"These are the shower rooms and toilets," Martha explained.
⠀Their eyes widened slightly at the neat signs.
⠀"The one with the blue entrance is for men," she said, pointing. "The one with pink is for women."
⠀Her tone grew firm.
⠀"And this applies to all of the dormitory. No man may enter the women's space, and no woman may enter the men's space. Violate this rule, and the punishment will be severe."
⠀A hush fell over the group.
⠀"…Understood," came a few nervous voices.
⠀"Good," Martha nodded, satisfied that they had taken the warning seriously.
⠀She then motioned them forward.
⠀"Since all the rooms have the same design, I'll only show you one of each. That will be enough."
⠀First, she opened the door to the shower room.
⠀Inside, the floor was tiled like the washroom and kitchen, spotless and gleaming under the glow of magical lights embedded in the walls and ceiling.
⠀On one side of the room were six individual shower spaces, each separated by frosted glass panels. Opposite them were four more shower spaces and a long sink area with faucets, neatly lined up and polished to a shine.
⠀Water flowed gently from the faucets, and the faint sound of running streams filled the air, giving the room a calm, almost serene atmosphere.
⠀The group stepped inside carefully, some leaning forward to inspect the setup, others just taking in the surprising cleanliness and organization.
⠀"This is… incredible," one of the cleaners whispered.
⠀"Even in noble houses, it's rare to see showers arranged like this," a young chef muttered.
⠀Martha smiled.
⠀"Next is the toilet room."
⠀They followed her through another door.
⠀It was much the same. Ten toilet spaces lined the walls, each with a door for privacy. At one side were two basins, each with running water and mirrors above them.
⠀Everything was bright, clean, and orderly.
⠀"No more waiting in crowded, dirty lines," one of the waitresses murmured with relief.
⠀"And it's all just for us…" another added, her voice filled with awe.
⠀Martha's eyes softened slightly at their reactions.
⠀"Remember," she said gently, "this is your space. Take care of it, respect it, and it will serve you well."
⠀The group nodded, their faces showing a mixture of gratitude and disbelief.
⠀For most of them, this was a level of comfort and cleanliness they had never imagined possible.
Martha led the group up the stairs to the first floor.
⠀"From this floor onward," she said, "is the living space. Each of you will have a separate room. Everything you need to live comfortably has already been provided."
⠀A few of them exchanged astonished glances.
⠀"…Separate rooms?" one of the waitresses whispered, voice trembling with excitement.
⠀"Yes," Martha nodded, her eyes softening. "Your own space. Your own privacy. Take care of it, and it will serve you well."
⠀She reached into a pouch at her side and pulled out a bundle of keys. The metal gleamed under the magical lights of the hallway.
⠀"One key for each of you," she said. "I'll open the first room to show you."
⠀Carefully, she selected one and turned the lock. The door swung open to reveal the room inside.
⠀Gasps spread through the group.
⠀The room was spacious, far larger than most of them had ever slept in. The floor was polished wood, smooth and clean, reflecting the soft glow from the magical lights overhead.
⠀In the center stood a double bed, neatly made with thick, comfortable blankets and soft pillows that looked almost like clouds. The sheets smelled faintly of lavender, clean and fresh.
⠀Against one wall was a sturdy table, large enough to hold papers, tools, or ingredients. A wall shelf above it held a few neatly arranged containers, ready for personal belongings or utensils.
⠀Across from the table was a closet, its double doors polished and solid. Inside, it had hangers and shelves for clothing, shoes, and personal items, allowing each occupant to keep their things neatly organized.
⠀Every corner of the room radiated a sense of care and thoughtfulness, as if it had been designed not just for utility, but for comfort and peace.
⠀"Is… this really for me?" a young cleaner murmured, eyes wide, stepping inside slowly.
⠀"Yes," Martha said, smiling. "Everything in here belongs to you. Your space, your key, your privacy. Treat it well, and it will be yours to enjoy."
⠀The children among the group peeked in cautiously, their eyes sparkling with awe.
⠀"I've never slept in a bed this big…" one of them whispered, almost to themselves.
⠀"…It even has a shelf…" another added, looking around as if afraid someone might snatch it away.
⠀A chef ran a hand over the smooth table surface.
⠀"…So this is how the staff of a noble estate lives…"
⠀"…Not just lives," someone else said softly. "…Thrives."
⠀Martha nodded once, satisfied.
⠀"Now, the rest of the rooms are the same. Each of you will have your own key, your own space. Take a moment to look, to settle in, and remember: this is yours, as long as you work properly and respect the dormitory."
⠀For the first time, the group felt the weight of the day lift.
⠀They were tired, yes. But they were also full, safe, and… finally, at home.
As Martha finished her instructions, the group began to scatter, each moving quickly to find their own room.
⠀Keys jingled in hands. Excited whispers and soft laughter filled the hallway.
⠀At the far end, an elderly chef named Gerald carefully inserted his key into the lock.
⠀He had come with his wife, Martha's own first name coincidence aside, and their little boy, who clung tightly to his father's hand.
⠀The key turned with a satisfying click. Gerald pushed the door open slowly.
⠀The room inside made him pause.
⠀It was spacious, much more than he had imagined. The polished wooden floor gleamed under the magical lights, reflecting the soft warmth of the room.
⠀A double bed stood in the center, neatly made with thick blankets and plush pillows. Gerald's eyes softened.
⠀He stepped inside, carefully helping his little boy onto the bed first. The boy bounced slightly, giggling.
⠀"…It's… huge," Gerald whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
⠀His wife stepped in behind him, eyes wide.
⠀"This is… ours?" she murmured, touching the blanket gently.
