“Young Master. I am worried about leaving this child alone. May I return to the mansion?”

“Well, that’s fine, but…”

He nodded hesitantly at my older sister’s words.

“Nako, you sit in the passenger seat.”

“U-uhm…”

We moved according to my older sister’s suggestion.

After a few minutes of riding in the luxury car.

We arrived at a mansion so luxurious it took my breath away.

But… this isn’t my first time here.

The memories gradually came flooding back.

After being guided to the spacious living room, my older sister gestured for me to sit next to her.

Across the table, facing us, was the person my older sister called “Young Master.”

“Allow me to introduce him properly, Young Master.”

At my older sister’s voice, I straightened my back.

“This is my younger sister, Nijo Nako.”

“I-I am Nijo Nako. Please to meet you…!”

My voice trembled with nervousness.

Half of it was because the other person was a man.

His eyes were fixed on me.

After a brief silence.

“I see, Nako. My name is Hasumi Reito.”

“Ah, yes… I know. Or rather, we’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“Before?”

When I said that… he tilted his head with a questioning look.

“The Hasumi and Nijo families have mothers who were friends from university… because of that, we met when we were little. Don’t you remember…?”

His mother and my mother had been in contact for a long time… and through that connection, my older sister and I had visited this mansion before.

“As Nako says. I have also met the Young Master in the past.”

My older sister added as a supplement.

Even so, he… kept his hand on his mouth with a puzzled expression.

“Um… Reito-sama?”

“Is that so? Actually, my memory has been a bit hazy since I hit my head hard about last week. I don’t remember things from the past. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, no…”

His memory was hazy…

But hearing that… I somehow understood.

His aura felt a little different from when we met before.

That said, I only spoke to him directly a few times.

This was because… I was not good with him.

Around kindergarten, the year I was in the oldest class.

My mother took me to the mansion for the first time… and I met him, who was the same age as me.

At first, I wondered what kind of child he was.

“Hmph, I want to play with this toy. Give it to me quickly!”

When we started playing together.

The boy, as if snatching it, pulled at the toy I had brought myself.

In the end, he forcibly took it… and I ended up falling on my backside.

“Ouch!”

“Nako! Are you okay?”

My older sister immediately rushed to me as I cried out in pain.

But the adults around us…

“I’ll go buy the same toy right away!”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to buy an even better toy?”

They didn’t seem worried about me, nor did they approach me.

All their gazes were directed towards the boy standing there with a displeased expression.

At the time, I didn’t understand the meaning of the adults’ reactions…

But from that day on, I already disliked him.

Every time I saw him after that, I hid behind my older sister.

Returning to reality.

The conversation shifted to Sotei Academy.

“By the way, Nako, didn’t you say you were going to Sotei Academy with a friend today to check the way?”

“Ah, yes, I did… but… that friend contacted me this morning saying she had a slight fever… Since the entrance exams are close, I thought it would be bad to push her, so I had her rest at home today. That’s why I came alone.”

“Is that so?”

“Reito-sama, you’ve already been accepted into Sotei Academy through the recommendation quota, haven’t you?”

“Mm, well, yes.”

He nodded firmly at my question.

Even though his memory is hazy, he seems to remember taking the entrance exam for Sotei Academy.

In this world, there are few men.

That’s why men tend to be favored.

This was also the case during the entrance exams… men are basically admitted through recommendation quotas.

The exam content is only an aptitude test and an interview.

More than that, you can definitely pass the exam without studying anything.

I don’t think it’s unfair.

It’s just that… accepting that special treatment as if it were natural and acting haughty because of it… I don’t like that.

“I have the general entrance exam next week. That’s why I came for a preview today… I didn’t expect to be hit on, though.”

“You’re always being hit on, aren’t you?”

“Is that so? But if my older sister hadn’t come, who knows what would have happened… My older sister, you came to Sotei Academy after seeing the email I sent yesterday, right?”

“That…”

My older sister hesitated.

What’s wrong?

“Older sister…?”

“I’m sorry, Nako. Kyoko was sent to the academy at my selfish request.”

“Oh, is that so…? But even if it was a coincidence, I was saved when you came then. Thank you.”

I expressed my gratitude in the brightest voice I could manage.

Still, my older sister is really working as a maid for him.

Moreover, the maids I passed in the hallway called her “Head Maid.”

