Chapter 32 – Flower of the North Sea (4)

“Welcome! This is the Farencia Academy Convenience Store Café!”

Adela’s debut at the store café was quite successful.

Contrary to my initial plan of having her do cleaning if she wasn’t helpful, she managed customer service and beverage preparation competently, even as I stood behind the counter with my arms crossed.

Although she sometimes pilfered bread from the showcase… I could deduct that from her salary later.

“Ahem, could I get a raspberry tea and a peppermint tea, please?”

“Yes, just a moment!”

The first visitor to the café wasn’t a student but a servant from a noble family.

A young apprentice valet seemed startled when he made eye contact with Adela through the glass door before entering.

He ordered two teas, not exactly a suitable choice for a man in his mid-twenties, tasted them carefully, and then left.

He was probably testing the place to see if it was good enough for his masters.

After that, several more servants came by. Judging by their differently designed cravats, they were from various noble families.

Some had heard rumors about Adela Silvesta and swallowed antidote pills hidden in their sleeves, just in case.

Fortunately, there were no accidents while I was watching, and a few days later, students began to visit the café.

Adela seemed to be having a great time, smiling brightly as she made coffee and served it to the customers.

“Enjoy your drink… I mean, please enjoy.”

Her speech was slowly improving, though I found her former way of speaking endearing. Erzebert, however, did not.

“May I take your order?”

“Um, just a moment. Sorry.”

“Take your time.”

“Ahem… Are you a first-year?”

“Yes. My name is Adela.”

A male student stared at Adela like a deer caught in headlights.

Whether he was looking at her face or the way her figure was accentuated as she leaned forward to take his order, it was hard to tell. Tsk, tsk.

Adela was like a siren, attracting all sorts of attention.

It wasn’t good for her future, but I didn’t want to let her go either.

Watching their internal struggle was quite entertaining.

However—

“Teacher, I’m done cleaning.”

When Adela approached me, it felt overwhelming.

“Teacher~?”

“…Yeah, you’re done for the day.”

“Did you have dinner?”

“Not really hungry.”

Huh? Was she always like this?

She was still innocent and straightforward, standing close without any sense of personal space, but my response was different now.

It was hard to meet her gaze as she looked up at me.

Her light floral scent, indicating her upcoming social debut, filled the air.

“I haven’t had dinner either…”

Even if Erzebert hadn’t warned me not to touch her hair, I wouldn’t have dared.

I quickly stepped away from her, probably a bit too fast.

“You ate a lot of bread earlier.”

“No, I’m hungry again. Want to check?”

Check what? Where? Don’t say things like that.

“Just go home. I’m closing up.”

“Fine.”

I ushered Adela out and stood at the counter, feeling somewhat regretful.

Lately, I had been pushing her away like this more often, making things awkward.

“Hoo… I wonder if I’ll get used to this.”

The store was running well and making money.

Since Adela solved my problems, I shouldn’t hinder her from finding a good husband, as Erzebert said.

But why did I suddenly feel sorry for the nobleman who would take her hand?

***

She’s doing well today too.

Through Phi’s eyes, Erzebert observed Adela working.

The <Synchronization> with a familiar was a basic requirement for a tamer.

It had various uses, from sharing senses to using magic remotely and analyzing battlefields for strategic planning.

A skilled mage could control their familiars as if they were their own limbs.

One of the five dukes, the Duke of Gastronomy, reportedly controlled ten familiars simultaneously, but that level was beyond Erzebert.

In fact, she was barely able to keep up with Phi’s movements.

— Phi, move a bit to the side. I can’t see Adela.

“Phi—.”

Despite her mental commands, Phi mostly ignored her, busy grooming its feathers or waddling around the bar made of rosewood in front of the counter.

Sometimes it would bathe in the water bowl meant for drinking.

Erzebert didn’t mind these actions, except for one.

— Phi, please listen! Why do you keep going to that man!?

Phi kept approaching Louis, tapping his fingernails or nudging him with its head playfully.

Louis, avoiding Adela by staying at the counter, would play with Phi when it came close, sometimes giving it a glimmering look.

“Oh, what’s up?”

“Phi—.”

“Want a pet?”

