Chapter 49 : New Knowledge, Starting to Realize Emotions

When meeting someone for the first time, everyone reacts differently.

Some people approach with friendliness from the start, while others hesitate to speak, awkward in the situation.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you just stay silent, a distant relationship will form in the future.

Therefore, Serena wanted to break the uncomfortable and silent atmosphere.

‘I feel like I’m going to die from this awkwardness…’

It was fine to invite Lilia to her room with the idea of bonding with the others, but the problem was that neither of them was the type to take the first step, and as a result, after just exchanging greetings, they hadn’t said a word to each other.

It had already been 10 minutes.

Although they were in the same room, it felt as if they were in completely different spaces. 

Serena decided she would summon up the courage to break the silence.

“Um…”

“U-uh…”

However, it seemed Lilia had the same thought, and they both spoke at the same time.

“Y-you go first.”

“No, it’s fine. You can go first, Serena.”

They both kept deferring to each other, making the atmosphere even more uncomfortable.

But if they stayed like this, nothing would ever happen.

To break the ice, Serena decided to speak up first.

“…How old are you?”

“I-I’m 13 this year…”

“13?”

They were the same age.

Finally, they found something in common, and Serena continued.

“I’m also 13, so should we speak informally?”

“What?! B-but how can I speak informally to the younger sister of Count Christian…?”

Lilia almost dropped the book she was holding, flustered.

Serena, on the other hand, wondered why Ershi had anything to do with speaking informally.

“Then I’ll speak informally. Is that okay?”

“Ah, yes! It’s just that this way of speaking is more comfortable for me…”

Although they had finally started talking, it still felt like there was a barrier to becoming friends.

Serena felt they needed a topic that would bring them closer.

She noticed the book that Lilia was holding tightly to her chest.

“So, what’s that book you’re holding? You seem to be really fond of it.”

“Uh, it’s nothing special. It’s a romance novel, actually. I’ve been really into that genre lately… Have you heard of it?”

“Romance?”

It was a word Serena had never heard before.

Though Serena liked reading books, she had never read anything like that. 

Most of the books Ershi had collected were about magic or history, meant for education.

There were a few fairy tales for children, but they were too trivial for her, so she didn’t read them much.

“Can I see what it’s about?”

“Eh? Ah, it’s not that I mind, but… I’m not sure if you’d like it.”

“…It’s not something weird, right?”

“Ah, no! Absolutely not! This is a wonderful book about a passionate and beautiful love between a man and a woman!”

As Serena looked at her suspiciously, Lilia widened her eyes and thrust the book she was holding toward her.

The enthusiasm in her action made it hard to believe that she was the same person who had been so timid just moments ago, and it was slightly intimidating.

“…Ah! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…”

As soon as her rationality returned, Lilia immediately knelt down and kept bowing her head repeatedly.

But the sudden shift in her personality was so dramatic that Serena found it difficult to grasp what kind of person Lilia was.

Was she polite or strange?

Even so, Serena couldn’t help but find this unique personality somewhat endearing.

“It’s okay. So, can you show me the book? Let’s read it together.”

“U-um, is that alright? Uhh… I’ve never read it with anyone other than my parents before.”

Serena felt the same way.

Except for Ershi, who used to read books to her every night before bed, she had never read with anyone else.

Anyway, Lilia placed the book on the floor and opened it, slowly reading along as Serena followed with her eyes.

The story began with the noble Count’s recollection of the past.

The plot was about someone who was originally from the past but had been reborn with memories of their previous life for some unknown reason.

As the story continued, it described how the man met a woman who was identical to the person he had loved in his past life and immediately fell in love with her.

“This is called reincarnation. Isn’t it amazing? The idea that even after being reborn, one can remember and still love someone from the past?”

Lilia’s voice sparkled with excitement as she spoke.

However, Serena didn’t really understand what reincarnation was, and she couldn’t grasp that kind of longing.

If you couldn’t move on from the past and kept holding on to it while living a new life, isn’t that just lingering regret?

Though she thought this internally, she didn’t want to voice a differing opinion, so she simply responded with, “I see.”

As they turned the page, the Count became more and more deeply involved with the woman he loved.

At first, there were issues with his family, but the two of them secretly met at night and continued their relationship.

