Kaiser took in Liliana, not because he had any particular purpose, but simply because he thought of her as a capable homaker.
Right now, he was being attended to daily by Mariya Yuri, but Mariya Yuri wasn’t always by his side.
She still had to attend school, sotis had to fulfill her duties assisting the History Compilation Committee, and even had to go ho to take care of her younger sister. As a result, Mariya Yuri generally didn’t stay with him all the ti.
Of course, it was possible for her to devote herself entirely to serving him, but Kaiser didn’t intend to make a girl sacrifice herself to such an extent. Even though he often said that Mariya Yuri was his possession, he still couldn’t bring himself to treat her purely as a tool.
He hadn’t truly beco a lawless Campione like the others.
Even though, after becoming the Librarian of the Fantasy Library, he had gradually started to loosen up and beco more unrestrained, he had never intended to beco a villain who disregarded human rights.
So, even though Mariya Yuri had beco his woman, Kaiser still respected her wishes—at least when it ca to matters that weren’t important.
He wouldn’t make Mariya Yuri give up school, give up her family, give up her role as Hi-Miko, just to serve him full-ti. As long as she could help him achieve his goals when he needed her, that would be enough.
At such a ti, for Liliana to deliver herself to his doorstep could be considered a good thing.
With her excellent housekeeping skills, even if she was used as a maid, she should be able to relieve Mariya Yuri of a good portion of her burden.
Therefore...
"...Have I really ended up like this?"
In the living room, Liliana appeared looking completely disheartened.
She had already changed out of her usual blue and white outfit, now wearing a black and white ensemble instead.
With its fluffy skirt hem, pleated lace, and overall apron-like design filled with a cute aesthetic, plus the white headdress, white thigh-high socks, and black leather shoes...
There was no doubt—this was a maid outfit.
"Wow!" Seishuin Ena gasped in amazent the mont she saw Liliana and said, "I thought Miss Liliana was more of a strong-willed type, but surprisingly, she suits a maid outfit unexpectedly well."
"Sh-she really does suit it," Mariya Yuri was also extrely surprised, murmuring as if to herself, "To think Miss Liliana would actually look this good in a maid outfit... I really never noticed before."
The two girls of the sa age gave high praise, but it failed to bring Liliana any joy.
"I’m a knight, not a maid!" Liliana clenched her small fists, looking ashad and angry. "As a knight of the Bronze Black Cross, the granddaughter of the Kranjčar family, I’m actually wearing a maid’s uniform. This is simply disgraceful!"
Liliana wasn’t entirely opposed to maid outfits.
After all, there were people around her who dressed like this.
As a Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross and a witch with a lineage, Liliana had a high standing in Milan’s magical society, with subordinates who served directly under her.
Those subordinates were apprentice witches and also acted as her maids, taking care of her daily affairs.
Not just Liliana—Erica had them too, and so did other Great Knights.
Though she didn’t know if other people’s maids dressed the sa, both Liliana’s and Erica’s maids did dress like this. They usually looked just like maids serving them, and indeed, that was essentially their role.
This ti, because she had co with Marquis Voban to this far eastern island country, Liliana hadn’t brought her personal maid. But due to being used to seeing this style of clothing daily, she naturally didn’t think there was anything wrong with maid outfits themselves.
The problem was that now she was the one wearing it, and that was sothing she couldn’t accept.
For a dignified Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross, a descendant of witches, to be dressed like those apprentice subordinates as a maid—this was simply too humiliating!
Wearing this maid outfit, Liliana felt as if soone were constantly whispering to her that she was still immature, incapable of standing on her own, and had to start all over as an apprentice witch, beginning her training anew as a maid. If her own maid saw her like this, she would no doubt laugh at her rcilessly, right?
But who told her she had done wrong this ti and must accept punishnt?
"From now on, you’ll be responsible for all the affairs around here," Kaiser scrutinized Liliana for a while, then nodded with satisfaction and said, "If you have any objections, you can raise them now."
