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While she was bathing, Miyabi couldn't help looking at this body all over. Such pale skin, did this Yzaide never walk under the sun or what? And her hair was so supple, wasn't this cheating. Back at home, Miyabi had to spend hours treating her rebellious hair and the result was nowhere half as good as this!
It came to her too, that there was no milk coming out of her breasts. Which shouldn't be surprising, really. It had already been five months since she gave birth and Yzaide had never breastfed her children by herself, so obviously the milk supply had dried. She fleetingly wondered if it was possible to relactate in her conditions before dismissing the idea. It wasn't like she was adamant on breastfeeding and it wasn't like those children didn't have a wet nurse to feed them. And to be honest, Miyabi wasn't really sure she wanted to have such intimacy with strangers.
It came to her too, that there was no milk coming out of her breasts. Which shouldn't be surprising, really. It had already been five months since she gave birth and Yzaide had never breastfed her children by herself, so obviously the milk supply had dried. She fleetingly wondered if it was possible to relactate in her conditions before dismissing the idea. It wasn't like she was adamant on breastfeeding and it wasn't like those children didn't have a wet nurse to feed them. And to be honest, Miyabi wasn't really sure she wanted to have such intimacy with strangers.
Thinking back to her married days, For her wedding, her mother had gifted her a teddy bear which was holding in its hands a smaller one, hoping that the newlyweds would be blessed with children soon. Well, it certainly didn't end as the woman wished but Miyabi couldn't say she was unhappy not having had a child. And she wasn't really thrilled now at this very moment either.
***
She walked out of the water room with a long white towel draped around her body, the other around her hair. Her bedroom was silent, only the soft breathing of the babies was heard. The maid and wet nurse were nowhere in sight, she had chased them previously, after having them fetch people to fill her bathtub. When she had said she didn't need anyone to help her bath, those women had appeared all too happy while dismissing themselves. As a result, now, facing this enormous closet with multiple clothes, she wasn't sure what was appropriate to wear.
Making her movements as noiseless as possible, Miyabi explored the contents. The events Miyabi previously saw in her mind were like a film playing in front of her eyes, she couldn’t really say she put every single detail to mind but she did remember seeing Yzaide raging at her clothes being old-fashioned and needing new ones. Technically speaking, these clothes weren't old and actually, there were some that the woman had yet to wear. But Yzaide was locked in this forest's manor for almost two years now. There was no need to go to the capital to know that the trend had changed already.
However, more than the trend, what interested Miyabi was the comfort of the clothes. She eyed the corsets, wondering just how scandalous it would be to forgo this. Never mind, wasn't she in a semi prison, who would say what? And so, she turned a blind eye to that corner of the closet and rummaged through the full-length dresses, skirts, elbow lengths of gloves, stockings, hats, and whatnot. Somehow, she had forgotten that the underwear wasn't really the ones she was used to. She had almost gone and called to ask where they were before remembering. This world was a bit like the nineteenth century. Reluctantly, she shifted her gaze towards the corsets again. Besides them, there were chemises, drawers, petticoats, and... bustles? Her lips twitched.
If there was one thing Yzaide did right, it was clothing herself but right this very moment, Miyabi couldn't care less what went before what. She put on a combination of chemise and drawer, turned a blind eye to whatever else, and chose a blue dress with white flower patterns. Without the bustle to puff the dress at the back, the thing was trailing but for now, that will do.
The material of the dress was supple and comfortable, of high quality. The majority of the clothes in this bedroom were brought using Yzaide's money, or more precisely that of her dowry. Her father gave her a hefty sum. If there was one thing their family didn't lack, it was that. She bought them from her family's stores too, which helped her get discounts. Other than clothing, her family also traded salt and magical tools. Yzaide had quite a bit of magical tools in her possession but rather than the practical ones, she liked buying the fanciful ones which were used mostly for decoration.
Once dressed, she vigorously wiped her hair before taking down the towel. The long strands were still damp, so she didn't style it, letting it dry.
