Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: No Way I'm Suffering Alone (2)
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1.
The twins' mornings began at 6 a.m., in the same bed.
The chirping of birds outside the window.
Along with the scent of the hinoki logs that had burned through the night in the fireplace, now crumbling into ash with faint crackles, they rose from bed.
"Good morning, Odette."
"Good morning, sis."
Odile and Odette got up from the spacious bed and stretched languidly.
Showered by the morning sunlight streaming through the skylights, they loosened their bodies like two supple cats rolling around on the bed, easing away the stiffness that had built up overnight.
An apprentice witch's spirit body was imperfect.
Having inherited only the vessel of the stigma, they aged unlike full witches whose time had completely stopped.
Thus, they grew, aged, and required sleep.
As such, the twins always went to bed at 11 p.m. and rose at 6 a.m.
After a leisurely stretch, Odile shot Odette a glance.
"Sleep well?"
"No, I barely got any. You?"
"Same here. Think I finally dozed off when the moon passed the second window."
For twins who usually passed out the moment their heads hit the pillow, this was highly unusual.
But with the big event looming, they weren't stout-hearted enough to sleep soundly.
"You know what today is, right?"
"Today of all days?"
The twins exchanged looks and nodded slowly.
-Creak!
"Good morning. Did you sleep well through the night, Lady Odile? Lady Odette?"
"Good morning, Head Maid Galina."
"Good morning, Head Maid Galina."
The woman who entered through the door was an elderly lady with thick glasses—Galina.
She had served the Gemernai family since before the twins were born.
Galina, the longtime servant who had cared for them since they couldn't even walk, cut an intimidating figure despite her plump build, making her one of the people the twins feared most.
"You're full of energy this morning."
"I had a good dream last night!"
"Me too!"
After exchanging light morning greetings, four maids bustled in behind Galina.
One drew back the curtains and opened all eighteen windows. Another gathered the bedsheets rumpled from the twins' rolling around all night.
The remaining two slipped slippers onto the twins' dangling feet, then combed their tousled hair.
They'd have to comb it again after washing up in the bath anyway.
Something about how witches of the Gemernai count family must never lose their dignity, even walking the halls.
They'd heard endless lectures on maintaining poise since childhood, but it all felt like such a hassle.
"Any special requests today, or discomforts from last night?"
Galina asked, puzzled by the twins' unusual pep.
Odile stepped forward after catching Odette's eye.
In situations like this, she was the one who took charge, not timid Odette.
"Head Maid! I've got a favor to ask."
"What is it, Lady Odile? Out of concern, I must warn you first—no riding bareback in the Mendel Hills, no picnics in the terrifying Pammel Marshes, and no trips to sightsee in Border Town. You haven't forgotten today's academy lessons start at 4 p.m., have you?"
"Of course not."
Odile fiddled with her hem before speaking up.
"Actually, I want to treat Associate Professor Amelia to some tea today."
"Pardon?"
Galina's wrinkled eyes flashed wide behind her thick glasses.
Odile flinched guiltily.
Odette jumped in to explain.
"Well, you know... the professor works so hard teaching us. We just want to offer her some tea to soothe her throat during lectures."
"Ahhh...!"
Galina flung her arms skyward like a theater actress, then charged forward and enveloped the twins in a fierce hug.
"Lady Odile, Lady Odette—when did you grow into such fine young ladies? This old servant is so overjoyed by your maturity, I don't know what to do with myself."
"H-Hah... r-right?"
"Y-Yeah! It's only natural."
Galina, oblivious to the twins' ulterior motives, stroked the backs of their heads for a good while, lost in delight.
Seeing her usually mischievous charges act so mature felt like watching her own children grow up.
"Then I'll brew the tea myself. Shall I put it in a thermos for you?"
"Yeah, that'd be great."
"Very well. Now, off to your baths, both of you."
The twins were led to the bathroom by the maids.
2.
In truth, the twins' routines hadn't changed much.
First, they were ushered to the annex bathroom at the cough of command.
With two maids each—four in total—they received full bathing service.
Even among witches, the noble Gemernai house employed over fifty servants.
Odile and Odette never had to lift a finger, not even for showers or changing clothes.
Everything was done for them.
As Odile sat on an amethyst bath chair, warm scented oil poured over her head.
One of her dedicated maids, Pecha, applied the oil to Odile's hair and body, then gently combed through with a wide-toothed comb.
At her feet, her other maid, Lena, sprinkled water on Odile's insteps and asked,
"Lady Odile, is the water temperature alright? Let me know if it's too cold or hot."
"Yeah, it's nice and warm."
Pecha, combing diligently, ruffled Odile's hair with her fingers.
"Aw~ How is Lady Odile's hair so silky and perfect?"
"Pecha, enough with the 'cute' talk already. I need to grow into a proper lady."
"But you are this cute! Right, Lena?"
"Yes. This might be impertinent, but every time I attend you, Lady Odile, I want to stuff you in my bag and take you home. My parents, grandparents, and little siblings would adore you."
