Chapter 3 - Chapter 2: The Magic Otaku Wanders in His Reincarnated World
"How was he?"
"Useless. Out of the question. He will never amount to anything."
"How could this be..."
"Fortunately, the other one shows promise. Let us place our hopes in her."
"...Understood."
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...Hm? Whoa!?
Suddenly, my consciousness cleared, and I could see my surroundings distinctly.
I was sitting up in a bed with railings, inside a brightly lit room. The surface beneath my bottom was soft, and the white, clean sheets felt pleasant. I was sitting with my legs stretched out, and I noticed how small they were, peeking out from the hem of my clothes. They were all pudgy. I brought a hand in front of my face and tried flexing it. Hmm, not only was it tiny, but I couldn't seem to clench it properly. I had my memories as Shirasawa Aki of Japan, but my body was that of a small child.
I've been reincarnated, haven't I?
I'd intended to mutter this to myself, but all that came out was a wordless sound, something like "ooh." It seemed I couldn't use my vocal cords or lips properly yet. I was probably somewhere between an infant and a toddler. My head felt physically heavy, so I slowly looked around, trying not to lose my balance, and noticed another child sleeping right beside me. They were wearing the same soft children's clothes as me, and we were about the same size. A sibling? A twin, maybe?
As I watched the child's profile while they slept so peacefully, a sudden wave of drowsiness washed over me. This was bad. I couldn't fight it at all. I flopped onto my side, and my consciousness began to fade. Just before I fell completely asleep, I remember thinking, "Man, a new life is great. It's like the whole world is shining."
I would soon find out that the world I'd been reincarnated into was, in fact, "shining, physically."
For some reason, the room was full of what looked like glowing particles floating about. And at a pretty high density, too. It wasn't a glittery kind of sparkle, but a light that didn't hurt my eyes, similar to the light of the souls I saw just before I was reborn. You'd think having so many of those things around would obstruct my vision, but strangely enough, I could see the room's walls and the window across from me just fine. I could even see the particles floating in the sunlight streaming through the window. It was just like those orb videos you often see in ghost footage. I also confirmed they glowed at night. Thanks to that, I could see my surroundings pretty well even after dark. The light was easy on the eyes, so thankfully it wasn't so bright that I couldn't sleep.
I reached out with my still-uncooperative hand, trying to touch the specks of light in the air. They seemed to drift lazily in response to my hand's movement, but I couldn't actually grab them. Perhaps they had no physical substance.
And you know, it wasn't just the floating things that were glowing. The child sleeping next to me—I still didn't know if they were my brother, sister, or a complete stranger—was also glowing. A faint light emanated from within their body, enveloping them completely. An aura, maybe? The strange thing was, my own body didn't seem to be glowing at all. I wondered if there were individual differences.
I was watching with a hint of envy when the child's eyes met mine. Their half-open eyes, looking sleepy, were fixed on me. It was hard not to see their gaze as an exasperated, deadpan stare directed at my fumbling attempts to grasp at the empty air. I gave up my futile efforts to catch the light and lay down beside them to sleep.
A toddler's body is an inconvenient thing. I got sleepy easily, and my thoughts were hard to organize. Still, as time passed, my understanding of myself and my current situation deepened.
First, it was safe to assume that I (and I was indeed a boy; I'd managed to grab it, so it was confirmed) had, without a doubt, been reborn into a new world. I clearly remembered everything before my death and the period until my rebirth, and I also had fragmented memories from after I was born. The reason my memories hadn't returned immediately after birth might have been because the spiritual body I brought from my past life took time to acclimate to this one.
Alternatively, it was possible my infant brain's neural tissues were underdeveloped and couldn't process the sheer volume of information I was holding. According to a book I read in my previous life, a baby's neural network develops rapidly after birth, with the increase in synapses supposedly peaking around ten months. I was probably about that age now. The very fact that I could ponder such things was clear proof of my reincarnation.
Then there were the adults. It wasn't as if two toddlers had been left alone in this room; adults had been coming by frequently to check on us and take care of us. My memories from birth to the present were hazy, but I recalled a young woman who seemed to be my mother breastfeeding me and changing my diapers. Now, I realized there were three women who fit that motherly description. Or rather, I had become able to clearly distinguish between them.
The woman who cared for me most was a slender, beautiful woman, probably around twenty. She was the one who had breastfed me. Another was slightly younger, looking to be in her late teens. With the memories of my past life, I couldn't help but think of her as just a girl. She was the one who mainly handled toilet-related duties. Having a cute young girl take care of my "downstairs business" was a bit much, but perhaps because my body was that of a toddler, I accepted it without much fuss.