The babies were still sleeping. She crossed the room and parted the curtains slightly, to see outside. The sun was still out and judging by its position, it should be 2 or 3 p.m right now. Only a couple of hours had passed since she came but somehow it felt like an eternity.
Checking that the two little ones were deep asleep, she slowly made her way to the door. It opened to a long corridor which she chose to take left. While walking, her heart was thumping in her ribcage. It was really not a dream.
As she walked, more than maids, it was the soldiers that were numerous in this mansion. Each one sported a stern expression on their faces but otherwise stayed silent. The first maid who saw her stiffened and bowed, stuttering about helping her dress. Miyabi dismissed it with a wave of her hand and kept on exploring the place, entering left and right. The guards by the central doors would stiffen each time she ended out of the building using different doors. They were a sight to behold.
While walking, Miyabi identified the two living rooms, one bigger than the other, two libraries, one upstairs and one on the ground floor, five bedrooms witch each a water room, and a central water room on the ground floor.
Before she got to finish her exploration, one maid came to her, stating that the lunch was served in the dining room.
It was a long table but with only her herself, it appeared all the more lonely and the fanciful food looked like it would go to waste.
In the end, after finishing her plates, she went back to the library upstairs. It was bigger than the other one. The letters were something she recognized, or rather, her body recognized. She browsed the shelves, searching for books about learning and the ones referencing about the use of time and space magic. There was nothing to peek for the latter but she got three concerning the former.
The baron used to use this manor as a vacancy residence for him and his wife or to just be by themselves and escape, for a time, the bustling and noisy life in the capital. So, there were a couple of interesting books he brought here to read but forgot to take back after declaring this place as his second wife's residence. However he certainly didn't forget to take away everything that was his wife's.
However, since it was not the place where he spent most of his time in, besides a couple of books the rest of things that filled the shelves were actually books he deemed cumbersome for the main manor and dumped them here. The books Miyabi was holding fell into that category. They were old editions that the baron's great-grandfather used. Since his time, easier training methods had been developed. The baron himself didn't use those. However, Miyabi didn't know that, and if she knew, she wouldn't care. So long as she reached her goal, she didn't mind using the harder way.
When she came back to the bedroom she woke up too, the sight that greeted her was that of the wet nurse changing the babies' diapers. The twin she was working on was babbling happily, his small hands extending and his feet dancing. He sounded happy.
Coming closer, she saw that the second twin had his eyes opened but was silent. It appeared that his diapers had already been changed. Those infants really looked like dolls, Miyabi couldn't resist wanting to hold him. She put down her books and did just that.
The wet nurse finally realized that she wasn't alone anymore and explained that she didn't dare fed them outside today for Miyabi had previously asked it to be here.
Miyabi glanced at the two babies one to the other and frowned, ordering the other woman,
"Change his clothes."
What's with giving them the exact same outfit to wear, how was she supposed to recognize who was who. For her, they looked completely alike, okay!
The woman, without question, she did as bid. She looked like she was in a hurry as she did so, her expression stiff, no longer smiling as she was previously. Done, she put the child back in his crib, "I'll go fetch Ela to look after them"
"No need, I'll be alright."
Once outside the bedroom, Maine breathed a sigh of relief, before speeding to talk to Ela. It didn't matter if Ela was amusing herself by betting how long the woman was going to keep her newfound facade, they had to come up with something to enter the room. Who knew how long that person would be patient with the twins.
Oh why, why did these cute children had the misfortune of having a mother like her.
Making her movements as noiseless as possible, Miyabi explored the contents. The events Miyabi previously saw in her mind were like a film playing in front of her eyes, she couldn’t really say she put every single detail to mind but she did remember seeing Yzaide raging at her clothes being old-fashioned and needing new ones. Technically speaking, these clothes weren't old and actually, there were some that the woman had yet to wear. But Yzaide was locked in this forest's manor for almost two years now. There was no need to go to the capital to know that the trend had changed already.
