Chapter 87: We Are All Friends (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 87: We Are All Friends (1)
The next day, I waited for my meeting with Melissa with bated breath.
Watching me, Veronica looked relieved, thinking I had taken a liking to my new teacher, while Sophia seemed somewhat dejected for some reason.
After a round of tag with Demia and seeing Nathaniel off, I tried my best to hide my fluttering heart as I waited for Melissa in my room.
“Hello, Little Lady. You look absolutely adorable today as well.”
Melissa appeared and approached me with a wide, beaming grin. She didn't look at all like one of the most renowned mages from the Magic Tower.
But I knew that was just a facade. I stood up silently and grasped the hem of my dress.
“I gweet you, Master.”
“Oh my!”
Melissa let out an exclamation and clapped her hands together loudly. She looked at me with eyes full of deep emotion.
“You remembered what I taught you yesterday so well! You really are quite brilliant.”
Melissa stepped closer and showered me with praise for a long time. She was like a compliment-dispensing robot.
“It must be because you take after the Duchess, right?”
“Yes!”
“Well done, tee-hee.”
For a split second, Melissa’s gaze turned sharp.
Since I had two parents but she specifically mentioned only Veronica, it seemed Melissa also harbored some ill will toward Cedric.
Well, that was only natural for one of Veronica’s acquaintances. I nodded in agreement with her sentiment.
“Our Little Lady is so smart that I don't think there’s anything left for me to teach.”
“Mmm.”
My title had already shifted to ‘Our Little Lady.’ There was no harm in getting close quickly, so I didn't mind.
Even in the Imperial Family, they wouldn't subject a child who had just turned five to grueling education.
Furthermore, because I had commoner blood mixed in, I didn't have succession rights to the throne. They wouldn't force the same rigorous etiquette on me as they would an heir.
I only wanted one thing.
Magic! Teach me magic!
I’ll soak up simple etiquette like a sponge, so just show me some magic already!
My heart pounded just like it did when I read my first fantasy novel.
“Now then…”
“…!”
Now? Are we learning it now?
I could feel my nostrils flaring with anticipation. Without realizing it, I huffed out breaths of excitement as I looked up at Melissa.
“Shall we read a book together, Little Lady?”
“…Eh?”
What Melissa pulled out with a smile was a picture book filled with childish illustrations.
It was exactly the kind of thing a child of this body’s age would like. However, having expected so much more, I let out a sound like a deflating balloon.
“Oh, before we read, let’s play a word-study game too. Won’t that be fun?”
“Heh, hehe.”
I had forgotten that this body supposedly hadn't learned its letters yet.
Whether it was a perk of being a possessor or thanks to my contract with the demons, I could read without being taught.
But if I revealed I knew how to read without lessons, there would be an uproar about me being a genius or something, so I could never tell.
In the end, I had to endure a word-study session that only Melissa was excited about. It was torture pretending not to know things I already knew.
Sigh.
[It seems she plans to take it slow since the Master is still young.]
I only got my hopes up because of you!
[How is that this one’s fault?]
Beside me, Desmond glared as if he found me absurd.
Annoyed, I reached out and pressed down hard on the bridge of Desmond’s nose.
“Whine!”
“Hmph!”
Ignoring Desmond’s protest, I whipped my head away. Then, I felt a gaze fixed on me.
“Are you not afraid of the Direwolf, Little Lady?”
“Huh?”
I flinched slightly at Melissa’s question.
Afraid? He’s my lackey.
But I couldn't say that, so I put on the expression of an innocent child.
“Dai is Dia’s fwiend.”
“A friend, I see. But you’re different species, aren't you?”
“Species…?”
“Dai is, well, a wolf, isn't he?”
It seemed Melissa couldn't bring herself to call him a terrifying demonic beast, so she chose her words carefully. I simply tilted my head.
“See, Dai looks different from us. His fur is red, and his fangs are long.”
“But Dai is still a fwiend…?”
I couldn't tell what Melissa’s intention was.
