“Um… hey, aren’t you gonna give them a little too?”

The flame demon girl glanced at the pile of stripped-clean bones and scattered meat scraps on the ground, then at the mercenaries not far away who were still standing there like ice sculptures. She couldn’t help asking, a little uneasy.

After all, every one of them was burning Chi nonstop just to fight off the cold, using way more stamina than usual. Add in how they’d rushed their retreat from the Devildom without even time for a proper meal, and now their faces were all pale and drawn.

But with the language barrier, the silver‑haired girl seemed to misunderstand. She gave the rib bone in her hand a final suck, then casually tossed the bare bone aside. She wiped the grease from her lips and fingers with a handkerchief, looking very satisfied.

“Ah~ that hit the spot. I haven’t had meat like this in forever.” She patted her tummy, which was slightly rounded from overeating, and hummed twice. Hearing the flame demon’s question, she pointed at herself. “Were you talking to me?”

“Yahaha, no need to thank me. When I see injustice, I leap to help. I’d never just stand by and watch a cute girl in trouble.”

As she spoke, the silver‑haired girl stood up and reached out her right hand to the flame demon, a warm smile blooming on her face. “How about we get to know each other? I’m Tiran. Tiran Elysian.”

“Na…me?” When she echoed the word, the flame demon used the human common tongue. As if she’d grasped its meaning, she nodded and answered,

“Miya Khakio-Bia Finotao Yulax Stashimi.”

“…” Tiran’s smile froze on her face.

“Mimi.” After a long beat of silence, Her Highness repeated loudly, “Ahahaha, so your name’s Mimi, huh? What a cute name.”

“?” The flame demon girl tilted her head in confusion. “Miya Khakio-Bia Finotao Yulax Stashimi.”

“Uh‑huh, got it, Mimi!”

…

“So your bad memory already started back then, huh?”

Aya set down her wine glass, a dark look on her face. So Miss Tiran really can’t remember people’s names—it’s not an act at all…

And… who would’ve thought Miss Mimi used to be this kind. In that situation she was actually worrying about the mercenaries who’d kidnapped her. Looking at it that way, you’re the real Angel here, right? The Devildom’s really a land of simple, honest folk, huh?

“Hey, what’s with that look? Are you thinking something like, ‘Hard to believe Mimi used to be a kind, adorable girl,’ or what?!”

Eyes hazy from the alcohol, a faint blush on her cheeks, the head maid pointed at Aya in dissatisfaction.

“Uh…” Aya coughed twice, a little embarrassed, and instinctively turned her face away to dodge Mimi’s gaze.

As for why… First, because Mimi had nailed it. Seriously, who’d expect the head maid who acts like a final boss in front of me to actually worry about other people—especially people who hurt her. I mean, she could even worry about the mercenaries who dragged her to the human world, so why is she so awful to me?! What did you go through to end up like this?!

No, wait. Thinking about it carefully, aside from me, Mimi’s attitude toward everyone else in the castle is actually really gentle. Forget Lady Tiran, even the other maids like little Ellie get treated well… So she’s only like this with me?! I’ve never done anything to deserve that!

And second, Aya had never seen Mimi drunk before.

Rewind to a little earlier. After a certain unreliable princess was the first to pass out, Mimi and Aya were left in an awkward silence. With nothing to say, the only option was to keep drinking. At first they just wanted to finish the bottles they’d already opened, but then who knows who started it—you drink a cup, I drink a cup—and it never stopped.

Nobody said it out loud, but Aya felt like she could see the words “eat dust, loser”—no, more like “whoever loses backs off and stops getting between me and Her Highness” written in Mimi’s eyes.

And so, for no good reason, their fighting spirit ignited and they plunged into a brutally intense drinking contest.

“Oh? You dare walk up to me? You’re not running away and even bringing yourself to my doorstep to die?”

“If I don’t walk over, how am I supposed to drink you under the table?”

…The vibe was kind of weird, but somehow it also weirdly made sense.

Both of them had alcohol tolerance way above a normal person’s, but considering what they are, if an average human’s tolerance is a hundred, then Mimi’s is about five hundred, while Aya’s is ten thousand and up… Unless it’s some legendary immortal brew from the East Land, or a liquor made from the anesthetics recorded in secret anti‑Dragon techniques, alcohol alone basically can’t knock Aya out.

“Huuh… Fess up. What exactly happened between you and Her Highness in Locken?”

Mimi yawned behind her hand, but still pressed on relentlessly.

“Mm…” Aya hesitated, wondering if she should just be honest with Mimi here like Tiran had suggested. Even if Mimi did have a huge reaction, she might not remember after sobering up anyway. It could be a chance to test her response.

But going straight to the “we did this and that” part felt a bit too much. Maybe start with something lighter?

“Uh, well, we kissed, and… we formed a Dragon Knight contract.”

The moment the words “Dragon Knight” left her mouth, Aya suddenly replayed the scene in Locken in her mind—the unconscious her, Tiran forming the contract—and her cheeks went hot.

No, no, this is not the time to be daydreaming. What are you thinking about! Aya shook her head hard, then waited nervously for Mimi’s reaction.

