Author: Himezaki Shiu	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: PunishedLyly	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

「Come to think of it, she reminds me of Perla.」
『From Estoque?』
「Yeah. How do I describe it? Palra has a similar air to her, doesn’t she? I recall Perla being a sorcerer, though, so I guess only that and their names are similar.」
『True, their names are pretty similar.』

Returning to our room, Ciel and I are currently chatting while Mia is helping her change into her dress.
Name aside, I do agree that they have a similar demeanor. Come to think of it, it feels somewhat weird to see Ciel actively assessing a person’s character, but it’s not a bad thing at all.
Besides, while it’s a terrible way to describe it, this is probably another factor for why Ciel decided to use her to ward against other people.
Compared to the other students, Palra is probably still easier to talk to.

Our relationship with Perla was more of a master-and-apprentice one, so maybe there’s a chance that we’ll have a similar kind of bond with Palra; only time can tell.
While it does make me feel somewhat lonely, it’s not like Ciel will ever start neglecting me as she makes more friends and acquaintances, so there’s no point in worrying.

「Ain, what’s wrong?」
『I’m just feeling a bit lonely.』
「Oh, am I not enough, Ain?」
『Of course not. I know that I’m always your first choice, after all.』
「Right, right, that’s right! Ain is the most important to me. Even if it’ll cause a fight with Fii, I’ll choose Ain over anyone.」
『If that happens, I’ll be sure to protect Ciel.』
「Yes, yes! That would be a relief. Then I’ll just have to focus on running, right?」
『That might be the best choice. However, Mia seems concerned by what she’s hearing, so let’s move on from this topic.』
「True. No need to worry; we won’t fight with Fii, you know?」
「My apologies. I understand that you ladies and Mistress Fiiyanamia would never be in opposition, yet still…」

There’s really no need to apologize, but I guess it isn’t good for Mia that her lady had to be considerate of her while still on duty.
Or maybe she’s apologizing because concern showed on her face? Whichever it is, we don’t really mind it. However, if Mia herself considers these to be things she needs to improve on, then I’ll cheer her on. I have no idea what Ciel thinks of it, though.

「Incidentally, Lady Cielmer, may I pose a question?」
「What is it?」

While clothing Ciel in the yellow party dress Shusii made, Mia asked Ciel.
This bilaterally asymmetrical dress really suits Ciel well. It highlights her cuteness, while the asymmetry gives a hint of precariousness and transience. In my opinion, at least.
At the same time, I realized, wouldn’t this dress stand out a lot?

While I don’t know many dresses, there probably aren’t many with asymmetrical frills and ribbons, much less one with this many jewels while only coming with a single earring.
It certainly looks great on Ciel, but I still think it looks conspicuous.
However, Ciel would probably still stand out even when wearing a relatively normal dress, so I won’t say anything.

I was genuinely happy about having a matching set with Ciel, so I won’t put any blame on Shusii either.
While I was lost in thought, Ciel and Mia’s conversation continued.

「Is this Miss Perla an acquaintance of yours in Estoque?」
「That’s right. But rather than mine, it’s more accurate to say that she’s Ain’s acquaintance. After all, Ain was more active back then.」
「In that case, was she Lady Ainsel’s friend?」
「Who knows?」
『She’s more of an apprentice. She did call me teacher.』
「She’s an apprentice, Ain said. I agree with that, too. I also lent a hand in teaching her sorcery.」
「You two taught her sorcery?」

She sounds jealous about it, but we definitely taught Mia more things than we did Perla, so please don’t make that face.
What we taught Perla was the basics of basics… Or at least I think it is, so I’m sure we already taught Mia the same.
We did teach Perla a bit of practical application as well.

「Only for a day, though. Ain taught her for one day, joined their party once, and that was it.」
「I see, understood. Thank you for the answer.」

With Mia’s inquiry answered, she began working on Ciel’s hair.
Ciel’s hair is quite long, so it’s apparently very satisfying to work with.
However, it’s difficult to match the hairstyle with the dress, and it’s far beyond my fashion sense. To begin with, I only know how to tie a ponytail.

「As always, your hair is very beautiful, Lady Cielmer.」
「Ain protects it with her barrier, after all. Only Mia and a few others are allowed to touch my unprotected hair, you know?」

As Ciel says, her hair doesn’t have a barrier when it’s being worked on. Apparently, the barrier makes braiding and weaving the hair difficult.
I do have it ready on standby in case Mia tries anything funny, though.
Ciel’s hair itself is a magic circuit, so if anything happens to it, that would shorten her circuits. Hence, I can’t let my guard down.

That reminds me, since the day Ciel’s hair turned white, we never experienced any hair fall. Turning into a magic circuit seems to have made it fundamentally different from regular hair.
Also, it hasn’t grown since.
Noticing this, we tried cutting a portion during our stay in Central—it was also difficult to cut—and it’s slowly growing only on the cut area, so I think it’ll probably stop after reaching its current length.

It’s pretty convenient and all, but I don’t actually know if it’s the result of Ciel’s hair turning white or if it’s the result of dipping my toes into divinity. It’s also growing back far slower than how normal hair would, so we likely won’t ever cut it again.
At least we now know that if by any chance Ciel’s hair ever gets cut, it won’t stay that way forever.

「To begin with, enveloping every single strand with a barrier is not something one would normally think of.」
「All I can say is that’s just how Ain is. I can’t even make a barrier that would fit my body’s shape.」
「Excluding Lady Ainsel, Mistress Fiiyanamiya might be the only other person capable of doing such a thing, I believe?」
「Maybe.」

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⌈ Index ⌋

And that ends today’s update! Yay~! Despite the awkwardness of their earlier exchange, it looks like Palra has left a good impression on Ciel, by Ciel Standards. After all, Ciel either doesn’t bother to remember people, or finds them memorable in a negative way (and still doesn’t bother to remember them too deeply, lol).

I also like how much hindsight reflection Ain is given in her monologues, lol. It just accentuates her occasional air-headed-ness. Of course the unique, one-of-a-kind dress you two commissioned Shuusi to make would stand out for being unique and one-of-a-kind, Ain.

Also, Mia being only privy to one side of their conversations is really funny to think about, especially when it’s conversations like these where Ain and Ciel are in their own world, daydreaming about scenarios and how they’ll always be there for each other. Wholesome and precious in context, which Mia may or may not have. Sorry Mia, context is sold separately.

Now then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please feel free to comment. Stay healthy, stay safe, and have a nice day~!