Chapter 4: Sly Smile

Always, waking up early in the morning is tough.

I wasn’t the morning type before, and I’m not now either.

Especially when I’m soaking in a warm bath like this, my body becomes even more languid.

“Haa…haa…aah…”

Incomprehensible groans escaped my lips involuntarily.

I had been educated in etiquette to the point of it being ingrained in my ears for the past 10 years.

Walking with grace, sitting with poise.

The nagging words of never forgetting that I am a Duke’s daughter.

I was so tired of the nagging that it’s now ingrained in my body, but I occasionally let loose like this when I’m alone.

‘It wasn’t bad.’

The first class ended like that, and I don’t remember how the next class went.

I remember taking a class, but I must have been sulking because I was a bit upset.

To sulk over such a thing, I must have become a child even in spirit.

Still, at this level, I could barely give myself a passing grade.

Hmm, I even had a conversation with Jenny. And I didn’t cause any major problems.

This is normal.

I lightly ignored the voice inside me that mocked me for proudly thinking about such obvious things.

I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m serious.

It’s warm.

Steam was rising from the water heated in the tub, and rose petals were floating on the surface.

I stretched my legs out and submerged myself up to my neck.

I could see the bathroom ceiling made of opaque stained glass.

Although it was dawn, the rising sun gradually shone through the stained glass, illuminating the bathroom.

‘…Yellow.’

Knock knock.

Not just any yellow, but the brilliant radiance of gold.

As far as I remember, that wasn’t just a sign of talent, but a light emanating from the greatest genius in history.

‘…Annoying.’

Splash splash.

Water droplets splashed from the surface as my arm weakly struck the water.

My eyes narrowed as water splashed on my face.

Of course, it’s not my place to be annoyed.

I, myself, emitted a dark purple glow different from the hue of Tréa in the original work.

I want to praise myself for that.

Instead, I decided to think about Teperre for a moment.

I searched my memories and thought back to when I read this novel.

What kind of emotions did I feel when I saw the main character?

I was the type to skim through novels.

I barely remember, and it’s hazy, even the things that Tréa, the character I possessed, did.

Even so, Teperre was a character so “protagonist”-like that I remembered him in detail.

Kind, smart, and positive, a character that everyone couldn’t help but like.

I felt ashamed of myself for feeling jealousy towards such a character, but I understood it better than anyone.

Knock knock.

I submerged my head in the water to dispel the complex emotions I had.

The world became quiet for a moment, and then the surface trembled as I exhaled bubbles.

“Bubblbble.”

“Lady?”

“Whoa!”

What a surprise!

I hurriedly pulled my head out of the water and covered my body.

Cough, water got in my nose!

“W-what?”

Wiping the water from my eyes, I saw Arwen peeking her face in.

Thanks to being the only one using a private room in the dormitory, where two people per room is the rule, my friend became my personal

maid.

“S-sorry. I knocked, but there was no answer…”

“I-it’s okay. What’s wrong?”

I asked, soothing Arwen, who had flinched at the loud noise I made.

Then, I suddenly remembered that I was washing naked and quickly covered my body.

“I thought you were taking a bath, so I was going to wash you…”

Wash?

I asked, gathering the rose petals floating on the bathwater in front of me.

“Wash me?”

“Yes! Isn’t it ‘common sense’ for a maid to attend to a student’s bath?”

Arwen said so with a face devoid of lies.

Could she have been brainwashed by a hypnosis app without me knowing?

Ah, now that I think about it, the memories of when I was first possessed in this world, which are now hazy, came flooding back.

Back then, my maids also tried to attend to my bath.

I told them I didn’t need it and to get out immediately.

Back then, my personality was a little more… like a rogue, so I spoke a little harshly. Don’t look weak.

Since then, I’ve always taken care of washing myself.

But since that’s common sense in this world, Arwen probably didn’t think much of it. I should have told her in advance.

“…No, I don’t need it. I’ll wash myself from now on.”

“But…”

“It’s okay, go out.”

I waved my hand and issued an expulsion order.

Arwen hesitated, bowed her head, and went outside.

Bang, the huge bathroom door closed.

