The Queen's Cosmetician

When Alvina twisted the plug, the water overflowed from the faucet. Die glances at the water that makes a noise and slips off into the tub.

"Is this tap alive?

"Hmm? He's alive. What?

Alvina, who was soaking her hands in running water, stretches out her bent hips and looks back at the die. Long hair tied together because it was disturbing the discipline slapped her shoulder like an animal's tail.

"Well... where I live now, it's got a faucet, but I can't move anymore."

Folds guided to the servant's room, explained to Titianna, a faucet with the same decoration. Although I tried twisting the plug to try it, nothing still happened. At best, the rusty metal raises the odds.

"Oh, why?

"They don't have anyone to adjust the procedure.... How's Alvey doing?

"Sure, I'll do it myself, huh? Otherwise, something no one will do."

That said, she tapped lightly on the pale peachy painted wall without touching it forward. In front of the neck tilting die, part of the wall opens in front like a door. Alvina pointed inside with her empty right hand as she fixed the position of that door with her left hand.

Behind the door, an embedded piece of marble. There is engraved a geometry that emits light in light green.

It's in "Active State," a sorcery formation.

From beyond which Alvina slipped her fingers on the letters engraved in its formation, there is zero light of pale green. It was a phosphor, unique when witchcraft was exercised.

Alvina's fingers just slipped through the wall as if to wipe the dust accumulated in the window frame. But when she says it's a casual move, letters carved into formation from the side where her fingers slip are rewritten one after the other. The die, who was watching closely, turned his eyes around the water in the tap, which began to build momentum and blow up the hot air - screaming unexpectedly at the droplets hung on his arm.

"Ahhh!

Water, not.

This is water.

"Because it was a little warm. I raised the temperature of the water, but it looks like we should lower it a little bit."

Alvina roars hmm, sliding her fingers into formation again.

"Hey, put your hand in the tub for a second. I'll keep it that way if you like."

"Yes, sir"

Even though he says he will only get his hands inside the tub, which has not yet accumulated much water, there is also the temperature of water droplets attached to his skin, which is badly rejuvenated.

"... looks ok"

Relieved by the pleasant temperature of the water that wrapped his hands, Die smiled at Alvina.

"Yes, good"

Alvina nods and quietly closes the door of the wall. It assimilated to the wall without a scratch. It quickly became unclear where it was.

"Is Alvey a magician?

I pulled my hand out of the hot tub and Die asked for confirmation.

In recent years, the presence known as the Mage is rapidly decreasing its number. That became evident when the die was born, that is, after the destruction of the Devil's Duchy Maisemble. In other continents, even witchcraft itself is said to be rare.

But Alvina stated in the living room that she usually used techniques not known to Die, and most importantly, with a breathing nature, she rewrote the sorcery ritual to show it at the present time of Die. You wouldn't be able to do it unless you were a good magician.

"No more, why are you asking such obvious things? It's up to the magician."

Smile dull, says Alvina. Die insisted as he stood up.

"But I've never been a magician before."

"... Really?

"You're not really here, are you? I used to watch cooks start fires in the kitchen..."

A magician called a magician must be able to exercise magic across multiple disciplines. For example, just because you can handle the art of starting a fire, you're not called a magician.

I hear you had something on your mind about this statement. Alvina suddenly clouded her expression, placing her hand on her mouth and moaning low.

"I see... this is the one with the sudden change..."

"... Alvey?

"Well, fine."

Alvina, who roared on her own and looked somewhat convinced, turned to die. Keep it up. She's pointing at the stripper across the open door.

"Something to change and wipe over there, I left it out for you to use. Keep your dirty clothes in the cage, I'll wash them."

"Yes...... thank you"

I'm sorry from what to what. Die drowned his head in gratitude.

Alvina laughs.

"Die and Heath, when you two are done bathing in the water, dinner is scheduled. I'll wave my arms, so stay tuned."

The stripper, the bathroom and the door leading to it closed and returned to the living room. Heath, who was sitting back on the bench, stood up and greeted him.

"What's going on?

To the restless looking youth, Alvina tries to ask with a soft voice.

"Are you so worried about that kid?

"Who the hell are you?

"Whatever you say."

Alvina grinned bitterly at Heath's stiff expression, which was different from when he was beside him. There are few words to describe myself. But no matter which one of them you tell him, he'll just be confused, and I'm not going to tell him.

"At least I'm not your enemy."

In the end, the answer Heath wants is simple. Enemy or ally? That's all he wants to know.

"Believe it or not, you're on your own, right? But I'm not going to do this to you, and I haven't spoken to anyone in a really long time. If you want to raze the garden, just drive it back. You guys seemed really just in trouble and lost your way, so I decided to help. The act of helping needy people on the road for free is unbelievable? You want another reason?

That's all Alvina asked, Heath finally pulled out of her shoulder.

"... Die didn't seem to understand, but he's disappearing from this world, such as the magic of making things invisible"

"Looks like it. Die just told you, didn't he? Mage, he said he'd never seen it before. You can't pull it off. I have to be careful, too."

"Alvina, aren't you really the enemy?

"Do I look like a witch who fattens you and eats you?

