Chapter 24: What Would He Think?

“Uh—Elena… I’m sorry…”

Walking on the way home, Kelly suddenly spoke.

“I was going to give you a gift… as a first meeting present…”

“It’s fine… the thought is what matters.”

The silver-haired girl shook her head understandingly.

“Hmm—”

Even though she was a dignified master, she was being cared for by her disciple.

The little girl felt a bit awkward.

“How can that be—I’ll give you an even better gift another day! Let me show you how great it is to be Kelly’s disciple!”

“…”

The silver-haired girl looked down in thought, and silence suddenly fell between them…

“?”

‘She… why isn’t she talking?’

However, what Kelly didn’t know was that Elena was deeply conflicted inside—

Having resolved to properly play the role of “Elena” from now on, the girl was pondering how to answer without seeming out of place.

‘I’m not good at the way girls talk to each other…’

‘How should I respond now to sound like “Elena,” like a gentle girl?’

Although she really didn’t want to recall painful memories, Elena didn’t have many girls she interacted with in her daily life, so she had to draw inspiration from her family.

‘Let me think… what would Lila have done back then?’

Miss Elena asked herself in her heart.

“El… Elena?”

‘As expected, she’s still bothered by it!’

“Master must think… it’s her fault my clothes got torn…”

“Actually, it’s fine—I don’t mind…”

“Eh… you don’t mind?”

“A piece of clothing… it’s nothing—”

“Besides… being your disciple… I’m too happy for that… how could I ask you to pay me back for a piece of clothing…”

The girl suddenly stopped, looked up, recalling her sister’s innocent smile, and imitated a sweet, energetic smile toward Kelly.

“!!!”

Kelly was stunned.

When she first met Elena, her impression was quiet.

Too quiet, and also cold, not willing to say a single word.

After getting familiar with her, the impression turned into being well-behaved.

Although she would talk normally, it always felt like her words were too careful, as if she was weighing every word, as if she was afraid of something?

In short, she was guarded against others.

Could this be Little Elena’s true side?

So understanding! So cute!

Elena carefully grabbed Kelly’s small hand that had nowhere to rest.

“About the money… I’ve heard from my brother too…”

“Master is short on money right now…”

“If Master really wants to give me a gift… then wait until your salary comes in, okay?”

“I’m looking forward to your gift, okay?”

The girl let out a soft laugh.

The gentle tone, the perfectly timed smile, the tenderness unique to Elena and the cautious probing in interpersonal communication seemed natural, without a trace of pretense.

When Lila was little, she loved to cling to him the most.

Every time Lila had something to ask of him and showed this kind of girlish, pleading smile, she could never refuse.

Every time Lila showed her this gentle and admiring smile, she felt her weary heart uplifted.

‘Did… did I imitate it well?’

In the girl’s eyes, there was actually a hint of unreadable unease.

Elena still lacked confidence in her heart.

‘So… so gentle!’

The purple-haired loli felt her heart tighten.

Elena’s soothing words reminded her of the tactics her mother used to comfort her when she was little…

This time it wasn’t just a question of cuteness.

This… this kind of comforting words… why are they so reassuring?

She… she actually saw maternal instinct in a child younger than her?

“Ahem… okay!”

“L… Little Elena, we don’t need to be so formal between master and disciple…”

“Huh? We don’t?”

“You… your personality is too gentle… girls like you are rare these days…”

Realizing she had lost her composure a bit, Kelly quickly changed the subject.

“Have you ever been in love?”

Although Kelly knew it was a stupid question, given Elena’s previous reactions, the probability was almost zero.

‘In… in love?’

‘When I was a man… I hadn’t even dated a girl…’

‘Now that I’ve become a girl…’

‘Does Kelly mean… for me to date other boys?’

‘That’s too shocking…’

‘I’m still a man after all… This is too much…’

“I don’t have any thoughts about it for now…”

Elena shook her head.

“With your conditions, there’s no rush anyway.”

“Little Elena, with your great talent and gentle personality, you definitely won’t lack boys who like you.”

Kelly took another look at Elena in her long dress.

“You look like the type who will become a good wife and loving mother, right?”

‘Huh?’

‘Good wife and loving mother…’

Elena had always thought that word was far from her.

She never thought it could be used on her one day.

The girl’s mind couldn’t stop wildly imagining that word.

When her husband leaves for work in the morning… give him a morning kiss.

While her husband works outside… she cleans the house at home…

Cook a table of fine dishes, quietly waiting for her husband…

When the husband, exhausted after a busy day, walks in the door…

Give him a warm gentle kiss, a perfectly timed hug…

The two have dinner together…

And at night… they would…

A blush crept onto Elena’s face.

This… this is the life of a happy heroine in a fairy tale…

Getting a bit carried away…

“Hmph—I wonder which guy will be lucky enough to have you.”

Elena nodded, lowering her head a bit in embarrassment.

It seems… her acting as a girl has completely passed…

Even Kelly, a great magician, couldn’t see through it.

Before they knew it, the two had walked to the familiar doorstep of Finn’s house.

“At this hour… that tin can should be home by now—”

“Speaking of which… you’re dressed so pretty today… you’ll definitely surprise your cheap brother when you go back!”

“That Finn… his sister is so beautiful, and he doesn’t treasure her… he won’t even buy a dress…”

“I wonder what he’s thinking…”

‘F… Finn?’

The girl, who had already resolved to fully accept her new identity, felt a ripple in her heart.

Finn… he’s different.

He’s her friend, and the only true equal friend.

He wouldn’t refuse Elian’s concern.

And he wouldn’t be stingy with his own care.

If it were someone else, it would be fine…

Most importantly… he knows she is Elian…

Thinking of this, the girl’s sensitive heart once again welled up with a trace of fear.

She’s wearing a dress, dressed so girlishly…

It’s completely different from the knight Elian before…

Elena’s hand trembled slightly as she grasped the door handle.

Behind the door would surely be Finn, who had finished his patrol and was waiting for her and Kelly…

But also a completely unpredictable unknown…

What would Finn think?

Would he… think she’s changed?

Would he… think she’s disgusting?

Even though he was a man…

She especially didn’t want Finn to think that way…

The girl’s eyes wandered as she looked at the door, for the first time lacking the courage to face the scene inside.