The next day arrived. A short while after lunch, during the mid-afternoon snack hour, I set off to have tea with Illness-san just as we had promised.
The most significant detail, however, was the location. Rather than meeting in my own quarters, I had been invited to Illness-san’s private room. It would be my first time seeing where she lived.
As a live-in maid, it was only natural for her to have a room in Lilia-san’s mansion, but I had a difficult time imagining her there. She always seemed to be working, to the point where I rarely saw her resting at all. I truly couldn’t picture her in a personal, private space.
I wondered what kind of room it would be. Given her maturity and elegance despite her small stature, I imagined it would be quite stylish. She loved roses, so perhaps her furniture and décor featured floral patterns?
Then again, since she rarely used it, maybe it was just a simple room with only the bare necessities. The former would be like Rosmiel-san’s house, while the latter would be more like Ein-san’s room. I found myself curious to see which path she had taken.
With these thoughts in mind, I eventually reached her door. In terms of layout, it was fairly close to the hallway leading to my house, but positioned at the very edge of the mansion. I had a feeling she had specifically requested a room in such an out-of-the-way corner.
I knocked, and after a short wait, she opened the door. She must have been off duty, as she was dressed in casual clothes: a white top paired with a long black skirt.
"Hello, Illness-san. Thank you for inviting me."
"Welcome, Kaito-sama. Please, do come in."
"Pardon me."
Seeing her in such simple yet elegant casual wear only highlighted her mature charm. I felt a slight flutter of nerves as I stepped inside.
I had made several guesses, but the reality surpassed them all—the room was incredibly tasteful. Refined, antique-style furniture was arranged with surgical precision, creating an atmosphere that screamed sophistication from the first glance.
I had previously stayed in a guest room in Lilia-san’s mansion, and the furniture here was completely different from anything else in the house. Illness-san must have purchased these pieces herself. The lighting magic tools cast a warm, orange glow, giving the space the cozy feel of a manor study straight out of a movie.
"This is a wonderful room," I said. "The furniture has such a calm, dignified vibe. It suits you perfectly."
"Kuhihi, it makes me happy to hear you say that. Please—this seat is for you."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Looking closely, even the carpets and rugs were coordinated to match the theme, creating a seamless sense of unity. Roses were placed in a vase by the window, adding a touch of her personality to the mix. It really was the ideal sanctuary for a woman as refined as her.
To be honest, it was so well-decorated that it made me a bit self-conscious. This level of chic, retro charm required a real eye for design. Even if I owned the same furniture, I could never have made it look this good.
"Please feel as if this were your own room and relax," she said.
"Thank you. Oh, you even have roses on the table."
"Yes. Since I was hosting you today, I put a little extra effort into the arrangements. It is usually a bit more modest."
Three roses sat in an elegant vase in the center of the table Illness-san had prepared. It wasn’t flashy or excessive; the small number felt perfectly balanced and intentional, adding to the lovely atmosphere.
Serious-senpai: "Gwah... Sh-She specially decorated the table with three roses meaning 'I love you' just because Kaito was coming... Sh-She's really coming out swinging from the very first move..."