Episode 10
Jane and Count Elliot were puzzled by their daughter’s words.
Clearly, there were dozens of men hovering around her, at least from what they had seen.
“Could our daughter be mistaken?”
“Really, no one approached me.”
Seeing Yuri speak nonchalantly, Jane and Count Elliot felt a mixture of relief that their precious daughter wasn’t hurt and a tinge of sadness that she seemed completely uninterested in marriage.
“It’s good that you made a good friend.”
“Ah… well, yeah…”
Yuri responded with a hesitant expression, but the Count and Countess were lost in their own thoughts and didn’t notice.
In reality, there was a different story behind Yuri’s claim of “no one approached me!”
The Count and Countess didn’t realize it because they only observed the children briefly at the beginning, but men continued to circle around Yuri.
“Lady Elliot…”
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
Whenever a young lord who was circling around tried to speak to her, she would disappear somewhere.
“Lady Elliot..!”
And whenever someone mustered the courage to approach her, they would feel a strange gaze upon them, a sense of fear that made them run away.
“Do you see something?”
After that, she focused solely on her conversation with Celia, so no one dared to approach her.
In fact, many young lords thought that Lady Elliot, who was showing various reactions during her conversation with Celia, was very lovely! This was a strange secret that only Yuri was unaware of.
“Anyway, let’s go home and rest well. We have to return to the territory tomorrow.”
I feel a bit disappointed at my father’s words, saying we have to leave early since it’ll take another day to reach the territory.
I haven’t properly explored the capital yet…
“You look disappointed. It seems you didn’t get to see the capital.”
Wait, am I that transparent?
I thought I was hiding it well, but it seems like I’m not.
At this rate, even my desire for a status window is probably obvious to everyone.
It’s just that they don’t react because they don’t know what a status window is.
“Is it that obvious on my face? I thought I had a perfect poker face.”
“…It seems there’s a different definition of poker face than the one I know.”
Come on, you don’t have to be so harsh.
“Well, anyway, don’t be too disappointed. There will be other opportunities to visit the capital. I’ll make sure you have enough time to explore next time.”
I nod vaguely.
Well, whatever.
I saw the Imperial Palace, so that’s enough.
Since the debutante ball was held in the Imperial Palace ballroom, I unexpectedly got to see the inside of the palace.
Of course, I didn’t get to see any other places, but I wasn’t particularly interested in doing so.
What if I wander around and get arrested for trespassing, thrown into a dungeon, and rot there for 10 years?
I don’t even have a status window to escape with…
“Go inside and get some rest. See you tomorrow, our daughter. We love you.”
Lost in my pointless thoughts, we arrive back at the mansion before I know it.
I give my parents a brief greeting and quickly fall asleep, exhausted.
When I wake up, the mansion is already bustling with activity.
They must be preparing to return to the territory.
“Young lady, you’re awake.”
I jump out of bed, seeing Ella greet me politely as usual.
“I’ve prepared the clothes you’ll be wearing today. Since you don’t seem to like dressing up, I didn’t prepare anything else besides the clothes. Is that alright? I can prepare them right away if you need anything.”
Wow, this lady is so thoughtful.
She seems to have noticed that I asked for the preparations to be finished quickly yesterday and that I was very tired.
I wish Lily was this perceptive.
“No, I don’t need anything! It’s enough to just wear clothes and go out, hehe!”
I happily change into the clothes and head outside.
As I go to the dining room for breakfast, I see that a feast is already prepared.
We’ve been busy, and I had a simple meal at the party last night, so this will be my first and last meal at the capital mansion.
“This is a very lavish breakfast.”
I greet my parents and take my seat.
“The chef said he only has one chance to serve you, so he put his heart and soul into it.”
And the dish he put his heart and soul into is truly amazing.
Everything is delicious…
“Wow… Let’s take the chef with us…”
I might offend the chef at our main residence if I say this, but this is on a whole different level.
Is he a culinary genius?
It’s a waste of his talent to be stuck here…
Ah, no.
Would it be better for him to stay in the capital with this level of talent…?
“Haha, it seems our Yuri really likes it.”
“I’ll ask the chef about it.”
After a light conversation, breakfast ends, and we hurriedly get on the carriage and depart to keep to our schedule.
Ugh, the thought of spending another half day in the carriage is truly dreadful.
I don’t understand why we have to travel by carriage in a world where magicians and saints exist.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could just teleport with magic?
A fantasy world should have teleportation!
“You must be tired, so take a nap.”
I woke up early this morning, but I’m not particularly tired because I slept well.
But considering the long journey ahead, I decide to close my eyes and take a nap.
