Chapter 1104 – #263_Holidays – DeepL

#1098

1.
I woke up a little late.

I would realize that autumn had arrived when I saw the indigo leaves outside my window, the yellow and red leaves falling in a slow, steady stream.

“Mmmm….”

I’ve been feeling a little tired lately.

Even though I haven’t had a hot night with Xiu, the fluffiness of the feather pillow and blanket has given me a languid drowsiness, and I find myself tossing and turning for hours on end.

Maybe it’s because you have to sleep for two?

I gulp down a glass of water I’ve left on the shelf and say hello when my mind snaps back to life.

“Did you sleep well too, sprout?”

I stroke its bulging belly and it squirms as if to say hello in return.

It’s hard to believe that not so long ago I was carrying a new life.
My belly wasn’t very convex, and there weren’t many signs of life other than the fact that I was craving strawberries.

But during Siu’s struggle, her belly became noticeably more convex, and the other day I even started to feel it kicking around.

Isn’t he just so adorable?
If she’s anything like me when she’s younger, she’ll be very active.

A sweet and sour scent tickled my nose, and I looked at the shelf and saw a plump strawberry.

Underneath was a note from Xiu.

[I didn’t wake you up because you were sleeping so soundly, but I hope you enjoy them and tell Sprout that I love him, too. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you more].

I’m not with you right now, but when I look at the strawberries, I can picture the look on Xiu’s face when she left her room.

He would have kissed me lovingly on the forehead, tucked the slightly tattered blanket back in, said hello to Sprout, and washed and put the strawberries on the table.

She’s too good for me.

“Did Sprout say hello to his daddy?”

Being a mom is a little scary, but I’m also overjoyed.

It feels like a miracle that this little life has come into my body.
Being the mother of someone you love is probably the happiest thing in the world.

I wish I could be a little more lazy, but I have a schedule today.

I put away the grateful blanket that covered our mother and daughter overnight and brushed my messy hair.
I’m also going to get some warm water and give her a visitation bath.

Miss Yevin warned me to be careful not to use even the slightest bit of magic, as it would be unprecedented for a witch to have a baby.

Life without magic.

Amelia Marigold hasn’t really imagined life without being a witch, but she’s surprisingly not feeling a sense of loss.
That’s probably because she has Sprout by her side.

-Smart

After a quick wash and putting my hair up, there was a knock on the door.

“Yes, I’m coming out.”
“Good morning, Amelia, I’ve heard so much about you, but this cabin is really pretty, isn’t it?”

I opened the door and there stood a smiling Ms. Sharon, who had agreed to help me with today’s schedule.

At first, Sharon and I had a bit of a falling out with each other, making mistakes and provoking each other.
But as we cleared up our misunderstandings and got to know her better, I realized she was a really nice person.

She’s always making everyone around her laugh, and she’s a bundle of fun, a breeze, if you will.

Sometimes he makes jokes or says things I don’t understand and I have to correct him, but he’s a good friend who has a lot to live up to and a lot to learn from.

“Thank you, come on in, give me an envelope. I’ll hold it for you.”
“Uh, what do you mean, can I say hi to the sprout?”
“Sure.”
“Oo-roo-roo, how’s Sprout?”

Ms. Sharon put down the envelope she was holding in her arms, bent her knees, and patted my lower belly excitedly.
It tickled a little, but I held it in.

“Mmm! Kissy! I can’t wait to see you, my sweet sprout.”

I used to feel uncomfortable with someone else invading my space, but now this kind of touching is no big deal.

I even shared a bed with Ms. Sharon.
I gave her some situational drama know-how, and she was grateful for it.

As someone who was helped by her, I’m very happy to be able to help her in this way.

“Okay, so let’s start getting ready for the huddle, shall we?”
“Okay.”

Today’s schedule is a kind of Chuseok preparation.
It’s a holiday in Xiu’s hometown.

Xiu, Miss Sharon, Duke Eloa, Miss Leroux, Miss Odile Odette, Miss Dorothy, Miss Linnaeus, Count Zemernai, and so on.
The whole family is invited to the cottage.

Miss Sharon has come to help.
She unpacked in the kitchen Siu had remodeled to make bread and food for the guests.

“So, Miss Sharon, how are things going with the Society?”
“Ugh, don’t even get me started. I’m the secretary, but I’ve got a lot on my plate, plus I’ve got to prepare for the classes I’m in charge of, and I haven’t been sleeping much lately.”

“That sounds like a lot of work, and I wish I could be more helpful….”
“Oh don’t say that, Amelia, you have the biggest role to play.”

Ms. Sharon rattled off a list of ingredients, offering to show me how it’s done with her home-cooking experience, while I stood by and prepared to bake.
I wasn’t planning on making anything fancy, just a simple dessert to share at tea time.

