Chapter 11 – The Witch and Her Apprentice (12)

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“Hooah…”

Estelle woke up to the morning sunlight streaming in.

She hadn’t slept well, having stayed up late working on something secretly without Josie knowing, and now she desperately wanted to sleep a little longer.

But she had to get up. Normally, she would have woken up to the sound of Josie preparing breakfast, but she couldn’t ask a sick person to do household chores.

She gently stroked Josie’s head, who was still sound asleep, hugging her tightly, and carefully got out of bed, trying not to make any noise that might wake her.

“Maybe porridge would be best?”

It had been over a hundred years since she’d last been sick, so she wasn’t sure what would be good. She tied on an apron embroidered with a butterfly pattern.

Vegetable porridge, it had to be.

Perhaps because it was a Japanese game, the staple food in this fantasy world was rice. As a Korean who also grew up with rice as a staple, she had adapted quickly.

She entered the kitchen, picked up a kitchen knife, and rolled up her sleeves. It had been three years since Josie had taken over the cooking duties. The knife, the apron, and the kitchen itself all felt strangely nostalgic.

“Just you wait, Josie. I’ll make you the most delicious breakfast!!!”

Was cooking always this enjoyable?

She hadn’t even started yet, but the thought alone made her feel oddly excited.

But her excitement was quickly met with a big problem.

The result of not stepping into the kitchen for three years was disastrous.

“Where did I put the vegetables…?”

After turning the kitchen upside down, she finally found the vegetables.

She washed the potatoes, carrots, and onions, peeled them, and cut them into pieces. Then, using magic, she lit the fire and started by frying the potatoes in the pot.

“Alright, now add the water…”

Once the potatoes were soft, she added water and rice, stirring well.

“Bubble, bubble, bubble.” As the porridge began to simmer.

She added the prepared carrots and onions, poured in more water, and let it boil.

“It’ll be boring if it’s too bland. A little salt.”

The taste wasn’t perfect, but it was decent enough to eat.

She ladled the porridge into a bowl, placed it on a tray, and carefully carried it to Josie’s room, making sure not to spill it.

“Josie, are you awake?”

Josie was still deep in sleep, hugging a pillow instead of Estelle. Estelle couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

She set the tray on the table and pondered how to wake Josie up. It was a happy dilemma.

If she didn’t wake her up soon, the porridge would get cold.

She poked Josie’s cheek lightly.

Maybe I should let her sleep a little longer.

“Mmm…”

Perhaps feeling the touch on her cheek, Josie’s eyes fluttered open. She squinted at the sunlight streaming through the window, stretched, and sat up. Estelle greeted her warmly.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“ Lady Estelle…?”

Still half-asleep, Josie rubbed her eyes and then froze like she’d been struck by lightning when she saw Estelle in an apron.

“I’m sorry! I’ll hurry and make breakfast…!”

“Now, now, calm down. You’re still sick.”

Estelle held Josie’s shoulders to calm her.

Josie struggled, insisting she was fine now, but it took some effort to settle her down. Maybe she really was better.

Hehe. Josie, you should know it’s already late to be waking up now.

Confidently, Estelle brought over the bowl of porridge and smiled.

“I made breakfast today. Just sit still. Oh, and no chores today.”

“What!?”

“Why are you so surprised? I used to do all this before you came along.”

She’s always so easily shocked.

Estelle blew on a spoonful of porridge to cool it down.

“Open wide~ Ah~”

“I can eat by myself…”

Josie blushed and tried to take the spoon, but Estelle wasn’t having it!

She held the spoon high, easily dodging Josie’s attempts.

“Broomstick incoming~ Whoosh~”

“Really… I’m not a child anymore…”

A perfect opportunity.

Estelle had been worried Josie wouldn’t open her mouth, but she did, distracted by the playful banter.

“……How is it?”

Munch, munch.

Estelle waited for Josie’s verdict. What if it’s bad? What if she lies and says it’s good? That would be worse than her saying it’s bad.

Gulp.

The sound of Josie swallowing was unusually loud.

After chewing and swallowing, Josie looked up and spoke.

“It’s…”

“It’s?”

“…good.”

Josie’s face turned red as she averted her gaze, and Estelle let out a sigh of relief.

