Chapter 37: Doubts, Fears, and a Maid’s Loyalty

“Hello. You were cutting it close today.”

“I overslept. I barely made it on time thanks to Ahrin.”

She usually woke up on her own, but… today, she hadn’t woken up at all. Ahrin had come to wake her, but after sitting up in bed for a moment, trying to gather her wits, she had fallen asleep again. By the time Ahrin, busy with other tasks, returned to check on her, it was already incredibly late. If it weren’t for the shortened shower time, she would have been late.

However, she had become more meticulous about hygiene, and her long hair took forever to wash and dry.

“Ahrin? You mean that cute maid of yours? Now that you mention it, I’d like to see her again. Give her my regards and tell her I’d like to meet up sometime.”

“…I don’t see why Emelly would want to see my maid, especially considering you barely know each other. There’s no reason for you to send your regards either.”

Sayoreinne realized she had spoken a little too harshly, considering she didn’t want to antagonize Emelly. But Emelly’s comments about Ahrin, her maid, felt intrusive, almost predatory. She wasn’t sure if Emelly was serious or simply teasing, but either way, it rubbed her the wrong way.

She assumed Emelly was just trying to provoke her, but it still bothered her. And given her current circumstances, her oversensitivity was understandable. She doubted she could find another maid willing to work for her, considering her tarnished reputation and the marquisate’s limited financial support. Who would want to work for her? Besides, Ahrin was kind, cute, and easy to get along with, being around the same age. Sayoreinne didn’t want to let her go.

And Ahrin, despite receiving only a meager portion of Sayoreinne’s already limited allowance, continued to work diligently, without complaint. Sayoreinne felt a renewed surge of gratitude and guilt towards Ahrin. ‘I should treat her better when we get back…’

“There’s no reason not to see her, and no reason not to send my regards. So, I’ll assume you’ll pass on the message. I’ll check with her next time we meet, so make sure you tell her!”

“Wait…!”

…Despite her initial reservations, she was getting used to these daily morning greetings and conversations with Emelly. They were… getting along, she supposed.

“Haah… I tried everything, but I still lost. You’re really strong, Sayoreinne.”

“I’m also working hard not to lose to you.”

She was the strongest mage in the academy, of course, so she assumed that as long as she continued to improve, she wouldn’t lose to anyone, except perhaps Emelly once she unlocked her full potential.

“Well, we’ll see about that. Um… I don’t seem to have any strength left. Could you help me up?”

“Of course. Whoa!”

“Oops, careful now. You can’t even help a weak, defenseless girl to her feet? For such a powerful mage, you’re surprisingly frail.”

“No, I… I thought you pulled me…?”

As Sayoreinne reached out to help Euru up, she found herself being pulled forward, landing against Euru’s chest. ‘What just happened? She said she had no strength left…’ Perhaps Euru was right. Sayoreinne was incredibly weak, as fragile as a glass cannon, a fact she was constantly reminded of. Still, it was a humbling experience for someone who used to be a man.

“Sorry, I’ll get off you right now—oof!”

As she tried to stand up, Euru wrapped one arm around her waist, the other around the back of her head, pulling her down as she lay back on the ground. ‘Where did her royal decorum go…?’

“My body aches all over from your spells, and I’m feeling tired and drained. I think I’ll just lie here and rest for a bit.”

“Mmm!”

She tried to get up, but Euru wouldn’t budge. Perhaps Euru really was exhausted. She had been running around and dodging Sayoreinne’s spells, after all. Still, that wasn’t a valid reason to hold her captive like this.

She wanted to escape Euru’s embrace. The slight difficulty breathing was manageable. The fact that they were still in class, that someone might see them, was a secondary concern. The real problem was… She couldn’t ignore the sensation of Euru’s soft, ample… well, it was quite pleasant, and a part of her wanted to stay like this…

After a while, Euru finally released her. She sat up, looking at Sayoreinne with a mischievous grin. ‘So, she did pull me down on purpose…’

“You did that on purpose…”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Euru’s playful demeanor was reassuring. They were close enough to joke around like this, right?

Her relationship with Euru continued to blossom, filled with playful banter and sparring matches.

“Here, try some of this.”

“Thank you, Nell.”

Sayoreinne accepted the tea and snacks Nell offered her. Since Nell worked part-time at the library, they didn’t have much time to spend together outside of class, so Nell often visited her during her breaks. Nell had forgiven her for her past misdeeds, so Sayoreinne was happy to reciprocate with these small gestures of kindness.

Seeing Nell sitting beside her, a bright smile on her face, filled Sayoreinne with a sense of warmth. And despite everything, despite the awkwardness that could have lingered between them, Nell seemed genuinely happy to spend time with her alone. Seeing this kind, gentle side of Nell, Sayoreinne felt that she was, at heart, the same Nell she knew from the game, just a little more cheerful.

