Esme’s guard was solid.
In fact, if you had even a little bit of sense and common sense, it would be strange to think that you could borrow the ‘Dual Casting’ magic book.
If there was even a slight chance, I would ask again, but since Esme firmly told me to come and read it every weekend, it seems like I have no choice but to learn the ‘Old Demon Language’ on my own and read it in my spare time.
But can I even learn that? I don’t recall such a feature in the game.
“Nom nom…”
“Murmur, were you really hungry? You’re eating so well!”
Nicasia said with a bright smile.
“Yeah, I was a little hungry. And it’s delicious.”
I, Murmur, stabbed the fork into the cream cake and brought it to my mouth, munching away.
But seriously, this is really delicious. It’s the best cake I’ve ever had, and since I’m still hungry, I keep eating.
“You’re eating so cutely.”
“I was worried it might not suit your taste! You finished dinner so cleanly earlier, right?”
“Hmm~~ I feel the effort I put into preparing it was worth it!”
Seeing the maids laughing in the corner, I guess I didn’t do anything wrong, right?
I just ate what was given to me, and it was delicious.
“Huhuhu, all the maids in our household are skilled. Among them, Pearl is the best at baking.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It’s delicious.”
I stabbed another large piece of cake with my fork and munched away.
They really make it well. Even by real-world standards, this is incredibly well-made, right?
From the fruit-topped cream cake to the chocolate cake, they made it all.
“Nom nom, munch munch…”
“So cute…”
Nicasia rested her chin on her hands, smiling brightly as she watched me.
“There’s also pie. Murmur. Apple pie.”
“I’ll eat it.”
If not now, when will I get to try it? Let’s eat heartily!
“You’re eating so much.”
“How does that much fit into such a small body?”
“She doesn’t eat that much when dining with Princess Nicasia… I guess she was saving up.”
“Ah… I think I understand a little why the princess said she’s cute.”
Ignoring the adults’ chatter, I reached for the apple pie Esme brought.
Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve ever had this kind of pie.
“Nom nom… Munch, it’s delicious. It’s delicious, Esme. So crispy and soft, it’s my first time having something like this.”
“Really? I thought apple pie was a common dessert. Don’t they have it at restaurants?”
Is that so? But I’ve never had it before.
“Yeah, it’s my first time. It’s really delicious.”
“… … Eat as much as you want! Murmur! We can have as much apple pie as you want!”
Esme pushed a cup filled with milk towards me as she spoke. I was feeling a bit thirsty, so this is perfect.
“Gulp… gulp…”
“Oh my, she drinks milk so well without disliking it.”
“She doesn’t seem to be a picky eater!”
“Ah… so cute! Look at her holding the cup with both hands!”
… What’s going on? Why is everyone calling me cute?
Is this bullying?
“Hmm… it’s delicious, but there are a lot of crumbs.”
“Don’t worry about that, Murmur. I also get crumbs on my mouth when I eat pie. And we’re going to take a bath after the meal anyway.”
“Take your time. We’re eating together too, right? Pearl used to say that if I got crumbs all over my lips again, she wouldn’t make pie for me next time.”
Next is the bath, huh? At least I’ll have some personal time.
I feel like I’ve used up a lot of energy today. I was also thinking about what to say to Esme to borrow the magic book.
“Yeah, I got it. Murmur can wash herself.”
“Hmm? We’re taking a bath together, Murmur.”
“… Together?”
“Yes, of course we should bathe together.”
Do people usually bathe together?
They don’t, right?
“Murmur can do it alone…”
“No! We should bathe together! After all, you’re our guest spending the day with us, right? It would be very rude to let Murmur bathe alone.”
That’s not a thing.
I, Murmur, shook my head vigorously.
“I want to do it alone.”
“We should bathe together! Murmur!”
“We’ll help you wash! Miss Murmur!”
“Don’t worry. Unlike the Academy, the bath in this mansion is very spacious.”
“Bathing together~ chatting with friends~ it’s a good experience, right?”
No. No.
That’s not the issue.
“Murmur doesn’t like it. Alone…”
“I know you can wash yourself, but we should bathe together. Let’s bathe together, Murmur.”
Nicasia grabbed my shoulder as she spoke.
“I-I’m in the 5th grade of elementary school… bathing together is a bit…”
“What does age have to do with bathing together?”
“Let’s bathe together! Murmur!”
Ah! I really don’t want to!
