178 - Leonardo's Consultation
I felt like I'd heard somewhere that oil painting was done by painting from the shadows and gradually working toward lighter colors. I'd also heard that conversely, watercolors were done from light areas and gradually made darker. That said, while there certainly are proper techniques based on the nature of art materials, I think in the end you should just paint whichever way works best for you.
...Besides, what I'm using isn't paint or ink, it's embroidery thread, right?
If anything, the correct approach for me is to just do as I please. Hermine taught me embroidery methods and how to make complex patterns, but tips for painting a whole picture with embroidery are beyond even Hermine's expertise. I'd like to get advice from some artist who once painted with embroidery, but in my case it's just a hobby, a pastime, so there's no problem with just following my own whims. It's like a child giving the family a portrait they drew.
...Well, I did have Jemian-sama help me with the underdrawing, so it's not really a child's drawing in the truest sense.
I figured out the thread quantities I'd need using the calculation method I learned at the haberdashery. I ordered a bit extra to have a margin, and the payment was covered by the handkerchief money from before. It's not a large area. Starting to stitch from the parts where just the ready-made embroidery thread suffices, it's fun seeing the underdrawing get colored in little by little.
...Oscar?
Suddenly, from below the stairs, I heard the Black Dog (Oscar) bark. That single bark was a signal to let me know Leonardo was approaching the attic. Lately, since I sequester myself in the attic to do embroidery, Kalisa works on other tasks during that time. Unlike humans, Oscar can't do other work, so he's always near me within his allowed range, and I had him keep watch at the stairs for when someone approaches the attic. Incidentally, he barks for Leonardo's approach. For other people, he just comes to the attic and scratches the door with his paw. Since I made that request, the Black Dog has followed my instructions and distinguished his actions, so I think he's a really well-trained dog.
...Though lately it seems like he's gotten his master wrong.
At any rate, I understood that Leonardo was approaching the attic. I had to quickly hide this embroidery that mustn't be found.
I took a basket from under the bed and stuffed the cloth with the needle still in it inside. After pushing the basket back under the bed, the door was knocked at just the right timing.
"Ah, it's open!"
Please come in, I answered, standing up and turning toward the door. Feeling somehow uncomfortable, I hid my hands behind my back, and apparently Leonardo, who opened the door and entered the room, thought I was hiding something guilty. He widened his dark eyes slightly, then gave a wry smile.
"...What did you hide?"
"It's embroidery that's a secret from Leonyaldo-san."
You can't see it until it's finished, I declared, looking away. With an honest man to a fault like Leonardo, it's better to be honest myself too. Rather than clumsily hiding it, declaring "It's a secret" boldly means that if by some chance the embroidery comes into view, he'll look away himself. I think Leonardo is that much of an honest man.
And Leonardo took it exactly as I intended.
"So that's why you're working in the attic. Because it's a secret."
"Yes deshu."
As if saying he wouldn't ask any more, Leonardo nodded once and sat down on the bed. It seemed he had business that required him to sit.
"Is there something you need?"
When I sat beside Leonardo, the old bed creaked. This bed normally didn't make a sound under just my weight as a child, but it seemed supporting the weight of the large Leonardo was difficult.
"I have a bit of a consultation for you, Tina."
"It's rare for Leonyaldo-san to consult me before deciding on his own, isn't it."
"Hasn't that been happening more lately..."
Leonardo dropped his shoulders dejectedly, saying I still didn't trust him, and I secretly stuck out my tongue at him, just inside my heart. Trust once lost isn't easily regained.
"...Ah, first, about Aurelia's situation."
"Aurelia-san?"
Leonardo should already know about Aurelia's situation without having to ask me. Leonardo also looks over the letters from Aurelia and the letters I send to her as learning results and new assignments. When it comes to information about Aurelia, I and Leonardo have exactly the same amount.
"There was a request from the Sedovara Church, wasn't there? For me to persuade Aurelia to live in the city."
"There was, yes."
"How is she doing?"
"Well, when you ask me how..."
I wondered why he was asking me this, but I turned my thoughts to the content of Aurelia's recent letters. The letters between Aurelia and me often contain greetings, recent news, and cautions about seasonal changes and health conditions. The Sedovara Church did request that I persuade Aurelia, I think, but I've never clearly recommended it. I do think it would be nice if Aurelia lived in the city, but knowing even a little about Aurelia's circumstances, I can't bring myself to urge her to move to the city just because the Sedovara Church says so.
"...I think she seems to be getting along surprisingly well with her apprentices."
That was my honest impression. The letters contain many complaints and criticisms toward her two apprentices, but on the other hand, I could see she was pleased, feeling a sense of reward.
"Do you think Aurelia would be willing to come to the city?"
"I think it's iffy."
People's feelings can change someday, so I can't say absolutely not. But Aurelia herself doesn't feel any inconvenience or dissatisfaction with her life in the valley. It's just that I, personally, hope she'll live somewhere close enough that people can immediately lend a hand if something happens, rather than the elderly Aurelia living alone in the valley.
