039 - Calm Before The Storm (3)

"Did you just wake up, Miss Torenia? I have something to tell you; may I come in?"

"Haha...." Faerie laughed nervously when she heard the head maid's straight question.

"I'm sorry, I woke up late..." Faerie apologized as she unlocked her room's wooden door. And Faerie could see Mary, the head maid, standing solemnly in front of her bedroom door.

Mary's wrinkly face, to be more specific, appeared slightly concerned.

"What's wrong, Head Maid?" Faerie asked Mary, who had lost her focus for a moment.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm starting to lose focus easily since I'm getting older," Mary said hastily, her expression returning to normal.

'Loss of focus?' Faerie merely nodded, even though she didn't understand, because on the one hand she was relieved that the head maid didn't seem angry with her. She also does not wish to meddle in other people's affairs.

"Are you not feeling well, Miss Torenia?" Mary inquired as if purposefully diverting the discussion.

It was an indirect query, why did Faerie wake up so late?

Faerie shook her head abruptly. "No, no, no, I'm just sleepy!"

"Hmm... As Young Miss Leslie mentioned, huh..." she murmured.

"Please follow me, Miss."

"Uh, sorry?" Faerie blinked, confused.

"The head chef and the other maids were just about to bring Young Miss Leslie lunch," Mary continued without answering Faerie's question, "Young Miss Leslie is also awaiting you."

"Eh? Eh? Now? I haven't changed..." Faerie showed the white nightgown to Mary.

Mary squinted as she examined the nightgown, which was made of high-quality fabric and appeared to be quite comfortable to sleep in, and which was perfectly attached to Faerie's petite body of pale white skin.

"Don't worry, Miss; just follow me."

"O...Okay."

Thus, Faerie finally followed the head maid without asking any further questions since she was scared the head maid would be upset if she continued to ask questions.

'I won't be punished at least, right?'

After a while of walking and beginning up the stairs to the second story, the head maid came to a halt in front of a room. Faerie, who was close behind, came to a halt as well.

"We've arrived," Mary declared.

Faerie took a look around her. She was familiar with this corridor because she had entered it and even stayed in one of the rooms, albeit briefly.

"Isn't this the hallway where the Berdandy family's closest guests stay?"

The reason for this is that this sumptuous Berdandy castle includes a separate pavilion for outside guests, both from the Imperial capital and foreign Kingdoms, to live in.

In some ways, the Berdandys dislike having strangers under their roof. They are nice family members, yet they are also cold to others they don't care about.

It was understandable considering the number of nobles who wanted to take advantage of them, as they had been one of the closest and strongest supporting families when the Empire was founded.

Mary nodded. "That's correct; have you used one of the rooms here?"

Faerie nodded in response to the inquiry.

"Then you can stay here from now on," Mary said, leaving Faerie alone in the corridor with a puzzled expression on her face.

"H-Huh? What does that mean?"

As if that wasn't enough to astonish Faerie, the maids who appeared out of nowhere approached and pulled Faerie inside the guest room that Mary had pointed out.

"We'll help you get dressed, Miss Torenia!"

Faerie, who had no idea what was going on until the maids finally addressed her as 'Miss', could only mutter a disgruntled statement in the back of her head.

'Leslie, what more have you done to these maids to make them so respectful of me?!'

***

"Torenia, did you enjoy your lunch today?" Leslie's quiet voice entered Faerie's right ear and then out of her left ear, implying she didn't hear it at all.

Faerie, who had been trying hard not to complain because the maids who were supposed to be her coworkers had instead prepared warm water and toiletries for her, a clean and comfy dress, and even helped with her makeup.

'Perhaps they'd know I've been wearing wigs all along if I hadn't refused those who also wanted to help me shower and dress.'

Faerie got shivers all over her body just thinking about it.

"Do you dislike the foods, Torenia?"

"Huh?" Faerie exclaimed, looking at the head chef, who was standing by Leslie's side with a glum expression.

Faerie swiftly shook her head. "No! It's so amazing!" she shouted, giving a thumbs up.

Even though Leslie, Juane, and the other maids didn't understand why Faerie suddenly gave a thumbs up, they smiled in relief to hear such reassuring words coming from the mouth of Faerie, who was very talented at cooking.

Faerie breathed a sigh of relief as she observed everyone in the dining room settle.

She gave a bitter smile as she looked at the delicious lunch on the dining table.

'The food here is great, but sadly for me, Mona's cooking is better....' Faerie closed her eyes and imagined the lunch menu that Mona had planned.

'Ah, if only my 'God's Blessing' didn't fall and be picked up by a Berdandy's knight, maybe I might have peaceful days eating Mona's delicious food....' Faerie cried subconsciously as she remembered the dreadful fate she had to endure.

Leslie, who mistook Faerie's movement for something else, ordered all the maids out of the dining room, leaving the two of them alone.

"Ahem-ahem," Leslie said as she cleared her throat, "let's eat lunch first."

'Really, the maids allow their lady to eat with the maid like this?' Faerie looked about nervously. Leslie, on the other hand, ate silently.

"..." Faerie peered at Leslie cautiously for a few seconds before deciding to join in on the meal that had been set on the table.

'Well, there's no reason to turn down a free nice lunch, is there?'

Faerie originally felt this way, but soon regretted her decision because Leslie intended to explain the theory of magical formulas after lunch, even though the meal had not been digested in her stomach.

"Torenia, the basic concept regarding the formula for converting natural energy into magic is explained in this book and this book is different!"

"...They explain it differently from their point of view on purpose, but the point remains the same utilizing this and that."

"I thought so, too!"

'If you already know, why are you asking?' Faerie glared at Leslie.

A few minutes later, Leslie decided to practice basic magic because she had magic within her body.

"Torenia, how did you make these two tiny magical threads on your fingertips?"

Leslie, who does not want to practice and prefers to focus on education and learning, begins to experience the magic.

Faerie was rendered stunned by this scene.

'Don't tell me I messed up, no, changed the plot? But I haven't even begun my plan?'

[^_^]

Faerie looked at the system's screen, which immediately displayed a message with a smiling emoji.

'Well, isn't this a good thing? Let's not think about it. I'll go as soon as I get my brooch.'

"Torenia! I've already played it as you suggested! What should I do next?"

'Why do you ask me? I'm not even a wizard. Isn't it preferable to hire an official wizard?' Faerie was annoyed, yet she still helped Leslie, who was having difficulty practicing magic without her noticing.

"Torenia, the magical thread has fused into a single strand! This is very beautiful!"

"Torenia, the threads didn't fuse!"

"Torenia!"

"Torenia!"

'My head feels like it's about to explode....' Faerie sat motionless on the plush sofa, fatigued from Leslie's continuous questioning.