To this joke, the young man laughed, sorry, and lowered his eyes apologizing. I didn't mean to alarm you with him. That's about it, I know. It was only natural that he was a little hypersensitive because the reason he got lost here was because he was attacked by a thief.

Alvina took a round can out of the cupboard and opened the lid. Inside, they are packed with sweets that I just baked the other day. Arrange the confectionery on a plate and serve with the sugar stew of the fruit. The fruits cooled in ice water were cut apart and served on another small plate. Second, I think I might not like sweets, and put sugar-free baked sweets in line. So I also thought that if I was too hungry again, I might not accept anything stiff, so I put it with steamed confectionery.

"Yes, come on! I'm hungry, and I'm sure you'll feel tingly."

Dunn, and here he put the plate, Heath smiled bitterly with his eyes round.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome."

But although I have thanked him, he never tried to reach for the plate, even though he would be hungry. Even as Alvina turns back to the kitchen and returns with a set of tea tools, she remains courteously seated in her bench.

"So you don't have to be so vigilant"

Exactly a little heartbreak, Alvina said.

"Oh, no.... not like that"

"All the stuff you can't eat?

"No, thank you."

Shaking his head loosely, Heath took the baked sweets. To the young man who breaks it into small pieces and carries it to his mouth, Alvina keeps asking questions as he brews tea.

"He said the carriage was attacked, but where were you on your way?

"I was on my way back from the next town to Castle Downtown."

"What's your relationship?

"I'm a colleague at work."

"What kind of workplace?

"If we don't talk that far, won't we?

Heath's tone was mild as he asked back as he received his tea. but there is a resolute refusal.

If we pursue it further here, he will respond. As a stepsister to be looked after.

But there's no need for that.

"No. It's okay. Thank you. Until the bath is empty, just relax."

Alvina smiled and turned her heel back. Return to the kitchen and get to work on the meal schedule. When will you wave cooking arms for others, etc. I don't know, my heart plays.

But I also don't think we'll ever get deeply involved with them again.

My friend's prank invited me, because it was only a temporary encounter.

She didn't tire of being cut off from the world for so long.

She wanted isolation from a long history.

Her compatriots still seek salvation.

But she didn't want anything anymore.

Her eyes have long since stopped showing themselves in the boxyard.

"Die, you're late"

Alvina, who was regulating the fire when the dish only had to be simmered, turned away from the front of the lid to Heath's voice, which echoed from behind. Guided by a colleague who has no sign of going up from the hot tub, or he is even coming in front of the door that leaves the hallway.

"Right. I hope I didn't put it up."

I wiped my hands with a cloth towel and gauged the time as I walked over to Heath. Four and a half minutes have passed. Sure, it's a long bath.

"I'm going to check on you for a second"

"Oh, wait a minute"

Alvina pulled Heath back as she unhooked her forehead.

"Me, I have something to get, so I'll see you at last. Heath, would you mind watching the pot?

Dreaming, dreaming.

The usual, colorless dream.

Mother's remains. Coffin. The men's funeral. Rain.

Die. Die.

Someone is calling.

Die.

My cute die. Please, you're not going anywhere.

Oh, that's my mother's voice.

You are. Are you...? You are.

It's painful. I don't want you to think that. You see.

I know, Mother. I know.

So, like that.

You. You. Help. How did he die? Don't leave me.

Leave me alone.

Die. Nice. Die.

You live for what you are.

Straight ahead.

What is this way of life?

Die.

Someone did.

Help me.

Painful.

Distorted.

Like this.

Die, die.

No. I'm -...

"Die."

Konkon, the sound of a gentle knock on the door.

"Yes, sir."

When I woke up a blurry head at the call, the water jumped. As I panicked, I grew pale. He fell asleep in the hot tub.

"Were you asleep?

A woman's voice through the door, as if she saw through this situation. It's Alvina.

"Su, excuse me now"

"It's okay, you don't have to panic"

Dull, and she was laughing.

"If it's not time to go up, you're going to get boiled? Just take your time. It's time to get up."

"Yes."

"Bye. Call me if you need anything."

That's all I left to say, it seems the woman left the stripper. The sound of the door closing sounds. Die exhaled, making sure the signs had completely disappeared. Measure the time. I can tell that I've been using it for a long time in the hot tub. Anxiously, I guess she came to see how it went.

Nevertheless.

"... boiling, what is it?

Die went up from the hot tub, thinking Alvina's words often didn't understand.

Easily wash down the bathroom and exit to the stripper. As Alvina first explained to me, there were clean clothes in the cage. Wipe away the body's water with a cloth that was placed in the same way, and look in the mirror that is erected against the wall.

I sighed at the contours of my body, reflected there.

As I fell asleep, I was dreaming.

It's my usual dream. My mother's dream. Dream of the day she died.

Since that day, everything has stopped.

Whatever it is, I can't help being blurry here. They're keeping Heath and the others waiting. Die regained his mind. Trying to get dressed, I poked my knee on the floor and reached into the cage.

"... Huh?

The die has hardened.

Pull your hand once and stand up. What's in the cage is the top and bottom of the generation, edged in black. It is shaped to hold your hips in a black belt.

But - …….

The door leading to the hallway. Think of the sorcerer who would be over there.

I wonder what this is all about.

Die wrinkled between his eyebrows and fell back again, grabbing the change of clothes.