Chapter 63: (Self Edited) Carol and Myaro (2)

Carol returned after dressing herself, and…“How is it?” (Carol)

She shook her head lightly, and the wig’s brown hair fluttered in the wind.

“It’s amazing. It’s more of a disguise than I expected.” (Myaro)

Myaro clapped her hands.

“Well then, let’s go.” (Carol)

Carol was wearing the Liberal Arts uniform. Myaro was wearing the Knights uniform.

Myaro’s uniform was a male uniform, while Carol’s was taller. So, from a distance, they looked like a couple of different ages.

“Where are we going today?” (Myaro)

“I want to go to a popular coffee shop in the Academy. It’s called Vogue.” (Carol)

Myaro nodded as she said “Aah”. “I see. I’ve also heard about that shop.” (Myaro)

“Well, I don’t really have many connections.” (Carol)

Carol had a wide range of connections, but only Yuri and Myaro were friends on an equal footing. For that reason, even if she listened to the small talk and became interested, there was no one to go with her. Yuri wasn’t the type who went out for tea together during holidays.

“Me too. I mean, I have never been to a coffee shop.” (Myaro)

“Aah, me too.” (Carol)

“Is that so?” (Myaro)

Myaro didn’t look particularly surprised.

“If so, it’s the first time for both of us.” (Myaro)

“Well, yes.” (Carol)

“Hehe, it’s funny. We’ve never done anything like this normal thing.” (Myaro)

‘Goodness.’

Carol thought.

That was why she wanted to experience it somehow. She also wanted to do what the other children called ‘go to play’.

“Yuri seems to go to coffee shops frequently though.” (Carol)

“Yes, he is. He seems to mainly go to the shop called The Ginkgo Leaf in front of the Large Library.” (Myaro)

Myaro said it like it was a matter of course. Although it was something usual, Carol wondered how Myaro knew that. It was as if she got used to him already.

“Well then, shall we go there instead?” (Carol)

“Alright.” (Myaro)

The two walked toward the main gate.

—

“Here’s your order, original blended tea, celery tea, fried dumplings and grilled cheese. Thank you for waiting.” (Waitress)

When the tea and snacks were arranged on the table, the waitress bowed her head.

“Is the order alright?” (Waitress)

On the small table, there were two empty cups and two pots full of tea. There were two snack dishes that came with the tea. Speaking of the service here, the customers needed to pour the tea by themselves. It might be the way for two or more people to enjoy when there were different kinds of tea.

“Aah, thank you.” (Carol)

When Carol said it, the waitress was surprised for a moment, and then, she smiled.

“Please take your time.” (Waitress)

The waitress left.

“Still, there aren’t many people. I thought there were a lot of Liberal Arts students because this place was fashionable.” (Carol)

Carol said it while looking at the surroundings.

She didn’t think that this place was empty. There were several middle-class couples talking in a distant seat, but this shop didn’t look like a big hit.

“Well, to tell the truth, this is the trend of the last year. The Far East Cafe is now popular, so everyone should be there.” (Myaro)

“Eh, is that so?” (Carol)

‘That should be it.’ While thinking of that, Carol said it.

“Yes. The change in the trend of the Liberal Arts is very intense.” (Myaro)

The matter that this shop was popular was heard about two weeks ago. Carol didn’t think that it was already outdated. She was somehow surprised.

“If you knew, why didn’t you tell me?” (Carol)

“I was wondering whether there was a need to follow the latest trend.” (Myaro)

“Hmm…” (Carol)

“Besides, I’m sure that place is noisy, that we can’t calm down and enjoy tea.” (Myaro)

“…Yes, I guess, that’s true.” (Carol)

Carol was convinced. As Myaro said, if the trend of shops changed frequently, then it wasn’t necessary that they were better.

This Vogue wasn’t inferior to the Far East Cafe. It was just the changing of the trend because it was outdated. In that case, if they were going to a coffee shop for the first time, it didn’t make sense no matter which one they chose, since it didn’t give difference in feelings.

However, Carol felt like she still had some regrets. She wanted to catch up with the trends and try to be like an ordinary student.

But then, when she thought about it, if she went to a place where there were many students, her disguise might be discovered. After all, she was wearing a school uniform now.

[Oh my, this is the first time I see you here. Who might you be?] (??)

It couldn’t be said that those words wouldn’t be said casually there. There wouldn’t be any reply from her.

“Well then, shall we go?” (Myaro)

Myaro said so as she put her hands together in front of the chest. Somehow, it was a girlish gesture suitable for the age.

“Well, yeah. Let’s go.” (Carol)

“Yes.” (Myaro)

Myaro took the pot, lifted it quickly, and tried to pour tea into the cup casually.

“Aah.” (Carol)

Carol suddenly made a small voice. Myaro’s hand stopped.

“Hmm? What is it?” (Myaro)

“No, it’s nothing.” (Carol)

“…Aah.” (Myaro)

Myaro nodded, as if she was convinced of something.

