Two days later, on a morning following a one-day reprieve, I stood before the academy with Lene.
The school building I had glimpsed so many times in the game possessed a far greater presence up close. Sunlight glinted off the countless glass windows set into its chalk-white walls, making the structure resemble a castle.
While taking in the sights, I turned my gaze to the side.
"Uugh… hic. R-Rai-sama…!"
"—I figured it would turn out like this."
Lene was wailing at the top of her lungs, completely indifferent to the public eye.
She had been in this state ever since we checked the class assignments on the bulletin board earlier this morning.
While her unrestrained weeping stirred a protective instinct, we were currently in a very public place, and she was drawing a massive amount of attention.
Other students arriving for classes glanced our way with furrowed brows as they passed by.
"Lene. You’re being dramatic just because our classes are different."
"B-But…! Rai-sama is in S-Rank… and I’m in A-Rank… Even though I’m your personal maid, I won't be by your side… I can't…!"
Lene struggled to force the words out between her sobs.
Her eyes were bloodshot; she sniffled and wiped at her tears with the back of her hand, but they showed no sign of stopping. The famous "Great Wailing Maid" of House Arkberg was out in full force.
Back home, that nickname hadn't been an issue because we were only ever surrounded by family and staff. Here, however…
I glanced around and caught the whispers of the passing students. "Is that a lovers' spat first thing in the morning…?" "Did he make her cry?" Curious and judging eyes were fixed on us from every direction.
(I’d really like to avoid rumors that I’m a girl-bully on my very first day as a transfer student.)
I let out a small sigh.
"Lene, calm down. We’re only being separated for a few hours at a time."
"But…!"
She gave my sleeve a sharp tug.
"We’ve been together every moment until now… but starting today, we’ll be in different wings, taking different lessons…! To have hours where I can’t see Rai-sama’s face… I can’t bear it…!"
Every time Lene’s trembling voice echoed, the surrounding stares intensified.
Breaking into a cold sweat, I placed a hand on Lene’s head.
"We’ll be together the entire time after school, right? Just be patient until then."
I spoke in the most soothing voice I could muster.
As I gently stroked her glossy, light-brown hair, Lene’s shoulders gave a small quiver. I decided to give her one final push.
"If you can be a good girl and endure it, I’ll give you plenty of affection back at the dorms."
"…R-Really?"
Her tear-streaked eyes pierced straight through me.
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized I had made a poor choice of phrasing. Glancing at the crowd again, I heard the gossip take an even darker turn. "What does he mean by 'affection'…?" "Wait, is it a physical relationship?"
(Our relationship isn't what you people think it is. It’s a perfectly wholesome master-maid dynamic… right?)
To me, "affection" meant something closer to pampering.
It meant pulling her close and stroking her head until she was satisfied, or spending time just chatting with her. Or, like that first night, staying in the same bed together. That sort of thing.
It was absolutely not a lewd relationship. I was not the "Rai" of the original story.
"Do you… promise…?"
"…I promise."
I nodded, and Lene’s face lit up instantly.
The tears hadn't stopped entirely, but the look of tragic despair had vanished.
"I-I’ll endure it!"
Sniffling, Lene desperately straightened her posture.
She wiped her eyes with both hands, and this time, the waterworks finally stayed shut.
"I’ll work hard in A-Rank and achieve results that won't bring shame to my position as Rai-sama’s personal maid!"
As if her crying fit had been a hallucination, a new strength took root in her light-brown eyes.
Then, she suddenly began to fidget, her cheeks flushing red as she looked up at me with a bashful gaze.
"S-So… I’ll be looking forward to after school, okay…?"
She whispered that last part.
Unfortunately, it seemed her voice reached the crowd perfectly. The whispering grew into a low roar of speculation.
"…Yeah. But try to keep it within reason, alright?"
"Yes!"
Unnerved by the stares, I hurried toward the school building as if in retreat.
