Hearing Shade say that, both ladies looked over, but Shade solemnly reminded them:
"But before we act, I need to make something clear—what I'm about to do is only to obtain the badge and pass the trial. Don't tell anyone about this, and don't lower your opinion of me because of it."
Miss Sabelle immediately nodded, while Claire urged him on:
"If you have a way, hurry up and do it. No matter what you do, I'll pretend I didn't see it. I'm not that petty."
"All right."
Then, seeing Shade approach the maid, they took two steps forward as well. They watched as Shade came before that somewhat "shameless" maid. After hesitating for a few seconds, he lowered his head and kissed the maid's.
"Ah!"
Claire covered her face and cried out. Miss Sabelle instinctively wanted to pull Shade away, but they were both too late.
The cold yet soft sensation after lowering his head was quite strange. It did not feel like Ice Block, but like real skin. It reminded Shade of Tifa. The Black-Haired Head Maid's skin was similarly soft, though much warmer.
Fortunately, her skin was cold, but at least it did not stick to Shade's lips.
After that kiss, the maid's skin really did begin to glow slowly. The method was correct. When Shade straightened up, the maid had already closed her eyes. As her cold, pale skin glowed, the badge buried deep inside her body slowly emerged from within her flesh, until it floated between her raised hands.
Seeing that the matter had been resolved, Shade let out a slight sigh of relief, but he did not forget to say to the two young ladies behind him:
"We agreed on this beforehand. You'll pretend you saw nothing, and you can't think negatively of me