The Tiny Witch from the Deep Woods: Volume 2, page 20
Seeing the duke’s silence, Ryne smiled bitterly. He had claimed he wasn’t here to blame Deenoark for anything, but that was the impression he was giving, was it not? Apparently, his feelings weren’t quite so easily digested as Ryne had thought.
“I’m sorry. I came to see Misha. Where is she?”
After shaking his head at Ryne’s quick apology, Deenoark explained Misha’s current situation. Ryne immediately frowned.
“It just had to be there.”
“Pardon?” Deenoark asked, Ryne’s murmur too quiet for him to make out.
Ryne shook his head. “Oh, nothing. I’ll go visit her right away.”
Deenoark immediately offered to arrange a carriage for him, but Ryne declined. Ryne could also understand why Deenoark would look so gloomy at the sudden departure. There weren’t that many people he could talk to about Leyas. He would have liked to at least speak with him for a little.
But as if oblivious to Deenoark’s feelings, Ryne pulled up his hood and lifted his bag from the ground at his feet. His brain was already hard at work, plotting the quickest route from here to Redford.
“Okay then, see you around. I’ll send Kyne back if anything happens.” With that lighthearted goodbye, Ryne disappeared among the trees.
Even after his departure, Deenoark stared after him, watching the motionless and silent trees for quite some time.
Chapter 19: Sudden Surprises
“A ball?” Misha echoed as she delivered Lalaya’s meal.
“That’s right. There will be a ball to celebrate the coming of summer. They hold one every year at this time. Not just in the castle either—there will be celebrations all throughout the capital. It’s quite pretty with all the lanterns.”
Now that Lalaya mentioned it, Misha did remember there seemed to be a lot of shops selling lanterns recently.
“Sounds like fun. I wonder if I’ll be allowed out at night,” Misha murmured as she poured Lalaya’s special juice.
After downing the beverage, the princess replied, “I guess there’s no harm in asking, but I doubt it. They’ll want you at the ball.”
“Me? At the ball?!” Misha exclaimed, her attention torn away from her preparation of Lalaya’s postmeal medicine.
“No one told you?!” Lalaya shot back, equally shocked.
This was, of course, the first time Misha had heard of the ball, so she’d had no way of knowing that her attendance was expected.
“No, they didn’t.” But when she turned and saw the grin on Lalaya’s face, she immediately understood why that was the case. “Lady Lalaya, you’ve been stopping people from telling me, haven’t you?”
Lalaya giggled at Misha’s bitter glare. “Don’t worry. I personally arranged a dress for you. All that’s left is for you to try it on for the final adjustments.”
“Lady Lalaya!” Misha all but screamed. If Lalaya had a dress ready for her, then there was almost no chance Misha would be able to escape. “That’s not the issue! I can’t dance!”
Naturally the main attraction of a ball was the dance. There would be no way for her to avoid it.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. Ryan’s pretty good, so if you learn the basics, he’ll do the rest.”
Lalaya’s attempt to “ease” Misha’s concerns only made her panic more.
I have to dance with the king...?
As Misha stood thunderstruck, Carrie stepped forward to relieve her of Lalaya’s medicine. At the same time, another maid stepped up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Without further ado, please try on the dress,” Lalaya said. “After that, we’ll call the dance teacher and get you some lessons. I’m feeling really good, so I think I’ll be able to go for the whole night this time. I can’t wait.”
It was impossible to tell whether Lalaya’s smile was innocent or scheming. But Misha did understand one thing: There was no running away from the gentle hand of the maid on her shoulder.
“Lady Misha is our guest of honor, after all.”
But when she turned a desperate look on Kino waiting at the edge of the room, he replied only with a respectful bow. The maids didn’t hide their excitement after that.
“Come now, Lady Misha, this way. Let’s also think of how we’ll do your hair while we’re at it. I can’t wait!”
“I’ve always wanted to dress up Lady Misha!”
“It’s no fair that she never lets us do anything for her!”
As the excited maids pushed Misha from the room, she looked back to see one last delighted smile from the princess...and was given a final bombshell.
“The ball is in three days. Good luck.”
After leaving, Lalaya felt like she could hear Misha screaming in the distance.
“I’m exhausted...” Misha muttered, lying flat on her desk.
“The dress does look really good on you, though,” Tia said, bringing over a pot of tea without mentioning Misha’s unladylike behavior. The tea cup clinked down on the table, and the aroma wafting from it drew Misha back up to a proper seated position.
“Thank you.”
She had just finally been released from trying on her new dress and was now taking a break in one of the guest rooms. Her dance lessons were next. She was just waiting for the teacher to arrive.
Even after Misha had been granted use of the cabin in the castle garden, Tia and Isabella still served her whenever she was inside the castle itself. They’d occasionally poke their heads in at the cabin as well. At this point, their relationship looked more like that of sisters than master and servants. Misha was of course elated by this, and she’d even sit down and eat meals with them when they had time after work. She had grown much more comfortable around the maids, and when there were no other onlookers, they would secretly step out of their roles and chat idly with her.
“Can you dance, Tia?”
“I guess so.”
