------------------------------------------------------ Maid POV ------------------------------------------------------

I was really happy.

Super happy.

The direction where our relationship was going was really good.

Walking with Jester in the corridor towards the lounge, I began to skip.

I even began humming a tune that just popped into my head.

“Hmmhmhmm~ Hmmhm~” I hummed joyfully.

“You look like you're having fun.” Jester said then yawned.

“Of course~!”

The reason we were out late was because we were outside.

Particularly in the tree area. We played in the tree and slept on the bench after.

When we woke up, the mansion was invisible.

Shocked, we shone our flashlights at the supposed direction.

Relieved, we found that the mansion did not disappear.

Well, at least we learned something.

That the day-night cycle works for the outside as well.

And since we couldn't see it, we judged it to be night time.

When we tried to walk back, we were kind of slow, since were jolted awake by what we saw.

Or actually, what we haven't seen.

Recovering from the intitial shock, we were too tired to deal with it even though we just slept.

So our steps were heavy and we were yawning a lot too.

At least I was able to walk arm in arm with Jester~.

When we got out of the maze, we made our way to the transparent door.

Opening it, we entered and noticed it getting just a little bit brighter.

Feeling a bit more awake, we separated (aww...) and walked side by side.

We walked around the new layout of the first floor and couldn't find the lounge. We even found the other door that led outside. Tracing our steps, we went to the corridors we haven't explore yet.

Finally finding the wooden double-doors, we walked towards it.

Halfway through, I even skipped.

“Hmm~ Hmhmm~ Hmhmhmmmm~” I continued humming.

“Say, that sounds familiar.”

“Does it?”

“Yeah. A little.”

“Ooh, interesting~.”

When we got to the double-doors, we each held one door and opened it together.

Inside, was the familiar lounge that everything sort of started in.

I know we started in our bedrooms but hey, this is where we all met.

I walked really slowly and looked around.

In the center of the room was a coffee table. I remember when King used it to get our attentions.

On either side of the table were two sofas. They had a beautiful frame and had red cushions lined with yellow. Aorund the room were other decorations like paintings, pedestals, plants, plants on pedestals...

It felt relaxing.

Turning my head to peek at Jester, I saw he was inspecting the room as well.

“It's... been a long time huh.”

Nodding, I replied.

“Yeah, it sure has...”

Appreciating the room, we remained quiet.

A moment later, I said.

“I'm getting hungry~ let's wake those two up and cook something. Today, I think I've got something in mind.”

“Alright then.”

And with that, we walked up the stairs.

Our footsteps echoed on the wooden steps. But then a third one as well.

“Hm?”

Looking, we saw a black haired person in a suit and is wearing a fur coat on top.

King.

“Ah King. Good morning.” I said.

King frowned a little. It was slight but I noticed it.

“...Morning.” He then turned to Jester. “You. Come with me.” King continued walking down the stairs.

“What?”

“Just come.”

“Y-yes.”

Seeing Jester follow him, I asked King.

“What about me?”

King paused.

“Don't come.”

With that, he continued walking down.

Feeling something wrong I looked at jester.

He had a worried expression as well. But he nodded.

And followed King.

But because I was worried, I went down a little just enough to get within earshot.

“Sit.” King said.

“O-okay...”

It was quiet.

Really quiet.

Much more quiet than usual.

“-sigh-, Jester.”

“Yes.”

King paused.

“Tell me... what do you think of this place?”

“What?”

“You may not have noticed but food is apparently not infinite.”

“What are you-”

“I don't know where the water comes from but I don't think that'll last as well.”

“...”

“There are some other issues as well but tell me, what do you think of this place?”

“I don't-”

“Answer the question.” King said sharply.

Gulping, Jester answered.

“It's, its beautiful...”

“...”

“But, also unreasonable.”

“...”

“This place doesn't make sense and with our memories erased, it just made it even harder.”

“...”

“So I think, this place is unreasonable.”

“...... I see.”

King stood up.

“King?”

“Believe it or not, I found a way to get out of here.”

“What? Really?!” Jester said shocked.

Even I was surprised.

King found a way to get out of here?

That's great!

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Then we have to get Queen! I'll call her right now- …um, ...King?”

Jester's excited voice died down.

“...King?”

Worried, I walked down a few more steps.

“Sorry.”

-Bang!

Realizing what happened, I inhaled sharply.

“JESTER!!”

I ran down the stairs as fast as I could.

Stopping in my tracks, I found Jester standing.

With a growing dark red stain on his white polo.

“Jester!!!”

I quickly ran to him. Catching him before he fell, I kind of fell as well since I couldn't support his body.

“Jester! Jester!!” Seeing him not answering, he only moved his eyes and met with mine.

And smiled. “KING!! WHY?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?!!” I shouted at him with tears flowing from my eyes from who-knows-when. “TELL WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS??!!”

As a response, King only looked at me. And smiled gently.

Feeling anger welling up inside of me, I shouted once more.

“BROTHER!!”

…..................................................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................Eh?

Brother? Did I just call him brother?

King seems to be surprised as well as he widened his eyes a little.

But his fueled my anger even further.

Why would he do this?

That was the only question I could ask.

Was this supposed to be the 'way out'?

That's crazy! And just when everything was going so well too...

This just had to happen!

I glared at King.

“What? You gonna kill me too?”

Not answering, he lifted his gun.

I became angrier with him.

But was instantly washed with cold water.

As he lifted the gun... to his own head.

Smiling gently one more time, he kindly said to me.

“...Sorry.”

“King-!!”

-BANG!!

Looking in disbelief, I watched as King's body fell to the floor.

Why? Why is this happening?

I looked at the gun that was now a few meters away from me.

Then at Jester.

I closed his eyes and laid him gently on the floor.

And walked towards the gun.

But before I could reach it, an earthquake assaulted the house.

And everything became much brighter.

The place then started to crumble, and immediately the place broke.

The once beautiful, lounge started breaking. The ceiling and the walls broke apart, and in between those cracks, I coukd see the other rooms breaking as well.

Beside me, a piece of the ceiling fell.

“Kyaaah!” I screamed.

I automatically ran towards the body of Jester. Fortunately, the piece of flooring he was on was still intact. I ran and hugged his now cold body as if saying that I didn't want to part with him. Not long before the entire place fell down. Oddly enough, the flooring I was on was not touched.

I watched as the mansion broke and fell into the void.

I even saw the other various rooms. The bedrooms, the library, and even the third floor's ballroom.

Along with the ballroom, the balconies fell along with it.

And outside, I saw something which surprised me.

The earthquake continued, and the mansion fell. But outside I saw the garden as well as the front portion of the mansion. Not much can be seen in the front portion but the garden was simply beautiful.

Looking further, I saw a familiar tree.

A tree that had leaves that looked like fireworks surrounded by walls and walls of ivy.

It was as if the entire place has become visible like the mansion.

But those too, were falling apart.

I watched as the tremors left the tiny area I was on, and as everything else fell into the darkness.

I couldn't believe my eyes and took time to process it.

But then realized, that the small platform I was on, was the only thing left.

I looked at Jester.

He was still sleeping soundly.

But this moment of peace was shattered too.

Slowly, the platform I was on was breaking too. It broke apart and fell into the void as well.

Along with it, both Jester and I fell as well.

It was quiet.

Very quiet.

When I tried to scream, it was as if sound didn't exist in the first place.

And in the end, darkness enveloped us...

-WINNER: MAID-