And finally, there was a woman who only appeared occasionally. Like the first woman, she was around twenty and also a beauty. While the other two were almost always in the room, this woman would talk to us children and stroke our heads, but she never took care of us or stayed for long.
Then there was how the three of them dressed. The first woman wore a loose, long-sleeved dress. The girl wore a plain one-piece with a pinafore, or rather, an apron. The last woman wore robes like a monk from my old world.
That alone gave me a lot to think about, but to confuse me further, two men who seemed to be fathers also came and went from the room. One always wore a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, and a vest-like jacket, and he tended to talk to and hold the child next to me more often than me. The other man also wore robes, and like the robed woman, he appeared infrequently and didn't pay much attention to us.
And importantly, these adults also glowed from within.
There were individual differences in how they glowed. The man and woman in robes were the brightest. Next was the woman who had breastfed me. The man in the vest and the girl in the apron glowed only faintly compared to them. Well, it was still far better than me, who barely glowed at all. On rare occasions when all the adults gathered in this room, it would be bright enough to not need lamps even at dusk. Incidentally, the child next to me was by far the brightest of all. Damn it. You're just a toddler like me. It's not fair.
At this point, I had gathered several insights and formed a few hypotheses about the world I was born into and my immediate surroundings.
1. The culture is similar to Europe in my old world. A bed and chairs, stone outer walls and glass windows, plaster walls and a wooden door.
2. It's hard to judge the level of technology, but based on the clothing, it could be anywhere from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The lighting is from lamps, so it's not modern times.
3. I have no idea about the race or language. Their skin is fair, like a pale Asian, but their hair colors vary, and I don't recognize the language at all.
4. The house, including this room, likely belongs to the wealthy class. The girl seems like a servant, and the walls are decorated with lace and various ornaments.
5. The toddler duo of us are likely not twins or half-siblings, but the children of separate couples.
Regarding points one and two, I've never left this room, so I have little to go on. They are purely speculation.
For point three, well, it's another world, so it can't be helped. Not understanding the language is inconvenient, though. For the record, the robed man and the woman in the dress had black hair, while the robed woman was blonde. The man in trousers had chestnut-brown hair, and the girl was a redhead. The child next to me still had thin hair, but it was probably black. My own was unknown. I'd never seen a mirror.
Point four is also just a guess, but dedicating an entire room just for toddlers to sleep in suggests this is no ordinary household. The fact that our clothes and bed are clean and soft would place us at the level of a wealthy merchant or noble family in the Middle Ages.
And point five: considering everything so far, a picture emerges where my parents are the man and woman in robes, and the child next to me belongs to the man in the vest and the woman in the dress. In that case, my parents are likely the masters of this house and quite wealthy. The woman in the dress would be my wet nurse, and the girl a maid. That would make us not real brothers, but milk-siblings. Of course, it's also possible the robed couple are complete strangers and we're twins, so I can't say for sure.
Having thought this far, my brain felt like it had burned through a tremendous amount of calories, and I started to feel sleepy again. There was so much to consider, but with so many unknowns, everything remained mere speculation. Besides, the fact that I hadn't seen a single trace of anything resembling sorcery was a little unsettling. The people in robes seemed like mages, though. It wasn't that I didn't believe Azrael-san, but I wouldn't be able to rest easy until I came into contact with magic myself. In any case, I'd have to get bigger, expand my range of movement, and learn the language. There was little I could learn about the world or about magic otherwise.
Therefore, to promote my own healthy growth, I lay down next to the other child and fell asleep. The world, just before I drifted off, was still filled with that mysterious light.
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"Saki-sama. Please be careful not to fall."
"I'm fine."
I replied to Hanna's voice from behind me and opened the manor door leading to the garden. The moment I did, just as she'd warned, my foot caught on the step and I stumbled. Ruria, who was holding my hand, grabbed my arm and kept me from falling.
"Saki-sama!"
I gave Hanna a sheepish smile as she rushed over with an I-told-you-so look, then turned to thank Ruria, who was staring at me intently.
"Thanks, Ruria. You saved me."
"...Nn."
My childhood friend, who was never one for many words, gave a noncommittal reply and took my hand again.
