Friends

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Lena. May I come in?"

There weren't any reasons why she couldn't come inside. If it were Lena, wouldn't it be her usual behavior to just open the door and come in without knocking? It was how Ethan saw Lena's personality.

"Of course, you can come in."

After receiving Ethan's permission, the door opened, but Lena didn't come in right away. She hid herself behind the door frame, and only her head stuck out. Lena observed Ethan for some time, concentrating most of her attention on his face. But noticing that there was nothing wrong, she eventually came in.

"Is something wrong with my face?"

"No, I just... When I came into the library a while ago, your eyes were scary when you looked at me. I thought that I had done something wrong. So I come again to apologize. I am sorry."

She placed her hands on her apron and bowed.

Ethan wasn't sure why she was apologizing. She was clumsy, but it wasn't a problem. And even though it was her job, nonetheless, she had already helped Ethan repeatedly during this short time of his life in this mansion. Maybe he shouldn't say anything to her about her being clumsy earlier? And he doesn't remember her coming to the library. It should have been at the time when he was unconscious and his body was controlled by another person.

"You shouldn't apologize to me... Now, when I think about it, it should be me who apologizes. You took care of me, but I said those words earlier. So, I'm sorry, Lena."

With these words, Ethan stood up and bowed.

"No, you shouldn't be the one apologizing. You are a young master."

"No, I said something harsh. So, I should apologize."

"Then... khm... khm... We can just forgive each other and forget about it happening."

"Um, okay."

Ethan was happy with her response, but it brought an awkward silence, which he wasn't sure how to break. But there's no need for that because there was Lena, who is now more cheerful.

"So, what are you doing here?"

"Learning magic."

"Eh, so you are indeed noble."

"Um, is that so? I don't think it matters whether one is noble or not when learning magic."

"Of course, it matters. I heard that only nobles can learn magic."

"I think all people can learn magic. Look at this book. It is said that every living person has mana in their body. So everyone can learn magic, I think."

Lena's eyes became wide open in surprise.

"If you don't believe me, you can just read this book yourself."

"Really?! But I don't know how to read, though."

It was now Ethan's turn to be surprised. How can someone not know how to read? He was taught how to read by his parents when he was five years old. And there were Sunday schools where people were taught how to read, calculate, and do other things. Anyone can learn there, and learning is free.

"Why can't you read? Even if your parents didn't teach you, there are Sunday schools available."

"I don't have parents, and I was too busy to attend Sunday school."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware of it."

"It's okay... No need to be sorry."

Ethan pondered for some time. He didn't know much about Lena. The only thing he knew about her was that she was young and worked as a maid in this mansion. He wants to know more about her and become friends with her.

"Then, if it's okay with you, can you tell me about yourself? I want to know more about you. And I want to become friends with you."

Friends?! With her, but she was just a maid and Ethan was noble. In the orphanage, she hears that it's impossible to be friends with nobles if you are not noble yourself. And nobles usually do not even notice people who are below them. But her perception of nobles changed when she started to work at this mansion for the Count Anselm family. All the people were nice here, and the Count's family treated their servants as if they weren't below them. But to be friends? Is it okay? She wasn't against it. Even more, she was happy about it. And telling more about herself? The Count family was aware of it, so it shouldn't be a problem if Ethan knows her better.

"I can tell you about myself, but is it okay to become friends with you? You know, you are noble, and I am just a maid."

"It's okay! All my friends at home aren't noble after all. They are kids who are living nearby."

"If it's okay, I am happy to be friends with you, Ethan."

"Really?! Then we are friends now."

Ethan smiled brightly at Lena.

"So, can you tell me more about yourself, Lena?"

"Ah, right..."

Lena pondered what to say for a moment.

"I don't know who my parents were. When I became aware of myself, I was already in the Goddess of Light church's orphanage. Mother... Em, the nun who was in charge of the orphanage, said that I was left near the church door. And in the orphanage, besides me, were five other kids."

Ethan didn't say a word. He only listened quietly.

"When I became older, I started to help with cleaning in the orphanage and church and with cooking, and I helped with the vegetable garden near church with other kids. Although working all day was difficult and we needed to wake up early in the morning, it wasn't bad. Sometimes there were free times when we could play games with each other, and at night our mother would tell us different stories and tales."

Lena's face saddened slightly.

"Sometimes there would be people who adopted one of us from the orphanage. Usually, it was the younger kids. But if somebody wasn't adopted and they were twelve years old, they must leave the orphanage and find work to feed themselves. And so next fall, it would be my turn to leave the orphanage and find a job, but one day after the New Year, a maid came to the orphanage. It was Leta. I didn't know that she was from our orphanage too. She was searching for a new maid at that time. And so this is how I became the maid in this mansion."

She finished her story.

"Um, so you are eleven years old?"

"Yes, and how old are you, Ethan?"

"I'm eight years old now, but I will be nine years old on October sixth."

"Really?! So you are three years younger than me. I will be twelve years old on November fourteen."

"So your birthday will be in November."

"Yes, but it's not my birthday, but the day when I was found near the church door."

They looked at each other for some time.

"Um, so, Lena, I can teach you how to read if you want."

"Really?! Then..."

"Yes, but I think this book would be difficult for you, so just sit here on the chair for now. I find other book..."

With these words, Ethan started to rummage through the bookshelves for a suitable book, and Lena sat down quietly, waiting for Ethan. After some time, Ethan finally found the story book and placed it on the desk in front of Lena. But there was only one chair, so Ethan decided to stand beside Lena.

"Em, are you planning to be standing on your feet, Ethan?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"Of course it's a problem! You woke up from your illness not long ago, and I'm the maid. So it is I who should be the one standing."

Lena stood up.

"But it would be uncomfortable to learn when you are standing."

"It's okay. I can learn when I stand."

"But..."

Ethan didn't feel good about letting Lena stand. He looked at the chair. It was a one-person chair. Only one adult can sit on it, but Ethan and Lena were kids, so they could fit in the chair if they were sitting side by side.

"Um, you know, we both can sit down. The chair is big enough to fit us."

"... Okay then."

They sat down on the chair, which can fit two kids, but they need to be very close. So close that their bodies pressed against each other.

The feeling of body warmth from the other person was nice. Lena was a good-looking girl. And in the near, Ethan can say that she was very attractive. Her skin was white, without any blemishes. And she smelled nice, like a wheat field under the sun on a summer day. Ethan's heartbeat involuntarily quickened, and his cheeks became redder. Maybe they were too close? For Ethan, Lena became breathtakingly beautiful, so he forgot about anything in the world. In his eyes, it was only Lena now.

'Wait, that mister said that I shouldn't lose my composure to emotions.' Remembering this, Ethan managed to calm himself for little.

"Em, should we begin?"

Lena said. Her cheeks were rosy.

"Um, yes!"

With these words, Ethan opened the book and started to teach Lena how to read. At first, it was awkward due to their feelings, but with time, they managed to calm down and concentrate on studying.