“Ah yes. I’m not familiar with the tea ceremony.” (Myaro)

“Then, let me do it. You will be my guest.” (Carol)

“I’m sorry, thank you.” (Myaro)

Carol took the pot that Myaro had placed and also Myaro’s cup. Then, she began to pour tea. The tea slid at the edge of the cup, without making ripples.

As for celery tea, the taste would become astringent if air was mixed in. Therefore, it wasn’t recommended to pour hot water from a high position that could create foam. Myaro was trying to pour tea casually, but to tell the truth, that way wasn’t recommended.

Of course, astringency didn’t mean that one couldn’t drink the tea. On the other hand, there were people who prefer astringency and intentionally do so. It was a trivial matter.

“I see. What a wonderful tea ceremony procedures. As expected of someone who was born in the royal family.” (Myaro)

‘Did she know after all?’

Carol was surprised.

The matter of the Shaalta’s royal family practiced tea ceremony procedures wasn’t a well known matter or anything. It was hard to invite someone to tea nowadays. Rather, she wondered where Myaro had heard it.

“This isn’t much of a tea ceremony.” (Carol)

A cup containing celery tea was placed on Myaro’s saucer.

Carol then added a little blended tea to her cup to check the fragrance and swallowed it. Celery tea was a single taste tea. It was hard to tell what was in mixed tea with various flavors until one smelled the aroma and drank it.

It was a blend that emphasized sweetness and less bitterness when it was drunk. It seemed to be more delicious to mix it with air to make it mellow. So, Carol poured the tea from a little higher height, so that it would be airy and foamy.

Myaro puts her mouth on the cup, and…

“It’s really delicious.” (Myaro)

She said so.

Carol also put the tea in her mouth, which she was expecting.

“Yeah, it was delicious.” (Carol)

However, in her heart, she thought that it wasn’t much at all.

Tea mixed by her Okaa-sama was definitely better. It seemed that Perilla Root Mushroom was in the scent. The taste was too strong and it had destroyed the harmony which various kinds of tea brought out.

Speaking of authenticity, she only drank what her mother brewed. After all, her mother was skillful. This situation made Carol reconsider again.

“That reminds me. When is it likely that Her Highness will be graduating from the Academy?” (Myaro)

Myaro suddenly began to chat.

‘That’s right.’

She could enjoy chatting at a coffee shop.

If it were something not nonsense between women, it was all good.

“I wonder if I can graduate next year.” (Carol)

“Heh, that is unexpected. You can graduate early, isn’t it?” (Myaro)

Carol would turn nineteen next year. Considering the fact that both schools that she enrolled, it was enough to say that she could graduate early.

“Well, I could speak half of the Ancient Shan language from an early age, and I didn’t take the Kura language like you, Myaro.” (Carol)

Carol had learned basic education since she was child because the learning of the Ancient Shan Language was essential when speaking with the intellectuals of the Seven Great Witch Households. Most of the honor students who graduated at the age of sixteen and seventeen were one step or ten steps ahead from the beginning compared to the other students.

“However, even though the Kura language may be easier than the Ancient Shan language, there would be subjects related to laws.” (Myaro)

“The law theory is also a subject of the School of Knights. So, it’s not really learning twice as much. The fundamental part is almost the same between two schools.” (Carol)

“Ooh, I see.” (Myaro)

“That’s why, for me, the School of Knights is a lot harder.” (Carol)

“That’s right. After all, we are at disadvantage because of our physique. It would be the opposite if I have physical strength like Dolla-kun.” (Myaro)

“That’s true.” (Carol)

As for Dolla, he compensated it with the practical skill subjects.

Dolla’s academic achievement had been slightly below average due to his effort and guts, but she wondered if anybody could manage watching the struggle with a desk every day. That was what she thought.

Since that guy got extremely nervous when Carol approached him so that she could teach in an easy-to-understand manner, she couldn’t teach him.

“If it’s you, Myaro, I think you can do it if you want to. Even if you may not be able to do it now.” (Carol)

This seriously didn’t seem impossible. It wasn’t that she couldn’t enroll in the School of Liberal Arts. Plus, if it were here, it was possible to learn subjects from both schools quickly, so she should be able to graduate by twenty. After all, while Myaro was in the School of Knights, Carol was so talented in the ancient Shan language to the point that people asked her to teach them.

“No no no. I’m only good with the School of Knights.” (Myaro)

Myaro shook her hands and hurriedly denied it, probably because she didn’t think that Carol was joking.

“I wonder. If it were you, I’m pretty sure you can do it without problem. The classroom lecture is perfect for you.” (Carol)

The School of Liberal Arts was all about classroom lectures. So, if she attended the lectures, she could graduate. Just in case, there was a practical skill class. However, it was a minor training, so it was good enough for Myaro.

“Is that so? I certainly feel confident in class lectures. In doing so, that can help me study the Kura language.” (Myaro)

“Is that subject difficult?” (Carol)

Myaro was always studying the Kura language. Even in her spare time, she spoke and recited it.

