Typer’s room: YAY! I’M BACK! APPLAUDS PLEASE!

Yes, yes, Cheer me more. What? No, I don’t mind if you call me Warhawx-Sensei. Huh? Take over the world? Of course I’d like that. Stop being lazy and write the next chapter? Now you guys are asking too much.

Anyway, if it wasn’t clear enough, I’m back to writing on RRL. Now that you guys got your hopes high, lets tone it down a little. I’m not coming at full force just yet. For now, I only plan on occasionally releasing a Spiritsmith chapter every once in a while. I still have no plans for going back to IO or Beepy as of yet.

In other words, I only came out from around one sixth of my hiatus.

With that said, you can go back to reading the story. Or you could go back to venerating me. Whichever you feel more likely doing.

As I said before, this is VASTLY a work in progress, and wasn’t made to be posted initially, so there might be some inconsistencies. If so, please do tell me, as I want to make it an enjoyable read ^^

May your reading be enjoyable.

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I couldn’t help but smile amused as Milady made a surprised expression as she tried to recall the date. Just as I had expected, Milady had completely forgotten about her own birthday. Taking the chance to try and please her while the whole lack of sleep thing was out of her mind, I started serving her food onto her dish. Making sure to put a generous serving of her favorite food, only after I was done I made sure to help her snap out of her deep thought.

“Milady.” I said while putting the plate before her. She blinked surprised before looking at the food before her. She gave me a quick thanks and started eating while I went back to the kitchen to help the other aids bringing food for the others.

Walking to the kitchen while dodging the incoming aides, I soon found the head Aide, Miss Ping giving orders around the kitchen to make sure that the food would arrive in time and all the aides could also have time to sit down and eat.

Giving her a brief acknowledgement nod, she smiled back at me before simply motioning towards a set of large plates. Picking the heavy-looking trays with ease, I still searched around the kitchen for a bit more to carry around. Thanks to my training as a Spiritualist I could muster a bit more strength than an adult, so it wasn’t that rare for me to carry the heavier trays by myself.

The fact that I ended up receiving some pettings as a reward for working hard was completely unrelated.

Hmm… Thinking about it, recently it seems that the number of people who have been petting me increased drastically. Both here and at dad’s workshop. I wonder why…

Well, I'm not complaining.

Focusing back on the present, I made my way through the corridor back to the table and laid the trays down before the masters and aides who were already sitting down. Seeing how I already had eaten on my own earlier, I went back and forth a couple of times so that the other servants could settle down. Once I was done, I decided that I could go back to my room to prepare Milady’s present.

Walking down the house back to my room, the one besides milady’s, I started scavenging through the drawers from my room in search for the things I had prepared for this day.

I must admit that escaping milady’s sights is a lot harder than what I initially expected. She seemed to always know where I'm going even when I'm on my break. With that, leaving to the city to buy something for her was a lot harder than what I initially thought, thus buying her a present was out of question as she would figure it out immediately.

In the end, I had to resort to something handmade, so I discreetly started working on something whenever I was helping my father at his smithy. Taking some pieces of wood from the workshop and using the things I learned with Grandma in woodworking, I started working on a small present.

That said, seeing how simple the present was in the end, I ended up adding a small extra to it hoping that Milady would enjoy it.

I knew for sure I wouldn’t enjoy it.

Still, I wonder if this is enough for me to consider a worthy coming of age present. I mean, with ten years old being some kind of landmark when it comes to growing older, I feel that a handcrafted present plus an extra might not be enough.

Still, as I pulled out the other specially-made robes that I had in my drawer, I finally found the small wooden box under the expensive silk clothes.

Taking it out, I quickly opened the box and checked the items inside it. Once again feeling doubtful whether this was enough for a coming of age ceremony, I decided in my mind that if milady wasn’t happy with this much, I would go out and buy something for her on my own. After all I had gathered quite an amount and even had an extra after paying for the specially-made clothes.

When they told me that a spiritualist wage was high, I didn’t quite expect it to be this high. The debt I had with the Lon-Ying had already been paid after a couple of years, even when half of my salary went to my father since I was too young.

Still, for a eight years old to be worried about wages… When I think about it, I'm quite weird, right?

Organizing my robes back on the drawer so that I wouldn’t get a scolding from the head aide, I focused my sense for a moment, finding milady to be wandering around the house after having finished her breakfast.

