"Why do I trust you so much, and why do I have feelings for you? Heh, that question is easy."
Elias answered Rita's question without the slightest hesitation, and his answer was so simple that Rita was left speechless.
"I trust you because I believe that in the future, we'll definitely become comrades. Besides, sincerity begets sincerity. I believe that as long as I'm sincere with you, sooner or later, you'll feel the same toward me."
"Lord Elias..."
"As for my affection, it's even simpler. It's because you're very beautiful. Who wouldn't be fond of a lovely girl? Plus, I have a feeling we were fated in a past life. Maybe you were my maid on a battleship in another life."
Elias spoke earnestly, not blinking once.
"That answer... truly beyond anything I expected," Rita said, looking at the lie detector showing a green ring and no discharge. She could only laugh helplessly.
Trusting because of trust.
Friendly because of instinct.
She couldn't help but think of a certain airheaded goose. Even Durandal wasn't this naive, right?
"Is it really just that simple?"
"It really is."
The lie detector once again displayed a green circle. Rita let out a sigh, feeling like she had worried too much earlier.
...
On the other side, Elias discreetly activated his Authority.
He restored the lie detector beneath his hand to its standard mode.
That's right—he cheated.
Rita was still too naive, putting so much trust in a lie detector built by Elias himself using his own Authority.
His hand was resting right on the device, and he could freely alter its internal structure. Whether it lit green or red was entirely up to him.
(No helping it. I can't just come out and say I transmigrated from another world, already knew the story thanks to a game called Honkai Impact 3rd, and even maxed out your affection meter.)
Most of the time, the truth is harder to believe than a lie.
Besides, Rita, you're still too weak.
Knowing too much isn't a good thing.
Still, Elias felt he was being sincere—though he didn't yet realize:
Exchanging sincerity for sincerity usually only gets you a knife, a bomb, or a slap in the face.
"Although it's a little regrettable, it's about time we end this game. But since ladies first, I'll take the final round as the gentleman."
"Of course. Come to think of it, I haven't picked 'Dare' even once. In that case, I'll choose 'Dare' for the last round. Lord Elias, you're allowed to make a slightly excessive request."
Rita raised a finger to her lips with a charming smile. Leaning forward slightly, she presented a stunning view—truly worthy of her title as Herrscher of Desire.
"Oh? What's this all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing. Just that... since you trust me so much, I wanted to make a small gesture in return. Besides, fulfilling a master's troublesome requests is part of a maid's duties, isn't it?"
"Haha~ Looks like your affection for me increased quite a bit today. Then I won't hold back."
Elias' lips curled upward as he beckoned the beautiful maid with a crooked finger.
Rita obediently leaned in, placing her left ear near Elias' lips.
However, her elegance cracked in the next second. When Elias whispered his command into her ear, she turned stiffly, like a machine malfunctioning.
"Lord Elias, it seems you've betrayed my trust... That request is just too..."
"All I asked was for you to say something to her. It's not that hard, definitely less effort than playing a full piece. And besides... didn't someone just say that fulfilling the master's whims is part of a maid's duties?"
"...You're truly terrible. I'm sorry, truly sorry, Lady Durandal. Rita is going to disappoint you."
Rita gritted her teeth, regretting letting her guard down. One careless moment, and she had fallen right into his trap.
Seeing her troubled and sighing expression, Elias couldn't help but feel inexplicably delighted. Maybe, just as Rita said, he really was a bad master.
After that, Elias followed through on his earlier promise.
He played Vivaldi's "Winter" once more, letting the classic melody ease some of the girl's gloom.
"Rita, I want a fish dish for dinner tonight."
"Understood, Lord Elias~"
"Mm, I'll leave the details to you. I'm going out to bask in the sun. Sunshine—I need warm sunshine~"
Watching the boy head outdoors and lounge comfortably on a bench in the sun, Rita's eyes showed a helpless affection, as if saying, "You're impossible."
She then pulled out her terminal and, using her S-rank Valkyrie privileges, began procuring the most important ingredient—fish.
That night, the Valkyrie dormitory dinner featured an all-fish feast: Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, Scallion Grilled Crucian Carp, Fish with Pickled Cabbage, Steamed Bass, Chopped Chili Fish Head, Grilled Citrus Shrimp on Lettuce, and Grilled Salmon.
