034 - Leslie Berdandy (1)

"Why don't you drink the tea, Torenia, ah, I mean, Teacher? Is the tea not to your taste?" asked a young girl sitting on the sofa elegantly, looking at the girl who was sitting on the sofa opposite her.

"Haha, no...."

Torenia, or Faerie, the black-haired girl, couldn't help but smile awkwardly to hide her panicked emotions when she realized what she was in.

'How did this circumstance come to be?'

One hour ago...

The luxurious hallway, which is filled with expensive and fancy furniture, unique decorations, and other items like a big statue lion, is filled with the sound of footsteps.

Unfortunately, the owner of the footsteps was unimpressed by the luxury, instead looking sullenly at the big and grand staircase.

She went to the library on the second floor at first, but she had to walk up to the third floor when she discovered that Leslie had locked herself in the study room instead.

'How come this castle is so huge?! It's inconvenient for the maids to have to go up and down the stairs!'

Faerie, the owner of the annoyed-sounding steps, was not at all impressed with the castle because despite its size and grandeur.

She just walked up to the third level while pushing a trolley full of food.

"Be careful, Torenia!"

When they spotted Faerie heading towards the stairs leading to the third floor, many young maids shouted kind warning words.

Faerie smiled sweetly in response to the friendly warning but pouted again when she noticed the number of stairs she had to climb.

"How do you get up the stairs with this trolley?"

Faerie now regretted her decision to decline the butler's assistance in helping her bring breakfast rather than placing food on a trolley.

Faerie reasoned that asking someone older than her for assistance would be more difficult than simply pushing food with a trolley, which seemed easier.

"I should have accepted the butler's offer before..." Faerie whispered in a weak voice.

'No, no. I need to deliver this breakfast before Leslie gets angry and fires me!'

Faerie took a big breath and attempted to push the trolley upstairs one step.

"Whoa!" When she witnessed the trolley full of food being lifted into the air with ease, Faerie let out a cute yelp.

"Hello, Torenia! Let me help you, hehe." Faerie's ears were filled with the cheeky laughing of a young boy.

Faerie instantly glanced to her side and saw a tanned young boy with a mature face pulling a trolley full of food with ease.

"... Who?" Faerie's gray eyes blinked cutely.

"Huh? Torenia, my goodness! Have you forgotten about me? I met you yesterday in the outside washing room!"

"You quickly forgetting me makes me very sad."

"...?" Faerie found the boy's faux mournful expression unpleasant.

Instead of responding to the words, Faerie simply gazed at the young boy, not knowing what he was talking about.

'Washing room?' Faerie pondered.

"Boni! I, Boni, am in charge of transporting food supplies and cutting wood!"

Faerie gazed at Boni, one of the few teenage male workers in the castle.

"Ah… You were the one who helped me with drying the clothes! Thank you for your help back then!" Faerie smiled brightly, which made Faerie's face even more appealing to Boni, who had just been intoxicated with love.

Boni giggled softly to hide his rotting tomato-red face.

"Do you want to deliver breakfast to Miss Leslie?"

Faerie gave a polite nod.

Seeing Faerie's uninterested reaction made Boni want to pursue her even more.

"Then let me help you carry the trolley every time you deliver food for Miss!" Boni said cheerfully.

Instead of being pleased to hear the offer, Faerie promptly turned it down. "No need!"

"Next time, instead of bothering other people who are busy with their various chores, I shall deliver meals one at a time!"

"I see…" Boni couldn't help but smile awkwardly and couldn't give Faerie any reason to accept his offer.

However, he immediately added, "at least let me help you carry this trolley first!"

Faerie could only respond with a little smile. She couldn't say no because Boni had already lifted the trolley before requesting Faerie's permission.

So, in a tranquil mood, they began going toward the study room.

'If only this boy would quit talking....' Faerie pondered as her ears continued to hear Boni's pointless babbling.

"Torenia, you know? I, Anna, and Lina once argued over a gift from Young Master Liam."

"Though it's for men, I don't understand why those two women who will only work at home desire it?"

Faerie scowled in disapproval at the content of this tanned young boy's loud talk.

"What the— Ah." When Faerie learned one fact about the world of this novel, she stopped talking and let out a little gasp.

'I guess I forgot that there isn't gender equality in this place yet.' Faerie scratched the back of her neck stiffly.

"Yes? What's wrong?" Boni asked Faerie, who had abruptly stopped speaking.

"No, no." Faerie smiled to hide her annoyed face.

"R-Really?"

"Yes."

"Haha." Boni laughed, expecting that the uneasy situation would fade away, but Faerie had disregarded him.

It made Boni sad for a few seconds, but he immediately recovered.

'Let's try going out to dinner with her!'

