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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: A Warm Welcome
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“Oh my. You're still awake?”
Lost in memories of my past life, I was startled when one of the three maids Axel had sent entered the room, her eyes widening in surprise.
Rose, Daisy, and Lily.
Of the flower-named trio, it was Lily.
From the way she worked, she seemed to be the leader among the three maids.
Seeing the pitcher in her hand, it looked like she had come to replace the water I kept by my bedside.
“Little ones must sleep early to grow big and strong. Are you perhaps afraid of sleeping alone?”
“Hm? Y-yes...”
A former black mage would hardly be afraid of sleeping alone, but I couldn't very well say I was a four-year-old kid losing sleep over how to earn coins, so I just gave a vague nod.
At that, a look of pity flashed across Lily's face.
“Then I'll stay by your side until you fall asleep. I can sing you a lullaby, too.”
Lily smiled gently and sat on the edge of the bed.
*A... a lullaby...*
Feeling overwhelmed, I quickly shut my eyes.
Lily, perhaps thinking I was just shy, chuckled softly and began to sing in a low voice.
The lullaby's power was immense.
Already exhausted, I drifted off before I'd even heard five lines of Lily's song.
“Sleep well, Young Lady.”
It was a warm voice, the likes of which I had never experienced as Greslin or as Lesia.
* * *
The next day.
I woke up feeling refreshed.
It was the first time I'd slept so soundly in Lesia's body.
Living in an unfamiliar ducal house with no one to rely on, always having to walk on eggshells, I had always been a light sleeper.
I stretched out, feeling invigorated.
My body felt light, and it seemed even my dolphin-level brain was working better than usual.
Yesterday, my thoughts had creaked and groaned as I tried to connect them, but now they spun freely like a well-oiled wheel.
On top of that, the maids helped me wash, dress, and comb my hair. It was so wonderful, I wondered if this was what heaven felt like.
Normally, I would have been struggling on my own, bathing in cold water without even any soap.
My circumstances had changed overnight, and I was having trouble adjusting.
Every time they touched me, I flinched, and the maids would look at me with a mix of amusement and pity, then smile.
“Daughters are very precious in the Elpinade household. We've only ever served the young masters, so we're absolutely delighted to be able to serve a young lady.”
“Getting to think about pretty dresses and cute hairstyles is our greatest joy, you know.”
Rose and Daisy chattered away, flattering me.
It was true that daughters were a rarity in the Elpinade family.
The current duke, Axel, and Noah all had only brothers, making me the only girl in the ducal estate.
“But why has Sir Axel suddenly taken an interest in the young lady's well-being?”
“It was Cardinal Bael who officially recognized her as the Saintess. He must be concerned since she's the child his friend entrusted to us.”
“But for someone so concerned, he showed no interest at all for the past few years, did he?”
“How would we know the reason? Still, I'm happy about it. Serving a young lady is so much more fun. We get to see all the pretty clothes and accessories.”
Rose and Daisy whispered to each other as they busily styled my hair.
No matter if I was the Saintess or a duke's daughter, I was still just a child, so they could chat freely.
*This is nice.*
Back when I was Greslin, everyone would clam up and watch my every move whenever I sat down. I'd never experienced anything like this.
Hoping to overhear something interesting, I pretended not to listen while eavesdropping on Rose and Daisy's conversation, but Lily strictly cut them off.
“Enough. Not in front of the young lady.”
But Rose and Daisy were undeterred.
“But everyone's saying how strange it is.”
“That's right. Sir Axel is usually uninterested in household affairs, so for him to take this exceptional interest in the young lady's treatment...”
“Hush.”
When Lily chided them once more, Rose and Daisy finally fell silent.
As if she hadn't just been strict with them, Lily turned to me with a gentle smile and spoke.
“Young Lady. Is everything all right now?”
“Yeth.”
I replied politely to her courteous question and nodded.
It wasn't just a polite answer; I truly had no complaints.
“Thank you all.”
I brought my hands together and bowed to the three of them.
I was genuinely grateful, but it was also a tactic(?) to make a good impression.
*I have a mountain of quests to complete.*
After a quick look at the 'Quest List' yesterday, I realized that a child with a terrible reputation could count the number of requests she could handle on one hand.
I would definitely need the help of an adult ally.
The maids who took care of me were my top priority for recruitment.
At my polite gesture, the three of them looked moved, covering their mouths with their hands.
Having only ever seen nobles who took their service for granted, it was understandable they'd be moved by a polite child like me.
After all, isn't the same expression of gratitude much cuter and more admirable when it comes from a child?
“Hanna must have been spreading nonsense. She's not a difficult child at all!”
Hanna was my former maid.
It seemed she had been spreading strange rumors about me among the servants.
“I know, right? How could she say such things about such a sweet young lady!”
I giggled, watching Rose and Daisy furiously shake their fists at the air.
At the child's bright smile, the flower-named trio gasped, “Keuk!” and clutched their chests.
*Good. Recruiting the maids as allies will be simple.*
The problem was the people with more power.
No matter how much of a celebrated hero and precious young master Axel was, he wasn't the head of the family.
To gain the full support of the ducal family, I needed the Duke of Elpinade's power.
*The Duke of Elpinade.*
To be honest, I don't know much about him.
He was the one who agreed to adopt the Saintess at the church's request, but he has never once come to see me.
So all I know is that he was the swordsmanship instructor for my old comrade, Kirke, who later became emperor, and that he is an outstanding sword master.
A cold-hearted traditionalist.
An inflexible swordsman.
Also known as the Demon Duke.
*The words used to describe the Duke of Elpinade generally had that kind of feel to them.*
Above all, since the Elpinade family had produced scholars for generations, the duke, who chose the path of the sword, was treated as quite the heretic.
*Hmm...*
Putting the few pieces of information together, a rough image began to form.
I pictured a large, burly, middle-aged man, built like a bear.
*He won't be easy to win over.*
As I stroked my chin, lost in serious thought, I felt a strong gaze from my side.
When I turned my head, the flower-named trio was looking at me with incredibly fond expressions.
“I wonder what our little one is so deep in thought about.”
“Whatever it is, just tell us, Young Lady. We'll help you.”
“Of course. We've all worked at Elpinade for over ten years, so we know everything there is to know.”
*Were they really that moved just because I said thank you...?*
I was bewildered by the trio's incredibly kind reaction.
It was clear the three of them were fond of me, but to be honest, I wasn't used to this.
During my time as a black mage from the slums, even my best intentions were always met with suspicion.
*Is she trying to curse me?*
*Is she trying to steal my things?*
I could read their thoughts just by looking at their eyes.
To earn their goodwill, I had to work several times harder than anyone else just to erase their suspicious gazes.
Eyes full of wariness.
Glances filled with fear.
After only ever seeing eyes like that, to now be met with such warm gazes...
*It's a little awkward.*
