Ein-san and Alice left the room to settle their dispute elsewhere, leaving only Illness and me behind.
"Kaito-sama... would you care... for another cup of tea?"
"Ah, yes, please."
Whether an outrageous theory on maids was being debated or a clash between the Phantasmal King and the Six Kings' top servant was about to erupt, Illness remained as serene as ever.
Still, there was no denying that her heart wasn't static. Her emotions were shifting and evolving.
"...You know, you’ve seemed to be in high spirits lately, Illness. Not that I’m taking Ein’s word as gospel, but it really feels like you and Nebula have become close friends."
"I suppose so... Nebula's ideas and techniques... are truly marvelous. She is the perfect fit... for a Respectable Friend. I find myself... quite inspired by her. It feels as though... my world is expanding."
"I'm sure her skills are part of it, but I think your personalities just mesh well, too."
"Indeed... I find her... very easy to talk to."
I doubted she’d ever had a friend like that before. I didn't know every detail of her life, of course, but even among the staff at Lilia's mansion, Illness was a presence apart. Since she’d trained most of the other maids herself, they tended to view her with such reverence that they couldn't exactly treat her as an equal.
But Nebula was different. She stood a step closer to Illness than anyone else.
I noticed it most whenever Nebula helped with the chores. If anyone else offered a hand, Illness would usually decline with a polite "I’m fine" and finish everything herself. But when it came to Nebula, Illness accepted her help without a second thought. Their bond was obvious.
After mulling it over, I decided to just say what was on my mind.
"It might sound a bit cheesy, but seeing you so happy lately... it makes me happy, too."
"..."
I’d meant it as a casual observation, but the moment the words left my mouth, Illness’s expression changed. It was a rare sight—she looked genuinely stunned.
"Illness?"
"Ah, no... forgive me. It was... nothing at all."
Her reaction was definitely unusual, but since she insisted it was nothing, it felt rude to pry. I let the subject drop and enjoyed some light conversation with her until Ein and Alice finally returned.
After leaving Kaito’s room, Illness found her mind wandering as she moved down the hallway.
(What is this feeling? This sensation... it isn't unpleasant... yet I feel so... restless.)
The source of her agitation was her earlier conversation with Kaito. Specifically, the look on his face when he said, "Seeing you so happy lately... it makes me happy, too." The image refused to leave her mind.
Because she loved him so deeply, seeing Kaito’s happy smile had always been her greatest reward. But his smile today had carried a charm that felt even more potent than usual.
(Kaito-sama... was glad for my happiness? ...Ah, I see. So that's it.)
After a moment of reflection, she arrived at the answer, a wry smile touching her lips.
(I really have... become greedy. Far beyond anything I could have imagined... in the past. I once believed... that as long as Kaito-sama was happy, I required nothing else. How unpredictable life is.)
The boundless, near-infinite devotion she offered to the man she loved was her very essence. It was her identity.
Yet, that devotion was undergoing a subtle metamorphosis. She truly wanted no reward; his happiness was her priority. That hadn't changed. However, her definition of "priority" was shifting.
(I am... glad. The fact that Kaito-sama... found joy in my happiness... the fact that he smiled... for my sake... fills me with a joy... I cannot contain.)
Illness gently pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart was beating a fraction faster than usual, a rhythm that spoke her truth for her.
(This is a problem... My own greed is becoming quite troublesome. I thought... simply watching him be happy was enough... but now, the desire to 'be by his side while he is happy'... has grown so strong.)
A soft, blissful laugh escaped her.
(I already love you... more than words can say... more than anyone else... yet every time I see a new side of you... that love only deepens. Oh, I am... truly in trouble.)
The smile on her face was profoundly tender. She looked like someone who was learning to cherish her own evolution—the realization that she was finally beginning to wish for her own happiness, too.
Serious-senpai: "Wh-What?! S-Sugar? Here?! Now?! Dammit, you've got to be kidding me! To get hit with a 'Maid Feint' only to have the story pivot directly into pure sugar... there's no way I could've seen that coming!"
???: "Look, please stop inventing weird terminology. Dealing with all this maid-theory nonsense is already giving me enough of a headache as it is..."