As soon as he heard those words, Fate immediately started to panic. By now, Jacob had definitely shown some level of awareness regarding Liza’s involvement with him, including that she had purposefully hidden information...

 

-But if he sees her on top of me, who knows what could happen! Why is she doing this, shouldn’t she be worrying about the consequences of being seen with me?! 

 

While Fate was being self-subjected to an emotional freak out, Liza continued to aggressively nuzzle against his chest while giggling to herself. However, though he was filled with worry for what might happen, he didn’t want to resort to forceful methods to remove her.

 

Liza: “Young master, it doesn’t seem like you’re trying that hard...I suppose that means that you feel the same, right?~”

 

-No, no, no, definitely not, this is going to become…! Well...I don’t actually know what anyone will think when they see us...but maid plus disgraced son of a noble equals gossip fuel and I don’t want to spur more sh*t talk about me than there already is!!! How do I get her to stop?!

 

She continued to cuddle him, while he racked his brain for a solution. 

 

-Wait, how about I…! No, no that’s stupid! Float her away with magic, no that’s probably dangerous...Blow myself up...? No, this is no time to suddenly become suicidal, now think, Fate, think! Oh!

 

Fate’s frustrated grimace began to contort into a sinister smile, which went unnoticed by the blissfully unaware Liza, who still had her head in his chest.

 

-She wants to embarrass me like this...then I guess I’ll fight fire with fire. Plus, I think it’d be wrong if we don’t fulfill some level of stereotyping, right? Ha ha ha ha ha aha aha ha!!!

 

He brought his hand to her head, his smile becoming kind and gentle as he started to rub it. Liza definitely seemed to take notice of his actions, raising her head to greet his gaze, only to be met with an overextended, villainous grin, which immediately raised several warning signs.

 

Liza: “Young master...I think I…!”

 

However, Fate gave her no time to finish her sentence, freeing both his arms and locking Liza into a noogie, while gleefully watching her frantic attempts at escape and trying to beg for mercy!

 

-It’s supposed to be the nobles who bully the servants, right? I might feel bad about something like actually attacking you...but that doesn’t mean anything against the favorite pastime of bored kids on car rides, the almighty noogie!

 

Fate continued to aggressively rub his knuckles into her scalp, while she became even more frantic in dissuading him. They both struggled with each other as the cot violently creaked beneath them...

 

Liza: “...Ughh!!! Young...lord...please...stop, quit...it!”

 

 Her words seemingly worked, with Fate gradually slowing his momentum before eventually ceasing all activity. Liza seemed extremely relieved, but soon realized that this was only a respite after locking in eyes with Fate’s childishly villainous gaze. He hadn’t been laughing on the outside, however, she could swear that his eyes were mocking her and cackling incessantly.

 

-You thought it was over, but that was just the beginning! Revenge part two!

 

After a short break, Fate began to ready his reddened knuckles for another assault, now causing Liza to panic as her young master seemed to be growing more sinister by the minute. His arm moved to lock her in place, but it was stopped dead in its tracks as soon as it made contact with her hand. Fate, shocked at the fact that she was able to resist him with her injuries, began to put more strength into his hand in an attempt to force her back, but couldn’t make her give an inch.

 

He tried to check her face for signs of struggle, but was instead met with a smug grin, infuriating him.

 

-...This was supposed to be my revenge! My【Strength】went up before, how am I not gaining ground against a girl whose arms I broke before?! Actually...just saying that makes me feel...like a piece of sh*t…!”

 

However, just as Fate was planning to ease up, Liza’s strength seemed to vanish, allowing Fate’s arm to pass while both of their arms became tangled. Both children seemed flabbergasted, but quickly tried to compose themselves. 

 

Now, something that they had overlooked was beginning to rear its head. Both Fate and Liza seemed to have forgotten that they were playfully fighting on a cot, and quite an old one, too. It began to wobble and cracking noises came from below them, startling them...

 

Fate: “Uh....”

 

-Oh...no, no, no!!!

 

Liza: “Y-young master…?”

 

The legs of the cot finally snapped, below them, sending the children toppling to the floor! They rolled for a short bit, their bodies eventually settling in one spot near the dresser…

 

Both of them groaned in pain, grasping at their bodies to comfort themselves. The pair had almost smacked into the dresser but thankfully seemed to have avoided that potential disaster, which caused them to give large sighs of relief. It was truly the saving grace of the accident.

 

-Note to self...ughhh....never try to get revenge when you’re on an old cot, meant for one person...Lesson two, think of a way to make her let her guard down next time she resists!

 

Fate placed his arms against the ground, raising himself upwards slowly, thanking his lucky stars that he wasn’t actually injured. He had nearly died several times already and wouldn’t look forward to the possibility that he might have to tell himself in the future that he had managed to get a concussion thanks to a dresser and a childish tousle…

 

Liza: “Young master…!”

 

He heard her voice, but it did not sound in pain or distressed, rather it seemed quite startled and flustered instead. He turned his attention to the floor, at which point he was embarrassed to find...that he was on top of Liza, with a good portion of her lower body comically protruding from under him.

 

-This is a complete reversal of earlier, but I didn’t want this, I swear!

 

Fate: “I’m sorry...I…!”

 

Liza: “N-no! T-this...this is my fault, you should not apologize to this terrible servant for…!”

 

Suddenly, they heard a loud creak come from behind them, causing them both to freeze in place without making a sound...

 

Jacob:  “Young master...and...the young miss, Liza...I realize that this may be a sensitive matter, but I should rather hope that there is a suitable explanation for both of your...appearances.”

 

Fate was now caught between a rock and a hard place, embarrassed beyond belief, and terrified to look behind him. Liza and Fate could only stare at each other as their eyes shook and their faces grew red enough to resemble a pair of ripe cherries…

...