Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Some Pleasures Won’t Be Shared With Others~

…

What had happened in the study was not made known to anyone else.

In the days that followed, the mansion was calm and unchanged, as though nothing had occurred at all.

As for the maids, they all knew that their mistress had bought a new slave.

But most of the time, Lilinai stayed inside the tower. Only in the afternoons could they occasionally see the purple-haired girl crossing the corridor, heading expressionlessly toward the storeroom.

Because Airiya had given orders, the maids would not disturb this slave girl when there was nothing pressing to do. For them, the greatest impact of the girl’s arrival was simply that they had one more portion of food to prepare, and nothing more.

…

That afternoon, as was customary, Aoleila came to the fifth floor of the tower and knocked on the study door.

“Lady Airiya, I’ve brought the correspondence.”

“Enter.”

The head maid pushed the door open and entered.

Airiya was bent over her desk, wearing a thin lace-trimmed blouse with a coat draped lazily over it, facing the doorway. She said nothing at all, only focusing intently on taking notes in a book; and Aoleila made no sound either, simply standing quietly in the middle of the study, waiting in silence.

It was quite a while before Airiya set down the pen in her hand and lifted her head.

“All right. Report.”

“Yes.”

Aoleila gave a slight bow and drew a sheaf of letters from the stack in her hands.

A considerable portion of these letters had been collected from a designated station on the city’s outskirts. The reason was simple—a Witch’s precise place of residence was not something just anyone could know.

“There is no urgent correspondence this week. Among the letters received, three are from nobles of Luolunbao inviting you to be a guest at their estates. In accordance with your wishes, all of these letters have been handled with silence; another two invitations come from the royal families of other kingdoms and have likewise been handled with silence. Beyond that, there are six letters of greeting, all congratulatory messages for local festivals or celebrations not worth mentioning.”

“Mm… continue.”

“Qiaosite, the mayor of Fimu, has written to inquire whether your journey into the city some days ago went smoothly; he looks forward to your next visit. In addition, Qiaosite has put forward a proposal, indicating that he could arrange additional security forces as your escort—so long as you are within the city of Fimu, Fimu would be responsible for your personal safety. The relevant bill has already been submitted to the city council, and he asks for your view on the matter.”

“Do I need those soldiers to protect me?” Airiya propped her head on her arm, revealing a charming smile. “I’ll accept his goodwill. Still, though they may not necessarily be of help, they could be put to some other use. Mm… come to think of it, I recall there being two imbeciles on Fimu’s city council—a cook, I think, and some religious charlatan…”

“The apothecary Keluo, and Weile, a priest of the Sacred Law Church. Both are councilmen of this term’s council.”

“They can call themselves whatever they like. As I recall, they strongly object to my using magic within the city? They probably won’t show me a pleasant face.”

“The mayor promises he will overrule all opposition,” Aoleila said. “He also says that if you agree, he could first use the mayor’s prerogative to enact a provisional bill, ensuring that you receive the corresponding treatment the next time you grace Fimu City.”

“What an enormous bit of flattery.”

Airiya couldn’t help but smile.

“What a pity that I have little interest in him or his city. It’s only because Fimu is the nearest city that I gave it priority when going to buy a slave and try my luck. Still, that trip really did exceed my expectations, and was worth far more than its price—guh…”

Halfway through her sentence, the Witch suddenly lowered her head and let out a soft groan.

“What’s the matter?” Aoleila asked.

“It’s nothing.”

Airiya waved a hand and brushed aside the white hair falling across her forehead.

Whether or not it was her imagination, Aoleila kept feeling that something was off about the girl’s complexion.

“In that case, write a reply for me, Aoleila—say that I’d be happy to accept, and that I’ll speak with him in person on my next visit to Fimu.”

“As you command.”

“Go on. What else?”

Aoleila drew another letter from the pile of envelopes.

“Beyond that, there are some bills, notices, and curses, which I won’t trouble you with.” The maid paused, then continued, “However, there’s a letter here bearing a private wax seal. I thought perhaps it should be left to you—”

“You open it, then read it to me,” Airiya said. “There are no secrets between us.”

Aoleila bowed respectfully and broke the letter’s seal.

It was an elegantly packaged letter, and the paper was made of very fine material as well.

“Dear Sister Airiya Moerdisike:

“Have you been well lately? I don’t want to prattle at you with the nonsense of letter etiquette, but it’s been three months since we’ve seen each other, and you simply have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I know you don’t like listening to me ramble, but you also know you can’t stop me…”

“Khh…”

Airiya covered her mouth and muttered something with a flushed face. But Aoleila didn’t catch it.

After a brief pause, the maid continued reading:

“…So, hmph hmph, I’m going to pour out my grievances to you properly. While you were scorning the Witches’ Assembly’s arrangements as usual, I was run absolutely ragged! Do you know? In order to help you advance to the High Witches’ Council, I forged your signature to sign for the Assembly’s notices three times, handled the Assembly’s dispatches sent to you five times, and even fended off one interrogation from that old hag—there’s a correction here—the esteemed Lady ‘Skylark,’ aimed at you. I’d guess it’s been a long time since you last heard Lady ‘Skylark’s’ admonishments? Her authority truly hasn’t diminished from her prime! If you ask me, the meaning of these lectures is the same as the meaning of a rat’s existence, which is to say, son of a b—”

“—Khh, mmh~~”

Airiya suddenly let out a low moan, her body pitching forward as she slumped toward the desktop.

Aoleila hesitated somewhat—she had assumed it was the profanity in the letter she’d read out that had prompted the girl’s reaction.

“…Are you all right, Lady Airiya? You seem a bit strange…”

“I-it’s nothing.”

Airiya wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.

“Skip all that nonsense—I know the person who wrote this letter far too well. Once she starts rambling, the content is utterly meaningless and the length rivals a history textbook. Go straight to the last paragraph and read it to me.”

“This… very well.”

Aoleila was only half-convinced.

But as a professional maid, she had professional standards.

“…In any case, as previously agreed, I’ll be coming to visit your tea party next week! Some of the sisters in the Assembly say your tea parties are very boring, but that’s all right! If it really comes to that, I can coach you!

“See you next week!

“Your friend, ‘Flower Dream’ Luosenni Xier.

“P.S.: I hear you bought a slave, and quite an adorable child at that? You absolutely must bring her out for me to see!

“P.P.S.: Compared to the black tea of Mailing County, I much prefer black tea leaves produced in the Xiweisinuo Mountains. I know you can afford them, so please do live up to my expectations~”

Aoleila set down the letter.

“That is all of the correspondence, Lady Airiya.”

“Mm, well done.”

Airiya sighed.

“What a troublesome creature… Aoleila, you know the letter’s contents as well? Then have them start preparing. The tea party will be held on the terrace of the tower’s seventh floor; until next week, all of you may go up there. Arrange the tea party nicely—I don’t want to be mocked by that woman, or have her gossip about me.”

“Yes, Lady Airiya.”

“You may go. I still have something to attend to.”

“As you command.”

Aoleila turned and left, doing her best to erase a certain thought that had arisen in her mind.

Namely—she kept feeling that there had been a third person in the study just now.

“…”

Once the study door had closed.

The white-haired Witch let out a long breath and revealed a satisfied smile.

“Although I told Aoleila there are no secrets between us,” she lowered her head and smiled toward the space beneath the desk, “there are also some pleasures I’m unwilling to share with others. After all, I’m a selfish person too—wouldn’t you agree, Miss Lilinai?”