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Chapter 25
Change
When we arrived at the detached palace, familiar faces came running toward me.
“Welcome back, Lady Lilybell!”
“Your luggage has already been taken to the garden.”
The one who came pattering over was Berne. Right behind her, Rosarina appeared with swift, soundless steps.
Seeing the two of them greet me with beaming smiles, I stopped short for a moment.
(…‘Welcome back’—was that meant for me?)
Thinking that way made me feel a little pathetic.
After all, until just recently, no one had paid me any attention at all. Hardly anyone even spoke to me.
“…I—I’m home.”
The voice I finally managed to produce may have trembled slightly. But the two of them pretended not to notice and spoke to me with the same cheerful warmth as always.
“We’ve officially been assigned as your personal maids, Lady Lilybell!”
“Your room has already been fully prepared this morning. Tea is ready as well—would you like to change first?”
Warmth slowly spread through my chest, yet my feet felt oddly unsteady, as if none of this were real.
To hide the emotions threatening to spill over, I forced a smile.
“Thank you, Berne, Rosarina. I’ll change quickly… and then head to the garden.”
Their gazes and voices were just like always—yet somehow different. That gentle warmth seeped deep into my heart.
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The renewed detached palace looked like an entirely different building.
A pale blue carpet now covered the marble floor of the entrance hall, and the wallpaper had been replaced with soft, gentle colors. The heavy, oppressive atmosphere it once had was completely gone, replaced by a brightness that felt like fresh air flowing in.
Through newly installed glass windows, the medicinal herb garden was clearly visible.
(Alright. Let’s do this!)
After changing, I headed toward the back of the garden. A new apron hung at my waist—made of calm, unbleached fabric, embroidered with small, delicate floral patterns.
When I stepped into the garden, Lord Keith was gazing at the seedlings.
Freshly delivered seedlings were neatly lined up in wooden boxes. The way he looked at each one—as if they were precious gems—made his profile seem far gentler than usual.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Lord Keith!”
When I called out, he turned toward me.
“Lady Lilybell… did you manage this entire garden by yourself?”
“Yes. It seems I’ve been growing medicinal herbs for a long time.”
“…It seems?”
“N-no! It’s nothing!”
I hurriedly covered it up and turned toward the seedlings.
I was just thinking of planting them wherever there was space when Lord Keith sat down beside me.
We began replanting together. I dug holes with the trowel, while he carefully supported the seedlings. His practiced movements made me admire him without thinking.
“You’re good at gardening too, Lord Keith.”
“…A long time ago, due to certain circumstances, I was entrusted with managing a medicinal herb garden.”
That was unexpected. I never imagined he had such a past—one never mentioned even once in the novel.
We planted one seedling after another, fully absorbed in our work, when—
“Myaa… myaa…”
A cry came from somewhere.
I stopped and looked around.
“…A kitty?”
Listening closely, I realized where the sound was coming from.
When I looked up, I saw a small kitten crouched on the branch of a large tree in the center of the garden.
“W-What? How did it get up there…?!”
The branch was quite high off the ground, and the kitten was trembling as it curled into itself.
“Can’t you get down?”
I spoke gently, but of course, there was no reply.
I had to help it somehow…!
But I couldn’t climb trees…
Then an idea struck me.
“Maybe I can lower it gently with water magic?”
That was the only thing I could do.
I raised my hand toward the sky and formed a thin membrane of water.
“If this acts as a cushion, it shouldn’t hurt even if it falls—!”
But then I froze.
—Wait. Cats hate water!!
The kitten only became more frightened, showing no sign of jumping down.
“Lady Lilybell… what are you doing?”
Just as I hurried to dispel the magic, a low voice sounded behind me.
Startled, I turned around to see Lord Keith standing there with his arms crossed, his expression cool.
“Lord Keith! I-it’s not what it looks like. Please look up there—there’s a kitten stuck in the tree. I thought a water cushion might work, but…”
I ended up sounding flustered and defensive.
When I pointed frantically, Lord Keith lifted his gaze and seemed to notice the kitten.
“…I see.”
With that quiet murmur, Lord Keith slowly raised his right hand.