If there was one thing Yzaide did right, it was clothing herself but right this very moment, Miyabi couldn't care less what went before what. She put on a combination of chemise and drawer, turned a blind eye to whatever else, and chose a blue dress with white flower patterns. Without the bustle to puff the dress at the back, the thing was trailing but for now, that will do.
The material of the dress was supple and comfortable, of high quality. The majority of the clothes in this bedroom were brought using Yzaide's money, or more precisely that of her dowry. Her father gave her a hefty sum. If there was one thing their family didn't lack, it was that. She bought them from her family's stores too, which helped her get discounts. Other than clothing, her family also traded salt and magical tools. Yzaide had quite a bit of magical tools in her possession but rather than the practical ones, she liked buying the fanciful ones which were used mostly for decoration.
Once dressed, she vigorously wiped her hair before taking down the towel. The long strands were still damp, so she didn't style it, letting it dry.
The babies were still sleeping. She crossed the room and parted the curtains slightly, to see outside. The sun was still out and judging by its position, it should be 2 or 3 p.m right now. Only a couple of hours had passed since she came but somehow it felt like an eternity.
Checking that the two little ones were deep asleep, she slowly made her way to the door. It opened to a long corridor which she chose to take left. While walking, her heart was thumping in her ribcage. It was really not a dream.
As she walked, more than maids, it was the soldiers that were numerous in this mansion. Each one sported a stern expression on their faces but otherwise stayed silent. The first maid who saw her stiffened and bowed, stuttering about helping her dress. Miyabi dismissed it with a wave of her hand and kept on exploring the place, entering left and right. The guards by the central doors would stiffen each time she ended out of the building using different doors. They were a sight to behold.
While walking, Miyabi identified the two living rooms, one bigger than the other, two libraries, one upstairs and one on the ground floor, five bedrooms witch each a water room, and a central water room on the ground floor.
Before she got to finish her exploration, one maid came to her, stating that the lunch was served in the dining room.
It was a long table but with only her herself, it appeared all the more lonely and the fanciful food looked like it would go to waste.
***
In the end, after finishing her plates, she went back to the library upstairs. It was bigger than the other one. The letters were something she recognized, or rather, her body recognized. She browsed the shelves, searching for books about learning and the ones referencing about the use of time and space magic. There was nothing to peek for the latter but she got three concerning the former.
The baron used to use this manor as a vacancy residence for him and his wife or to just be by themselves and escape, for a time, the bustling and noisy life in the capital. So, there were a couple of interesting books he brought here to read but forgot to take back after declaring this place as his second wife's residence. However he certainly didn't forget to take away everything that was his wife's.
However, since it was not the place where he spent most of his time in, besides a couple of books the rest of things that filled the shelves were actually books he deemed cumbersome for the main manor and dumped them here. The books Miyabi was holding fell into that category. They were old editions that the baron's great-grandfather used. Since his time, easier training methods had been developed. The baron himself didn't use those. However, Miyabi didn't know that, and if she knew, she wouldn't care. So long as she reached her goal, she didn't mind using the harder way.
***
When she came back to the bedroom she woke up too, the sight that greeted her was that of the wet nurse changing the babies' diapers. The twin she was working on was babbling happily, his small hands extending and his feet dancing. He sounded happy.
Coming closer, she saw that the second twin had his eyes opened but was silent. It appeared that his diapers had already been changed. Those infants really looked like dolls, Miyabi couldn't resist wanting to hold him. She put down her books and did just that.
The wet nurse finally realized that she wasn't alone anymore and explained that she didn't dare fed them outside today for Miyabi had previously asked it to be here.
Miyabi glanced at the two babies one to the other and frowned, ordering the other woman,
"Change his clothes."
What's with giving them the exact same outfit to wear, how was she supposed to recognize who was who. For her, they looked completely alike, okay!
The woman, without question, she did as bid. She looked like she was in a hurry as she did so, her expression stiff, no longer smiling as she was previously. Done, she put the child back in his crib, "I'll go fetch Ela to look after them"
"No need, I'll be alright."
