Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 96

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 96   I like it very much

Winona began explaining her circumstances.

“A-Actually, I am from a Viscount family. I am technically a noble’s daughter. Did you happen to know that…?”

“I asked the Queen. I only knew you were a noble.”

“I see… My family used to be a Marquis’s family. Before I was born, when my father was young, it seems we were demoted from Marquis to Viscount.”

To have one’s title taken away or to be demoted usually involves significant reasons. Depending on changes in the era or circumstances, maintaining the current status can become challenging. However, demoting from Marquis to Viscount is an extraordinary situation. It’s something that wouldn’t happen without a significant issue.

I didn’t delve into that aspect. I thought she would eventually share it without my asking. It would be better for her to tell the story herself, making it easier for her emotionally.

“…My father’s lineage had been listed as Marquis for generations, lasting for over a dozen generations. Following that tradition, my father was supposed to inherit the family estate as a Marquis. However, at one point, a person who had been unjustly extorting taxes was apprehended. The culprit was a close relative of our family, a grandson of my grandfather, and a nephew to my father. Moreover, the embezzlement had been taking place in the directly governed territory of the Olof family. My grandfather had been oblivious to this fact for many years and had even cherished his grandson. As a result, the Olof family was demoted from Marquis to Viscount. There were discussions of completely stripping the title, but the Queen said that, based on historical precedent, it couldn’t be done, allowing us to retain the Viscount title. After that… you can probably imagine what happened.”

The position of Marquis, which had been passed down through generations, was unjustly stripped away due to the foolish actions of a family member. In such a situation, blame extended not only to the culprit but also to those involved, those who failed to see through the deception, and even the head of the family. Their glory crumbled, and for them, it might have felt like descending into hell. From the perspective of commoners, it might seem like a luxury problem. Happiness is not an absolute but a relative concept. What brings happiness to one person may not bring happiness to another—such situations abound.

“In this way, during my father’s generation, we became a Viscount family. Since this happened before I was born, I hold no grievances about it.

Naturally, my father felt differently. He constantly spoke about returning to the seat of Marquis, unable to endure the shame of continuing to live in degradation. Unfortunately, he was not blessed with a son.

I, on the other hand, was subjected to daily training in anticipation of the uncertain ‘marriage proposal’ that might come at any moment.

As a noble’s daughter, I was not expected to engage in household chores; such tasks were meant for maids. While some noble families prefer their members to serve royalty or other high-ranking individuals, it varies.

Anyway, from a young age, I continued to cultivate the skills of a lady, a wife, and a maid. During this time, I received a story from one of the maids. Moreover, it was a request for me to become the maid of a Marquis—my father’s lifelong wish.

Accepting this task, my father said, ‘Listen, Winona. It seems the Marquis is rather juvenile, and precisely in the throes of adolescence.

You’ve acquired the refined education expected of a lady until now. Apply that knowledge, and you shall captivate him.

By becoming the wife of the Marquis, you will draw closer to my long-cherished dream.

Even if he is from a collateral branch, having relatives among the Marquis’s kin would serve as a formidable support in the future.’”

So, was that why she relentlessly approached me?

And that’s the result of years of study?

I can’t help but wonder about the circumstances that led her to this point.

Anyway, did Winona do such things as a prelude to marrying me?

“But still, there could have been a better way.”

“Well, my father used to say that teenage boys are like monkeys… always in heat, so if you invite them, they’ll fall for it.”

“Well, he’s not entirely wrong… but there’s a delicate side to them too.”

Men have a pure or fastidious side. While not everyone, adolescent boys sometimes hold a sanctified view of women. Not me, though. I’ve long passed that stage, yeah.

“Is that so? I learned from someone who claimed to have ensnared a thousand men.”

Sounds like a lie. It’s as dubious as those ads saying, ‘I got a girlfriend this way,’ or ‘I became rich while bathing in a pool of bills.’ However, Winona seems to have an honest personality and probably took it at face value, putting it into practice.

In a way, the method isn’t entirely wrong. Winona is cute, has a good figure. Even if her approach wasn’t perfect, there are plenty of men who would respond just to being invited. Maybe her clumsiness is even seen as endearing. It meant absolutely nothing to me; that’s all there is to it.

“…Th-this is my reason. I’m sorry, Shion-sama. I apologize for using you in such a way.”

Winona held tears at the corners of her eyes. Her cheeks remained flushed, and her body trembled.

She must be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. There’s likely a sense of apology towards me. But perhaps the strongest emotion is different: shame. She probably felt that way for a long time.

