Chapter 13: The Day Before School
After Mickey exited the academy gates, Elena, who had been waiting patiently, rushed to his side with a beaming smile. "Master Mickey!" she called out, her voice echoing with excitement.
He turned, and before he could respond, Elena wrapped him in a hug. "You passed the entrance exams, right?" she asked with sparkling eyes.
"Yes, I did, Elena," Mickey said with a soft smile, feeling a strange warmth in his heart.
"Then let's head to our mansion," Elena said as she took his hand and guided him away from the school.
The mansion wasn't as grand as the estates belonging to high nobles, but it was elegant and spacious, tucked quietly near the edge of the city, surrounded by tall trees and a peaceful garden. With only two residents—Mickey and Elena—it was more than enough.
That night, Elena prepared dinner. The aroma of grilled meat and sweet-scented herbs filled the dining room. Mickey devoured the food happily and looked at Elena. "This is amazing. You really are the best, Elena."
Elena blushed slightly, turning away to hide the smile curling on her lips. "I'm glad you like it, Master."
After dinner, Mickey yawned and stretched. "I think I'll head to bed. Good night, Elena."
"Good night, Master," she replied softly.
Mickey entered his room and sat at his desk. Despite the fatigue, he couldn't sleep. There was so much on his mind—everything had changed so fast. So, he picked up a quill and parchment and began writing a letter to his parents. He poured his heart into it, writing about the blessing day, the awakening of the Crest of Eternia, the demon monarch Draco, the tests, the Elite class… everything.
Time flew by. When he finally placed the quill down and sealed the letter with the Windgrace family crest, nearly 45 minutes had passed. He let out a sigh of relief and went to bed.
The next morning, sunlight peeked through the curtains. Elena quietly entered Mickey's room. "Master Mickey, time to wake up," she said gently.
As he stirred and opened his eyes, he gasped. "Wha—Elena? What happened to your hair?"
Her hair, usually jet black, had been temporarily dyed a vivid shade of silver. It shimmered in the sunlight, giving her an almost magical aura.
"Oh, this?" she smiled playfully. "It's just temporary, Master. I thought I'd try something fun today."
Mickey blinked, still surprised. "It actually looks really good on you."
Elena's cheeks turned rosy. "T-thank you…"
She quickly composed herself. "By the way, we need to go shopping today—for uniforms."
Mickey raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what do you mean we?"
"Oh! I didn't tell you?" she giggled. "I'm attending the academy too. I've been accepted into the Elite classroom… the same one as yours."
Mickey's eyes widened. "Whoa, really? Nice job, Elena!"
The maid's heart fluttered as she heard his compliment. "T-thank you, Master…"
An hour later, they were walking through the busy market streets of the noble district. Stalls and shops lined both sides of the street, and magic items glittered behind glass displays.
Elena led Mickey into a luxurious noble clothing shop. The attendants bowed respectfully as they entered. After trying on several outfits, Elena finally picked a dignified, black-and-blue noble robe with golden embroidery for Mickey. It gave him a prince-like aura.
"This one suits you, Master," she said with admiration in her voice.
Mickey looked in the mirror and nodded. "Yeah, I like it. Good choice."
Next, it was Mickey's turn to help Elena pick her school uniform. He chose a white and lavender outfit with gold accents that flowed elegantly with her figure. Elena's eyes lit up when she saw herself in the mirror.
"It's beautiful… thank you, Master," she said, genuinely touched.
After finishing their shopping, they stopped by a cozy restaurant nearby to have lunch. Over delicious pasta and fresh bread, they chatted casually, laughing and enjoying the simple moment together.
Later that afternoon, they returned home with their bags. Mickey changed into lighter clothes and headed to the bathhouse built inside the mansion. A large pool with steaming warm water awaited him.
He sighed in relief as he sank into the water, closing his eyes and letting the tension melt away.
But not long after, the sound of soft footsteps echoed through the bathhouse. Mickey opened his eyes just in time to see Elena walking in.
"Elena!?" he blurted out, nearly slipping under the water.
Elena, now in a towel, casually stepped into the same pool, sitting down a few feet away from him. "Relax, Master. It's not like I haven't seen you before when you were younger. Besides, the bath's big enough for two."
Mickey turned bright red, sinking lower into the water. "Y-you really are bold sometimes…"
Elena just smiled, brushing her wet silver hair behind her ear, pretending not to notice his flustered expression.
The warm water rippled gently between them, the silence filled only with the occasional splash. Despite the embarrassment, Mickey felt oddly comfortable. Maybe… this wasn't so bad after all.