The sun was beginning to set on the sixth day of the Six Kings Festival as Lilia and her companions returned to their lodging. While the building was grand enough to be deemed a mansion rather than an inn, they had finally grown accustomed to its scale after a week of residency.
After handing their luggage to the dedicated servants at the entrance, the group retired to their respective quarters.
At Lilia's own insistence—primarily to manage her recurring stress-induced stomach pains—she shared a room with her two closest friends, Lunamaria and Sieglinde.
Lunamaria and Sieglinde waited for Lilia to take her seat before sitting down themselves. Despite the official master-servant dynamic, the three were old friends who frequently gathered around a table in their private time to chat.
"I’m truly relieved today was relatively peaceful."
"I agree. We didn't have to spend hours standing in lines like we did yesterday..."
Lilia offered a gentle smile, and Lunamaria nodded deeply in agreement. Sieglinde scooped up her pet dragon, Seras, as the little creature trotted toward her and settled onto her lap. Reaching into her Magic Box, Sieglinde pulled out some black tea and set a cup before each of her friends.
"Still... seeing Lili look so relaxed makes me feel like something is about to go wrong."
"Ah, I know that feeling. Lili has a constitution that practically drags trouble through the door, doesn't she~?"
"Please, stop! You'll jinx us..."
Lunamaria was currently addressing Lilia by her nickname, "Lili," rather than the formal "Milady." It was a tranquil, soul-soothing moment shared between confidants—or so it seemed, until a reserved knock sounded at the door. Lilia’s shoulders jumped.
"E-Eh?"
"Oh? Is it starting already? As expected of Lili."
"Could it be Aoi-san or Hina-san?"
Given the topic of their conversation, the three exchanged startled glances. Lilia took a breath and spoke, her voice carrying a silent prayer that this wasn't the start of another disaster.
"Y-Yes... Come in."
"Excuse me. There is a visitor for Duchess Albert."
"A visitor?"
"Yes. A woman by the name of Illness-sama."
"Illness is here? I see. Please, show her in."
Surprised by the name, Lilia tilted her head in confusion before granting permission.
After the servant bowed and withdrew, another knock sounded about a minute later.
"Come in."
"Excuse meee~"
A unique, slightly tongue-tied voice drifted into the room as Illness, a maid of the Ducal House of Albert, stepped inside.
"I’m sorry for barging in so suddenly, Miladyyy~."
"Did something happen? Is there trouble back at the mansion?"
"Noo~, there are no problems at the mansion at allll~. It’s just that there were two letters I wanted Milady to check overrr~, so I have come to deliver themmm~."
Lilia had assumed some crisis had occurred for Illness to leave her post at the mansion, but the maid simply shook her head and produced two envelopes.
"In my personal opinionnn~, I judged that they required a quick replyyy~. Please look them overrr~."
"I understand. I’ll read them immediately."
"Yesss~. Alsooo~, please do not worry about the mansionnn~. Everything is running smoothlyyy~."
"I see... I’m sorry, Illness. To think I’ve even asked you to fill in for me while I’m away. Are you holding up? You must be tired."
"Something of this level is no problem at allll~. Pleaseee~, Milady, enjoy the festival without worrying about the mansionnn~."
"That is a huge relief. Thank you, as always."
"Please, don't mention ittt~."
Within the Ducal House of Albert, Illness was the most senior staff member. In fact, she had been the maid assigned to Lilia since the days when she was still a princess.
She was an exceptionally talented maid. When Lilia was preparing to establish her own independent household as a Duchess, she had desperately pleaded with Illness to join her.
While Illness had asked for two days to consider the offer, she eventually granted Lilia’s wish and followed her to the Ducal House of Albert.
Most of the other servants had volunteered to follow Lilia, but Illness was the only one Lilia had personally begged to join her staff. In that sense, she held a singular, unique position within the household.
Furthermore, her competence had far exceeded Lilia’s expectations. The stability the Ducal House of Albert had achieved in just a few short years was largely thanks to her efforts. Naturally, since she loathed being the center of attention, she never touted her own accomplishments.
Nevertheless, she possessed the absolute trust of everyone in the house, including Lilia, Lunamaria, and Sieglinde. She was the only one trusted to manage the estate in Lilia's absence.
Rather than flashy roles, she preferred to handle mundane chores and administrative tasks, performing them with a level of perfection that bordered on the uncanny. She was, quite literally, the power behind the scenes that kept the Ducal House of Albert running.