The only thing I could be sure of was that she didn't approve of Desmond, the Direwolf.
However, there were quite a few people in the Imperial Palace who shared Melissa’s sentiment.
The nobles and servants alike would jump in surprise whenever the Direwolf roamed about freely. They only kept their mouths shut because they were wary of me.
Even with a control collar, his resemblance to a wolf naturally caused aversion. This Direwolf that Desmond inhabited wasn't fully grown yet, so he was on the smaller side, but he was still a demonic beast and thus larger than a normal wolf.
Without realizing it, I shuffled closer to Desmond and wrapped my arms around his neck. It was the unconscious action of a child trying to protect something precious.
“Dai is good. He doesn't bite anyone.”
“Is that really so?”
“Yes, weally.”
I nodded desperately. At that, the sharp look in Melissa’s eyes softened once more.
“I hope that heart of yours never changes.”
“Pardon?”
Momentarily dazed, I stared blankly at Melissa’s gently smiling face. As she looked back and forth between me and Desmond, her eyes seemed a little sad for some reason.
“There are many people in this world who hate others simply because they are different. I’m glad the Little Lady isn't like that.”
“Mmm.”
Melissa reached out and gently stroked my hair.
I wondered what had happened in her past; the atmosphere surrounding her turned somber in an instant.
Well, the mages of the Magic Tower have been persecuted for a long time.
Since it wasn't detailed in the novel, I didn't know everything about the Magic Tower, but I knew they had been at odds with the Temple for ages.
The Temple criticized the mages' magic, labeling it heresy, and the Magic Tower pushed back.
However, the continent was already under the Temple’s control, so the Magic Tower, branded as heretics, was at a disadvantage. The persecuted mages had no choice but to live in hiding, concealing their identities.
It’s a bit pitiful.
In contrast, House Winston, which openly contracted with demons, was tucked away in the North and almost entirely cut off from the Empire, so they didn't have to clash directly with the Temple.
Furthermore, by the time Winston officially entered the political scene, there were no longer any direct descendants contracting with demons, so the Temple couldn't say anything.
It was truly ironic that the Temple was now holding hands with the Empress Dowager and using demons behind the scenes.
“Yes, Dai is Dia’s fwiend. So it’s okay.”
“Tee-hee, our Little Lady is truly kind.”
Melissa’s hand stroked both my head and Desmond’s. Perhaps having fully recognized Melissa as an ally, Desmond stayed still with his eyes narrowed.
“Hehe, please have some dessert while you work.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Sophia smiled softly as she watched us. She had looked a bit gloomy earlier, but now she brought in a delicious-looking fruit cake.
“Wow, cake!”
I wasn't particularly fond of sweets, but I liked fruit. As I picked out the refreshing pieces of fruit, I thought of Nathaniel.
Nathaniel likes cake too. I wonder if he’s okay training now that the weather is getting hotter.
While I was lost in thought for a moment, Melissa’s head suddenly whipped around.
“Someone is coming.”
Her pupils momentarily narrowed. I blinked in surprise at the sight of them changing like a cat’s eyes.
Soon, her pupils dilated back to their original state.
At the same time, someone entered the room.
“Dia.”
“Niel, you’re here?”
I hopped up in delight and approached Nathaniel.
Perhaps he had just washed up after training, as his hair was soaking wet. I looked up at him, his hurried arrival evident, and beamed.
“Niel, there’s cake here!”
“…….”
“Oh, right.”
I had forgotten that Melissa was also here. I turned my head belatedly.
“Teacher, this is my fwiend, Niel.”
“Another friend, I see.”
“Yes.”
Fortunately, Melissa was smiling as usual. However, her eyes had turned cold as she scanned Nathaniel from head to toe.
Ah, come to think of it, the Magic Tower and the Temple don't get along.
A mage of Melissa’s caliber would have realized instantly that Nathaniel possessed Divine Power. Her wary stance from a moment ago felt somewhat uneasy.
“Um, well…”
Nathaniel also fell silent and stared intently at Melissa. It felt as if sparks were flying between their gazes.