Chapter 34

That evening, I casually prepared a meal for Lilian and stepped outside. Yulia’s Room was just next door, but she insisted on meeting outside for some reason. As I strolled slowly to the flower bed, I sensed someone approaching from ahead. Who could it be? I peeked forward and spotted a familiar face.

“Hey, stop…!”

Yulia? What’s she doing over there? My steps quickened as I realized what situation Yulia was in. A drunken nobleman had a tight grip on her wrist, his face flushed like a ripe tomato. Just another drunken aristocrat sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. I rushed over and slapped the nobleman’s hand that was gripping Yulia’s wrist.

“What the hell?!”

“You’re drunk. You should head back…”

“But I don’t mind! Hehehe, maid!”

“Creep.”

Sensing that the target had shifted from Yulia to me, the nobleman suddenly grabbed my arm, and I couldn’t help but curse under my breath. His clammy hand on my arm sent unsettling sensations creeping up like bugs crawling on my skin. Unable to hold back, I swung my other hand and smacked him on the temple.

*Thud!* With a sound, the nobleman collapsed like a bag of potatoes. Wiping my arm with a handkerchief, I tossed it into the nearby trash can. Damn it, that was one of my few handkerchiefs. Leaving the fallen nobleman behind, Yulia and I moved to a nearby bench to sit.

“Uh, sorry, Catherine.”

“For what?”

“For asking you to meet outside for no reason…”

Glancing at Yulia, who looked at me hesitantly, I gritted my teeth slightly. Why can’t those nobles just leave a sweet girl like her alone? Anyway, Yulia was beautiful, especially under the moonlight; she seemed like a dreamy beauty. Even during the day, she was stunning.

“Why is this your fault, Yulia? It’s that damn guy’s fault.”

“…Are you mad?”

Can’t she tell? Ah, I see, she can’t. Her expression muscles are dead. I let out a small sigh. I wasn’t really angry at Yulia; I just didn’t want to add to her guilt. So, I spoke back in the gentlest tone I could muster.

“No.”

“You seem angry.”

“I’m really not angry.”

“Is that so?”

As I watched her tilt her head, I decided to ask why she called me out at night.

“So, what’s your reason for summoning me at this hour?”

“Uh, can you take me with you when you go out?”

“Huh? …Well, it’s not difficult, so I suppose I can take you. Why?”

“I need to buy something.”

“If it’s just that, you could just ask me directly, right?”

“No, that would be a bit embarrassing.”

The mixture of confusion and embarrassment on Yulia’s face was evident. Well, considering she’d lived as a commoner her whole life, asking someone for help must feel strange. Since going together wasn’t an issue, I nodded but suddenly had a thought.

“Is that all you wanted to ask me to meet outside for?”

“Of course not. I just thought of it… Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Are you and Princess together…?”

“Wha—?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, I coughed awkwardly while looking at Yulia. She avoided my gaze as she spoke.

“Well, you’ve been seeing each other a lot lately. And you were with her when the students protested, right?”

“It’s just a contractual relationship.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. I’ve been trained in various things.”

“Got it.”

There was a hint of relief on Yulia’s face at that response. Why does she seem relieved that I’m not involved with the princess? Could it be…?

“Phew, that’s a relief. I was worried about the princess noticing.”

“Noticing what?”

“Well, whenever we go out, it’s usually only you and Catherine.”

“Oh, that’s what you meant.”

Ah, I see. I was unnecessary worried, and now I felt a little disappointed. Pouting my lips, Yulia let out a small chuckle.

“You hardly show your emotions, yet somehow, I can read you easily.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

Well, it’s not like I’m devoid of feelings; I just don’t need to show them around Yulia. Honestly, having light-hearted conversations with Yulia, who would become a noble once she graduates, feels a bit against my maid principles.

But since I hadn’t really made any same-sex friends after arriving in this world, Yulia was quite a precious friend to me. Lilian was someone I had to serve, and the other maids felt more like colleagues than friends.

And among the ever-changing staff of the House of Portus, there were only the head butler and the head maid who had more experience than me, which made it feel impossible to get closer to them.

“So, this Saturday?”

“Yeah. We’ll go out this Saturday. Just fill out the outing application beforehand.”

“Got it.”

As Yulia said this with a smile, she slowly leaned her head on my shoulder. Seeing her worn-out expression, I stiffened in place, not knowing how to react.

“About that Divine Power…”

“Huh?”

“It’s a miracle that originally doesn’t exist for humans. Using it is really exhausting.”

“Ah….”

Is she talking about when I used Divine Power yesterday? I quietly listened to Yulia’s words, which were more like a lament.

“Plus, there are side effects? If it’s a miracle from God, then having side effects is absurd.”

“Side effects?”

“Yeah…”

Seeming to contemplate her next words, Yulia shifted her mouth around, her face growing slightly red. What kind of side effects is making her act like that? I cocked my head in confusion.

“Uh, every time I use Divine Power… my body gets hot.”

“It gets hot?”

“Yeah… I’d say it heats up.”

Wait, is that… like, a heat in a different sense? The words I couldn’t voice out echoed in my mind. After she finished her statement, Yulia fell silent, leaving me in a state of mental screaming. What kind of God gives such side effects?!

“Forget it.”

“Huh?”

Yulia, now hiding her face in her hands, spoke up. Despite her covered mouth, her muffled words clearly reached my ears. Even with her hands covering her face, her flushed ears indicated her embarrassment.

“Forget it…”

“Wait, so you’re not a saint, you’re a… a *sexual* saint?”

Yulia’s mouth dropped open in shock at my teasing. Was it because it was a new expression for her? As she fanned her bright red face, she let out a sigh of despair.

“Ugh… Well, the Pope said it’s something that resolves itself once you mature, so don’t use it at the Academy.”

“Well, that makes it hard to refuse your request.”

Even though the Pope directly warned her, she’s a saint who had no choice but to use Divine Power for her friend’s well-being. That’s a saint indeed. I felt embarrassed for teasing her just now, even if I showed no expression.

“Then, you shouldn’t use it excessively in the future?”

“Yeah. Well, I’ll use it if Lilian or Catherine get hurt.”

“Typical saint.”

As I nodded and mumbled that, Yulia groaned and asked in a pleading tone.

“Could you stop calling me a saint? Honestly, it’s embarrassing.”

If you don’t want me to, then I won’t. I nodded, and Yulia smiled softly. She was so beautiful that no matter what she did, it felt like a painting. I stared at her blankly, and suddenly, a question popped into my mind.

“By the way, Yulia, are you going to hunt monsters after graduation?”

It’s obvious, but there are monsters in this world too. Not that there are only super strong monsters, but they need to be dealt with periodically.

“Yeah, probably? I want to do that too.”

“You could spend your life in a district treating nobles instead, right?”

“Don’t you think that’s a waste of talent?”

“Oh, are you saying that about yourself?”

“Hahaha.”

Yulia burst into a bright laugh, pulling her knees up and gazing at me intently. Having a beauty look at me like that made my heart race. For a moment, as we locked eyes, Yulia suddenly stood up.

“This is nice. Should we come out and take a walk like this sometimes?”

“Let’s keep this a secret from the Young Lady?”

I replied playfully, and Yulia nodded willingly.

“Yeah. Lilian monopolizes Catherine most of the time. I think I need this time too.”

“…Well, I don’t know if I’m worth monopolizing, but if you want it, then sure.”

I nodded, and Yulia smiled brightly, agreeing. Thus, we formed a midnight walk alliance and finished that night’s stroll, returning to the dormitory.