This one is a spring ball staple...
Let the "Same-Sex Couple Dance" commence!
Now then, would you please join me for this dance?
The Same-Sex Couple Dance?
The heroine's choice of dance partner affects how the game plays out, right?
That's right.
Dancing with a friend will increase their support for you,
while dancing with a villainess like me
lowers the game's difficulty.
You choose your dance partner based on how you want to advance the story.
Uh-huh...
And...
I heard the male dance pairing was rather popular with the BL lovers.
I'm not really into that, but it's something like this.
Seriously, please stop!
You're the one who brought it up.
I don't wanna!
But the fun only lasts until the same-sex couple dance.
Once it's over... That event should occur.
I should be prepared for this... Should...
But the heroine isn't here.
With the key person missing,
one false move, and we might even end up with casualties.
We need to stay on our toes.
Anna-Marie...
I'm so excited and I just can't hide—
You're skipping like crazy.
What's that?
Well, of course I am! I'm looking forward to dancing with dear Luciana!
It would be a few more minutes before she realized
that the same-sex couple dance had already started.
Heroine? Saint? No, I'm an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)!
Episode
The Truth Beneath the Moonlight
My lady...
Just as I suspected, her eyes aren't smiling!
It's evident that they are both very good dancers, but...
Aren't they really in sync with each other?
Of course they are.
After all, regardless of their roles being reversed,
these two had been practicing for this ball right up until tonight.
That said...
It's her first time taking on the male role, yet she's properly leading me.
Even the part I advised her to correct yesterday...
She's making sure that I don't make any mistakes.
Oh, here, too.
She has a full understanding of what it means to lead someone.
She's really taking in what I've taught her.
She looks like she's having so much fun.
A moment ago, all I was thinking about was how I couldn't escape, but...
Oh, none of that really matters anymore!
Let's just dance, Melody!
Yes, my lady!
It's so much fun!
To think I'd be able to dance with my lady like this...
Huh?
Huh? What's going on?
The floor, it's...!
Where in the world is it coming from?
H-Hey! Melody?!
What in the world are you doing?!
Melo...
This is not good! Not good at all!
What are we supposed to do?!
It doesn't seem like people have noticed that Melody is the cause yet...
Maybe we can cover it up.
In that case...
Did she come to her senses?
Ouch!
What was that for, my lady?!
Don't you know stepping on your partner's foot is the rudest thing you can do?!
Of course! I did it on purpose!
Besides, look around! Look around!
This is your doing, isn't it?!
What? Ah! What is this light?!
This is all internal dialogue
Anyway, please just do something about it!
What is this?
Oh, is my mana seeping out from excitement?
In that case...
I'll suppress my mana.
O light...
disappear!
That was amazing, wasn't it?
So wonderful!
What were those stage effects?!
It was amazing!
Melody, do you think we could slip away while we still have the chance?
Yes. Once here, yet never seen...
Coscienza dei Servi.
Anyone within range becomes difficult to notice, even though they remain visible.
It's a magic spell created as a safeguard for maids on duty in case of an emergency.
Huh?! Where's the Same-Sex Couple Dance?!
It's already over!
Oh, I got the time wrong.
What?!
It was certainly an unusual dance.
Quite...
Thank you for your company.
I'd love to savor this moment, but perhaps we should look for our partners?
Yes, if you'll excuse me.
Lect.
Is Lady Cecilia not with you?
I got separated from her during the dance earlier.
What were you looking at?
Oh...
That's...
It's strange, but...
Watching Lady Cecilia made me think of Selena for some reason.
Lady Selena, my lord?
Her hair and eye color are completely different, and yet...
Isn't that curious?
Come to think of it, the first time I met Melody was...
When I went to the Avarenton March to search for Lady Selena.
To think I would fall in love with the girl who'd lost her way back then...
She's obsessed with maids. It consumes her mind.
Most maids usually quit once they get married.
I just can't imagine her accepting a marriage proposal.
I'll give you credit for giving me the chance to enjoy the ball with Melody.
But if you ever pull a stunt like this on her again, you won't get off so easily.
Understood.
So she did notice.
They were dancing together, so I had a hunch, but...
No one would have ever suspected the girl before them was actually a maid
with black hair and black eyes...
