The moment I stepped into the mansion, I felt the tension in the air.

“Wh-What should we do…?”

“C-Calm down. Deep breaths!”

“It’ll be alright…”

The maids lined up in the hallway were pale, their voices trembling.

Their usual composure and politeness were nowhere to be seen.

Every one of them was visibly shaken.

I addressed one of the senior maids.

“What happened?”

“M-Maid Chief! W-Well…”

Despite her trembling lips, she succinctly explained the situation.

Apparently, the young master had slipped on the stairs and hit his head hard.

They immediately contacted his family doctor, who treated him.

Hearing that it wasn’t a major injury, just a slight bump, I was relieved… or at least, I tried to be.

The severity of the injury wasn’t the issue.

The problem was… a precious male had been hurt.

In a society with so few men, if something were to happen to the only male heir of the Hazumi family… it could destabilize the entire household.

Moreover, it would have a significant impact on Mika-san’s mental state.

Since her husband’s death, Mika-san had been working tirelessly to raise her son.

He was her reason for persevering.

If something happened to him… I didn’t know what she would do.

The maids’ distress stemmed from their understanding of this.

Although the doctor had diagnosed the young master’s condition as stable, with no apparent problems…

For some reason, he hadn’t regained consciousness.

Every doctor they consulted had declared the cause unknown.

A heavy atmosphere hung over the mansion.

“Young Master… doesn’t seem likely to wake up today either.”

“Even if he does, what will he say to us…?”

“Do you think he’ll be even worse?”

“Knowing him, he might even fire us all…”

The maids carried out their duties as usual, but… they couldn’t hide their anxiety.

On the morning of the fourth day…

Another maid and I went to the young master’s room to clean.

We opened the door to find him lying in bed as always.

But there was one difference… his eyes were slightly open.

“Young Master…!”

The maid beside me gasped and rushed off to alert the others.

As the maids gathered, the young master, his consciousness seemingly stabilizing, sat up in bed.

Sighs of relief rippled through the assembled maids as he finally awoke.

I alone… observed him calmly.

His eyes, as they scanned the room and the maids, held a look of… bewilderment.

“…Where am I?”

I didn’t miss his murmured words.

Could it be…?

“—Everyone, quiet. Young Master, have you awakened?”

I addressed the increasingly noisy maids and then gently spoke to him, approaching his bedside.

“Um… Young Master?”

He tilted his head, puzzled by my address.

“We, the maids, are here to attend to you, Hazumi Reito-sama.”

“Hazumi… Reito?”

Even after I introduced myself, the confused expression remained on his face.

“Young Master, what is the matter? Are you feeling unwell?”

He mumbled something, then closed his mouth, offering no reply.

“…Young Master.”

I decided to test something.

“Do you remember my name?”

“Name…?”

He tilted his head again, a troubled look on his face.

Even if I asked… he wouldn’t know the answer.

Because he had never called me, or any of the other maids, by our names.

We were addressed with “Hey, you” or “You there.”

Never by name.

He saw us as nothing more than pawns to be moved at his will.

After a moment of thought, he spoke haltingly.

“Y-You’re so beautiful… so… Reiko-san, or something?”

“!”

My eyes widened.

The surrounding maids erupted in murmurs.

I never dreamed that the arrogant young master would utter such words.

And then…

—He’s lost his memory.

The thought crossed my mind.

“Beautiful… you say. Thank you. However, my name is Kyoko.”

Maintaining my composure, I replied.

“It seems… the aftereffects of the accident are still lingering.”

I added in a low voice.

Afterwards, I quickly contacted the doctor, and the examination began.

“Your memory seems a bit hazy, perhaps because you’ve just woken up… but there are no physical abnormalities. You should be able to resume your daily life without any problems.”

The maids waiting nearby expressed their relief at the doctor's diagnosis.

But I…

“Hazy memory… I see. I thought your way of speaking and demeanor were different from usual…”

My suspicion of memory loss had been confirmed, leaving no room for relief.

Besides…

I had to report this to Mika-san.

I had to carefully consider how to tell her without causing her undue distress.

As I was lost in thought—

“I-If you’re worried… we can conduct a more detailed examination at the hospital? Or perhaps you’d like to be hospitalized, Reito-sama?”

“Huh?”

The doctor's sudden suggestion and the young master's surprised response reached my ears.

“Hospitalized…?”

He echoed the word.

As the doctor said, if his memory was hazy, he should be hospitalized for further examination and treatment.

However… I sensed a change in the doctor’s eyes.

“If you’re hospitalized… then I… I can take care of you, down to the last detail? E-Even at night…”

“—That’s enough.”

I cut her off sharply.

“Thank you for examining Reito-sama, Doctor. However… any further measures are unnecessary, aren’t they?”

“B-But…”

She started to make excuses… which meant she had ulterior motives.

There was no point in listening to her.

“If you subject Young Master to any more unnecessary procedures… I won't hesitate to take action.”

“Eek…!”

The doctor flinched at my forceful words.

“Well then, please be careful on your way home.”

“Ugh… Such a good chance to take care of a male patient…”

Her disappointed muttering as she left confirmed my suspicions. She clearly had a selfish desire to care for him… a male.

I then left the mansion to report to Mika-san.

About an hour later, when I returned, I noticed a strange, almost giddy atmosphere among the maids.

I would ask about it later… First, I went to the young master’s room.

I knocked, and a reply came immediately.

“Enter.”

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

I bowed as I entered and found him rummaging through his room.

Despite his memory loss, was he looking for clues to jog his memory?

“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.”

He readily agreed with my words.

Even that small difference from his usual behavior surprised me, but…

“Kyoko. I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, Young Master?”

There was a look of determination on his face.

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

His words, spoken with such directness, took my breath away.

Continue to be…

I hated him.

He was commanding, unpleasant, looked down on women, and did as he pleased.

As the saying went, “A leopard can’t change its spots,” and he hadn’t changed at all since we were children.

I knew that better than anyone.

“…”

He looked at me anxiously as I remained silent.

But… I couldn’t sense his usual demeanor in him now.

Instead of replying verbally, I gave a small nod.

If he had truly changed…

I wondered how this feeling of “hate” would transform.