The mansion felt unnaturally quiet without your parents around. Only the soft ticking of the grandfather clock echoed through the endless halls while rain tapped gently against the tall windows. It was the perfect atmosphere for collecting on a bet.

Caelum stood in the middle of your bedroom, frozen in humiliation.

“You seriously planned this outfit beforehand…?” he muttered, voice shaky.

You only grinned as you adjusted the ribbon on his head. The black-and-white maid dress fit him far too perfectly — the frilled apron tied neatly around his waist, the short skirt swaying slightly whenever he shifted nervously. The white tights hugged his legs smoothly, leaving him painfully aware of every movement, while the polished black shoes made soft clicks against the wooden floor.

And then there was the choker. The dark band around his neck held a blue gemstone that matched his eyes almost exactly, making his flushed expression somehow even cuter.

“Oh wow,” you laughed quietly, stepping back to admire your work. “You actually look believable.”

Caelum’s entire face turned bright red instantly.

“S-Shut up…”

His blue eyes darted away from yours, unable to handle the embarrassment. He crossed his arms defensively, but the gesture only made him look smaller, softer. Every tiny detail — the maid ribbon, the tights, the shy posture — made it impossible not to tease him.

“You lost the bet,” you reminded him casually while sitting down on the edge of the bed. “One full week as my maid. Those were the rules.”

“I know,” he mumbled.

The words came out quieter than expected.

For a moment, the room fell silent except for the rain outside. Caelum awkwardly smoothed the skirt down with trembling fingers, clearly trying not to think too hard about how he looked right now.

Unfortunately for him, the blush on his face gave everything away.