“Phi—!”

— No, don’t… don’t touch it! Please… Eek!?

Louis, who seemed to like animals, would pat Phi roughly, almost knocking it around.

The problem was that Erzebert felt these sensations as well.

The insistent touch would have left red marks on human skin, but Phi seemed to enjoy it.

“Is this good too?”

“Phi—!”

— Kyaa!

When his fingers, which had been tickling the beak and head, slipped behind the wings to ruffle the feathers, Erzebert abruptly broke the synchronization.

“Haa, haa…”

In the carriage bathed in the evening glow, she was fortunate Everett was training Carl and following behind.

Erzebert writhed from the intense sensation she felt moments ago.

The feeling was inexplicable, far beyond a mere caress.

At times, it felt as if her waist would lift, and tears would well up.

She initially wondered why she felt this way, but none of the taming magic books had any relevant information.

Finally, she found the answer in a book by Robert Danilen, an authority on zoology.

[Some birds in the parrot family have sensitive areas all over their bodies, including their heads. Be careful when petting them.]

“This is ridiculous…”

She covered her face in shame inside the carriage.

Not only did she feel Louis’s touch, but it also evoked unexpected reactions.

This was utterly humiliating.

“I can’t let this go on. I need to warn Phi… Ha, but it won’t listen. It’s better to warn that man.”

Today had been an exhausting day.

As she succumbed to the fatigue in her weary body, Erzebert closed her eyes, leaning back in the carriage.

“Yes, I’ll tell him tomorrow… no, I have Professor Roilen’s group project tomorrow. Then the morning after… I’ll wake up an hour early…”

Her flushed face slowly calmed, and her labored breathing eased into a gentle rhythm.

She drifted into a peaceful rest, finally letting go of her myriad worries.

When she woke up in front of the mansion, her mind was much clearer than usual.

***

“One Vienna coffee, please.”

“Yes, I’ll bring it right away.”

Lately, Adela seemed a bit down. The reason was Louis.

It was fine when she first started working at the store, as it provided more chances to be close to him.

However, once she started working, Louis barely looked at her.

When they were alone before opening or during quiet times, he would go through the door behind the counter into the store.

His tone had also become more distant.

“Teacher, my apron came undone.”

“Tie it back.”

“Can you do it? My hands are covered in cream…”

Using her apron as an excuse, Adela got closer to Louis.

Despite his annoyance, he kindly untied and gently pulled the strings.

Oomph.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah… it’s comfortable like this.”

Even though she knew it was cheeky, Adela leaned against him.

She inhaled Louis’s scent. It felt nice to brush her neatly set hair against his chest.

She wished time would stop here.

“All done.”

Thwap.

With a skillful tug, Louis tied her apron and pushed her away.

“Go make the coffee. The customers are waiting.”

“Fine, I get it.”

Reluctantly, she stepped back. Even while making the coffee and serving it, Adela’s eyes never left Louis.

He was playing with the bird Erzebert had left in his care.

Does he like that bird more than me?

Jealous of the bird, Adela thought her feelings were irrational.

Just then, someone burst through the door.

“Princess?”

“Haa… You’re doing well, Adela. I just needed to stop by.”

Erzebert, slightly breathless and different from usual, walked straight to the counter, took Phi from Louis, and placed it on her shoulder.

— I need to talk to you alone.

— What’s the matter?

— Just come with me. We need to talk.

— …Alright. Let’s go upstairs.

A certain word in their conversation caught Adela’s ear.

Upstairs.

Adela remembered seeing Liv Labre follow Louis upstairs from across the street.

That day, she had been dragged away by Ansen.

It wasn’t just an arbitrary connection.

Once again, she had to watch Louis disappear with another woman, leaving her behind.

The teacher said he liked smart people.

Even though she tried hard, he still didn’t look at her.

“Excuse me? Can I place an order?”

Maybe he just doesn’t like me. Maybe he thought of me as a nuisance and kept his distance.

Her heart ached. She had hidden her feelings, but time might be running out.

Losing someone precious was the saddest thing for Adela.

“Yes, just a moment. Please wait…”

For the first time in her life, she forced a smile and then slumped behind the counter.