After completing the harsh task of 2,000 swings instead of the afternoon duel with his father…

Ethan Richard Blackwood walked up to the 4th floor where his private room was, clutching his arm that was aching from muscle pain.

He felt somewhat calm after performing the task his father had given him to properly clear his mind. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

Of course, this would probably just seem like a temporary settling, becoming meaningless the moment he faced his exclusive maid again at dinner time, but for now, he could somehow hide his confused feelings with fatigue.

 

“…”

 

…On that day, three days ago, did Lilith really let him touch her chest just because she needed the position of his exclusive maid?

Maybe, even if just a little, did Lilith also have romantic feelings for him, which is why she allowed it?

Is that why she kept approaching him, saying she would become his exclusive maid even after becoming a noble lady? [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

If he hadn’t stopped touching her chest midway, what would have happened after that?

Perhaps that relationship might have gone beyond simply touching her chest…

 

‘No, no, no… I don’t want to build that kind of relationship with Lilith…’

 

It seemed that lately, whenever his brain had a moment of rest, it always returned to the memory of that moment, so he had to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

Now that other people had started to notice his strange attitude… 

If the reason he became like this was revealed to be because of Lilith, his exclusive maid… 

…He thought that perhaps his father might separate Lilith from him for the sake of  education. 

There was nothing more foolish than being distanced from the person he loved most just because he was distracted just thinking about her, so Ethan had to somehow erase that scene from his mind to prevent it from happening again. However…

It was naturally not an easy process for a man in his prime to forget that.

He didn’t know whether he could forget it tonight or whether he could shake it off by tomorrow. With such thoughts filling his mind, Ethan entered his room. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

In his private space, where he entered to find peace of mind, Ethan couldn’t help but feel his heart racing again.

 

“Have you finished training, young master?”

“M-maid?!”

 

The exclusive maid who had been confusing his mind all day long was waiting for him in his room first.

Unlike him, who couldn’t hide his surprise, Lilith, the exclusive maid, continued the conversation with Ethan with a calm expression.

 

“I have something to tell you, young master. Could you spare a moment to talk?”

“…Does it have to be now?”

“I’ll just say in advance that the sooner I tell you, the better.”

“…Alright, Maid. If that’s the case, let’s sit down and talk.”

 

If it was something she waited for him to return to say, it must have been important from the maid’s perspective, at least.

Ethan just nodded to her question and sat down on the opposite side of the table.

 

“…”

 

Lilith’s chest became even more noticeable as they sat facing each other at the same table.

Why is the maid’s  uniform an attire that particularly stimulates a man’s vision?

Because his gaze kept wanting to go to that outfit that he couldn’t avert his eyes from even if he wanted to, Ethan deliberately turned his body away, pretending to be nonchalant, and rested one arm on the table. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

Of course, Lilith, who had memories of being a man in her previous life, completely understood the meaning of that gaze and the action of pretending to be nonchalant.

 

“So… what did you want to talk about, Maid?”

“I want to talk about what happened between you and me three days ago, young master.”

“Wa-wasn’t the exclusive maid issue already resolved? It was decided that you would continue to be my exclusive maid even after entering the academy, and Isabel would assist you as your aide…”

“It’s not about that, but about you touching my chest, young master.”

“*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*…!”

 

Ethan deliberately pretended to have forgotten, bringing up a different topic nonchalantly in case it was a trap, but instead, Lilith boldly mentioned that day’s incident.

That brazen attitude was enough to make Ethan flustered to the point where he choked on just a few drops of saliva he was trying to swallow.

 

“D-didn’t you tell me to forget about that time…?”

“But you haven’t forgotten at all, have you?”

“…Sorry, Maid. It’s not easy to forget…”

“It’s alright, young master. From now on, you don’t need to try to forget anymore.”

“Huh…?”

“It was an unreasonable request from the start anyway. At the time, I was also in a hurry and asked you to forget. But for you, young master, a man in his prime, it must be difficult to forget that moment.”

 

Ethan became troubled, not knowing how to respond to Lilith’s somewhat resigned words.

Should he say he’ll try again and ask for one more chance, or should he just move on instead of trying to forget, as Lilith said? [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

While he hesitated, unable to answer her words due to such concerns, Lilith continued with the proposal she had prepared in advance.

The young master of the Blackwoods became more and more confused with each of her words.

 

“Regardless of whether you’re trying to forget about that incident or not, if things continue like this, it will undoubtedly become difficult for you to live your daily life. Isn’t that right?”

“…No, it’s fine. I think I can manage somehow by pulling myself together.”

“…Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes. So you don’t need to worry about it, Maid.”

“I understand. Then, since you’ve said you don’t particularly need my help, from now on, you can either take what I’m about to say seriously, or you can treat it as nonsense from a mere maid and ignore it.”

“Maid…?”

 

Screech.

 

With the sound of the chair scraping against the floor, Lilith rose from her seat.

Then, she boldly stepped in front of Ethan, who had deliberately turned his body.

As if emphasizing her large and beautiful chest, she leaned slightly forward and opened her mouth.

