C

Kamui: Ah, Felicia, there you are, sulking in the corner again.

Felicia: Master Kamui! H-how mean~! If you realized I was sulking, you could at least comfort me with some gentle words~!

Kamui: Hmmm, well, it's just... you going off to mope after your cooking turns out bad has pretty much become a regular occurence. Alright, Felicia, ahem-hem. "You shouldn't let it get to you."

Felicia: Waah~~~! What's with that canned response! And that obviously fake cough!? ...I wonder if I'll ever be as perfect at housework as Flora... I want to be more helpful to Master Kamui and everyone else...

Kamui: I was just kidding earlier. You really shouldn't let it get to you. I think you're pulling your weight plenty.

Felicia: Y-you think so?

Kamui: Yeah, I mean, in battles, you run around shrieking and screaming to attract all the enemies to one spot, and then you mercilessly draw your weapons and mow them all down! I think that's a great strategy!

Felicia: .....

Kamui: U-um... Felicia? Why are you going back to the corner?

Felicia: Master Kamui... you have it all wrong... That's not a strategy or anything... I was seriously running for my life! A maid, a poor delicate girl, running away with all her might from the scary enemies!

Kamui: Huh? R-really?

Felicia: But that's not the issue here! I mean... I want to be of more help in looking after you, and the housework... Maids aren't meant for battle!

Kamui: Uh, yeah... But you know, if it bothers you, you don't HAVE to take part in these battles...

Felicia: B-but then... that's the only thing I'm good at, so...

Kamui: I-I see. That's a difficult problem...

Felicia: *fidgeting*

B

Felicia: Owww... it hurts...

Kamui: Felicia, you fell over earlier and broke a bunch of dishes, didn't you? I saw you hit your head on the floor, but are you alright? Here, let me see. I'll put on some salve...

Felicia: I'm... I'm sorry, Master Kamui. As a maid, I should be the one doing this for you...

Kamui: This sort of thing should go both ways. Besides, aren't we like family? And... there was that time you saved my life.

Felicia: Huh? Did something like that happen?

Kamui: Yeah. Remember when I came down with that bad fever? You stayed by my side, and cooled me down.

Felicia: ...I remember now. That was when my sister and I had just started serving under you... Back then, just like now, I'd always make a mess out of whatever I tried to do... and even when you were badly sick, Master Kamui, I couldn't even nurse you properly...

Kamui: But to cool down my fever, you clung to me and continued to use your power of ice. I heard about it afterwards... that you used a dangerous Ice Tribe technique to transfer my fever to yourself, even though it could have cost you your life...

Felicia: At the time, that was all I could think of.

Kamui: But what would you have done if something had happened to you? Of course, I'm grateful, but from now on, I don't want any of that self-sacrificing act. You need to take care of yourself.

Felicia: *giggle* But Master Kamui, you're wrong.

Kamui: Eh?

Felicia: I am taking care of myself!

Kamui: I-in what way?

Felicia: Teehee... that's my little secret! I won't tell even you, Master Kamui! Teeheehee!

Kamui: F-Felicia, hold on! ...Ah, she's gone.

A

Kamui: Felicia.

Felicia: Waahhhh!! M-Master Kamui!? Did you just catch me from that fall, Master Kamui!?

Kamui: Felicia... if you space out while talking to yourself like that up there, of course you're going to lose your balance.

Felicia: Uu... so embarrassing... Not only did you see me fall, you saved me... and what's more, you even saw me talking to myself...

Kamui: There you go. Are you okay?

Felicia: Y-yes...

Kamui: Now, I'll keep what happened here between us, so can I ask for something in exchange?

Felicia: Um, yes...? In exchange...?

Kamui: The other day, you mentioned that you're "taking care of yourself." What did you mean?

Felicia: Oh, that...

Kamui: Yeah, I've been dying to know.

Felicia: I'm always taking good care of myself. After all, every day, I manage to help a lot of people.

Kamui: Hn? What do you mean?

Felicia: Master Kamui, after seeing me sacrifice my own health in order to save you, you may believe that I should take better care of myself, but I believe that being able to serve others in that way is being true to myself.

Kamui: To serve... is to be true to yourself?

Felicia: Yes. Unlike my sister, I'm a klutz who fails at everything she does... but at least, in wanting to look after everyone as a maid, my feelings won't lose to anyone else's! That is my duty. That is the proof that I continue to exist as a human named Felicia. So that's why, to serve, is a way for me to take good care of myself.

Kamui: But... won't you exhaust yourself like that?

Felicia: No. Not at all. I really am happy to live for everyone else's sake. Even if I get a little hurt along the way, I don't mind!

Kamui: Felicia... I think those feelings are wonderful. They might be what they call "unconditional love."

Felicia: I-if you say something like that, I'm going to blush...

Kamui: I understand that you're taking care of yourself, but still, you shouldn't overdo it. If end up collapsing and getting sick, you won't be of much help to anyone then.

Felicia: O-of course not! I'll never let that happen!

Kamui: Hahaha! Now, if only you weren't so clumsy, you'd be perfect.

Felicia: Waahh~! Master Kamui! I finally managed to get some good lines in, so please don't tease me right now~!

Kamui: Heh, sorry, Felicia. But if you feel that strongly, then I won't stop you. I hope you'll continue to support us.

Felicia: Y-yes! Of course! Felicia will always continue to be at everyone's service~!

S

Felicia: *fidgeting* Master Kamui...

Kamui: Felicia... you don't need to be so down. Everyone makes mistakes.

Felicia: But... I woke up late, and put my maid uniform on backwards, and completely burnt the eggs, and got completely covered in foam while doing the laundry... It's been a disaster... I wonder if I should just quit being a maid and pack my bags...?

Kamui: I-if you really want to go back home, then I won't stop you, but...

Felicia: G-geez, Master Kamui, that's where you -should- stop me!

Kamui: Ahaha, t-that was a joke! But Felicia, should you really be saying that? What happened to being of service to us being proof of your existence?

Felicia: That... was all a big lie.

Kamui: Eh!? I-it was a lie!? Even though you poured so much of your feelings into it!?

Felicia: ...It's true that I want to be of service, but calling it unconditional love would be a big fat lie...

Kamui: Huh? What does that mean?

Felicia: Do you want me to say it, Master Kamui? Do you really want me to say it...

Kamui: ...? W-what?

Felicia: It's... it's because I love you. I love you, as a man...

Kamui: ...!! Felicia...

Felicia: When we talked last time... "I would do anything for you"... I just wanted to dress that up in a cool way, that's all... I know that this love is forbidden, that we're worlds apart... and I know that a maid must not fall in love with her master! So... so, please... pretend I never said anything...

Kamui: Felicia... you don't need to be concerned with that. I love you, not as a maid, but as a woman...

Felicia: Eh...!?

Kamui: If I didn't, I wouldn't always be comforting you when you're off to sulk like this. Ever since you came to the Fort, I've been following you with my eyes. Of course, I might just be saying this in the heat of the moment, but I'm sure I began falling in love with you since then...

Felicia: Master Kamui...

Kamui: So don't worry. I won't let you leave my side. You'll serve me, and only me, for life.

Felicia: Uu...! Master Kamui...! I'm... I'm so happy!

Kamui: Sorry, Felicia, I've made you worry for such a long time... It doesn't matter if you're clumsy or unskilled... will you continue to take care of me from now on?