Thud

Nell rested her small head on Sayoreinne’s shoulder. She often did this, leaning against Sayoreinne, her head resting comfortably on her shoulder. Sayoreinne had been told that this was normal behavior between close friends, and while it made her shy, she was also happy that Nell considered her a “close friend.” The feeling of Nell’s hair against her shoulder, the subtle scent of her shampoo… it had initially made her heart race, but she was gradually getting used to it, the sensation now bringing a sense of calm.

Nell would occasionally sniff her hair, which still made Sayoreinne incredibly self-conscious. Nell always complimented her scent, saying it smelled nice. While Sayoreinne wanted to tell her to stop, she couldn’t bring herself to deny Nell this small pleasure, considering her past actions. All she could do was try to avoid smelling of sweat…

Tick-tock

The only sound in the quiet staff lounge was the gentle ticking of the clock on the wall. This peaceful atmosphere was typical of her time with Nell. They both preferred quiet, secluded spaces. Sayoreinne, sipping her tea, Nell snuggled comfortably beside her…

She enjoyed the silence, the warmth, the quiet companionship. While she had initially visited Nell out of a sense of obligation, these visits had become a source of comfort and relaxation for her as well. And Nell seemed to enjoy them just as much, which was a relief.

“This place is so nice.”

“Yes, I really like it here.”

While they didn’t talk much, she felt that their bond was deepening.

“Hello.”

“…Yeah. Hi.”

She exchanged a brief, awkward greeting with Sowol. While Sowol’s hostility towards her seemed to have lessened somewhat since she started befriending Emelly, she clearly still didn’t like Sayoreinne. At least she no longer scowled at her every time they met.

Sowol, after the curt greeting, walked away without another word, her black ponytail swaying behind her. Sayoreinne watched her go, then continued on her way.

‘One day, we’ll be able to exchange friendly greetings, too.’

She saw a girl with purple hair styled in pigtails, squatting by a flowerbed, a bright smile on her face.

It was Leia Katarina.

One of the original heroines, someone Sayoreinne hadn’t had any meaningful interactions with yet. Leia’s storyline wouldn’t begin until the second year. Her eccentric personality and unpredictable behavior made her one of the most challenging characters to win over in the game. Her erratic movements made it incredibly difficult to even encounter her, let alone build up any affection.

She pushed aside the thought of the game.

She wanted to be friends with Leia, too.

She didn’t intend to wait until the second year, as she had in the game, but befriending such an eccentric and unpredictable girl was a daunting task for someone as socially inept as herself. ‘I need to be more strategic…’

“I’m home, Ahrin.”

“Welcome back, Miss!”

It was a wonderful feeling to be greeted by someone upon returning home, especially when that someone was a cute girl like Ahrin.

Sayoreinne smiled at Ahrin, then her expression turned serious as she remembered the events of the morning and the thoughts that had been weighing on her mind. Ahrin was her devoted maid, a sweet and cheerful girl who served her without complaint.

And so, despite her reluctance, her aversion to the idea, she knew what she had to do. It was for Ahrin’s sake.

She forced herself to speak.

“Emelly, the girl we saw at the restaurant the other day, said she’d like to see you again, and asked me to give you her regards.”

“Oh, the girl who was with you, Miss? But why would she want to see me…?”

Taking a deep breath, Sayoreinne continued, “Ahrin, are you happy with your current situation?”

“What?”

“Are you content with receiving such a small allowance, working for an ill-tempered, unpleasant mistress?”

“W-What are you talking about?”

She knew Emelly hadn’t been serious, but one thing was clear: Emelly seemed genuinely fond of Ahrin. In the game, it had been Emelly who had eventually won Ahrin’s heart. Emelly would probably welcome Ahrin with open arms. So,

“Emelly seems to have taken a liking to you. If I let you go, she might be willing to offer me more financial support, which wouldn’t be a bad thing for you either. If you went to work for Emelly, you would be much better off financially, and…”

“Don’t say that, Miss.”

Ahrin interrupted her, her expression firm, resolute, an expression Sayoreinne had never seen before. The sight of it made her feel like she was choking.

“Do you… not like me anymore?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Am I… a burden to you?”

“…A little, perhaps. I make a lot of mistakes.”

“Do you… not want to be with me anymore?”

“I suppose… that’s how I feel.”

‘Just say it.’ ‘Either you want to leave, or you don’t. Why are you being so vague?’

“Me too.”

“I don’t want to leave you either, Miss. I want to continue serving you. Because… I like you.”

“You’re beautiful, and kind, and you always forgive my mistakes. You’re kind and gentle, and… I really like you, Miss.”

“So please… don’t ever say that again.”

“I’m your one and only lady’s maid, aren’t I?”

“Ugh…” Tears welled up in Sayoreinne’s eyes. She was such an idiot. If she had simply let Ahrin go, Ahrin could have had a better life. But her vague, half-hearted attempt had only made Ahrin more determined to stay. She was truly a terrible person, holding Ahrin back out of selfishness. She was, after all, the villainess.

She had to say it clearly.

“Thank you, Ahrin.”

“I want to be with you too.”

“Thank you for staying with me.”

Ahrin hugged her tightly. Sayoreinne hugged her back.

No more words were needed.