"Such bold words, my lord. Wanting to learn more about me... even though I'm just a spy. Truly, you are a remarkable man, Lord Elias."
"Heh, the term 'female spy' already sounds super cool—and pairing it with 'maid'? Even better. I really do want to get to know you more, Rita. Consider it a fair trade. I let you get close to me all this time—now it's my turn."
Elias had finished his last bite of steak and was now poking at a round, bright red tomato with his fork. The tomato rolled around the plate like it was trying to escape its fate—but no matter how it dodged, its destiny was to be eaten.
Suddenly, Elias mischievously pointed at his teacup.
"For example, what if I deliberately knocked over this cup right now—would you be mad, Rita?"
"Lord Elias, I just cleaned the floor."
"Exactly. It's so clean you could see your reflection. But you always seem so calm and composed—it makes me curious what you'd look like if you were angry. After all..."
Even when girls are angry, they're beautiful—or so the pink-haired elf once said.
"I wouldn't get angry over something like that. But please refrain from actions that might trouble me."
"Fine~ Just joking. Seeing how hard you worked to get this floor spotless, I'd feel too guilty to really ruin it. I mean, the fruits of labor should be—"
Clink!
Before he could finish his sentence—
A glass fell to the floor.
And of course, it wasn't Elias' tea—it was the bitter green melon juice. A swampy green liquid spread across the polished surface, ruining Rita's half-hour effort in a heartbeat.
Both Elias and Rita turned toward the source: Theresa.
Who looked like she desperately wanted to crawl into a hole.
"Theresa, you should respect other people's hard work."
"Ugh, I'm sorry, Rita! I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright, Lady Theresa. I know you didn't do it on purpose. Please, step aside and let me take care of this."
Rita let out a wry smile, slipped on her gloves, and expertly cleared the broken glass and wiped up the juice. She even carefully handled the smallest shards.
Elias watched her kneeling gracefully as she worked, struck by how elegant she looked.
Compared to the rest of the high-powered cast in this world, Rita was just a normal human. But even so, she was still an S-rank Valkyrie. Currently, only Mei could spar evenly with her.
Yet someone like her took such pride in her role as a maid—always humble and respectful.
"Rita, what does being a maid mean to you?"
"Hmm? Is Lord Elias perhaps interested in becoming one?"
"I'm not. Definitely not. No cross-dressing."
"Hehe, just teasing. I wouldn't recommend it anyway. For me, a maid is a guardian—someone who supports their master in pursuing their dreams."
As she spoke, Rita had already finished cleaning. She poured Theresa a fresh glass of bitter melon juice and began clearing Elias' empty dishes to the kitchen sink.
"...You definitely have a servant's heart."
Elias said it with certainty. Few people had such a pure desire to serve—and when such a person became a maid, it was like a perfect recipe for turning others into spoiled slobs.
Honestly, ever since Rita showed up, Elias had noticeably slacked off. Clothes handed to him, meals served—he was starting to develop a dependency.
But who could blame him? She was just too good at caretaking.
Elias: (I used to think Mei was the undisputed champion of caretaking... but Rita might actually be stronger. Ah~ What do I do? I'm turning into a useless layabout. Eh, screw it—may as well embrace it.)
Some say people fall the fastest when they fall into comfort.
"Then... what must I do to become your master?"
"Hehe, Lord Elias, aren't you already my master? If you have a dream, please tell me. I will help you realize it."
"Unfortunately, I'm not someone with dreams. But, like you, I want to protect the dreams of others. Like Bronya's dream to become a game designer, Mei's dream to be a teacher, and… Kiana's dream to mooch off everyone forever."
What Elias truly wanted now was to defeat the Honkai.
To rewrite all the tragedies of both the Previous and Current Eras.
But that was a goal—a conviction. Not a dream.
There was a clear difference: dreams are what one dares to imagine, or things that might be possible if all goes well.
"I see..."
Rita paused for a moment before smiling softly. The sudden gentleness in her gaze made Elias blink.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, I just feel like I've come to understand you a little better."
"Is that so? Then it feels a little unfair. I've been opening up this whole time. Don't you think it's your turn to tell me a little about yourself, Rita?"
(Even if I said nothing, you'd probably see right through me anyway.) Rita thought to herself.