She had been nervous, not having cooked in three years, so the relief was palpable.

“Really? You’re not lying?”

“Really.”

Estelle could tell Josie meant it, but she wanted to keep the conversation going.

It was amusing to see Josie, who always acted so mature, being shy like this.

“So, what did you like about it?”

“Um… the carrots.”

Estelle remembered Josie mentioning she liked carrots during their late-night conversation. Good thing she didn’t forget.

“Should I do the broomstick thing again?”

This time, she scooped up as many carrots as possible.

“Lady Estelle. Please, not the broomstick…”

Josie’s face turned even redder, and she looked like she was about to explode.

Was she always this shy?

Estelle felt her inner mischievous witch stirring.

“I’m a witch, you know. I don’t like doing what people ask.”

“Ugh! I really don’t like it!”

Hehehe.

Just kidding, of course.

Estelle decided to back off, worried Josie might hide under the blankets if teased any further.

“Alright, no broomstick. Open wide~”

“Ah, ah~”

“Good. Good.”

One bite. Then another.

After a while, she stopped asking Josie to open wide and just fed her.

She wiped the porridge from Josie’s mouth and made sure she didn’t eat too fast, matching her pace.

When Josie finished the bowl, Estelle handed her a glass of water.

“Shall we take a bath together?”

“N-no! I’ll do it myself!”

Josie’s shyness had reached its limit, and she wrapped herself in the blanket, hiding.

Did I go too far…?

 

---

 

“By the way, no taking care of patients today.”

“Huh?”

While drying Josie’s hair with magic after her bath, Estelle dropped the most important rule.

If Josie thought about why she got sick, the answer would be obvious.

Whether Josie understood her concern or not, Estelle added another condition.

“No loitering near the cauldron either. I’ll take care of things today.”

“But you said it was my responsibility.”

Her mind hadn’t changed.

Saving the last remaining patient was still Josie’s responsibility.

But even if the man woke up, there were additional measures needed.

Due to the excessive potion use, if he woke up, he’d have the physical strength to wrestle an orc and win.

And since his background was a mystery, there was no telling what kind of person he was.

If he harmed Josie while Estelle wasn’t around…

A terrifying thought crossed her mind.

It was better to be safe.

She needed a safety measure.

“I’m just worried about you, Josie.”

After finishing drying Josie’s hair, Estelle hugged her from behind.

A pleasant scent rose from Josie’s hair.

“But… I have a condition too.”

“A condition?”

Josie hesitated, as if it was hard to say, but then turned around and looked Estelle in the eye.

“Um… please don’t laugh, okay?”

“Alright. I won’t laugh. Should I pinky promise?”

Estelle held out her pinky, and Josie hooked hers around it.

“Pinky promise.”

What’s with her? A condition not to laugh?

Did she grope her chest while we were sleeping or something?

She’s at that curious age, and seeing a large chest up close might have been a bit stimulating.

While Estelle was lost in her own wild thoughts, Josie, still holding her pinky, spoke cautiously.

“Um… can I call you… Mom?”

Huh?

Did she just call me Mom?

Estelle was speechless, and something struck her heart.

It was different from before—a feeling that filled her chest, something indescribable.

Josie’s feelings, which she must have agonized over, were conveyed through the tightly linked pinkies.

“I-I’m sorry! Lady Estelle, don’t cry! It was just a joke! I mean… I mean…”

As Josie flustered, thinking she’d overstepped, Estelle touched the tears streaming down her cheeks.

I’m crying.

Why am I crying?

I’m not sad, but the tears won’t stop.

“Lady Estelle, I’m sorry!”

Why is she apologizing?

Josie, trying not to cry, pretending it was all a joke, as if she hadn’t been hurt.

Estelle hugged her even tighter.

“Josie~ Josie~~!! Josieeeee~!!!!!!”

She felt like she was flying.

She didn’t know what to say except to call Josie’s name.

“Can you say it again? Quickly!”

Estelle released the hug and looked Josie in the eye.

“Um… Mom?”

“Yes, I’m your mom. Mom! My beloved daughter.”

She hugged Josie tightly, over and over, until Josie begged her to stop. Estelle didn’t know how else to express her feelings.

For someone who had lived her only life watching others’ love and pure affection, this was an incredibly difficult task.