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So how did things end up like this?

At the Maid Afternoon Tea Restaurant, a four-person table sat by the window.

Maur sat expressionless on the right, next to the anxious fox girl Tabitha.

Across from him, that dumb dog wore the same blank stare.

Beside her sat Mavis—the only one among the four with a smile.

“L-Lord Maur… is this really okay? For me to sit beside you like this…”

Tabitha’s head nearly touched the floor, ears drooping and twitching nervously.

“I was only delivering your clothes per President Mavis’s orders… How shameless of me to dine with you, even sit this close…”

She felt President Mavis’s gaze stabbing right through her.

Tabitha had only come to deliver fresh clothes.

Following Lord Maur’s command, she’d joined the Violet Young Master’s Glory Fan Club—founded by Young Master Mavis of Duke Fred’s household.

Thus, Mavis became her “president,” gaining access to her contact.

Earlier, Tabitha received a message from Mavis’s familiar: Lord Maur had soiled his clothes in an accident.

As his lackey—already waiting for summons—she rushed to his academy rest room, fetched spare clothes, and returned.

But when Lord Maur emerged changed… things became *this*.

“Sit when told,” Maur said, arms crossed, visibly irritated. “After eating, you’re coming with me to review the pre-screened Initiate Festival events.”

He barked the order at his little lackey without hesitation.

Originally, Maur planned to observe new students with his lackey this morning—

scouting suspicious candidates who might be the heroine.

Then swing by this café to mock Lilith in a maid outfit.

But that perverted fairy Evelyn dragged him out of Violet County Manor overnight. Just like that—morning gone.

Half the Initiate Festival had already passed.

No more delays.

Drag it longer, and the events would end. Today would be a total loss!

Why keep Tabitha seated beside him?

『At least she’s better than that shameless Mavis.』

Ever since Mavis became a woman, she’d grown even more clingy.

When she stared, Maur’s scalp prickled, his back chilled—he couldn’t sit still.

Yet she stuck like glue, shamelessly insisting on following him. Impossible to shake off.

…He had a nagging feeling Mavis was scheming something nasty.

If she caught him alone? Disaster.

His danger radar blared nonstop—no way he’d move solo with her around.

And his lackey?

Even Maur, an elite Lv.3 mage, was helpless against Mavis, that tentacle monster. How could Lv.2 Tabitha help?

Lilith’s clothes were soiled too. The Second Imperial Princess’s steward would surely arrive by carriage with replacements.

That dumb dog had a childhood habit of ruining clothes—it was routine.

Maur knew this. He’d planned to ride Lilith’s carriage back to Violet County Manor, then slip out in an invisibility cloak to scout students while Mavis wasn’t looking.

But Lilith defied expectations: “Wherever you go today, I follow.”

『To keep you from making another fool of yourself, I’ll watch you all day.』

Freshly changed, Lilith declared it unilaterally, eyes locked on Maur.

Normally, he’d refuse and mock that dumb dog mercilessly.

But today…

Hmph. Fine. Treat her as his temporary guardian knight.

An Lv.4 expert swordsman was *barely* qualified.

And so—the four gathered inexplicably:

Shameless, unshakable Mavis;

Lilith, vowing to shadow him even into Violet County Manor;

And the lackey he’d originally planned to bring.

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting~”

A gentle voice accompanied a blonde maid-clad girl approaching with a tray. She set down four delicate pre-desserts.

“This is our shop’s beloved Love Heart Cake. Savor it slowly—they say it carries the sweetness of love~”

“Hah?!” What nonsense. Who wants that weird feeling?

Maur glared at the cake with utter disdain.

Lilith shifted uncomfortably, a trace of apology on her face. “Sorry, Tami… I left without permission earlier.”

The blonde maid giggled behind her hand. “No worries, Lilith! Just pumpkin carving for decor—I can handle it. *I* forced you to help anyway.”

“Important matters came up—it couldn’t be helped. Honestly? Perfect timing.”

Tami glanced at Maur, scowling at the Love Heart Cake like it owed him money, then winked at Lilith.

“You must be Lord Maur of the Violet Count’s household? Pleasure to meet you. I’m Tami Megan Orange.”

Maur lifted his gaze. “Tami Megan Orange?”

*That* name… The one who sent the invitation letter under that dumb dog’s name.

He snorted.

Sneaky. Hid her identity. Used reverse psychology on him.

“Orange surname means you’re a duke’s daughter. Which house?”

Tami smiled sweetly. “Duke Auto—the guardian of the southern seas~”

*Auto*: “City of the Sea.”

Duke Auto = Duke of the City of the Sea.

In the Somaria Empire, two of three dukes shared the Orange surname (royals), so territorial titles distinguished them.

Knowing Tami’s background, Maur dismissed her with a flat “Oh,” then stared blankly out the window.

He’d never have entered this café if not for that dumb dog Lilith insisting.

Before arriving, he’d learned from her: Lilith in a maid outfit was Tami’s trick.

Truth was, that dumb dog only came to carve pumpkins for someone.

Tch. Boring.

Now that he knew, the place held zero appeal.

All he wanted: finish eating, rush to the festival, scout new students.

As shop manager, Tami was swamped at this hour.

She’d only stopped by because Lilith was here.

After brief pleasantries, she turned to leave.

“Back to work~ Hope you enjoy the sweets~”

Pausing as if remembering something, she glanced at Lilith. “Hey~ Heard a new student runs a love fortune-telling booth in the North District. Super accurate! Try it after dessert?”

“Oh?” Mavis perked up, eyes gleaming with interest.

“Eep!” The lackey’s ears shot upright.

Lilith instinctively glanced at Maur.