Ever since she began serving Elias as a maid, Rita realized this man never treated her as a threat.
It was like he inherently trusted her—something she couldn't quite explain.
Sometimes, she even wondered: were they once companions in a past life? And she had simply forgotten?
Otherwise, how could she explain Elias' inexplicable goodwill toward her?
She had seen his sleeping face countless times. If she had meant harm, it would've been all too easy to poison his food.
He didn't even hesitate to drink that red tea she made on their first meeting—tea she had tampered with using computer components.
"Lord Elias, since you said you wanted to understand me, how about we play a little game that helps us get to know each other better?"
Rita suddenly suggested.
She knew he wouldn't refuse.
From their time together, Rita had learned a bit about Elias' personality.
Like how—he never turned down a fun game.
"Oh? What do you have in mind?"
Sure enough, Elias raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Truth or Dare."
"Omoshiroi~"
His eyes sparkled with delight as he instantly materialized a high-precision lie detector.
Then, without warning, he dragged the still-eating-while-watching-drama Theresa over, placed her tiny hand on the detector, and smiled mischievously.
"Principal, was that cup of bitter melon juice you dropped earlier accidental or on purpose?"
"Of course it was an accident!"
The detector flashed a green circle.
"Did you stay up late reading manga again last night?"
"Wh-What? Of course not! I was thinking about the future of St. Freya Academy—Aba Aba Aba!"
The device lit up with a red X and released a 100,000-volt electric shock.
Elias tossed the now-charred Theresa aside with a smile, turning his gaze to his beautiful maid—the look in his eyes like a cunning fox eyeing a lamb that had walked straight into its den.
Rita gulped instinctively.
She was suddenly beginning to think this was a terrible idea.
(It's fine... I'll just keep choosing Dare.)
"So, the rules for dares... Let's allow anything, even things society or the law wouldn't normally permit, okay?"
Elias grinned brightly.
Rita trembled again.
This man—his smile was so warm and sunny, yet his words were colder than winter's frost.
Theresa stared wordlessly at the pair. All she could think was: Why does it feel like I'm watching a wicked prince tease his beloved maid? And why am I the one getting hurt by their game?!
"Elias, the Principal is officially declaring war today!"
Theresa raised her little fists and began pounding lightly on Elias' chest.
"Hm? You're still here, Principal? Don't cause a scene—just drink your bitter melon juice, okay? The next part is an adults-only game, so kids shouldn't get involved."
"A-A-Adults-only game?!"
Theresa blushed bright red. Her little fists froze midair before she retreated to the second floor like a flustered child...
Only to crouch at the corner of the stairs, spying on them in secret.
(Heh~ How adorable~) x2
Elias and Rita both had the same thought.
Theresa's mental age, it seemed, would never grow past her appearance. An eternal legal loli—she truly was a blessing for every loli enthusiast out there.
"Now that the distraction is gone, let the game begin! I'll start with—"
"Lord Elias, may I go first? Ladies first, perhaps?"
"Ah, so you've got something planned. Of course, go ahead."
Elias smiled and nodded.
Though teasing clueless airheads was always fun, playing games of wit and poise with someone like Rita—a calm and elegant intellectual beauty—was even more delightful.
However, before Elias could even choose between Truth or Dare, Rita leaned in and whispered directly into his ear:
"May I ask… are you satisfied with your nightlife, Lord Elias?"
"…That's not exactly a ladylike question."
Elias raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. That wasn't a question about him so much as it was about whether Mei and the others were keeping up. It seemed out of character for someone as refined as Rita.
"Then perhaps you'd prefer the Dare option, my lord."
"Ah~ I see what you're doing. You're trying to push me toward the dare, huh? Very well then, Rita—as you wish."
"Whew~ Thank you for your understanding."
Rita let out a small breath of relief. She had felt a little awkward asking such a question, but it was an important one. Elias, being who he was, would never answer something like that if it implicated Mei and the others.
"So then, Rita, what dare have you prepared for me?"
"Let me think… While cleaning your room, I often come across scattered music sheets. Does Lord Elias happen to have musical talent as well?"
"I dabble a little."
"In that case, would you be willing to perform one of your favorite pieces for me? Consider that your dare."
"Ah~ So that's your plan."
Elias immediately saw through her reasoning.