“I’m wide awake now.”

I muttered, stirring the bathwater that had already cooled.

The scent of roses still lingered at the tip of my nose.

“Trea, your hair is very beautiful!”

“Oh…is that so?”

“Yes, and your figure too…”

After saying “figure,” Arwen closed her mouth as if she had said something nonsensical.

I didn’t pay much attention to it either.

Arwen was quite noisy, though not as much as Jenny, and it was quite cute to have a small girl chattering beside me.

She was drying my wet hair while chattering away, and I was blankly looking in the mirror in light clothes.

Even if she couldn’t attend to my bath, she said that this much was something she had to do as a maid.

Well, it wasn’t bad to have someone to dry my hair with.

Not only is my hair silver, but it’s also rolled up at the ends like a roll bread, so it’s quite difficult to manage.

It’s also not short, so it takes quite a long time to dry.

I thought magic existed for times like this, but it seems that only those who train their bodies like knights can use magic on their bodies.

Who am I? A natural klutz.

Thanks to that, I had to wake up 30 minutes earlier than others. All because of drying my hair.

Arwen was skillfully drying various parts of my hair with her small body.

Looking at someone smaller than me gave me a bad idea.

“Eek.”

I nonchalantly poked Arwen’s cheek, who was touching my bangs.

Of course, Arwen shook her head and tried to get away from me, but my hand followed her cheek.

Eek eek.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

I chuckled and let go of her hand.

Cute!

It was like revenge for the fact that Arwen was actually two or three years younger than me. I heard that last night.

Thanks to that, Jenny was the only one I could call a same-age friend.

Still, it wasn’t too bad, because Arwen had a good feel to poke.

She was also small, so she felt like a doll.

…A puppy?

While Arwen went to get clothes, I stared blankly into the mirror.

‘I was so young at first.’

Now, Tréa Roodbeck’s face, which I can’t deny has become me, was pretty even to me.

I didn’t know 10 years ago, but now I’ve completely shed my childishness and become a lady.

I brought my face closer to the mirror.

I could see my jewel-like red eyes and thick white eyebrows.

I don’t look in the mirror often, so I’ve heard that I have a fierce impression, but I’ve just let it go until now.

But isn’t first impression very important?

‘Do I look that scary?’

Objectively speaking, my eyebrows are thick, so I do look a bit cold when I’m expressionless.

I don’t smile often, so it must be even more so.

My impression also looks sharp.

“Hmm.”

Hmm hmm.

I forced myself to smile in the mirror.

Since ancient times, laughter has had many benefits.

They say that good fortune comes with laughter, and that you can’t spit on a smiling face…

I brought my hand to my mouth, and I suddenly remembered the laughter of the villainous young lady I saw in an old cartoon.

Arwen went out, right?

I glanced around and brought my hand to my mouth.

“Ohohohoho.”

Ew…let’s stop. I can’t stand to watch.

I made a face like I was about to throw up and made a blank face again.

Even if this is bearable, I don’t think I can stand doing this every day.

But what if I just smiled faintly?

I smiled at Arwen, who was bringing clothes into the room.

“Arwen?”

“Eek?! I, I’m sorry!”

Let’s stop, let’s stop.

‘Did I wake up a little too early?’

The sun was still shy, finding its place.

The surroundings weren’t dark, but they weren’t very bright either.

I woke up much earlier because the wake-up time changed, but there weren’t many people passing by yet.

Then, does that mean I can sleep a little more from tomorrow?

Whether I’m sleepy or not, Trea’s gait was a graceful and dignified aristocratic gait.

“Good morning, Lady.”

A white-haired old man in charge of cleaning the academy greeted me.

Wearing a worn cyan jacket, he was sweeping the ground with a stick.

“Good morning.”

Ah, I know this person. I remember this person appearing in the novel.

I bowed my head to him.

The cleaning old man chuckled embarrassedly as if he didn’t expect a noble young lady to do that.

“…I always respect you.”

At my words, the old man waved his hand, saying what nonsense for an old man like me…

I didn’t say anything more and walked the path again, but the words “I respect you” were genuine.

Because he was also a magician.