Luna led me into a room where I found Lilia-san waiting with another woman. She was a maid with chestnut hair swept up and pinned neatly beneath a headband. Everything about her felt crisp and precise; she looked like the very definition of a high-ranking head maid, exuding a staggering sense of competence.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kaito Miyama-sama. I am Beatrice, and I oversee the maids at the royal castle."
"I’m Kaito Miyama. It’s nice to meet you."
The angle of her bow was flawless. Her technical skill as a maid seemed incredibly high, though I couldn't help but wonder... Like Ein-san and Luna-san, were the maids of this world basically always in uniform? Well, Luna-san at least wore normal clothes when she was off-duty.
"Um, I heard you wanted to meet Nebula?"
"Yes. If it is at all possible, I would appreciate an audience. To hear of a maid whom even Illness-sensei praises so highly, I simply must meet her for myself."
"...No, Nebula isn't actually a maid, you know?"
"That is quite all right. Regardless of one's actual occupation, if one harbors the maid spirit, then they are a maid."
What was this woman talking about? This was bad. She was clearly cut from the same cloth as Ein-san. Besides, I was pretty sure Nebula didn't have this "maid spirit" she was talking about. I felt a surge of protectiveness; I really didn't want my cute Nebula lumped in with a group of maids who—with a few exceptions—were basically a collection of monsters.
"When I met with Illness-sensei a short while ago for the first time in years, I was astonished," Beatrice continued. "Her Maid Power, which was already staggering, has increased even further. Its scale has reached a point where a maid of my level cannot even begin to fathom it, but her status as a maid has clearly risen beyond what it was during her time at the castle."
"I... I see?"
"I suspect that Nebula-sama is the reason for this growth, which is why I wished to meet her. I would very much like to verify the abilities of a maid whom even Illness-sensei would hold in such high regard."
Feeling slightly overwhelmed, I glanced over at Lilia-san. She gave a sympathetic shake of her head—a silent gesture telling me that trying to talk Beatrice out of this was a lost cause. I mean, again, Nebula isn't a maid...
Luna-san, meanwhile, was nodding with a look of profound understanding. As a member of the Maid World herself, she probably found the reasoning perfectly acceptable. As an outsider to that world, however, my only thought was: What on earth is this person talking about?
"Well, I understand your position, but Nebula might not be comfortable with it. I'll have to go and check with her first..."
"I understand. I am well aware that I am asking a great deal, so I shall wait here for your return."
"Alright. I'll go talk to her."
Personally, I wasn't thrilled about the idea of them meeting, but I couldn't make that decision on Nebula's behalf. I needed to see how she felt about it. I left Lilia-san's Room and headed out to the garden, stopping beneath the World Tree in the Garden to call out to her.
"Nebula, do you have a second?"
"Yes? What is it, Master?"
"Actually, you have a visitor..."
"For me?"
Nebula manifested instantly. I explained the situation to her as she tilted her head curiously, making sure to warn her about the whole "maid" obsession. Once I finished, Nebula nodded thoughtfully.
"...I see. I understand. I don't mind at all."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! I am the Absolute One. I would never be so petty as to turn away a guest who has come specifically to see me."
"I... I see."
Nebula was a kind, magnanimous girl. Even though the reason for the visit was a confusing request to "verify her maid skills," she had accepted it without hesitation. I felt a bit conflicted, but if she was willing to see her, I didn't have any grounds to complain.
"Okay. But I'm still a little worried, so I'm going to stay with you during the meeting."
"Very well. Then let us go together, Master."
I knew Nebula was reliable, but I couldn't shake my anxiety. I didn't know Beatrice's personality well yet, and if she was the type to get overexcited and lose control like Ein-san, I wanted to be there to step in.
Then again, even Ein-san rarely lost control. Compared to the sheer unpredictability of someone like Eden-san, this would probably be fine. My real fear was that this would escalate into a "maid duel" like the one Ein-san had tried to arrange with Alice.
Though, if they did end up competing, I honestly didn't think Nebula could lose.
Serious-senpai: "I mean, seriously, against the Absolute One, there's no way to win."
???: "If it comes down to that kind of contest, I'm not even sure me—I mean, Alice-chan—or Ein-san could actually win."