I don’t think I’ll fall asleep…
Of course, it goes without saying that I fell asleep immediately after thinking that.
Several months have passed since we returned from the capital after the debutante ball.
The season has changed from spring to summer.
The garden, which was once filled with blooming flowers, is now lush with greenery as the trees and grass grow rapidly.
“Ga-na-da-ra…”
And I’ve started teaching Celia, who actually came to the territory, the basics of Hangul…
“Ma-ba-sa…”
One thing’s for sure: Celia is more studious than Dustin and learns faster.
“You memorized all of that in one day?”
Is it my imagination, or is there a hint of pride mixed with her usual sleepy expression?
“Let’s go to the garden.”
“Ah, should we continue in the garden?”
Being with Celia feels like taking care of a younger sibling.
She only talks about what she wants to talk about and does what she wants to do.
What else could she be but a child?
“I need to see the trees.”
“Yes, yes. Let’s go.”
I hold Celia’s hand and lead her to the garden so she doesn’t get lost, as she’s still not familiar with the mansion.
It’s amazing how she never gets tired of looking at trees and grass, even though she spent all day yesterday doing the same thing.
“What’s it like to be able to talk to plants?”
I finally started talking to Celia while she’s been staying here.
We’re now on a first-name basis.
It’s not because we’ve become closer…
“I’m going to choose this tree today.”
“…Yes, yes.”
It’s just that she talks so much that I gave up.
We’re definitely not close.
How can we be close when she only talks about what she wants and never answers my questions?
“Ah, come to think of it, I have something scheduled today. Look around for a bit and then come back inside.”
I realize it’s time for the successor lessons I’ve been putting off.
I’ve been neglecting them since Celia came to the Elliot territory, as I volunteered to be her guide.
Honestly, I don’t want to do them…
But anything is better than spacing out in the garden with her all day.
“I wouldn’t go.”
“I’m not you.”
“…Whatever.”
From what I’ve seen these past few days, I guess that means I shouldn’t go.
“Then don’t go and play with me.”
Spacing out and doing nothing is fine for a day or two.
But neglect play isn’t my style…
Ahem! Ahem! No, that’s not it. Anyway!
“The voices of trees are straightforward.”
Suddenly?
“Flowers are a bit softer.”
It’s fascinating how it matches my image of them.
“This tree wants to try a different style this year.”
A different style…?
I’m surprised that even trees have styles.
Wouldn’t it be tiring to be able to talk to plants?
“It’s a bit of a picky type.”
“Hmm, that’s interesting.”
“I like plants. They don’t talk nonsense.”
I don’t think I talk nonsense either.
“That’s why I like Yuri too.”
Wait, I just thought that in my head?
My face must be an open book.
It’s like I’m walking around with a sign that says “This is what I’m thinking~”.
“Ah, I want to go to the forest.”
“Huh? The forest?”
I thought I was used to her sudden remarks.
But I’m taken aback by her sudden desire to go to the forest.
“The forest is dangerous. There are goblins.”
“Goblin Chieftain…”
“No, stop talking about that.”
You keep cutting me off mid-sentence, it’s like you’re saying I’m the Goblin Chieftain, you little…!
It’s a refreshing change from all the compliments about my appearance I’ve been getting.
No, of course, I’m not saying I’m happy about being called pretty.
And I know she’s not actually calling me a goblin.
“I’m telling you, I defeated it by pure chance! I only went there because there was someone else who could handle the goblins.
If a weakling like me encounters even a single goblin, I’m dead, dead.”
I can’t die before I get a status window.
My goal is to live a long and healthy life until I get one.
“Let’s go, forest.”
Did she even hear what I said?
I barely manage to stop Celia, who has already started walking.
“Wait, wait a minute. Didn’t you hear me, teacher?!”
“I’m not a teacher. You’re the master.”
I didn’t know she considered me her master just because I teach her something.
This is joy… no, wait!
“If the two of us go and encounter even a single goblin, we’re done for! Do you want to die a tragic death on the street?”
“Not bad.”
What?!
What part of it is not bad?!
It’s all bad!
It’s the worst!
“Not interested in goblins. I’m going to observe the plants in the forest.”
No…
Just because you’re not interested doesn’t mean the goblins won’t be interested in us…
“Then let’s take an escort knight. I’ll go tell them to come… Hey! Wait for me!”
Please at least pretend to listen when I’m talking.
I find myself outside the mansion, running after Celia, who’s ignoring me and walking ahead.
Ah, shit… I really hate this kind of development…
It’s a development that a weakling like me can’t keep up with…
Thank for the chapter!