Cake

───Since her predecessor was also a woman, she took an interest in Iris, who also wanted to pursue the path of the sword. Iris had a talent for swordsmanship, so she officially became an apprentice, and from there, she became even more devoted to swordsmanship.

However, after graduation, her friends got married one after another, and she became the only single person left in her class. This was when she started to think about marriage for the first time.

However, since she had never been in love before marriage, she had to learn about love first.

Iris had reached the turn of her twenties. In this world, it was normal for people to be married by their early twenties at the latest. Iris had not married or had even been in a relationship with a man.

Iris had set conditions for the man she wanted to go out with: he had to be stronger than her, he had to be financially secure, and he had to be good-looking. …She had set these conditions.

That's why she turned down all the men, who picked her up or approached her directly about an engagement, as they didn't meet all the requirements. And as a result──no one talked to her anymore as she was unapproachable.

"I-I know I've been very strict with my requirements. So now I've changed my mind…!"

Iris said this in an impatient tone, making excuses to no one in particular.

"───I don't need a man to be rich or cool; I just want someone stronger than me!" Iris said as she jumped on the bed burying her head in the pillows.

"I wonder if there is anyone stronger than me…"

Although Iris had completely misjudged which of her conditions should have been loosened, for Iris, wanting someone stronger than herself was unavoidable.

She grew up without knowing about romance, and as she developed delusions of being in love, she longed for a prince who could protect her and save her. Iris could not abandon this fantasy she had once yearned for.

The somewhat disappointing "Sword Saint" Iris was overwhelmingly strong, but she was struggling against a powerful enemy called marriage.

.....

It was currently 3 P.M. and Grayfia was serving some tea and shortcake to Yuuya.

Yuuya took a bite and showed a slight smile.

"Master, how is it?" Grayfia asked as she saw the slight smile on Yuuya's lips and felt a bit proud.

"It is good I like it," Yuuya said as he drank his tea.

'This is the best shortcake I have eaten. just short of Ashber's' Yuuya thought in his mind as he finished the shortcake.

"Can I have another?" Yuuya asked as he looked at Grayfia.

"Please have as many as you feel like Master," Grayfia said with a smile as she looked at her master and placed another shortcake on his plate.

"Thank you," Yuuya said as Grayfia stood beside him again and saw Yuuya eating again.

RING* RING*

"It should be Marin bring her in," Yuuya said as Grayfia nodded.

'Marin? Is it master's friend?' Grayfia thought as she walked towards the door and opened it to see a blonde girl wearing a pink off-shoulder top with white shorts.

Marin who was about to say hi to Yuuya stopped as she saw someone she didn't know open the door.

Both women looked at each other.

'Who is she?' Marin thought as she looked at the cold silver-haired beauty wearing a french maid uniform she looked like she came out of an anime world.

'She is so beautiful.' Marin thought as she looked at Grayfia

Before Grayfia could ask something,

"Oh my god, you totes look like a real maid, did Yuuya make this dress for you? Do you like cosplaying as well?" That was her first reaction when she saw Grayfia who was in her full maid attire.

"I don't know what cosplay you are talking about, I am really master's maid, and you are?" Grayfia said.

"Master? You are so in character. Which anime is this character from? This maid outfit looks so cute." Marin said as she squealed and jumped around.

"Are you Marin-san?" Grayfia asked as she knew that this girl isn't going to listen to her.

'Is she the one master talked about? I thought it would she would be a calm person like Master but this is the opposite. Is this master's Type?' Grayfia thought as she felt a bit of crisis.

"Yes I am here to meet Yuuya-kun," Marin said with a smile.

'She is calling Master by his first name, she must be close to him. But she is just a normal human as I can't feel any mana from her, I'll just take her to master as he asked me to.' Grayfia made up her mind after she pushed her thoughts away.

"This way," Grayfia said as she walked in her proper elegant gait leaving Marin in awe.

'She is so into character, she must be a great Cosplayer but why haven't I heard of her even though she looks so beautiful,' Marin thought as she looked at Grayfia who was walking with her braid swaying behind her.

'Is that a wig? it looks so real, where did she get it from?' Marin was in her own world as they arrived in the living room where Yuuya was sitting.

"Yuuya-kun, how have you been? Did you miss me?" Marin asked as she sat down beside Yuuya like the most natural thing.

Grayfia's eyes widened a bit as she saw how familiar Marin was acting with Yuuya and the subtle change in Yuuya's blank eyes it was just a little almost negligible.

'T-they really are close to each other,' Grayfia thought.

"I am certainly missing my peaceful time that was taken away by you," Yuuya said as he drank some tea as Grayfia served Marin with some Tea and Shortcake.

"Mou, Yuuya-kun is no fun, And You seriously don't have to do that, umm?" Marin said while looking at Grayfia as she realized that she didn't know the person's name.

"My name is Grayfia, and it is my duty to serve the guests that come to the house so don't mind it," Grayfia said as she bowed elegantly and stood beside Yuuya as she silently glanced at him.

"Yuuya-kun care to explain what is going on?" Marin asked Yuuya.

"Why should I do that?" Yuuya asked in his usual manner.

Marin nearly fell off the sofa.

"Y-Yuuya-kun you aren't following the script. This is where you get flustered and explain the misunderstanding." Marin shouted.

"I don't know what script you are talking about, and what misunderstanding?" Yuuya asked with a blank face.

"Mou, Yuuya-kun is Grayfia-san your maid? And not your girlfriend roleplaying as a maid," Marin asked and Grayfia's face turned red as she certainly did understand what that term meant as she has been learning about the modern culture.

"Don't talk nonsense, She is my maid," Yuuya answered without any change in his expression and Grayfia's face turned redder.

"If you say so, I didn't know that Yuuya-kun had a Maid and one that is so beautiful as well. because Grayfia-san wasn't here when we came," Marin said as she continued drinking the tea with the strawberry shortcake that was placed there.

"MHM, This is tasty," Marin's eyes brightened up as she ate a piece of the cake.

"She had some work to do so wasn't at home, Anyway you came earlier," Yuuya said as he ate the Shortcake that Grayfia gave him as he asked for more and Grayfia complied with her master's wishes. But this time it was a banana cupcake rather than a strawberry shortcake.

"Ok, Master this is the last one. It is bad for your health if you eat more." Grayfia said with a smile.

"But, I want more because it is so tasty, Can I Please," Yuuya said as he looked at Grayfia and tilted his head a little.

'Ugh, M-Master this is unfair,' Grayfia thought as she looked at her master.

"O-ok y-you c-can," Grayfia melted like snow in the sun in front of Yuuya's compliment and plea.

"Can you guys not flirt so openly, now I doubt that she is your maid even more," Marin said as she narrowed her eyes.

"Oh no, what am I going to do Marin-san isn't believing me?" Yuuya said with a blank face and flat tone as he moved his hands around exaggeratedly.

"What are you doing?" Marin asked as her eyebrows twitched.

"Following the script, Can I have another?" Yuuya said as he ate the cupcake and asked for more

"At least put a little effort in it, and do something about that tone" Marin said as veins appeared on her forehead.

"Mm," Yuuya nodded.

"You are totes ignoring me now," Marin said as she pouted.

'Master does act differently towards her. It is like he knows her for a long time but there is still a wall between them, Does that make any sense. But I am happy that master can be a little happy.' Grayfia thought as she looked at Marin and Yuuya sitting next to each other.

'I want to.....' Grayfia shook her head to dismiss her thought and stood silently.