Three years have passed since I was reincarnated into this world. The beginner toddler who did little more than sleep has now learned to speak and walk. I am now a respectable mid-tier toddler. I'd recently been given permission to play in the garden, so today I was basking in the sunlight with my childhood friend and our attendant in tow.
As I was called just now, my name is "Saki." My full name is Saki Adoni Arcalai. My past life was Aki, and this life is Saki; it doesn't feel like much has changed. As a former Japanese person, I can't help but think the name sounds girlish, but apparently, it's not uncommon to name a boy "Saki" around here.
And the childhood friend holding my hand is Ruria. She is my milk-sibling. We were born around the same time and have been raised like true brother and sister. I'd like you to imagine my feelings when I realized I had been sleeping in the same bed as a girl all this time. Well, we were just toddlers, though. Her black hair, inherited from her mother Maria, is cut short, and her black eyes, tinged with jade green, are framed by long, soft eyelashes that give them an almond shape.
I think she has quite a refined face for a three-year-old, but her one flaw is her lack of affability, as she is usually quiet and rarely shows any expression. Right now, she remains silent, her vacant gaze wandering somewhere unknown.
Watching over us with a worried expression from a step behind is Hanna, a servant. She's been taking care of us since we were born. A nursemaid, was it? Her appearance—a frumpy, thick one-piece dress with an apron, and her red hair braided and held back by a kerchief—gave her the air of a simple, rustic maid. In reality, she must be nearing the end of her teens, so calling her a girl might be rude, but she's a woman to whom the description "cute" fits better than "beautiful."
I hear she's still unmarried, but in this country, one is considered an adult at fifteen, so perhaps she should be a little more concerned. I tried to subtly broach the subject once, but I received a firm reply: "I cannot even consider getting married until you two have grown up splendidly!" Well, it was my fault for being so blunt and asking, "Hanna, aren't you getting married?" So much for being subtle.
"That skinny one over there is Maimuna, this big one here is Kavilun, and the one over there is Maroru, right?"
"Oh, Saki-sama, you've remembered all the vegetable names!"
A corner of the manor garden is a vegetable patch where various crops are grown. As I walked through it, pointing at vegetables and naming them, Hanna clapped her hands in delight. Pleased to have my efforts recognized, I puffed out my chest proudly at Ruria. As usual, all I got back from Ruria was a silent gaze that seemed to say, "Is that so."
From the moment I was born until now, the first thing I tackled above all else was learning the language. Since I couldn't understand the language spoken around me at all, I began desperately mimicking the adults' conversations as soon as my memories returned. Thanks to that effort, I was soon able to say my own name, and by the time I was one, I could manage something resembling a conversation, albeit haltingly.
The brain of a young child is amazing. The words just flowed right into my head. Currently, I'm trying to expand my vocabulary by asking the names of everything I see. By the way, Maimuna is a vegetable that resembles mizuna, Kavilun is very similar to a daikon radish, and Maroru is basically lettuce.
In truth, the Japanese I was so familiar with from my past life sometimes hindered my acquisition of this otherworldy language. The tricky part was "concepts." Things that could be expressed in a single word in Japanese, like "politics" or "economy," were incredibly difficult to explain in a way that would be understood here. It's like if someone tried to explain it as "a system to make buying, selling, and trading things go smoothly"—it just wouldn't click. From now on, I'll have to learn these kinds of abstract words as well.
One more thing. I tried asking about magic, but the only reply I ever got was, "When you're a little older." Hmm, the way they said that means magic itself does exist, right? I pressed on with more questions, but the only thing they told me was that my parents were mages.
"Mages"... that's a concerning term. I'm not fluent in the language here, so I can't be sure, but it has a nuance that feels more like a "spell-caster" or a "witch doctor." What I want to be is a "magician," a scholar of the arcane, someone who belongs to a society or a specialized institution. Well, I wouldn't mind being a hermit who studies magic alone in a secluded mountain retreat. But I most certainly do not want a job where I curse people on request, pray for rain, or brew love potions for young lovers.
This is an important point for me, so I want to find out as soon as possible. I can't wait to grow up.
"I want to go outside the manor, too. Hanna, do you know the royal capital well?"
"I was born and raised in this city. When you two are a little older and we have the master's permission, I would be happy to show you around the capital."
"That's right, your father runs a business in the city, doesn't he, Hanna?"
"Yes, the master is one of his patrons. It is through that connection that I am able to work at this manor."
