Finihiya seemed to want to get up.
Looking down at the Saintess—so petite and adorable, like a pure white snow rabbit—Darlian gently bent forward, smiling faintly as she reached out her right hand toward the little Saintess before her.
“Give me your hand.”
The delicate cheeks showed a hint of surprise, but there was no refusal. With a soft “thank you,” the Saintess took her hand and stood up.
“…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Darlian noticed some grass clinging to the hem of Finihiya’s skirt around her knees, so she bent down again to gently brush it off.
Straightening up once more, she tilted her head to glance at the mansion in the distance, then, maintaining that faint smile, she gestured lightly.
“Let’s head back. It’s getting late.”
“Mm.”
As the season turned into July, the vegetation on the surface flourished under the ample sunlight.
With each step forward, the dry grass beneath her feet rustled softly.
Walking along a grassy path dotted with sage and pansies, Darlian strolled straight ahead.
After walking silently with Finihiya for a short while, she shifted her gaze to the Saintess, who was trailing by two steps.
At first, she thought she had been walking too fast and that Finihiya couldn’t keep up.
But when she deliberately slowed down, the distance between them didn’t close.
Seeing this, she realized the gap was intentional on Finihiya’s part.
With that thought, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Finihiya’s wrist, whose expression showed a bit of surprise, then briskly walked ahead.
“Hurry up, you’re almost stepping on ants.”
“Sorry…”
“Don’t apologize without reason.”
“Sorry…”
If it weren’t for the low, timid tone of the apologies, she would have had no hesitation in suspecting that the Saintess before her was teasing her.
Still.
Why did this feel so strongly like déjà vu?
Why did it seem like such an awkward conversation had happened not long ago?
After pulling Finihiya along for a bit more, she slowed her pace again.
The sky, still not fully dark, revealed an unusually large full moon eager to show itself.
The faint moonlight mingled with the fading dusk, casting a glow on Finihiya’s delicate profile.
Her lush golden hair fell like a velvet veil, illuminated by the mingling light of moon and dusk, blooming like a bouquet at twilight.
As Darlian quietly gazed at this otherworldly beauty, she suddenly realized just how short Finihiya was.
Darlian was about 1.67 meters tall—a fairly average height.
But Finihiya…
The Saintess’s bowed head barely reached just below Darlian’s nose.
With that, she guessed the Saintess was definitely under 1.6 meters.
She asked in a somewhat casual tone.
“Miss Saintess, how tall are you?”
“Hmm?” Finihiya responded with a puzzled sound, looking this way shyly before softly replying.
“1.56 meters.”
“Eh~ so small.”
The moment she finished speaking, Darlian saw Finihiya’s cheeks puff slightly in displeasure, as if unhappy with her words.
“I’ve been drinking milk very hard to grow to 1.6 meters.”
“Pfft!”
Hearing that youthful, slightly childish voice, Darlian couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Noticing the pout on Finihiya’s cheeks, she immediately hid her smile, put on a serious face, cleared her throat twice, then turned her gaze to the distance.
Drinking milk to grow taller?
That was just too cute!
Thinking this, the slight curve on Darlian’s pressed lips returned.
But…
She kind of wanted to tell the Saintess that milk alone couldn’t save her height.
It was well after some time that they returned to the pale white manor.
“Darlian-sama!”
Perhaps having received a message from the Catfolk maid, Danila stood waiting outside the manor’s entrance by a statue.
While Finihiya put the books back in the library, Darlian took a moment to glance at Danila standing beside her, then a gentle smile appeared on her lips.
“To trouble you with this…”
“Please don’t say that, Darlian-sama.” Danila clearly understood the meaning behind Darlian’s words and bowed deeply. “It is my honor to serve Lady Finihiya. Lady Finihiya is never a burden.”
“Is that so.” Danila’s reply pleased Darlian greatly, and the well-shaped lips revealed a faint smile. “I knew trusting you was the right choice.”
“No, you flatter me.” Danila bowed again, then changed the subject. “Darlian-sama, you haven’t eaten dinner yet, right? I will have the servants prepare it right away.”
“Not for now. Later will do.”
“Yes.”
They waited by the corridor leading to the kitchen for a moment.
Soon, Finihiya’s petite figure reappeared in Darlian’s sight.
As they stepped on the floor that shimmered like cold water into the kitchen, Darlian glanced at Finihiya and said softly.
“You could have just asked the maids to put the books away. No need to make the trip yourself.”
Finihiya shook her head lightly and explained in a quiet voice.
“They don’t know where these books belong. If they put them randomly, it will be troublesome to find them later.”
“Oh, I see.”
Upon hearing this, Darlian gained a deeper understanding of Finihiya’s earlier insistence.
Taking small steps, she reached the kitchen door.
Since it was already night, seven or eight people were busy at the counters, peeling potatoes and cutting fresh vegetables.
Noticing Darlian and Finihiya enter, they immediately set down their tools and stood up.
“Darlian-sama! Lady Finihiya! Is there anything you need us to do?”
Darlian remained silent, tilting her head to look at Finihiya, waiting for the Saintess to respond.
After all, she didn’t know if they would need to give any orders to the servants.
Understanding her meaning, Finihiya looked at the servants and replied in a very soft, gentle voice.
“No, there’s nothing. You don’t have to mind us.”
“Uh…”
The kitchen staff exchanged uncertain glances at Finihiya’s answer. But soon, they silently lowered their heads and resumed preparing dinner.
The area near the center of the counter was left empty.
It seemed they had deliberately cleared that space, knowing Finihiya intended to prepare food.
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