Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Have You Made a Friend, Perhaps? (2)
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The gardening club's vegetable patch was bursting with growth. Not only the tea saplings planted earlier, but also the carrots Elena loved and all sorts of other vegetables were sprouting fresh green shoots.
I deserved most of the credit for how well these guys were thriving. I'd say about eighty percent, proportion-wise.
'Since I'm handling eighty percent of the labor...'
Erze and Evan were royals, after all, and the rest including Elena had been born with thick blue blood in their veins. I couldn't exactly make them do grueling manual labor like digging with a shovel.
Of course, I was born with blue blood too...
But a few drops in a two-liter water bottle didn't give me the right to strut around.
Still, they all had some conscience, at least. Every now and then, they'd roll up their sleeves and offer to help. The problem was that their "help" was more hindrance than anything.
In short, them staying out of the way was the real help.
Regrettably, even that was a thing of the past. They seemed to have caught on to how I felt, because lately they didn't even offer anymore.
Instead, they'd spend the time showing off their knowledge to Elena. Blabbing about vegetables from other countries this and that, or the ecological traits of tea plants such and such. Like they were master botanists or something.
And only when Elena finally showed some interest in me would they timidly ask if there was anything they could do—
I got wanting to look good in front of Elena, but their antics were so infuriating. My grip on the shovel handle tightened involuntarily.
But what could I do? In a class-based society, titles were power.
At least Evie was there helping me out, which was a relief. Otherwise, I might've swung a carrot at them by now.
Anyway, today was one of those days.
Walking into the clubroom, I saw two saplings sitting on the table.
I stared at them blankly, and Erze explained.
"Those are tea saplings sent from the Cherban Kingdom."
"Aren't those valuable? Why leave them here like this...?"
"Eh, they made it somehow, didn't they?"
Erze winked with one eye. Like a proper wink, even though her eyes were naturally narrow...
I got what she meant. They'd pulled strings through royal connections to get them.
'Guess I'll be the one planting these too...'
And sure enough, my prediction hit the mark.
Not that it was much of a prediction—it was basically set in stone.
"Luke, where should we plant these?"
Evie asked, holding the saplings with me.
I slowly surveyed the patch, thought for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"Along the edge, I think. Yeah, let's do that."
I'd almost slipped into polite speech naturally, but hurriedly switched to casual. We'd only agreed to drop the formalities this very morning, after all.
It'd probably take a while to get used to.
Evie watched me fumble and let out a little snicker.
It was pretty embarrassing, but with the saplings in hand, I couldn't even scratch my head. I just hurried toward the edge of the patch like I was fleeing.
Once there, I started digging with the shovel. Evie pitched in right beside me.
Pok. Pok.
Maybe because we'd done this together so many times now, our rhythm was decent.
Even Evie's initially clumsy stance had started taking shape.
How much time passed? Two deep holes formed, piled high with the surrounding dirt.
"This deep enough?"
"Plenty."
"Okay, I'll plant the left one, you do the right."
Evie carefully lifted her sapling and set it into the left hole.
I was about to do the same when I suddenly felt eyes on me from somewhere.
Straightening up awkwardly, I turned and locked eyes with Elena. She was staring right at me from close enough to hear her voice—eyes wide open.
"Milady...?"
I rushed over to her.
She was holding a watering can, so I took it from her first.
Maybe because it left her hands, her expression returned to normal.
"If you'd called, I'd have come running."
"I couldn't interrupt while you two were working hard."
"It's fine. For you, milady, I'd come anytime."
"Luke, I'm not that shameless."
Elena let her shoulders slump and sighed deeply.
Her usual reaction put my mind at ease, but that startled expression from moments ago still nagged at me.
"Milady, is something wrong?"
"Why?"
"You looked pretty shocked just now. I'm worried."
"Oh... I was surprised you two dug the whole hole while chatting."
"Ahaha..."
Was she teasing me...?
The thought crossed my mind for a second, but I dismissed it immediately.
Doubting my lady? Unthinkable for an attendant.
"Just a bit longer and we'll be done. I'll head back soon."
"Don't push yourself. Take it slow."
"Thank you for your concern."
