| Author: Sasaki Ichiro | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mab | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Silva | |
Pale cherry-pink golden hair was piled in layers, bathed in the streaming sunlight, sprinkling the room with a faint glow. Graceful white fingertips rolled the pages, making a faint dry sound in the quiet study. Jade-colored eyes like wet jewels ran after the text…and the dignified, taut silence returned.
“Haah…”
A euphoric exhale escaped Eren’s mouth as she sat on a chair by the window and watched the picturesque scene before her.
“…what’s wrong, Eren?”
Startled, Jill lifted her face, looking at Eren. Eren shook her beet-red face left and right. Her chestnut-colored hair, trimmed around her chin, swayed.
“It’s nothing. I was merely too caught up in the moment, I almost soiled myself.”
“What do you mean?”
Confused, Jill leaned back in her chair and looked around behind her — the study, whilst not exactly extravagant, was extensive. The newly appointed governor of Consul, Ms. Christy’s residence, emitted the scent of fresh timber. Its design was straightforward yet highly functional, mirroring the pragmatic and logical nature of its owner.
For example, the study. It had teak bookshelves, around 2,000 books, desks, chairs, and some flowers arranged in a vase. Yet none of the articles were brand new.
“Umm…Lady Jill, when I see your figure and realize the position I am in now, my heart leaps in elation.”
At the words of Eren, her lady attendant and friend, Jill let out a light sigh, closed the thick technical book she was reading, sat up from the chair she was sitting in, and gracefully adjusted the skirt of her long dress before setting it down on the floor.
“There is no one watching, you don’t need to address me with Lady. I’m happier if we can talk normally, you know?”
Recalling the scene when she first saw Eren in her uniform, Jill spoke as she pouted.
“That cannot be done. Beatrice, the head housekeeper, has been very vocal about the importance of discipline.”
The stern face of said housekeeper flashed in Jill’s mind.
“Becoming Lady Jill’s attendant has been my dream, to begin with, to have that dream realized this suddenly can only be my ideal.”
With enraptured eyes, Eren looked at the master she served and her best friend who was the definition of budding grace in front of her. Compared to her petite self, Her long, graceful neck, delicate wrists and ankles, and flowing hair cascading down her petite back contrasted with her curvaceous chest and waist. Despite being only twelve, she exuded the allure of a mature woman, making her true age difficult to believe. There was no makeup on her face, but this instead accentuated the natural whiteness and luster of her skin.
She wore a simple red and white dress, but if she were to attend a ball wearing a gown decorated with gold and silver threads and jewelry, she would steal the eyes of everyone in the ballroom.
And yet, there were only a handful of people within the mansion who were aware of her true charm… Eren was annoyed to learn that she was forbidden to openly talk of her beauty, that even Royce the Steward had personally warned her not to, but on the flip side, she was proud that she was amongst the handful few.
“After all, I’m the one who understands Jill’s beauty best!” Oh, how she wished to loudly announce the world such. Eren, however, must push such feelings down as she tilted her head.
“By the way, are you not going to continue your reading, milady?”
“No… I have grasped the gist of it, so I won’t peruse1 it any further. I think I can finish the report assignment by tonight.” Jill shrugged.
Once a week, her substitute mentor Ms. Christy —Baroness Christiane Rita Brandmüller, the lady of the house and Jill’s adoptive mother— would give her several homework assignments in advance, which she would then submit in the form of a report.
She initially planned to hire a local tutor, but after a quick review of basic knowledge, Ms. Christy immediately understood the futility of hiring one, commenting; “You far outstripped those bricks-for-brain students of my own school.” Since then, she decided to directly tutor Jill with one-to-one assignments review, whilst only entrusting her manners and etiquette classes directly to Beatrice the head housekeeper.
Eren recalled the time Jill gave her a glance at a portion of her assignments, and it was covered to the brim with formulas, statistics, and lots of mysterious symbols, which only made Jill look more and more dazzling in her eyes.
“As expected of you, milady. You solved such a hard assignment like it was nothing!”
“Well, it still stands whether I’m doing it correctly or not.”
With a wry chuckle, Jill put away the technical book back on its shelf, stretched her back lightly, and then — with a mischievous look on her face, her eyes lit up.
“Studying is over and done with for today, let’s go out.”
At those words, Eren stood up hurriedly. Her face was painted with anxiety.
“Are we going outside again today…?”
“Of course. We haven’t caught up just yet, after all.”
As she nodded, Jill pulled out her trademarked black dress and robe from thin air. It was her everyday clothes, which she had stored inside some space she had created through her witchcraft.
She carelessly threw away the dress she had been wearing, so Eren rushed to Jill’s side and helped her change her clothes.
“—thank you.”
Once she was dressed, Jill gave Eren a smile as she lightly carried her boots across the floor. Faced with such a smile, Eren couldn’t say anything further and just silently followed behind her.