Lene walked in step with me, her expression now radiant.
As we stepped inside, we were greeted by a vaulted Grand Hall. Chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, and the polished marble floors reflected the feet of the passing students.
Glowing Magic Circles were positioned around the Central Pillar, and students were appearing and disappearing through them. The scale of the place was immense—it was clear that walking everywhere simply wasn't an option.
"—It certainly was a lively morning."
Amidst the bustle of the crowd, a calm, familiar voice reached my ears.
I turned toward the sound and saw Elysia standing there. Her lapis-colored hair swayed as she approached, a hand on her hip and her eyebrows slightly knit.
She didn't look angry so much as she looked exasperated.
She gave a soft, wry chuckle.
"Your voices carried quite well all the way over here. You’ve drawn a bit too much attention, I think."
"…My apologies."
"No matter. I understand."
Her dark purple eyes slowly shifted between Lene and me.
"I know how much Lene adores you… and I know that you cherish her in return."
Elysia leaned in.
Her long hair brushed against me as she closed the distance. Her dark purple eyes were fixed on mine, burning with a strange intensity.
"That said…"
Elysia’s voice was quiet, but it had dropped an octave.
"Don’t you think the word 'affection' was a bit… careless?"
"…Ugh."
She hit the nail on the head, and I couldn't help but let out a groan.
Hearing my distress, Lene began to panic and offer excuses.
"E-Elysia-sama…?! T-That was, well, you see…!"
"Fufu. I know."
Elysia smiled gently.
However, her eyes remained cold.
"I am well aware you didn't mean it in that way."
She traced my chest lightly with her fingertips.
The distance between us remained dangerously close.
"But you see, Rai, you lack self-awareness."
"Self-awareness?"
"You capture people's hearts without even trying. That is precisely why you must choose your words with care. Especially—"
Lowering her voice to a whisper, she glanced at the surrounding students.
In her line of sight, the crowd was still buzzing with curiosity and pointing in our direction.
"This is an academy. Rumors spread here far more rapidly than they do in high society."
"…I’m sorry."
"Mm, good."
I couldn't argue with her logic, so I apologized sincerely. Elysia nodded, satisfied.
—And yet, she didn't pull away. If anything, she moved a fraction closer. We were so close that if either of us leaned forward even an inch, our lips would meet.
"Furthermore."
"…Yes?"
"You said you would be 'together the entire time' after school?"
Elysia’s smile deepened.
But in her dark purple eyes, I saw a flicker of genuine anxiety.
"I assume… that includes me as well?"
Her voice was calm and her smile was playful, but her eyes betrayed her. That mix of jealousy, insecurity, and fear was hauntingly similar to the "Fallen Student Council President" I had seen in the game's darkest routes.
Without thinking, I took her hand and looked her straight in the eye.
"Of course it does. I have no intention of leaving you out."
I squeezed her hand firmly. Elysia’s eyes wavered for a moment.
Then, looking relieved, she finally took a step back.
"…Then it is fine."
With a natural, practiced motion, she linked her arm with mine.
The way she pressed her body against me reminded me of the time we had spent in the carriage.
"Is it really okay to link arms like this in public?"
"Naturally. We are engaged, after all."
Elysia snorted as if the question were absurd. I gave a wry smile and looked to my other side.
Lene was standing there, looking flustered and lost. Her eyes were fixed on our joined hands, and she was restlessly twining her own fingers together.
I smiled at my maid and reached out to her.
"Lene."
"Y-Yes…!"
She looked at me with eyes full of both hesitation and hope.
"Come here."
At my short command, Lene’s eyes widened for a moment before a smile bloomed on her face. "…Yes!" She hurried over and, while not quite as bold as Elysia, she gently entwined her fingers with my free hand.
"Well then, shall we?"
Elysia on my right arm.
Lene holding my left hand.
Feeling the warmth from both of them, we began our trek further into the school building.