The Maid's Wish (4)
Late afternoon sunlight shimmered softly in the breeze. Today was one of the two weekend days in the week. I was heading to the academy cafeteria for lunch. Uniquely, all the facilities inside the Saint Academy remained open even on weekends—a thoughtful consideration for student welfare, allowing them to live comfortably without ever needing to leave campus.
"……."
The only difference from usual was that Eily wasn't by my side. She was still blissfully ignorant of the world, fast asleep. Well, after what happened last night, she must have been exhausted in every sense….
"Huh?"
But as I walked slowly, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
"…Arnold?"
A familiar voice reached my ears on the wind. My gaze fell on Elisha, standing by a small fountain, staring at me with wide round eyes.
"Elisha? What a coincidence."
The unexpected reunion left me a bit flustered despite myself, but her expression looked far more complicated than mine. Surprise, caution, and undisguised anxiety swirled in her eyes, hitting me full force.
She parted her lips first and took a step closer.
"Arnold… it really is you."
There was a hint of relief in her voice, like she'd thought she'd lost me forever. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated, her lips trembling with apprehension.
"Th-that… um……."
I could guess why she was acting this way. It had to be about the divorce contract.
"This is what you wanted, right?"
I pulled out the divorce contract we'd drawn up two months ago and offered it to her.
"Wha— I mean, is this… for real…?"
Elisha took it with hesitant fingers. Her face, a mix of anxiety and hope, froze for a moment—then, as if a seal had broken, her emotions erupted.
Tears welled up in her sapphire eyes.
"Ahh… thank you."
She let out the words like a shaky exhale. A faint tremor laced her voice.
"Even after I despised you so much… you're taking me back… Arnold, really…"
Tears finally traced down Elisha's cheeks. The stares and noises around us seemed to fade from her awareness. Unable to hold back any longer, she threw herself into my arms.
"Elisha…?"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…!"
Her hands trembled as she sobbed softly.
"Arnold, I… I've only done awful things to you… and yet you forgive me like this… thank you so much."
"I could thank you a thousand times and it still wouldn't be enough!"
With every word, a small emotion I'd tucked away in my chest stirred restlessly. It was just handing over a contract, but to Elisha, it might have been a lifeline of new hope.
Still unable to stop her tears, she added in a quivering voice,
"From now on… I'll become a woman worthy of you. I'll repay this kindness, I swear."
I felt the eyes of passersby on us, but her words were so earnest I couldn't bring myself to pull away.
"Elisha… people are watching—"
"Can we just stay like this a little longer?"
But as I tried to make an excuse, she clutched my collar tightly and shook her head.
"I don't want anyone else to see me crying like this."
She buried her face in my chest as if hiding it. The tender atmosphere drew glances from people walking by—it was downright embarrassing.
"I was always… so worried."
A little time passed, and she'd finally calmed down enough to speak. She managed a faint smile. Tear stains lingered on her face, but she looked lighter now.
"Honestly, I wanted the divorce contract, but I thought it meant I could never stand by your side again… Of course, after all the horrible things I'd done, it would be justified if you despised me."
Her confession carried all the raw truth she'd bottled up until now. I could only imagine how terrified she'd been to say it.
"But now it's okay. If you're alright with it… I'll do my very best."
At least in this moment, Elisha's feelings rang true. I let out a short sigh and gave her an awkward smile.
"Got it. I'll look forward to it."
Only then did she finally release me. Her face was still damp with tears, but her smile was warm and beautiful.
"Thank you so much, Arnold."
Her soft voice lingered in my ear like an echo.
"Welcome back, Master!"
When I returned to the dorm, Eily greeted me with a radiant smile, as if the whole world had lit up. She brimmed with her usual energy, but I couldn't bring myself to meet her eyes.
"……."
The memories of that night wouldn't leave my head.
That night, the clash of our swords replayed in my mind.
…………
"I win, Master!"
Her joyful voice had declared victory the moment my sword flew from my hand.
But I'd calmly denied it.
"No… it's not over yet."
The reason? The rules of the duel. Defeat meant your weapon leaving your hand and hitting the ground.
Mine had slipped, sure—but it hadn't touched the floor. By the rules, I wasn't defeated. If I caught it before it landed and counterattacked, it was fair game.
