[**System Notification: To maintain Transmigration, the System needs to charge the Host System Points.**]
[**Current remaining points: 2 points.**]
[**Converted to remaining Transmigration time: 4 days.**]
[**Point deduction will occur at midnight tonight.**]
[**Please complete the current task as soon as possible: Enter Elena’s room and retrieve the Magic Stone intentionally placed there to disrupt Mana Control.**]
“Stop pestering me, stop pestering me. I’m already trying my best to think of a way,” Ai’er replied to the System in her head as she picked up a piece of cake.
[**Please, Host—**]
“Mph, mph! Mph!” (‘I know! Mph!’)
Ai’er had almost choked on the small cake and barely managed to catch her breath.
After breakfast, the Head Maid said she needed to prepare a maid uniform for Ai’er and let her stay with Elena first. According to Elena’s request, Ai’er wasn’t going to be an ordinary maid but Elena’s personal maid.
Earlier, the butler, Sebas, seemed to have something to say to Elena. Left with no other choice, Ai’er had to eat dessert alone in the garden pavilion.
—And then she couldn’t stop.
[**A reminder once more—**]
“Stop pestering me! System, you’re more naggy than my mother!”
After interrupting the System, Ai’er stuffed another piece of cake into her mouth, beginning to cosplay as a little squirrel.
By the time Elena returned, Ai’er was still stuffing cake into her mouth with a smile. The Head Maid, who had escorted Elena to the garden, shook her head with a wry smile.
“Elena! This cake is incredibly delicious!”
This wasn’t just any ordinary cake! It didn’t have that strange texture caused by various additives; it was a handmade pastry baked over a hearth, filled with the baker’s love and passion!
‘This is nothing like the cakes I’ve had before,’ Ai’er thought, her heart racing with excitement.
“I-is that so? I’m glad you like it, Ai’er.”
Elena sat across from Ai’er. Although she also nibbled on some snacks, her gaze drifted toward Ai’er from time to time. She would look away whenever Ai’er noticed, pretending nothing had happened.
Ai’er narrowed her eyes slightly. ‘Hmph, interesting. This woman is observing me.’
‘But so what? Even if you stare straight at me, it won’t stop me from grabbing another piece! Even if you’re the Young Lady of this mansion and I’m currently your maid, I will absolutely not be polite when it comes to this cake!’
Then Ai’er choked again.
“Ai’er?! Water, here’s some water! If you like it that much, I’ll have the butler arrange for someone to buy more later. You can eat slowly; no one here is going to steal it from you.”
Gently patting Ai’er’s back, Elena remembered what the doctor had said previously—
“And precisely because these Magic Stones are so attractive, there are very few of this special Blood Clan lineage left.”
There were no so-called Blood Clan within the borders of the Empire, so Ai’er must have fled here from somewhere very far away.
Watching Ai’er show a sincere smile toward the cake, Elena couldn’t help but feel a sense of heartache. She didn’t know what Ai’er had gone through to value these sweets like treasures.
Elena also envied Ai’er—envied that she could still smile like that. Even though Ai’er had endured hardships Elena couldn’t even fathom, she had still pulled Elena back from the brink of death when Elena intended to end her own life… she had even given Elena the Life Crystal.
At that thought, Elena’s hand, which was holding the Magic Ring, tightened its grip.
‘I should return the ring to Ai’er. I cannot accept something so important.’
“Ai’er, there is something I want to tell you. It’s… about the ring you gave me earlier—”
“Elena, my dear niece!”
A middle-aged man’s voice interrupted Elena’s words.
At the entrance of the garden, a middle-aged man walked over. He spread his arms wide, his face plastered with a seemingly kind smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Furthermore, even though this man was only a Marquis, he was dressed in Duke-level formal attire.
“You’re willing to walk in the garden today? This weather is perfect for sitting outside. Your uncle used to hear others say you often sneaked out of the mansion alone in the middle of the night. That’s not good. What if something happened?”
“Uncle Sirius, thank you for your concern. But I’m fine; I can take care of myself.”
Elena did not like this uncle.
Sirius White, who originally had almost no contact with the main family, had proactively reached out after Elena’s father passed away. After her mother died, Sirius, despite only having the status of a Marquis, even more boldly switched to Duke-level clothing in public settings.
Elena was not some sheltered Young Lady; she naturally understood what this meant.
According to the laws of the Empire, because Elena’s parents had died, Sirius would temporarily manage the Duchy of White until Elena turned 20. Afterward, Elena would become the new Duchess of White.
But Elena knew that right now, she didn’t have the support of the people in the Duchy…
“Good, good. Elena really has grown up; she knows how to be considerate of her elders. Your uncle came today just to see you. Seeing you in good spirits and health puts my mind at ease.”
Sirius stepped forward, his gaze quickly scanning Elena. After confirming she wasn’t missing any limbs, a flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes, though it vanished in an instant.
“But speaking of which, who is this silver-haired young lady?”
Sirius looked past Elena toward Ai’er, who had finished her cake but still had a bit of cream on the corner of her mouth.
“Hmm? Are you talking about me? I’m Elena’s new—”
“A guest and a friend. She is a new friend I’ve made.”
Elena stepped forward, moving in front of Sirius to cut off his gaze toward Ai’er.