...Can she really raise objections?
No, she could raise them, but who knows what would happen after she did.
"Understood." Liliana chose to accept reality, sighed, and said, "Since this is a punishnt, it can’t be helped."
Compared to truly having her body toyed with, this outco was actually already quite good, right?
...Yes, this outco really wasn’t bad.
It’s not like she imagined so bold scenario in her head and ended up mysteriously looking forward to it or anything!
"Actually, this isn’t necessary." Mariya Yuri weakly offered, "This place was originally where I rested, and taking care of His Majesty and Ena isn’t difficult—I can easily manage it on my own."
She wasn’t trying to act tough; this was simply the truth.
She already regularly cooked and did housework at ho, and there was also a younger sister there who constantly needed her care, so she was long used to such tasks. She didn’t think having two more people would be exhausting at all.
In Mariya Yuri’s view, she could easily look after Kaiser and Seishuin Ena by herself. There was no need to find another maid just for so chores.
However, it was fine when Mariya Yuri didn’t say anything—once she did, Liliana beca serious.
"If these are your usual duties, then I all the more have to take over them." Liliana looked directly at Mariya Yuri with sincere eyes and said, "Though it was forced, I did raise my hand against you."
"If it weren’t for the fact that you had already pledged loyalty to the new king, I definitely would’ve taken you to the Marquis and forced you into that unforgettable ritual."
"If sothing had happened to you during the ritual, then it would’ve been no different than being the one who killed you."
"So, atoning for that is only natural."
Thinking that she was taking over Mariya Yuri’s usual tasks, Liliana was instead able to accept her current role.
She did feel guilty toward Mariya Yuri.
The two of them were survivors from that cruel and inhumane ritual four years ago. Logically, they should have cherished each other, cared for each other, and supported each other, yet this ti she had beco an accomplice, trying to push the companion she had once survived with back into hell—this was absolutely unforgivable.
Now that the culprit, Marquis Voban, had been driven off, though Liliana said nothing aloud, she actually felt relieved deep down.
With that, the Marquis’ plan could no longer proceed, and there was no longer a need for anyone to sacrifice themselves as they did four years ago. That was undoubtedly a great thing.
Compared to the worst possible outco, being reduced to a re maid was a small price to pay to prevent the otherwise inevitable—this was an imnse blessing.
Since that was the case, what did she have to complain about?
With that in mind, Liliana felt much better.
"Then, Your Majesty, I shall get to work."
Say what you will—once she accepted her role, Liliana carried it out quite well, quickly changing her attitude and bowing to Kaiser like a proper maid.
Then, she picked up a mop and walked out.
"Wait!" Mariya Yuri imdiately stood up and said, "Let help you!"
"Yuri?" Seishuin Ena blinked in confusion. "Isn’t it ti for school?"
"It’s the weekend—no school today." Mariya Yuri shook her head and said, "I had already planned to do housework anyway, so I’ll go help Miss Liliana."
Saying that, Mariya Yuri ran after Liliana and left the living room.
"Yuri really is a wonderful woman." Seishuin Ena remarked with admiration, "Whoever gets to marry her will definitely be very happy."
"Are you hinting at sothing?" Kaiser glanced at Seishuin Ena. "Don’t tell it’s that whole ’if Mariya is first, then I’ll be second’ thing again?"
"Ena’s not that obsessed with titles, okay?" Seishuin Ena gave Kaiser a cheerful smile and said, "Even if Your Majesty only keeps Ena as a lover, Ena would still be perfectly willing."
"...A woman like you must be liked by a lot of n, huh?" Kaiser couldn’t help but voice the thought. "Not just your looks and figure—even your personality is every man’s dream."
"Really?" Seishuin Ena’s eyes squinted happily like she’d just been praised. "Then does Your Majesty like ?"
