"Nearl, is the Matron and the others asleep yet?"
Ardan tiptoed over to Nearl, watching as she continuously jotted things down on a blank sheet of paper, a stack of documents piled beside her.
"Matron Komori probably isn't asleep yet. I just chased her away a little while ago."
Nearl didn't stop what she was doing. Her eyes quickly scanned the various papers in her hands, the pen she held calculating something.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Suddenly, Nearl looked at Ardan and asked this.
"Huh?"
Clearly, Ardan wasn't following.
"During dinner. You seemed to be in a pretty bad mood then. Was something wrong?"
Setting down her pen for a moment, Nearl looked seriously at her friend.
"Why do you think I didn't come out to look for you? When people are upset, they tend to get stuck in their own heads. At times like that, comfort from others can just feel irritating, so I thought it was better to let you have some quiet time first."
"So? Are you feeling a little better now?"
Under Nearl's concerned gaze, Ardan felt inexplicably complicated. She just gave a slight nod.
"If you're willing, you can always come to me to talk. We're friends, after all."
Picking up her pen again, Nearl went back to handling affairs.
"You can lean on me. I'll do everything I can to help you, so don't hold back or worry."
"...I might just take you up on that, you know?"
Clapping her hands together, Ardan looked smilingly at Nearl, but beneath that playful tone lay genuine emotion.
"I never lie. This promise won't fade, not until the very end of my life."
Gazing into those beautiful purple eyes, Nearl's tone was firm yet gentle.
Now, her own eyes, which had completely turned a pale gold, reflected a serious Ardan, revealing her own conviction.
"I just wish you could be a bit more flexible, Nearl?"
After a moment of staring at each other, Ardan sighed and actively looked away.
"Is there still a lot left with these documents?"
"Yes, it seems Aunt Komori has indeed been too busy lately. She simply couldn't find the time to sort out these files and papers."
Patting the pile of papers beside her, Nearl sighed helplessly.
"Then let me help you too."
Ardan pulled over a chair from the side and sat down next to Nearl.
"The Mejiro family's education isn't just about raising pretty ornaments. We've studied all sorts of knowledge. Handling some simple matters shouldn't be a problem."
Extending her pale, slender hand in front of Nearl, Ardan made her request quite clear, her eyes blinking cutely.
"This isn't very fun, you know. It's all trivial little things."
Nearl shook her head with a wry smile, then selected some of the simpler tasks and handed them to Ardan.
"It's fine. With you here with me, Nearl, I won't be bored."
"But I don't really tell jokes? My personality isn't that humorous."
Hearing this, Nearl seemed a little confused.
But her words made Ardan laugh.
She looked at Nearl, full of laughter, her upturned lips impossible to hide.
"Si-lly."
"?"
"Hehehehe…"
In the dead of night, when all was quiet, a wave of laughter came from this room. The happiness contained within was enough to warm the cold night.
"Nearl, do you remember promising to play a song for me?"
"Of course I remember. But not now. The night is deep and all is quiet; we mustn't disturb others' sweet dreams."
"Of course I'm not asking you to play now. I just want to add a small condition."
"Please, tell me. I'll try my best to fulfill it."
"It's nothing major. When you play the violin for me, would you allow me to paint you? I want to capture the feeling and the memory of that moment."
"I see. Ardan, you paint?"
"Don't underestimate me. All us sisters have our own hobbies. Because of my health, I have more quiet hobbies. Others, like Palmer and Dober, prefer more active pastimes."
"In that case, I'd like to make a request as well."
"Please, tell me?"
"Please allow me to paint the scene of you painting. I will depict that beautiful scenery on canvas. It must be a warm and gentle picture."
"Mmph!"
Ardan's shoed feet curled up instinctively.
She hurriedly turned her face away from Nearl's side. Her fair, delicate cheeks were now beyond the description of a red apple—more like a ripe tomato.
"W-well, putting aside whether I'd allow it or not, so you can paint too, Nearl?"
Ardan stammered, changing the subject.
"I know a little. I taught myself as a child. Back then, when I got tired from studying, I'd relax this way. Over time, I managed to paint some decent things."
A reminiscent smile played on Nearl's lips. It was clear she genuinely found it relaxing.
'She's too much of a genius! Just how many things did Nearl teach herself in the past?'
Ardan was somewhat shocked.
"Alright, you haven't said if you agree to my request or not."
"Well… I suppose I have to agree, don't I?"
The tips of her shoes shyly scuffed the floor as Ardan tried hard to keep her expression from becoming too absurd.
With a trembling voice, she suppressed her overly active heart and agreed to Nearl's request.
"I'll be in your care when the time comes."
"I'll paint it with the best technique I have."
Nearl returned to organizing the files. The matter was settled for now.
It took quite a while for Ardan to calm her spirits before she could join Nearl in processing the documents.
Some time later…
"Mmm…"
The pen in her hand slipped from her fingers. Ardan's head nodded little by little; she was completely succumbing to drowsiness.
"Can't… can't sleep… mustn't…"
Finally, she couldn't withstand the invasion of sleep any longer and fell into a deep slumber.
But in the last second before losing consciousness, she instinctively leaned toward the side where she felt safe.
"Ah!"
Nearl, who had been focused on her work, let out a small exclamation, but she instinctively kept her voice low.
A weight suddenly fell against her chest, carrying with it a faint, unfamiliar fragrance.
"Ardan… too tired?"
Looking down, sure enough, pale blue hair was splayed messily across her chest. Nearl could feel warm puffs of breath continuously brushing against her.
"This won't do. But it's already midnight. It really is late for Ardan, I suppose."
Gently stroking Ardan's smooth hair, Nearl carefully picked her up and carried her toward the bedroom.
--+--
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.