Aria-san began to recount her story with a look of quiet nostalgia, explaining how an extremely rare accident had brought her from the Demon Realm to the Human Realm.
"I was once just a demon living in a tiny village on the remote fringes of the Demon Realm. As a Single-species Demon, I had no parents, but the village was so small that the entire community felt like a family. I believe I was roughly two thousand years old when a distortion in space-time cast me into the Human Realm."
"You mentioned that those distortions are incredibly rare. How often do they actually happen?"
"Perhaps once every thousand years, if that. It is even rarer for someone to actually be caught up in one. I have never met another soul who shared my experience, so it truly was an exceptional case. In any event, I arrived here by complete chance. I remember being utterly bewildered at first, not even knowing where I was. Fortunately, while I was scouting the area, I encountered some villagers from a nearby farming community. They were kind to me, and thanks to them, I was able to grasp my situation relatively quickly."
I recalled that the teleportation gates making travel between the two realms common only appeared after the Friendship Treaty. Before that era, returning to the Demon Realm from the Human Realm must have been nearly impossible.
Aria-san had mentioned earlier that she had spent about as much time in the Human Realm as she had in her homeland, which meant she must have arrived roughly two thousand years ago.
"In those days, the Arclesia Empire did not exist. The village I found belonged to a nation called the Valhand Empire. It was a country defined by its cruelty and oppression, and the villagers lived in constant suffering. Quite by accident, I ended up repelling a group of imperial soldiers who had come to the village to collect taxes. Magic was a rarity in the Human Realm back then, and as a High-ranking Demon, my power was overwhelming compared to theirs. I drove them off without a second thought... but that became the catalyst for a very strange turn of events."
"A strange turn of events?"
"Yes. Dissatisfaction with the empire had already reached a breaking point, and a revolution ignited. Through a series of coincidences, I found myself joining the revolutionary army... and eventually, I somehow ended up leading them."
Her voice trailed off into a whisper at the end, nearly inaudible, but it seemed the current Arclesia Empire was the result of that revolution’s victory.
"I intended to stay only until the country had stabilized before returning to the Demon Realm. However, I gradually developed a deep affection for the place and eventually decided to settle here permanently. I did return to my birth village to report what had happened, and I still go back for visits every now and then."
"I see... That’s incredible. It sounds like you've lived a truly whirlwind life."
"Fufu, it is a rather embarrassing tale of my immature youth, when I was simply swept along by the tide of circumstance. Still, I’ve grown to love my life as it is now, so I believe it all worked out for the best. Though, the fact that a strange reputation took hold of me was an unforeseen consequence."
"A strange reputation?"
"Ah, no... it’s just that, as you mistook me for a noble earlier, the manners and etiquette I mastered as a maid became a part of me. Those who don't know my past often assume I am of high-born blood, much like you did. This is why I only visit shops like this in secret during my private time—it doesn't exactly fit the image people have of me."
"Ah, I can relate to that. In a way, I'm also... well, it’s not entirely a misunderstanding, but people tend to see me as someone far more important than I actually am. It can be quite overwhelming."
From being suddenly transported to an unfamiliar world to the struggle of being perceived as a larger-than-life figure, I found myself empathizing deeply with Aria-san’s situation. I had Alice to help manage the flow of information, but even so, my name and face were known to nearly every noble in the land. I, too, often shied away from the places where such people gathered.
"...Ah, that's right. You are quite the celebrity yourself, Kaito-sama."
"Wait, so you really did know who I was?"
"Yes. My work as a maid brings me many opportunities to overhear news regarding the nobility, so I have heard the rumors and seen your likeness. I must admit, I was quite startled when you first spoke to me."
"Now that you mention it, you did look pretty surprised when I called out to you."
"I was simply thinking of what a strange coincidence it was. However, you are much easier to talk to than I imagined. It really goes to show that you can't truly know a person's character until you sit down and speak with them. If one only had the information that you are close friends with the Six Kings and the Supreme Gods, they would naturally assume you were a figure of kingly authority."
"I suppose that’s true... but I’m just glad we were able to clear up that misunderstanding."
Indeed, knowing someone is on intimate terms with the absolute rulers of the world doesn't tell you a thing about who they are as a person.
With a wry smile, I continued our idle chatter, sharing fries and nuggets with Aria-san.
Alexandra (True Name: Aria)
A Single-species Demon approximately 4,500 years old. Originally an inhabitant of a remote village in the Demon Realm, she accidentally crossed into the Valhand Empire (later the Arclesia Empire) within the Human Realm due to a space-time distortion.
She was taken in by kind farmers and spent her time assisting with hunting and chores. However, when a tyrannical imperial soldier attempted to kill her benefactor, she single-handedly wiped out the soldiers who had come to the village.
In the Human Realm of that era, Aria's power—which approached Peerage-class levels—was absolutely peerless. Those who witnessed her strength hailed her as an Apostle of God or the Messiah sent to save those suffering under oppression. Before she knew it, she was leading the revolutionary army, easily crushing the forces of the Valhand Empire and securing victory.
At the behest of the people, she agreed to become the new nation's First Emperor on the condition that she would only serve until the country was stable. Believing her birth name lacked sufficient dignity for a monarch, she adopted the name "Alexandra" for the duration of her reign.
Possessing a serious and obsessive personality, she perfectly mastered noble etiquette and manners despite her commoner roots, eventually exuding a natural grace that rivaled any high-born aristocrat.
After serving as Emperor for approximately 100 years, she abdicated as promised. She intended to use teleportation magic she had refined over that century to return home, but having grown fond of the Arclesia Empire, she began traveling back and forth between her home village and the empire before finally settling in the latter.
Though she had no desire to return to politics, her mastery of etiquette led her into a role as an educator for the imperial family, which eventually transitioned into a career as a maid. Her obsessive nature drove her to master every facet of the profession, and she rose to the position of Head Maid.
During the Demon King’s invasion 1000 years ago, the Emperor of the time begged for her help. She temporarily took command of an army and engaged the Demon King Army's No. 2—a Viscount-class High-ranking Demon—in a fierce, prolonged struggle that eventually ended in her victory. However, because her front required so much of her time, she had almost no contact with Noin and the other members of the Hero Party.
Up until around that era, restricted imperial records identified her as the First Emperor and a Guardian of the Country. However, those documents were lost 800 years ago during a bloody civil war over the imperial succession. Since she had no interest in revealing the truth herself, her identity as the First Emperor eventually faded into a mere urban legend.
She is said to possess seven vocal cords and utilizes sound and voice in combat. She can manipulate her voice at will; as the First Emperor, she adopted a cool, dignified tone to project majesty, but her natural voice is the gentle one she uses when speaking with Kaito as Aria.
She maintains a strict separation between her professional and personal lives. While on duty, she strives daily to be the perfect maid as Alexandra. During her time off, she returns to her natural state as Aria to enjoy her hobby of exploring the city.
While she finds it slightly troublesome that "Alexandra" is revered as the Super Maid of Technique and a noble figure—making it impossible to show her true self in public—she has largely grown accustomed to the situation.
Her favorite food is fried potatoes. Her hobbies during her time off include short trips and strolls. Her natural personality is kind and serene, though she consciously maintains the demeanor of a consummate professional when working as Alexandra.