As I walked along the road, which was being dyed in the dusk, towards Lilia-san's mansion, there was a familiar person at the end of the road.
　

''........Ms. Ayn?''
We've been expecting you. Master Kite.

　When I call out to her, a little confused, Ayn-san slowly plucks the hem of her skirt and gives a beautiful bow.
　Why is Ayn-san in this place?　From the way you said you were waiting for me, I'm sure you had business with me, but....

　Seeing me tilting my head, Ain-san opens her mouth with her usual cool look.

''........I should have visited earlier, but I was lost. No, to be precise, I'm still lost at the moment.
...lost?
''Yes, as you may have guessed, Kite-sama, I'm not very good at expressing my emotions.

　It's true that I've always had the impression that Mr. Ein is a cool guy who is very good at his job, and I've never seen him change his expression too much, and as far as I know, he never talks too much.
　But what does this hesitation mean?　What does this have to do with me, that I should have visited it earlier?

　Seeing me tilting my head, Ain-san continues to speak in a quiet tone.

''........How can I show you the gratitude I have in my heart.......''
What?
'A hundred words are not enough, a thousand actions are not enough ... I have no way of expressing the emotions that are in my heart right now.'
...well...

　As she told me this, Ms. Ayn slowly approached me.
　The small Ayn-san is just about a head smaller than me, and as she gets closer, her face is at my chest level.

　

''.........Thank you........thank you. For saving Chrome-sama........
"...Mr. Ayn. Well, I'm not....
I know. Master Kite doesn't take that action as an achievement.

　Ayn-san's words, which seemed to see right through my heart, were exactly right.
　It's not that I was thinking of saving Kuro or fulfilling the wishes of the Sixth King or Mr. Ayn or anything of that magnitude.
　I only confessed my love for Kuro because I liked him and wanted to convey my feelings to him and become his lover, so I acted for myself. That happened to be the reason why I was able to save Black.

But no matter how much I thank you, it's not enough. I've never seen Chrome-sama look so happy before.
Mr. Ayn.
'.........I was the first baby bird that Krom-sama raised......Krom-sama reached out to me as a little girl, alone and trembling with nowhere to go, and asked me to go with him. He became my home away from home.
....

　Ayn-san's words, which she tells me while holding onto my clothes, her face down and her small shoulders trembling...................I continue to listen to her quietly so as not to interrupt her with unnecessary words.

''It may be selfish, but I consider Chrome-sama...........as my mother. I am the person I am today because of the love and nurturing that Krom-sama has given me. That's why I became a maid to use the life that Krom-sama picked up for me for the rest of my life... to serve Krom-sama until the end of my life, that's why I became a maid.
....
''It's ironic. I was so drunk with the happiness of serving and being by the side of Chrome-sama that I was slow to realize the wish in his heart.

　Kuro raised her and she became a maid to work for him.
　But now that she knows about Kuro's wish, she understands her regret.......she chose to stand behind Kuro instead of next to him.
　And when he realized that this was out of line with Kuro's wishes....

''There was nothing I could do about it. I had already clearly seen Chrome-sama as the Lord. I had formed a self that was proud to serve Krom-sama. I couldn't change the way things were anymore.
....
'I really felt really sorry for myself, knowing more than anyone else about Krom-sama's suffering, his wishes, but I couldn't do anything about it... so...'

　That's where the words end and Ayn-san looks up.
　Silver eyes with faint tears in them stare at me, and after a silent silence, she opens her mouth.

''.........Kite-sama, I will never forget this favor.......for the rest of my life. Even if you don't think you are, you are a savior to me.
I mean, it's just that I'm getting a really strong feeling...
No, I was at a loss for words of thanks, but my heart is not lost in thought of you. I love you second in the world. I will put you second only to Master Chrome.
....

　I don't know what it is, I got a chill just like I felt when I first met Isis-san... I don't know, but isn't Ayn-san kind of turned on?
　His expression is cool, but his eyes are filled with a desperate heat, or something....

''I've finished telling you how I feel at the moment, albeit briefly.
Um, uh, yes. W-well, do you understand?
And if you're ever in trouble, you can always contact me. If anyone disturbs you I will end them immediately.
... haha, haha, yes!

　He started saying some crazy stuff!　
　It's not like I have any enemies or anything, so I guess that's fine, isn't it?

　Ayn-san then removes her hand from my chest and gives a deep, superlative bow before looking at me again.

''........I heard that you like Ripple Pie, Kaito-sama, is it true?''
'What?　Oh, yes.
Well, I'll give you a small window...
Huh?　What?　Wait, oh, Mr. Ayn!

　Right after I nodded, Ayn-san took out a box out of nowhere that looked like it was going to hold a cake... or rather a mountain of them!

...Oh, um, let me ask you something, but what is this?
'This is Ripple Pie. It is my pleasure, if I may be so bold, to offer you this as a thank you.
...Well, how many are there?
It's a 'thousand' at the end of the day.
A thousand?

　A thousand ripple pies!　I've prepared an uncommon number of things!　Huh?　What is this?　It almost looks like a wall already....seriously?

If you need it again, I can always make it for you.
'Oh, uh, um, yes. Thank you.

　Well, well, there's a magic box, so it won't go moldy... but even if you eat one a day, it's almost three years worth... Ayn, do you not know the word additions and subtractions?

Uh, um, Mr. Ayn do you know the word addiction?
'Of course. Compromise, additions and subtractions ... it's a spoilage that I, as a maid, must eliminate.
Sourdoughka.

　No, he's not!　White and I don't talk to each other in a different way!
　As I was stunned and put the ripple pie away in the magic box, Ayn-san politely thanked me before leaving.
　Yeah, I feel like I'm in big trouble once again.

''No~ as expected Kite, I didn't expect you to cage Ayn-san as well.......''
Hey, Alice do you think he was joking, Mr. Ayn?
No, not at all. Ayn-san basically does not bend what she decides for herself. Since he said he'd give Kite the second priority in the world, he'll really do what he's supposed to do.　If they see you as an enemy of Mr. Kite's, they will erase you immediately without any hesitation or compassion.
Oh, my God, I'm scared.

　Hearing Alice's words, which appeared as a matter of course, I felt the same chill run down my back again as before... no, I feel like it was really outrageous.

　Dear Mom, Dad--I was able to thank Ayn-san for Black, but something about the flow of the second half was very disturbing. Yeah, I don't know, maybe - I was turned on.