◇◇◇
"……Whew."
Finally.
I had fled all the way back to my room in the empty dormitory, where I promptly slumped to the floor.
"I’m exhausted……"
The words came from the very bottom of my heart.
"Good work today."
From right beside me, Yuka spoke in her usual, composed voice.
"……No, no, no." I looked up at her. "Aren't you acting a bit too normal?"
"……"
For a fleeting second, she fell silent. But then, almost immediately—
"……Did something happen?"
She played dumb.
"Something happened, alright!!" The retort exploded out of me. "You're an Imperial Princess!? You! Or rather, Your Highness!!"
"Yes."
"Of the Empire!!"
"Yes."
"And you're my maid!!"
"Yes."
"Why were you hiding it……? I mean, seriously, what is the deal?"
"It is exactly as it seems. Besides, I have officially become Lord Luka's maid."
Was it unofficial until now……?
"……Haaa." I clutched my head. "No, seriously…… this is just too much information to process……"
First the Saint takes a strange liking to me, and now my maid turns out to be an Imperial Princess. What’s next? Is Brother Fazil going to turn out to be the Demon King? I'd slay him on the spot, the bastard!
"……Lord Luka." Yuka’s tone dropped slightly. "……I am sorry."
"……"
The same words she'd said earlier.
It wasn't as if Yuka herself was unfazed by all this.
"……"
I didn't want her to apologize. My brain was just struggling to keep up after being blindsided by such a massive revelation.
"……It’s fine." I waved a hand dismissively. "I’m not angry."
"……"
Yuka watched me.
"Just," I said, standing up, "I’m curious why you didn't tell me. And I wondered if you were really okay with how things are."
"……"
For just a moment, Yuka’s gaze wavered.
"……If I had told you," she whispered. "What would you have done, Lord Luka?"
"Hmm?"
"……If you had known I was an Imperial Princess. Would you have treated me the same way you do now?"
"……Ah—"
I see. So that was it.
"It would’ve been impossible. Definitely." I gave her an immediate answer.
"……"
Yuka’s eyes widened slightly.
"I mean, look," I said with a shrug. "An Imperial Princess isn't the kind of person I’m supposed to be involved with. If I’d known you were being sold as a slave, I would’ve sent you back to the Empire immediately."
"……"
"I’d be using formal speech, and I’d be walking on eggshells around you."
"……"
"But things are different now."
Yuka had made her choice. Even if she regretted it later, I couldn't blame her.
"The current you is the one who chose to be here, right?"
"……"
"So even if that Yuka is an Imperial Princess, as long as you’ll have me, I’m not changing my attitude."
"……Lord Luka."
"In a way, it’s thanks to your lie that I’m even able to talk to you like this now."
"……"
Yuka fell silent.
"……It’s not going to change anymore," I said with a light laugh. "Knowing you're an Imperial Princess doesn't change the 'Yuka' inside of me."
"……"
"If it’s what you want, maybe I’ll keep leaning on my maid for a little while longer?"
At those words, I felt—just for a split second—that Yuka’s composure finally broke. Her cheeks were flushed; was I being a bit too cool for my own good?
"……That’s unfair," she murmured.
"What is?"
"……You are, Lord Luka." She averted her face slightly. "……Doing things like that."
"I don't really get it."
"I suppose you wouldn't."
"……"
Then, Selena, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"……I think it’s good."
Wait, Selena, could you maybe not just waltz into other people's rooms?
"……Uh, what is?"
"Your current relationship."
"……I see."
"Yuka is Yuka. I think that’s fine."
"……Lady Selena." Yuka softly called her name.
"……The past doesn't change," Selena continued indifferently. "But you can choose the present. You chose, didn't you, Yuka?"
"Yes. I have no regrets whatsoever." Yuka nodded without a hint of hesitation.
"Then that’s enough."
Having said her piece, Selena went silent.
"……"
I felt like she’d actually said something quite profound.
"……Well," I said, stretching. "For now, shall we go eat?"
"……Eat?"
"Yeah, food."
Yuka froze for a moment.
"I'm starving. I can't keep this serious mood up any longer."
"……"
"So, let's go get some food."
"……"
There were a few seconds of silence, and then—
"……Hehe."
Softly, Yuka laughed.
"……Yes," she nodded, returning to her usual self. "I shall accompany you, Lord Luka."
"Yeah, let's go." I smiled back at her.
◇◇◇
Meanwhile—
Outside the venue, the Imperial Prince of the Empire clicked his tongue softly and stopped walking.
"……Aurelia."
He whispered the name again.
"……She’s changed."
He shook his head immediately after.
"No, that’s not it. She was changed. By that man."
He recalled the way they stood together—the proximity, the look in their eyes.
"……I don't like it," he muttered lowly. "……I must be grateful, but…… a mere noble keeping an Imperial Princess of the Empire as a subordinate is intolerable."
His mouth twisted slightly.
"……I need to investigate him."
His gaze remained fixed in the direction Luka had gone.
◇◇◇
"……"
On the way to the Dining Hall, Yuka walked just a few steps behind Luka. It was a distance that felt strangely nostalgic.
She pressed a hand to her chest.
Thump.
Her heartbeat was stronger than usual.
"……Truly," she whispered, her voice a private monologue meant for no one else. "……You really aren't going to change, are you, Lord Luka?"