The next morning, on the way to the academy after spending the night in bed with Ethan for the first ti in a long while.
"Haa, haaaah..."
Feeling slightly fatigued from not being able to fall into a deep sleep all night, I unconsciously let out a yawn, different from my usual self. Noticing this, Ethan looked at with a slightly worried expression and asked,
"Lilith, are you okay? You seem particularly tired today."
"...I'm fine, Young Master Ethan. Excuse ."
"If you're tired, why not take another day off?"
"Thank you for your concern, but missing more academy days could interfere with my studies. Also, as your personal maid, I need to assist you properly."
"...If you say so, Lilith, I won't insist."
...As if he didn’t know that he was the cause of my fatigue.
Last night, I couldn't sleep easily because I was conscious of Ethan sleeping beside in bed. Despite being undoubtedly tired from various events, I couldn't fall asleep easily.
Until just a few days ago, whether it was Ethan or Isabel sleeping next to , I could fall asleep without much thought.
Now that we had the added complexity of being temporary lovers, I was tornted by thoughts of Ethan possibly attacking in my sleep, keeping awake until around 3 or 4 in the morning.
With the personal maid's wake-up ti being 6 AM, a re two or three hours of sleep wasn't enough to shake off my fatigue.
That's why I had dragged myself out of bed this morning, barely able to function.
"......"
"Lilith, is there sothing on my face?"
"No, nothing at all."
"...Then why have you been staring at so intently?"
"Is there any reason I shouldn't, Young Master Ethan?"
"...Huh?"
"Even if it's temporary, aren't we lovers now, Young Master Ethan?"
"Oh, yes. That's true... Sorry, Lilith. That was a strange question."
Now, if I suggested using separate beds or installing a curtain divider on the bed, it would surely seem suspicious.
Ethan might even mistakenly think I was being conscious of him, as he did last ti, and put on that self-satisfied expression again.
If I had known this would happen, I would have installed a curtain divider back when we weren't lovers in the first sester. Back then, it would have been justifiable as securing privacy.
I hadn't anticipated that sharing a bed would beco so awkward.
Up until a few days ago, I couldn't have imagined becoming sothing like temporary lovers with Ethan.
"Don't fall asleep in your morning classes, Lilith. I'll co to the magic departnt building for lunch, so wait for ."
"...Yes, understood."
My heart still mistook the events on the lake for feelings of love, unable to stop fluttering in Ethan's presence.
After parting ways, I walked to the magic departnt building with a slightly calr heart.
The bed issue... I'll figure it out with ti.
Adjusting to the New Relationship
Even though an awkward relationship of temporary lovers was added between Ethan and , his behavior didn’t change noticeably compared to before.
We still had lunch together as usual, took light walks around the campus talking during the remaining ti, and after all classes ended, returned to our daily life as young master and personal maid.
Contrary to my worries, Ethan did not suddenly try to close the distance or surprise with sudden physical contact.
...Even as temporary lovers, I had braced myself to accept him being a bit more forward, but nothing happened.
After all, the ti we had spent in a master-servant relationship was overwhelmingly longer than as lovers, making it inevitable.
If Ethan had not been aware of us as lovers before and was suddenly asked to act like one overnight, he would have been just as confused as I would.
At least in this world, the Ethan I had observed closely had no romantic experience and was completely inexperienced in dealing with won.
-Clop, clop, clop...
"Oh, Lilith. This way."
"...Yes, Young Master Ethan."
...Even so, he was still ticulously adhering to the manners of a romantic relationship, which felt oddly frustrating.
As soon as the sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels ca from behind, Ethan guided to the inside, a small but appreciated gesture, yet sohow unsatisfying.
Isn't this... not what a romantic relationship usually looks like?
It felt like being a butler serving a lady, which bothered . My master was Ethan, and I was the personal maid, yet the roles felt reversed.
Maybe I have to take the lead here.
To honor my commitnt to Ethan, I wouldn’t take the role of temporary lover lightly.
Though I never had romantic experience in my past life, I had been a man for over 20 years.
I knew well enough what actions would make a man of this age happy.
...Starting too aggressively from day one of being lovers might co off as a bit cheap, so I should start lightly.
-Grab.
"...Li, Lilith?!"
"...Don’t make such a fuss over sothing this small, Young Master Ethan. Holding hands is a common act between lovers, isn’t it?"
"Oh, yes. Sorry, Lilith. We are lovers now, yes."
Raising his voice unnecessarily drew attention from those around us, ruining my plan to naturally hold his hand from below, but letting go now would hurt my pride.
I deliberately gripped his hand tighter, ensuring I wouldn’t let go.
-Squeeze.
"......"
"......"
Feeling Ethan's warmth through our hands made my face flush.
We walked to the student council room without making eye contact even once.
At the Student Council Room
"Welco, Lord Ethan. And Miss Lilith."
"Good day, Princess Seraphine."
"It's been a while, Princess."
"The weather seems quite cold outside. Your faces are both red."
"......"
"......"
Exchanging formal greetings with Seraphine after a long ti, Ethan and I entered the student council room.
As we stepped inside, Luke, who had beco completely adept at his duties as a personal maid, handed us two cups of chamomile tea.
"It’s a tea that warms the body."
"...Thank you."
"...Thank you."
...If I get any warr, I might overheat.
Unable to refuse Luke's kindness, I quietly accepted the herbal tea.
Taking a sip, a pleasant warmth spread inside .
"You’re early today too, Princess Seraphine."
"I just arrived, Lord Ethan. You both ca just as I was about to start working."
"Will I be handling the administrative duties from today, Princess?"
"Yes, Miss Lilith. Co to think of it, we didn’t have much ti for a proper introduction last ti. Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes. Thanks to your concern, I have recovered a lot."
"It’s more thanks to Hero Gyeongmwajogyegigwat Volt and Miss Seriste."
Well, that’s true. If it weren’t for them, I would have already been dead.
However, I later learned that the reason they could arrive at the lake in ti was due to Seraphine receiving a report of the Kraken’s ergence while talking with them.
Indirectly, both Luke and Seraphine had also helped save my life.
"How have you been, Miss Luke?"
"Yes, Miss Lilith."
"...Are you managing well as Princess Seraphine’s personal maid? You’re not doing it reluctantly because I refused the princess’s offer, are you...?"
"I’m not a personal maid for such reasons, so please don’t worry, Miss Lilith."
"...Is that so?"
Considering the original plot, it felt awkward for Luke to be a personal maid now.
Though there were several routes in the ga where Luke’s true identity as a woman was revealed, her becoming Seraphine’s personal maid was a rare storyline.
I montarily worried that my actions had forced Luke into an unwanted position, but her answer indicated she liked her current role.
"During the evaluation match at the end of the last sester, I learned a lot from my battle with you, Miss Lilith. Despite having such skills, you protect your master as a personal maid. It was a revelation for ."
"Pardon?"
"I realized the importance of my role as a personal maid not just in hiding my identity but in taking full responsibility for my master’s well-being. Seeing you made rethink my approach."
"......Pardon?"
"I was foolish not to understand your perspective then, but inspired by you, I decided to beco a personal maid who could fully support Princess Seraphine. Therefore, my current position is entirely my choice."
"Ah, yes, I see... Thank you for your honesty, Miss Luke."
"Indeed, Miss Lilith, you have a broad heart."
It seed she had misunderstood several things, but the atmosphere was such that I let it pass.
...Well, if she’s happy, there’s no need for to spoil it.
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