"They'd freak out thinking I brought home some giant doll."
"Nonsense! They'd all tremble in awe at your dignity and charisma, Lady Odile."
Pecha and Lena giggled, showering Odile with affection.
The maids had initially feared the twins.
But once they realized their young charges were prickly on the outside but harmless, they began doting on them like puppies.
Especially in private spots like the bathroom, where Pecha and Lena teased Odile relentlessly.
Getting caught by the strict Head Maid Galina would mean a scolding.
Odette got the same treatment.
Among the maids, Odile was the tsundere little sister type—prickly but adorable—while Odette was the sweet, innocent one they wanted to protect.
"Marsha, I've got a question."
"Yes, Lady Odette? Ask away."
Marsha smiled brightly as she massaged Odette's neck.
"Heee... ahh..."
Odette leaned back, shivering pleasantly from the cool relief.
"That book I borrowed before."
"Ah, the wedding night manual?"
"Anything... more... more..."
"More, more, more?"
Odette shrank bashfully before asking.
"I was wondering if there's something even more detailed..."
She knew it was embarrassing to bring up.
Marsha writhed at Odette's fidgeting, knee-rubbing demeanor and called to her colleague Vera.
"See that? See? Lady Odette talking like a puppy—how can she be this cute?!"
"Marsha, she's right at that age to be curious about those things."
"It's not like that!"
"Lady Odette, your cheeks are redder than spring strawberries. I just want to nibble them."
"Eek... don't pinch my cheeks."
As Marsha gently combed Odette's scalp, she whispered in her ear.
"Actually, I got my hands on a sensual novel circulating in Tarot Town recently."
"Hey! Marsha! That's not ready for Lady Odette yet!"
"What's wrong with it? Vera, we've passed it around a bunch already. Lady Odette needs to know these things eventually. We can't baby her forever."
While Odette blinked in confusion, Marsha and Vera's debate continued.
"What's it about?"
"A witch curious about love has sweet trysts with a handsome milk delivery boy. Want to read it, Lady Odette?"
"I can't tell from that."
Vera, who'd been peeking nervously while attending her, couldn't resist joining the juicy chat and started whispering.
Gossip like this was always more fun than backbiting.
In a dull world without modern entertainments,
sex talk was prime fascination for fresh young virgins.
"Well, you see..."
"With the milkman... from behind?!"
Whisper whisper.
"Yeah, and then with his little brother too..."
"With the brother as well...? In the same bed...? So two guys and one girl...?"
Whisper whisper.
"Yes! And the witch becomes the milkman's maid... spanking that butt smack smack!"
"How utterly scandalous!"
As Odette reeled from the wild plot, the bath ended.
Odile eyed Odette's unusually flushed cheeks with curiosity.
3.
After the bath came dressing time.
The twins moved to the dressing room and sat at the vanities. The maids carefully combed their magically dried, fluffy hair.
Once tamed, they used heated irons at just the right temperature to curl damp side sections into rolls and added volume to the bangs for an elegant finish.
Now for the dresses.
Before that, Head Maid Galina entered the doll-like twins' dressing room.
The maids, giggling over idle chatter, clamped their mouths shut like clamshells.
Truth be told, Galina the tiger scared them more than their apprentice witch charges.
"Lady Gemernai is out today, so we'll skip morning greetings."
"Where'd she go?"
"I wasn't told details, but it seems mana tangled around Spirit Mountain, so she's gone to inspect personally."
"Spirit Mountain?"
"Yes. Anyway...!"
Galina clapped to refocus them.
She knew matching the twins' scatterbrained topics would waste time.
"As discussed: piano with Mr. Kelvin from 8 to 10 a.m., potion-making practical with the Aurelian Witch from Emerald Tablet invited from 10:30 to 1 p.m., then luncheon.
After lunch, tea time and reading club with Miss Hathaway from 2 to 3 p.m.
Academy classes from 4 to 7 p.m. as scheduled.
You need time for breakfast—hurry now."
"Galina, can we skip the reading club? I haven't read a single book. Miss Hathaway's so stuffy."
"Ughhh, I hate studying...!"
Marsha and Vera restrained Odette as she tried flopping to the floor upon hearing the packed schedule.
"Absolutely not! As heirs to the great Gemernai countess house, you must outshine any apprentice witch."
"But excluding weekends, that's over eight hours of classes daily! And do you know how much homework Professor Amelia assigns?"
"Right, Galina—this is mental child abuse."
"Tsk!"
The twins fell silent the moment Galina glared.
Inviting experts from various fields to the estate for lessons.
This was their daily life.
That morning, their hearts had swelled with plans to prank Professor Amelia.
Now, hearing the suffocating schedule, they deflated.
"Since when were you children, Lady Odile, Lady Odette? You're proper noble ladies. To the dining room at once. And Pecha!"
"Yes!"
"This chitchat is unacceptable. It's good Lady Odile stays close with her maids, but mind your station!"
"Yes..."
It looked like a thoroughly exhausting day until academy time.