“Furthermore, Lady Ai’er only arrived at the Duchy last night. The fatigue from her long journey has not yet faded. If you wish to chat with her, Uncle, please wait until next time.”
In the second sentence, she even forgot to add “Lady” as a title for Ai’er. Additionally, Sirius saw a rare look of determination in Elena’s eyes.
Seeing this, Sirius’s brow twitched slightly. This niece, who had always been “submissive” to him, was actually being “firm” when it came to this young lady who looked like she had visited from a far-off place.
“So that’s how it is. In that case, please rest well, Lady Ai’er. However, I also hope for an opportunity to chat with you. I hope you will visit the Marquis Residence when you have the time, Lady Ai’er.”
He gave a standard, emotionless noble bow, accompanied by a hollow smile—it was as if Sirius didn’t want to see anyone appear by Elena’s side, nor did he want Elena to have someone she could call a “friend.”
“Since Elena has finally made a friend, your uncle won’t disturb you two any longer. I wish you two young ladies a pleasant afternoon.”
Leaving those words behind, Sirius left the garden without looking back, heading outside the Duke’s mansion.
He remained silent, and that hollow smile was finally torn away the moment he stepped out of the mansion gates, replaced by a tense expression.
It was as if something hadn’t gone according to his wishes.
A carriage was parked outside the mansion. After Sirius jumped into it, the carriage immediately drove toward the city exit.
Inside the carriage, a young man sat opposite Sirius. On his arm, he wore an armband issued by the Empire to physicians.
Seeing the Marquis’s dark face, the doctor showed a playful smile. “Marquis Sirius, you don’t look like you’re in a good mood?”
“…Does this have anything to do with the task I assigned you?”
“I am a doctor, Marquis Sirius. If you refuse a doctor’s consultation, it will only harm your health.”
Sirius did not respond. He glanced at the young doctor from the imperial capital, then opened the carriage window slightly to give an order to an attendant riding nearby.
“There is a silver-haired girl next to the Witch. Have someone keep an eye on her. Furthermore… when the time is right, send someone to test her. Remember, use any means necessary.”
The attendant nodded and rode away from the side of the road.
Afterward, the carriage continued toward the city outskirts, heading to a port.
A ship had been prepared there long ago. Now that the doctor Sirius requested from the Empire had arrived, it was time for the ship to depart.
—
‘I’m so stupid.’
After Sirius left, Elena lowered her head in silence.
After breakfast, she had learned from the butler, Sebas, that Sirius would be visiting the mansion soon. She should have realized Sirius would target Ai’er… she shouldn’t have gone to find Ai’er before Sirius arrived. She should have stayed in the drawing room to intercept him as soon as he appeared.
Elena hesitantly looked up, turning her head slightly. Unexpectedly, she met the gaze of Ai’er, who had at some point stood up from the tea table and was now standing beside her.
“Elena? Is something wrong?”
“No… it’s nothing.”
Elena couldn’t look Ai’er in the eye for the moment.
‘Even without the mana of a Witch, am I going to drag those around me into misfortune?’
Thinking this, Elena’s fingertips turned white as she gripped the ring.
“Eh? Where is the ring I gave you?”
Before Elena could react, the silver-haired girl took her hand. Elena froze for a moment as her clenched fingers were gently pried open, revealing the ring lying in her palm.
Elena wanted to pull her hand back, but she was afraid that if she used too much force, her mana would leak and hurt Ai’er. At the same time, Ai’er grabbed her wrist, preventing her from pulling away.
Staring at the ring in Elena’s palm, Ai’er frowned slightly. “Elena, why did you take off the ring?”
‘Even though I’ll die if the ring absorbs your mana… but! You can’t just take off the ring I gave you so casually! It’s a ring, a ring! Although it was forced by the System, you’re my capture target! Letting a capture target take off the ring is a denial of my masculine charm! —Even though I’m a girl right now.’
Ai’er looked at Elena with a trace of anger, which made Elena’s heart tremble.
Elena naturally didn’t know about Ai’er’s internal conviction. She only noticed Ai’er’s furrowed brow and felt her own internal agitation—but she didn’t know the source of that feeling.
She simply didn’t want to lose Ai’er—lose this… this what?
What exactly was Ai’er to her? How did she view this silver-haired girl who had risked her life to save Elena’s?
What was she… to Elena?
“Ai’er, I—”
“Don’t just take it off! It’ll make me unhappy.”
Interrupting Elena, Ai’er gently picked up the ring and slid the one with the pale gold crystal onto Elena’s right pinky finger once again.
“Even if this ring of mine can’t absorb your mana indefinitely, I don’t want you to take it off! At least don’t take it off in front of me… okay?”
Elena stood frozen. Meeting the silver-haired girl’s pleading gaze, she felt her mind go blank.
“Lady Ai’er, your maid uniform is ready.”
“Coming! I’m coming!”
Watching Ai’er run off, Elena was still somewhat dazed. Her hand, where Ai’er had replaced the ring, hung in the air. But she could feel a warmth.
It was a warmth that gradually spread from her pinky to her heart, a warmth Elena had never experienced before meeting Ai’er…
This silver-haired girl—what was she to her?
Looking at that swaying silver hair and that flash of white in the air, Elena couldn’t help but part her lips slightly.
Ai’er… she is—
“She is… moonlight.”