By presenting him with a dignified and tasteful dare, it would make it much harder for him to suggest anything indecent in return. As someone who calls himself a gentleman, he had to respond in kind—with equal grace.
"Very clever. In that case, let me choose a piece that suits your elegant aura, Rita."
"That's something I very much look forward to."
With that, Elias stood up. Using the powers of the Herrscher of Reason, he constructed a pristine white violin from nothing. At the same time, his outfit transformed into a refined performance suit.
"Vivaldi's Winter. Please enjoy."
And then—his performance began.
In that moment, Elias' entire aura changed. The brilliant music that flowed out instantly widened Rita's eyes with astonishment.
The melody was graceful, intense, and profound—like a hunter closing in on its prey in the dead of night.
Rita closed her eyes, and her mind instinctively replayed memories of past assassination missions.
As the music built to a climax, it felt like the distance between predator and prey was shrinking.
Then, at the peak, it was as if she finally swung her scythe down—delivering the fatal blow.
The melody, full of tension, elegance, and chilling precision, made Rita's heart pound. Even Theresa, watching secretly from the staircase, was stunned, her small mouth agape.
"So, was that performance to your satisfaction?"
Elias gave a graceful bow. With his handsome face and the lingering echoes of the music in the air, any ordinary woman would have already fallen under his charm.
Rita took a deep breath. With her exceptional self-control, she suppressed the fluttering in her chest and forcibly stilled that fleeting feeling.
"An astonishing performance. I've attended many classical concerts in the past, but not one of those musicians can compare to you, not even by a tenth. I didn't expect you to have such a talent, Lord Elias."
So much for claiming he only had a 'bit of skill.'
Rita recalled the subtle gestures Elias used. It wasn't just music—it was a symphony of motion and precision. A whole universe at his fingertips.
But what impressed her most wasn't just the execution—it was the composition itself.
It was the kind of piece any classical music connoisseur would praise and remember.
And yet—she had never heard it before.
"Was that song your own composition?"
Rita asked curiously. If so, Elias could truly be called a genius in classical music.
In truth, it was a piece from another world. So even if he claimed it as his own, no one could refute it.
Yet Elias shook his head.
"No, it's not mine. I learned it from a place called Earth. That's all I can say for now. Anyway, it's my turn, Rita."
He didn't have the shamelessness to claim another's masterpiece as his own. Elias loved music, but his love came with respect, not appropriation.
"Very well."
Rita glanced regretfully at her phone, wishing she had recorded the performance.
"I'll choose 'Truth.'"
She steeled herself, prepared for a tricky question—but the one Elias asked caught her completely off guard.
"Then Rita, tell me—what do you like?"
"Eh? That's... the question?"
Such a plain and harmless question took her completely by surprise, breaking through her guarded posture. The gap between expectation and reality left her momentarily speechless.
Elias chuckled and gently took her slender wrist, placing it on the lie detector.
"Why not? You said this was a game to help us understand each other. So isn't learning about your likes a perfectly normal step?"
"I see... it seems I misjudged you. I apologize for the earlier suspicion, Lord Elias. I do have quite a few likes."
Rita thought for a moment.
"Cooking, cleaning, taking care of others—all the standard duties of a maid, I enjoy them all. As for something you might not expect: I actually prefer sunflowers over roses. Or more accurately, I like people who are like sunflowers—always turning toward the light."
She smiled faintly.
"And today, I gained a new favorite—your music, Lord Elias. If it's not too much trouble, could you play it again later? I'd love to use it as my ringtone."
Elias nodded. "Of course."
...
After that, the questions remained unexpectedly serious.
Turns out, as long as people speak plainly and sincerely, you don't need any conversational tricks to get to know someone. Just ask and answer.
In just a few minutes, Elias and Rita had learned each other's likes, dislikes, and even some unique quirks. The atmosphere was surprisingly open and harmonious.
From the stairs, Theresa was dumbfounded.
From her perspective, the two looked like they were speed-running an arranged marriage interview. Even though she knew they weren't romantically involved... it still felt like she was choking on sugar.
Then, when Rita's turn came again, she finally asked the question that had been on her mind all along.
"Lord Elias, please tell me—why do you trust me so much? It's as if you have some kind of innate affection toward me."
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