Chapter 5 - III -

 

Fuck, I take back what I said.

 

“…”

 

My head was now spinning, and it felt like it’s being squeezed in a vice grip.  Ugh…pissing off the Saint isn’t a good idea.  Hahaha…

 

“!!!” I heard three knocks at my room’s door.  “Kuro?”

 

I guess it’s the Head Maid; I tried to stand up, but my legs won’t let me, so I just told her, “I-it’s open.”

 

The door slowly opened, and after taking a peek, the Head Maid entered my room.  Before her was a cart that was full of foodstuffs and some strange-looking bottles with different-colored liquids.  I guess this angel brought it to me since I couldn’t even stand…

 

“And here, take some medicines too.” Once she noticed my eyes were on the bottles, she handed me one filled with red liquid; it reminded me of potions that were being sold in MMORPGs by the town NPCs.

 

“Ah, thanks!” the Head Maid assisted me when I tried to sit; I’m too embarrassed to disturb her, but I guess I couldn’t do anything about my situation.  “Please, just put those down on the table.”

 

She did what I requested of her to do.  And then, the Head Maid sat on a chair beside my bed, while silently staring at me.

 

“Err…” the atmosphere between us was awkward; I wanted to eat the food, but her presence and her gaze put off my appetite, “You need anything else from me, Head Maid?”

 

“Lily.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Please call me Lily from this moment on, Kuro.” the Head Maid pouted, “And why did you annoy Her Holiness?”

 

“Oh…well, I find it cute.” I told my honest feelings and chuckled, “But yeah, I’m sorry that you have to go out your way just to request Her Holiness to heal me.  And you also brought that medicine for me.”

 

“Her Holiness is the one who gave that medicine to me.” I could sense the irritation in her voice, “She told me to use it on you so you can recover quickly.”

 

Oh…so Her Holiness is a kind soul after all…I will not piss you off from now on.

 

“Please tell her my thanks,” I told the Head Maid.

 

“I will.” she replied curtly, “By the way, I set aside that food for you, you know?”

 

“Thank you!”

 

“Hmph!”

 

Err…are you angry, Head Maid?

 

Another moment of silence and tension filled the room.  The Head Maid quietly sat beside my bed, this time, while looking down.  I was about to ask her what was wrong when I noticed her ears were red as well.  What’s going on in her mind, I wonder?

 

“Uhh…H-Head Maid—”

 

“It’s Lily!”

 

“Ah y-yeah, L-L-L-Lily…” I’m not used to calling her by name, that’s why I’m stammering!  “W-would you mind if I ask you to go for now?  I’d like to eat the food you brought to me…”

 

“I’ll feed you.”

 

“Eh?”

 

“I’ll feed you!” the Head Maid—I mean, Lily—reiterated, this time she stood up and leaned towards me as she grabbed the spoon I was holding, “Don’t refuse, Kuro!  I need to make sure you eat properly.”

 

“Ookaaay…” I’m having weird thoughts, but I guess this could work out.  I’m sick anyway.

 

“But first, you need to take off your clothes.”

 

“Ha?”  Come again, Lily?  Surely, I must’ve misheard you—

 

“T-t-t-take off y-your c-c-c-c-clothes!” Lily was stammering; her face was blushing terribly, and her eyes were trying to avert my gaze.  However, I could also tell that she’s trying hard to be firm on me, “I-I-I-I would like to…w-w-w-w-w-wipe the sweat of your b-b-b-body!”  She pulled a towel from inside her uniform.

 

Honestly, that made sense.  I’m sick and sweating all the time, so it will not hurt to have someone take care of me…

 

But well, Lily’s eyes were creeping me out.  I mean, what’s with the intense, freaky gaze?  And she’s blushing terribly, too.  And now that I’ve noticed, her breathing was rather heavy and erratic…

 

Fuck.  

 

I forgot that Lily’s nuts towards her older brother in the past.  And she’s treating me like him now…

 

“Uhh…L-Lily…I guess I’d be the one to wipe myself…”

 

“No need, Kuro.” Lily took hold of my shirt, “Let me take care of you.”

 

“Haha…really, I can take care of myself.” I tried to release myself from her grip, but she pushed forward that our lips almost touched.  Her eyes looked passionately at me, and honestly, my heart was also beating fast by now.

 

Whoa…is Lily look this lovely before?

 

“Don’t worry, I’m trained to take care of you.” Lily removed the buttons of my shirt.  Her other free hand restrained my arms, so I won’t put up a fight.  Anyway, I’m feeling awfully weak, too, so I couldn’t resist properly.  I could hear her heavy breaths…

 

Hiiii!  Lily, you’re seriously creeping me out!

 

“Kuro…”  She was about to remove the last button of my shirt.  I’m, uh, about to lose my reason as well…Dear lord, I want to be popular with the ladies, but not this way…

 

“Head Maid, Her Holiness is asking for you.”

 

Lily snapped out of her trance and looked behind, then she released me and clicked her tongue.  That was because, right at the door, was the maid, Eris.

 

Thank you, God!  Wait, why did I suddenly saw Her Holiness winking at me in my mind?  Did she just hear my prayer and assumed I thanked her?

 

 

Well, this was awkward.