Once outside the bedroom, Maine breathed a sigh of relief, before speeding to talk to Ela. It didn't matter if Ela was amusing herself by betting how long the woman was going to keep her newfound facade, they had to come up with something to enter the room. Who knew how long that person would be patient with the twins.
Oh why, why did these cute children had the misfortune of having a mother like her.
***
Miyabi who knew none of Maine's ideas, looked at the baby in her arms with a bit of longing. The child had turned his face towards her breast and appeared to want to suck through her clothes. It was a bit funny. Look at those eyes, look at this tiny nose and tiny mouth. Such cute hands trying to pinch her clothes. He started to blabber, saliva running down his mouth and Miyabi couldn't help but smile. How can anyone not like this child? Right, this instant she wished she could hide them away, those two. On his own, the other child was continuing his story and when Miyabi peeked, the child turned towards her, saliva drooling down his cheek. Taking a supple handkerchief from the drawer, she wiped their mouths and finally set the baby she was holding back in his crib.
Enthusiast now, her mood lifted, she pulled one of the poufs that were near the bed and sat between the two cribs. They were so well-behaved. She opened her first book and started reading aloud. It didn't matter that they couldn't understand her so long as they could hear.
Ignoring the glaring black on her fingernails, she read.
That first book didn't really help, it was more focused on the origins of the magic rather than how to wield it but she read on. It was more detailed than the game's prologue and had more insight into the entities called fairies.
While she was reading she would sometimes take a look at the children. When satiated, they were really angels. Neither cried or fussed at all and by the time she was at one-third of the book, they were already sleeping.
Aya, children really slept a lot, didn't they? She leaned on their cribs to look carefully, thinking back to her old life. Despite her mother's wishes, she had never really thought of children before. In her couple, it was always a topic for later. In the beginning, they were just waiting a bit for their career to stabilize but there was never a good time for the child to be born and maybe it was for the best that they didn’t drag a child into a divorced family with workaholic parents.
Enthusiast now, her mood lifted, she pulled one of the poufs that were near the bed and sat between the two cribs. They were so well-behaved. She opened her first book and started reading aloud. It didn't matter that they couldn't understand her so long as they could hear.
Ignoring the glaring black on her fingernails, she read.
That first book didn't really help, it was more focused on the origins of the magic rather than how to wield it but she read on. It was more detailed than the game's prologue and had more insight into the entities called fairies.
While she was reading she would sometimes take a look at the children. When satiated, they were really angels. Neither cried or fussed at all and by the time she was at one-third of the book, they were already sleeping.
Aya, children really slept a lot, didn't they? She leaned on their cribs to look carefully, thinking back to her old life. Despite her mother's wishes, she had never really thought of children before. In her couple, it was always a topic for later. In the beginning, they were just waiting a bit for their career to stabilize but there was never a good time for the child to be born and maybe it was for the best that they didn’t drag a child into a divorced family with workaholic parents.
But maybe, it wouldn't have been terrible. Maybe, she could have managed just fine. After all, she
had always been more patient and tolerant of children. She doubted she would have kept on with her hectic schedule after she had a child. She would have made time for him. Or maybe she was just consoling herself?... To what end, anyway, she was dead. No turning back. No more work to do, no more blind dates to suffer through, no more meeting with her friends, no more talking to her parents...
Hot tears slowly fell down her cheek and Miyabi furiously wiped them. Ah, how did she become morose again, wasn't she trying to see the bright side of it all? She forcefully pushed the negative thoughts and returned to her books.
She should stop with the tears, she rebuked herself. What was so bad about being here? There was magic. Magic! She just has to master it.
And maybe, she would even learn how to go back one day.
Hot tears slowly fell down her cheek and Miyabi furiously wiped them. Ah, how did she become morose again, wasn't she trying to see the bright side of it all? She forcefully pushed the negative thoughts and returned to her books.
She should stop with the tears, she rebuked herself. What was so bad about being here? There was magic. Magic! She just has to master it.
And maybe, she would even learn how to go back one day.
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