“Ah, Cuddly Aide.” Milady said when I approached her from a side corridor. “I take it you went off to get my present?”

“...It’s no fun when you already know it...” I pouted briefly and she replied with a smile and and petting me gently.

“I have to keep up some face by at least being ahead of you at least once in awhile, you know?” She said amused.

I tried looking angrily at her for some time, but as she caressed my head so gently it became harder and harder to keep up an angry expression and soon I had an aloof smile splattered across my face.

Muuh… Well, I guess recently I have been the one foreseeing everything she will do… So I guess I could cut her some slack…

Muu...

“You really like this, don’t you?” I heard her asking. Wondering what her words meant, I opened my eyes.

I looked at her confused and she simply replied with a smile. Geez, if you have time to talk keep petting! While complaining in my mind she finally stopped. Well, everything that’s good have to end at some time, right? Sighing annoyed I finally went back to focusing myself on the present.

Looking around to see if there was anyone nearby, I hesitated before showing her the small wooden box in my hands. I mean, giving someone something hand-made is a lot more embarrassing than simply giving a common present.

“Here… it’s not much but...” I said while presenting her the box.

Seeing as she widened her eyes and gave me a wide smile, I somehow felt a bit more relieved. Thinking about it, Milady isn’t someone to bother about things such as value, right? Taking a deep breath, I smiled back to her.

“Happy birthday, Milady.” I said.

“...I want to hug you so much right now...” She murmured under her breath before giggling amused. “Thank you, Cuddly aide… Now… Could you let go of the box?”

“...I’m starting to have second thoughts, Milady...” I said while grasping the box even tighter and pulling it back.

“Let go, Cuddly Aide. You said that this is my present, right?”

“Sorry Milady, but I have this feeling I will regret if you open this. For various different reasons.”

“But didn’t you say that this is for me?”

“I never explicitly stated that.”

“...Cuddly aide… let go...”

“Don’t wanna.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“If you don’t let go, I'll never again pat your head.”

“T-That’s unfair, Milady...”

The moment she blackmailed me into letting go, I slightly weakened my grip, and she didn’t miss the chance to focus her spirit in her hand and pull it out in one go. I gasped surprised and tried reaching for it, but she quickly raised it above her head.

“Ah! THAT’S CHEAP!” I said while trying to get it back, but she started giggling while pulling it away from me. I tried jumping up to get it, but she quickly opened some distance between us.

“Now, let’s see what cuddly aide got for me...” She said cheerfully while opening the box. MEANIE! As I finally gave up and started pouting, she saw what was inside and fished up the simple item I handcrafted during the last few weeks. “Geez, why did you say you were going to regret giving me this?” She asked me confused.

“Hmm… It’s just too simple...” I said embarrassed while she took out the small wooden armlet I had made. It was a simple wooden circle with one of the sides so that it could fit with more ease around her wrist. On the surface I used a carving knife to make a an engraving of a bird in mid-flight that stretched through the whole upper half of the armlet.

“Really? I liked it, though.” Milady said with a smile as she happily put on the armlet. “It’s simple, cute and made by my favorite little sister.” She said while smiling openly. Muu… If she liked it… Though… “Hmm? What’s this?”

GAH!

“N-NOTHING!” I shouted while snatching the box out from her hands and turning around to hide it from her. “It’s Just something I...” I started saying, but once I looked inside the box and found it empty, I couldn’t help but pale a little.

“One Free Dress up… Ticket? And ten of them...”

WAH-WAH-WAH-WAH! THIS IS BAD! I SHOULDN’T HAVE LET THEM IN THERE! While feeling desperate, I slowly turned back towards Milady who was still looking at the tickets in her hands in confusion. However, a scary scary smile appeared in her face as she started to understand their meanings.

I took a step back while thinking on how to escape, but before I could move I bumped into something and felt as something held my shoulders.

“It seems I heard something interesting just now…” I heard a voice coming from behind, and as I looked up I locked my gaze with Miss Ping, who had the same scary smile that Milady had. “I hope you don’t mind if I also join in, Young Lady.” She said to Tian, who shook her head.

“Your help would be appreciated, Ping.” Milady said in an amused tone.

“...I KNEW I WOULD REGRET GIVING THAT PRESENT!” I shouted my regrets at the top of my lungs as the two dragged me back towards Milady’s room.

