When I suggested we share the wine, Illness-san tilted her head with a look of mild confusion.
"Well... since you bought this wine with your own money, Illness-san, I’d feel awkward being the only one to enjoy it. So, if you’re okay with it..."
Hearing my supplementary explanation, Illness-san remained silent for a short while before her face broke into her characteristic smile.
"Kuhihi... then, I shall take you up on your kind offerrr and join youuu..."
"Oh, okay."
She accepted my invitation much more readily than I’d expected. Illness-san moved quickly to prepare a second wine glass. Then, with an air of refined elegance, she sat down on the sofa right beside me.
"Excuse meee..."
"A-Ah, r-right."
I’d completely overlooked one thing. While the sofa in my room was far too large for just one person, its placement made it strictly for individuals—there were no seats positioned across from it. Consequently, if we were going to sit down together, we were inevitably going to be side-by-side. Wait, why was I suddenly getting so nervous?
"Well then... I shall help myselfoo..."
Beside the slightly flustered me, Illness-san seemed entirely unbothered. She poured the wine and smoothly held her glass out toward me. Recognizing the signal for a toast, I held out my own glass and gave it a light clink against hers.
We enjoyed the wine together in the quiet room, but for some reason, I just couldn't settle down. Illness-san had a small frame—only about 120 centimeters tall, roughly the size of an elementary or middle school student—but her behavior was incredibly mature and sophisticated.
Whether it was the way she sipped her wine or the way she naturally covered her mouth with her hand while chewing a snack to keep it hidden, every one of her gestures radiated a sense of poise. Height aside, she felt very much like a grown woman. She had a mysterious, captivating allure.
"Kaito-samaaa? Is something the matterrr?"
"Ah, n-no, it's just... the way you drink is so elegant. I was just impressed."
"Kuhihi, is that sooo? I ammm, for the most parttt, a maid of a Ducal Houseee. I have the standard etiquetteee memorizeddd. If it isn't unpleasant to beholddd, then I am gladdd."
Noticing my gaze, Illness-san turned to look at me. As her hair swayed slightly, a faint, pleasant scent drifted through the air. Her graceful, composed bearing and her gentle tone made me intensely conscious of the fact that Illness-san was an adult woman.
Hoping to change the somewhat awkward, ticklish atmosphere, I took a sip of wine and tried to find a topic of conversation.
"So... Illness-san, do you usually drink alcohol?"
"Nooo, I rarely have the chanceee. I only drink when it is offered to meee."
"I see."
Wait, the conversation wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't that she was difficult to talk to, but my own nerves were preventing me from expanding on the topic.
"Um... s-so, Illness-san, what do you usually spend your salary on?"
Wait, what was I asking?! Sure, the whole reason we were here was because she’d used her first paycheck to buy this wine for me, but bringing up money like this felt uncouth and rude.
Despite my slip of the tongue, Illness-san didn't seem at all offended as she replied.
"Let me seeee... I only buy what is necessary for daily lifeee. I don't really have any hobbiesee, so I rarely buy luxury itemsss."
"Hmm. You really don't have much in the way of worldly desires, do you, Illness-san?"
"Is that sooo?"
Honestly, it was a stretch to say the conversation was flowing, but Illness-san seemed to be enjoying herself, as she wore a soft smile. The emotions flowing to me through Sympathy Magic were calm... and strangely warm, like a soothing balm for the heart.
I was tense at first, but this quiet, peaceful atmosphere was actually quite nice. Seeing Kaito begin to relax and enjoy the wine with a smile, Illness let a grin of her own play across her lips.
(No worldly desires, you sayee... That isn't trueee. I am surelyee quite greedyee...)
As she tilted her wine glass, Illness recalled their conversation. She turned her eyes toward Kaito as he happily snacked on the food.
(I want youee to keep smiling foreveree. I want your futureee to always be a happy oneee... To wish for your future like thattt... I must be hopelessly greedyee, indeeddd.)