An apprenticeship in manners, then. A common practice where prominent commoners send their children to the manors of the upper class to learn proper speech and etiquette while working. I'd heard it was common in my old world during the early modern period. A maid, a wet nurse, a manor with a garden, the upper class. As you've probably figured out by now, my Arcalai family is noble, granted the title of Viscount by the king.
Yes, "Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron." Of course, it's not in Japanese or English, but the five peerage ranks are apparently categorized this way. The treatment is mostly the same, which means my Arcalai family's position is "the highest of the lower nobility," making us something of a big fish in a small pond. And that makes me Saki Adoni Arcalai, the heir to the Arcalai Viscounty.
"A tour of the capital, huh? I'm looking forward to it. What kind of places do you want to see, Ruria?"
"...I'll go with Saki."
"If there's somewhere you want to go, you have to say so, you know?"
"Nowhere in particular."
"Oh, right."
Her reply was extremely blunt, but for my milk-sibling, this is business as usual. It's not that she can't speak fluently because she's still young; she just speaks only the bare minimum. She seems to understand others' conversations about as well as I do, so there doesn't seem to be a problem with her language ability, but combined with her unchanging expression, she comes off as having poor communication skills. As her childhood friend, I'm a little worried.
Ruria, who was staring at the vegetable garden with a look of disinterest, was enveloped in a bright light. She'd been emitting a mysterious light since she was even smaller, but now it seemed brighter than before. Compared to me, who barely glowed at all, or Hanna, who was only slightly better, Ruria's glow was on a whole different level. In fact, since I started going out into the garden, I'd noticed that it wasn't just humans; the trees and flowers also emitted a very faint light. It was a faint glow compared to humans, but I felt that the garden trees glowed a bit more strongly than the vegetables in front of me. Also, unlike indoors, the particles of light in the air outside seemed to dance lightly, as if stirred by the wind.
This light remains a mystery to this day. I once asked my wet nurse, Maria-san, about it, but she just asked me in a serious tone, "What do you mean? Tell me more."
"Um, it's like, a faint light comes out from inside people's bodies. Like it's wrapping around their whole body."
"...Do all the people in the manor look like they're glowing?"
"The brightness is different for each person. Most people don't glow that much, but Mother Maria and Ruria are really bright."
"...Saki, have you told anyone else about this?"
"No."
"Listen, Saki. You must never, ever tell anyone about this except your father, your mother, and me. Promise Mother Maria, okay?"
"...I understand."
And just like that, with a force that seemed like she was about to grab my shoulders and shake me, she made me promise. To top it off, the very next day, both my parents came to see me—a rare occurrence—and the three of them conducted a thorough interrogation. During that time, I explained again that I could see people glowing from the inside, that the brightness varied from person to person, and that there were many glowing things floating in the air, not just around people.
But they never told me why I could see it, or if anyone else could. Since then, none of the three have mentioned the light I see, and since I haven't talked about it to anyone else, I still don't know what it was. Hmph, it's bothering me.
As the three of us—me, Ruria, and Hanna—were looking around the garden for a while longer, I saw an adult man walking towards us from the direction of the formal garden. "Oh, if it isn't Ruria and Saki!" he called out, dropping the tools he was holding—a ladder, large shears, and so on—and rushing over to scoop Ruria up into his arms.
"Aaaah, my little Ruria, you're so cute, my little Ruria."
The man said, nuzzling his cheek against Ruria's. Ruria, held in his arms, didn't say a word, and her expression didn't change, but her eyes were filled with a cold light that said, "This guy is so annoying."
"Hello, Uncle Dani. Are you in the middle of work?"
"Hey, Saki. I was just trimming the hedges. Mmm, my little Ruria is as cute as ever today! Truly an angel on earth."
Uncle Dani is Ruria's father and the husband of my wet nurse, Maria-san. He's also our family's exclusive gardener. The Arcalai manor's grounds are quite large, featuring not only trees but also a formal garden made of trimmed hedges, a gazebo, a vegetable patch, and even a medicinal herb garden. Uncle Dani manages all of it. Like my own name, as a former Japanese person, I have my thoughts about his name, but "Dani" is apparently a very common male name.
"Dani-san, Saki-sama is the master's son. It would be a problem if you did not use more polite language."
Hanna's protest was reasonable, but the relationship between the master's family and the servants in our house is quite relaxed. There are some, like the steward and the attendant, who are strict about etiquette, but people like that, including Hanna, are in the minority. However, it was true that Uncle Dani was particularly laid-back. He was still nuzzling Ruria's cheek as we spoke, and the look in Ruria's eyes grew colder and colder.