When Boni refused to give up and decided to rely on his luck to invite Faerie to dinner, Faerie had already opened her mouth.

"That is Miss Leslie's study!" Faerie's voice was upbeat. Meanwhile, Boni drooped his shoulders as he recognized the study room directly in front of him.

"Thank you so much for your help, Boni. Now get back to work before other servants find you!" Faerie pushed Boni away before he could explain his hidden motives for helping Faerie.

Boni finally went with a sorrowful expression on his face, but Faerie didn't care.

"Huffft...." Faerie breathed and let it out to calm her upset emotions caused by Boni.

"That's alright! Don't become tense! I just need to bring this breakfast and leave!'

Knock, knock.

Faerie gently knocked on the door of the private study.

"Come."

Without hesitating, Faerie stepped into the room, which had a strong floral scent.

Instead of seeing Leslie, who was sitting on a sofa with a book in her hands, Faerie looked at the scented candle that had accompanied Leslie.

'What is this scent?'

For some reason, she was both interested and eager to see the scented candle that gave off a floral aroma that she didn't identify yet felt familiar with.

But she instantly diverted her gaze and concentrated on placing the food on the table.

"Miss, breakfast is ready. You can enjoy it right now," said Faerie once she had done placing all of the food from the trolley on the round table.

Leslie gazed at Faerie instead of the food on the table.

"Torenia."

"Yes? Do you require something?"

"Do you know the difference between magic and divine power?" Leslie asked abruptly.

Faerie surprisedly blinked. But she quickly figured out why Leslie had abruptly asked her.

Her gaze was drawn to the book titled 'The Theory of the Creation of Power', which Leslie had read before.

'Looks like she's read another difficult book....'

Even yet, Faerie didn't hate her, instead, she was inquisitive as to why people in other worlds could summon odd powers from within their bodies when those in her world couldn't.

'Does she expect a serious or a random answer from me?' Faerie looked at Leslie, who was beaming at her.

'...But isn't it odd for her to ask such a simple question of a maid?' Faerie couldn't be suspicious about Leslie and the head maid's weird behavior, but she couldn't show that she was aware of it. She had to act innocent.

"Acting... Acting.... " In her mind, Faerie repeated the word.

"Ahem... The origin itself is already different."

"Magic can be developed by absorbing natural energy, whereas divine power is bestowed to those who believe in Gods."

Leslie, who was initially excitedly waiting for Faerie's answer, eventually reverted to her calm face after hearing Faerie's response.

'That's all? If that's all, even a well-educated child knows that.' Leslie felt let down.

She thought she had exaggerated the ability of the maid named Torenia, who was exceptionally adept at brewing tea and cooking food on a completely another level than the other maids.

'Does 'white' refer to something else than 'perfect'?'

'So, what exactly represents the white that surrounds her body?'

'Were her intentions too pure? Is her divine power equal to that of the Pope? Or what...?'

'Don't tell me she's really...?'

Leslie instantly shook her head. She shouldn't think that way about other individuals.

Leslie was about to finish this conversation and order the black-haired maid out of her study when the maid said something that made her jaw drop in surprise.

"What needs to be researched further is how one's body might receive power."

"If everyone could awaken to become a wizard and change natural energy into magical power at command, the world would be overflowing with them. Similarly, if people believe in God, this world would be filled with people endowed with divine powers. As a result, this world will be populated by powerful individuals."

"Because the possibilities of a strong person desiring to rule their territory were quite high, but they were at odds with each other because there was no one to be subject to."

"That would throw the world off balance, and increase the probability of more wars."

"Um, let's get back to the previous topic. So, it seems that there are additional prerequisites for one to awaken and become a wizard, and it also appears that not everyone who relies exclusively on faith in Gods may attain divine power."

"For example, having an ancestor who could generate exceptional offspring, having a high affinity, talent, ancient artifact, or perhaps some other unknown significant factors."

"Because some people may be able to have two different types of powers at the same time."

When Faerie explained this to Leslie, she remembered a character in a shitty novel who could have two different powers.

'What is he doing now?'

Even though she was hesitant, Faerie felt compelled to hurry to him for her mission to 'change the world for the better'.

'I'll worry about it later! For now, focus on getting back God's Blessing!'

"How---Miss...?" When Faerie noticed Leslie's astonished reaction, she covered her mouth.

'I think I overreacted to the question...?' Faerie stroked her head uneasily, taking the initiative to get out of this room as soon as possible before something bad happened.

Unfortunately, Leslie had already grasped Faerie's hand.

"Torenia, please be my teacher!" Leslie exclaimed joyfully.

"What, wh-what?" Faerie blinked her gray eyes as if doubting her hearing. She has déjà vu.