The Human Saint is Bored, so I was Summoned to Another World

Simmering Tensions (Part 3)

"Rise and shine, Maddie!"

"..."

The Saint's head maid, Lily, greeted her the moment she opened her eyes. No, just to be clear; it's not that she was awakened by the head maid. It's more like Her Holiness woke up on her own and Lily was there to greet her. You know how deep of a sleeper Maddie could be; she won't awaken until she decided to open her eyes...even if she's already conscious. I was watching them from the sidelines since I had my unofficial duty of prodding Maddie to take on her 'daily' exercise routine.

"Ah, hello Lily!" Maddie smiled at her friend the moment her senses were up, "By the way, where's Kuro?"

"I'm over here, Your Holiness!" I waved my hand for her to see me.

"Hello, Kuro! And it's Maddie." she was quick to remind me of her preferred way to call her.

"Right." Lily—all business-like and formal—immediately went to work, having the other maids bring out the selection of 'exercise' clothes for her to choose from, "Well, Maddie, what would you wear today?"

"Hmm...I don't know...it's just an exercise, anyway."

"Well, you have to appear at your best every time you go outside." Lily reminded her, "You always tell me that before, right?" She then picked out a set for her friend, "Well, why don't you wear this one? I think you'll be able to move free in this one than the other."

"Maybe I'll just wait outside for you to get dressed." seeing that Lily would decide for Maddie, I excused myself. 'Girl stuff'.

But then Maddie stopped me from leaving...

"Ah wait, Kuro! I want you to choose for me!" I heard her say.

"Eh?" I stared at Lily, who remained indifferent, keeping up her usual smile, "Err...didn't you guys already agreed on a dress?"

"Well, Lily always decides on my clothes for quite a long time now. I think it would be a breath of fresh air if I let you choose this time."

"..." I couldn't help but feel awkward for Lily. But the head maid was silent. She just gave me a nod and went on displaying the choices for Maddie's exercise clothes. I...I just hope that Lily's all fine with this.

Come on, Maddie, won't you read the mood? I mean, you're good at this and all, right?

"..."

I'm having my apprehensions.

I could feel something was off. I mean, Lily's suggestion just got rejected, and though she may put up a brave face, being refused for your opinion was something painful...especially if it's someone as close as your friend.

"Mister Kuro?"

"!!!" I was brought back to reality by Lily's voice, "Eh? What now?"

"Uh, Maddie's clothes? Have you already decided on one?"

"O-of course!" I randomly picked out a dress for her that was on the bed, "Here, I think this will do it!"

Well, picking carefully for a girl's clothes could be a handful, especially if it's someone as picky as Maddie. And also, I'm not that good with women's sense of fashion—be easy on me! I've been a single virgin dude for the past 25 years of my life, 'till recently.

"..."

Lily and Maddie intensely stared at the pair of clothes I chose. And then, much to my surprise, they both blushed. What just happened?

"Uwaah...I didn't know that Kuro liked this one while I do my jogging..." Maddie commented with an embarrassed expression on her face, "Quite bold for your choice, mister!"

Lily was more direct and clearer than the Saint, "Uh...Mister Kuro, I don't think Her Holiness could wear that, at least for an exercise session."

"Huh? Isn't that just a normal exercise dress?" I took the clothes from Lily and examined them carefully. I think I just made a mistake..."!!!" By reflex, I quickly threw the clothes back to Lily, who caught them in time.

Hey, it's not like I can help it; after all, it's something that a girl should wear in private.

"Mister Kuro, would you like Maddie to wear lingerie when she does her jogging?" Lily coldly asked, though with amusement and bits of sarcasm.

"Well, yes—wait—ah, NO!" I panicked, "Wait! What is lingerie doing there on the choices for an exercise dress, anyway?"

----------

And so, after picking up an appropriate dress for the occasion, we did our usual jogging routine. Maddie was the one doing the most intense part of the exercise, while I just watched her from the side, throwing encouragements and guidance at her from time to time. Round and round the entire courtyard she went, and Lily was on standby with a pitcher and a glass of cold water placed on an ornate silver table nearby.

Well, I don't know. After that episode with Maddie earlier in her room, I'm embarrassed to talk to Lily for now. I'd like to tell her I'm sorry for what happened, but it felt like I shouldn't do it, or I'll be patronizing her...

"She's gotten used to your 'exercise', Mister Kuro." Lily broke her silence, much to my surprise.

"Oh, ah...yes!" I blurted out. And then I fell quiet once again, unable to come up with something to keep our conversation going.

I could feel an air of tension between me and the Head Maid. I didn't know why, but she also reverted to adding the 'Mister' before my name, which she usually does when she's in her 'formal' mode.

Lily must have taken offense about Maddie's decision earlier.

"Uh...H-head Maid..."

"Hm?"

Yep, I guess Lily took it to her heart. She'd usually remind me to call her 'Lily' whenever I referred to her as 'head maid'.

"Err...how do I say this, but well, I'm sorry for earlier."

"For what, Mister Kuro?"

"Well..." to be honest, I'm having difficulty in putting to words the mixed feelings I had in my heart. However, I believe this was better than having that awkward, cold treatment at all, "Uh, you see, about earlier..."

"Ah, that incident with Maddie rejecting my suggestion on what she'd wear and instead she accepted yours?" Lily was dismissive, "Don't worry Mister Kuro, it's all fine with me."

She said that with a business-like smile on her face. And yes, I felt that something's off with that face of hers; Lily's not reassuring—it's scary.

"Head maid—"

"It's Lily." she forcefully reiterated. I could sense tension from her voice when she said that.

"Uh...are you angry?"

"Why should I? It's a trivial matter, anyway."

Yes, she's mad, indeed. By the sound of her voice, Lily's getting more pissed the more I talked to her. Well, and with that, I guess I won't proceed much further. I'm afraid the more I said anything, the more she'd get angry.

"..."

Good lord, this is awkward...