At this moment, Danila was slowly combing her hair with a wooden comb.
“Celebration….”
“Hmm?”
“Aren’t you going to the celebration?”
“Hehe~” Danila’s brows softened into a gentle smile. “After living so long, I long ago lost the excitement I once had for celebrations.”
“For me now, today is hardly different from any other day.”
Chirp, chirp–
As the two spoke softly, an uninvited guest darted in through the half-open window—a bird with a silvery blue sheen fluttering wildly about the room.
Seeing the uninvited guest struggling to find its way out, Danila lifted her hand and gently wrapped the bird with magic, sending it softly out the window.
Watching this scene unfold, Finihiya fell silent for a moment, then asked in a timid, curious voice,
“Um…”
“Hmm? Lady Finihiya, if you have something to say, just say it. There’s no need to be so concerned about me.”
Finihiya made a hesitant “Mmm…” sound, caught between hesitation and uncertainty.
“May I be so bold as to ask a question?”
“Of course, Lady Finihiya. Please go ahead.”
“I heard… Lady Danila, that you served three generations of Demon Lords. Is that true?”
“Heh~” Danila let out a light laugh. “Lady Finihiya, your expression just now was so conflicted, and yet this is the question you wanted to ask.”
“If we include Lady Darlian, that’s indeed the case.”
Though Finihiya had already guessed as much in her heart, she couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise in her eyes when Danila confirmed it so calmly.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing.” Finihiya shook her head slightly, causing her hair—smoothed by Danila—to sway gently.
A demon like Lady Danila, who had lived for so many years, was exceedingly rare.
Though demons were said to have long lifespans in theory, in reality, few managed to live past a thousand years. The same was true for elves.
Natural disasters, war and calamity…
Any of them could claim one’s life.
Demons with low magic power had lives as fragile as humans.
To be honest, she was a little curious just how long Lady Danila had actually lived.
But to ask so directly would be impolite, so she gave up on the idea, feeling a tinge of regret.
“This ribbon suits Lady Finihiya very well.”
Danila’s sudden comment brought her back to her senses, and she tilted her head to examine herself in the mirror.
A deep black ribbon, about the size of a palm, was tied in her hair at the back of her neck.
The ribbon was layered with several frills, its outer edge decorated with exquisitely crafted lace.
“I think it suits me too.”
Another familiar voice sounded from behind.
Turning her head, Finihiya saw Darlian landing silently on the floor from the windowsill.
“Lady Darlian.”
“Good afternoon, Danila.”
With a brief greeting, Darlian walked over.
Today, Darlian also seemed to have dressed up. Perhaps for the celebration, her clothes were much more elaborate and luxurious than usual.
Her black, laced dress featured decorative edging along the neckline and cuffs. A layer of French lace at her neck faintly revealed the fair skin beneath.
After coming before them, Darlian tilted her head, feigning an exaggerated inspection.
Sometimes drawing close, sometimes pulling away…
Then, nodding in apparent satisfaction, she said, “Finihiya is very cute today.”
“Lady Darlian, are you implying Lady Finihiya isn’t cute on other days?”
“Then I misspoke.” With that, Darlian leaned in again, chuckling softly. “Finihiya is even cuter today.”
Watching the easy banter between master and servant, Finihiya’s delicate cheeks were tinged not only with an embarrassed blush but also a hint of helplessness.
***
The carriage traveled along the road to the city.
A gentle breeze blew in through the raised gray curtains, stirring the hem of her dress.
Though the summer sun outside was scorching, the inside of the carriage remained pleasantly cool, as if insulated from the heat outside.
“Haa—”
A tired yawn reached her ears, and Finihiya turned to look at Darlian beside her.
Only then did she notice Darlian’s sleepy eyes and the weariness tinting her lovely face.
With a slight arch of her brow, Finihiya asked in confusion, “Did Lady Darlian not sleep well last night?”
“Mm.”
“Too excited for the celebration to sleep?”
“No.” Glancing at Finihiya, Darlian answered in a subtle, flat tone.
“I was woken up by the priests at four in the morning to offer sacrifices to Ancient God Sonia, then finally finished at nine, only to have to meet the nobles and receive their blessings.”
“That’s tough.”
Finihiya could truly empathize with all Darlian described.
When she was in the Holy Kingdom, serving as a Saintess, she too had to rise early and attend such rituals and events on festival days.
And because Saint Margaret was a nation ruled by divine and ecclesiastical authority, such festivals were frequent.
Even on ordinary days, there were masses, blessings, sermons, and listening to the confessions of the faithful.
Though a Saintess’s duties weren’t exactly heavy, she wouldn’t call them easy either.
Her thoughts drifted for a moment. When Finihiya came back to herself and was about to gently comfort Darlian, her left shoulder suddenly grew heavier.
She saw Darlian, eyes closed, breathing evenly through her small nose.
Watching the fatigue on Darlian’s face, Finihiya managed a helpless, bittersweet smile.
That bitterness came from a feeling of sympathy for Darlian.
Finihiya shifted slightly, letting Darlian’s head rest more comfortably on her shoulder, so she wouldn’t be startled awake if she lost her support while sleeping.
Knock, knock…
She rapped the carriage window frame twice with her knuckles.
The sound made the young coachman turn his head.
(“Go slower.”)
Though she hadn’t spoken aloud, the young coachman still understood her intent, either from her lips or the situation inside the carriage.
The carriage, which had been moving swiftly, slowed at once.
A refreshing breeze blew in again through the lifted curtain, carrying the clear, invigorating scent of trees and grass from outside.
Darlian’s glossy hair, black as a drenched cat, was blown across her chest by the wind, covering half her face.
Seeing this, Finihiya watched for a while, then gently used her fingertips to tuck Darlian’s loose hair behind her ear.
When Finihiya turned away, in a spot she couldn’t see, Darlian’s well-shaped lips curled up in a subtle smile.
The journey by carriage from the manor to the city took more than an hour. If they hurried a bit, it could be less than an hour.
But at Finihiya’s instruction, the carriage was moving much slower than usual.
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