On the way to Anselm City

Ethan was in the carriage with the Anselm family crest, and with him was Leta, sitting opposite. She was tasked with buying necessities. Though Lena too wanted to go with him, he left her in the mansion, saying that it was better for her to study in this free time. After all, it won't be a surprise if she finds out about him preparing a gift for her. Although she looked at him suspiciously, in the end she agreed with him.

Though Anselm City and its surroundings were safe, nonetheless, Ethan was assigned a young knight. He was outside with the coachman.

The road to the Anselm city was bumpy, thanks to carriages, horses, and other animals, but the carriage was created with magic engineering, and bumps didn't feel at all. Also, thanks to this magic engineering, summer heat wasn't felt, and the temperature inside the carriage was very comfortable.

Although Ethan wanted to know more about Leta, she always changed topics skillfully when Ethan wanted to ask about them. Or just excused herself, saying that she was busy. It was the first time they were alone, and her usual excuses wouldn't help her, but Ethan didn't know how to start a conversation with her. So he just quietly looked at the passing outside scenery through the small window of the carriage, thinking about how to approach her.

[Hmm, it's difficult to read her.]

Said his teacher pensively.

[Read? About what are you talking, teacher?]

[About that maid, who is sitting opposite you.]

'About Leta? But how are she and reading connected? She's a human, not a book. Is the teacher so engrossed in reading books that he starts treating people as books?'

[Um, I don't understand how you can read a person.]

[It's simple, really. Everyone is doing it, but unconsciously. It's how you can understand what someone wants, even if they don't say it aloud, by knowing them better, knowing about their personalities, and how they behave in different situations. If you know how to do it consciously, you can find out more about people. And if you become proficient at reading people, you can almost hear their thoughts.]

Ethan's eyes opened wide.

'Read people's thoughts? Though it was possible with magic, without it?'

Ethan was skeptical.

[You don't believe me?]

[Um, yes.]

[Hmm, then let's try to read this woman.]

Ethan diverted his attention from the outside scenery towards Leta.

[Don't look at her so obviously.]

Ethan returned his attention to the scenery. And seeing his reaction, Leta just smiled lightly.

[Um, sorry.]

[You are too easy to predict. So what do you think about her?]

Ethan has begun to think.

[Um, she's beautiful.]

[Is that all?]

[Um, she's about twenty years old.]

[Why do you think so?]

[Because she's tall like Aunt Brenda.]

[Hm, but your aunt is only about 175 centimeters tall, and this maid is about four or five centimeters lower. Though your aunt looks very young, don't forget that she can wield mana, and such people can live longer and very slowly get old. Also, she's from the baron's family and the wife of the count. So she can get her hands on things that can help her look young without any problem. But this maid couldn't have such things. Or else she can wield mana, or she's just young, or it might be both. And, in my opinion, she's about seventeen years old.]

[Wow, so it's how you read people?]

Ethan was impressed with how his teacher was able to find out about Leta's age thanks to his knowledge of Brenda.

[It's not all. What else can you say about her?]

[She's a perfect maid.]

[Why do you think so?]

[Um, she's doing her work perfectly. Her every movement is always perfect, even now, when she's just sitting.]

[So she has experience as a maid. Is it always like this?]

[Um, yes. She started to work for Uncle's family a year ago, but even then she was doing everything fine.]

[Then, she must be working as the maid before starting her work at the Count's house. But if she's such a capable maid, how did she change her workplace? I don't think that she can leave her workplace at her will, and I doubt that nobles will let her go without a reason. After all, she's a commoner.]

Ethan started to think about the reason she left her previous workplace. But nothing came to his mind.

[Hm, but was she really working as the maid previously? Maybe she was just taught how to behave like a proper maid?]

'Taught how to behave like a proper maid? Yes, why don't I think about it? It just made perfect sense.'

[I have an idea where she learned to be a maid.]

[Oh, do tell.]

[Um, I heard that there are schools in the capital where maids are trained. And Lena told me that she was from the same orphanage. So, I think that she was taken to the school in the capital, where she was trained as a maid, when she was younger. So after she finished her studies, she returned to Anselm County and started to work as a maid in my uncle's mansion. And it can explain why she knows so much about how other noble houses work.]