* * *
“Ugh…”
I, Murmur, tightly closed my eyes.
What should I say? I feel like if I open my eyes, I’ll cross a line I shouldn’t cross.
Even though I’ve gotten somewhat used to life at the Academy, I’ve only deeply felt that I’ve become ‘Murmur,’ not that I’ve become a ‘girl.’
Of course, there are moments when I can’t help but feel it, like in the bathroom or during morning showers, but that’s different.
“The bath is surprisingly… nice. I really like it.”
“Isn’t it just Nicasia saying it’s nice?”
“Ah, well… I’m not bragging, but the Imperial Palace’s bath is so big that it doesn’t even feel like you’re bathing at home.”
“Is that rumor true? That even if all the maids in the palace bathed together, there would still be space?”
“Surprisingly, I think it’s not a lie.”
Can someone please get these two ladies talking in front of me out of here?
“Murmur… did something get in your eye?”
Esme held my hand tightly as she spoke.
“It’s not that.”
“Then why are you closing your eyes?”
“… I feel like I shouldn’t open them.”
This is a line I shouldn’t cross.
How can I look at Esme and Nicasia naked?!
If I see that, it’s really over, right? I shouldn’t see it, right? If I have any conscience, I absolutely shouldn’t see it, right?
They’re in the 5th grade of elementary school! I can’t look at that!
“Murmur sometimes says strange things. You’re still dressed, too.”
“That’s why I sometimes think she’s cute.”
Who’s the woman speaking behind me? Judging by her tone, is she Nicasia’s maid?
Why is the maid here? Aren’t the three of us bathing? Are they really going to ‘help wash’ me?
“Miss Murmur, I’ll help you.”
“Wait, no…”
Before I could do anything, hands from all sides quickly stripped off my clothes.
“Ugh…!”
“Are you… embarrassed, Murmur?”
Nicasia stroked my cheek with a gentle voice. Then she pressed my cheek lightly with her thumb.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed, Murmur.”
“It’s not that.”
“We’re friends. I think it’s okay to bathe together like this.”
“But… I understand. If Murmur feels uncomfortable, I’ll give you some time to wash alone.”
If you say that, what am I supposed to do?
Ah, really…
“… Okay.”
I gave up and cautiously opened my eyes to look around.
First of all, thankfully, the steam filling the bath didn’t conveniently obscure Nicasia and Esme’s bodies.
“Let’s wash together.”
“Huhuhu, were we being inconsiderate?”
“It’s not that.”
What can I say? Now that I’ve opened my eyes, I can’t help but notice something.
Nicasia really has a mature body. Knowing what this girl is worried about, seeing her body growing up so quickly makes me think a lot.
But, are you really in the 5th grade of elementary school? It doesn’t seem like it. The curves of your body are so different.
First of all, I know it’s pink. Don’t input any more information, my brain!
“Were you embarrassed? It’s okay, Murmur. I also suddenly grew a lot taller.”
“It’s not because I’m short.”
Esme was average.
Let’s not think about it further.
But wait, she naturally called me short? Sure, there’s a height difference where my face reaches Esme’s chest, but it’s not that much, right?
“Ah… perhaps?”
Nicasia belatedly brought her right hand to her chest and made a covering gesture.
“Murmur will soon be like this too.”
“It’s not that!”
Why are they suddenly looking at me like that?
Do they see me as a little demon girl struggling because puberty hasn’t hit yet?
This is bullying. Bullying!
“Don’t worry, Miss Murmur. Today, I’ll do my best to assist you.”
“Ugh…!”
What’s this now? Do maids usually strip and help wash? Isn’t that not normal?
Isn’t it? Is my common sense universal? Right?!
“Ah, right! Nicasia, is it okay? I’m asking a bit late.”
“Of course. I also bathe together when it’s bath time.”
“Huhu! Nicasia, you think like me? I think it’s too inefficient to order people to wash while dressed.”
“Right? After all, they’re the ones who spent my childhood with me. I don’t want to treat them too harshly.”
I get the setting, I get the story!
Me! I don’t know where to look!
─ Splash!
“Ugh…!”
I don’t know. I give up.
It feels rude to look at the maid who’s cheerfully starting to wash me with a helpless expression.
“But… Murmur’s body is really small.”
“… Isn’t it rude to say that after stripping me? Murmur thinks so.”
“Ah? What? Well… ahem. Sometimes when I look at Murmur, she seems mature.”
