Volume 1 - CH 9

Volume 1: Chapter 009: Lady Elena Observes the Children in the Garden

My name is Elena Odelle.

Also Countess Odelle.

Just the other day, a new servant came to our mansion.

My husband, Elric, came back from Karted with a child to be our Makia’s companion. A cute boy child with black hair and black eyes called Tooru Sagaram.

There was something very odd about the whole meeting.

The child was supposed to meet Makia for the first time and yet, though they were both surprised to see each other, they acted more like old friends who have not seen each other for a long time than strangers.

Still, Makia appears very happy. That was the first time my child made such a happy expression.

That child always has a faraway look on her face and seems detached from everything. Her conversations were often so very thoughtful that I sometimes find myself wondering if she’s really a 7-year-old child.

I am somewhat relieved [1] to have Tooru with us.

Makia really does seem to have taken an interest in that child. Lately, I see them together all the time.

The little girl who seems to have a perpetual bored look in her eyes when speaking with anyone now sparkles childishly when speaking to Tooru.

Sometimes they will get into fights but they will inevitably make up with each other at the end of the day. This matter is really noteworthy since Makia never got into fights with her other little friends.

I am really, really happy to see her so lively right now.

Yes, that Tooru is indeed a very mysterious child.

A foreigner from the Eastern Continent was hired into our home after he helped Elric recover some important documents from a thief. That child must have been through a lot.

He might be older than Makia but he is still a child. A very calm child who could think for himself and decide on the best course of action. He has been stopping Makia, who has been very active lately, from doing anything too outrageous. In short, he has been a great help.

He gives an impression of being a cheeky boy and his cute ways make him very popular with the maids. Elric had also takes an interest in that boy and cares for him like his own son.

For us who can [1] not have any more children, that child will soon become an irreplaceable family member, I’m sure.

Speaking of which, Tooru is also being taught the ways of the sword by Graham, a knight of the Odelle family.

Graham appears to have high expectations for him, which is good. He has good physical strength, he learns things fast and has the guts for it. Graham has no children and looks forward to having this child inherit his position as a knight.

A child filled with talent and charm, I look forward to a most interesting future.

Makia and Tooru will sometimes talk about some very complicated things with each other.

Their attitudes are very adult-like and the wrinkles between their eyebrows are adorably serious. Just what on earth could they be talking about?

Still, Makia has always been difficult to figure out. [2] I might be her mother but I never knew what the child is thinking. Now that she has someone to confide in, someone who could keep up with her, the two of them have formed a bond that could not be described with words.

Elric had been wondering whether they had met before but he could not seem to find out.

For me, it’s all fine though. I think not knowing is more romantic.

Right now, the [1] children are looking at the olive trees in the garden and talking to each other. I’m curious about what they are talking about, of course, but I refuse to listen in on their conversation.

Instead, I shall try and imagine their conversation instead.

Just what kind of adults would these children grow into?

I really look forward to it.

[Gumihou: Ooh, a look into Lady Odelle’s mind. The parents are somewhat casual though…]

[1] Filling in the ‘Unspoken’. Often, when it comes to Japanese novels, the translation might be a bit lacking since the author deliberately choose to use less words and let the reader fill in the blanks through a preset cultural understanding.

If the missing info looks too sparse, Gumi will fill in some of the blanks. This is not to imply that the writer’s craft is lacking, but we do have a cultural gap. Gumi will try to fill in these gaps unobtrusively.

[2] Adjust paragraphs, since they looked repetitive