Does she really have black hair and black eyes?
Is that the only version of her she knows?
When we reunited in the royal capital, I was asleep in the drawing room.
That's when she came to me...
Or did she?
What was I just thinking about?
It happened by pure coincidence.
Oh, the moonlight is...
As she bathed in the silver moonlight, her hair color...
Silver... hair...
Lectias Froude knew.
He knew about Count Leginbarth's former lover, Selena,
and the daughter they had together, Celesty.
Lectias Froude knew.
He knew that Celesty inherited her father's silver hair
and her mother's lapis-lazuli eyes.
Lectias Froude knew.
He knew what Selena looked like.
He knew that Melody Wave arrived in the royal capital
at the same time Celesty went missing.
And he knew that Melody Wave could change the color of her hair and eyes.
That day...
Right. The first time I saw her in the royal capital was in my bathroom.
She undoubtedly had silver hair and lapis-lazuli eyes.
I'm sorry, Lord Lect, for making you come all this way to get me.
No, I don't mind.
Around the time of Lady Selena's death,
a girl with silver hair and lapis-lazuli eyes,
looking just like her, hailing from the domain where she lived...
What are the chances of her being anyone else?
I've finally found her.
I've actually found her.
Melody is Lady Celesty.
My love is...
No, that's not possible.
If I report this to His Lordship, Melody won't be able to work as a maid.
But I couldn't possibly be disloyal to him by not telling him,
especially when he looks so distressed...
I can't decide on an answer.
I can't imagine a future where everyone is happy.
I wish I hadn't noticed.
I hope that Lect guy didn't say anything weird to Melody.
So, you're not angry at that guy anymore, right, Melody?
Yes. I already got an apology from him before coming here.
Hmm... Well, if you're okay with it,
then I guess I won't give him a hundred whacks with my harisen.
That was a close one!
To think it was thanks to him that I got to dance with Melody!
When he didn't even have the guts to directly ask her out himself.
Pal, you're a lifetime away from laying one finger on my Melody!
A surprisingly possessive young lady
Melody, this is just to make sure, but that guy is just a friend, right?
He's a very good friend.
It's definitely just him having a one-sided crush on her!
Completely placed in the friend zone!
It doesn't look like they get along badly, though.
Speaking of friends, I also became friends with a girl named Paula.
She's a maid who works for Lord Lect at his mansion, and...
Paula is an all-works maid just like me, but...
her makeup skills are incredible.
She could teach me a thing or two, I'm sure of it.
It looks like he doesn't have a chance.
I have no intention of helping him, but I almost feel sorry for him...
Oh, I got carried away... I'm sorry.
Don't worry about it. It was cute.
But let's get back to the venue soon.
Oh, I've already greeted Lord Lect's superior,
so I was thinking of heading back to the mansion.
Oh, I see.
My lady, your dress is slightly disheveled.
I'll check on the magic condition as well.
Thank you.
You cast a protective spell, right?
Yes. This way, if anything should happen, you'll be all ri—
Melody?
Was it just my imagination?
It felt like someone was glaring at me...
My lady, may I cast just one additional protective spell?
I don't mind, but...
A lady's senses, sharp must be...
Artificiale Sensitivo.
All done.
I don't look any different, but...
What kind of magic is this?
It is a spell to sharpen your perception.
This time I made it so that you'll be made aware when someone is watching you.
Watching me?
For instance...
Lady Luciana.
Lord Maxwell!
I'm sorry I've kept you waiting.
Please don't be concerned with that.
Shall we make the rounds?
I'd like to introduce you to my friends.
Y-Yes, my lord.
I noticed you're no longer with the angel.
I had hoped for her to join me in a dance.
You're gonna say that when I'm right next to you...
Lady Luciana?
Huh?!
Wh-Why is he laughing?!
Oh.
Was the person who left their partner and ran to Melody first...
me?!
A complete boomerang effect right back at me!
My apologies. I took it a bit too far.
No, I'm sorry, too.
Well, anyone would want to ask such a beautiful lady to dance
if she were to appear before them.
And it's only natural that a fairy would invite an angel to dance.
A fairy?
Were you not aware?
Everyone refers to you as "the fae princess" as a compliment.
Wh-What's that about?!