"Are you enjoying yourself too, Lunamariaaa~?"
"Y-Yes... though I think you should have taken some time off to join the festivities yourself, Illness-sama."
"Kuhi, kuhihihi... If both Milady and I were away participating, the burden on the other servants would be far too great, wouldn't ittt~?"
In terms of formal rank, Lunamaria—as the head of the house's dedicated maid—technically outranked Illness, who remained an Ordinary Maid. Yet, Lunamaria addressed her with the honorific "-sama."
This was because most of the maids in the mansion, Lunamaria included, had been trained in the fundamentals of the profession by Illness. To Lunamaria, Illness was her mentor, and she spoke to her with a level of nervous respect that was uncharacteristic for the usually playful maid.
"And Sieglindeee~... Ohhh? Kuhi, it seems you are enjoying yourself with a lovely pet, tooo~."
"Yes, I am."
"That is wonderful to hearrr~."
After nodding to Sieglinde, Illness gave a graceful bow.
"Well thennn~, I shall return to the mansionnn~."
"I’m sorry to have put you out. I feel like I'm always leaning on you."
"Not at allll~. I will compile a chronological log of everything that happens while Milady is awayyy~, so please look it over once you returnnn~."
"I understand. Thank you, truly, for everything."
After exchanging final pleasantries, Illness withdrew from the room.
A brief silence followed her departure before Lunamaria finally let out a breath.
"She is as formidable as ever. Even with her normal workload, she does ten times the work of an average maid, yet she still manages to fill in for Milady... Honestly, I don't think I'll ever be able to match her."
"And she’s also looking after Bell-chan and Rin-chan for Kaito-san," Sieglinde added with a nod.
Lunamaria suddenly wore a mischievous grin. She glanced at Lilia and spoke with exaggerated drama.
"To think she is that talented and handles such a mountainous workload! And yet her salary and position remain those of an ordinary maid... Milady, how can you be so cruel? Ah, she's going to get fed up and quit one of these days!"
"Don't say such terrifying things!?"
Lilia’s face went pale at the suggestion. In truth, if Illness were to leave, the Ducal House of Albert would suffer a devastating blow. Lilia didn't even want to imagine how many people would be required to replace the labor of that one woman.
"Besides, I've offered her a promotion and a raise dozens of times! But she's the one who firmly refuses them, so what am I supposed to do!?"
"Well, it’s true that Illness-sama has no greed whatsoever."
"The only thing she ever requested was to be the dedicated attendant for Kaito-san back when he first arrived and his position was still unstable."
Lilia didn't keep Illness as an ordinary maid out of malice. She had tried repeatedly to compensate her in a way that reflected her contributions.
However, Illness had rejected every single offer. As far as the books were concerned, she remained an ordinary maid with an ordinary salary.
"I would make her the Head Maid this very instant if she’d let me. Even the current Head Maid constantly says things like, 'Shouldn't Illness-sama be the Head Maid instead of me?' But she just won't agree to it!"
"That sounds like her. Practically every servant in the house believes Illness-sama is the one truly suited for the position."
"The only person who doesn't think so is the woman herself."
Illness was exceptionally capable and utterly reliable—an existence Lilia trusted with her entire heart. The only thing that caused Lilia stress was the maid's stubborn refusal to accept any recognition.
Of course, such worries were trivial compared to the soul-crushing stomach pain Lilia would experience the day she eventually learned that Illness's true identity was Pandemonium...
~The Conversation from Back Then~
Lilia: "Please, Illness! I can handle the public duties of a Duchess, but I have no idea how to manage a household or train servants! I don't know what I'm doing! Please, I’m begging you, come with me!"
Illness: "Haaa... (Umm, my actual mission is to infiltrate the Sinfonia Royal Family, thoughhh...)"
Lilia: "I have no one else to turn to! Almost everyone who volunteered to follow me is a former knight! I don't have anyone who understands how a house actually runs!!"
Illness: "I understand the situationnn~, but I cannot decide immediatelyyy~... May I think about it for a bittt~?"
Lilia: "Thank you so much!!"
Illness: "...(For nowww~, I should check with Shaltier-sama... and see if I can get permissionnn~? I’ll have to arrange for a replacement, tooo~... Well, if she’s asking this earnestly, I suppose I’d like to be of some help to herrr~.)"
And thus, Pandemonium arrived at the Ducal House of Albert.