Of course. Do you know how old I really am?
“I agree with that thought. Ouch ouch ouch…”
Esme rubbed the foam in her eyes as she continued.
“You saved me, who was being bullied and saying bad things, Murmur.”
“It’s not like… you said anything really bad. And we’re friends.”
If I had left it alone, we would have fought a lot.
Honestly, I felt at ease because Esme did well in the cooperative assignment back then.
“I think that’s amazing. I’ve never thought about becoming friends with someone who said bad things about me.”
“I’ve always been taught not to make enemies, but I think it’s not easy.”
“In that sense, Murmur seems really mature. But on the other hand, her body is so small and cute… hehehe.”
I instinctively covered my body with both hands.
“Nicasia just… laughed weirdly.”
“Me? Ah… no!”
“You laughed! Nicasia! Hehehe!”
“Ah, no! I, I didn’t…! Riola, don’t laugh! I didn’t laugh like that!”
Nicasia’s face turned red as she desperately denied it, but no one took her side.
* * *
“Murmur! Come here!”
I really ended up wearing a sheep pajama.
What’s more annoying is that I actually like this fluffy white wool.
I want to deny it, but it’s comfortable…
“Ugh…”
Even my head is wrapped in a sheep towel. Sheep wool, sheep head, and even horns.
I’ve become a full set of soft, fluffy sheep.
“You’re not taking pictures anymore, right?”
“Huhuhu, yes, I’ve already taken them all.”
“I didn’t know Esme had a camera. Isn’t that one of the demon race’s technologies?”
Nicasia, also wearing sheep pajamas but somehow reminding me of a different animal, snuggled up next to me as she spoke.
On my right is Nicasia, on my left is Esme…
Save me. It’s suffocating!
“Well, I don’t particularly like demon race technology, but… I think a camera is fine. It’s also my mother’s item.”
Esme smiled and handed the camera to Pearl, then quietly looked at Nicasia.
Ah, right, we agreed to look at it together before bed.
“First, I apologize, Esme. Given the situation, I read some parts before you.”
“No, it’s thanks to Nicasia finding the will that Aunt Colette gave up and ran away, right?”
Nicasia smiled and pushed a box towards Esme. Inside was a slightly fancy-looking piece of paper.
“Mother’s written…”
Esme swallowed hard, blinked, and began reading the will with both hands.
The contents were clear to me too, so I could summarize it.
『The head of the Bloodberry family, Amara Bloodberry, is of sound mind and body, and I declare this to be my will by magic. I also announce that my beloved daughter, Esme Bloodberry, is the sole heir to my estate.』
The will, starting in a rather stiff tone, stated that the head of the Bloodberry family, Esme’s mother, had designated Esme as the next head and transferred all the family’s assets to her.
It detailed what assets were currently available, how to manage the territory by referencing certain books, and the dignity and etiquette the family head should display.
“Thank you, Nicasia… It’s been a long time since I felt my mother’s magic, and it felt really good.”
“I hoped it would help Esme, even a little. And of course, Esme should have been the first to see this document.”
“Huhuhu, isn’t this also the power of making good friends? Do you see the last sentence?”
Esme fluttered the will and showed it to us.
“‘To my beloved daughter, Esme, who has made irreplaceable precious friends.'”
“Esme’s mother, whom I briefly met when I was young, was truly dignified and wonderful.”
“Huh, huhuhu! Of course! My mother was truly amazing!”
Esme laughed happily, put the will back in the box, and pushed it towards me.
“Can you read it, Murmur?”
“Murmur can read the common language.”
To play along with Esme’s joke, I reached for the box containing the will.
“Huh?”
Just that simple action made Esme widen her eyes in surprise. Honestly, I’m also taken aback.
What’s this?
“Murmur… what did you do?”
It was a natural question. Just by touching it, the box started glowing brightly.
“Murmur didn’t do anything.”
“I know! But it’s glowing! Sorry, let me check for a moment!”
Esme hurriedly took the box back and opened it, taking out the will. The glow was coming from the will.
But this seems like magic, not light.
“My… goodness. I wondered why I felt my mother’s magic…”
“Esme? What’s going on?”
“The content has changed. Look!”
『To my beloved daughter, Esme, who has made irreplaceable precious friends, my jewel』
The will, glowing brightly, was an adult’s warm consideration, telling us that Esme and I had made the right choice.
