He Changes Secretaries Every Time

She lay down, Kelart lay down beside her; the two of them slept in the same bed, just like when they were children.

The candlelight went out, and moonlight streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a silvery glow.

"Your Highness, do you really like him?"

Calca remained silent for a long time.

"... Um."

"Why?"

Because he lets me be myself.

Kelart didn't speak; in the darkness, her fingers gently caressed the sheets.

"Your Highness, if he comes tonight, I... will not stop him."

"Why?"

"Because you like him, your happiness is my happiness."

Calca reached out and took her hand.

"Kelart, thank you."

"You're welcome. I should be thanking you for always trusting me."

The moon moved across the sky.

Higashino Makoto leaned against the windowsill, his golden eyes gazing at the tightly closed door.

Alice Kuonji stood behind him, holding a cup of black tea.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, aren't you going in?"

"I'm not going in this time."

"Why? If you go in now, you can take both of them with you. Don't you like that?"

"... Although I can't deny that statement."

"Then you?"

After thinking for a moment, Higashino Makoto lifted Alice Kuonji's chin as he gave his answer.

I'm looking to try something different lately.

Alice Kuonji remained silent for a moment.

"... The tea's gone cold, I'll go get a fresh pot."

"No need, it tastes good even when it's cold."

Alice Kuonji lowered her head and looked at the teapot in her hand.

The moonlight shone on her pale face, outlining her features like a doll.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, where will you be sleeping tonight?"

"Your room."

Alice Kuonji raised her head, her dark pupils looking at him.

"... good."

The two turned around and walked towards the other end of the corridor. Their footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.

"Alice Kuonji, are you scared?"

What are you afraid of?

"I'm afraid of what others will say."

Alice Kuonji thought for a moment.

"I'm not afraid, because I'm not from this world. Their gossip has nothing to do with me."

Higashino Makoto's lips curled up slightly as he made up his mind that he would take action directly next time he had the chance.

"You're right."

The two entered the room. The door closed behind them.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a silvery-white glow.

Alice Kuonji lay beside him, her long black hair scattered on the pillow, her dark pupils staring at the ceiling.

Her body stiffened slightly, and her fingers gently caressed the sheets.

"Alice Kuonji, are you a little nervous?"

"... a little."

"Why?"

"Because... it's my first time."

Higashino Makoto looked at her, the smile on his lips growing wider and wider.

It's really quite amusing to tease a girl with no connections or emotional attachments.

"If you were afraid, why did you keep me here?"

Alice Kuonji remained silent for a moment.

"... I don't want you to be alone."

Higashino Makoto reached out and took her hand; Alice Kuonji's fingers trembled slightly.

"Alice Kuonji, you're like a doll when you're not talking, and you're like a doll when you are talking. Will you continue to be like a doll?"

Higashino Makoto sometimes feels a sense of guilt towards the Guardians, especially those like Illya or Kuonji Alice.

However, this feeling isn't bad; it has a special kind of charm.

Alice Kuonji closed her eyes and didn't speak, Higashino Makoto lowered his head.

The moonlight shone on the two people, casting their shadows onto the wall, where they overlapped.

Kelart and Calca slept together, Higashino Makoto and Alice Kuonji slept together.

No one disturbed them, no one spoke.

Only the moonlight shone down quietly, turning everything silvery white.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the breakfast room of the Holy Kingdom Palace in a warm golden hue.

The long table was laden with food.

Higashino Makoto sat in the main seat, holding a cup of Alice Kuonji brewed black tea. His golden eyes were half-closed as he savored the lingering aroma of the tea on his tongue.

Alice Kuonji stood behind him, dressed impeccably in her black maid outfit, holding a teapot in her hands, her face expressionless.

Calca sat to the right of Higashino Makoto, wearing a long white dress, her long golden hair tied up at the back of her head and secured with a silver hairpin.

A faint smile played on her lips.

Footsteps came from the corridor, hurried and forceful. Higashino Makoto didn't look up, but Calca's fingers tightened slightly.

The door was pushed open, and Kelart stood in the doorway, her long, brown curly hair slightly disheveled. Her eyes swept over the dining table, over Higashino Makoto, over Calca, and then landed on Alice Kuonji.

Good morning, Kelart.

Calca's voice was calm.

"Morning."

Kelart walked to the dining table and sat down opposite Alice Kuonji. She didn't look at Higashino Makoto, but Higashino Makoto knew she was looking at Alice Kuonji —at her black maid outfit, at the teapot in her hand, and at her expressionless face.

After a moment, she spoke.

"Your name is Kuonji Alice?"

"Yes."

Alice Kuonji's voice was calm.

"Are you Higashino Makoto's secretary?"

"That's right."

"Just a secretary?"

Alice Kuonji was silent for a moment.

"... yes."

Kelart's lips curled up slightly, a hint of mockery in them.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto has so many secretaries. Does he change them every time he comes to the Holy Kingdom?"

Higashino Makoto put down his teacup.

"You're quite observant."

"I'm not blind, though. Anyone who isn't blind can see how beautiful she is."

Kelart turned to look at him.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, every time you come to the Holy Kingdom, you bring a different beautiful maid, and you all have ambiguous relationships with them. Don't you think that's a bit inappropriate?"

What's wrong with it?

"Nowhere is good enough!"

Her voice rose slightly.

"Your relationship with His Highness... your relationship with the Princess! You should--!"

She couldn't continue, so she took a deep breath.

Calca put down the bread she was holding.

"Kelart, stop talking."

"But--!"

I said, stop talking.

Kelart's lips trembled slightly, a smile tinged with resentment and grievance.

"Your Highness, please protect him."

"I'm not protecting him; he's protecting the entire Holy Kingdom. I don't want you to argue."

"We didn't argue, I was just stating the facts."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

Your hair is messier today than yesterday. Didn't you sleep well?

Kelart paused for a moment, his face flushing slightly.

"You—you have no right to tell me whether my hair is messy or not!"

I was simply stating a fact.

"You--!"

Calca sighed softly.

"Kelart, have breakfast."

Kelart took a deep breath, picked up a piece of bread, took a bite, and chewed it fiercely.

Higashino Makoto found her expression amusing.

The way you eat is like a rabbit.

Kelart paused for a moment.

"... What do you care what I look like!"

"Rabbits are cuter."

I don't need you to think I'm cute!

"Yeah, but I still think it's cute. Seriously, how about we go together next time?"

Kelart's face turned even redder, and he put down the bread in his hand and stood up.

"Your Highness, I must return now; there are matters to attend to at the temple."

"Kelart-- "

"I'll come and sleep with you tonight, don't even think about running away."

She turned around and walked towards the door, stopping after a few steps without looking back.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, you can be really annoying sometimes."

"I know."