Alright, I wanted to raise Kyoko’s favorability, but… there was something I needed to do first.

To raise someone’s favorability, I needed to know more about them.

Thanks to the doctor’s questions, I’d learned a little about the villain I’d supposedly become, Hazumi Reito.

However, when it came to Kyoko, all I knew was that she was a beautiful maid who took care of me.

Trying to raise her favorability without more information was reckless.

I might even lower it instead.

So, I needed information on Kyoko.

Ideally, I should have remembered something like, “This maid… gasp! She’s one of the main heroines, and…”

Well, asking was probably faster than waiting for my memory to return.

Fortunately, it seemed Kyoko had an errand to run. She likely wouldn’t be back for an hour or so.

This was my chance. I had to gather information on Kyoko, and fast!

I decided to question the mansion’s maids one by one.

What kind of person was Kyoko?

What did she do to take care of me?

I didn't want to pry too much, so I focused on those two questions.

If they asked why I was so curious, I could just say, “My memory is a bit hazy, so I wanted to double-check.”

Also, by communicating with the maids, I hoped to glean more about what kind of villain I was from their attitudes and reactions.

And… well, I also wanted to talk to cute maids. Maids were great!

“Hmm, I see… Thank you. That was helpful.”

“Eee… Young Master thanked me…”

“Hm?”

“N-Nothing! P-Please excuse me!”

The petite maid bowed repeatedly and scurried away in a fluster.

With that, I’d questioned every maid except Kyoko.

And I’d learned a bit about her.

Nijo Kyoko.

Twenty years old.

While attending university, she had been appointed head maid of this mansion at a young age.

In addition, Kyoko supported Reito in every aspect of his life, from personal care to education.

Essentially, she was both the head maid and his personal maid.

To have Kyoko as his personal maid… Reito had good taste. Or maybe villains were just good at picking girls?

All the maids I spoke to were cute, but… Kyoko definitely stood out.

If I had to choose a personal maid, I’d probably choose Kyoko too.

Well, she was my personal maid now.

Which was why I wanted to raise her favorability… and get cozy with a cute maid!

“Say, isn’t Young Master different today…?”

“Yes, you’re right…”

I suddenly noticed that the maids’ gazes were focused on me.

Since I’d been questioning them in the hallway, they were probably curious about what was going on.

“He’s so calm today… almost… pleasing to the eye…”

“Stop it! Snap out of it. Remember what Young Master is usually like.”

“He’s usually so… male, you know? But now…”

The maids whispered amongst themselves, fidgeting strangely.

Come to think of it, while I was questioning them…

‘Excuse me. I have something I’d like to ask you.’

I thought I’d struck a good balance between a villainous tone and a somewhat approachable demeanor…

‘Y-Yes! W-What is it, Young Master?!’

‘Oh, Young Master is having a normal conversation with me…’

‘He’s making eye contact…’

‘If only he wanted to know about me, too… j-just kidding!’

They’d acted strangely nervous, muttering to themselves… and sometimes suddenly hurrying away.

Hmm, they were all acting odd.

As if they weren't used to talking to me.

Could it be… that the original Hazumi Reito had been sexually harassing them?

After all, all the maids in the mansion were cute.

…As if they’d been specifically chosen for their looks.

That would explain their reactions.

Even if he was the wealthy son of the house, they naturally wouldn’t want to associate with or be favored by someone who harassed them.

Perhaps the maids rarely spoke to or interacted with me normally.

That’s why they seemed so uncomfortable.

Especially Kyoko, who was probably the most frequent target of his harassment.

Groping her breasts, lifting her skirt, demanding to be fed, insisting she wash his back in the bath, wanting to sleep in the same bed…

The original Reito must have indulged in all sorts of harassment!

Ugh… How enviable…

“That’s… reprehensible!”

Sexual harassment was wrong, after all.

Besides, if I, the reincarnated villain, engaged in sexual harassment, it would be a one-way ticket to a bad ending.

“Young Master thinks it’s reprehensible…”

“““W-We’re so sorry!!!”””

Once again, the maids fled as if I’d set them on fire.

Hmm, it seemed I was truly hated and avoided.

Typical villain. No, being a typical villain was bad.

Raising Kyoko’s favorability was going to be a challenge…

Later, as I was rummaging through my spacious room, a knock came at the door.

I had a good guess who it was.

“Enter.”

“Excuse me, Young Master. I’ve returned.”

Kyoko entered, bowing politely.

“Young Master, although the doctor said there were no problems, you’ve only just woken up, so it would be best to rest.”

“Ah, you’re right.”

It was still my first day after reincarnation.

I should probably take it easy for today.

Still, even though Kyoko was acting normally… was she secretly afraid of me?

After all, I’d been harassing her and treating her poorly…

But she couldn’t defy me.

Even though I was a different person inside, I still looked the same.

So… I wanted to ease her anxieties.

“Kyoko. I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, Young Master?”

Kyoko looked at me, her expression unreadable. There was a hint of wariness in her eyes.

Even if she suspected I wasn't the original Reito… I needed to say this first, in my own words.

“I won’t treat you poorly anymore. So please… continue to be my maid.”