 

“…”

 

Another round of silence filled my room.  That maid who just came, Eris, sat beside my bed as if waiting for something, while I’m trying to make sense of what had just transpired between me and the Head Maid, Lily.

 

Honestly, I thought that when she appeared, Eris would go ‘Kyaa!  Pervert!’ and would send me flying with a powerful slap on the cheek—just like your usual harem manga tropes.  But this girl just quietly took all of those in.

 

Well, I guess this is for the better.  At least, I didn’t have to explain a lot of things to her then.

 

“…”

 

“Err…” I broke the ice; it’s not like I’ll lose something if I did that.  Honestly, I just want to be left alone.

 

“Y-yes, M-m-mister K-Kuro?” Eris jolted.  I could sense the invisible barrier she was putting up between us.  Like the other maids save for Lily; they treated me like I’m some kind of trash.

 

Well, if she doesn’t want to be here, she can just leave.

 

“Uhh…if possible, I guess you may leave if you’re not comfortable,” I suggested; though I would like to order her to if I could.  However, I never want to sound rude to her.

 

“H-h-her Holiness a-a-asked Eris to come and t-t-t-take over the Head Maid.  W-w-w-would you like Eris to c-continue what you two are doing when Eris came?”

 

“No!” I immediately refused, “At least, let me take care of myself.”

 

“O-oh…” Eris’ face remained indifferent, but her face was red, “W-well, if Mister Kuro so desires E-Eris to leave, then Eris will excuse herself.”

 

“Thanks.” Well, even if she treated me like shit, I’m still grateful that she came and interrupted Lily at the right time.

 

Eris stood up, gracefully bowed, and went through the door.  However, just as she was about to let herself out…

 

“!!!”

 

I heard a loud noise and saw the little maid barely clinging to the doorknob.  She was about to collapse, so even if I felt bad, adrenaline took over and I rushed to her side.

 

“Oi!  Are you alright?”  Fortunately, I caught Eris as she let go of the doorknob she was holding to, “What happened to you?”

 

“E-Eris is f-fine, Mister K-Kuro,” she replied weakly.

 

There’s no way you sound and look okay, you know?

 

“Are you sick?” I felt her temperature on the forehead.  She’s a little hot—a sign of fever, but otherwise, she seemed fine.

 

“N-no need to w-worry, Eris is okay—”

 

“Well, I think you got a fever.” I was thinking of having her drink a portion of the medicine Lily gave me—

 

“!!!”

 

We both stared at each other.  Eris’ face blushed terribly.  Well, she couldn’t help it.  That was a loud grumble that I heard.

 

“Want to eat something?” I asked her.

 

Eris meekly nodded.

 

 

“Eat slowly, you might choke yourself if you don’t slow down.” I reminded Eris as she continued to gulp down everything that Lily brought for me.

 

“Oh…Eris is *munch* sorry, *crunch* Mister Kuro,” she replied in between her bites.  Looks like this maid hasn’t eaten for days.

 

“It’s fine.” I reassured her, “At least I’m relieved that it’s not something serious.”

 

Eris then paused and stared at me.

 

“W-what?” I asked.

 

“It’s nothing…”

 

Eris broke the bread she was holding in two halves, offering one to me.

 

“No, I’m good.” I think she would need it more than I.  You can have it all.

 

Eris then ate everything until none was left.  Well, I couldn’t deny that I’m impressed; the food that Lily brought for me was plentiful.  I think the head maid’s planning to feed me ‘till I burst.

 

“Uhm…Mister Kuro.  Eris is sorry for leaving nothing to eat for you.”

 

“Nah, I told you I’m okay.” Well, I was telling her the truth.  I drank some of that red potion medicine that Her Holiness gave me before, “I don’t feel like eating at all, anyway.  And consider that as thanks for coming in earlier.”

 

“Eris understands…” she was apologetic.

 

“So, did you drink the medicine I gave you?”

 

The maid nodded.

 

“Well, anyway, what happened to you?  It seems like you haven’t eaten for some time.”

 

Eris fell silent.  Her meek expression suddenly turned tense, and she avoided my eyes.  

 

This maid is hiding something.

 

“…”

 

Now that I could take a good look at her, Eris had curly red hair, matching that of the maid I saw in the middle of the rain before.  Her fever further confirmed her identity to me as the girl in question.

 

Lady Monfort’s face flashed in my mind.

 

“Ah, don’t mind me.” I immediately took back what I asked; I guess I won’t pry any further.  Everyone had a secret or two that they hide from others, after all.  I took my blanket and laid down to rest.

 

“Uhh, Mister Kuro?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Do you need anything from Eris?”

 

“Nah.  You can just leave the dishes there; I’ll take it out once I wake up.” I waved my hand as a signal that she could leave.

 

A long pause followed.  I almost thought that Eris left, but then I heard her whisper, “Thank you, Mister Kuro.”

 

I pretended to be asleep already.  Then the door creaked softly; Eris must’ve let herself out.

 

God, I’m so effing cool!

 

“…”

 

Damn…I’m starving.

 

On second thought, I think I should’ve taken on her offer earlier and ate that other half of the bread.

 

So that means I’m also stupid, I guess?