“Miss Sharon.”
“Yes?”

We each bustled about our respective dishes, and after a moment’s thought, I opened my mouth.

I now know what Amelia Marigold lacks.
It’s interpersonal skills.

I’ve been working hard to overcome this weakness.

I’ve brought in precious books that I’ve found in this world and memorized them, and I’ve trained myself to play tiki-taka in my head and carry a full-bodied conversation.

But it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.
Like wearing shoes you’re not used to and your feet hurt.

I soon realized the problem.

I didn’t have anyone to test my theories against.
It’s no secret that witches know that magic in theory and magic in practice are two different things.

Ms. Sharon is my friend, but in a way, she’s my role model.
A sticky personality and great communication skills that get me everywhere.

I know that if I practice against her, I too can be an unapologetic, or in Ms. Sharon’s words, an “insa” mom to my sprout.

Okay, check here.

What Miss Sharon has and Amelia doesn’t.
I decided it was a small talk.

Because breaking the ice and cracking jokes that don’t really matter is the last thing I’m good at.

With small talk, you have to draw the line based on your relationship and psychological closeness to the person.
You don’t want to talk to someone you don’t know as well as you would your best friend.

My relationship with Ms. Sharon is more than just a romantic interest, but a really close friend.
I’d even go so far as to say we’re close enough to know each other’s facial expressions and naughty noises in bed.

If so, that means I’m allowed to crack jokes at this level.

“So, Ms. Sharon, have you been bowling lately?”
“Bowling? No. I used to do it when I lived with Xiu, but there’s no bowling alley in Gehenna.”

When I see Miss Sharon shake her head in confusion, I know I’m halfway there.

Because, after all, a joke starts with a poke at the other person’s consciousness.

“I’m sorry, I was mistaken.”
“Mistaken about what?”

The key here is to do it as awkwardly and naturally as possible.
The last thing you want to do is give off the nuance that you’ve rehearsed or that you’re trying to be funny.

That would be, to borrow a phrase from Ms. Sharon, an “oops” moment.

The pinnacle of small talk is a joke that comes from sheer spontaneity, with a touch of “Hmm? I didn’t mean to make you laugh.

“I thought Ms. Sharon had a bowling ball in her breast.”

Miss Sharon, who was slicing tofu into squares, stopped as if under a paralyzing spell.

“…Oh, you mean like that, ahaha, Miss Amelia really….”

And then she laughs in retrospect.
Maybe it was too metaphorical?

Certainly, if it takes a while to get the humor, it loses some of its freshness.
Considering that Ms. Sharon is notoriously bad at holding a pint.

Still, I’m kind of proud of myself.

“So, Amelia, where did you learn to do that?”
“From a book I bought when I left this world.”
“I think, um…. You know that book…. No.”

Miss Sharon was stumped.
This is a new response.

The fact that she even brought up the book means she’s interested in my prized possession, even though she pretends not to be.

It’s one of my best kept secrets, but I’m willing to share it with her.

“Do you want me to lend it to you?”
“No, really, I’d rather… what’s that… burn it….”
“What?”
“No….”

Anyway, we chatted and chatted and chatted.
It was almost time.

“No, where is that?”
“It’s right here.”
“Looks like Odile’s right for once.”
“You always take your sister’s side!”

The voices of Miss Odile, Miss Odette, and Miss Lerouet could be heard in the distance.
The three of them are very vocal, and when they’re together, they make a ruckus, so you can hear them from miles away, even in a forest of oyster bark trees.

As I open the door, I’m greeted by a welcoming sight.

“Associate Professor! hello!”
“Wow, this is the hut I heard about! Master will be back in a little while!”

Miss Odile, Miss Odette, the tomboy, jumping up and down in greeting.

“Miss Amelia, you look well. How are you?”

Duke Eloa, always the dashing one.

“Blondie, receive your housewarming gift!”

Miss Lerouet, with a bundle of presents in her arms.

“It’s very, very tranquil, isn’t it, Linnaeus, just your kind of thing?”

Miss Dorothy with a smirk.

“…….”

And the blunt but surprisingly thoughtful Miss Linnaeus.

They are all my dearest friends.

“But what is Chuseok?”
“Ugh, didn’t you do any research? It’s a holiday in your hometown.”
“I’m sure we’ll have a good time making music and playing together.”
“…Amelia, I need you to teach me more about pregnancy gymnastics.”

The hut is bustling with activity, almost cramped in its quietness.

So don’t worry too much, Master.

As you said, I’m loving with all my might.
I have such wonderful friends and lovers.

I don’t feel lonely anymore.

I’ll write to you again.

Amelia, on a beautiful fall day, to her beloved Master.