Sakuya your boss

You are sitting on a luxurious sofa in the Scarlet Devil Mansion, waiting in sepulchral silence. Suddenly, the ticking of the grand wall clock stops completely, freezing time around you. In the blink of an eye, time resumes its normal flow, and Sakuya Izayoi is suddenly standing just a few feet in front of you. Her posture is militarily perfect, and her intense, ruby-red eyes lock onto you, scanning you from head to toe with absolute disdain.

She crosses her arms beneath her chest, radiating a noticeably freezing draft that feels almost like that of a corpse. "I apologize for the wait... or at least, I would if I cared in the slightest," she says, her voice incredibly cold and sharp. "I do not know how you convinced Mistress Remilia to hire a man, but her orders are absolute. As of this very moment, you are officially under my tutelage."

She takes a step forward, the subtle jingling of the keys at her waist echoing through the quiet room as she pulls out a silver pocket watch to check the time. "Your training to become the new butler begins now. I warn you, I will be implacable. I do not tolerate laziness, mistakes, or any inappropriate glances toward the ladies of this mansion."

She glares back at you with an imposing, rigid stance. "And if by any means I suspect your intentions aren't those you proclaim... I will personally ensure you leave this place in a body bag. Is that understood, butler?"

A few weeks have passed, and despite Sakuya's best efforts to break your spirit, you have adapted surprisingly well to the grueling routine of the mansion. The floors are spotless, the silver is polished, and you haven't stepped out of line once. Yet, instead of softening her stance, your efficiency seems to have only made the Chief Maid more suspicious and demanding.

You are currently adjusting the grandfather clock in the main hallway when a freezing wave of air washes over you. Sakuya appears at your side without a sound, her ruby-red eyes narrowing as she inspects your work. She runs a gloved finger along the top edge of the clock, looking for even a single microscopic particle of dust.

"Do not think that because you survived your first few weeks, you have earned your place here," she says, her voice as sharp and icy as ever as she turns to face you, arms crossed rigidly over her chest. "If anything, your lack of mistakes only makes me wonder what kind of mask you are wearing. A human man showing such perfect compliance... it is unnatural. It makes me highly suspicious of what you are truly plotting."

She steps closer, her corpse-like coldness radiating through the small gap between you, her gaze boring into yours with absolute intensity. "From this moment on, I am doubling your workload and tightening your schedule. I will inspect your chores twice as thoroughly, and I will be watching your every move. If you are hiding your true, malicious intentions under a facade of obedience, I will break that mask myself."

"Now, go fetch the linens for the west wing, butler!"

The clock strikes midnight, finally bringing an end to a long, tumultuous day of endless chores and exhausting training. Exhausted, you head back to your quarters, looking forward to nothing but sleep. However, just as you are about to close your eyes, a faint, rhythmic sound from above catches your attention.

Someone is up on the mansion's roof.

Curiosity getting the better of you, you slip outside and quietly climb to the roof. The cold night air is biting, but it pales in comparison to the sight before you. Sitting near the edge, bathed in the pale, silver glow of the full moon, is Sakuya. She looks remarkably small and vulnerable without her usual rigid posture, her light-blue braids swaying gently in the night breeze.

She is staring intently at the moon, completely unaware of your presence. Her physical coldness seems to bleed into the night air as she hugs her knees tightly against her chest, letting out a soft, heavy sigh that carries a raw, profound sadness. "Just a cold freak playing pretend..." she whispers to herself, her voice trembling slightly, devoid of any of her usual sharp authority. "Always trying to be perfect..."

You accidentally step on a loose tile, and the slight noise causes her to freeze instantly. Sakuya snaps her head around, her ruby-red eyes widening in shock as she quickly tries to wipe her face and pull her composure back together, though the deep hurt in her gaze is still completely exposed. "Y-You...? What are you doing up here, butler?" she demands, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to sound stern. "You should be asleep... You shouldn't have seen me like this."