Only my breathing and the occasional fire crackle in the fireplace could be heard in the room I was in. I sat cross-legged over my knee, a glass of wine in hand, facing the hearth's gentle and soothing warmth.

Contemplating the fire reminded me of a time when I was looked down upon by those who were once considered my enemies, especially the screams they emitted when I lit up the fire, engulfing their entire bodies; the screams, the smell, everything was vividly etched in my memories.

The memories of those pleasant times filled my body with satisfaction and comfort.

As I lifted the glass of vine I was holding to my mouth, I said, "Aaah, there is no greater satisfaction than knowing that all of your enemies have been eliminated."

Those who dared to oppose me will share the same fate, death.

Who do they think they are, looking down upon me?

I am the most perfect being in the universe.

This world, everything, and the entire universe were made for me to rule.

Those who oppose me deserve nothing more than death.

Footsteps I'd grown accustomed to could be heard approaching; they belonged to my most devoted subordinate, the one who has accompanied me through the dazzling ascension that has been my entire existence.

He approached me and murmured something in my ears, "It has been done my liege."

"Were there any complications?"

"None, It all went according to your magnificent plan. There is nothing left but the rumbles of the petty family that dared to oppose you. Your enemies, my liege, are no more. "

"You did a good job; I knew you wouldn't deceive me."

"It is an honor for this humble one to be held in such high regard by a perfect existence like you."

"Umu, since everything went according to plan, we can now move on to the second part of the plan."

"Indeed, my Liege."

***

"I think I finally understand where you were coming from, though I felt like there was too much emphasis on the "Evil Lord" rather than the minion. However, I still believe Rufus would be a good fit even as the "Evil Lord.",

"Rufus? What do you think?"

"I am nothing but a humble butler. I wouldn’t dare to claim that title, but I still appreciate the thoughts nonetheless. " Syrius said as he put his mask back on.

"See, I told you that he was more fitting as a minion than an Evil Lord himself." I explained.

"I think,... I suppose you're right. " Mael said, finally yielding to my theory, having seen the set up.

Perhaps an explanation is needed.

It all started about an hour ago, perhaps fifteen minutes after we left Ramia and her mother's side for our rooms.

Mael showed me my room and went into his own, but it didn't take long for me to join him in his room because a familiar feeling and a strange sense began to creep in: boredom.

And for some reason, I couldn't remain still in this castle. I don't know why, but there was something unsettling here. I couldn't put a finger on what exactly it was, but some time after being left on my own in this room, I felt it.

Bored and with nothing else to do, I went to Mael's room expecting to find something amusing or at the very least not boring to do in order to shake that uneasy feeling, only to discover that I wasn't the only one who was bored, since as I walked in, I found him lying face down on the sofa cushion.

We decided to play rock-paper-scissors because there were no books or anything else to do. To keep a stake in the game, the loser was asked to reveal something about himself.

After losing a game, he asked me to reveal something about Syrius rather than myself; he wanted to know what Syrius looked like, which made sense because it had been three months and he had never seen what was beneath his mask.

So, to answer his question with words, I tried at first to describe his appearance as best I could.

Even Syrius didn't seem to agree with how I described him, for it seemed that my explanation didn't completely convey what Syrius looked like. Which is why I decided to take a different approach to describing his appearance, focusing on the feeling or impression he exudes rather than any physical characteristics.

Syrius's face, to me, is how I would imagine the face of that one minion would look. At first, he comes across as loyal and downright clingy to the villain. He tends to appear nice and all, especially in front of his master, but in the background he reveals a very twisted personality, at times even more twisted than the villain himself.

But even after that, Mael and Syrius didn't seem convinced by my description, so I asked Syrius to show his face to prove my point.

The first purpose of Syrius' mask was to keep people who knew him before he became my butler from recognizing him. Mael had never met him, so it should be fine to show him, and I even got permission from Syrius himself, so we exposed his face to Mael.

When Mael saw what Syrius looked like, he openly antagonized me, claiming that Syrius looked like the villain himself.

So the three of us went up with all of this mise en scene to prove my point. I admit I didn't have to push it this far, but he eventually understood my point, so it was worth it.

"That being said, I'm actually very curious to hear how the Young Lord would describe Maa," Syrius commented.

"Yes, me too."

That’s a very difficult question.

How could I possibly describe her? That maybe?

"Huhm… Maa...A mother hen maybe."

"I'm not sure which part of that could help me imagine someone's physical features."

"I guess you’re right," I said as we three broke into laughter, just to be interrupted by a loud noise.

Without warning, the door was flung open, revealing a small and very familiar figure.

"Ah~ So here you two were," Ramia said as she immediately closed the doors behind her.

"What are you doing here? What about your lessons? "

"Don’t tell me you ran away again."

She began rummaging here and there as if looking for something.

"What are you doing?"

"Leonore! She’s after me. "

"Don’t get us involved in your crimes."

"Yeah-yeah, just keep it close, I was never here." She said, threatening us.

Ramia, who was looking for a hiding spot, came to a halt and drew her Reality Figer from a pouch on her shorts, which she quickly climbed into and began to levitate just above the entrance.

Two knocks came from the doors above which she was levitating, almost immediately after.

"Lord Mael, it is Leonore." one of Mael’s attendants announced.

"Let her in."

"I apologize for interrupting you two, but it's the young lady. She ran away from her dance lessons yet once again, and I was wondering if she had fled here."

Mael sighed, then announced, "You can check by yourself. If you find her, feel free to bring her back. "

"No, that won't be necessary; but if you see her, please tell her that; I'll be waiting for her in the dance room. I just need a final training session from her; I know how excited she was to have you two here, and I feel terrible for making her do all of this, but she needs to be ready for tomorrow. "

"Yes, we will tell you when we have the opportunity."

"With that said, have a pleasant afternoon, Lord Mael, Lord Ronandt."

"Good luck with Ramia."

"Thanks."

Having said that, she left the room.

"You heard that?"

"Yeah." Ramia said as she descended from her hiding spot.

Trying to convince her, Mael said, "Only one last time, she said."

"Just a small effort and it will be done," I added.

"Nah, I’m done with this dance thing. Let what happens tomorrow happen, I’m not going back to that room."

Poor Leonore,

I'm not sure why, maybe because she's dressed like Maa, but I feel terrible about how Ramia is treating her.

I guess I’ll lend her a hand this time.

I crept up behind Ramia and began pushing her toward the door.

"Hey! What are you doing!"

"Mael, are you coming with us?"

"Where to?"

"The dance room, obviously."

"I said, I’m not going back there."

"Are you sure? I was planning to go there to get a final training for tomorrow's dance party too."

"You’re serious?"

"Yes, Mael, what about you? You're coming with us?"

"I’m going too."

"Hey, wait, really?"

"Yes, now let’s go." I announced, as Syrius opened the door for us.

On our way to our destination, we noticed attendants and guards stationed at each guest room door, including ours, along the corridor leading to the dance room, and it was then and only then that I realized Leonore must've known Ramia was in our room, and that this must've been her plan from the start, baiting us with Ramia, then dragging us into her training.

Wait.

When I looked over at Ramia, I noticed that she was wearing a cunning smile that she was trying vainly to hide; when she noticed that I was looking at her, she immediately averted her gaze.

I see,... that's how it was.

Sorry, Mael, I threw you into the wolf's jaws without realizing it.