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“WOULD you be able to style my hair like the picture in this hair catalog?”
The long-awaited school festival was in full swing. A young girl plopped herself down in the chair in front of Emma, her face serene and composed as she made her request. Emma couldn’t take her eyes off her.
She had long silver hair and light amethyst eyes. Though she was still quite young, her speech was refined and articulate. More than that, though, her facial features were already perfect, hinting at the great beauty she would eventually grow into. And she looks exactly like a certain someone I know…
Upon closer inspection, Emma realized the adorable, girlish design of her young client’s dress couldn’t conceal the fact that the fabric and trimmings were of superbly fine quality. You know… If someone told me she was one of Glen’s relatives, I wouldn’t be surprised… Frankly, it gave her the strange feeling that she was looking at a much younger version of Glen.
With a gasp, she brought her mind back to the task at hand. When she checked the hairstyle the little girl wanted, she breathed a sigh of relief. Emma could arrange this particular coiffure without magic.
“Understood, my lady.”
The hair salon Emma and Rashida opened with their school friends was a roaring success. Customers came one after another. They hadn’t even had a chance to take a break. This charming, lovely, aristocratic little miss was Emma’s tenth customer of the day.
“Do you think I’d look pretty with pink mixed into my hair?” the girl asked.
“Let me see. Your hair is a beautiful silver color, my lady. If we mix in some pink, I imagine you would look like a fairy.”
“Then would you do it? You can, right? Since this is a magic school!”
Emma’s hands froze as she stared at the little girl’s innocent smile. “Um… In that case, would you mind waiting for one of my colleagues to take over? Unfortunately, I can’t dye hair just yet, so I’ll inquire with one of my skilled maid friends instead.”
“Oh, really?” The little girl blinked her big, pale purple eyes and tilted her head in consideration. “You know… You can’t be afraid of failure.”
“Ummm, my lady?”
Emma stared at her in astonishment because the dignified voice didn’t match her youth. Not to mention how familiar those words sounded.
“My older brother always says that,” the girl continued. “‘Every one of your failures will eventually lead to success.’ That’s why I’m always trying and failing at lots of things!”
“What a wonderful mindset. I happen to agree with you and your brother, my lady. But I can’t risk ruining your lovely hair, either. If I did, I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight out of sheer sadness. Please do let me try it on you after I practice more, though.”
“Hm… You’re a very cautious young lady, aren’t you? Not a bad way to be.”
“I’m honored to have you compliment me so, my lady.”
Emma smiled at the little girl before arranging her hair just like in the catalog. First, she created a side braid, then gathered it along with the rest of her silver locks into an elegant bun at the back of her head. The only thing left to do for Emma was the finishing touch—a flower as decoration.
“Hm, hm, hm. You don’t have a lot of confidence in your magic, but your fingers are nevertheless talented,” the girl praised her.
“Thank you, my lady. It must be all the practice I’ve had today with hairstyles that don’t require magic.”
“Hard work is never a bad thing, so I like people like you.”
Emma chuckled ruefully at more mature words that didn’t match the little girl at all. “I’m happy to hear you say so. Today, being the Magic Academy’s yearly festival and all, many visitors have arrived, excited about hairstyles using magic. So I tried my best to satisfy guests even without magic.”
“You mean to tell me you’re still bad at magic even with all your hard work…? Oh, could it be because you have multiple elemental affinities?” the girl guessed.
“I… Yes, you’re correct.”
Emma tilted her head curiously at the little girl, who automatically equated an ability to use magic well with multiple affinities. But her surprise didn’t stop her from gently inserting the flower’s stem up and behind the little girl’s ear. She would certainly look much cuter with pink streaking through her hair.
“Yes! I look so cute! You did very well even without magic.”
The girl hopped off the chair and skipped toward the mirror, where she stood twirling around happily. She scrutinized herself from the front, the left, and the right. Her round cheeks flushed in satisfaction as she turned every which way to admire her new hairstyle. It was clear she loved Emma’s work, which made Emma delighted and appreciative.
“I’m so pleased you like it, my lady.”
“Okay! I’ve decided you deserve this!” The little girl rooted around in her bag slung diagonally across her body. Emma hurriedly tried to stop her.