...Now she has Paula and Barbara, so it's not living alone anymore.
I don't feel as much urgency as before, so I'm not inclined to rush Aurelia just because the Sedovara Church wants me to.
"Tina, do you want to live with Aurelia?"
His low voice, which I could tell was a little tense, made me unable to understand what he was saying for a moment. But as my brain slowly began to comprehend Leonardo's words, my cheeks started to tingle.
"That is... am I moving to the valley...?"
Oh no. If I didn't tighten my cheeks, I was about to break into a stupid grin.
Living with Aurelia, who didn't want to move to the city, would mean me moving to the valley, I suppose. Compared to being taken to the capital and assigned to unknown new foster parents, I'd choose Leonardo even if he was less reliable, but given the choice between Leonardo and Aurelia, I'd want to pick Aurelia. I felt Aurelia, who was a little strict, was more dependable as a guardian than Leonardo, who was just indulgent with me.
"You wouldn't be moving, Tina. It's about whether Aurelia would move to Grenore city."
"...Oh, so I'm not the one moving."
If it were my move, I could relocate as soon as I had Leonardo's permission, but getting Aurelia to feel like moving to the city would be difficult.
...I got excited for nothing.
When I pouted and sulked with pursed lips, Leonardo pinched those lips, saying I'd said that now that I was ten I should stop pouting and sulking. It hurt a little.
...Aurelia-san in Grenore city, huh.
Well, Alf would be happy. I'd be happy too. Whatever their motives, the Sedovara Church would probably be happy too. But I didn't know if Aurelia would be happy, and if Aurelia said she didn't want to, then I wouldn't want to recommend moving either.
"If you and Aurelia are willing, I could prepare a room for Aurelia in this residence."
"Eh? Really deshu ka!?"
"Why would I lie about that? You really love Aurelia, after all. You like her almost like a grandmother or something, don't you?"
"Yes, I love Aurelia-san deshu!"
I declared it immediately, puffing out my thin chest. Leonardo had a slightly complicated look on his face, but he was probably wondering which of him or Aurelia I liked more. Since he had that look, I pretended not to notice.
"...Couldn't we persuade her on the condition that it's after Paula-san and the others are fully trained?"
"I'll leave the persuading of Aurelia to you."
Leonardo, restraining himself, said he was better at making women angry than seducing them, and it seemed he'd finally gained some self-awareness. Even though women in town turn their heads when he walks down the street, for some reason Leonardo has no lover. The women who approach him are only the troublesome sort, blinded by Leonardo's status and money. Even those women blinded by greed don't manage to maintain a long relationship, so there's no way ordinary young ladies can endure Leonardo's density.
"Just getting some self-awareness is progress, isn't it."
I stood up from the bed where I'd been sitting and patted Leonardo's head. Praising him with "good boy, good boy," I messed up his neatly styled hair.
"...Because I don't want to be hated by my little sister any more than I already am."
I thought a little as Leonardo, still giving a wry smile despite his messed-up hair, spoke. I'd been deliberately acting badly and needling Leonardo lately, but I felt like I could forgive him now. It was only very gradually, but I felt Leonardo was making an effort to approach me.
...I wonder if it's okay for me to stay silent like this with this man?
He was a guardian who sometimes made terrible mistakes, but I knew that in his own way, he was sincerely engaging with me. His guesses were off, and there were times I got angry at being scolded unfairly, but basically Leonardo was an honest and good person. Probably, if I consulted him, no matter what the content, he'd seriously think about it and consider it together with me. I had that much confidence.
...If I just said I could read Japanese and asked Leonyaldo-san to help me, it would go faster.
The problem of trying to somehow convey Saint Yuuta Hiraga's research materials to Aurelia would be instantly solved if I involved Leonardo. Even Jasper, who's been doing transcription work since the end of autumn, could, if I read the research materials aloud beside him, translate them into this country's language and copy them down on the spot.
...And even if it came out that I was a reincarnated Japanese person, it doesn't seem like I'd be treated that badly, right?
Ideally, after telling Leonardo I could read Japanese, I'd want that information kept secret. But by nature, Leonardo would honestly report it to the capital. That a reincarnated Japanese person was alive, or that he was protecting one.
...I really don't want to move to the capital.
When I thought about it that way, it was beneficial in every respect, but I couldn't bring myself to tell Leonardo. Even though I'd been told I wouldn't be treated badly, I didn't think I could leave Grenore, which I'd grown accustomed to over this past year.
...I want to consult with Aurelia-san about this too.
At any rate, I had to start with recommending the move to Aurelia. If I tried to do everything at once, I'd get confused and not know what to do.
...I wonder if there's some way I can secretly write letters?
But before that, I had to be able to write English freely. As things were now, with Leonardo and Hermine correcting my writing into English, there was no way I could write a secret letter.
As of yesterday, this was supposed to be one chapter. So today's is short.
I'll fix typos and errors later. I found some typos and errors and fixed them.