Eventually, even the woman, who had been hesitant to open her heart, fell in love with him.

[“I love you. Will you marry me?”]

[“I’m grateful, but you know my father won’t allow it.”]

[“I don’t care about that! I just want to hear your answer.”]

“Oooh…”

As the atmosphere of the story became more intense, Serena, too, found herself deeply engrossed.

So this is what romance is like.

With that realization, she decided that she would ask Ershi to write something similar for her someday.

But as she turned to the next page.

“…Huh?”

Serena’s eyes widened.

The woman, who had finally accepted the man’s confession, joyfully reciprocated.

After confirming their feelings for each other, the two kissed under the moonlight and indulged in a brief moment of intimacy.

The blatant description left her shocked, and her face turned red.

‘Wh-what is this?’

She had never learned about such intense acts of love, so although she felt embarrassed, her heart was racing.

In contrast, Lilia only smiled contentedly.

“This is my favorite part. The scene where they confirm their love and share a kiss, despite all the family issues standing in their way. I love it so much that I even marked it.”

As she said this, she pointed to the bottom corner of the page, but Serena was more concerned with the words she had just read.

“K-kiss? Is this what they call a kiss?”

“…Do you, uh, not know what a kiss is, Serena?”

Lilia stared at her with wide eyes, as though she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

“U-uh, hmm. I’ve never learned about that… Is that something that men and women always do?”

“No, no! This is something that people who love each other do!”

“People who love each other?”

Even after hearing her words, Serena still couldn’t understand.

How could exchanging tongues in each other’s mouths be considered an act of love?

Isn’t that just disgusting?

But despite her thoughts, as she looked at the scene written in the novel, her heart kept racing.

Her mind couldn’t comprehend it, but her body was reacting on its own.

Serena had not yet realized this fact.

“Do, do you really put it in there?”

“Your tongue? Hmm. Well, there are many types of kisses, so it’s not just that. For example—”

Since this was an area she felt confident about, Lilia began explaining kisses in a teaching tone.

She mentioned that kisses could also be on the back of the hand or on the cheek or forehead.

‘…Huh? Then I’ve received that kind of affection from Ershi, haven’t I?’

After hearing Lilia’s explanation, Serena recalled the affectionate acts she had received from Ershi.

Sometimes, Ershi would tease her by kissing her cheek or would always kiss her forehead before bed.

But she hadn’t realized that those, too, were forms of kisses.

And that it was an act between people who loved each other.

The realization made Serena’s face turn bright red.

“That pervert, really…!”

“Se, Serena? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. Just thinking about something else for a moment.”

As her face twisted with embarrassment, Lilia’s expression turned pale in fear.

When it was confirmed that she hadn’t touched a nerve, Lilia sighed in relief.

“Anyway, I think the most romantic of them all is the kiss on the lips.”

“Why?”

“Well, um… hmm.”

With that curious and simple question, Lilia hesitated and sighed quietly, lost in thought.

After a moment, her answer was:

“I’m not sure either. But I think most people would think so.”

Her answer, which seemed irresponsibly vague, only deepened Serena’s curiosity even more.

*

‘Huh? What are these kids talking about?!’

Though it wasn’t very clear, the words they were using didn’t sound like something children would say.

“Putting it in, what? And talking about different kinds of acts?”

If my ears aren’t deceiving me, this sounds like an inappropriate conversation that adults would have!

That girl Lilia, despite her appearance, has a shady side to her!

Before she teaches Serena anything bad, I need to stop this—!

“Now, Count? Shall we go? We’ve checked on the kids, so they’re fine.”

But before she could grab the doorknob, Mrs. Linz stopped her.

They had clearly been listening together, so why was she trying to stop this?

Even if she was her daughter, wrong is wrong, and it needs to be corrected!

“Wait just a moment. I’ll go inside and just check for a second…”

“No, we’ll get in the way if we interfere, won’t we? You were just going to check, so let’s go back.”

But despite the odd strength in her arms, Serena was helplessly pulled away.

‘No, I can’t. Serena will be corrupted…!’

The guilt of not being able to save Serena, who was about to be fed strange knowledge just by crossing one door, made tears well up in her eyes.