Chapter 14

"――Madam, it's dangerous!!"

"Huh?"

As I heard Neo's anxious voice and turned around, a clump of dirt-like substance was approaching right in front of me.

Is this Rebecca's magic?

Is she already practicing earth magic?

If I start thinking about irrelevant things in such a dangerous situation...

"Ah!?"

I was pulled back and lost my balance, but immediately after, the scene in front of me turned blue.

I didn't quite understand what happened, but it looked like a wall of ice in front of me.

And the one who pulled me back was Alan.

When I looked up at him in surprise, he had a slightly anxious expression.

"Are you okay?"

"Um, ah, yes..."

"Are you hurt?"

"Yes, I'm fine...!"

I, I just realized, but in this position... Alan is hugging me from behind?

My head is against Alan's chest, and if I look up, his face is right there.

I am being held in a way that his hands are around my waist, supporting me.

As I became aware of this position, heat rushed to my face.

"That's good, I'm relieved."

Seeing Alan relax with relief after confirming my safety, my heart raced.

"S-Sorry...!"

"What do you have to apologize for?"

"I-I'm stuck, I'll move away right away...!"

"It's fine since I pulled you. Rather, I'm sorry for hugging you in an emergency."

"It's okay, thank you."

I quickly moved away from Alan's chest and thanked him.

"Oh... Are you okay? Your face is red."

"It's fine!"

"Did you hit your face on my chest? I tried to hold you gently."

"..."

Y-You tried to hold me gently...

This guy, he can say such things without any embarrassment...

"Madam, Master Alan, are you okay!?"

The ice wall had disappeared, and Neo and Rebecca approached with anxious expressions.

Rebecca's face was pale.

"I'm sorry! I lost control of my magic...!"

"It's okay, Rebecca. Alan protected us."

"B-But...!"

Rebecca looked like she was about to cry.

I squatted down to meet her gaze and stroked her head to calm her down.

"It's okay, it's your first time, so it's natural to make mistakes. Rather, it's amazing that you can use earth magic on your first try."

"Miss Sophie, are you really, really okay?"

"Yes, I'm not lying. How about we confirm it together in the bath later?"

"Y-Yes!"

What, really?

I said it as a joke... but since we have a close relationship, taking a bath together might be fine.

"Alright, but I'm really fine. Don't worry."

"Yes..."

I stroked Rebecca's head again, which was a bit down.

"Madam, Master Alan, I'm sorry. I let you get into danger even though I was with you."

"I'm fine, Neo."

"Neo, I know you're good at controlling magic, but were you careless?"

"No, to be honest, I wasn't careless. I tried to deflect it with wind magic, but Rebecca's out-of-control magic was stronger than I imagined, and I couldn't deflect it with my power."

"...I see. The magic I received was indeed stronger than yours. I understand that it was beyond your control, but you almost hurt the duchess."

"Yes, it's my fault."

"Punishment... Sophie, do you have any suggestions?"

"Me? I'm fine, so I don't think punishment is necessary..."

"That would undermine my authority. I need to give a punishment."

Hmm, as the duchess, I understand that I need to give appropriate punishment for a servant's mistake...

Indeed, if Alan hadn't been there, I might have been seriously injured.

But I asked Neo to help because I can't use magic, and he was teaching me despite not being a magic teacher.

So I don't want to give him a harsh punishment.

"Then, how about a one-month pay cut, about 20%?"

"Is that enough?"

"Yes, I'm not angry, and Alan protected me."

"...If you say so, that's fine. Neo, do you understand?"

"Yes, I appreciate your leniency, Madam. I will work harder to prevent this from happening again."

"Yes, please do."

After a bit of a scare, we continued the magic training for a while.

Before Alan went to work at the main house, he said, "Just do the magic control training. There are many ways to train without actually casting spells," so Rebecca was doing that.

Of course, magic control can be practiced, but casting spells is more interesting and engaging.

But Rebecca was seriously practicing magic control.

I didn't expect her to have this much talent.

When teaching magic in the future, I need to hire a professional teacher.

After finishing today's magic training... Rebecca and I took a bath together.

The annex has a large bath, which is rarely used, but it was prepared for us today.

Usually, the maids wash our hair, but today we decided to do it ourselves.

I can do it myself, but since Rebecca isn't used to it, I washed her hair for her.

"Are you okay? Are your eyes closed tightly? I'm going to rinse it."

"Yes, I'm fine."

After rinsing her hair, we entered the large bath together.

It's big enough for more than ten people, but we were close to each other.

"Rebecca, I didn't have any injuries, right?"

"Huh... Ah, yes, that's right!"

Rebecca seemed to have completely forgotten, but we came in together to check my injuries.

"I'm sorry, Miss Sophie. I just wanted to take a bath with you..."

"Hehe, I see."

It seems she just wanted to take a bath with me.

She's so cute, sinking her mouth into the water out of embarrassment.

"It's okay, I'm not angry. I enjoy taking baths with Rebecca."

"Thank you! I thought that family members take baths together..."

"Is that so? Well, you don't take baths with people you're not close to."

"Yes! So I'm happy to take a bath with Miss Sophie...!"

"Me too, Rebecca."

After that, we got out of the bath and headed to dinner.

Usually, we eat dinner before taking a bath, but today we took a bath first because Rebecca was sweating from magic practice.

When we went to the dining room, Alan was already waiting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting?"

"No, it's fine. Just a few minutes."

Until a month ago, if I was even a minute late, he would have started eating.

It's nice to think that Alan is acting to become part of the family.

We sat down, and the food was served, and we started eating together.

"Rebecca, how was the magic control?"

"Yes, I did as you said. I don't feel like I improved much, though..."

"Magic control training is like that. There's no need to rush; your skills will naturally improve with practice."

"Yes, I'll try my best."

"Ah."

In the past month, the conversations between Rebecca and Alan have gradually increased.

It's a good trend, and I hope they become even closer.

"...Hmm, Sophie, your face looks different from usual?"

"Huh? Is it?"

"Yes, you look a bit younger..."

Alan is staring at my face intently.

I feel a bit nervous as I try to think of a reason.

"Maybe it's because I took a bath and removed my makeup. Usually, I have makeup done to look dignified as a duchess."

I think the makeup is designed to highlight my original features, but it makes me look beautiful, or perhaps intimidating.

I don't think my appearance changes much with or without makeup... but Alan noticed well.

It's a bit embarrassing.

"I see, that's it. You usually look beautiful, but now you look cute."

"...Huh?"

D-Did Alan just call me beautiful and cute?

"Alan, what did you just say...?"

"Hmm? I said you look beautiful with makeup and cute without it."

"..."

I-I didn't mishear...!

I didn't expect to hear such compliments, and I feel my face turning red.

"What's wrong? I said it objectively, did I say something wrong?"

"N-No, you didn't... but objectively?"

"Yes, you usually look dignified and beautiful, but now you look young and cute."

"...I see."

So, Alan is just stating the objective facts he sees?

He's not saying I look beautiful or cute based on his subjective opinion... right?

But Alan isn't the type to flatter... I'm not sure.

"I also think Miss Sophie is always beautiful and cute!"

"Hehe, thank you, Rebecca."

Rebecca's cute compliment made me stroke her head and thank her.

"Rebecca, you're very cute too."

"Thank you..."

Yeah, really, she's as cute as an angel.

Maybe I shouldn't think too much about what Alan said; I don't really know the answer.