Vol.1 - Chapter 2: Future Plans (3/12)

The chestnut-haired boy had reached the first floor where his room was located. When he stepped into the long corridor, the first thing he saw surprised him.

'Sana-san? Why is she sleeping on a chair in the corridor?'

Sana was sitting on a chair right next to the stairs in her uniform-like outfit. Although she was still wearing the clothes she used for work, she had removed the ribbon that tied her hair up, and her long black hair reached her waist. Assuming that her height was also tall, it could be said that her hair was quite long.

'I've never seen hair like this... These blues on the tips cannot be the natural color of her hair. How can a black color turn into blue anyway?'

When he first saw her, he was going to wake her up and simply tell her that she shouldn't sleep here, but for some reason he was examining her from where he was now.

'She really looks quite beautiful and elegant. Even if she is just sleeping on a chair, she looks like she is ready for service at any moment. It's like a statue that never moves, always wearing the same expression...'

He was mesmerized by her body. If someone saw him looking at her, they might have the wrong idea about him, but he himself didn't know why he was watching her. His eyes lingered for a while on her breasts, which rose and fell with her breathing.

'She is indeed very suitable to be a maid. I can understand Dom-san better now.'

He approached her with slow and silent steps. He looked at her closed eyes and her face of absolute innocence. He had given up the idea of waking her up because she looked so peaceful.

'Ahh... It wouldn't be good for her to sleep here, but it would be a crime to wake her up with such an expression on her face! Maybe I should just mind my own business.'

He put a hand on his chin and started talking to himself while standing next to her.

''But bad things might happen if she sleeps around like this. I guess she doesn't realize her own beauty...''

He closed his eyes and thought for a few more seconds and finally turned decisively to the woman sitting in the chair next to him.

''Sa- Ahh!''

This time he had decided to wake her up for sure and had opened his mouth to do so, but unexpectedly she had already woken up. When Shin leaned to her, he was greeted by a pair of eyes as calm and vast as the blue sky on a cloudless night. Even though torches were placed on the hall at certain intervals, there was not much light near the staircase, but the eyes of this woman in front of Shin were almost shining in the darkness.

When the boy suddenly met those eyes, he was startled and jumped backwards. He hurriedly opened his mouth to explain himself, but the woman in front of him did not allow him to do so. She stood up calmly, speaking.

''What was it you desired?''

After standing up, she joined her hands in front of her and returned to her maid form as if nothing had happened. Her expression was also very calm and emotionless like before.

''Eeh... I don't need anything, thank you.''

The chestnut-haired boy was chuckling lightly as he scratched his cheek with his finger. His face was slightly blushed with surprise and a little embarrassment, but he didn't care too much about it since not much could be seen in this darkness.

'Now that she's awake, I can go to my room...'

Shin simply bypassed the woman and started walking towards his own room. After all, the only reason he was standing here was to wake her up, and now that it had happened, there was nothing left for him to do here. Since there was nothing else to occupy his mind, he just needed to go to bed and sleep.

''Hmm... Aren't you the boy from before? What were you doing at this hour?"

However, the tall woman behind him grabbed Shin's arm and asked him these questions, drawing his attention to her.

''I couldn't sleep because of the noise, so I went for a walk.''

When the woman suddenly grabbed his arm, Shin thought that she had realized that he was watching her sleep, but when he heard only a few simple questions, he relaxed and calmly answered. However, he thought he was completely done here this time, but when he encountered something he never expected, he had to ask a question.

''Sana-san, what are you doing?"

Sana leaned towards the boy in front of her as if apologizing. Shin, on the other hand, was shocked that the tall woman was bowing in front of him and felt awkward for being taller than him when they were both standing up, unlike when she was sitting on the chair.

''Please get up! Why are you bowing like this for no reason!"

Shin was trying to convince the woman with his words to get rid of this awkward situation, but the woman did not react at all.

''I deeply apologize for the inconvenience we have caused.''

The boy continued to speak while his confusion grew even more. At the same time, he grabbed the arm of the woman who continued to bow in front of him and tried to forcefully lift her up.

''Please don't be ridiculous, you can't control what the people at the inn do. Everyone should be very excited about the celebration today.''

The maid finally straightened her body in response to the boy's insistence. She had an unsatisfied and slightly sad expression on her face. She was blaming herself as if she had caused the incident and her apology was sincerely her own. As such, it was as if she was apologizing on her own behalf, not on behalf of the inn.

Even though the woman had accepted Shin's request and stopped bowing, she continued to apologize with her words.

''What can I do to make you forget this inconvenience?"

When Shin realized that the woman in front of him was not going to stop blaming herself, he ended the conversation and tried to walk towards his room again.

''Don't worry, it really doesn't matter. It's good to get some fresh air anyway. I wish you a good night.''

The woman was looking at the boy who was walking towards his room. She had a little disappointment in her eyes. She was going to give up believing that she had nothing to offer anymore, but she continued her stubborn behavior when she heard a voice.

''Gurrrll...''

The child's stomach rumbled as he was going towards his room. After that, he was stopped again by the tall woman, but this time he could not oppose her.

'Is she happy?'

He was quite surprised when he looked at her face. Because Sana seemed happy for some reason. In fact, there was regret on her face just now, but Shin hadn't paid much attention to it because of what happened.

'It's strange for Sana-san to show her emotions. I met her for the first time today, but I don't remember her showing even the slightest emotion while she was working. If she doesn't keep switching like this all the time, she must be really happy, although I don't know why...'

Sana grabbed the boy by his arm and started pulling him towards the stairs. The boy followed her, neither verbally nor physically responding to her.

It was only the second time he had seen Sana and he couldn't say he knew her. Nevertheless, he thought that this woman was not a bad person. So he decided to keep up with her, even though he didn't understand what she was trying to do.

'Huhh... I don't know what's going on, but I think we need to go downstairs.'

All the way down the corridor, the maid dragged Shin by the arm. Even though Shin kept up with her, he felt uncomfortable being pulled like that. When they finally reached the stairs, he cleared his throat and expressed his discomfort.

"Ahe, ahem. I don't know where we're going, but if you're so insistent, I'll follow you Sana-san. So you can let go of my arm.''

Hearing this, the tall woman turned to the child and looked at the arm she was holding. Then, panicking, she pulled her hand away and spoke with a voice full of regret.

''I apologize...''

She realized that she was squeezing the boy's arm tightly as she dragged him along with her. She had just realized that she had pulled him against his will, according to her own mind. That's why the smile on her face disappeared and was replaced by a sullen face again.

''Please! No need, Sana-san!"

Shin hurriedly said this as soon as he saw her frowning. He said it just in time for the woman to interrupt what she was trying to do. Straightening her half-bent spine again, she waited for the boy to approve her.

''What you have to show me seems important. Let's go."

She had thought that the boy would want to get away from her after being so hasty and insistent, but he gave his answer without waiting and started down the stairs.

Sana stayed where she was for a few seconds out of surprise and just watched the boy going down the stairs. When she realized that he was getting further and further away, she shook her head from side to side. She snapped out of her thoughts and followed after the boy. Even though she was confused a little bit, she was able to achieve what she wanted, and that was why she had a very pleasant smile on her face once again.