"Now, now, don't be like that. Ruria and Saki are like brother and sister, so by extension, Saki is like a son to me."
"Uncle, I've learned all the names of the vegetables in the patch. I want you to teach me about the herbs next."
"Wow, you're so smart, Saki. Alright, let's go over to the herb garden right now."
The truth is, my parents are busy with their duties as nobles, and we rarely have time to talk at length. Aside from Mother Maria and Hanna, Uncle Dani is the closest adult to me. Besides, even though I call him 'uncle,' he's only in his mid-twenties, around the same age I was when I died in my past life. For me, he's an important figure among the servants, someone I can talk to casually like a friend.
Uncle Dani, still holding Ruria, was about to take my hand and head to the herb garden when a voice that echoed throughout the grounds stopped him.
"You! How long are you going to slack off from your work?!"
Mother Maria—she's my wet nurse, but since she's the one who raised me, I can't help but call her that—had come out into the garden at some point and was standing there with her hands on her hips, fuming. She stood there imposingly with her chest puffed out, but from my perspective, having been breastfed by her, she was rather thin... whoops, I shouldn't go there. Behind Mother Maria, in the gazebo, were my parents, a rare sight. It seemed the three of them had been enjoying some tea.
"Well, I was just checking on the mood of my beloved princess..."
"That's no excuse to abandon your work to dote on your daughter!"
"Don't be so angry. You're most beautiful when you smile."
"That's enough. Bring the two of them over here. Since we're all here, let's have tea together."
Cutting off her husband's nonsense, Mother Maria returned to the gazebo without another word. Uncle Dani readjusted his hold on Ruria and gave me an exaggerated shrug.
"The goddess is angry. Let's head over there."
He wasn't just joking; he regularly calls Mother Maria "my goddess" and Ruria "princess," "fairy," or "angel" without a hint of shame. I masked my lukewarm gaze with a childlike smile and let my uncle lead me by the hand, with Hanna in tow, toward the gazebo.
In the gazebo, set within a garden of hedges and flowerbeds, two couples and two children were seated at a table. On the table were cups of tea for everyone (the color was similar to oolong tea) and sweets. I took a sip of tea like the adults and winced at the bitterness. Apparently, even in this world, it's known that children who drink tea can't sleep at night. I was advised against it, but I couldn't resist the long-awaited taste of tea. Ruria paid no mind to the tea and was single-mindedly devouring the sweets. Hanna had been preparing the tea until a moment ago, but now she stood behind us dutifully, as a maid should.
"Still, you two are always together. It's a good thing."
Once the adults' conversation lulled, my father, Levi, directed the conversation toward us. He must have noticed that Ruria and I were occasionally holding hands under the table. Levi Adoni Arcalai. Viscount Levi Arcalai is a noble and a mage. He holds the position of Royal Magic Advisor, and his skills are said to be among the best in the country. He has several other titles and is always busy, traveling to many places. Therefore, opportunities to talk like this are rare.
"It's true. I wish Ruria-chan could become our child, don't you?"
The one making that classic mom comment was my mother, Sarah Adoni Arcalai. She and my father are a mage couple, and like him, she is very busy. It's a bit of a concern for me that I don't really feel like she's my mother. Come to think of it, today they were both wearing outfits that closely resembled the academic robes students in the West wear for graduation, rather than their usual monk-like robes. They must have just returned from some official duty.
"No way, Sarah. My Ruria is guaranteed to grow up to be a beauty who takes after me. Even if he's the heir to a viscounty, I can't just marry her off so easily."
Mother Maria declared this without a shred of embarrassment. Beside her, Uncle Dani was nodding silently in agreement. Isn't that a bit of a problematic statement? The inappropriate thought for a toddler almost escaped my lips, but in this household, this was normal. My parents weren't offended either, and they laughed pleasantly, saying things like, "What's this, are you just boasting about yourself in the end?"
Actually, although Mother Maria is a commoner by birth, she is my father Levi's cousin, and she is also a long-time best friend of my mother Sarah. Looking at them now, Father Levi, Mother Maria, and Ruria all have black hair, so the blood connection is clear. As for me, I had inherited Mother Sarah's blonde hair and blue eyes. As a former Japanese person, it felt somewhat strange, like I didn't fit my own skin. Especially when there were people with black hair and black eyes so close by.
"We're only three, you know?"
