These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy

“Es rappelt im Karton, dong, dong, dong dong~ dong dong, dong, dong, dong~ dong, dong, dong, dong dong~”

Early in the morning, after stepping into the bathroom, I hummed softly while dipping the tip of my toe to test the water temperature. Since Shirley was the one who prepared the bath, I knew there’d be no issues—it was just a force of habit.

Then I sank into the bathwater, letting my body soak in the warm floral-scented water scattered with rose petals, even submerging my hair beneath the surface.

Compared to bathing at night, I preferred doing it in the morning.

Of course, not just because it helped with blood circulation, as all those scientific claims say, but more because it washed away the filth that had accumulated overnight. The fragrance from the bath always lifted my mood.

“Es rappelt im Karton, Ton, Ton, Ton, TonTon~ TonTon, Ton, Ton, Ton~ Ton, Ton, Ton, TonTon~”

Hehehehe~

This feels... rather wonderful~

Shirley, who had come into the bathroom with me, saw me humming again and smiled gently as she spoke.

“You seem to be in quite the good mood today, milady.”

“Hehehehe, isn’t that obvious? After all, today is my birthday.”

No one would wear a gloomy face on their birthday, right? So it’s perfectly reasonable for me to be so happy...

“Are you that eager to receive Master Ethan’s present?”

“......”

Mm... normally, Shirley’s mind-reading-like ability is quite useful, but at times like this, it can get a little embarrassing.

Even your own lady you tease without mercy, huh? What a mischievous maid.

“Hehehe, don’t say nonsense, Shirley. I’m not particularly expecting anything...”

I turned over and rested my arms on the edge of the tub, kicking the water lightly while beaming at Shirley.

“Oh? Did I get it wrong? But the song you’re humming pretty clearly expresses your anticipation for a present, doesn’t it? ‘Something rattling in a box,’ hehehehe...”

Shirley covered her mouth as she laughed gracefully—but no matter how you looked at it, it was clearly a teasing smile.

Ugh, I really did hum a song that perfectly matched my mood without realizing it.

Of course she’d pick up on it—Shirley sees right through people... That was my mistake.

Guess I got a little... too happy?

The other me inside was bouncing with excitement, insisting since morning that we pick out the prettiest dress.

She seemed even more thrilled than I was. Hmph, such a child.

I’m well past the age where one gets giddy over birthdays.

But... since I heard that Ethan might prepare a birthday present for me... a little anticipation should be allowed, right?

No matter what he gives me, I bet the other me would be so happy she wouldn’t sleep a wink. Just thinking about the present kept her up all night, and she wouldn’t stop fussing about it—she didn’t let me get any rest either.

Of course I’m not like that pure, blank-slate version of me—able to accept any gift with joy. For someone like me, a gift that could truly satisfy me... those are few and far between.

Ethan should know—there’s nothing I lack. Anything he could give me, I already have. Except for one thing...

Naturally, Ethan wouldn’t hand over his corpse of his own will, but if he were to give me his heart... I’d be quite content...

Hehehehe...

Wait, no. What am I thinking?

Asking someone to give you what you want just because it’s your birthday—that’s no better than a spoiled child like her.

Honestly... I’ve gone a little lightheaded. Hehehe... how immature of me.

“But milady, you wouldn’t happen to be hoping for Master Ethan to place his literal heart inside a gift box for your birthday, would you? No, wait—his physical heart wouldn’t be quite enough. What you want is Master Ethan’s ‘heart,’ isn’t it?”

“...Of course not~ Hehehehe~”

“Oh? You hesitated.”

“...I didn’t.”

“You totally did.”

“I did not!”

“Are you sure? Your ears are turning red, milady.”

“Ugh...! You’re awful... I’m not talking to you anymore, Shirley!”

This maid is really just too mean!

Ugh... it’s exactly because of things like this that I can never win against Shirley, no matter how much time passes...

I turned my head away, but Shirley deliberately shifted into my line of sight, so I simply changed from a prone position to lying on my back, avoiding her gaze entirely.

Shirley walked up to the edge of the tub, wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and gently kissed my earlobe before whispering,

“Even if it’s not his whole heart, you’re still hoping for a gift filled with Ethan’s ‘feelings,’ aren’t you?”

...That much, I couldn’t deny.

To reject that thought would be to reject myself. In the end, I could only admit it.

I turned back over, submerged half my face in the bathwater, puffed out a few bubbles, and then lifted my head just enough to mutter at Shirley in resignation.

“...Fine, you win again, Shirley. I did have that thought, for just a moment. But I immediately pushed it away, okay?!”

Seeing me admit it out loud, Shirley didn’t tease me further. She just laughed softly, then patted my shoulder—signaling it was time to start washing my body.

Even if I sulked at her, she always softened me with a smile in the end. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen her wear anything but a smile... Truly a flawless head maid.