…

“Best. Present. Ever.” Milady said while hugging me from behind and resting her chin on my hair.

“Fuu! It’s been a long time since we last did this.” Ping said with a satisfied smile as she wiped sweat out from her forehead and sat on the bed.

“I… Feel so violated...” I murmured in defeat while holding one ticket in my hands blankly. After a moment I quickly ripped it to shreds until only slivers of it were left.

“It’s sad that we only have nine left now...” Milady said with a disappointed tone as she hugged me even tighter.

“Such a shame. You look so cute in clothes like these, why don’t you like them?” Ping said with a disappointed expression. “Even in your wardrobes, besides the uniform, all your other clothes are for boys.”

“But… I don’t like dresses...” I murmured. Even after so long, I still feel uncomfortable when they put me in clothes like these.

Giving a glance to the mirror, I saw as the dark-green-haired girl looked back at me. Wearing a white eastern-style dress that Milady bought from the Song’s weavers that fit me suspiciously well, I couldn’t help but feel that I did look good in this. But part of me still completely rejected the idea of wearing a dress.

“Then how come you use the Aide’s robe without complaints?” Milady asked confused.

“One, because I'm forced to. Two, it feels kind of different from other clothes. Three, after so long I grew used to it.” Fourth, it’s surprisingly easy to hide the fact that I wear shorts when wearing those.

“And it’s easier to hide the fact that you wear shorts too, right?” Miss Ping said as she pulled out the short I had been wearing previously. “I must admit that I'm surprised you managed to conceal this for so long. I was sure something like this would appear through with ease.”

“Why do you think I had to make them so short?” I said with a frown. I mean, they barely even reached halfway into my thighs. I’m almost sure that there was an actual name for this type of super-short short, but I wasn’t entirely sure how it actually was called.

“Hmm… Well, as long as it doesn’t really show through the uniform it shouldn’t be a problem...” Ping said with an amused expression as she looked at them.

“...Thank you...” I murmured in a low tone while giving her a nod. At least I could maintain some of my dignity. While thinking so I subtly tried pushing the skirt a bit lower as I couldn’t help but feel that it was too revealing.

“Well, not that I'm complaining, but is there any reason why you made these tickets?” Milady asked me confused. “I’m pretty sure you knew how it would end up, and it’s pretty clear you don’t like things like these, so…”

“Muu… It’s just that I felt the present alone wasn’t enough… And since you like dressing me up like this, I thought it would be a good present... ” I murmured before sighing and hanging my head tiredly. “I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.”

“Well, I don’t think you had to worry about something like that too much, you silly.” Lady Tian gently as she ran her hands through my hair. “I’m not giving the tickets back, though.”

Damn it.

As I mulled angrily at that idea, Miss Ping and Lady Tian simply kept on smiling and discussing on clothes they’d have me try on the next time. With the feeling of impending doom growing the longer the talk went, I decided to go ahead and get away from them before they decided that it was worth to use the second ticket today.

Jumping out from Milady’s lap as she let out a surprised voice, I instinctively dusted off the clothes, even though they were still clean and turned towards the door. I hesitated for a moment, but in the end there wasn’t much I could do. One of the points of the ticket was that I would have to use the clothes I had until the end of the day at least.

“...I need to be less detailed with that kind of thing in the future...” I murmured to myself.

“Where are you going, Cuddly Aide?” Milady asked surprised.

“To the market.” I replied briefly as I rested my hand on the door.

“Ah, that's right. We still have to go get the ingredients for today’s party, don’t we?” Ping said, to which I nodded.

“I see.” Milady said with a slightly disappointed tone, but she shrugged it off quickly. “Then I guess I'll take the chance to see if I can get Father or Mother to spill some info about my present.” She said it with an amused expression.

I couldn’t help but feel slightly amused by her unusually childish statement. Something that had, strangely enough, started to appear more as she grew older.

Well, not that I am one to say anything, I thought to myself with a bitter smile.

“Ah, don’t forget to take the hat!” Milady said while throwing me a large straw hat that I caught with ease. “It’s part of the outfit!” She said with an angelic smile that only a demon would be able to pull off.

I REALLY regret giving her those tickets. I grumbled while putting on the final touches to my two-steps-too-girlish attire.