Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Mage's Heart (2)
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After washing herself alone yesterday, Tiona was feeling even more spirited.
She had taken action (washing herself alone) to get what she wanted (praise from Arthur), and she actually got it!
Alright, then from now on, I'll gradually do more things by myself!
The first thing she decided on was waking up alone today.
More precisely, getting out of bed before Arthur came to fetch her.
It had always been difficult, but lately with the weather getting colder, she often lingered in bed after waking up, making it even harder.
She stretched first, then squirmed and fidgeted under the covers.
She stretched again and fidgeted some more.
Once the sleepiness wore off, she reached out from under the blanket and snatched the romance novel she'd left by the bedside.
Tiona used to only read romance poetry because long sentences were hard, but thanks to Arthur's encouragement, she was starting to enjoy longer texts.
According to Arthur, some people read dozens of volumes in epic novels. And when the author tried to end the serialization, they even threatened to kidnap them.
Anyway, that was her usual routine—lounging under the covers, flipping pages until Arthur came to get her.
But today was different!
She'd go out before Arthur arrived!
"Hngh... Hup!"
Tiona kicked off the blanket with gusto.
"Hah!"
Then she went to the bathroom and even washed her face!
"Eupupu."
She changed out of her pajamas into day clothes and dashed down to the first floor, straight to the kitchen!
"Wheeeee!!"
Arthur was probably making breakfast right now, so she had to check the menu! Everything he made was delicious anyway, but she wanted to peek ahead and build up some anticipation!
"Arthur—huh?"
But Arthur wasn't there. Instead, there was an unexpected person.
"Ugh... Hngh...."
"Diana? What are you doing here?"
"Hiek!?"
Diana's face turned beet red as she let out a weird noise and flailed around.
Tiona tilted her head curiously and peered behind Diana.
"Where's Arthur?"
"A-Arthur... H-he'll be h-here soon!"
Diana pointed at the hourglass he'd left behind.
"He said he'd be back before the sand runs out!"
"...That's surprisingly poetic for you, Diana. Why not just say how many minutes?"
"Hey!"
With that, the two noble young ladies fell into an awkward, hesitant silence.
It was that peculiar awkwardness you feel when you're alone with a friend you usually see in a group.
Who? Oh, her! Yeah, we're total friends! We went to the tea room together before and ate out too!
What? Eat out just the two of us? Uh... S-sure...!
Exactly that vibe.
But it was an unavoidable step in deepening a friendship.
And in situations like this, the one with better social skills would break the ice. Here, that was Diana.
"Um... Did you just wake up?"
"...Yeah."
Tiona's response came out a bit pouty.
"That guy Arthur, for a butler..."
If Arthur had been there, he would've corrected her that he's a home tutor, not a butler. But since Diana also saw Arthur as a butler, no rebuttal happened.
He was a bit too capable for just a butler, but anyway.
Instead, Diana continued the conversation using their shared topic—the name Tiona had just mentioned.
"By the way, when did Arthur start working as your butler?"
If Arthur had been there, he would've corrected her again (etc.).
"...Not long ago."
Tiona said, and it hit her anew.
Really, not long at all. Just a couple of months.
But to Tiona, Arthur felt deeper and greater than any connection in her life.
Was it because the time spent with him was the most vibrant and intense of her entire life so far?
There was a line in a novel: during adventures, even short periods leave deep memories, so looking back, they feel much longer.
Or maybe Arthur had carved himself that deeply into her heart.
"Ugh...."
Tiona felt a ticklish, stuffy sensation in her chest and pressed her hands against her heart.
Unlike a certain someone across from her, her well-shaped, ample breasts jiggled under her palms.
That certain someone felt a pang of jealousy and thought,
I didn't realize because she always wears that vertical roll hairstyle, but up close...
Tiona... was actually quite pretty.
Why did she insist on sealing her beauty with that outdated roll bun style?
"Hey."
Mages can't resist curiosity.
"Why do you stick to that vertical roll hairstyle? Letting it down like now would be way prettier."
"P-prettier...?"
Tiona, who had been mumbling about Arthur, looked up.
"The v-vertical roll...?"
"Yeah. Or maybe just add a slight wave at the ends. That'd look even better."
The latter especially gave off a vintage, elegant vibe.
From Diana's perspective, who had to keep her hair short to her neckline for her male disguise, seeing Tiona with beautiful long hair but ruining it like that was frustrating.
"...My mother in her portrait had this hairstyle."
Her mother's youth must've been when that style was all the rage.
"But? Does she still wear it these days?"
Tiona shook her head.
"My mother... passed away giving birth to me."
"...Oh."
Cold sweat trickled down Diana's back.
"Now that I look again, it suits you perfectly."
"Save it. I don't want insincere flattery."
"No, I mean..."
Diana fumbled awkwardly with Tiona. It was a dynamic that never happened usually.
"Sorry...."
"Forget it."
Tiona huffed and crossed her arms.
"Why are you dressing as a man, anyway?"
"Well..."
Diana twirled her hair around her finger.
She wanted to grow it longer but had to keep it short.
And truthfully, she wanted to wear girly dresses but couldn't.
"...I don't want to be forced into a marriage by my family back home."
"..."
"..."
Somehow, they'd ended up sharing topics unfit for morning chatter.
As awkward silence loomed again, the front door opened.
"Am I not late? Good."
"Arthur!"
Tiona rushed to him, puffing out her cheeks in protest.
"Where have you been!?"
"I was helping Miss Diana find something she'd lost. Diana, is this it?"
"Yeah...."
Diana took the binder and hugged it close to her chest.
"...Thank you."
It meant so much that words failed her.
"No trouble at all."
Right then, the hourglass ran out.
He took a chiffon cake out of the oven to cool. Tiona marveled at its distinctive hole in the center.
"Cake for breakfast?"
"Do you think I'd serve that?"
"Hing...."
Tiona deflated.
"We'll have it for dessert. It needs time to cool anyway."
"Yay!!"
Tiona beamed.
He also said to Diana, who was unlocking the magic seal to check her binder's contents,
"Diana, join us for breakfast before you go."
"But..."
"There's nothing to eat at the workshop anyway. Or do you have urgent work?"
"Well, no, but..."
Diana hesitated, then bowed deeply, clutching the binder to her chest.
"...Thank you. Really."
"No trouble—it's spilling!"
As Diana leaned forward, the binder's contents poured out.
"Ah!"
Diana's painstakingly organized research papers scattered on the floor.
"Stay still, please. You too, miss."
While gathering the papers, he found one that felt different from the rest in texture.
"Hm...? Diana, what's this...?"
Marriage registration form.
The title made him freeze in shock.
Traditionally, marriage was handled by the church.
Couples went to church, the priest officiated in the Heavenly God's name, binding them as one.
The priest then recorded it, providing proof if needed for censuses and such.
Documented marriage certificates had no room for shortcuts.
The exception was for those unable to wed in church for certain reasons.
For them, the marriage registration form was the solution.
Fill in the names on the form, perform the set ritual, and from that day, it held the same validity as a church wedding.
Those unable to marry in church were often people hiding their identities.
Especially their gender.
"Diana."
His voice trembled as he asked.
"Are you... married?"