The next morning, on the way to the academy after spending the night in bed with Ethan for the first time in a long while.

"Haa, haaaah..."

Feeling slightly fatigued from not being able to fall into a deep sleep all night, I unconsciously let out a yawn, different from my usual self. Noticing this, Ethan looked at me with a slightly worried expression and asked,

"Lilith, are you okay? You seem particularly tired today."

"...I'm fine, Young Master Ethan. Excuse me."

"If you're tired, why not take another day off?"

"Thank you for your concern, but missing more academy days could interfere with my studies. Also, as your personal maid, I need to assist you properly."

"...If you say so, Lilith, I won't insist."

...As if he didn’t know that he was the cause of my fatigue.

Last night, I couldn't sleep easily because I was conscious of Ethan sleeping beside me in bed. Despite being undoubtedly tired from various events, I couldn't fall asleep easily.

Until just a few days ago, whether it was Ethan or Isabel sleeping next to me, I could fall asleep without much thought.

Now that we had the added complexity of being temporary lovers, I was tormented by thoughts of Ethan possibly attacking me in my sleep, keeping me awake until around 3 or 4 in the morning.

With the personal maid's wake-up time being 6 AM, a mere two or three hours of sleep wasn't enough to shake off my fatigue.

That's why I had dragged myself out of bed this morning, barely able to function.

"......"

"Lilith, is there something on my face?"

"No, nothing at all."

"...Then why have you been staring at me so intently?"

"Is there any reason I shouldn't, Young Master Ethan?"

"...Huh?"

"Even if it's temporary, aren't we lovers now, Young Master Ethan?"

"Oh, yes. That's true... Sorry, Lilith. That was a strange question."

Now, if I suggested using separate beds or installing a curtain divider on the bed, it would surely seem suspicious.

Ethan might even mistakenly think I was being conscious of him, as he did last time, and put on that self-satisfied expression again.

If I had known this would happen, I would have installed a curtain divider back when we weren't lovers in the first semester. Back then, it would have been justifiable as securing privacy.

I hadn't anticipated that sharing a bed would become so awkward.

Up until a few days ago, I couldn't have imagined becoming something like temporary lovers with Ethan.

"Don't fall asleep in your morning classes, Lilith. I'll come to the magic department building for lunch, so wait for me."

"...Yes, understood."

My heart still mistook the events on the lake for feelings of love, unable to stop fluttering in Ethan's presence.

After parting ways, I walked to the magic department building with a slightly calmer heart.

The bed issue... I'll figure it out with time.

Adjusting to the New Relationship

Even though an awkward relationship of temporary lovers was added between Ethan and me, his behavior didn’t change noticeably compared to before.

We still had lunch together as usual, took light walks around the campus talking during the remaining time, and after all classes ended, returned to our daily life as young master and personal maid.

Contrary to my worries, Ethan did not suddenly try to close the distance or surprise me with sudden physical contact.

...Even as temporary lovers, I had braced myself to accept him being a bit more forward, but nothing happened.

After all, the time we had spent in a master-servant relationship was overwhelmingly longer than as lovers, making it inevitable.

If Ethan had not been aware of us as lovers before and was suddenly asked to act like one overnight, he would have been just as confused as I would.

At least in this world, the Ethan I had observed closely had no romantic experience and was completely inexperienced in dealing with women.

-Clop, clop, clop...

"Oh, Lilith. This way."

"...Yes, Young Master Ethan."

...Even so, he was still meticulously adhering to the manners of a romantic relationship, which felt oddly frustrating.

As soon as the sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels came from behind, Ethan guided me to the inside, a small but appreciated gesture, yet somehow unsatisfying.

Isn't this... not what a romantic relationship usually looks like?

It felt like being a butler serving a lady, which bothered me. My master was Ethan, and I was the personal maid, yet the roles felt reversed.

Maybe I have to take the lead here.

To honor my commitment to Ethan, I wouldn’t take the role of temporary lover lightly.

Though I never had romantic experience in my past life, I had been a man for over 20 years.

I knew well enough what actions would make a man of this age happy.

...Starting too aggressively from day one of being lovers might come off as a bit cheap, so I should start lightly.

-Grab.

"...Li, Lilith?!"

"...Don’t make such a fuss over something this small, Young Master Ethan. Holding hands is a common act between lovers, isn’t it?"

"Oh, yes. Sorry, Lilith. We are lovers now, yes."

Raising his voice unnecessarily drew attention from those around us, ruining my plan to naturally hold his hand from below, but letting go now would hurt my pride.

I deliberately gripped his hand tighter, ensuring I wouldn’t let go.

-Squeeze.

"......"

"......"

Feeling Ethan's warmth through our hands made my face flush.

We walked to the student council room without making eye contact even once.

At the Student Council Room

"Welcome, Lord Ethan. And Miss Lilith."

"Good day, Princess Seraphine."

"It's been a while, Princess."

"The weather seems quite cold outside. Your faces are both red."

"......"

"......"

Exchanging formal greetings with Seraphine after a long time, Ethan and I entered the student council room.

As we stepped inside, Luke, who had become completely adept at his duties as a personal maid, handed us two cups of chamomile tea.

"It’s a tea that warms the body."

"...Thank you."

"...Thank you."

...If I get any warmer, I might overheat.

Unable to refuse Luke's kindness, I quietly accepted the herbal tea.

Taking a sip, a pleasant warmth spread inside me.

"You’re early today too, Princess Seraphine."

"I just arrived, Lord Ethan. You both came just as I was about to start working."

"Will I be handling the administrative duties from today, Princess?"

"Yes, Miss Lilith. Come to think of it, we didn’t have much time for a proper introduction last time. Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes. Thanks to your concern, I have recovered a lot."

"It’s more thanks to Hero Gyeongmwajogyegigwat Volt and Miss Seriste."

Well, that’s true. If it weren’t for them, I would have already been dead.

However, I later learned that the reason they could arrive at the lake in time was due to Seraphine receiving a report of the Kraken’s emergence while talking with them.

Indirectly, both Luke and Seraphine had also helped save my life.

"How have you been, Miss Luke?"

"Yes, Miss Lilith."

"...Are you managing well as Princess Seraphine’s personal maid? You’re not doing it reluctantly because I refused the princess’s offer, are you...?"

"I’m not a personal maid for such reasons, so please don’t worry, Miss Lilith."

"...Is that so?"

Considering the original plot, it felt awkward for Luke to be a personal maid now.

Though there were several routes in the game where Luke’s true identity as a woman was revealed, her becoming Seraphine’s personal maid was a rare storyline.

I momentarily worried that my actions had forced Luke into an unwanted position, but her answer indicated she liked her current role.

"During the evaluation match at the end of the last semester, I learned a lot from my battle with you, Miss Lilith. Despite having such skills, you protect your master as a personal maid. It was a revelation for me."

"Pardon?"

"I realized the importance of my role as a personal maid not just in hiding my identity but in taking full responsibility for my master’s well-being. Seeing you made me rethink my approach."

"......Pardon?"

"I was foolish not to understand your perspective then, but inspired by you, I decided to become a personal maid who could fully support Princess Seraphine. Therefore, my current position is entirely my choice."

"Ah, yes, I see... Thank you for your honesty, Miss Luke."

"Indeed, Miss Lilith, you have a broad heart."

It seemed she had misunderstood several things, but the atmosphere was such that I let it pass.

...Well, if she’s happy, there’s no need for me to spoil it.