With that, Elena returned to where the clueless trio and Erze were.
I watched her go for a moment, then turned back to finish the job.
But there was Evie, staring blankly at Elena's back.
"Evie, everything okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, nothing."
She flashed a smile and started covering the sapling with soil.
'Nothing my foot—your face is stiff as a board.'
Of course, I kept that to myself. No need to pry if she didn't want to talk.
If she needed help, she'd say so. No point overthinking it.
I brushed it off and got back to work. Slotted the sapling in, filled the hole with dirt, then used Elena's watering can to finish up.
It felt good, like I'd really accomplished something. Annoying in the moment, satisfying after. Like finally cleaning your room after putting it off.
Plus, I'd grown a bit attached.
'Grow big and strong so I can eat you someday.'
With my little cheer, I headed back to the group.
"Luke, good work!"
"If I had any talent for shoveling, I'd have jumped in too..."
"Sorry I couldn't help. I wanted to pitch in even a little..."
Yubel, Cain, and Evan chimed in one after another.
Yubel seemed genuinely grateful, so fine. Evan at least meant well, so fine...
But Cain? No way I could let that slide.
Talent for shoveling? In your dreams.
"I wasn't good at first either. Practice makes perfect. Why not learn shoveling this time, Sir Cain?"
"I-I'm a born mage. Not used to physical stuff."
"Too bad. Shoveling's great for building muscle..."
"This little nursery spade suits me better. I'll work hard with it from now on."
I narrowed my eyes, and Cain flinched, backing down.
If you're gonna fold that easy, why act high and mighty in the first place?
No grit. How do you expect to win Elena over?
Piling on a guy who'd already surrendered felt wrong, so I let it go this time.
A bit more time passed, and dusk began settling over the world.
"See you all tomorrow, then."
Erze's farewell started it, and they trickled out with their goodbyes. Everyone except Elena and me.
Elena gazed at the setting sun for a moment, then turned to me.
"Luke, follow me."
"Yes, milady."
She led the way, and I followed.
We ended up in a quiet garden. Even with spring flowers long gone, it had its charm.
Sitting on the bench, Elena seemed to ponder, then spoke softly.
"Luke, you used casual speech with Miss Evie earlier, right?"
"Yes."
"Is Evie your friend?"
"She is, but..."
What was she getting at? It felt like she was circling around the point.
Luckily, the mystery didn't last. Her true intent popped out next.
"Try casual speech with me. Just once."
"Impossible."
"Why? Evie's just a friend, but I'm your secret friend. If she gets casual speech, I qualify too."
It made a certain sense. Secret friends were even more special than regular ones.
But she and I were still lady and attendant. Casual speech would be disrespectful.
"No."
"You're no fun. I've never heard it once. You two can chat casually—must be nice."
Elena whipped her head away. Just like when we'd been kids and I came home late.
She'd never heard casual speech before? I figured the curly-haired mage from the Magic Department—noble-born—would've been close enough.
'Well, makes sense if you think about it...'
Elena was perfect in looks, grades, even family. A flower on a cliff—spot on.
No one could relax around her. Even subordinates would default to polite speech.
And here I was, heart softening again. Couldn't ignore our friendless lady's request.
I sighed inwardly and slowly opened my mouth.
"Elena, enough already..."
Before I finished, Elena suddenly raised her hand.
"W-Wait. That's good enough."
"Really?"
"It's like... my hand's twisting backward or something. Gives me the chills—I can't take it."
One minute begging for casual, now rejecting it?
Her whims were so extreme, I never knew the tune to dance to.
"Polite speech suits you best, after all."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Yeah, it is. I'll head out now. Good work today."
Satisfied with her taste of casual speech, Elena smiled brightly and walked off.
I watched her go and let out a long sigh.
...Did I raise her wrong?
Couldn't blame others, so I just felt frustrated.
Time flew by, and before I knew it, next week had arrived. The day of the practical exam.
I'd hoped it wouldn't come, but stopping time was beyond me, apparently.
Shabel stepped forward before the students in training uniforms.
"We'll now begin the practical exam."
Please, let everyone else be way better than me.
I prayed fervently.