From his fingertips, something like black mist spread out, sinking smoothly into the shadows cast on the ground.
For a moment, the air felt tense. At the base of the tree—where sunlight couldn’t reach—the shadow began to tremble, as if it had come alive.
Squirm.
Like the surface of a dark sea rippling, the shadow shifted.
The next instant, something slid silently out of it.
A pitch-black, tentacle-like shape emerged—smoky, yet undeniably real. Thin and supple, it crawled across the ground in a fluid motion.
As if careful not to harm a small life, the shadow gently wrapped around the branch and rose upward. The movement was smooth—terrifying, yet beautiful.
“Wow…”
The sound slipped from my lips.
When the black tendril reached the kitten, it spread gently, enveloping the small body.
Softly.
The kitten stiffened for a moment—but then, as if entrusting itself to that cold, weightless embrace, it slowly closed its eyes.
Wrapped in the black tendril, the kitten floated through the air and descended slowly toward the ground.
But just as it drew near—
“Meow!”
Suddenly, the kitten jolted, flailing its front paws. As if snapping back to its senses, it burst free from the shadow and leapt straight toward me.
“Wah—!”
I instinctively spread my arms and caught the fluffy missile. The kitten curled up tightly in my arms, trembling.
Its gaze was fixed on the one who had carried it down—the master of the shadow, Lord Keith.
“…Hiss!”
With its fur standing on end, the kitten hissed in fear and anger. The air fell silent for a moment.
Lord Keith lowered his eyes slightly.
“As expected… this magic is not one that animals find comforting.”
His voice was calm as ever, but his profile looked faintly lonely. A thin, self-mocking smile touched his lips.
“I didn’t intend to frighten it.”
He had used the gentlest power possible to protect the kitten—yet it hadn’t been understood.
As I softly stroked the kitten to calm it, I looked straight at Lord Keith.
“…That’s not true!”
I declared it firmly.
“Your magic was really cool, Lord Keith! I thought it was just like a ninja!”
What came to mind was a character from a ninja manga I used to love.
He was a calm, collected ninja who could freely control shadows. He acted aloof, but in truth cared deeply about his companions—and no matter what he said, he always came to help. His techniques were quiet, yet always struck true.
Thinking of that, my heart fluttered oddly at Lord Keith’s magic.
Shadow magic—so cool!
“A… ninja?”
As I sparkled with excitement, Lord Keith looked at me, completely bewildered.
“Yes! A ninja is an amazing warrior who uses shadows to move quickly and confuse enemies! Your magic is totally ninja-like—it’s so cool!”
Faced with Lilybell’s innocent praise, Lord Keith was clearly caught off guard.
For a brief moment, his golden eyes wavered as he lowered his gaze, as if about to say something—and then his expression softened.
“…That’s the first time anyone has said that to me.”
It lasted only an instant—but it was a smile that looked somehow… saved.
Surprised, I felt happy.
It was rare to see Lord Keith change his expression like that.
In my arms, the kitten finally relaxed and let out a small “meow.” But only for a moment—soon it twisted free, hopped down, and trotted off into the bushes.
“Ah—”
Before I could stop it, the kitten disappeared, as if nothing had ever happened.
“It’s gone,” Lord Keith said beside me.
I slumped slightly, but as long as it was safe, that was enough.
“Lady Lilybell.”
He suddenly called my name. As I turned, he stepped just a little closer—
“…You’ve got some dirt on your cheek.”
And with that, he gently touched my face.
His fingertips brushed my cheek for just a moment, leaving behind a faint warmth.
“…!”
I froze.
My heartbeat thudded loudly in my ears.
Earlier, while planting the seedlings, I must have flung soil everywhere—and in my rush to help the kitten, I hadn’t noticed.
“…Excuse me.”
“N-no! Thank you very much!”
Lord Keith quickly withdrew his hand, returning to his usual unreadable expression, though the corners of his brows dipped slightly.
That small, thoughtful gesture was bad for my heart in a different way.
(This kindness isn’t real.)
I told myself that—
and still, I couldn’t stop the sadness from creeping in.
