The person outside seemed to be hesitating; one moment she raised her hand, wanting to knock, the next she put it down and paced back and forth, utterly torn.

The light footsteps went back and forth five times, and just as the visitor was about to raise her hand to knock again—

The door opened on its own.

"Who’s there?!" Ollica, clothes in disarray and face still flushed with pleasure, appeared at the bedroom door with a pair of daggers engraved with branch-and-flower patterns in her hands. The Dark Elf Maid was wearing a long wine‑red velvet nightgown; the buttons at her chest weren’t even fastened, exposing the tender wheat‑colored skin beneath and her proud curves, along with a little "happiness" pendant swinging back and forth. "I will never allow you to approach my master!"

The intruder’s figure moved as fast as lightning. The Rapier in her hand spun twice through the air and went straight for Ollica’s head. The Dark Elf immediately swung her daggers; the blades danced back and forth like butterflies in the air, the moves gorgeous yet faintly carrying extreme danger. The icy edges swept again and again across the intruder’s neck, forcing the invader into one life‑threatening scrape after another.

But the intruder did not show the slightest weakness. After lightly slipping past Ollica’s daggers, she twisted her body in place, intending to continue her assault.

Ollica had no intention of giving the invader a chance to pause her offense. She swept out a long, shapely leg sheathed in white garter stockings in a side kick aimed at the intruder’s head, forcing her to retreat and dodge once more, exposing a flaw and a brief opening of stiffness.

Daggers tightening in her grip again, Ollica was just about to press the advantage and take the opponent down in one go when a large hand suddenly reached out from behind the Dark Elf and covered her mouth, while the other hand gently pressed against her lower abdomen. "Alright, Ollica, that’s enough. You obviously know it’s her."

"Mmm... mmm~" With just a couple of small movements, Ollica’s body instantly went limp like a pile of mud, unable even to stand. Laine scooped her up in a princess carry, holding her in front of him as she muttered in a soft, blurry voice, "Master~ This isn’t the time she should be coming. This is my night."

"Amelia? What are you doing in my room at this hour?" Laine signaled the Dark Elf not to be angry, and spoke to Amelia, who was standing at the doorway.

"I can’t keep putting it off forever." Amelia, standing at the door, said softly.

"Don’t just stand there, come in~" Laine gestured for Amelia to enter. The little Maid nodded; she followed Laine into the room and turned to close the door.

After setting the Dark Elf down on the bed, Laine turned around and switched on the floor lamp, and the scene before his eyes gave him a jolt.

His little Maid, Amelia, already had tear stains all over her face. Dressed only in a simple ruffled short‑sleeved dress and silver princess shoes, Amelia stood before Laine, sobbing softly. "I’m sorry, Laine, I came to tell you my decision."

As soon as she finished, Amelia couldn’t help but start sobbing again. She bit her lip and forced out her decision: "I’ve decided to return to Nuer."

Laine smiled at that. He reached out and pulled Amelia into his arms, patting her back lightly. "You’ve made your decision, dear Amelia. That’s good. I’m happy for you."

"I’m sorry! Mr. Laine! Uu... I really don’t want to go back. I only want to be your Maid. I don’t want to leave your side, but I can’t... I can’t let Nuer be without a lord. I can’t abandon those vassal families that have served my family for generations. I can’t forget Father’s words when he handed the Holy Sword to me in the Giant Dragon Forest and told me to run. Too many people sacrificed themselves to protect me. Now Nuer needs me, Weisen Territory needs me, uu..." Amelia buried herself in Laine’s arms, sadly muttering to herself, "All I can do... all I can do... Maybe this is what life is, Laine. I can’t bear to leave you, but I have no choice."

"It’s alright, Amelia, it’s fine. This is your duty; it’s the responsibility you bear. Whatever you choose, I accept it. No matter what you decide, I will support you." Laine lightly patted the little Maid’s back, a bit sentimental. "You’ve been with me for close to seven years. You don’t owe me anything anymore. Now it’s time for you to fulfill your own mission. Go and do it, Amelia—I’ll support you."

"Emmanuelle von Lebewitz-Bernardino—that’s my full name. The titles and ranks I can inherit include: Brescia Prince-Elector, Grand Duke of Nuer, Grand Duke of the joint Province of Weisen Territory and Sol Territory, President of Nuer University, Honorary President of Nuer Gunpowder Academy, Great Count of Nuer, Great Baron of Weisenburg, Guardian Knight of the highest Black Rose order, Knight of the highest and oldest Edelweiss order, Honorary Commander of over a dozen Knight Corps in Nuer, Imperial Secret Council Member, Honorary Commander of the Black Rose Legion... and so on, twenty‑one titles in total." Amelia wiped her tears as she spoke; the torrent of titles pouring from her lips was enough to make anyone’s head spin.

By the end, even Amelia herself was smiling through her tears. The little Maid lifted her head to look at Laine. "Well? Laine? Your Maid’s pretty amazing, huh?"

"Mm, very amazing." Laine could hear the subtext in Amelia’s words.

"So, Laine, you still have time to divorce Surya Sister, you know~" Amelia’s voice gradually turned strange, seemingly dripping with temptation as she whispered in Laine’s ear, "If I married you, I could be both a Prince-Elector and a Prince-Electress, you know!"

Dark miasma seemed to coil around the little Maid’s face. Without waiting for Laine to respond, she spoke again, face dark. "What a shame, Mr. Laine—you didn’t seize the chance. I’ve followed you for so many years, and you never even laid a finger on me!"