Kiana: "It's really tasty, but... what happened today?"
Mei: "Such exquisite culinary skill. But why is it all fish tonight?"
Bronya: "Today's dinner was prepared by Miss Rita. Based on Bronya's deduction, the reason must be..."
All eyes turned toward a certain someone who was quietly trying to lower his presence while eating. Elias felt a little awkward under their subtle stares.
Elias: "Ahem, well, whatever the reason, it's delicious, right? Everyone, dig in..."
He cast a helpless glance at the elegant maid still wearing her usual polite smile. He wondered if this was deliberate... or just deliberate. Such a counterattack—truly worthy of Rita.
...
Later that night, as everyone gradually drifted off to sleep—
In Rita's room—
She was, as usual, compiling a report on Elias, preparing to upload it to Schicksal's terminal.
However, what used to be a task completed in mere minutes was now dragging on for over half an hour with no progress.
Finally, after much effort, Rita finished the last line of the report. Her finger hovered over the Enter key—but she hesitated, motionless.
She laughed at herself.
"To feel guilt only now... how hypocritical of me. Ugh~ I suddenly wish I hadn't gotten to know Lord Elias today. Then I wouldn't be hesitating like this."
With a bitter smile, Rita stared at the intelligence she had just written.
There was no doubt—it was an act of betrayal.
Though it was far too late to say that now. After all, she had already submitted fifteen reports on Elias in the past.
But tonight, memories of the day resurfaced—of the trust and kindness that white-haired boy had shown her.
She also remembered telling him that she liked sunflowers—because she admired people who followed the sun.
And Elias—he truly was like the sun. Spending time with him was infinitely more comforting than her days serving Otto as one of his black-gloved agents.
Rita moved her finger from the Enter key to the Backspace key.
"To betray the master one serves... that's the most unforgivable thing a maid can do."
She pressed down.
In the next second, the report she had labored over for thirty minutes vanished letter by letter. In just half a minute, it was all gone.
"Lord Elias said that even if this intel were leaked, it wouldn't matter. That means it has no value to Schicksal. In that case, there's no harm in me withholding it."
Rita murmured to herself.
Then she stepped away from her desk and looked out at the moon through the window, feeling suddenly much lighter.
She casually set today's recording of "Vivaldi's Winter" to loop, then pulled out her recipe book covered in sticky notes, starting to plan the next day's meals.
Ding-ling-ling—!
Just then, a communication request came in.
Rita turned and saw that it was from Durandal. She immediately accepted the call.
"I knew you'd still be awake at this hour, Rita," came the familiar voice of the airheaded goose.
"Mm, good evening, Lady Durandal," Rita replied with a joyful smile.
The two best friends began chatting naturally.
Technically, as a spy embedded within enemy ranks, Rita should have minimized unnecessary contact with her own side. But after thinking of that boy who knowingly let her get close despite her motives—
Rita felt there was no need to worry about that anymore.
"How have you been while I've been gone, Lady Durandal? Have you been eating properly?"
"Uh, well, sort of. The Overseer assigned me a new assistant, but... I still miss your cooking, Rita."
On the other end, Durandal scratched her cheek.
Though the maids hired by Schicksal were all trained professionals, they still didn't measure up to Rita. Not everyone could match Durandal's lifestyle pace.
The strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal spent her days either carrying out missions, en route to missions, training in the gym, or meditating inside her microcosmic world of Sumeru.
Keeping up with her was a challenge even for an A-rank Valkyrie—let alone surpassing Rita, a maid whose proficiency exceeded even her Valkyrie rank.
"Rita, how much longer will your mission take? When will you be coming back?"
"Oh? Lady Durandal, are you saying you missed me?"
"Yes!"
Durandal answered without hesitation. This golden-armored saint goose had always been direct and unambiguous.
Rita smiled happily on her end. She sat on the edge of her window, gazing up at the night sky, imagining Durandal's face in the moon.
But the pure white glow of the moonlight also reminded her of Elias.
In that instant, her joy cooled slightly. A thought suddenly struck her.
(...The timing of Lady Durandal's call... feels a little too coincidental.)
She had just deleted her report—only for HQ to contact her.