“While I appreciate your sentiment, I can’t accept payment since this is a festival for everyone to enjoy.”
“It’s not money. Here. This is a la-bore kan-trak. I think that’s the right phrase.”
“A-A labor contract…?” Emma blinked at the unexpected item the little girl held before her.
“That’s right! I’m looking for a maid. I wanted someone cute, but you work hard and you’re cautious. Your aura tells me you’ll be great at magic someday, too! Plus, you made my hair look so pretty, even without magic! I know there’s still time until you graduate, but I’ll regret it if I don’t kan-trak you right now.”
Arms folded imperiously and her voice overflowing with confidence, she reminded Emma of Glen even more. That aside, who in their right mind would allow an aristocratic little girl to not only wander around without an escort but also extend offers of employment…? This is bizarre.
“Um… I beg your pardon, my lady, but who is accompanying you?” Emma asked. “Surely you must have a maid or attendant?”
“I came here by myself today. Because…my big brother is in the school somewhere.”
Big brother…? Emma realized that her suspicion was on the mark.
“Well…my name is Emma Grace Seagrove. Won’t you introduce yourself, my lady?”
“Brigitte.”
Emma heard a familiar voice from behind her.
“Brother!!!”
The little girl called Brigitte flew toward Glen, her eyes sparkling.
“This is different from your usual hairstyle, but I find it quite lovely nonetheless,” Glen said.
“Yes! Emma did it for me!”
“Oh ho, did she now?” Unperturbed, Glen returned Brigitte’s smile with one of his own.
Emma… The person herself was taken aback by Brigitte’s casual use of her name, but she didn’t actually mind.
“Emma. I’m Brigitte.”
“She’s my cousin, but she might as well be my little sister since we’re close,” Glen explained. “Still only six years old.”
“Ahhh, it all makes sense now,” Emma hummed.
If Emma were this tiny and adorable, she’d want to address Glen the same way Brigitte did. Emma grinned at the thought. Then she heard another startling declaration.
“I’ve decided, Brother. I’m going to make Emma my maid. I was just about to ask her to sign a la-bore kan-trak when you arrived!”
“Ummm… Lady Brigitte…?” Emma started.
“See! See how perfectly she says my name? You must also be from a noble family, right, Emma? You should be pleased you get to work as a lady’s maid for a ducal family.”
Dumbfounded, Emma snuck a peek at Glen to discover him nonplussed as well. Though wee Brigitte appeared incredibly sweet and adorable on the surface, underneath lurked an iron will and a feisty personality.
“…Brigitte. Your escort has been worried to no end since you slipped away. You’ve had your fun for the day, so now it’s time for you to return,” Glen instructed.
“Emma. What do you think about an es-kort who can’t even keep an eye on a six-year-old? Would you be worried about your safe-tee because they’re useless?”
Brigitte folded her arms again, haughtily. Her words and posture demanded Emma agree with her. By this point, a few of her classmates had stopped to see the show. But the little girl’s behavior resembled Glen’s so closely that Emma heard a few laughing.
“Lady Brigitte, though I’m grateful for your offer, I must regretfully decline,” Emma said gently. “I have much to learn, and I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. So, how about I make a suggestion? When my time to graduate from the Academy draws near, I want you to see me and determine if I have become a stupendous maid, fulfilling the potential you see in me. Should you deem me acceptable, then you can extend a labor contract to me in earnest, if I might be so bold to propose.”
“Booooo… Although I must say this is very like you, Emma. All right, I accept. It isn’t as if I need you to work for me right away, so I’ll wait for you.”
Hold on, what? Will she really wait for me? Brigitte said that last bit like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to do. Her sincerity delighted Emma. A beat later, Rashida gave her a light smack on the shoulder.
“You heard her, Emma. She said she’ll wait for you. Aren’t you just the luckiest girl in the world, hm?”
“I am indeed.”
Brigitte’s escort finally appeared, looking harried. After she said goodbye to them, the little girl left, holding hands with her bodyguard. Rashida stood next to her as they watched her walk away. Emma found newfound resolve at that moment.
As I am, I’m nowhere near good enough to be a lady’s maid… But if Lady Brigitte is willing to wait for me, then I’ll have to work much, much harder to become a superb maid. One my lady and her guardians will accept!