Chapter 55

Marielle liked how Allo was reserved but considerate in his细腻的关怀. When she got tired, he would immediately notice and suggest she take a rest. He would also match his walking speed to hers. In fact, he was very knowledgeable and remembered all the lessons he had taken with Regnart. When Marielle asked him something, she liked how he would explain it in a very clear way.

"Allo is so knowledgeable. You must be very smart," Marielle said, impressed. However, Allo always felt embarrassed and said it was nothing.

He still called her "princess" and treated her like one, which made her a bit embarrassed but also happy.

Recently, she wanted to know everything about Allo. Before, they had just enjoyed playing together, but now Marielle wanted to cherish Allo as much as he cherished her. This made her worry about his slightly dirty, ill-fitting clothes and his thin frame.

"Allo, do you live in the Sieg family's mansion?"

When Marielle tried to make tea, Allo would quickly stand up and make it for her. The tea he made always tasted a bit sweeter, even though it was the same tea leaves.

"I don't live in; I commute. My parents live in the city."

"Really? I thought you said you were from an orphanage."

"I was taken in by the Sieg family while I was at the orphanage, but I do have a family. Just my father."

Marielle was surprised that someone with a family could be placed in an orphanage. Allo didn't elaborate, perhaps not wanting to talk about it.

"Do you work as a servant by commuting?"

"Not exactly a servant, but I'm hired for odd jobs. I do whatever I'm asked to do. I accompany Lord Regnart as a porter, but when I'm back at the mansion, I spend most of my time in the kitchen."

Marielle hadn't really known much about Allo's job. Perhaps his clothes got dirty quickly because of the odd jobs. In Pencilia, the lower servants often got dirty and changed clothes frequently. Tan, being a servant, was usually only around to take care of Eidan's daily needs, except during training.

Marielle took a sip of tea and looked at Allo carefully.

"Um... if you don't want to say, you don't have to. I know it's a very impolite question."

"Yes."

"Um... how much do you earn?"

The average income for a typical household was 30 silver per month, about the price of one of Marielle's shoes. She had recently learned about the lives of commoners in class and understood the value of silver and pennies, the smaller denomination of currency.

Allo didn't seem upset at all. Instead, he tilted his head apologetically.

"Ah, I... I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

Could it be that he didn't receive any pay? If so, she couldn't just stay silent.

"My pay is given directly to my father. Since I'm still a child, I can't manage money."

Marielle felt uneasy. She had heard that the Sieg family didn't provide uniforms for their staff, unlike in Pencilia, where only the higher-ranking maids received uniforms. Everyone else had to provide their own. So, she thought Allo's clothes weren't new because his family was poor. She hadn't realized he might not have any money at all.

"What does your father do?"

"He doesn't work. He's ill and can't work."

"Oh, that's tough."

"It's not. We receive enough pay to live comfortably with my father, and we're provided with housing. The Sieg family has been very kind to us."

Really...?

Marielle swallowed her words.

"Is something... wrong?"

Allo asked, concerned.

"No, it's fine. I just wanted to know if you were having any trouble. If you ever need anything, please let me know. I want to help you."

"Thank you. I've never had tea with anyone before... You're teaching me things I've never done before. I feel very privileged."

Allo smiled gently.

His black hair swayed in the breeze, and his eyes narrowed slightly, making Marielle's heart feel heavy.

"Being with you like this makes me very happy. Thank you."

But... just for a tea party every few months?

I want to do more for you.

Even when she invited him to tea, Allo didn't eat much. He just watched her eat with a happy expression.

When Marielle told him to eat because it was delicious, he would finally take a bite and say, "It's delicious," in a reserved manner.

It was frustrating, but she didn't know what to do.

Marielle knew that if she showed more concern for Allo, Rias and Eidan wouldn't be happy. The knight and Lena watching from a distance would surely report back to her parents later.

"How are you doing at school?"

"Um?"

Allo broke the silence and asked quietly.

"You said you would go to school. I was wondering how it's going."

"Um... it's fun spending time with my girlfriends."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Allo didn't ask any more.

Since Allo had also attended school, he knew what it was like.

"Please don't tell anyone."

"Yes."

Marielle wanted to talk to Allo. She thought he would listen to her, just listen.

"To be honest, it's pretty boring. Of course, playing with Bella is fun, but we could do that without going to school. ——You know, I don't have any magic. I'm like a caterpillar at school."

"Like a caterpillar...?"

"The teachers sigh openly and always compare me to my brother. They say, 'In Pencilia, you should be able to do this.' ——I want to say, 'What do you know about Pencilia?'"

Actually, she had said it, but the teacher pretended not to hear and left.

"Every day, they whisper about me from a distance. If they said it to my face, I could respond. But I can hear everything they say. They only say it behind my back because they can't say it to my face."

"What do they say?"

"They call me 'useless without magic,' 'a waste of a treasure,' and 'a Pencilia dropout.' What angers me the most is when people who have nothing to do with me talk about what I'm good for."

Right, being insulted isn't that big of a deal.

What bothers me is that they have expectations and then feel disappointed, and not only that, they talk about what I'm good for.

If I don't have magic, what about academics? If I can't do academics, where should I marry?

It's none of their business.

"——Oh? Talking about it made me feel better."

Marielle laughed, feeling relieved, though she wasn't sure why she had been feeling so frustrated.

Allo looked a bit hurt.

"I don't have magic either, but there are more people in the world without magic."

"True."

Among commoners, that's the case. At school, there are only a few commoners.

"I'm just an ordinary person, but you are different."

Allo looked up.

His deep, black eyes focused on Marielle.

"You are a wonderful person."

Said with conviction, it felt like the words sank into her heart. Marielle stood there, dazed.

She hadn't lost all her confidence, but she had felt like she was a useless person.

Before entering school, Marielle thought she could be anything. Her busy parents still raised her with love, and when she felt lonely, she could go to the castle where Ortimet and her grandfather would dote on her.

So, for her family, her clan, and her country. As the eldest daughter of Pencilia, she wanted to take on some responsibility.

Like her brother, like her father.

But then she was told it was impossible for her. While she wasn't so naive or weak to be devastated, she had some pride. She didn't want her family to know about this treatment.

She told herself it wasn't a big deal, but she didn't want to disappoint her family if she couldn't meet the world's expectations.

So, she was simply happy.

Allo's words felt like they had solidified her wobbly foundation.

"Thank you, Allo."

Marielle smiled gently, a mature, blooming, sparkling smile.