Chapter 10

I dozed off.

Was I in the middle of fetching water?

Or was it school?

Tina tried to recall her current situation but realized it didn't fit any of these scenarios.

Something's not right, she thought, and this question fully awakened her half-asleep consciousness. She began to remember one by one: how she had entered the Forest of Temptation with Adeline for a dare, and how she had collapsed when she heard a mysterious voice.

Finally, she arrived at the crucial question: "Where am I?"

First, she was lying on a wooden bed.

The bed and furnishings were luxurious, far cleaner than her parents' restaurant.

Through the window, she could see the forest.

On the ceiling hung a small but intricately crafted chandelier.

Tina had no idea where such a grand place could be.

It might even be cleaner than the lord's mansion.

"Then, this must be—"

It took her this long to finally reach the correct answer.

Or perhaps, she had been vaguely aware but didn't want to face it.

This is a mansion in the forest.

However, she couldn't understand why she had been brought here and put to bed. The easiest assumption was that someone had rescued her. But she and Adeline had definitely been scolded by someone. It would be dangerous to think they had been kindly protected.

"Ah, you're awake?"

The door creaked open, and a voice called out.

Tina was so startled that her heart nearly leaped out of her mouth.

The only beings that could call to her in the forest were evil spirits.

"Ah! S-Sorry, sorry! Sorry for entering without permission!"

But of course, the one who entered through the door was not an evil spirit but a real person—Jill.

"Ah, calm down, calm down. I'll take you back to the edge of the forest after you rest a bit."

"Um, yes."

Tina tried to bow, but Jill gently stopped her.

Only then did Tina finally get a good look at Jill's face and figure.

She seemed kind.

Older than her brother but younger than her parents.

Straight orange hair and calm eyes.

She had the air of a school teacher.

However, Jill's clothing was completely incomprehensible to Tina.

"Clothes..."

"Hm? Ah, yes, they are quite unusual, aren't they?"

Jill smiled sheepishly.

To Tina, they were far from just "unusual."

In the Dylann Magic Kingdom, what immediately indicated one's high status was their clothing.

And embroidery.

Noble robes and mantles often featured colorful embroidery of the kingdom, city, or family crests. For private wear, some nobles would have scenes from mythology or floral and avian motifs embroidered on their mantles and robes, spending considerable time and effort on the decoration. Others would have luxurious clothing made from fabrics woven with various colored threads.

For the undergarments, they would embroider geometric patterns or neatly edge the neck and sleeves to create a subtle elegance.

On the other hand, commoners' clothing was simple.

Mostly single-colored, with only the necessary stitching to prevent fraying at the sleeves and neck. Elaborate embroidery was rare unless one was a high-ranking merchant close to the nobility, and even then, it was often for repair purposes. While some commoners were fashionable, wearing noble-like clothing was discouraged as it could lead to misunderstandings. They might wear woven or knitted fabrics, but these were rarely as elaborate as those used by the nobility.

Commoners had various ways to enjoy fashion while avoiding trouble. For example, they might add decorative ties or accessories to their clothing. In the harsh winter, sweaters were essential, and no one would criticize the creativity put into knitting them. Some would use tie-dye techniques to create polka dots or other patterns, but in the Dylann Magic Kingdom and the broader Algenes region, such techniques were not well-developed. Aesthetically, clear and distinct patterns like embroidery were preferred.

In short, the idea of using dye for fashion was not common in this land. It was almost impossible to think of such a concept without exposure to foreign magazines or books.

"Sky..."

"Hm? What is it?"

"You're wearing the sky. It's so beautiful."

So much so that Tina even doubted whether she could categorize the person in front of her as a human. Such vividly dyed clothing was hard for commoners to obtain. Moreover, the way the clouds were represented without dyeing was something Tina had never seen before.

To a rigid person, Jill's attire might have elicited a mix of curiosity and criticism.

But Tina was still a child, and she had the honesty to say that something beautiful was beautiful, unbound by convention.

"Hehe... Thank you. Well, I didn't have time to change into regular clothes."

"Are you a witch? Or a fairy?"

"Ah, no, that's embarrassing. Ah, would you like some tea before you leave? I also have dessert."

With a bashful smile and somewhat awkward movements, Jill started preparing the tea.

◆

Jill had learned various cooking and tea-making techniques from her uncle Conrad.

Conrad was not only well-versed in the traditional court cuisine of the country but also knew many foreign dishes. When young Jill asked about their origins, Conrad never gave a clear answer.

However, after coming to this mansion, Jill had a vague idea of the origins. It was probably the same as her own.

In any case, one of Conrad's specialties was pudding—specifically, custard pudding.

The ingredients were simple: eggs, cream, sugar, and a flavoring to mask the egg smell. It was a very basic dessert, but it was also a dish that tested one's fundamental cooking skills.

Jill often enjoyed pudding made by Conrad in her childhood. It was a nostalgic taste. She had also learned the recipe. This time, she intended to enjoy the dessert and tea as a celebration of making her first dress. But she felt like sharing it with the young guest who had complimented her on her first try.

"Wow, it's so delicious...!"

"Oh, thank you."

"Really...? It's even better than my father's... I can't believe it..."

"Such high praise makes me blush."

Jill's pudding was exquisite.

Even the picky Conrad had praised it highly.

There were three things Jill paid attention to when making pudding.

First, ensuring no air bubbles were mixed into the batter.

Second, straining the mixture of egg and cream to make it smooth.

Lastly, maintaining the correct temperature during the water bath.

Jill used the magic of [Liquid Manipulation] and [Heating] to perfect all these steps.

Incidentally, she could also control the optimal temperature for brewing tea and the jumping of the tea leaves, always bringing out the best flavor. Jill's tea parties were actually a rare and enchanting experience, even for nobles.

Seeing Tina seriously enjoying the pudding, Jill smiled contentedly.

"Amazing... The sweetness, the texture, the balance is perfect. There's no alcohol smell, yet there's no egg odor. How is this possible?"

"Ah, the flavoring is hard to come by. It's a rare item. I got it by chance."

"Is that... a secret?"

"You seem to ask like a pro?"

"Ah, s-sorry... My parents run a restaurant."

"Then, you're a future pro, aren't you?"

When Jill smiled, Tina blushed and laughed. The panic from earlier was gone, and Tina seemed completely relaxed.

(I'm glad she's calmed down.)

Just as she was feeling relieved, a loud voice was heard.

"Witch lady! I'm sorry!"

"Please return Tina!"

It was more like a sob or a cry than a call.

Several children were crying and calling out Tina's name.

Jill felt like she had become a bad dragon or a demon demanding a sacrifice.

She was impressed by the bravery of the little heroes.

"Friends?"

"Y-Yes."

Tina blushed and nodded in response to Jill's question.

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