My older sister told me, “I was introduced to a well-paying part-time job, and since the university is close, I’ll work there while living in.”

At the time, I didn’t ask any questions and just replied, “Do your best”…

But…

I know everything.

“Please, Kyoko-chan. No… Nijo Kyoko-san. Can you take care of my son, Rei-kun? In other words, I want you to work for us as a maid.”

About a year ago.

His mother, Mika-san, visited our house and asked my older sister that.

“Hey, Kyoko…? Don’t push yourself too hard, okay? Okay?”

My mother next to me asked my older sister with concern.

And I… secretly peeked at the whole scene through the gap in the door.

The reason I wasn’t called to that place was probably because they thought I would object if I were there.

It was because they were considerate, not wanting to worry me.

Or perhaps… they thought I would offer to work in my sister’s place.

I… I don’t want to be someone who can’t do anything anymore.

“Reito-sama… um, I have a request.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Actually, I was planning to tell you after the exams were over… but since we met like this, it might be fate. So, I’ll tell you now.”

“Could you hire me as a maid at this mansion?”

He widened his eyes at my words.

But he quickly opened his mouth with a calm expression.

“Hmm, let me hear it. But in return, I’d like you to rephrase that statement properly. You have a true objective, don’t you?”

“!”

His statement was as if he knew what I was thinking.

While surprised… I took a breath and stated clearly.

“I will work as a maid in my sister’s place. So, please set my sister free.”

“N-Nako!”

“What if I say no?”

“That…”

“Well, you don’t seem like the type to back down easily, do you?”

“Y-yes.”

I nodded firmly.

As he looked at me, he seemed to flash a smile for a moment.

It wasn’t a mocking smile, though…

“Young Master. This child is not suited to be a maid. Please disregard her words for now–”

“Don’t interfere, Older Sister!”

“Nako…”

My older sister looked at me with a surprised expression.

Thinking about it, I… have never spoken to my older sister in a strong tone before.

“Ah, um… I’m sorry, Older Sister. For using harsh words… But I’ve decided. Even after that person left, the unreasonable hardships continued. Even though Mother and Older Sister are working hard… it’s strange that I’m the only one doing nothing!”

“Nako, that’s not right. Both Mother and I are doing this of our own free will. So you don’t have to think about anything. Just continue to have fun as you always have…”

“Even if it’s your own will, it’s a fact that Mother and Older Sister are struggling, right! Besides, I know the family is in financial difficulty. I’m a family member too, you know? Yet, I can’t just have fun doing nothing!”

“Nako, that’s…”

My older sister still seemed to want to say something.

But the next words wouldn’t come out.

“—Have you finished your argument?”

“!”

A calm yet resonant low voice reached my ears.

It belonged to the person standing in front of me…

“Hearing what you said, I have a proposal. Kyoko will continue to serve as Head Maid, but… how about Nako working here as my exclusive maid?”

“!!”

“Reito-sama… is that alright?”

“Yes. I understand Nako’s desire to lessen her sister’s burden. In that case, it would be best for you to work at this mansion in a way that supports Kyoko. You will be my exclusive maid in place of Kyoko, but is that okay?”

“! Yes!”

His words were exactly what I had been keeping to myself.

Although he gave his permission, his mother would be the original employer.

But for him to say this means he will cooperate with the negotiation.

“Young Master…”

“Kyoko. I don’t know much about you sisters… but at least, I understand that Nako is devoted to her sister. And, because she cares for her sister, I have a feeling she might do something reckless. Don’t you think Kyoko understands best?”

“That…”

“Then, don’t you think it’s better to have her work where I can keep an eye on her? That’s why I think Nako should be my exclusive maid.”

“…Understood.”

“Then it’s decided. I’ll talk to my mother about this matter as well.”

And with that, he… Reito-sama left.

After that, my older sister gave me a ride home.

In our conversation… my older sister said this about Reito-sama.

“I don’t understand him lately… Because even though he treated me, an acquaintance from the past, like just a pawn… why is he now… saying such kind words…”

My older sister also noticed that he was different from how he was back then.

“……I see. As I thought, Older Sister, you’ve been struggling. Now I’m here too, so I won’t let you struggle. And I… want to believe that Reito-sama has changed.”

“!”

Even though I said that back then… I myself hadn’t fully believed it yet.

Can I believe that Reito-sama… is different from that person and the other boys around me?