"What's use does holding back your laughter has? It's not like your teeth will fall off!" I said while giggling along with her.

"Easier said than done, as a maid of this mansion, if I don't maintain my etiquette, it won't be long before I lose my job," she said, sounding a bit serious.

This caught me off guard. I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore. Is this the reason she was acting so stern when we first met? While wiping the water coming out from my eyes, I drifted my eyes to her breasts. This time I did it purposely with a smirk so that the event doesn't pass her notice.

"Your job... looking at how well endowed you are, you can never lose your job and even if you do I will immediately hire you but I don't think Lapis is going to let go of those", I am not lying though, Lapis is without a doubt lusting after her. It was a bit shocking for me at first but, I don't think I mind that. It was kind of hot, to be honest. When she was groping Clair all over, she had lust written all over her face. She is not going to let go of those jugs for sure.

While reminiscing the scene, my cheeks turned red. I hope that Clair didn't mistake my blushing for something else. Well, my actions earlier were nothing proper so, can't really blame her if she misunderstands my intentions.

"Perv"

"You dared called me so, after the show you and Lapis performed?"

"It's not my fault, okay? If my lady has an interest in me, then I can't help but comply. I am just a maid after all", she seems angry now. The flirty atmosphere suddenly turned sour. She has it hard. It seems that Lapis has been forceful with her and didn't consider her opinion on the matter. To put it simply, Clair is being sexually harassed.

Realizing the depth of the situation, I hung my head low, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"No, it's okay, you don't have to apologize," saying so sternly she didn't even wait for a reply and left the room.

Internally I was cursing myself. After trying so hard to build a befriend her, I ruined everything with a simple misplace of words. How can I be such a newbie? I thought I had graduated with flying colors.

In this kind of situation, isn't it like whatever the main character says to the main lead, she finds it favorable? Why is my luck in the

***

As soon as she left Steve's room a servant dressed in butler's clothes approached Clair. He had been patiently waiting for her to pass the message he has been instructed with.

"I have a message from the lady"

There were a fervent of emotions running in her heart. However, jolted back to reality by the butler's voice, she gained her composure and corrected her posture. "Yes, what does the lady wishes?"

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"She wants you to bring the guest to the barracks," saying so, the butler left.

She was now stuck in a complicated situation. On the surface, it may seem that she has been issued with a simple order by her master. It would be have been really simple if that were just the case. However, currently, she didn't want to face Steve. Although she knows that what he said wasn't meant to do her any harm. However, he has hurt her pride. If she wasn't born of noble birth, was that her fault? Or was not rebuking to the harassment she was facing a sin of hers? She also wanted to be free and do what she wishes, but what choice did she have? She also wants to run under the summer sun, follow her passions, sit near the campfire in winters, fall in love and lead a happy life... a life in which she dictates her decision but alas that's just a distant dream. If she doesn't want to be an outcast, she had to do as ordered by her master. An easygoing person like him will never understand her hardships.

"He doesn't understand how things go here, neither does he understands my hardships. How can a foreigner, someone summoned... " a realization dawned upon her which made her face go dark.

"Summoned... a soul summoned from hell," she muttered so lightly that only she could hear it. She took out a blood-stained rag from her made clothes and glanced at the object, seemingly in a daze. She was lost in thought. What went through her mind, in what kind of turmoil she was in at the very moment no one knew. It took her some time to get out of her trance, after which she stuffed the rag back into her dress and pushed the door open, finally returning to her maidly duties.

***

The situation that transpired was not favorable. It wasn't supposed to end up like this. I just hope that she realizes that hurting her was not my intention. We are all burdened by our circumstances, but we should try to be happy nonetheless. That is what I wanted to tell her but... but guilt caused me to swallow my own words. There are so many things I could have done to avoid this situation yet I was unable to walk on any of them. Sitting idle in my room with nothing to do all I could do was curse myself and contemplate in thought. That's when she walked in.

I just stared at her. Her expression? Neither sad nor happy, there was just a tint of seriousness to her face.

"Steve"

"Yes? Is there something you want to share with me?"

"None, however, my lady is expecting your presence and I am here to escort you."

"I see..." I stood up and walked close to her, "then please lead the way."

I was pretty much a shut-in ever since I came to this world, my girlfriend was responsible for this development. Therefore, this is a good opportunity. This time, instead of following behind her, I walked beside her cause I am getting distracted way too much. As we left the room, we were greeted by richly decorate pillars and a long corridor gilded with doors. There were some things inscribed here and there which I could not decipher. My eyes glued to a large size painting, or to be precise Lapis's large size portrait, which further proves the thought that Lapis was summoned here way before me.

As we walked down the corridor, I turned towards Clair and asked, "Are you angry at me? For... for what I said ?" I did touch her Achilles heel, after all.

"No, I was hurt at first, but then after second thought I realized that you didn't mean to cause any harm"

"I am glad that we can be back to being friends again, and I apologize again for my foolishness." I felt really dumb as I said 'sorry' again and again like a parrot, but well, it's okay to throw away my ego if it's for a girl.

"Friend?!" she parroted while lifting her brows.

"Yes, be proud you are currently the only person in this whole world who has been given the honor of being the friend of the mighty me," I said as I puffed my chest while pointing to me.

"Pft, you are such a clown" she beamed. 'I knew it! I knew it! The narcissist route can work wonders'