SHC_ARCHIVE_C74_Chapter 74: The Beginning of a New Year

 

Chapter 74: The Beginning of a New Year

Even if it’s the first day of the new year, the morning still starts with a proper “Good morning.”

Just like always, I faced the mirror and checked my body shape. Then, once I was dressed, I called Rottenmeier-san to make sure everything looked right.

It’s a routine I’ve kept up for about a year now—ever since I recovered from that epidemic.

Yes, it’s also been about a year since the memories of my past life came back.

There’ve been many changes, but perhaps the biggest is how the number of people in the estate has grown.

After exchanging morning greetings with Rottenmeier-san, I followed her down the corridor toward the dining room. Along the way, we ran into Regulus, who was holding Utsunomiya-san’s hand.

“Good morning!”

“Good morning to you too. You look as lively as ever.”

“Ai! Niini, are you genki (*lively) too?”

“Yes, I’m feeling great.”

These kinds of greetings are apparently good practice for social etiquette between nobles. Even if it feels a bit stiff, Lara-san said it’s better to get used to it.

I pinched the hem of my dress like a maid would and gave a polite bow. Utsunomiya-san then moved behind us, and I took Regulus’s hand as we followed Rottenmeier-san again.

As we neared the dining room, the previously quiet corridor turned lively in an instant.

The vibrant voices were greeted by a visual burst of elegance as soon as we entered.

Romanov-sensei, Viktor-sensei, and Lara-sensei were already seated.

When the three of them noticed me entering, they stood up from their chairs.

They were dressed very differently from usual. Romanov-sensei wore a white formal uniform with a high collar, decorated with horizontal braids across the chest that resembled ribs—a “rib-bone uniform.” His slacks matched his jacket in color. Gold cords connected from his collar to his shoulder epaulettes, which were heavy with decorative gold braiding. A magnificent medal adorned his chest, and a mantle hung off his right shoulder, draping behind his left side.

Apparently, this was the formal court uniform, and Viktor and Lara wore similar ones.

What stood out most were the intricate embroidered patterns on the sleeves and cuffs of those uniforms.

“Good morning! That embroidery is incredible!”

“Good morning. Aren’t there more important things to praise before the embroidery?”

 

“Morning, A-tan. You really don’t change—even for New Year’s.”

“Morning, Manmaru-chan. Looks like we’ve already found your first goal for the year.”

“Ah, pardon me. You all look wonderful, truly.”

But really, the embroidery was just so detailed and pretty, I couldn’t help it.

I wonder if I could ever do that myself…

They’re already strikingly beautiful people, but these outfits made them shine even more. Honestly, they were dazzling.

While I was enjoying the view, Romanov-sensei stood, walked over, and knelt down in front of me to meet my eyes.

“We’re heading to the Imperial Palace for the New Year’s court greetings. It’s just a formal visit—we’ll be back by lunchtime. But I have a small favor to ask you, Hotaru-kun.”

“A favor for me?”

“Yes. Could you enchant our mantles with Phantasmagoria—the illusion magic?”

“Oh, of course. That’s easy.”

I nodded, and he let me touch his mantle right away.

Now, what kind of illusion would suit him?

I don’t need to sing to cast magic—just speaking the spell works fine—but singing makes the image clearer in my mind.

“What kind of image would you like, Sensei?”

“Let’s see… A peaceful spring scene, perhaps.”

“Spring, huh…”

For him, I chose a song by a fellow countryman from my previous life—one that evokes the cherry blossoms along the Sumida River. As I sang, delicate pink flowers began to flutter across his mantle, dancing in a gentle breeze.

**maybe it's this folk song. 

 

“I’d like something early-spring themed.”

“Early spring, okay.”

For Viktor’s mantle, I picked a song whose title means Ode to Early Spring. It’s about the faint warmth that peeks through the lingering winter cold and the imagined chirping of unseen warblers—capturing the early breath of spring.

 

“I want mine to catch the eyes of adorable girls!”

“Uhh… ah…”

Now that was a vague request.

So basically, he wants something charming—like, flirtatious?

 

I delved into the sparse "romantic" folder of my former self's memory and chose an aria from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, a song sung by a boy on the verge of adolescence, asking, "What is love?" with his heart brimming with passion.

 

As I touched their mantles and sang, each of them shimmered like a magical screen, painting the air with beautiful scenes.

Once finished, the elf trio declared themselves ready and teleported away to the Imperial Palace.

That left just Regulus and me.

With just the two of us, the big dining room felt kind of empty, so we sat side by side for breakfast.

The only ones left were me and Regulus.

The large dining hall felt cold and empty with just the two of us, and today, for some reason, we had breakfast together, side by side.

Afterwards, we went for our usual morning walk, and then, since animals don’t care about the new year, we went to take care of the chickens and horses. This, too, was just the two of us.

In the stable, Josef was busy taking care of the pony I was using for riding practice.

“Good morning, Josef. Is Poniko doing well?”

“W-w-well, well, young master, g-g-good morning! P-Poniko is... is... well, doing fine!”

“Good morning! Can I pet Poniko?”

“Y-yes, yes.”

Josef had always had a slight stutter.

Though he was nineteen this year, he had worked as a stable hand at the Kikunoi family for seven years. He had come to Kikunoi when he was twelve, originally as a footman, but his stutter was so severe that he was reassigned to the stables. However, Josef seemed to consider it his calling, finding joy in his work, according to what Utsunomiya had learned.

Poniko, tied up in the stable, was very calm, even for a pony.

Regulus and I brushed Poniko, changed her feed, and refilled her water.

Today, since Romanoff-sensei was out, we didn’t ride Poniko.

Instead, we spent some time gently petting her, then I reminded Josef not to forget to join the evening’s party, to which he smiled softly.

Taking Regulus’ hand, we headed back. Since it was the new year, we decided to take a break from our studies and play until the party started.

---

“It’s late.”

“Yeah. I wonder what happened to the teachers?”

“They’re so late…”

The party was set to begin in the evening, and in order to ensure that everyone in the household could attend, the food had been arranged in a standing buffet style, so it could be served ahead of time. If it got cold, the head chef was prepared to warm it up using magic.

Genzou-san had arrived with Kanade-kun, and Elise, Josef, the head chef, Utsunomiya, and Rottenmeier were also here, yet the three elves hadn’t returned.

Both Regulus and Kanade seemed to be getting hungry, their brows furrowing as they held their stomachs.

As I wondered what to do, Rottenmeier quietly whispered in my ear.

“I’m sorry to trouble the teachers, but would it be alright if we started without them...?”

“But…”

I hesitated, when suddenly, I heard a strange sound, followed by the whirl of magical energy swirling in the center of the room.

Gradually, light gathered in the swirling vortex, and in the instant it burst brightly, the three elves appeared in the middle of the room.

Eun: Hi!! I'm not really 100% sure if I got the songs right but I really hope they are. I don't have any knowledge about classical music so if anyone knows the title for the songs Ageha mentions or sings please do share it or if I'm wrong please feel free to correct me by commenting down below. 

 

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