Illness, leaning against Kaito while elegantly drinking wine, seemed quite composed from Kaito’s perspective.

However, as Illness herself had confessed, her heart wasn’t as calm as it appeared, and she was instead feeling quite agitated.

(Oh myyyy, my heart is more shaken than I expecteeeeed. Just the chaaaaange in our relationship to being lovers makes me feel this consciouuuuus.)

Illness was currently most unsettled by these unknown feelings. She had consulted with Kaito and realized that no special words were needed to express her feelings towards him, honestly conveyed her affection, and in return, Kaito reciprocated those feelings, making them lovers.

It was supposed to be a simple change, but Illness felt emotions she had never experienced before. A mix of happiness, bliss, confusion, nervousness, and embarrassment swirled within her, making her feel like her mind was floating in the clouds, unable to calm himself down.

(……I don’t think it’s because I’m drunk from the wiiiiine. I can’t get drunk from this few of an amouuuuunt, and unless I intentionally try tooooo, I don’t get druuuuunk. However, this fluttering feeling in my heaaaart…… It’s rather ticklish and makes me uneasyyyyy…… yet it’s not unpleasaaaaant.)

Though she was puzzled by her inability to control her emotions well, if asked whether she disliked it, she would shake her head. The dominant emotion within Illness was undoubtedly happiness, and she felt an indescribable sense of security from leaning against Kaito.

Soon after, when Kaito’s hand moved around her shoulder, embracing her, she felt as if her body temperature had risen.

(Is this what being in a relationship is liiiiike? Perhaps due to my lack of intereeeeest, I’m lacking in informatioooon. It seems I’ll inevitably have to rely on Kaito-sama to leeeeead. I suppose Kaito-sama would be accustomed to stuff like thiiiiiis? He casually put his arm around me without startling meeeeee, one’s experience really shows through such thiiiings.)

Kaito was also nervous, but due to his romantic experience, he appeared composed to Illness. He was actually nervous when he first put his arm around her, but once he did, Kaito calmed down, smiling as he drank his wine normally.

[Now that I think about it, Illness-san, we often drink wine together huh.]

[That certainly seems to be the caaaaase. It’s not that I particularly like wine, but I do find myself often drinking it with Kaito-samaaaaa. It may be because I frequently buy wine to share with youuuuu.]

Previously, Illness had bought wine with her salary from Kaito and enjoyed it together with him, and since then, there have often been similar opportunities where she visits Kaito’s room to drink wine with him.

Up until now, as both a subordinate of the Illusory King and a maid, Illness had only used the bare minimum of her salary, hardly spending any of it otherwise. However, using the salary she received from Kaito to buy wine to drink together with him was becoming a secret pleasure for her.

[The wine we sometimes drink together, Illness-san picks and buys it, right?]

[Yeeees. I go to wine specialty shooooops to choose them so that we don’t have the same one twiiiiiice.]

[Heehhh, I’ve never been to a wine specialty shop before…… If you don’t mind, can we buy the next wine for our evening drink together?]

[That sounds very fuuuuun. I would certainly love thaaaat.]

Hearing Kaito’s suggestion, Illness smiled happily. Just thinking about doing it together with Kaito made an already enjoyable time seem even more exciting.

Understanding that this was the joy of doing something together with someone she liked, with a happy expression, she leaned against Kaito a little more firmly than before.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [………………..]

Makina : [I’m sorry for my children who prefer honey, but Mama actually prefers butter and maple syrup on my pancakes. Of course, the pancakes you eat at the store are delicious, but buying pancake mix and making pancakes at home just gives them their own deliciousness!]