The Maid's Wish
"So, what the hell is this situation?"
The air was heavy, like an invisible weight pressing down on my shoulders, making it hard even to breathe. A bone-chilling cold hung in the room, and their sharp gazes pierced right through me. Yet right beside me, Melina had her arms linked with mine, grinning like she owned the world.
"Hehe~"
In stark contrast to her blissful expression, Elisha and Eily across from us radiated utter misery. They both clearly disliked Melina, but their reactions couldn't have been more different.
"Haven't seen you in a bit, and you've gotten awfully close, huh?" Elisha puffed out her cheeks, her dissatisfaction plain as day. With her eyebrows slightly arched, she looked every bit the angry lover.
"…Master…."
Eily, meanwhile, bit her lip hard, swallowing a sigh. She was trying to hold back her emotions, but her eyes spoke volumes of sorrow.
Elisha couldn't hold back anymore. She slammed both hands on the table, her gaze slicing toward Melina like a blade.
"So, what's your name? Melina, right?"
"Yep!" Melina replied nonchalantly, hugging my arm even tighter. She seemed utterly uninterested in Elisha's words, focused only on clinging to me.
"…."
Elisha's face hardened further.
"Arnold's your fated savior?"
"Yep!"
"What the hell happened?"
Melina tilted her head with a smile. "Well, the truth is, I'm a princess of the elf kingdom~"
The words dropped like a bomb, instantly shifting the room's atmosphere. The bizarre mix of hostility and affection turned to sheer shock in a heartbeat.
"What?!"
"What did you say?!"
"Melina's a princess?!"
Elisha, Eily, and even Varis—who'd been silently watching with a scowl—gaped in unison. The revelation of a foreign princess right in front of them had everyone frozen solid.
"That's right. I have a bit of a backstory—"
Melina seized the moment to spill her tale. Her secret birth, her cursed fate, the despair and pressure it brought, and how she'd come to the academy clinging to a sliver of hope. She especially lingered on the life-or-death moment when I'd saved her, describing it in vivid detail.
"I see…."
"So that's what happened…."
Elisha and Eily fell silent, absorbing her story.
"I get the situation, but isn't she a little too clingy?"
"…You're right."
Still, they couldn't tolerate Melina glued to my arm. The chill lingered.
"So basically, Arnold's charmed yet another girl?"
Elisha suddenly shot me a piercing glare. Eily nodded along.
"Yeah. Even if Master is as kind as can be, capturing an elf princess's heart… it's a bit upsetting…."
The mood was twisting into something weird. It felt like arrows nocked on bowstrings had suddenly turned toward me.
"Suddenly?"
"It's not sudden. You swooped in like some prince on a white horse and saved the princess."
"I get there were no other options… but as a woman, it just rubs me the wrong way!"
They sympathized with Melina's plight yet vented their frustration at me. They understood I had no choice, but that didn't ease their personal grievances.
"Fine, I'll grant you one wish. How's that?"
Desperate to smooth things over, I blurted out the idea that popped into my head. It worked—their hostile expressions softened a touch.
"Really?!"
Elisha and Eily's eyes sparkled in unison. Lingering discomfort remained, but they were clearly intrigued.
"Uh… yeah, one request within reason."
As I nodded, their faces eased further. But Elisha still grumbled irritably.
"Still not okay with you two sticking together like that."
Eily nodded quietly. "I… understand the situation, but I can't approve of this going on."
I'd managed to calm their complaints somewhat, but there were still mountains to climb. At least one wish had lightened the mood a bit. I let out a long breath of relief.
Ding-ding-ding—
The grand bell tolled three times, shattering the academy's quiet. It signaled the end of class. The classroom atmosphere loosened instantly. Hands flipping pages stilled, and students shook off their fatigue, filling the room with lively chatter.
"Haa."
I sighed deeply, closing the book in front of me. It felt like the end of a long journey—just like today had been, with all its events.
"Ugh~"
To sort my tangled thoughts, I left the classroom and strolled the halls.
"…."
The corridors buzzed as always. Laughter and murmurs from every corner formed a familiar backdrop. But amid it, conversations targeting me caught my ear— the same tired, repetitive gossip.
"Arnold, huh…."
"That infamous young master?"
"But lately, I've heard he's been pretty kind."
"Still, a love triangle? Wild, right?"
I kept walking without breaking stride. These talks were routine now. Their focus always orbited me, mostly malicious rumors. At least positive whispers were creeping in lately—that was something.
But it wasn't enough to put my mind at ease.
"Arnold, I need to talk."
A familiar yet wistful voice stopped me cold. I turned. There stood Elisha, her expression unusually serious, tinged with tension.
"Huh?"
I tilted my head, looking at her. As if she'd been waiting for a moment alone, she'd timed it perfectly.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You said you'd grant one wish earlier."
She meant my offer. I nodded lightly, waiting.
She hesitated, glancing around. The busy corridor wasn't ideal for her words.
"Hard to talk here. Let's find somewhere just for us."
Elisha turned and led the way without another word. I followed to a secluded spot in the academy. No signs of life—just quiet, perfect for talking.
She took a deep breath, then spoke calmly. "Could you… give me back the engagement dissolution contract?"
Her request blindsided me. I stared, unable to hide my surprise.
"The dissolution contract?"
She nodded quietly, the motion unstable. I read the trembling emotions on her face.
"Yeah… As you know, we're engaged. But that's ending soon."
Her voice carried heavy sorrow and regret. She continued, head bowed.
"I know I messed up. I didn't see you for who you are, held prejudices and despised you for so long. I realize now what a huge mistake that was."
She confessed her past wrongs one by one, her tone thick with shame and guilt.
"I even suggested breaking it off first. Back then, I wanted to end things with you. Forever."
She paused, steadying herself amid the emotional storm. Then resumed.
"But not anymore. Seeing your true heart and kindness changed me. Your warmth saved me. So… I don't want it to end like this."
Her trembling voice rang true. She'd poured out all her courage. But her shaky hands and wavering eyes betrayed her anxiety.
"Arnold, please. Can you give me one more chance?"
I fell silent, watching her. In the game's original story, our engagement was doomed to end eventually. But now, everything had changed. Did sticking to the script even make sense?
"Got it. If that's what you want, let's do it."
I agreed to her wish. I'd promised one request—no real reason to refuse.
"Really? Thank you…."
Elisha smiled in relief, though self-reproach lingered.
"Why? Something wrong?"
"No. Just… sorry it took me so long to see someone as warm as you. I can't believe you forgive me after how much I hated you."
She bowed her head, ashamed of her past self.
"Still… I'm thrilled we can go back. Arnold, thank you."
And so, I reinstated our engagement. The dissolution contract's location popped into mind—probably at the mansion. I'd have to ask Eily to fetch it when I had time.