Becoming a servant in the castle required one to have a respectable background, so the maids were almost always daughters of low nobility. Tia was no exception, being the second daughter of a baron, and so she had received proper education in things like etiquette and dance as part of her upbringing.
“If only you could take my place for me...” Misha muttered, knowing it was a hopeless wish.
“No one can do that, I’m afraid,” Tia replied with a wry grin.
Misha had knowledge and expertise to put professional doctors and apothecaries to shame, but could still be remarkably childish and naive. The contrast was adorable, making Tia want to spoil her even more.
Even now, Tia couldn’t stop smiling. The way Misha drank her tea with her shoulders slumped made the maid feel sorry for her, but at the same time, it was undeniably cute.
Misha had golden hair that practically shone from within and jade eyes so big and bright that they seemed likely to pop out of her head. She was undeniably beautiful, but when she put on a long dress and had her hair done up, she was stiff and awkward. It was like she preferred dressing as a commoner. She was supposed to be the daughter of a duke, but she hardly looked the part.
Tia had been chosen to attend her for the sole reason that they were relatively close in age. She had been so nervous to be serving such an important guest that she could barely eat on that first day. But once they had actually met and talked, Misha’s frank and honest demeanor was so cute, Tia wished she could trade her own cheeky little sister for her. And yet at times, she’d suddenly come across as extremely refined and mature. She truly was a mystery.
In particular, when she was dressed up in formal wear like when she had been trying on the dress just prior, her beauty left them speechless. Those who worked for the castle were well accustomed to seeing attractive people, but even the older maids had been taken aback. Pride surged inside Tia’s chest. Yeah, my girl’s the best! she’d wanted to shout.
“It’s okay. The basic steps are the same no matter the country, and they aren’t that difficult. You’ll pick them up in no time,” Tia said with a smile, refilling Misha’s tea.
Misha sighed quietly. She worried that Tia and Isabella had a strong tendency to overestimate her. Right now, she was way in over her head.
But I guess I have no choice. It’s already decided, so there’s nothing I can do but try my best. That’s all they can ask of me, right?
It wasn’t like her to mope for so long, so Misha finally decided to turn her mood around. At the very least, being able to actually move sounded more fun than sitting and standing on command for a bunch of other people to decorate her.
I guess now that I think about it, I used to dance with dad.
Back in the forest, they’d danced in the living room of their little cabin. They had even roped her father’s escort into it. Her mother had supplied the music for them, playing the flute or singing.
Misha had been so short that she had only held her father’s hands while dancing, but it was still fun, and her mother and father dancing while embracing had been a beautiful sight.
Misha was pulled from her recollections by the sound of a knock at the door. Assuming it was the dance teacher, she started getting ready, but Tia came back from answering the door in a confused state.
“Lady Misha, apparently a messenger has come from Bluheitz, sent by your father.”
Misha could tell by Tia’s bewildered expression that this was not part of the plan. She was a bit unsure how to deal with it herself. It seemed today was going to be a day of unexpected plans. There was no point in stewing on that alone, though. Misha granted permission to admit the guest. And when he came in following Kino, her eyes shot open wide.
“Kite!”
It was the young knight that had helped her while she stayed at her father’s mansion. Perhaps because he was visiting a foreign castle, he was dressed up in his formal knight’s uniform, and his black hair was combed back, making him look almost like a different person. Misha had been used to seeing him in rough shirts and pants, so his appearance came to her as a shock, but when he bowed formally with an amused look in his indigo eyes, her sense of surprise was totally replaced by the joy of reuniting with an old friend.
“Why are you here all of a sudden?!” Misha dashed over to him in excitement, and Kite’s serious expression started to falter.
“I am here to deliver something for the duke.”
“Deliver something?” Misha echoed, tilting her head. What could that be?
“You had your measurements taken before you left the mansion, remember? The clothing we were having made for you was finished, so I came to deliver it.”
“Oh yeah!” Misha blurted out. Because she was perfectly happy with the clothes she already had, she had entirely forgotten, but she did recall now that all of the clothes they had given her were garments that had been adjusted for her on the fly. She had assumed it would always be too much work to make something from scratch for her.
“The luggage has been taken to your room in the castle. Please take a look at it later,” Kino shared politely.
“You came all the way here for that?” Noticing Tia’s gaze urging her back into the room, Misha hurriedly invited Kite in to sit. In no time, tea and snacks had been laid out for them.
“Yes. I was also asked to check in on how you were doing. Unfortunately, the duke himself was unable to visit in person,” Kite explained, a faint smile pulling at his mouth while he sipped the tea.
Despite his rough, calloused fingers as a knight, Kite had an unmistakable air of elegance. Misha couldn’t help but notice that as he handled the teacup.
“How is my father recovering from his injury?” Her greatest concern slipped its way out of her mouth before she could even think of anything else.
“It’s going well. He has committed to the exercise plan you planned for him before your departure, and is now able to walk short distances without a cane. Riding is still out of the question, but he is capable of traveling to and from the castle by carriage. As such, he has returned with vigor to his work,” he replied smoothly, evidently prepared for the question he knew would come.