Huh?! Is the magic responding?
If anyone looks at you with malice,
a beam of light that is only visible to you
will be emitted towards that person, my lady.
Wow, that's amazing!
I'm sensing something similar to jealousy...
but why would someone that beautiful feel that way?
She is the daughter of Duke Rincot'dor.
She's most likely concerned with you
because her moment in the spotlight was stolen.
Her spotlight was stolen?
You still haven't realized?
The couple that was to be the center of attention at tonight's ball
was His Highness the Crown Prince and the daughter of Marquis Victillium.
And the second to shine was supposed to be the daughter
of the Rincot'dor household, the highest noble family.
However, as we can see, the one who received the most attention was you,
the "fae princess," who danced with the angel.
Thus, Lady Rincot'dor received basically no attention.
She must be feeling incredibly frustrated.
But that's...
Your school life may take a turn for the worse moving forward.
Isn't that a little harsh for an impoverished noble?!
You shouldn't be hanging your head in a place like this, my lady.
It's all right. This is exactly why I'm going to introduce you to them.
Who are you referring to?
What a pleasure to meet you. I am Anna-Marie Victillium.
I'm very happy to be able to meet the fae princess.
I am Christopher.
If I may be so bold as to say, I serve as the crown prince.
Y-Yesh!
Hell yeah!
P-Pleased to be acquainted...
You don't have to be so nervous. It's all right.
They're friendlier than they appear.
Well! Surely I don't appear as stuck up as all that!
My apologies, then.
They get along so well.
By the way, we missed out on the Same-Sex Couple Dance.
Lady Luciana, I heard you danced with an angel.
To whom were they referring?
Oh... That would be Lady Cecilia. She—
Did you just say Cecilia?!
Where exactly is this Lady Cecilia?!
What did she look like?!
Where is she from?
Her family name?
Um...
You two, please calm down.
Um... Lady Cecilia has already left to go home.
Go home?
Also... Um, she had golden hair.
Golden hair... What? Golden?
Huh? Huh?
What in the world is the matter?
Sorry, it's nothing...
I'm sorry. We were just curious as to what kind of girl she was...
Oh, I see.
Yeah.
"Cecilia"... Could she be the heroine?
But apparently she has golden hair...
It seems Lord Lect escorted her, like how it's supposed to go.
But if she isn't Count Leginbarth's daughter...
Just who is she?
I ended up coming home later than I had planned.
I need to get ready to welcome my lady and the others before they return home.
Before we parted, Lord Lect was acting a bit strange...
I hope he's all right.
What was that all about?
Thank you for everything tonight.
I look forward to seeing you at school.
You three are getting along so well.
Perhaps I should start over from my first year, as well.
If the chancellor grants permission, then I suppose it shall be so.
I shall inform the headmaster myself.
Thank you for today.
Oh, hey!
Still... He didn't show up in the end, did he?
"The Ball Raid Incident."
According to the game scenario,
someone is supposed to break through that window.
But it doesn't seem like it'll happen.
If that's the case, I'll need to reconsider my plans.
Also, let go of her hand already, Christropher!
You're shocking dear Luciana—
Why...?
Huh?
Melody's magic is responding strongly.
The spell is imperfect,
and there's a possibility that it might respond to malice
directed at another person nearby.
I'm not the target.
Look out!
Luciana!
How could this...
Dear... Luciana... why?
The Ball
Raid Incident
The Ball Raid Incident.
This is the first major in-game event, initiated by Bjork Quichel,
a tragic figure whose heart was stolen and manipulated by the Dark One.
Now, then...
Let the ravaging begin.
Guards!
Scarlet flames, sear and purge! Bolide!
Surround, then block. Prigione.
It's no use! We can't break through the barrier!
Sven!
Yes, Your Majesty!
O wind, condense to a piercing point!
Aria Giavellotto!
How can that be?
That was high-level magic
with unmatched piercing power, cast by the kingdom's archmage.
You done fooling around?
Translation: Yukari Murase-Louden Timing: Edgar Cruz Editing and Typesetting: Gabriella Alabanza Quality Check: Geoff Mazzolini Final Quality Check: Elizabeth Ellis
Episode
Sudden Seriousness
Illustration: Koin