HarunaYuuka

MC: *smiles* If I were to do your homework for you, young master, I would be failing in my duty.

Ace: Tch. Excuses.

MC: *faintly chuckles*

Ace: *frowns* Anyway... there's something I've been meaning to ask. How do you keep acting all elegant around me when I'm nowhere near as rich as your last employer? I'm literally just a regular college student living off an allowance.

MC: You are quite perceptive, young master. A proper explanation would take rather a long time, so I'll keep it brief. I belong to a kind of entity that exists to serve, which is why we form contracts. Once a contract is established, we devote ourselves faithfully to our master. However, that does not make us mere servants without will. We retain our own judgment and are free to make our own decisions.

Ace: ...So?

MC: *has a playful smile* I may or may not have set aside a modest stash of gold and jewelry before I was sold at the market.

Ace: ...

Ace: Bruh—

Ace: ...

Ace: Actually, you did great.

MC: Thank you, young master.

Epel: Lowkey, your butler is richer than you.

Ace: So what?

Epel: I'm just saying.

Sebek: Nevertheless, seeing as he is serving you, Ace, I would not expect that stash of gold and jewelry to survive for more than a few months.

Ace: ...

Pierrot: Hello, my friend. I hope you don't mind my unexpected visit.

MC: It's 3 A.M.

Pierrot: ...

MC: ...

MC: *chuckles* Nah! Come in! I won't be going to bed until 6.

Pierrot: ...

Pierrot: I thought you would try to fix your sleep schedule?

MC: I gave up.

MC: So, what's up?

Pierrot: I would like to ask for your advice.

MC: Hm? On what?

Pierrot: Romance.

MC: ...

MC: I'm the least qualified for that.

Pierrot: You write romantic novels.

MC: Yes, but they're not for real-life situations.

MC: Unless, of course, you want to mess up.

Pierrot: Oh...

Pierrot: ...

Pierrot: Can you at least help me with small things? Like, how should I act?

MC: Hm, do I need to? You already know the basics.

Pierrot: But I want this human to love me deeply.

Ace: It just means you're word-dumb.

Riddle: No, Ace. That's called having limited exposure to academic books and scholarly journals.

MC: I read those daily.

Riddle: ...

Sol: *groans softly, his eyes flutter open*

MC: *staring at him from up close* *smiles* Hi.

Sol: ...

Sol: *blushes* Hi...

MC: Does your head hurt?

Sol: ...A little.

MC: Okay... That's not good. *moves away* I'll take you to the hospital.

Sol: N-No. There's no need.

MC: I insist, and also because I don't want you filing a report.

Sol: ...

MC: ...

MC: I don't want to go to jail.

Sol: ...

Sol: I will never do that to you.

MC: Really? Why? Do we know each other?

Sol: ...

Sol: We're classmates.

MC: ...

MC: Fuck. *isn't the type to get to know their classmates unless necessary*

MC: ...You know what, yeah, I think you should file a report.

Sol: ...

Sol: *chuckles* No, it's really okay.

MC: ...

MC: You're not showing early signs of Stockholm syndrome, are you?

Sol: You didn't kidnap me.

MC: Fair. But are you really sure?

Sol: Yes, I'm sure.

MC: ...

MC: *smiles* I'm MC, by the way.

Sol: Solivan Brugmansia, but you can call me "Sol".

MC: Okay, Sol. Awkward first meeting, but nice to meet you.

Sol: Me too.

Geo: You're lucky he didn't report you, idiot.

MC: Because he's cool, unlike you.

Geo: Stop being friends with me, then.

MC: ...

MC: Okay. *walks away*

Geo: ...

Geo: The fuck—

MC: *turns back* Just kidding.

Jester: They're frail, naive, incapable... and so terribly easy to kill.

Jester: Just like my pet, who's now bedridden after catching a cold from gallivanting off to who-knows-where.

Jester: I already had Doctor prepare medicine for them. He assured me it would work... so why are they still sick?

Jester: ...Perhaps I should see whether they've been taking it at all.

MC: *doesn't drink the medicine because they don't like its taste, instead hiding it under their pillow*

Jester: ...

Jester: This little—

MC: Explain.

Belphie: Crime rates are increasing. Your government sucks.

Belphie: You work 9-5 for a minimum wage.

Belphie: If I were there, I'd solve at least half your problems.

MC: You can't even wake up at the sound of your alarm clock, Belphie.

Belphie: Because that's what the game designed me to be.

MC: ...

MC: Okay, you make a valid point.

MC: Sometimes I forget how smart you are.

Belphie: *smiles* Yes, because you always let your guard down when I show my cute side more.

MC: What promise?

Leona: ...

Leona: That you'd marry me if we're still single after six years.

MC: ...

MC: How did you know I was still single?

Leona: ...

Leona: I had my people monitor your relationship status.

MC: Damn. I like the honesty though.

Leona: Now what?

MC: What what?

Leona: You're going to marry me or not?

MC: You don't even have a ring—

Leona: *pulls it out*

MC: ...

MC: Do you want me that much?

Leona: What do you think?

MC: *laughs* Okay, calm down. *wears the ring*

Leona: Tch.

Leona: ...

MC: That's what I'm trying to confirm.

Harlequin: ...

