To understand Seila’s nature, I started playing with dolls, but the awkwardness just won’t go away.
I don’t think it’s because I’m an adult. It’s something much more fundamental than that. At first, Seila had seemed to enjoy it, lifting the teacup as if she were having fun, but before I knew it, her expression had turned awkward again.
I wondered if maybe it would get better if I could make her laugh.
“Hey, Luna.”
Seila called me.
“Yes, Seila.”
“Have you ever played with dolls before?”
I haven’t.
In fact, I’ve never even had a doll.
I know that girls tend to like dolls, but that’s just knowledge I’ve learned.
Surprisingly, when I was a child, there were a few kids around my age. No matter how much the courtesans tried to be careful, there’s almost no way to avoid pregnancy in this world. The more customers there are, the higher the chance of a child being conceived.
There are ways to get rid of a child, but those are generally things that harm the body. I’ve heard from the nobility that there are pills with no side effects, but those pills are expensive. Courtesans at the brothel don’t have the luxury to easily buy them.
Eventually, some choose to bear children. Naturally, there are a few children raised within this environment, and they usually play the role of a servant in their youth, later succeeding their mothers as they grow older.
Children are surprisingly perceptive, so even without knowing what’s normal, they somehow sense that their surroundings aren’t quite right. These children usually grow up quickly. They realize that it’s far more advantageous to watch the adults than to play with dolls.
Even so, there were a few who cherished dolls or toy soldiers when they had the chance.
But they’re all dead. On the day the brothel was attacked. Even if they had lived, they would’ve probably died within a few days. Since then, I haven’t seen any of those children again.
“Luna?”
As I inadvertently recalled the not-so-pleasant memories of my childhood, Seila called me again.
“I’ve never played with dolls. But I understand the theory.”
“You know the theory… Then what did you do when you were young?”
“I mostly practiced swordsmanship.”
“Wow, like a knight?”
“I don’t think it was quite that professional.”
Exactly how it was, I’m not sure.
The swordsmanship I learned later was quite different from the one I trained with Ayla. How should I put it? It was more like a highly specialized version of the swordsmanship I had known.
I heard the owner of the dojo was a former mercenary. Perhaps, rather than being a professional school of swordsmanship, it was just a way for him to survive, and he taught the sword to children as well.
“Still, I enjoyed it. Swordsmanship can also be a form of play. I had a close friend with whom I practiced, and we created many good memories together.”
“Oh, where is your friend now?”
“They’re not that far away. If I decide to visit, I could meet them anytime.”
For example, I could leave the villa right now and head to the main building, and I would probably find them lying on the sofa in their room with a lazy and bored expression, and they would complain when they saw me.
But for now, there’s something I need to do.
“Anyway, so you’ve never played with dolls, huh?”
For some reason, Seila straightened her shoulders when she said that. As if she was proud of something.
“That’s troublesome!”
“Troublesome?”
“Of course it is! Very troublesome, Luna!”
Seila said, as if making a declaration, and pointed directly at me.
“You’re a lady, after all. Surely there will be a tea party someday, right?”
“A tea party…”
I was amazed by the pure thought behind it.
No, more than that, I was amazed that she thought I would attend a tea party. Despite my appearance, I do know how to dress up a little, so I’ve probably looked like a carefree nobleman from a dissolute family at some point. But usually, I only present myself that way when I think the other person won’t recognize me.
There’s no reason to look like I’m having fun in a maid outfit.
Even though I use formal speech, I wonder where her confidence comes from, thinking such things about me.
“I know.”
Seila clasped her hands in front of her chest and said.
“I know that deep down in your heart, there’s a passion for relationships with people.”
“A passion for relationships with people, you say?”
“Yes. So, someday, Luna, you might find yourself having conversations with people. We’re practicing in this way, simulating situations for that purpose.”
I was impressed.
Even though I had gotten up in a hurry when I saw the doll, blushing, she has a talent for packaging things.
It wasn’t that convincing, but still, I haven’t had many conversations with other people. I’m still young.
Looks like my reading wasn’t completely useless after all.
“I see.”
“Yes. So, we can’t avoid such simulations here either. ………..Ah!”
Then Seila suddenly stood up as if she had just remembered something and ran out toward the villa door.
It seemed a bit childish for a noble, but I didn’t stop her. I prefer to see a child running around like that.
Ayla probably thinks the same.
“Here!”
Seila, who had gone outside, suddenly burst through the villa door and shouted.
Thud. A clump of dirt fell onto the villa floor.
In Ayla’s hand was a carnivorous plant, Elizabeth, which had been pulled out of the ground by its stem. …I think it’s Elizabeth, since Seila must’ve been the one who pulled it out.
Elizabeth was being held by Seila, its menacing mouth wide open. I’m not sure if plants have such distinctions, but the place Seila was holding it seemed to be the “neck,” even though it was technically part of the stem.
For the first time in my life, I felt sorry for a plant.
I quietly stood up and asked Daisy.
“Daisy, where is the broom?”
“I’ll bring it, Head Maid.”
Unlike when we were alone, Daisy bowed politely and headed toward the storage.
“Ah, ah…”
Seila belatedly realized that she had gotten too excited and flushed.
No matter how much we shake off the plant’s roots, we can’t completely remove all the dirt. Plus, although Daisy said it’s fine, it might be quite risky if the plant doesn’t go into the dirt properly.
So, we planted Elizabeth in an indoor pot and placed it on one of the tables.
“Now, this should work, right?”
I’m not sure what exactly is supposed to work.
“You’ve gained one more person to interact with, right? By the way, would you like to join us, Daisy?”
“I’m sorry, Seila. I’m currently baking cookies for your tea party.”
She must be planning to start baking now.
“Oh, thank you.”
“I’m just doing my job as a maid.”
Daisy, acting as though she were a noble herself, lightly held the skirt of her maid uniform with both hands and swiftly turned toward the kitchen.
Before she turned around, I caught her eyes narrowing as if she was mocking me.
Nice.
I’ll go convince the shadow today. Maybe I should try persuading the witch to lower her price.
“And also, it’s not good to just ignore dolls. You need to show kindness and start conversations with the silent young ladies too.”
Seila said, as if scolding me.
For a moment, I thought about telling her that I had urgent matters to attend to.
But when I looked at Seila, her gaze was completely serious.
It’s like she’s just now realized she’s finally made a friend.
No matter how I look at it, I can’t ignore her.
So, when I first came here, I didn’t care much about the Countess’s young lady, and honestly, I thought it wouldn’t matter if I just pushed her aside somewhere.
But still, to stick around here…
Well, I’m a person too. I haven’t completely discarded human feelings.
It doesn’t feel right to leave Seila with that expression.
Besides, I’ve gotten somewhat close to her. The fact that our relationship is somewhat ambiguous makes it harder to refuse.
“Then, would it be okay to serve tea to the young ladies as well?”
“Oh, how about it, Lady Jenna?”
Seila asked, looking at the black-haired porcelain doll.
The three of us looked at the black-haired porcelain doll—Jenna.
“…”
Unfortunately, it seems that Lady Jenna has no vocal cords.
“Oh, I see. Lady Luna, she says she’ll graciously accept.”
Thankfully, our Lady Seila seems to be able to understand the doll’s speech through her ability to read its gestures. How she understood without even moving its lips is a mystery.
“I understand, Seila.”
I politely lifted the teapot and pretended to pour tea into Jenna’s teacup. Of course, there was nothing inside.
“Thank you, Lady Luna.”
“I’m just doing my duty, Seila.”
“Oh dear, that was Jenna’s response, wasn’t it?”