Every day since becoming my maid, she offered herself as a companion for the night. A request from a young, innocent girl for someone like me to embrace her, especially in such revealing attire—how embarrassing it must be. Even I, who doesn’t understand the heart of a woman, can comprehend it to some extent. It must have been tough. Winona shed a single tear.

“I-I’m sorry. I apologize… I-I’m sorry…”

Yet Winona continued to apologize, even though she was the one suffering the most. She likely felt guilt towards me and probably the disappointment of not fulfilling her father’s instructions.

But I felt that her sadness ran deeper than that.

I gently patted Winona’s head. She slightly flinched but didn’t brush away my hand or avoid me. Surprise was evident in her face, but discomfort was not.

I’m younger physically but older mentally. Not for that reason, but somehow, I understood what she needed at this moment. Despite my initial worries about whether being touched by someone younger might be unpleasant, it seemed there was no issue. She was just bewildered.

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“But, um, I, I tried to deceive you, Shion-sama.”

“Hmm, you didn’t deceive me. Besides, Winona’s acting wasn’t very convincing. I haven’t suffered any harm.”

“But, still, I-I did try to deceive you, that’s for sure.”

“Yeah, I guess. But that was because your father told you to, right? It wasn’t Winona’s will. Winona didn’t want to do that, right?”

“Well… that’s true, but… but…”

“Just for now, let’s put a stop to it.”

When I gently stroked her head, Winona looked down shyly.

Perhaps she’s not used to being petted.

“Ah!”

Just by moving my hand, her body tensed up. However, gradually, as if getting used to it, her body relaxed.

“I understand the situation, but I’m not Winona, so I don’t know Winona’s true feelings or what you want. Hey, Winona. What do you want?”

“I-I want to be Shion-sama’s wife.”

“That’s your father’s wish, right? What about your own wish?”

“M-My wish…?”

“Yes, your wish.”

“I-I don’t know my wish.”

Winona shook her head in fear.

It didn’t seem like her true feelings. I thought she was told to do so, or not to do so.

I continued speaking.

“Then, what do you like to do?”

“I-I don’t know…”

I see.

She’s been living under instructions all this time. Not even knowing what she likes. Pressed down so much that she doesn’t understand her own will or preferences.

So, that’s why she was always scared.

I hardly know anything about Winona. So, I don’t want to assume that I understand her.

She doesn’t know herself.

If she doesn’t understand her own will.

I should ask this question.

“What is something you… don’t want to do?”

“Me… something I don’t want to do…?”

“Yes. Something you don’t want to do. What don’t you want to do? Dislike or hate, anything is fine.”

I tried to be as gentle as possible.

Winona, who is older than me, looked like a frightened young child. Like a child who can only cry out of fear.

Every time I stroked her, she swayed a little from side to side. She seemed more relaxed than at the beginning.

“W-Well, I…”

“Yeah?”

“…I’m not good with people.”

“I see. I thought so. Anything else?”

“Uh, I’m not good at talking. Because I can’t talk well. But, I don’t dislike talking itself.”

“How about listening?”

“I like it. I like listening to stories. I’m happy when I think you’re talking to me. I like it when Shion-sama asks me a lot. When you say it’s okay to rest, my heart warms up. I also like it when you tell me the food is delicious after we eat.”

That was something she “liked.”

She has things she likes too.

She just hasn’t realized it.

No, maybe she’s deliberately suppressing herself from realizing it.

“How about household chores? Do you dislike them?”

“I-it’s not that I dislike them, but cleaning is a bit tough.”

“S-sorry. I plan to hire more people, so please wait a bit.”

“N-no! I-I’m sorry, too. Th-thank you for saying that. I-I didn’t mean to be impudent.”

“You’re not being impudent. I’m happy when people express their opinions properly.”

I continued to stroke her head.

Words and expressions alone couldn’t reassure her.

That’s why I kept petting her.

Sometimes, things can be conveyed through touch more than words.

Even if she couldn’t hear or see, I wanted her to understand my feelings.

“It’s okay, I’m not angry. Don’t think that way.”

Did my feelings get through? Winona cautiously glanced at my expression as if trying to gauge my mood.

“It’s okay. I won’t get angry,” I said, recalling later what I had forgotten.

I had gotten quite upset in front of Winona once, although I don’t remember much. According to Rafi, I seemed like a different person. I must have messed up pretty badly.

Thinking about it made me break into a cold sweat.

But Winona wasn’t scared.