"What do you think?" Kaiser turned to her and looked into her smiling face. "I’m a normal man, after all."
As he said this, Kaiser looked straight at Seishuin Ena, smiling brightly, his gaze practically radiating heat.
"Uuh..."
Being stared at so intently by Kaiser, Seishuin Ena’s true nature ca out—she imdiately blushed and beca shy.
"I-I’ll go see if there’s anything I can help with!"
With that, Seishuin Ena ran out of the living room.
"Truly weak yet addicted."
Kaiser chuckled as he watched Seishuin Ena leave, then picked up his teacup and leisurely sipped his tea.
Thus passed the day in peace, until the arrival of night...
...
At night, Tokyo was ablaze with lights—except for one place: the red steel tower that usually lit up at this hour had been swallowed by darkness, silently watching over the city.
Tonight, Shichio Shrine was particularly quiet.
Mariya Yuri had already gone ho. After asking Kaiser’s permission, Seishuin Ena also left alone, heading into the deep mountains.
To maintain her own spiritual purity, Seishuin Ena often went into the mountains to train like this. Having stayed too long at the base and even using spirit descent twice recently had affected her negatively.
"Ena will return to Your Majesty’s side very soon. Before that, please claim Yuri."
The ultimate Yamato Nadeshiko uttered words more open-minded than anyone, then disappeared into the mountains.
As for Liliana... after finishing a day of chores, she too requested permission from Kaiser, saying she needed to et with people from the Bronze Black Cross.
"I still need to report back to my family and the Bronze Black Cross about staying by Your Majesty’s side as a maid."
Thus, Liliana also left, using that as a reason, leaving Kaiser alone in the shrine office.
Kaiser didn’t feel uncomfortable. After all, he was used to being alone and didn’t have the kind of sensitive personality that got uneasy just because he was the only one around.
However, after nightfall, Kaiser didn’t stay in the office. Instead, he left and entered the forest within the shrine grounds.
The forest at night was extrely quiet.
There were no bird calls, no insect chirps, no lights—only endless darkness. Compared to its dayti tranquility, it now seed deathly silent and terrifying.
Of course, compared to the forest, the one walking within it—Kaiser—was undoubtedly the truly terrifying one.
He was rely strolling calmly through, yet the pressure he exuded was enough to overwhelm the entire forest.
At a certain mont, Kaiser suddenly stopped.
"It’s about ti you ca out, right?"
Kaiser looked up at the moon in the night sky and suddenly spoke.
"Hiding is useless. I’ve already felt your gaze."
As soon as he said this, a voice responded.
"That is an inaccurate statent."
It was a voice like heavenly music—a woman’s voice.
"I’ve always acted with dignity and righteousness. Why would I need to hide anything?"
"If I wanted to conceal myself, no one in this world would sense my presence."
"You sensed my gaze because I allowed you to."
Along with this imposing speech appeared a peerless beauty, descending as if from the moon palace, like a true moon goddess.
"If it were anyone else, I would’ve punished them for that rude statent just now."
"But since it’s you, I’ll let it slide."
"Be grateful for my generosity, fellow countryman junior."
The peerless beauty landed atop the crown of the tallest tree in the forest, looking down at Kaiser and speaking.
"You..."
Kaiser naturally saw the other party—and was montarily stunned.
The reason he was stunned wasn’t her unrivaled beauty.
Though her beauty could be said to eclipse all the won Kaiser had seen until now, he wasn’t the type to be dumbstruck just from seeing a pretty face. He wouldn’t freeze in place simply because the other party was a beauty.
The reason he froze was solely because of this person’s identity.
"You’re Luo Hao?"
Kaiser asked in barely concealed surprise.
"Indeed."
The Wuxia Queen of China, just as she claid, announced her na with poise.
"My surna is Luo, given na Cuilian, courtesy na Hao."
Kaiser’s senior from the sa holand had arrived—without warning.
Reviews
All reviews (0)