Cling—
"Eek?!"
The instant she let her guard down in triumph, I seized the opening and struck.
Eily's sword sliced through the air and clattered to the floor.
"I win."
The echoing thunk of the blade signaled the end. It was a dirty, contrived trick exploiting a loophole in the rules.
"Ahh…."
She'd stared blankly at her feet. Stunned that a sure victory had flipped in an instant, she looked dazed, like she'd been struck from behind.
"Th-this…! Ugh……."
Anger mixed with regret for dropping her vigilance. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her eyes wandered. She couldn't believe a moment's carelessness had cost her.
"That's cheating…."
She wanted to protest the unfairness, but she knew the rules too well to argue. Her eyes, like she'd lost everything, held the despair of the whole world crumbling.
…… But—
"Hmm♪ Hmm♪ Hmm♪"
Now, she hummed happily, as if she owned the world.
Why? The vivid bloodstain on the bed was proof.
Our clumsy, inexperienced traces.
Pride in my victory, the returned divorce contract—they paled in that moment.
"Ugh…."
Guilt crashed over me like waves, her bright laughter stabbing sharp into my heart.
"It's fine! I can wash it clean!"
Formally, I'd won the duel—but to end up like this, I had to recall yesterday.
9 hours earlier.
"……."
Words couldn't capture the situation. A heavy silence hung between us, pierced only by an intimate tension that made speaking impossible.
After the duel with Eily, back in the dorm room. The air was thick with quiet weight.
Only the sound of Eily pouring tea broke the stillness.
Pour—
She tilted the teapot slightly, and warm liquid flowed smoothly from the spout, carrying the faint aroma of tea leaves. A sound that would normally soothe now grated on my nerves, making my heart pound.
"I'm sorry about today, Master…."
Eily handed me the cup with a somber air, as if burdened by guilt, bowing her head. She gripped her skirt hem so tightly it seemed she'd hide in a mouse hole if she could—too ashamed to meet my eyes.
"Even if I lost control, swinging a sword at my master…."
"I'm a disgrace as a servant."
But while she berated herself deeply, I feigned calm and took the cup.
"It's fine."
"How merciful can you be? The sword meant to protect you nearly took your life, and yet you forgive me."
Her brows furrowed deeper. The quivering in them revealed her self-loathing.
"Well, in the end, it worked out, right?"
I forced a casual tone, acting unfazed. Blaming Eily would only amplify her pain, and since she was already reflecting, I saw no need to scold further.
"Yes, you're incredible, Master. Flipping the fight like that in the heat of the moment… amazing."
Her words recalled the duel's end. She praised me, but even I knew it was half-cheating, so I had no ground to boast. I was grateful she accepted it.
"……."
I sipped the black tea she'd poured. The subtle leaf aroma seemed to melt away my burdens.
"Haa."
The warmth eased me, and I exhaled slowly, releasing the fatigue from clashing swords with Eily.
At first, I thought it was just the tea's comfort.
But no sooner had the thought crossed my mind than an odd sensation crept through my body.
"Wha—what…?"
My vision spun. Like being drugged, my sight blurred, consciousness growing hazy.
"What is this…."
But that was it. Not enough to black out, but paralysis gripped me—I couldn't move freely.
"Haa, haa…."
My breathing grew ragged. Not from exhaustion, but a lewd pant as excitement eroded reason.
"……??"
What was this feeling? My body burned. Blood raced, sexual desire surging wildly.
"E-Eily?"
What had she given me? But before suspicion could settle, her face—flushed with shame and sly hunger—filled my view.
"I'm sorry, Master."
As I slumped on the sofa, eyes fixed on her, Eily pressed her body against mine.
"As promised, I'll give you the divorce contract. But since we both acted rashly, I want to indulge my final greed."
She coiled around me like a predator claiming prey, gentle yet sticky. Her kiss toyed with our tongues, sending electric thrills through my mind for the first time.
"I love you, Master…♡"
A sweet whisper dizzied me.
"Even if you continue with Lady Elisha, I want your first time."
Shedding the clothes she'd worn like a second skin, 'Maid Eily' vanished—revealing Eily Kesher's soft, pale flesh, bared in desire.