What she sought was a happy future for Kaito. What she held in her heart was a powerful, gentle wish to keep watching him smile with joy.
(But even if you knew thattt, I'm sure you would still sayee that I'm not greedyee at allll.)
As these thoughts crossed her mind, Illness gently pushed the plate of snacks toward Kaito.
"Illness-san?"
"I don't think I can eattt any moreee, so pleaseee help yourselfoo if you likeee."
"Oh, really? In that case, thank you."
Her words weren't a lie. However, there were some things she chose not to say.
Kaito assumed that because Illness was a light eater, her stomach was full. The reality was different. It wasn't her stomach that was full—it was her heart. Being in this space with Kaito right now had filled Illness’s heart to the brim, leaving her with no room for anything else.
(My beloved youee is smilingee. And I can watch youee from right beside youee... I cannot imagineee any greater happiness than thisss.)
She hadn't planned for this. She had simply wanted to bring Kaito some wine, but it had returned to her as an unimaginable reward.
Spending time with Kaito and seeing his smile up close. Kaito felt as though he hadn't yet paid her a reward that matched her hard work, but he was mistaken. This moment, brought about by Kaito’s own suggestion, was such a blissful gift that Illness felt she had actually received far too much.
(If my hopeless selfishnessss could be forgiven... then pleaseee, for just a little longer, let me monopolize your smileee.)
With that thought in mind, Illness looked at Kaito with a smile from the bottom of her soul. Her heart was filled with a sense of "happiness"—an emotion she once couldn't understand, but had come to know naturally since the day she met him.
Serious-senpai: "The titllle?! Why are you giving up on it now?! If you've been forcing it through this whole time, you should have stuck with it to the end!"
???: "Wow, though... Pan—I mean, Illness-san really has some high Heroine Power, doesn't she?"
Serious-senpai: "Can you believe it? Even without any fanservice events, or dates, or romantic buildup, she’s showing off this much Heroine Power... It’s insane. I’m scared to see what she does next... Anyway, setting that aside, how much does Illness actually get paid?"
???: "Curious? Well, I’ve put together a summary right here."
-- Illness’s Salary (Monthly Income) --
From Kaito: 1 Platinum Coin (Provisional) (Approx. 10 million yen) From Lilia: 1 Gold Coin (Approx. 1 million yen) It took a lot of negotiating to get her to agree to even this much. From Alice: 28 Platinum Coins (Approx. 280 million yen) She doesn't take the full amount; she takes one Platinum Coin and leaves the rest in Alice's care.
Serious-senpai: "What?! A monthly income of 280 million yen?! You... I mean, Alice, you’re paying Illness that much?!"
???: "I mean, she is one of my executives... She’s one of the ten people standing at the top of an organization with over a billion subordinates, and she’s the information supervisor for the Kingdom of Sinfonia. Of course she’s highly paid. Well, she leaves almost all of it with m—Alice-chan and just withdraws it when she needs it. Though she’s never actually withdrawn a cent!"
Serious-senpai: "And let me guess, you're using that money to fund your gambling?"
???: "I am not! If any of the other weirdos left their money with me, I’d spend it however I wanted, but... I haven't touched a single penny of her salary. I’m keeping it safe. She’s the conscience of my organization, you know! She does her job without complaining, she’s competent, and unlike the other idiots, she never misses a report—plus her reports are accurate and easy to read. She’s the only one who’s actually sane..."
Serious-senpai: "You've really had a hard time, haven't you?"
???: "That's why I—I mean, Alice-chan—has a soft spot for her! When she said she wanted to move her workplace from the Royal Castle to the Ducal House, I said yes immediately. Since she met Kaito-san, I haven't given her any work that requires her to travel far, and I even set up Kaito-san's house on the assumption that she’d be the one doing the housework, right?"
Serious-senpai: "Now that you mention it... it does seem like Alice really respects Illness's opinions."