Tina tried to recall her current situation and realized it was none of those.
Something seemed strange, didnโt it? This question completely woke up her half-asleep consciousness. She began to remember one by one that she had entered the Forest of Temptation with Adeline as a test of courage, that she had collapsed when she heard a mysterious voice, and so on.
And finally, she arrived at the crucial question: โWhere am I?โ
First, she was lying in a wooden bed.
The bed and furnishings were luxurious and much nicer than her parents’ restaurant.
She could see the forest from the window.
There was a small but intricately crafted chandelier on the ceiling.
Tina had no recollection of any place this splendid.
It might be even nicer than the lord’s mansion.
Which meantโฆ
At last, Tina reached the correct answer.
Or rather, she reluctantly faced the correct answer she had been half-aware of but didnโt want to acknowledge.
This was a mansion in the forest.
However, she didnโt understand why she had been brought here and was lying down. The simplest assumption was that someone had helped her. But she distinctly remembered being scolded by someone at that time. It was definitely wrong to think they had gently protected her.
โOh, youโre awake?โ
The door opened with a clatter, and a voice called out.
Tina was so startled that her heart nearly leapt out of her mouth.
The only beings that would speak to her in the forest were supposed to be evil spirits.
โWaaah!? I-Iโm sorry, Iโm sorry! Iโm sorry for entering without permission!โ
But of course, the one who entered through the door was not an evil spirit but a person with a shadow and formโJill.
โAh, calm down, calm down. Once youโve calmed down, Iโll take you out of the forest, so just rest a bit.โ
“Uh, ah, yes.”
Tina tried to bow, but Jill gently restrained her.
Finally, Tina clearly saw Jill’s face and figure.
She thought she had a kind-looking face.
She seemed older than her brother but younger than her parents.
She had straight orange hair and gentle eyes.
She had the air of a school teacher.
However, Tina had no idea what to make of the clothes Jill was wearing.
“Clothes…”
“Hm? Oh, this is unusual, isn’t it?”
Jill smiled sheepishly.
To Tina, “unusual” didn’t even begin to describe it.
In the Dailan Magic Kingdom, what indicated one’s high status at a glance?
There were several things, but the most obvious was clothing.
And embroidery.
The capes and robes that nobles wore in public often featured vibrant embroidery depicting the emblems of their nation, city, and house. In their private attire, some nobles adorned their garments with embroidered scenes from mythology, flowers, birds, or other intricate designs, investing significant time and effort. Some also had luxurious garments made from woven fabrics using various colored threads.
Moreover, some would add geometric patterns to their tunics or shirts with embroidery, or subtly decorate the collars and sleeves, adding a touch of elegance.
In contrast, commoners’ clothing was simple.
Mostly single-colored, plain garments sewn to prevent fraying at the sleeves and collars. Fancy embroidery was rare unless they were wealthy merchants close to the nobility, and even then, it was more often for repair than decoration. While some stylish commoners existed, wearing clothes similar to the nobility was frowned upon for fear of misunderstandings. Commoners sometimes wore woven or knitted fabrics, but these were rarely as ornate as those used by nobles.
Commoners had various ways to enjoy fashion while avoiding trouble. They might use decorative cords or accessories to fasten their clothes. Sweaters were essential in harsh winters, and there was no objection to adding playful elements when knitting them.
Some used “shibori” (tie-dye) techniques to dye fabrics, creating polka dot patterns and other designs. However, in the Dailan Magic Kingdom and across Algenes, the technique for creating beautiful shibori patterns was still underdeveloped. The aesthetic preference was for clear, vivid designs like embroidery.
In essence, the idea of fashion through dyeing was scarce in this land. Without exposure to magazines or books from other cultures like Jill’s, it was almost unimaginable.
“The sky…”
“Hm? What is it?”
“You’re wearing the sky. It’s very beautiful.”
Therefore, Tina hesitated even to categorize the Jill in front of her as the same human. Such vividly dyed blue clothes were hard to come by for commoners. Moreover, she had never seen anyone depict clouds by leaving parts undyed.
To a close-minded person, Jillโs outfit might elicit a disdainful โWhat is this?โ
But Tina, still a child, was unbound by conventions and had the honesty to call beautiful things beautiful.
โUh, uh, hehe… Thank you. Well, I didnโt have time to change into normal clothes.โ
โAre you a witch? Or a fairy?โ
โAh, no, no, youโre flattering me. Oh, would you like some tea before you go? We also have dessert.โ
Jill, with an embarrassed laugh and slightly awkward movements, began preparing tea.
โ
Jill learned various dishes and how to brew tea from her uncle, Conrad.
Conrad not only had a deep knowledge of this country’s traditional court cuisine but also knew many foreign dishes, though where he learned them was a mystery. Even when young Jill begged to know their origins, Conrad never gave a clear answer.
But coming to this mansion, Jill could somewhat imagine the origins. Perhaps they were the same as her own.
Among Conradโs specialties was puddingโฆ the dessert known as custard pudding.
It was a very simple dessert consisting mainly of eggs, cream, sugar, and some flavoring to mask the eggy smell. But its simplicity made it a test of basic culinary skills.
As a child, Jill often had Conrad make it for her. It was a nostalgic taste, and she had learned how to make it. This time, Jill intended to enjoy dessert and tea as a celebration for making her first dress. But she felt like sharing it with the little guest who had praised her work at first sight.
โWow, no way, this is deliciousโฆ!โ
โOh, thank you.โ
โHuhโฆ? Itโs better than my dadโsโฆ I canโt believe itโฆ?โ
โIโm flattered to be praised so highly.โ
Jillโs pudding was exquisite.
Even the picky Conrad had praised it without reservation.
There were three things Jill paid attention to when making pudding.
First, ensuring no air bubbles got into the mixture.
Second, straining the egg and cream mixture well to make it smooth.
Lastly, managing the proper temperature during the water bath.
Jill could perfectly handle all of these with her magic of ใLiquid Manipulationใ and ใHeatingใ.
Additionally, Jill could always draw out the best conditions for brewing tea, such as the optimal temperature and the proper jumping of the tea leaves. A tea party prepared by Jill was an enchanting experience, one even royalty and nobility rarely enjoyed.
Seeing Tina eat the pudding with a serious expression, Jill smiled contentedly.
“This is amazing… The sweetness, the texture, the balance is perfect. There’s no smell of alcohol, yet no eggy taste. How did you do it?”
“Oh, the flavoring is something you can’t usually get. It’s a rare find. I got it by chance.”
“That’s… a secret, isn’t it?”
“You sound like a professional, don’t you?”
“Oh, I-I’m sorry… My parents run a restaurant.”
“So, I’ve been praised by a future professional then?”
Jill smiled, and Tina shyly smiled back. She seemed completely relaxed, the panic from earlier gone.
(I’m glad she’s calmed down.)
Just as Jill felt reassured, loud voices echoed through the air.
“Miss Witch! We’re sorry!”
“Please give Tina back!”
The cries were more like sobs and wails than calls.
Several children, crying loudly, were calling out Tina’s name.
Jill felt as if she had become an evil dragon or demon king demanding sacrifices.
She was even impressed by how brave the little heroes were.
“Friends of yours?”
“…Yes.”
Tina blushed deeply and nodded at Jill’s question.