[Can it explain why her steps are quiet, even in such loafers?]

[Um, it's because she's a maid. It's not strange for them to walk quietly so as not to disturb their masters. I noticed that every servant's steps in the mansion were quiet, except Lena. But she started to work as the maid not long ago.]

[True, but her steps are so quiet that you can't even hear them.]

[Um, isn't it because she was taught how to do it in the maid's school?]

[Hm, fine then.]

Even though his teacher's agreement was somewhat lukewarm, Ethan was proud of himself because he was able to explain Leta's behavior. A happy smile formed on his face.

Little did he know that his teacher didn't tell him about other possibilities for why her steps were quiet and how she knew how other noble households worked. After all, he might start to panic and ask unnecessary questions, which would put him in danger.

Ethan was focused on the outside scenery when he noticed that he was alone in the carriage.

'Huh?'

He turned his head towards the place where Leta was sitting. And she was there, usually smiling at him.

"Is something wrong, young master?"

"Um, I thought that you disappeared from the carriage."

"Is that so? But I was sitting in this place all the time."

'Maybe my mind is just playing tricks on me.' With such reasoning, he explained to himself why he thought that she wasn't in the carriage.

"Young master, why don't you make me your personal maid?"

Leta inquired with her right hand on her chest.

"But I already have Lena."

"Do you prefer younger ones? If so, I too am not that old."

"Um, how old are you?"

"You shouldn't ask such questions of the maiden. But I'm fine if it's you. I'm only seventeen years old."

'The teacher was right about her. It's really amazing to find out about her real age without any magic.'

"Why do you want to be my personal maid?"

"Why? I wonder."

She placed her right index finger on her cheek and tapped lightly three times.

"Because I'm pretty and you are talented. I'm sure that in the future you can reach high, and judging by your looks now, I'm sure that you will be a very attractive person for every woman in the future."

She leaned forward and looked directly into Ethan's eyes.

"So if I become your personal maid, maybe in the future I might become your wife, or at least your concubine."

She spoke with a quiet, seductive voice and moved closely toward Ethan. Her body leaned on Ethan, and he felt two soft bumps pushing against his body. Leta's mouth was close to his left ear, and he felt her warm breath.

"And when you become slightly older, I can teach you what adults do in their bedrooms at night."

Leta whispered, and after she returned to her original place,

[Um, teacher, do you know what she talked about?]

[You will find it eventually when you become older. So don't be eager to know it.]

[Um, okay.]

"So, young master, do you agree that I become your personal maid?"

"Um, no, I can't. I already have Lena. But we can be friends."

"Friends? It's not what I wanted, but I can work with it. So I am glad to be your friend, Master Ethan."

"Ethan just fine."

"It won't do. Let's make it a little more special. Make a little secret. When we are alone, I will refer to you as my dear, and in return, please refer to me as 'my dear Leta'."

Her voice was quiet, and Ethan felt that it wasn't some prank. She really wanted to do so. But addressing someone as "my dear", isn't what adults do to people they love? Ethan simply can't do it. It was too embarrassing.

"Um, I can't. It's too embarrassing."

"My dear, it's embarrassing for me too. But no one will find out about it. So please, I beg you, can you refer to me as your dear?"

Her half-closed eyes were fully open, and her black eyes were looking straight at Ethan's. She really wanted to hear it, so Ethan had no choice but to fulfill her wish.

"Um, okay. M-my d-dear Leta."

Ethan's voice trembled from embarrassment. His cheeks were hot, and he covered his face with his hands.

"Thank you, my dear. I have some presents for you."

She leaned toward Ethan and carefully removed his hands from his face. She took his chin lightly with her right hand, and her face started to slowly move towards his. Ethan's heart started to beat faster and faster. And shortly, her warm, wet lips kissed him on his right cheek. Ethan's mind went numb, and his eyes rolled back.

"It's only for this special occasion."

She licked her pink lips. But Ethan didn't hear what she said or notice how seductively she licked her lips. He didn't even notice how they reached their destination. After all, after such intense emotions, he was in a half-conscious state.