As I walked toward Lilia-san’s mansion along a road painted in the hues of the sunset, I spotted a familiar figure waiting ahead.
Her short platinum hair—long only at the sideburns—fluttered in the wind. Silver eyes fixed on me, she stood at the end of the path, motionless as a portrait.
"...Ein-san?"
"I have been waiting for you, Kaito-sama."
As I called out to her with a touch of hesitation, Ein-san slowly gathered the hem of her skirt and performed a flawless bow.
I wondered why she was here. Based on her saying she’d been waiting, she certainly had business with me...
Noticing my puzzled look, Ein-san spoke up with her usual cool composure.
"...I should have visited you sooner, but I was conflicted. No—to be precise, I am still conflicted even now."
"...Conflicted?"
"...Yes. As you may have surmised, Kaito-sama, I am not particularly skilled at expressing my own emotions."
That was certainly true. My image of Ein-san was that of an incredibly competent, stoic professional. I’d rarely seen her expression flicker, and as far as I knew, she never lost her cool.
But what was she conflicted about? If she felt she should have visited sooner, did it concern me?
As I tilted my head, Ein-san continued in a quiet, steady voice.
"...I have been wondering how I might demonstrate the depth of gratitude I hold in my heart for you."
"Eh?"
"A hundred words would not suffice; a thousand actions would fall short. I simply do not possess the means to properly convey the emotions I feel right now."
"Um..."
As she spoke, Ein-san slowly closed the distance between us.
She was petite, exactly a head shorter than me. When she stopped, her face was level with my chest.
Standing there, she slowly... reached out a trembling hand and lightly gripped the fabric of my shirt, right over my heart.
"...Thank you... so much. For saving Chrome-sama..."
"...Ein-san. I, uh, it wasn't really anything like that..."
"I know. You do not view your actions as a grand achievement, Kaito-sama."
Her words seemed to peer straight into my soul. She was exactly right.
I hadn't been thinking of something as heroic as "saving" Kuro, nor was I trying to grant the wishes of the Six Kings or Ein-san.
Ultimately, I just liked Kuro. I wanted to tell her how I felt and become her lover, so I confessed. I acted for my own sake. It was purely a coincidence that it happened to save her.
"Nevertheless, no amount of gratitude will ever be enough. It was the first time I have ever seen Chrome-sama look so happy."
"...Ein-san."
"...I was the very first fledgling Chrome-sama ever raised. When I was young, shivering alone with nowhere to go, she reached out her hand and invited me to walk with her. She became the place I belonged."
"..."
With her head bowed and her hands still clutching my shirt, Ein-san’s small shoulders trembled. I remained silent, listening to her story without interruption.
"It may be selfish of me to say, but I... I view Chrome-sama as my mother. I am only here today because she raised me with such love. That is why I vowed to dedicate the life she saved to her service... I became a maid so I could devote myself to her until my dying breath."
"..."
"...It is a cruel irony. I was so intoxicated by the happiness of serving her and being by her side... that I failed to notice the true wish buried in her heart. I, who desired to live for her sake, was the very first to stray from what she actually wanted."
Ein-san had been raised by Kuro and became a maid to work for her.
But knowing what Kuro’s wish actually was, I felt I understood Ein-san’s regret. She had chosen to stand behind Kuro, not beside her.
By the time she realized that wasn't what Kuro wanted...
"...There was nothing I could do. By then, I already viewed Chrome-sama as my master. I had built my entire identity around the pride of serving her. I could no longer change the nature of my existence."
"..."
"It was pathetic. I knew her suffering and her wishes better than anyone, yet I could do nothing... That is why..."
Ein-san trailed off and looked up.
Silver eyes, shimmering with a faint veil of tears, locked onto mine. After a heavy silence, she spoke.
"...Kaito-sama, I will never forget this debt of gratitude as long as I live. Even if you do not see it that way, you are a savior to me."
"Uh, well, that sounds incredibly intense..."
"No. While I may struggle with words of thanks, my heart does not waver when it comes to you. I shall love you second only to her in this world. I will prioritize you above all others, after Chrome-sama."
"..."
What was this feeling? A chill similar to the one I’d felt when I first met Isis-san ran down my spine. I didn't quite understand it, but it felt as if a switch had flipped inside her.
Her expression remained cool, but her eyes burned with an overwhelming intensity.
"...Though it was brief, I have finished conveying my current feelings."
"Oh, uh, right. I... I see?"
"...If you are ever in trouble, please do not hesitate to call for me. If anyone stands in your way... I will eliminate them immediately."
"...Y-Yes, ma'am!"
She’d started saying something incredibly dangerous! Coming from her, it didn't sound like a joke at all. It was actually terrifying because it felt like Ein-san really would wipe someone out without a trace of mercy.
W-Well, it wasn't like I had any enemies, so I should be... okay? Probably?
Ein-san released my shirt and offered a deep, formal bow—the kind reserved for the highest social standing—before looking at me one last time.
"...Kaito-sama, I heard that you are fond of ripple pies. Is this true?"
"Eh? Oh, yeah."
"Then please, accept this as a meager token of my appreciation..."
"Huh? Whoa!? Wait, A-Ein-san!?"
The moment I nodded, Ein-san produced what looked like pastry boxes out of thin air... and there were mountains of them.
"...U-Um, just out of curiosity... what is all this?"
"Ripple pies. It is presumptuous of me, but I prepared these as a small gesture of thanks."
"...Exactly how many are there?"
"One thousand. It seemed like a nice, round number."
"One thousand!?"
A thousand ripple pies!? She’d prepared an insane amount! What was this? It was basically a wall of boxes... Was she serious?
"If you require more, I shall make them for you at any time."
"A-Ah, uh, okay. Thank you very much."
Well, I had a Magic Box, so they wouldn't go bad, but... even if I ate one a day, this was nearly three years' worth. Did Ein-san not understand the concept of moderation?
"U-Um, Ein-san... do you know what the word 'moderation' means?"
"Of course. Compromise, moderation... for a maid such as myself, those are merely forms of self-indulgence to be eliminated."
"...I see."
She was hopeless! In a completely different way from Shiro-san, this woman was impossible to reason with!
As I dazedly stowed the ripple pies into my Magic Box, Ein-san gave a polite bow and went on her way.
Yeah, I had a feeling things had just gotten even more complicated.
"Wow, Kaito-san. I can't believe you managed to charm Ein-san too..."
"Hey, Alice... do you think she was joking?"
"Not at all. Ein-san never goes back on a decision once she's made it. If she said she's prioritizing you second in the world, she'll do exactly that. In a way, she's a bit of a yandere, isn't she? If she decides someone is your enemy, she'll probably erase them instantly without a hint of hesitation or mercy."
"That's... terrifying."
Alice had appeared out of nowhere as usual. Hearing her words, the same chill from earlier raced down my back. I really felt like I’d gotten myself into something outrageous.
Dear Mother, Father—Ein-san came to thank me for what happened with Kuro, but the conversation took a very ominous turn toward the end. Yeah, how should I put it... I think a switch definitely flipped.