MC: ...

Harlequin: ...

MC: ...

Harlequin: Quit it.

MC: I haven't figured it out yet—

Harlequin: *turns his head away*

MC: Harle?

Harlequin: Go away, you're ugly.

MC: No, I'm not. I'm visually pleasing.

Harlequin: ...

Harlequin: You're so full of yourself.

Vil: ...Why have you let your hair fall over your face like that?

Yuviel: The reason is simple, Vil. I have misplaced my mask and am currently searching for it.

Vil: ...

Vil: How do you expect to find your mask when you can barely see? It's just the two of us, Yuviel. There's no need to conceal your face.

Yuviel: No, no~ I've already told you about my curse. I wouldn't want you to succumb to madness.

Vil: ...

Vil: While I understand the terrible experience you've been through, I highly doubt I'd be so easily driven to madness.

Yuviel: One can never truly know, Vil. There is no harm in being cautious.

Vil: *sighs* Very well. Where do you remember seeing it last? It's possible someone decided to play a prank on you.

Yuviel and Vil: ...

Yuviel and Vil: *have found the mask but it's now in pieces*

Vil: ...

Vil: What are you going to do now?

Yuviel: ...

Yuviel: A bit of glue should be enough to mend it.

Vil: ...

Jestyn: My lobster hath been blessed with an excess of butter, and my steak is far too tender and juicy.

MC and Knighter: ...

Knighter: You should go on a diet.

MC: I agree.

MC: By Housewarden Rosehearts's kindness, I was permitted to stay in the guest quarters.

Ace: Sorry. Deuce was the only one who was on board with the idea. The others shot it down, so I couldn't…

MC: *smiles* There's no need to explain, Young Master. Now then, as the day has already begun, would you like me to prepare your breakfast?

Ace: Is it gonna be something straight out of a five-star restaurant?

MC: I should be able to make it work.

Ace: Sweet!

The other Heartslabyul students: *noticed that Ace's meal looked far better than theirs*

Heartslabyul student A: Oi, Ace. Are you not gonna share some with us?

Ace: No? This is only good for one serving.

Heartslabyul student A: Tch.

Ace: *sticks his tongue out*

Ticket Taker: Surprisingly, they're not difficult to deal with. I simply give them puzzles to solve, and they stay occupied for hours.

Ticket Taker: Well, perhaps I can leave them alone for a little while so I can take care of my other responsibilities for the day.

*After a few hours*

Ticket Taker: *returns to his tent and finds MC is gone*

Ticket Taker: ...

MC: *has climbed a tree and can't get down*

Ticket Taker: ...

Ticket Taker: Why?

MC: I wanted to see the real thing. *talks about the sunset illustration on the puzzle they solved*

Vaelithra: It brings me great pleasure that you chose to honor my invitation. The refreshments and desserts have already been prepared, for I suspect our discussion will not be a brief one.

MC: (Does she expect me to be hostile toward her? Well, I can't blame her. Malleus came on far too strongly and made it abundantly clear how little interest he had in the entire arrangement.) *sighs inwardly*

MC: *takes the seat across from her*

Vaelithra: *seems a little disappointed by their choice but says nothing*

MC: ...

Vaelithra: ...

MC: Your Royal Highness—

Vaelithra: Formalities are unnecessary between us. Vae will do just fine.

MC: ...

MC: *smiles* Alright, Vae. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Vaelithra: ...

Vaelithra: The pleasure is mine as well.

Lilia: It seems everything MC told you went in one ear and out the other.

Malleus: You would not understand, Lilia. She evoked the same unease I felt whenever others surrounded the Child of Man.

Lilia: ...

Lilia: That hardly seems likely. They've never known one another.

Malleus: ...

MC: *chuckles*

Vaelithra: *despite her graceful demeanor, she's a rather messy eater, with crumbs still dotting the corner of her mouth*

MC: *stands up, walks over to her, and gently wipes the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief*

Vaelithra: ...

Vaelithra: …Thank you. I fear I've made quite an impression on myself.

MC: Don't worry. It's cute. *smiles*

The first-years: ............

Epel: Uh, Ace? Are you rich now?

Ace: Pft. I wish.

Deuce: Okay...? Then why are you with a butler?

Ace: Well, this might sound kinda crazy, but I stopped by the flea market downtown and saw they were holding some raffle or whatever. So I figured, "Eh, why not? Let's see what I get." ...And somehow, I ended up winning him. *points at MC* All for five madols.

The first-years: ...

Sebek: What in the world?! Isn't that human trafficking?!

Ace: Yes. Hey, you explain it to them.

MC: *places a hand over his chest and bows his head gracefully* Yes, young master. *then straightens his posture* I faithfully served a distinguished household for many years. Unfortunately, my service came to an end after I refused my former master's romantic advances.

MC: As punishment—and to humiliate me—I was sold at a market, and my contract was placed into a raffle. *gives them a short smile*

Ace: *pats his back to comfort him*

The first-years: ...

Jack: And you've been 'technically' bought by Ace... You must be seething.

Ace: Bro, what the fuck?

MC: Not at all. I had expected far worse. When Young Master Ace had won my contract, I saw a glimmer of hope.

Epel: I think it's "glimmer of broke".