In response to Joan of Arc's questioning, Meer waved her hand dismissively and said nonchalantly:
"Don't worry about the details. So, Joan of Arc, which one will you choose?"
Meer leaned against the back of the sofa, pressing close to Luo Shu's shoulder, and looked at Joan of Arc with eager anticipation:
"By the way, the secretary position is already taken."
"As for being a lover, you wouldn't want to compete with Lacus, would you?"
"And as for a mistress—that's my exclusive spot. You wouldn't want to share the role of Luo Shu's mistress with me, would you?"
Joan of Arc was stunned and asked incredulously:
"Doesn't that leave only the maid option?"
"Just say whether you'll do it or not!!"
Meer smirked at Joan of Arc, her face full of mischief as she teased:
"By the way, a secretary only handles work-related matters, and lovers or mistresses might not always be by Luo Shu's side. But a personal maid? She'd have to follow Luo Shu wherever he goes~"
'How did it turn into being a personal maid again?' Joan of Arc muttered under her breath.
At this point, Luo Shu also realised the issue:
"It can't be as exaggerated as following me everywhere, can it?"
Suddenly aware of the potential problems the ritual might bring, Luo Shu turned directly to Joan of Arc and asked:
"Joan, does your ritual require you to stay by my side at all times?"
"Broadly speaking, yes." Joan of Arc considered the ritual's requirements.
Since it was a Class directly bestowed by the Great Will, she knew the details very clearly:
"To be precise, it means ensuring you can contact me at any time and I can find you whenever needed."
"So, while I don't necessarily have to stand behind you every second, the difference isn't that big."
Hearing this, Luo Shu's expression turned somewhat complicated.
After all, he knew his own habits well—especially the richness of his nightlife.
The thought of having to bring Joan of Arc along whenever he spent the night at a girl's place in the coming days made him uneasy.
'Wouldn't my... activities be a bit too stimulating for a Saintess?'
Seeing the change in Luo Shu's expression, Joan of Arc seemed to understand something and explained:
"If it's inconvenient for you, the ritual's requirements can be relaxed. But to ensure its effectiveness, it might take longer to complete."
"Is that so?" Luo Shu's tone was somewhat evasive.
He neither asked Joan of Arc to relax the requirements nor agreed to them outright—his stance was one of non-commitment, non-expression, and non-refusal.
After all, if Joan of Arc followed him every day from now on, certain things would inevitably be exposed. Since exposure was inevitable, whether he told her or not seemed to make little difference. Just in case, he'd subtly hint at it later.
Seeing Luo Shu's shifting expression, Joan of Arc thought he was troubled by the situation and considered explaining further, only to be immediately interrupted by Meer:
"So, Joan, you're going to be a personal maid?"
Hearing this, Joan's face immediately twisted in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing slightly as she said:
"This... Although it's just as Meer said earlier, serving as a personal maid would indeed fulfil most of the ritual's requirements... but... I probably wouldn't be very good at maid work, right? And... Lord Luo Shu might not accept it either?"
"Not at all! Maid work is super easy!" Meer said bluntly. "As long as you're pretty, know how to warm the bed, and can take the initiative, that's more than enough! Luo Shu isn't picky~"
At these words, Joan's face visibly reddened, resembling a freshly ripened Fuji apple.
'Thanks a lot...' Luo Shu turned his head wordlessly, pinching Meer's cheek as her face was right beside his.
"Wait, stop pinching my face!! I'm discussing something important with Joan!"
Ignoring Meer's complaints, Luo Shu gave her cheek another pinch, mentally giving the sensation a thumbs-up.
Turning back, he glanced at Joan, who was now staring at her fingers, and sighed before exchanging a look with Lacus beside him.
Lacus immediately understood, teasing Luo Shu lightly:
"It seems you'll have to step out first, Luo Shu, to give Joan some space to think."
"Just me?" Luo Shu retorted.
"Of course, not just you." Lacus chuckled, standing up. "I'll go out with you for a stroll. After all, you've never been to headquarters before, right?"
As she spoke, she turned slightly towards Meer and Kirika Tachibana, gesturing at Joan:
"Joan is in your hands now."
"Got it, got it." Meer rolled over on the sofa, sitting up properly before leaning in close to Joan, cupping her cheeks. "So, Joan, are you gonna be a maid or not?!!"
'Don't go overboard...' Lacus gave Meer a helpless look before glancing at Luo Shu, who had also stood up. The two nodded slightly and left the office together.
Only after they had gone did Kirika Tachibana sigh, pulling out a cigarette from her pocket and lighting it:
"Honestly, men are such a hassle~"
Then she glanced at Joan and muttered:
"Same goes for naive women."
...
In the corridor atop the Twin Towers.
Luo Shu, having just left the office, turned to look at the girl beside him as they walked towards the elevator.
Her face, free of makeup yet radiantly clear, delicate features, and those wavy pink locks—honestly, he quite liked this girl who ticked all his aesthetic boxes.
But liking aside, her politician-like personality gave him quite the headache.
Half a step behind him, Lacus smiled faintly: "So, Luo Shu, are you upset that I didn't tell you about Joan of Arc before?"
"Not entirely." Luo Shu shook his head before explaining, "Joan actually explained it was a confidentiality agreement between you two."
"If it's an agreement, then I can understand you not mentioning it."
"But you're still a bit angry, aren't you?" Lacus took small steps forward, leaning in with a bright smile as she asked, "Because I kept it from you, you're cross with me?"
"...A little, I suppose?" Luo Shu fell silent for a moment before replying with an amused expression. "Though I feel like you should be the angrier one here."
Dating multiple people, coaxing someone into bed before marriage, still not giving any proper commitment... objectively speaking, his actions were far worse.
Of course, such matters couldn't be calculated like simple arithmetic - you owe me a hundred, I owe you three hundred, then I still owe you two hundred more.
Their relationship was far more complex than numbers.
Still, with Joan of Arc's sudden appearance, Luo Shu felt some things needed to be addressed sooner rather than later.
Thinking this, Luo Shu glanced at Lacus before asking:
"Rather than whether I'm angry or not, shouldn't the key issue here be you coming clean about how much you've hidden from me regarding SDS matters?"
Hearing this, Lacus paused mid-step and looked up, her face showing slight embarrassment:
"But... I don't actually know how much you're unaware of?"
"Because while I've sent many reports to the Hidden Management Department, whether Yukino, who liaises with me, has informed you, or if you've paid attention even if she did, I wouldn't know."
Luo Shu blinked at this response, his expression shifting through several emotions before settling into equal embarrassment:
"Let's change the question."
"How many Familia candidates in the SDS am I currently unaware of?"
Luo Shu really didn't want another Kiyohime popping up today, an Artoria tomorrow, only to discover they were all SDS colleagues while he remained clueless - that would be beyond awkward.
Hearing this, Lacus suddenly looked enlightened, as if she'd finally understood Luo Shu's real concern.
"Speaking of this matter..."
"Can you come with me to a place now?"
"There are a few people Luo Shu needs to meet. It won't take too much of your time."
Hearing this, Luo Shu froze for a moment, giving Lacus a strange look:
"Don't tell me..."
"It's exactly what you're thinking."
At that moment, Lacus tilted her head and smiled:
"Although it took quite some effort, they did pass the screening and are willing to join us!"