Elis Dia Hamilton was the heir to the Hamilton Marquis House of the Arclesia Empire. Often hailed as a brilliant young woman, she was a constant focus of attention in social circles as the picture of a perfect lady. At that moment, however, she was simply walking the streets of the capital, Alexandria.
Rather than her usual elegant gowns, she wore a practical pair of trousers, a refined shirt and jacket, and a casquette tucked low over her brow. Accompanied by a single maid dressed in plain clothes for protection, she traversed the city on foot rather than by carriage.
"I suppose one could call city strolls your hobby, Milady. Though I do wonder if it is entirely appropriate for a daughter of a Marquis..."
"There are records stating that even the legendary First Emperor of the Arclesia Empire frequented the city dressed in a way that made him look like nothing more than a common girl. Even Her Majesty Chris often visits the front lines and local sites for inspections. It is because one is truly noble that they must broaden their horizons by experiencing the city firsthand, rather than relying solely on written reports."
"I see... and what is the real reason?"
"Listen... by the time you actually notice the stress, it is already too late. By then, it has already begun to manifest in all sorts of ways. Stomach pain, stomach pain, pains in the stomach, acute stomach agony... To keep it under control, a change of pace is vital."
"I see. So, in short?"
"I am exhausted. I just want to catch my breath."
Elis had always enjoyed exploring on her own. Looking back, she had first made Kaito's acquaintance while she was out visiting the Founding Anniversary Festival.
Wandering as a private individual named Elis rather than the daughter of a Marquis was a precious, enjoyable hobby for her. Lately, the Hamilton Marquis House Faction had been incredibly hectic, and she had felt a desperate need to unwind.
Of course, she only made this time for herself after completing every necessary task perfectly—a testament to Elis’s own competence.
"Well, your walks are a regular occurrence, Milady... though I feel you still look a bit too refined to pass as a simple town girl."
"It’s not as if I’m trying to masquerade as one. Unless I were to truly put on a performance, my bearing would give me away as a noble or a daughter of a wealthy family even if I changed my clothes. I chose this outfit with the mindset of a noble lady traveling incognito from the start. I haven't even hidden the Royal Color."
"The Royal Color—you mean your deep blue hair."
"Apparently, that was just something the Emperor at the time came up with during the succession dispute seven generations ago. I’ve heard the First and Second Emperors didn't even have this hair color."
Responding to the maid with a bitter smile, Elis purchased two sticks of Stitz from a nearby stall. She handed one to her maid and began to eat, a genuine smile finally touching her lips.
"High-end confections that take hours to prepare are wonderful, but simple snacks like this are a refreshing change of pace. It took me a while to get used to the idea of eating while walking, though..."
"As long as you are enjoying yourself, that is all that matters. You have been pushed quite hard lately."
"And I’ll be just as busy moving forward. The rapid advancement of the Hamilton Marquis House Faction has been staggering. The problem is that it feels too much like a windfall that just dropped into our laps. The high-ranking nobles who stay informed understand that it’s Kaito-sama's influence that is truly terrifying, rather than anything we have done. However, the low-ranking provincial nobles surely envy the Rich Baron House. To them, it must look like they’ve hit the Dream Lottery—or was it just a regular lottery? Regardless, it looks like they made a fortune through pure luck. It’s never easy to convey the actual hardships to those who aren't involved."
"It isn't surprising that they think they could do the same if only they switched over to our faction."
"From a low-ranking noble's perspective, they’ll jump to whichever faction benefits them most. But the high-ranking nobles won't be amused, and if the power balance shifts too far, everything falls into disarray. If we were an overwhelming, singular power like the Ducal House of Albert Faction in the Kingdom of Sinfonia—where everyone else has simply given up on catching up—it might be a different story. But we aren't quite at that level yet."
Within the Hamilton Marquis House Faction, the Hamiltons, the Sharon Count House, and the Rich Baron House were all securing profits and influential connections at a breakneck pace, drawing far too much attention from the rest of the nobility.
Naturally, Marquis Hamilton and Elis were handling the situation skillfully, and since they were coordinating with Chris, they had managed to keep things from spiraling out of control. However, the shear weight of the benefits was enough to give them massive headaches—and stomach pains.
"Well, I should forget about my poor stomach for now and focus on my change of pace..."
As Elis murmured this to herself and looked down the street, she suddenly rounded a corner and locked eyes with someone. She froze instantly.
"Wait... Elis-san?"
"Wh-Wh-What a coincidence... Kaito-sama."
Indeed, the man who had appeared before her by pure chance was Kaito. While Elis managed to force a smile and a greeting, she was screaming at the top of her lungs on the inside.
Serious-senpai: "...It got a 1... Do you have no heart?"
Extra: Elis's Personal Maid
This maid frequently accompanies Elis as a guard. She was originally a top-tier intelligence operative belonging to the shadows. Her skills as a maid are likewise exceptional, boasting a Maid Power of 96,000. Though she is talented enough to be considered a Candidate for the Next Super Maid, she has never once participated in the Maid Olympia.
This isn't because she has no interest in the Maid World like Illness; rather, it is because her personal ideal is to be "a shadow-like presence that provides perfect, understated support." Because of this, she avoids high-profile events like the Maid Olympia, though she does attend them as a spectator.
When Elis is speaking with Kaito, the maid discreetly pulls back and waits—a direct result of her adhering to that ideal image.
The style she aims for is similar to Kaito's guard, Alice. Having seen Alice support Kaito from behind the scenes, the maid was deeply moved, convinced that it was the absolute pinnacle of what a maid should be.