Chapter 72

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Real Magic
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Even as morning sunlight poured through the window, Perido showed no signs of waking.

Instead, Garnet stretched like a cat and nearly tumbled off the sofa, startling herself awake.

“Why am I here?”

“Did you sleep well?”

“No way I fell asleep on the sofa, right?”

“That’s right. You slept like a log without stirring once.”

“I can’t usually sleep without a proper bed...”

Garnet stared at the sofa in amazement.

But that wasn’t the point.

Dia stifled a quiet laugh inside.

“Ah, I slept so deeply for once in ages. Now I’m starving.”

Hearing that, Dia realized she was ravenous too after a long time. It must have been the effect of such sound sleep.

At that moment, Rubiana gently cracked open the door and peeked her head inside.

“Sisters, you’re awake?”

“Ruby, come on in.”

“And Perido?”

Rubiana stepped inside and immediately asked about Perido.

“Perido’s still sleeping.”

Dia shared the update in a hushed tone.

“What? Oh no. Perido’s still out?”

Garnet, who had raised her voice in surprise, dropped to a whisper. She tiptoed over to the bed and gazed down at him in admiration.

“Yeah. It’s like he’s making up for all the sleep he’s missed.”

Dia looked pityingly at Perido, still deep in slumber.

“Sisters, it’s magic!”

Rubiana glanced at the sleeping Perido, then turned to Dia and Garnet with sparkling eyes.

“What are you talking about, Ruby?”

Garnet smoothed down her sleep-tousled blonde hair, her face twisted in disbelief.

“I saw everything.”

Rubiana thrust out her chest confidently.

“Saw what?”

“You sisters and Perido all falling asleep.”

“You know we were exhausted from getting Perido to bed.”

Garnet brushed it off casually.

“No! Teacher Marin put you all to sleep. Just like magic!”

Garnet smothered a laugh, as if it were the most absurd thing.

“Ruby, it’s great that you’re reading books, but try to tell the difference between stories and real life, okay? Should I tell you to stop reading altogether? You’re getting confused...”

Garnet trailed off as she turned and caught sight of Dia’s serious expression while listening to Rubiana.

Why is she taking this so seriously?

“Ruby, what exactly did you see?”

Dia’s eyes quivered faintly.

“Yesterday, when I came into this room, you sisters and Perido were all asleep. Teacher Marin was covering blankets over you.”

At Rubiana’s words, Garnet stared blankly down at the blanket lying rumpled at her feet.

***

“Isn’t this the one you covered me with, Dia?”

Dia slowly shook her head.

“Then... she’s telling the truth? That woman put us all to sleep? How?”

“Garnet, keep it down.”

Garnet clapped a hand over her mouth after her startled voice rose too high.

Rubiana beamed proudly from the sidelines.

“I’m telling you, it was magic.”

Right then, a knock-knock sounded at the door. Rubiana, closest to it, opened it up.

“Oh, Teacher Marin.”

“Good morning, Ruby.”

Marin greeted her warmly.

“Did everyone sleep well?”

She beamed at the group. Dia and Garnet stared at her in flustered silence.

Dia recovered first and returned the greeting.

“Yes. And you?”

“Hmph.”

Garnet snorted and edged to the side, bristling like a wary cat.

Marin stole a secret smile at Garnet before glancing around the room.

“Perido’s still sleeping, I see?”

“Yes.”

“Not hungry at all?”

“Yes! I’m starving!”

Rubiana shot her hand up high.

Marin gave her head an affectionate pat at the adorable display.

“Guess we’d better eat soon, huh?”

Marin looked up at Dia.

“You always get hungry after a good night’s sleep. That’s why I had breakfast prepared early. Yuria.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Yuria wheeled in a trolley piled high with food.

Marin followed right behind her.

A glance at the bed showed Perido sleeping peacefully.

Yuria headed to the empty table and unpacked a breakfast spread far more lavish than usual.

Freshly baked bread, sweet onion soup, thick sandwiches stuffed with savory eggs and chicken, a tomato-basil-cheese salad, thin pancakes topped with honeyed bananas, fresh fruit with yogurt, orange juice, and milk.

Rubiana plopped into a seat at once and called to her sisters.

“Sisters, come eat!”

“Hmph, I’m not hungry...”

*Grrrrowl.*

A mighty rumble from Garnet’s stomach cut her off before she finished. Her face flushed beet red.

Marin pretended not to notice and smiled at the sisters.

“Dig in.”

Marin had just turned to go when Dia’s voice stopped her.

“Um... thank you for yesterday. And for getting breakfast ready so early today.”

“No trouble at all.”

“And...”

Marin waited patiently for her to continue.

“Please take good care of Ruby and Perido from here on out, Teacher Marin.”

Dia bowed formally.

“Of course!”

Marin replied with a radiant smile and left the room with Yuria.

“I’m so hungry...”

***

The moment Marin was gone, Garnet snatched a sandwich without even sitting down and wolfed it standing up.

“Sister Garnet!”

Rubiana called out, as if helpless to stop her.

“This is good. Western cuisine’s not half bad. Dia, hurry up and eat. Bananas again? This kitchen head’s got a good eye. Right?”

The food hadn’t suited her tastes before, so she’d subsisted on those bananas for quite a while.

Seeing Garnet devour her meal with such relish after so long, Dia couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Wha? Wha ha ha?”

Garnet mumbled around her mouthful.

“You’ve got some on your lips.”

“Hey, you can’t point that out to a lady.”

Garnet grabbed a napkin and dabbed at her mouth.

“Where’s a lady around here? Just a bunch of starving kids.”

“What?”

Rubiana grinned from ear to ear, watching her sisters banter and play after so long.

*Real magic, I’m telling you.*

* * *

Dia felt her pleasant morning mood steadily sour as she trailed after Aide Olive.

*The Duke wants to see me?*

The words *now of all times* nearly escaped her lips, but she swallowed them down bitterly.

Saying that out loud would make it sound like she’d been hoping he’d summon her.

Olive halted before a massive door.

*Is this the Duke’s office?*

“Come in.”

The Duke’s low voice drifted from beyond the door.

Dia shot a glance at Olive beside her. He smiled and gestured toward the door.

“Go on in.”

“Me alone?”

“His Grace specified only the young lady.”

Dia stared at him, flustered.

*That short “come in” carried all that meaning?*

Olive grinned and pressed a lit candlestick into her hand.

“What’s this for?”

“It’s pitch black inside.”

Olive personally swung the office door open, then stepped back.

Dia took a slow step forward.

Just as he’d said, the office was utterly lightless.

Holding the candlestick aloft, she advanced carefully until a massive desk came into view—and beyond it, the Duke.

He looked every bit the dangerous predator, lounging languidly in the shadows.

Dia set the candlestick silently on the floor.

She stared down at its flickering flame for a long stretch, but the Duke said nothing.

Dia slowly lifted her gaze to the silently seated Duke.

“I heard you wished to see me.”

He’d thrown that lavish party to snub them on the very first day he’d declared himself their guardian. And now, at last, he’d called for her.

“...Whatever you need for your debutante preparations, just ask Olive anytime.”

“Ha.”

A scoff slipped unbidden from her lips.

The Duke paid no mind to her impertinence.

Of course not. Caring what someone thought required a foundation of affection. Which meant he wouldn’t utter a word even if she acted as willfully as Garnet.

***

“No. Or is it an order? But I’m not one of His Grace’s people, so I’ve no reason to obey.”

* * *