 

“M-maid…?!”

“This chest that you keep recalling and can’t forget, I’ll let you continue touching it from now on.”

“Wh-what are you saying…! Maid, you need to value your body more…”

“Of course, I’m not saying I’ll let you touch it without any reason. I’m not a prostitute from a brothel; how could I carelessly play with my body? So, I’ll allow you to touch my chest only when you satisfy a certain condition, Young Master Ethan.”

“C-condition…?” [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

“…Seeing that you show interest as soon as you hear the word ‘condition,’ you really are a man, after all, Young Master Ethan.”

“…!!”

 

As Lilith said, Ethan felt considerable embarrassment for instinctively showing interest in the ‘condition’ to touch her chest.

Regardless of whether he showed a bewildered expression or not, Lilith just calmly delivered the message she had intended to convey.

 

“Young Master Ethan, you have sword duels with the master every Wednesday and Saturday. Isn’t that right?”

“…Y-yes.”

“So, if you can manage to land an effective attack on the master during your sword duel with him, I’ll allow you to put your hands on my chest for that night only.”

“…!!!”

“…It won’t be for long. Exactly one minute. And I’ll only allow it for a moment before you go to sleep.”

 

Thump. Thump. Thump.

 

Ethan couldn’t suppress his heart from racing at Lilith’s seductive proposal.

Although it was a difficult condition, it somehow seemed not impossible, and his chest began to burn with all sorts of emotions at the proposal.

If Lilith had suggested that he defeat his father, he might have just given up.

Even though it was a mock duel using wooden swords, winning against his father, who was a Sword Master, would have meant becoming a Sword Master himself.

It would have sounded like she was just teasing him, as it seemed like such a distant possibility at the moment. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

But, for some reason, after hearing that the condition was just about landing one effective hit, it started to feel like a realistic goal.

It seemed like there was a strange possibility that landing just one hit might somehow be possible.

In reality, he had never managed to land a proper hit on his father in all their duels so far.

No matter how much of a Sword Master his father was, his father was still human, after all. So, if Ethan, who inherited Harold’s blood, threw himself at him with all his might, maybe he could touch him with the sword just once…

 

“For someone who said they didn’t need it, you’re pondering quite seriously, Young Master Ethan.”

“N-no! I wasn’t seriously considering it, just…!”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed. Rather, it’s a proposal I made for you to consider seriously.”

“…”

“Isn’t it better to use that energy as your motivation for improvement rather than blindly trying to control your complicated feelings and forcibly forget what happened, young master?”

 

Lilith was right.

Right now, he was so caught up in the shocking memory of just touching a chest once that he couldn’t even properly go about his daily life.

If he could pour this concentration directly into swordsmanship, it could become a good driving force.

…Even if it stemmed from the impure intention of wanting to touch his exclusive maid’s chest.

 

‘But…’

 

There was something that didn’t quite add up about simply accepting Lilith’s proposal at face value.

It was because he couldn’t understand why she, who was just an exclusive maid, had set the condition based on his swordsmanship improving.

Therefore, Ethan had to carefully ask Lilith about her reasons.

 

“Maid, there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it, young master?”

“Why has me landing an effective hit in a sword duel with my father become the condition for you letting me touch your chest?”

“Pardon…?”

“Letting me touch your chest based on my sword skills improving doesn’t seem to be included in the role of an exclusive maid. After all, it’s an act that brings no benefit to you.”

“…”

“Is there something that benefits you from my sword skills improving?”

 

Lilith froze for a moment, unable to answer Ethan’s sharp question that came from an unexpected situation.

Seeing his exclusive maid not answering immediately, the doubts of the young master of the Blackwoods deepened.

Before Ethan, who sensed something suspicious, could open his mouth to ask again, Lilith Rosewood was barely able to come up with a plausible answer to give him.

 

“Could it be that you…”

“…That is because I simply like strong people.”

“…You like strong people?”

“Personally, I tend to find people who are stronger than others and have potential for growth more attractive than those who are weak or passively protected by others. And among the people I’ve seen so far, the strongest person would probably be my master, Harold, the head of the household.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

“Therefore, if the young master I serve could catch up to the master’s strength even a little, I thought it would be okay for me to offer my body a bit.”

“…”

“…Is this answer sufficient?”

“…Yes, for now.”

 

Because it seemed like there was nothing particularly strange about the answer at first glance, Ethan quietly nodded.

Lilith, whose heart was racing for a different reason, carefully announced her departure.

 

“Then I’ll return to my room so you can rest, Young Master Ethan.”

“…Alright, Maid. See you at dinner.”

“Yes, young master.”

 

Click.

 

The maid returned to her room, closing the door with an awkward smile.

Looking at the place where she had just been, Ethan was engulfed in complicated thoughts of a different nature.

It was the moment when he started seriously considering the ideal type that Lilith, the person he had personal feelings for, had mentioned.

 

“The maid’s type is… strong people…”

 

The naive young master of the Blackwood family still didn’t know that it was just an excuse blurted out to avoid the sudden question.