Chapter 40 - The Rest of the Marquess's Daughter Ariarein (Part Two)
"Felix-san said he would prepare everything in the garden, my lady."
After finishing the meal, Arveil made a suggestion to Ariarein.
"Please choose a book or two that you like. How about reading in the garden for a change?"
"Reading in the garden?"
After thinking for a moment, Ariarein let out a small groan-like sound and stretched her body, then pulled out the hair ornament that was holding her hair together.
Normally, that was a gesture she made in the evening when she finished her work.
"—Yes, that's not a bad idea. I wonder what I should pick."
"In any case, you are off this afternoon. Please take your time choosing."
"Yes, I'll do that.
—Oh, that's right, Arveil."
"Yes."
"Today is the day we bake the Quaternity cake, isn't it?"
A Quaternity cake, baked using exactly equal amounts—one quarter each—of flour, sugar, butter, and milk, was a simple recipe, yet its appearance and taste changed in various ways depending on what was mixed into the batter. It was a staple baked treat in this mansion and a sweet that Ariarein favored.
"Yes."
A smile appeared on Arveil's face, to a degree that only someone who had known him for a long time would recognize.
He had understood what his petite mistress wanted to say.
"Could you please ask them to bring a few slices along with the tea?"
"Of course, my lady."
"And also, Arveil."
"Yes."
"You choose a book or two as well.
Join me."
"—Yes."
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
It was a mild autumn afternoon, neither hot nor cold, with an occasional breeze swaying the branches of the garden trees and the cosmos flowers.
While the hustle and bustle of the city could be heard faintly in the distance, the sunlight, which had grown soft after the autumnal equinox, illuminated the garden of the royal capital villa.
In a corner of the garden located on the west side of the villa grounds, a small table and two chairs for relaxing were placed, and a small cake stand was set upon the table.
On the cake stand was, of course, the item Ariarein had requested—the Quaternity cake.
Some slices had walnuts kneaded into the batter, some had dried fruits, and others had citrus slices placed on top and baked together. A few slices of each were served.
Sitting in the chairs were the master and servant pair, Ariarein and Arveil.
Ariarein held an epic poem from an old era that she had acquired but left unread.
Arveil held a historical record that also dealt with an old era.
Each holding their chosen book, they were reading quietly, in postures that were a bit too relaxed to be called leisurely.
There were no words between them. Without talking about anything, they simply sat together at the small table in the garden, each turning the pages of a different book, occasionally reaching for a teacup or a piece of cake.
They must have been like that for about an hour.
A fluttering sound reached Arveil's ears.
On the other side of the table, the book Ariarein had been holding was about to fall from her hand.
Quickly but noiselessly standing up, Arveil caught the book just before it hit the ground.
He let out a breath, quietly closed the book, and placed it on the table. After doing so, Arveil beckoned a passing maid with his hand.
Toward the maid who noticed and approached, Arveil put his index finger to his lips and said in a low voice.
"A thin blanket for my lady."
The maid, who glanced at Ariarein, smiled and nodded.
After leaving the spot once and returning immediately with a blanket, Arveil gave her a silent bow. The maid also bowed and departed.
Arveil softly draped the blanket over Ariarein, who was breathing quietly in her sleep on the chair.
Even so, there was no sign of Ariarein waking up.
—As I thought, she must have been tired.
Arveil thought that it might have been the right decision to have her rest for even half a day.
Just like that, Arveil returned to his original chair and opened his book once more, trying his best not to let the sleeping face of his petite mistress enter his field of vision.
When another half-hour or so had passed, Ariarein stirred with a small voice.
Closing the book he was reading, Arveil turned his gaze toward Ariarein.
"Was I... asleep—?"
Looking at Arveil while blinking several times with eyes that were somewhat unfocused from just waking up, Ariarein muttered as if talking to herself.
"—Thank you for the blanket."
Her consciousness must have cleared a bit; before Arveil could answer, Ariarein thanked him.
As if suddenly noticing something, Ariarein averted her gaze from Arveil.
"Hey, Arveil."
"Yes."
"—You saw, didn't you?"
While keeping her gaze directed away from Arveil, she spoke in an unusually reproachful tone.
"Just a little."
He understood without asking that she was talking about her sleeping face. Since he had already shown the consideration of covering her with a blanket, he couldn't say he hadn't seen it, so Arveil answered honestly.
"Forget it."
Even if she said that, it was a sleeping face that was far too defenseless, something quite unthinkable from the usual Ariarein.
It wasn't something he could forget just by trying.
"—Yes."
That half-second of remembering became a hesitant pause.
"Forget it!"
Ariarein repeated her words in a slightly stronger tone.
"Yes."
Arveil, who responded immediately this time, noticed that the ears of Ariarein, who was still facing away, had turned a faint shade of red.
He added in his heart.
—I shall keep it only within my heart, my lady.
Since the weight unit 'pound' does not exist in this world, there is no pound cake. There isn't, but I imagine someone is making something similar.
[Author's Note]
The book version (Volume 1) of this work, "The Exile of the Marquess's Daughter Ariarein," was published by Earth Star Luna on March 3rd. There is a special feature page on the label's official website, so please take a look.
The cover, frontispiece, a preview (up to the end of Chapter One), character introductions, illustrations, maps, and so on are all available.
Also, it comes with first-edition limited short stories, so I hope you will pick it up!
https://www.es-luna.jp/bookdetail/53aria_luna.php