I said, taking another sip of tea. Yep, bitter. Whether it was because my body was that of a toddler or because the tea in this world was particularly strong, I felt the bitterness much more intensely than the tea I remembered from my past life. At the same time, I could feel the adult part of my mind rejoicing in the bitterness spreading through my mouth, thinking, "This is it." Still, referring to myself as "we" in that way felt... well, it made my skin crawl.
But since I was born the son of a noble, I figured there was a certain way I should speak, so I've been making a conscious effort to do so. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. You're not allowed to point out how strange it is for a three-year-old to refer to himself in such a way.
"Oh? But among the nobility these days, it's quite common to arrange marriages from a young age."
"The kingdom is stable now, so the nobles have begun to act with a long-term perspective. It also means they can deal with matters amicably even before the marriage is finalized."
Okay, dear parents. Can we please stop with the graphic talk in front of young children? Also, Father, could you please not use such difficult words? I mean, it's helpful for my language studies, but it's hard to keep up.
"Hmm. So it wouldn't be strange to have Saki and Ruria engaged now, then."
"Ruria isn't going to get married off. Not even to Saki."
"Right, how about you stay quiet for a bit?"
And there they were, Mother Maria and Uncle Dani, consistent as ever.
Suddenly, I felt a gaze on me and turned to see Ruria staring at me silently. Did something about the conversation catch her attention? We've been together since we were born, but it's very difficult to read what Ruria is thinking. She rarely changes her expression and speaks very little. I thought for a moment, then squeezed her hand again under the table. She stared at me for a little longer, then went back to the task of devouring sweets. What on earth was that about? And you adults, stop smirking at us.
"That's true. They are both still so small, I don't think we need to rush to decide their futures. If it really came to that, we would have to consult with my mother-in-law as well..."
As Mother Sarah said this, wrapping up the conversation, Father Levi's expression suddenly turned serious, and he looked around at everyone.
"Speaking of which, the former head will be visiting the manor soon."
The moment those words were spoken, it felt as if all the adults froze for an instant. Then, they all started talking at once.
"Aunt is coming?! I haven't heard anything from Father back home!"
"She said she's coming here alone. She just wants to see her grandchildren, so there's no need for a grand reception."
"Even so... this is a problem. I must ask the head chef to start preparations for a banquet right away."
"The garden is decently maintained, but I wonder if it's good enough. Do you think I could hire a few helpers starting tomorrow?"
I was bewildered by the adults talking over each other in a flustered state, and I exchanged a look with Ruria. At that point, Mother Sarah threw me a lifeline.
"Saki, your grandmother is coming to the manor. For Ruria-chan, she would be your great-aunt. She was the head of the house before your father, and she's the greatest mage in this country."
"The greatest mage in the country!? Amazing! Will I be able to meet her?"
"Of course. You two probably don't remember, but you met her when you were babies. It seems she's coming to see how big you've grown, so we'll have to make sure you're dressed presentably. Hanna, I'm sorry, but could you consult with Maria and get new outfits for Saki and Ruria-chan? It will have to be ready-made clothes since it's a rush, but it can't be helped."
"As you wish, my lady."
Seriously? I have a grandma? And she's the country's number one mage, no less. There must be a reason she doesn't live with us. But this is a chance. My parents are tight-lipped about magic, so maybe I can ask my grandma all about it. Perhaps she'll dote on her grandson and tell me all the things about magic that my parents won't. Alright, I'll have to be on my best behavior when I meet her.
I glanced over at Ruria next to me. She was staring down at the sweet she held in both hands, her mouth still, silent. Ah, I see. She doesn't want to meet a stranger. Ruria has a shy side and doesn't really try to open up to anyone other than the people here. It even took her quite a while to get used to the other servants in the manor.
"It's okay, Ruria. I'll be with you."
When I said that to her, Ruria looked at me for a moment, and then for some reason, she offered the sweet in her hand to my mouth. Whoa, why are you doing this, at this timing, in front of this gallery of onlookers? I looked back and forth between Ruria's face and the sweet at my lips, hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly took a bite from her hand.
"Nn."
Ruria still wasn't satisfied and pressed the rest of the sweet against my mouth. When I resignedly ate the rest of it, Ruria gave me a nod, her expression unchanging. Dammit, I have no idea what to say in a situation like this; I have no experience with this, in this life or the last. Should I just act like a three-year-old and say, "Yummy"? As the adults watched us two silent children with knowing smirks, today's tea party came to an end.
This is the second chapter. I know some of you may find the pacing slow, but please bear with me. More characters are scheduled to appear in the third chapter.