"Nearl, that's the Mejiro family we're talking about. How did you end up befriending a young lady like her?"
Komori Party draped an arm over Nearl's shoulder, pulling her closer as she whispered in a hushed tone.
"Matron, she's just a friend—no need to be so shocked. The Mejiro family isn't some untouchable elite."
Amused by how Komori Party had shrunk into herself like a nervous quail, Nearl couldn't hold back a soft laugh.
"Oh, you…"
Komori Party gave Nearl a light, half-hearted swat, though she did seem to relax a bit after that.
She turned her attention back to Ardan, who was gracefully sipping plain water, and made an effort to appear less overly enthusiastic.
"So you missed your train? It happens to the best of us."
The Matron cleared her throat and put on a thoughtful expression.
"Well, under the circumstances, Miss Mejiro, you're welcome to stay here for the night. I hope you won't mind our humble surroundings."
"Oh, not at all, of course not!"
Ardan waved her hands dismissively, assuring her that it was no trouble.
"That's a relief. I'd assumed a young lady from the Mejiro family would have rather… particular standards for her accommodations—perhaps secretly displeased with simple arrangements. You're surprisingly easy to talk to."
"It seems your understanding of the Mejiro family is a bit superficial."
Hearing the Matron's remark, Ardan's expression turned serious. This concerned her family's reputation—she couldn't let it slide.
"While the Mejiro family does provide us with the finest comforts, what truly matters is the education we receive. We're taught to be strict with ourselves and lenient toward others. It's emphasized repeatedly: never act arrogantly or disagreeably toward others."
"So, please don't think of the Mejiro family as some storybook nobles spoiled by privilege, and don't be misled by sensational reports. I'd prefer you form your impression of my family based on my own conduct."
Her confident, clear voice filled the small meeting room. In her amethyst eyes shone the pride and honor she held for the Mejiro name.
It was Nearl's first time seeing Ardan like this—devoid of her usual politeness, gentleness, and playful charm. She was utterly, uncharacteristically solemn.
"…I understand."
Faced with such sincerity, Komori Party responded in kind, her own demeanor turning earnest.
"Thank you for understanding. I also hope you'll forgive my earlier presumption."
As soon as she heard this, the ice in Ardan's expression melted away. Her serious aura vanished in an instant, replaced by something almost timid.
'What do I do now? I must have come off so poorly just then. Does the Matron think I'm arrogant…?'
While Ardan was lost in her own flustered thoughts, Komori Party broke the silence.
"It's quite late already—have you had dinner? Most of the children eat in the cafeteria around this time. If you don't mind…"
"Matron Komori."
Nearl cut in gently.
"I used to help with the children's meals, so I know how much they eat. By now, whatever was prepared is likely gone or only scraps remain. That's no way to treat a guest. Let me cook something fresh instead."
"You're right, Nearl. I wasn't thinking clearly. Thank you for handling it."
The Matron smiled and agreed readily.
"And you haven't eaten either, Matron. Join Miss Ardan shortly. I've been learning from the head chef at school lately—my cooking has improved. You can help taste-test."
Hearing this, Komori Party brightened with anticipation and immediately shooed Nearl toward the kitchen.
"It won't take long—I'll make a few quick dishes."
Nearl shook her head with a faint smile and took her leave.
For the moment, only Mejiro Ardan and Komori Party remained in the room.
"…"
"…"
'What should I say now?'
Ardan maintained a calm, pleasant smile on the outside, but inside, a frantic little version of her was spinning in circles.
"Um… could you tell me a bit about what Nearl was like as a child?"
Finally, Ardan managed to find her voice.
The atmosphere had grown too awkward, and she couldn't bear to keep sitting in silence, exchanging glances. Anything was better than this.
"So you're interested in Nearl's childhood, are you?"
Komori Party suddenly perked up.
"Yes. Since we're friends, I'd like to understand her better—so I can be more considerate."
"Very well, then. Let this old auntie share a few stories."
Komori Party leaned back comfortably into the sofa, sinking into memories.
"You already know Nearl was an orphan, right? She was abandoned shortly after she was born."
"As a child, Nearl was the most low-maintenance child I'd ever seen. She rarely cried, wasn't clingy—the only slight nuisance was how much she loved crawling around on the floor."
"By the time she was five or six, Nearl had become such a quiet, well-behaved child. She'd spend her days looking at picture books, sometimes flipping through elementary school textbooks, and the rest of the time just wandering around."
Up to this point, the Matron's face was still warmed by a smile, but then her expression turned somewhat guilty.
"What I say next is a bit embarrassing for me to admit, but it was my oversight."
"We don't have much money here to send children to proper schools. The only way they can learn is through the textbooks I buy. Even so, Nearl managed to teach herself everything and even became a little tutor to the other children."
"She also voluntarily took on part of the cleaning and shopping duties, helped with daily meals, and after a full day, she'd return to her room to study all kinds of subjects."
"These responsibilities slowly fell on her over time, almost imperceptibly. I didn't realize it back then, but now when I look back, I'm filled with shame."
"She was just a child, yet she was carrying nearly half the work of this orphanage. After Nearl left for Kasamatsu to study, all the tasks she used to handle suddenly fell back on me. At first, I was completely overwhelmed."
"Of course, even now I still can't manage everything perfectly. The more I struggle, the deeper my guilt grows. How much did Nearl really bear as a child? How incredibly mature must she have been to handle it all without a single complaint?"
"The saddest part is, beyond all this, I can't recall a single other thing about Nearl's childhood. Her life consisted of nothing but these duties."
"No entertainment, no rest."
By the end, the Matron's voice was trembling, nearly choked with emotion.
Ardan seemed to feel that guilt, too, and a profound respect for Nearl stirred deep within her.
"It's as if she lived through almost a decade of ascetic discipline," Ardan murmured to herself.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.