With a quiet sigh, I stepped out of the bath, shook out my hair, and sat on the little stool she had prepared.

Shirley began to wash my body from the front.

She’d been doing this for me since I was a child, attending to me with meticulous care, so I wasn’t shy anymore—no matter which part she touched.

Of course, some spots still felt... strange...

Like now, when she’s wiping my chest. My body starts heating up slightly. Mostly because Shirley’s technique is... a bit odd. Is it really necessary to scrub my chest that thoroughly? Honestly...

“Oh my, just as I thought, your chest has grown again, milady.”

After finishing my chest, she gave it a couple of firm squeezes and remarked with mild surprise.

“Hm? You can tell that just by touch, Shirley?”

“But of course. I’ve been recording your development down to two decimal places every day, hehehehe.”

Ugh... is that really necessary...? Shirley has these bizarre obsessions about the weirdest things sometimes.

I knew she tracked my height and weight, but I had no idea she was keeping logs on my bust size too... So she already has my full three-size measurements memorized?

“Hehehehe~ So, what’s my current bust size? Worth bragging about now, right?”

“Indeed. The growth rate has surged recently—you’ve jumped a full size. I’ll prepare new bras accordingly. Congratulations, milady. Your figure is becoming even more perfect.”

“Hehehehe, as expected.”

“Oh my, I still remember when you were fourteen, you were as flat as a pancake. I worried about you, you know? But these past three years, you’ve blossomed so beautifully. Watching the numbers rise every day—it was a delight.”

Shirley’s laugh was louder than usual, and her lips curved up in genuine joy. She really did seem happy.

Geez... what’s she so excited about? It’s not her chest that’s grown... No, wait, hers is already massive.

Yes... Shirley’s chest is quite spectacular—the so-called “giant breasts” that men seem to adore.

Have I finally caught up?

Surely Ethan ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) likes bigger ones too, right?

(Of course he does. He definitely loves it. Last time I linked arms with him, he looked so pleased. And when we watched that movie together, he couldn’t stop staring at my chest. His heartbeat was so fast~ Hehe, I want to hug Ethan against me and press his cheek into my fuller chest, let him listen to my heartbeat, while I gently stroke his hair and whisper, ‘Good boy, good boy’... That would be bliss... Next time we go to the movies, let’s get the couple’s seats. Then we won’t need to worry about prying eyes and can do all sorts of naughty things. Make sure Shirley prepares the decisive lingerie, okay? For our first time, maybe on—)**

Enough! Not now, other me!

I smacked my temples hard with my palms, pinched my philtrum—only then did the other me finally let out a reluctant sigh and retreat into the depths of my mind.

Ugh, seriously... she popped out again without warning...

And always so noisy. She never shuts up.

She barely speaks in front of Ethan, yet in my head, she rambles on and on... what a repressed lunatic.

(That’s so Ethan doesn’t think I’m annoying~ I want to leave a good impression, you know? Besides, we’ll have a whole lifetime to whisper sweet nothings. We can talk about anything and everything then, can’t we? Hehe... Also, stop making crude jokes in front of Ethan, won’t you? There are plenty of nice things to say instead. By the way, Ethan always seems kind of reserved around me, but he’s so natural when talking to you... I wonder why that is?)

That’s enough...!

“Get back in there!”

“...Milady?”

“Ah... it’s nothing. Sorry if I startled you, Shirley.”

I covered one eye with my hand. My smile had vanished, replaced by a deep frown as I apologized to Shirley.

But the irritation in my chest refused to go away.

It’s so frustrating...!

Every time she appears, I completely lose control of my emotions. I can’t help but get angry—at myself.

“No, I’m quite alright, milady... Did Softice appear again?”

“Softice?”

What kind of name is that?

“That’s what Master Ethan calls your other self. It’s how he tells you apart.”

“Ethan named her... Softice... That’s... actually very fitting. Hehehe.”

She really is Softice!

What started as a vague second personality has grown increasingly... independent. I mean, “presumptuous.”

She can now control the body even when I’m asleep. Before our last date, she even changed my underwear without my permission. Honestly, I’d rather go without than wear that kind of embarrassing lingerie!

...And in the end, I did end up taking it off.

She... unlike me, feels shame when not wearing anything. Hehehe...

She’s becoming capable of surfacing without my consent—she’s even gained partial approval from my body.

If this continues, could she eventually replace me as the true “Lillian Ji”...?

(Never. You are me, and I am you. I was born from your feelings for Ethan. I am a part of you—how could I ever replace you? Unless you reject him, hate him, curse him... but that will never happen, right? You’re obsessed with his corpse. And I’m obsessed with the living him. There’s no conflict at all, hehe.)

“......”

Hehehe...

I wiped the water from my cheek, leaned back, closed my eyes, pressed a hand to my forehead, and sighed deeply.

So this is what helplessness feels like...

I really am hopeless when it comes to myself.