Carol wondered whether it was a harder language than the ancient Shan language. It was because as someone who was smart like Myaro, she still had a hard time learning it. However, if it was harder than the ancient Shan Language, it meant that it was too difficult as a language used in daily life. The ancient Shan language was a difficult language to be used in daily life during the modern period of Shanti, and it was abolished during the turmoil period. The popular Shan language which was the spoken language of common people, was established in the evolving form.

“Rather than being difficult, I feel like it doesn’t suit me. I gradually became far from being one.” (Myaro)

“Eh?” (Carol)

That meant that Myaro wasn’t good in that language.

‘Can such a thing happen?’

“It’s the same as music, and I’m not suitable for it. Even if an untalented person practices instruments for ten years, he would remain untalented. On the other hand, a talented person can play an instrument well for about a year even if it is his first time.” (Myaro)

“That’s true, but…” (Carol)

“It’s the same… aah yes. There was a child from the Liberal Arts, who had only started to come to its lecture for a year, and was already able to speak fluently. I was surprised. By the way, I’m not smart. It’s a situation that I couldn’t help but to feel that.” (Myaro)

This seemed likely to be true as Myaro started to show a slightly weary expression.

However, Carol couldn’t just accept it. If it was a language that could be used as a spoken language, the amount of words should be more than the ancient Shan language. That meant that another limitation might be created by the wording.

“I’m interested. Can you speak for a bit?” (Carol)

“Alright. But I’m not good at Kura.” (Myaro)

“Please.” (Carol)

“∇❥§✈※♮〃～、∇еゞ。 §✂◉✁—-×” (Myaro)

The words had a sound that Carol had never heard. If it seemed easy, she should study it. She remembered the feeling of dry sand being smoothly blown away by the wind.

“W-what did you mean by those words?” (Carol)

“Even if you have a quarrel with your wife, you shouldn’t be indignant at night. Yes. It seems to be the teaching of God on the other side.” (Myaro)

“The first… how should I say it? Which one means the word wife?” (Carol)

“Yes. It’s ∇❥.” (Myaro) sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

When Carol heard it, she moved her mouth, but didn’t feel like she spoke in the same way. It was completely different from when the mouth was moved.

“It seems difficult.” (Carol)

“That’s right. But if you have the talent, you will get it in no time.” (Myaro)

“But why are you trying so hard?  Is it interesting?” (Carol)

From Carol’s point of view, it was strange.

It wasn’t a subject that she should take. In recent years, if one learned Kura, they would be able to find employment in the public relations of the royal castle. She heard that a daughter of a small Witch family, who wanted to go for that role, was studying it. However, Myaro, who was enrolled in the School of Knights, didn’t have the future of working for the royal castle.

Unless the person found the language to be interesting, Carol didn’t think that there was a need to learn it otherwise.

“It was the subject that Yuri-kun was most interested in. I was also interested in it.” (Myaro)

“Ooh, I see.” (Myaro)

Carol smiled as if she had guessed something.

“It’s not ‘I see.’ There can’t be anything like that in the School of Liberal Arts’ book.” (Myaro)

Myaro said it while showing an angry expression.

Perhaps, Yuri told her that he became the main character of a book there. Carol had lived a life that had nothing to do with the Liberal Arts while studying in the Academy. However, she decided to read a book because her younger sister strongly recommended it.

According to her sister, when Yuri was the main character, it seemed that Myaro would usually appear.

Her role was mostly to interfere with Yuri’s (mainly sexually distorted) love path. It was said that the role was a wicked woman. For example, trying to butt in by having illicit love. For the Liberal Arts students’ view, they weren’t tied with the custom of the Liberal Arts. Therefore, Myaro, who was getting closer to Yuri and flirting with each other, was somehow thought to be a person who tried to get a head start.

However, for a person who had a unique standpoint like Myaro, she had never been in a good relationship with the main character. Thus, it was said that the flow was a fresh element by the masses.

“By the way…” (Carol)

“What is it?” (Myaro)

Myaro listened while munching the fried dumplings.

“Why did you decide to enter the Knights?” (Carol)

“Eh?” (Myaro)

Myaro replied with a short sigh.

“No, you don’t have to say it.” (Carol)

Carol said it in a hurry.

“Aah, no, it’s fine. Well, if you’re interested…” (Myaro)

Without the feeling of being reluctant, Myaro was surprisingly calm.

“Honestly, I can’t help but to feel concern. It seems to me that you don’t like to move your body…” (Carol)

Myaro was so eager to train today, but he didn’t like to exercise at all. It seemed to Carol that Myaro’s hard work was in the sense of an effort to fulfill her duties.

Besides… When she entered the Academy, she shouldn’t have met Yuri yet.

“It’s true that I don’t want to talk about it to people who aren’t very close, but it’s fine if it’s you, Your Highness.” (Myaro)

“Of course, I won’t tell anyone.” (Carol)

“However, there is a condition.” (Myaro)

“A condition?” (Carol)

“Before I tell you that, I would like a cup of tea. It’s going to be a long story.” (Myaro)