"..."
"Rita? Why aren't you saying anything? Did something happen?" Durandal's concerned voice came from the other end.
"Lady Durandal, did the Overseer instruct you to call me?" Rita asked abruptly, her eyes narrowing.
"..."
That silence was already an answer.
After a brief pause—
"Y-Yes, it's true. The Overseer did ask me to contact you. He said I should check in on your situation, see if you needed any support... Uh, he's actually right next to me now. Did he do something again?"
Durandal turned to look suspiciously at Otto, who was standing beside her. Truthfully, she had already sensed something was off.
It was the middle of the night when Otto suddenly came knocking, telling her to call Rita. Then he just stood nearby, clearly intending to eavesdrop.
At the time, Durandal had brushed it off since she genuinely missed her dear friend.
But now that Rita brought it up—
Durandal immediately put the pieces together. She turned to Otto with an upright gaze and asked:
"Overseer, did you do something shady again?"
"Ahem! Of course not. I really didn't do anything this time, Durandal. You have to believe me."
"..."
Believe Otto Apocalypse? Even a fungus-brained Kaslana would find that ridiculous.
Durandal stared at him speechlessly. She thought to herself, I might be dense, but I'm not stupid. Overseer Otto, your credibility was bankrupt five hundred years ago.
Seeing that classic "I don't believe a word you just said" expression, Otto chuckled awkwardly and tried to slip away—but Durandal grabbed the back of his collar like fate itself.
"Rita, are you alright? The Overseer is right next to me. I—I'll teach him a lesson for you—"
"I'm fine, Lady Durandal. Don't worry. The Overseer really didn't do anything this time."
Rita's expression darkened. Her gaze out the window grew colder.
All she did was delay a report, and yet he had already started suspecting her and sent a test? And he used Durandal, someone she would never be cautious of?
Truthfully, she had only sensed something off by coincidence. She would never have suspected Durandal otherwise.
Only Otto... Only he could be this paranoid, this cunning.
(Oh right, I haven't completed my dare yet...)
Rita suddenly remembered her unfinished dare, and a sly smile curved her lips.
"Lady Durandal, I have something to tell you."
"Mm! I'm listening, Rita. Go ahead."
"It's like this: from now on, please don't call me again. I'm afraid Lord Elias might misunderstand. Good night."
With that, Rita hung up immediately and smiled in satisfaction.
(Ah~ I really said something terrible. But it can't be helped—this was Lord Elias' command after all~ I hope Lady Durandal won't be too heartbroken.)
Humming a tune, she powered off her phone and resumed planning tomorrow's meals.
Meanwhile, at Schicksal HQ—
"The number you dialed is powered off. Please try again later. Sorry, the subscriber you dialed is powe—"
(What the...) Durandal redialed several times to no avail. Her phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor.
The airheaded goose stared in disbelief, completely panicked.
"No! Ri—ta—!!"
(Snowflakes drift, the northern wind howls, the heavens and earth are vast and desolate~)
"Uh..."
Even Otto was stunned.
Best friends torn apart by a man? This plot twist slammed into him so fast, he nearly choked on it.
"Hiss... That Elias kid is really something? It's only been half a month and he's already won over Rita?"
Otto was genuinely shocked. Truly worthy of a boy who could charm even Herrschers.
"You never disappoint—or rather, you always manage to surprise me, Elias."
Please keep it up!
Quickly win over K423 as well!
For the grand plan to resurrect Kallen—
You're the final, critical piece!
"This is all your fault, Overseer."
Suddenly, Durandal raised her head, trembling as she stared accusingly at Otto Apocalypse.
"D-Durandal?"
"It's all because you sent Rita on that spy mission. That's why she changed like this."
"Wait, Durandal, calm down. Put down Hler's Serenity. Let's talk this out."
Seeing Durandal suddenly produce a knight's lance from who-knows-where, Otto panicked. Her eyes were starting to glow red. Cold sweat poured down his back as he slowly tried to retreat.
"Lord Overseer, give me back my Rita!"
Otto failed to escape.
That night, a shocking incident occurred at Schicksal HQ.
The strongest Valkyrie, Durandal, armed with a Pantheon weapon, chased down Overseer Otto and stabbed him all night long.
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