⠀Gerald nodded, kneeling to brush his hand over the soft sheets.
⠀"I've cooked for nobles my whole life," he said quietly, "but never imagined having a place like this to come home to."
⠀His wife smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
⠀"It feels… safe," she said. "Like for the first time in years, we can rest without worry."
⠀Their son giggled again, running to the wall shelf to peek inside.
⠀"And I have my own shelf too!" he exclaimed.
⠀Gerald laughed softly, the sound breaking the tension in his shoulders.
⠀"Yes, little one. All yours. Everything here is yours."
⠀He stood, looking around the room once more.
⠀"I… I'll work harder than ever," he whispered, a quiet determination in his voice. "…So our boy can grow up knowing life can be better than this."
⠀His wife reached for his hand, squeezing it gently.
⠀"Then let's make this our home," she said.
⠀And for a moment, the room was filled with nothing but warmth, safety, and hope.
Nearby, a young woman named Elara held the hand of her elderly mother as they approached their room.
⠀Her mother, bent slightly with age, leaned on a wooden cane, her eyes squinting at the polished floor and the glowing lights.
⠀Elara's excitement was obvious; she practically bounced on her heels.
⠀"Mother, this is it! Our room!" she exclaimed, trying to hide her disbelief.
⠀Her mother let out a small, hesitant gasp.
⠀"…So… clean…" she whispered, voice trembling slightly. "…And quiet…"
⠀Elara pushed the door open, revealing a spacious room like the others, with a double bed, table, wall shelf, and closet. The warm lights reflected off the polished floor, giving the room a comforting glow.
⠀Her mother stepped inside slowly, fingertips brushing over the smooth wood of the table.
⠀"I… I've never had a room like this," she said softly. "…Never."
⠀Elara's eyes shone.
⠀"Mother, look! Your own bed, your own space… everything is ours!"
⠀Her mother smiled faintly, a mixture of awe and gratitude in her eyes.
⠀"It… it is beautiful. Too good for people like us," she murmured.
⠀Elara laughed lightly, taking her mother's hand.
⠀"Then we'll take care of it, Mother. Properly. No one will ever take it from us."
⠀Her mother nodded slowly, finally letting herself relax.
⠀"…Yes," she said quietly. "…This… this will be our home."
A few doors down, a young man named Kael approached his room, a bundle of excitement in his stride.
⠀Beside him walked Liora, his fiancée, her hand lightly brushing his as they walked.
⠀Kael had just been hired as a waiter, and his heart still raced with pride. Liora, unfortunately, had not qualified for a position this time.
⠀He glanced at her with a soft smile.
⠀"It's okay, Liora," he said quietly. "At least we have a place to stay together. That's what matters most."
⠀Liora nodded, trying to hide a flicker of disappointment, but her eyes softened as she took in the dormitory.
⠀"…It's… really nice," she whispered. "I've never seen anything like this."
⠀Kael inserted the key into his room's lock and swung the door open.
⠀The spacious room greeted them: a double bed, a polished wooden table, a wall shelf, and a closet, all gleaming softly in the magical lights.
⠀Kael's eyes shone. He stepped inside, motioning for Liora to follow.
⠀"Look at this!" he said, brushing a hand over the table. "A place of our own. No more worries about sharing or scrambling for space."
⠀Liora stepped closer to the bed, running her fingers lightly over the blankets.
⠀"…It feels safe," she murmured. "…Like, finally…"
⠀Kael sat on the edge of the bed, then took her hand in his.
⠀"We may not have both gotten the job yet," he said, voice firm, "but we have this — a roof over our heads, a place to build our life together. That's enough for now."
⠀Liora's lips curved into a small, grateful smile.
⠀"…Yes," she whispered. "…It really is enough."
⠀They stood there a moment longer, letting the warmth of the room and the promise of tomorrow sink in.
⠀Outside the door, the soft murmurs and laughter of others settling into their rooms floated up the hallway, a quiet soundtrack to the start of their new lives.
All throughout the first floor, the sounds of excitement and awe echoed from the rooms.
⠀Children's laughter rang out as they explored their beds, bounced lightly on the soft mattresses, and peered eagerly into their shelves and closets.
⠀Adults moved more carefully, touching tables and floors, quietly marveling at how clean, organized, and comfortable everything was.
⠀Some sighed in relief, sinking onto their beds with a mix of exhaustion and happiness.
⠀Others laughed softly, sharing whispered jokes or teasing each other about who had the biggest room, though the smile in their eyes betrayed their amazement.
⠀Tears glimmered in the eyes of a few, unspoken and quiet, as gratitude and disbelief mingled.
⠀"Finally…" whispered one of the older women. "…Finally, a place to rest… a place to call home."
⠀Some of the younger staff pressed their palms together, unable to believe how fortunate they had become, while others simply stared out the windows at the night sky, their hearts light for the first time in years.
⠀Martha, standing at the top of the stairs, watched silently. A small smile tugged at her lips.
⠀"They will work hard," she murmured to herself, "…and they will thrive. This place… it will be more than a dormitory. It will be their home."
⠀Down the hallway, soft footsteps mixed with quiet giggles and murmured thanks, a gentle melody of life beginning.
⠀The magical lights reflected on polished floors, warm and steady, illuminating every corner of the rooms.
⠀In the quiet, peaceful night, the new hires finally let themselves relax.
⠀For the first time in their lives, they had a place that was truly theirs.
⠀A roof over their heads. A bed to rest in. A table to work at. A shelf to call their own.
⠀And most of all… a promise of tomorrow.
⠀The dormitory was alive now — not just with walls and floors, but with hope, laughter, gratitude, and the gentle hum of a new beginning.