It was so smooth, it got a laugh out of Misha. She could tell her father was working hard to keep her from worrying.
“His wound has probably just closed, so please remind him to take it easy. How is everyone else recovering?” she asked.
They spent some time talking, Kite politely replying to Misha’s questions, until another knock sounded at the door.
“The dance teacher has arrived,” Kino announced, and Misha’s face fell a little.
“Could it be you’re learning to dance?” Kite asked.
“Apparently, I have to attend the ball that’s coming up, so I’m starting my lessons...today,” she explained as she slumped her shoulders.
But then a thought occurred to her, causing her to look hard at Kite. A knight as young as he was serving a duke would have to be a noble, right? Misha had learned after coming to Redford that it was quite rare for actual commoners to serve those of high status. Geord was a notable exception. That meant Kite was likely nobility too, and that meant he probably had a noble’s upbringing...
“Kite...can you dance?”
He hesitated. “A little.” The look in her jade eyes gave him nothing but ill premonitions, but he found himself answering honestly anyway.
Misha’s eyes sparkled. “You’re just here to deliver my clothes, right? That means you have no other plans? Come with me!”
“You’ve got to be joking,” he blurted out reflexively, but there was no one there to chastise him for it. “I was thinking of going to see the castle town.”
“Just as a tourist, right? Don’t worry, I’m quite familiar with the city, so I can show you around later!”
It was his first time in the country, let alone the castle, and now he was going to be subjected to a dance lesson while being watched by all kinds of people. Even imagining it was tying his stomach into knots, but before he could find a good excuse to save himself, Misha had grabbed his hands and leaned in close.
“Please, Kite.” As much as her words made it sound like a request, her hands made it quite clear she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
After an extended silence, Kite finally broke and turned his face away. “Okay, fine. Just back up a bit please. You’re far too close.”
Elated with getting the answer she’d hoped for, Misha wasn’t even bothered when he pushed her away by the shoulders. Just the opposite, she jumped up from the sofa with a happy smile.
“Then shall we go? Please show us the way, Kino.”
Misha was almost skipping down the halls, happy to have a friend alongside her...followed by Kite very much dragging his feet.
The dance lesson ended up being more fun than she’d expected. Although her own dancing had been nothing but her playing around, she must have paid close attention when she saw her mother and father dancing together, as she absorbed these lessons with remarkable swiftness. As Tia had said, the difference between what she was being taught and what she had seen from her parents was pretty small, so it wasn’t much effort to correct it.
But above all, Kite’s performance as the lead was excellent. Even with the height difference between them forcing him to take a bit of an awkward hold, he was skilled enough that it didn’t hinder her enjoyment.
“Next time we’ll have you dance in shoes with proper heels. That should give you a bit more height, and so make it a bit easier for you,” the middle-aged teacher said.
She was quite pleased that Misha had found a partner for herself, and the fact Misha had a better grasp of the fundamentals than expected meant they could advance to the second song faster than planned.
Kite, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as pleased with his fate. The moment the teacher was out of the room, he was off to the corner, finding a sofa to sit down on. The hour or two they spent dancing wasn’t enough to tire out a trained knight like him, but he couldn’t say the same about an hour or two of being observed dancing by strangers in a foreign castle. It had been mentally exhausting.
“Why me...?” he muttered, head in his hands.
“You’re a very good dancer, Kite. I was surprised you even know the steps for women.” Oblivious to his mental state, Misha plopped down on the sofa across from him with an innocent smile.
“It is part of our cultural training as knights. Since there are so few women that train to become knights, we end up having to learn both the lead and the follow roles in practice. It’s a pretty awful sight,” he sighed, sitting up to take the tea offered him.
The chilled herb tea was refreshing after their exercise. He had to hand it to Redford. Having the ability to produce ice for drinks at this time of year was impressive. He could tell from this one cup of tea just how much they treasured Misha here.
As he heaved another sigh, Misha’s expression turned a bit anxious. He really seemed tired, and now the guilt for that was gnawing at her.
“I’m sorry. Now that I think about it, you just arrived in Redford, didn’t you? You must be tired.”
“Yes, I just arrived this morning, but you don’t need to worry about that. It’s not my body that’s tired,” Kite tried to deflect, a bitter smile on his face, getting a confused look out of Misha.
Across the room, maids whispered excitedly as they watched the two on the sofa chatting. That was a sight he was used to, so it didn’t bother him. But he couldn’t say the same for the gaze he was getting from Kino, the man dressed as a butler waiting by the door. His gaze was cold, analytical, weighing everything about Kite from his general athletic ability to his competence in combat. He made no effort to hide his ruthless examination. And judging by his gaze, it didn’t look like he liked much of what he saw. It took a certain level of self-awareness for one to notice Kino’s appraising gaze, so it was a difficult thing to express to Misha.
But when Kite threw a glance at Kino standing behind Misha, the butler responded with a grin. As expected, the harsh gaze had specifically been to test him.
Stifling a sigh, Kite pulled a small box out of his pocket. If he were really just here to deliver clothes, there would have been no reason for him to see Misha at all. He had also been asked to deliver one more thing to her personally.
