In those few seconds, her slender fingers grasped nothing but air. The spot where the book had been was now empty.

Noah’s gaze, deceptively innocent, flicked sideways. The petite maid’s cheeks flushed slightly as she hid her hands behind her back, clutching something.

She cleared her throat stiffly, posture rigid as she urged,

“It’s… just trivial nonsense. Nothing that would benefit the Holy Maiden’s wisdom. Please continue your search for knowledge. Don’t waste time on such an unimportant book.”

“Hmm~?”

Noah’s eyes narrowed playfully, the corners of her lips curling upward in delight.

It was the look of a predator spotting delectable prey.

The usually composed maid now wore an expression of flustered shame—as if her darkest secrets had been unearthed.

How could anyone resist teasing her like this?

“Hmm… *trivial* nonsense, you say…?”

“H-Holy Maiden?! Why are you smiling like you’ve seen through everything?!”

Astolfo’s voice trembled under Noah’s radiant grin, her nerves fraying.

“No, I was just thinking…”

Noah’s fox-like smirk glowed with sunlit warmth.

“If it’s truly trivial… then letting me take a peek wouldn’t matter much, would it?”

“! No! Don’t!”

Astolfo clutched the book tighter behind her back, eyes wide with shock as the predator advanced.

Just as Noah suspected—the book held secrets she’d die before letting *this* Holy Maiden discover.

And the one closing in on her? Someone she could never disobey.

“Be good. Let me see~”

Noah’s joyful smile was impossible to hide. She crept forward like a cat toying with a mouse.

Uncovering a sweet maiden’s secrets… what better pastime could there be?

(Though admittedly, it was rather mischievous.)

“No!”

Astolfo refused to loosen her grip, jaw clenched, lashes fluttering over tightly shut eyes.

Was it fear that kept her still? Or duty?

That fragile resolve—to endure anything rather than surrender what mattered—was utterly irresistible.

Yet for Noah, that submissive stance dimmed the light in her eyes.

A sweet fragrance filled the air. A long sigh brushed Astolfo’s ear—a sound of helpless surrender.

Before she could react, Noah pulled her into a warm, yielding embrace. Soft fabric and dry floral notes froze Astolfo in place.

“H-Holy Maiden…?”

Astolfo froze for two heartbeats. She was sinking into warmth. The floral scent was gentle. The slender arms holding her were tender—she could break free anytime.

The softness enveloping her face felt like heaven. The intimate contact made her cheeks burn.

“There, there. Don’t be scared. I didn’t mean to frighten you. If I overstepped… I apologize, alright?”

Noah’s gaze softened, radiating maternal warmth as she cradled the trembling maid.

Like sheltering a frightened child.

Her soothing words, familiar scent, and steady warmth whispered: *You’re safe. I’m here.*

Astolfo had always regarded this Holy Maiden with cautious distance.

The woman who’d subdued the Demon King must be crueler, more dangerous than any monster.

But in this almost-forgotten warmth, she finally understood:

This was the noble Holy Maiden.

The one who bestowed kindness. The one hailed as the Healing Saintess.

This feeling—this scent—was pure comfort. Pure safety. It pulled her deeper without resistance.

Astolfo’s mind went blank. Her tense body melted against Noah’s.

“Good. Then I’ll take this~”

So deeply entranced, Astolfo didn’t notice the book slipping from her grasp.

Only when Noah’s cheerful voice floated near her ear did she realize her mistake.

“Now, let’s see what adorable little secret~ A~fuu~’s been hiding~”

Noah kept Astolfo pinned in her embrace, grinning as she pretended to open the book.

“! Mmmph! Mmmph!”

Astolfo squirmed desperately—but buried too deep in Noah’s soft swell, she couldn’t break free.

“Ahaha! Stop wriggling, Afu~! You’re tickling me~!”

Noah gasped between giggles, one eye squeezed shut as her body twisted from the ticklish assault.

The book, however, landed neatly back on its shelf. She’d never intended to open it.

Peeking at a maiden’s secrets? That would be rude.

Teasing was fun. Ruining the mystery? Not in the least.

“Hah… hah…”

Astolfo finally broke free, chest heaving, face flushed as she panted.

For a centuries-old, pure-hearted demon retainer, that embrace had been… *overwhelming*.

*Better avoid sinking into Noah’s dangerously tempting curves next time…*

***

“Where *is* that woman?”

After the morning assembly came paperwork—a task the supremely capable Demon King Ledyah finished in two hours.

Now, at noon, she sat alone in the royal dining hall, attended by silent maids.

“Astolfo’s gone too… Seriously. Where did those two run off to play?”

Unlike breakfast, there was no troublesome Holy Maiden. No sharp-tongued personal maid.

The servants, skilled at reading the room, sensed their ruler’s shift in mood.

Simply put:

A lingering sense of abandonment hung over the Demon King—a forlorn puppy left behind by someone precious.