For some reason, with my earlier words, she seemed to regain composure rather than being frightened.

“W-well, Shion-sama is a kind person.”

“Huh? Oh, well, I did get pretty angry before at the facility, but…”

“T-that was indeed scary, but… Sh-Shion-sama was angry for everyone’s sake. So, while it was frightening, it wasn’t scary, if that makes sense. Shion-sama is always kind, and I really like that about you.”

“Huh? I-is that so? Haha, that makes me happy.”

Does this girl realize what she just straightforwardly admitted? If I were just an ordinary virgin or a typical adolescent boy, I’d totally be falling for her. I forcefully restrained my increasingly noisy heart.

Calming myself, I spoke to Winona.

“Hey, Winona. I know it’s not easy considering your position, but can you stop selling yourself short? It’s not something you and I would want.”

“I-if I do that… what about Father’s…”

“His long-cherished wish won’t come true, huh? But even if he becomes a Marquis using such a method, it’s just a temporary solution. I think it would fall apart soon. I’ve only recently become a Marquis, and this position doesn’t seem secure. Even if you marry me, I don’t think your father’s wish will come true.”

Winona seemed like she wanted to say something but closed her mouth and looked down.

“S-so, what should I do?”

“What you should do? Isn’t it up to you? What do you want?”

“What I want…?”

“Yeah. I don’t intend to badmouth your father. But I still believe that even a child should walk their own path in life. Of course, not everyone has the luxury to choose, and some are forced into their lives. Accepting that and compromising to live is also a valuable life that shouldn’t be denied. But, Winona, are you truly content with your current life? Winona, I’ll ask again. What do you want?”

Judging from her usual behavior, actions, and her current demeanor, it’s clear that she doesn’t find her current life desirable. It’s an individual’s freedom to choose the path they walk. What may seem like a strange choice from my perspective might be the right one for that person. So, there’s only one condition I use to judge: whether the person themselves is satisfied.

Winona isn’t satisfied.

If that’s the case, then the course of action is clear.

However, deviating from the current environment and starting a new life is no easy task. It’s scary, filled with uncertainty, and there’s a strong desire to stay in the familiar surroundings. Even if the path ahead promises happiness, some might choose to remain in their unhappy present.

I can understand such thoughts.

But there is no happiness in that life’s future.

If you want to be happy, you need the courage to break free from unhappiness and move forward, even if it’s frightening.

“I-I-I, I… I… I… This way of living, I hate it! Living a life just for someone I don’t even know, just for my father, I hate it. I want to live more as a girl. I want to dress up! Make friends! Travel and see different sceneries! I want to learn many new things! And, and I want to fall in love…”

Towards the end, she covered her face, looking embarrassed.

She must have put in a lot of effort.

She summoned the courage to confront her feelings.

That takes a lot of bravery.

Even though I only know a part of her life so far, I can understand. She has endured for a long time, and she has longed for change.

I said as smoothly as I could.

“I see. Then, let’s go ahead and do those things you want to do. Winona, your life still has a long way to go, and we can start from now.”

“B-but, if we do something like that, my father…”

“I’ll handle it somehow. Despite appearances, I have some privileges, you know.”

On good terms with the queen, they say. I’ve accommodated quite a few of her requests. She should be willing to accommodate some of mine. I’ve been paying a considerable price, and I will continue to do so. So, she should be willing to listen to a few whims. If not, I’ll figure something out.

“E-even if I could leave home, it’s difficult for a single woman to live on her own. I’m the eldest daughter of the viscount’s family. If I leave, I won’t be able to continue working. And, my father will likely bring me back.”

“I can handle that situation, and if necessary, I can provide shelter. I won’t do everything for you, but if you want to work elsewhere, I’ll find a way. There are too many details to go through, but financially and otherwise, I intend to lend you a hand. I’m the one who lit the fire, so I’ll take responsibility.”

With her mouth hanging open, Winona stared at me, clearly taken aback. Well, it’s a bit difficult for me to respond when she looks so surprised.

“Why, why go to such lengths?”

“One, because it feels like fate. Two, because I brought it up. Three, because I want to. And four—”

I paused for a moment before continuing.

“—Because it seemed like Winona was asking for help.”

Winona continued to look at me with a surprised expression. However, soon her expression changed. She contorted her face and burst into tears, as if a dam had been released. And then, she threw herself into my chest.

“Aaaah! Uaaaaah! Uu, aaaaah!”

I gently stroked her back as she cried, comforting her with the assurance that everything would be okay.

