It only took me a few minutes to get to my house, but the sun was already at its zenith by the time I made it to my front door.

"Keys... Keys..." I muttered, reaching into my pockets.

Here it is.

It's honestly baffling how I managed to forget my money inside, but not my house keys. At least I won't be breaking one of my windows to get inside. I wouldn't want to vandalize my precious home.

"Hmm?"

When I turned the key, however, I heard a few muffled noises behind the door.

Was someone inside?

I could definitely hear movement.

Shoot, what if it was a burglar or something? What if they did something bad to Nola?!

My fears, however, were instantly dashed by the unexpected sight I encountered when I opened the door.

"Ahh... M-Master... W... Welcome home..."

To my disbelief, it was none other than the maid Nola herself, apparently out of bed and was currently in the process of setting up the table. Still clad in her pajamas, she was looking at me with tired eyes, breathing heavily, and was red all over. With the current state of her legs, she had to use one hand to lean on the table to stand and was holding a plate on the other.

"Nola, what are you doing?!"

"Ahh... I want to... Help... Master... Not... Be idle..."

"Nola!"

She was losing her balance, so I caught her by the shoulders before she went down to the floor.

"Nola, you're still sick! Not only your forehead is burning, but even your body too! Why aren't you in bed?!" I said, taking the plate from her numb hands.

I can't feed her the medicine if she continues to move around like this. I need to get her to bed right now.

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Her legs were trembling, to the point where she might collapse anytime soon, so I lifted her using my back and gave her a piggyback ride to my room instead.

Although they aren't that big, her mounds are poking my back, I stupidly thought as I descended up the stairs, before my inner monologue was cut short by her voice.

"I'm sorry... For troubling you... Master..." Nola said with a soft voice that was a mix of sobs and hiccups. I couldn't see it, but my back was getting wet, which meant that she was crying.

I've only been with Nola for a few days, but she was one of those people who I least expected to get emotional like this. I envisioned her as a strong, capable, and dependent maid, willing to do whatever for her master, even at the risk of her health. Yet this was the reality, Nola weeping on my back.

All this time, I was treating her like some kind of superhuman.

I didn't realize that deep down, the world-class S-tier maid is just as fragile as any other girl.

"........."

I managed to put Nola back on my bed.

"Nola, look at you. You're covered in sweat!" I told her, bending over and helping her change clothes. "What were you thinking? You should be in bed getting tons of rest, not doing chores!"

"I just thought that... Master would get mad if... The table wasn't set up... Before she arrives..."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I don't want... Master to be... Disappointed... Of me..."

Please, not again... I heard her sob quietly.

I was squeezing the sweat-covered towel into the bowl while talking to her. But when I looked over again, Nola was once again unconscious.

"Seriously..." I sighed.

----------------------------------------

It took a while to brew the Elixir, but luckily I managed to finish it pretty quickly.

"Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen this color," I remarked to myself, as I poured the mixture into one of my cups.

This brings me back to those days with my comrades, specifically when I was first learning how to brew healing potions with Alene.

"I'm sorry for my previous actions earlier, Master," Nola said, after drinking the potion. It was only mere seconds since but the effects were starting to show since her voice wasn't so hoarse anymore. "I have no excuse for it. It was entirely my fault and lack of judgment of the situation."

"That's okay. Just next time, don't do it again, okay?" I patted her on the head, but it seemed she was a bit hesitant to receive it.

Hmm.

"It looks like your fever is cooling down, but it's still pretty high, so I advise that you continue to rest tonight. Don't worry about dinner. I'll just buy take-out in town."

"Yes, Master."

"And don't leave the bed again, okay? I'll just be downstairs, so just call me when you need anything. I'll leave the door open so that I can hear you better."

"Yes, Master."

Nola was recovering pretty fast. At the rate she is going, she'll most likely be up and running by the time tomorrow comes.

But.

Her actions earlier made me think deeply in thought.

What were the motives behind her actions earlier? Why was she on the verge of tears?

I would've understood if it was because I was the one responsible for getting her sick in the first place, but it didn't seem that she harbored any ill feelings towards me.

All-day my mind was filled with these kinds of questions.