“Those two children in the study upstairs should be getting along well, right?”
In the living room downstairs, Madam Anna quietly asked the maid beside her. For some reason, as someone who shared blood with Otis, she had felt uneasy all day. So, more than ten minutes ago, she had sent one of the housemaids to sneak upstairs and eavesdrop by the study.
The maid had served the Montbatten family for quite a long time. The master of the house had been a rake in his youth, and even after marrying and having children, he remained restless and was often away from home. Thus, most of the servants in the household sided more with this hardworking lady of the house, who managed everything day and night.
“Madam, the study upstairs is very quiet. There’s no sound of quarreling, but…”
“But what?”
“It seems a bit too quiet in the room. If the two young ladies were studying magic, there should at least be some talking.”
The maid, nervous, voiced her own suspicion.
Madam Anna frowned slightly at these words. She could understand, after all, that the two girls, though only a year away from adulthood, were still young at heart. When young girls stayed together, it was easy for their attention to drift to other things.
Though she didn’t hold much hope that her daughter would truly become a mage, it was enough if she could be close friends with Hill, sharing everything with her.
But what if?
What if her daughter was actually talented, and it was just that she hadn’t found the right teacher, making her progress so slow?
It’s better to rely on oneself than others. Madam Anna could readily admit her own selfishness—she hoped her daughter could become independent and strong, mastering her own fate without relying on others.
“No, I still feel uneasy.”
Madam Anna stood up and paced in front of the sofa, finally making up her mind—she would go upstairs herself and see if the two children were really focusing on their magic lesson.
There would be plenty of time for fun elsewhere. After all, as nobles, leisure was the one thing they never lacked.
She turned to the maid. “Are there any fresh fruits left in the kitchen? And… how much milk do we have?”
The maid thought for a moment and answered truthfully, “There’s still plenty of fresh fruit, and milk as well.”
“Go heat up the milk, cut up the fruit and put it on a plate, and bring it all to me. I’ll take it upstairs myself later.”
“Eh?” The maid was a bit surprised. “Madam, how can you do such menial work yourself?”
“Just do as I say.”
“…Yes, Madam.”
The maid hurried to the kitchen. Fruit was a symbol of nobility; in this world of sword and sorcery, preserving food was not difficult, but for commoners it was a luxury. Even some lesser nobles couldn’t afford to eat fresh fruit every day and had to keep it cool by putting it in cold well water.
The Montbatten family was clearly not so impoverished. The fresh fruit delivered early in the morning was still in the kitchen, ready for Madam and the young lady to enjoy. About ten minutes later, the maid came out of the kitchen with a tray. In addition to the fresh fruit, there were also two glasses of warm milk in sparkling crystal cups.
Madam Anna took the tray and made her way upstairs.
Reaching the second floor, her footsteps involuntarily lightened, even carrying a hint of guilty stealth.
But on second thought, she told herself it was for her daughter’s own good. When her daughter one day faced circumstances beyond her control, she would understand her mother’s careful intentions.
She arrived at the door to the study, which was tightly closed. Madam Anna set the tray gently on the floor, then bent over and did something quite unbefitting of a noble—she pressed her ear to the door, completely ignoring propriety and the restraint expected of her class.
As the maid had said, there was almost no sound at all.
Perhaps the study was just well insulated?
Madam Anna wasn’t sure about that. The study existed to showcase a noble’s scholarly virtue. Since marrying into the Montbatten family, she’d rarely read in the study, preferring the comfort of her bedroom.
After some thought, Madam Anna decided to look for herself. Straightening her graceful figure, her blue dress struggled to contain her curves, as if even the smallest movement would tear it apart.
She knocked on the door, then picked up the tray from the floor.
Soon, her daughter’s voice sounded from within. “Come in.”
Madam Anna opened the door and entered, immediately seeing her daughter and Miss Hill seated at the desk. The two girls sat close together, their notebooks filled with dense magical runes and formulas.
Otis looked very focused, but her tightly knit brow was a little worrying—was the child truly absorbing all this?
As for Miss Hill…
Madam Anna’s worried expression relaxed at once, and even an unconscious smile appeared on her lips.
People who are overly stubborn often draw resentment, but those who are earnest tend to attract others’ attention.
Such people might seem out of place with their surroundings, but their presence was always felt, naturally drawing all eyes to them.
Madam Anna admired and appreciated diligent, earnest children. Not to mention, Hill’s focus seemed to give her a special kind of charm.
She entered the study, set the tray on the table before the sofa, and the two girls barely noticed her, mistaking her for just another maid bringing refreshments. And for some reason, Madam Anna didn’t make her presence known, instead walking lightly, even pinching her skirt to avoid making noise.
Hill was explaining a magical formula to Otis. It was a long equation, made up of dozens of runes, each with its own meaning, and when combined, creating new reactions. Some students seemed proficient but actually hadn’t fully mastered them—fine for working through worksheets, but ask them to explain to others and they would soon falter.
No wonder Otis’s magical theory had improved so rapidly—without innate talent, relying only on her own understanding, she’d be confused and even led further astray. At such times, a good teacher was invaluable.
Otis listened intently, nodding now and then, and writing quickly in her notebook. Hill always noticed and would slow her pace, giving Otis time to think and absorb.
Gradually, Madam Anna was captivated herself.
She remembered her own youth, entering the public magical academy in Mossrock City to study just like her daughter now.
Time slipped by in such a lesson, and the three women in the study only returned to their senses when they heard the chimes from the clock tower outside.
It was one o’clock—time for Holy Meal.
Hill stopped explaining, and Otis, her mind overloaded, slumped in her chair, completely forgetting her posture and looking quite unladylike.
“Ah! Madam, what are you doing here?” Hill put on a look of surprise, glancing at the lady who stood nearby, even bending slightly.
How could she possibly have missed the lady’s entrance?
The blood clan’s sense of smell was keen—distinguishing people by scent was nothing.
And aside from scent, by listening, Hill could also tell the difference.
The shoes worn by the maid and the mistress were entirely different in material. Even walking on the plush carpet, Hill could distinguish the sound.
What intrigued her was that this pampered noblewoman didn’t seem entirely ignorant of magic. At certain points, she even nodded in sudden understanding.
But then again, before marrying into the Montbatten family, Madam Anna had clearly been a noble herself, likely with some education in magic.
Still, after so many years, how much could she still remember?
Magic depended on talent and insight. When one learned was less important than how much one could learn.
Madam Anna, called out like this, composed herself after a slight embarrassment and displayed the poise and composure of a noble lady. “Originally, a maid should have brought you fruit, but as a mother, I wanted to see how my daughter’s studies were going with my own eyes. This lovely young lady won’t mind an outsider standing by and listening, I hope?”
Hill smiled. “Of course not. I only feel sorry that such a graceful and beautiful lady must stand through a lesson—no matter how mischievous the student, she shouldn’t be made to stand.”
“That’s true.”
“If Madam doesn’t mind, would you care to sit with Miss Otis and listen to the lesson together?”
Faced with Hill’s invitation, Madam Anna remembered her position and politely declined. “That won’t be necessary. I’m not young anymore. When it comes to magic, once you miss the chance, you may never get it again.”
Hill wanted to object, but the lady, whose face had just shown a trace of melancholy, began urging them to enjoy the fruit on the sofa.
“The milk was hot at first, but it’s cooled after a few hours,” Madam Anna said to Hill apologetically. “It’s just about time for Holy Meal anyway. After the fruit, let’s go downstairs together. The maids should have the meal ready by now.”
Hill’s expression stiffened, but she could only act flattered. “Madam, you are too kind to take such care of me.”