Rage? Flip the table on the spot? Or that defeated look of a losing dog? For the record, Aya was kind of hoping for the latter. But if it was the former… a drunk Mimi might lose control completely. Usually, even though she’s strict with Aya, Mimi still holds back from actually hitting her, for the castle’s safety. If a mature flame demon really lost it, the whole place could get leveled.

Yeah, thinking that far, Aya started to regret this a little.

But what was this?

…Contempt?

A raised eyebrow, the faint curl of her lips, and the scorn in her eyes all screamed, “That’s it? That’s it? That’s it?” or “No way, no way, you don’t seriously think that’s worth bragging about, do you?”

I mean, I’m touched she didn’t go berserk and smash things or beat me up, but what is this totally unjustified sense of being looked down on?!

“That’s all? Her Highness falls asleep and I sneak kisses from her all the time.”

Mimi folded her arms. Her soft, pale arms pushed up the peaks hidden under her maid uniform, a very tempting sight, though she herself seemed completely unaware.

Hey, she actually said it out loud. Also, does Tiran know about this? And sneaking kisses and Tiran willingly kissing are two totally different things! Is that really something to brag about?!

Wait, if that’s how she’s framing it… doesn’t that put what I did in the same category?

Aya glanced at Tiran, breathing calmly beside them, and felt her mood get complicated.

“When I’ve gone adventuring with Her Highness, I’ve given her a lap pillow… Her Highness really is a treasure of this world.”

Hah. Sorry, but this Dragon has used Lady Tiran’s lap as a pillow too. But why do you sound like you’re flexing again?

“And I’m also the one who washes Her Highness’ underwear. Sometimes I make an excuse that the wind blew it away and keep a few for myself. That smell is just…”

“That’s already full‑on pervert territory! Get a grip, you maniac!” Aya was stunned. The head maid had suddenly dropped something insane. And what are you pulling out of your pocket—panties? Hey! That is not something you just whip out in public!

“Tch, what’s the big deal?” Mimi huffed, sounding perfectly justified. “As Her Highness’ personal attendant, this is only natural.”

Aya covered her face with a sigh, suddenly realizing what she should really be worried about wasn’t whether Mimi counted as a pervert, but whether she still cared about Aya’s relationship with Tiran.

“But a Dragon Knight contract, huh…” Mimi bit her left thumb, looking frustrated. “As much as I hate to admit it, Her Highness and I really don’t have that kind of tangible binding contract.”

So you really have to compete with me on everything, huh… That’s kind of troublesome. If I spell it out, never mind my safety—Mimi will probably be trying to sneak into Tiran’s bed by tonight…

Though… a three‑person arrangement doesn’t sound entirely—

Aya slapped herself across the face. What are you thinking, you idiot!

“Well, a Dragon Knight contract is just a link to share life and power. It’s not that big a deal…”

“Tch, says you. If it’s so easy, then make one for me too!” Mimi put down her glass and slapped the table, clearly unconvinced.

“If you were a Dragon, maybe… but honestly, even if you were, you still couldn’t sign this particular thing.”

Aya spread her hands, half smug, half showing off.

“Why…?” Already drowsy, Mimi slowly slumped forward onto the table as she asked.

“’Cause this thing wasn’t designed for two girls to—uh!” Aya cut herself off hard halfway through. That was close—way too close.

But she’d already said that much. Had Mimi figured anything out?

“Sii…”

Soft, even breathing.

…Already asleep?

…

Tiran’s terrible idea was useless by any reasonable measure, but judging from the outcome, it did accomplish something: after a whole night of drinking with Aya, Mimi woke up the next morning with a brutal hangover, in no shape to stir up trouble for a while.

More importantly, Mimi seemed to have drawn her own conclusion.

“Hmph, so that’s all. Just a Dragon Knight contract. That’s all, that’s all…”

In short, she’d arbitrarily decided she was just one contract behind, and had been wracking her brains over how to catch up. In a way, Mimi was kind of simple and adorable.

“I really don’t want to use the word ‘simple’ on Mimi!”

In Tiran’s bedroom, Aya, Tiran, and Chirp were gathered around a table, playing a card game called “Fight the Landlord.”

Hearing from Her Highness that lately Mimi was either holed up in the library or off studying spells with Li, Aya finally relaxed. Looked like Mimi really had stopped obsessing over what happened in Locken between Aya and Tiran.

Though, come to think of it…

“I just realized something… three Kings with a four.”

Aya tossed her cards onto the table. “Didn’t you say all the post‑battle castle repairs and compensations were a nightmare to handle? Where’s Mimi getting the time to basically move into the library?”

“Mm… no idea.”

“Chirp, is it Mimi’s Magic or something?”

…

“Achoo!”

The window in the infirmary was still open. Just before dawn, the wind blowing in was still a little chilly, especially for someone injured.

Justice tried to reach for the tissue box on the nightstand, but the small table covered in various application forms and reports blocked his arm, leaving him just short of touching it.

The maids… At this hour they were probably preparing breakfast and tending the garden for the morning. And it was really too early. He himself hadn’t rested all night either.

“…Next time, I really should say no when I need to.”

The steward thought to himself.