“There, there, it’s okay now. It’s okay.”

“Uu, Shion-sama! Shion-samaaaa!”

I gently touched her head. Now, she didn’t flinch just from being touched. Winona accepted my actions without reservation. I continued to stroke her head repeatedly, like soothing a young child. The sobbing and crying continued incessantly, with no sign of stopping anytime soon.

○●○

On the day of the training seminar, I had already woken up, changed into my attire, and completed the preparations for the seminar.

“Um, let’s see, pens, ink, paper, magic books, and just in case, bring Raika… Also, don’t forget the curriculum sheet for the training lecture. What else—”

Despite double-checking multiple times, I felt like I was about to forget something. I thought to myself that I could be quite absent-minded and needed to be more careful. I also considered my appearance.

Looking in the mirror, I checked my outfit. It was different from my usual attire, a formal outfit but not the kind I would wear when meeting the Queen. It was more of a semi-formal attire, not overly restrictive but different enough to feel a bit uncomfortable. I wasn’t particularly tall, so it didn’t have the best appearance, but I wasn’t too concerned about looks.

Oh, right, I needed the single-winged cloak too. It was part of the formal attire symbolizing loyalty to the state. Whether I truly had that loyalty or not was a different matter, but I had to remember to wear it when entering certain places.

In any case, everything seemed fine now. There was a knock on the door, and when I signaled for entry, Winona walked in.

“Ah, um, Shi-Shion-sama, ju-ju-ju…”

“Oh, calm down, Winona.”

Her face was bright red. Not just her ears, but her entire neck was flushed. It seemed she couldn’t look straight at me, as Winona’s gaze repeatedly shifted from the ceiling to the floor.

I, too, felt my face heating up. After the events of last night, when we faced each other in the morning, both of us almost simultaneously averted our gazes. It was only natural after baring our hearts, getting emotional, touching, and embracing.

Now that it was morning and we had regained our composure, feeling embarrassed was only expected. Anyway, we couldn’t let the awkwardness linger.

I shook off the embarrassment and tried to articulate my words.

“Um, well, the preparations are done. Shall we head out soon?”

“Y-yes. Le-let’s go.”

Two awkward individuals. However, it felt like the high walls that had been there until yesterday were gone. There was still distance between us, but the path ahead seemed straight.

We were just starting. If we gradually got closer and became friends, that would be good. Not in the romantic sense, but in building a friendly relationship. As we walked down the corridor toward the entrance, I subtly asked.

“But is it really okay? Not telling your father. I can approach him for you.”

I wouldn’t be the one directly negotiating, but well, considering the decent achievements I’ve made so far and the various tasks I’ll continue to take on, it’s reasonable to expect a bit of accommodation for such requests. The Queen shouldn’t have any objections… at least, that’s what I think.

“Y-yes… I, I’m still not mentally prepared. I’m sorry to bother you, Shion-sama…”

Winona’s reaction was expected. It’s impossible for her to suddenly decide to leave her home after just one day. Winona has lived according to her father’s instructions for a long time. Her life is ahead of her, and she needs time to decide her future with her own will. She can change gradually. Until then, I intend to take care of her.

“No, no, it’s not a bother at all. It’s reassuring to have Winona as a maid. You’re capable of housework, and you’re considerate. I think you’re a very talented person. Besides, I know you have a kind personality.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t earnestly help treat a patient with a laziness syndrome. She’s a kind person. Just incredibly awkward and straightforward to a degree I’ve never seen before, which makes me anxious from time to time. But that might be part of her charm.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Even while talking, Winona remained silent, so when I turned around, she was looking down. Only her ears were visible, and they were bright red. Perhaps she still felt embarrassed.

“N-nothing, it’s nothing at all.”

“Really? Well, if you say so.”

At least she seems lively, and that’s a relief. Both her mind and body seem lighter compared to yesterday. Being able to talk with Winona honestly was significant. There aren’t many people in the capital with whom I can be close. Maybe that’s why I felt happy to become a bit closer to Winona. I realize I’m quite simple-minded as we arrive at the entrance.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Y-yes!”

Her response was more spirited than usual, and I was a bit surprised. Winona seemed surprised by her own voice too, but she quickly blushed. I gently placed my hand on Winona’s head. Our heights were almost the same, so it didn’t feel awkward. Winona didn’t shrink away. She just looked up at me as if observing. She wasn’t frightened. Sensing that, my heart warmed. I naturally let out a smile, and Winona responded with a smile of her own. It was the first time I saw her smile.