Pride comes not only from one's station but also one's brilliance and cleverness thus being proven wrong is surely a sour moment. Even so, there but a few times were being incorrect is a lot rejoiceful than the opposite.
Their meeting with Silvers took an unexpected turn, as it was revealed that he was going for Miss Anne instead. This has brought relief for everyone, even just slightly. There is still the issue of Katarina being attached to that man which is too close for their liking. Their first encounter with him is volatile and he easily gets on the nerves of most of them, especially Gerald when Silvers pokes around some issues with his 'engagement'. The details he pointed out unnerve the third prince, though he would never admit it.
Despite those, they can not deny that the newcomer has left them with a good impression. First and foremost is his magic, both practical and theoretical. Brilliant as they may be when it comes to their respective types of magic but what they have witnessed from him makes them question reality. With a snap of a finger, he conjured a panel of light which shows a scene from his memory, and constructed marble furniture from plain dirt (The latter made the Claes heir dumbfounded).
He also taught them a way to better transcribe runes to something more comprehensive. Nicol mentioned that this had not been taught to them in his previous years. They later confirmed this with their instructor the next day and even they were surprised about this new method.
This however brought another mystery to them as to how and why Katarina was familiar with it if their instructors themselves were not, especially in the latter half of the part of the equation. Honestly, they thought that Katarina was just having difficulties with the homework (even with the new method) or simply doodling to pass the time. Imagine their surprise that she had more answers than any of them.
The way he taught them is also something not to be taken lightly. Despite having a rough start, he was able to gather everyone's attention and listen. Katarina herself was enthusiastic and actively participating, answering questions and asking some of hers in return. Very opposite of what they know of her, and it's not out of bias. Before they know it, they are doing the same too. Silvers has broken down the concepts they found difficult into something easier to digest and relate to. Gerald, Keith, and Mary even barrage him with difficult inquiries, whether they were honest questions or just testing him, Silvers just laughed at their attempts and corrected them with ease.
Next, Silvers has created a magic artifact from scratch nonchalantly with no worse for wear. They were told in the academy that enchantment is a long-lost art, with only little knowledge remaining, hence why the Ministry mostly collected enchanted artifacts. Sure there are people in the ministry who work tremendously to recover those lost knowledge; they have elaborate laboratories to study the artifacts to learn from them and perhaps replicate them if possible; and there he was, he created an artifact with nothing but a piece of paper and some ink. They had a collective decision to keep the [Mimeo Card] a secret among them, or else the Ministry may have their interest and have it confiscated. Keith has to cover his sister's mouth at one point literally but it all worked out for the best.
Something about Silvers was familiar, though no matter how hard they tried, they could not put a finger on it. It though raises a question, why has the ministry not recruited him yet? Surely the ministry would pay a lot better than the adventurers guild.
Overall, while Silvers doesn't appear to be a direct threat, he is also someone they should keep an eye on, or wish they could. They can still not find any further details about the man.
Seriously, how come nearly no one knows about a man of that caliber flying around with a giant owl?
"Are you alright, Lady Katarina?" Mary asked the lady that is collecting belongings in a hurry. "The class just ended, what's the hurry?"
"Are you going somewhere, Lady Katarina?" Followed by Sophia.
"I have to hurry home!" Katarina answered them with urgency "Shiro-san sent a message for Anne asking if he can visit today and I replied 'yes'." She then showed the artifact called [Smartphone] indicating that the conversation happened there.
A few days ago, Katarina showed them the said artifact. It appears like a thin brick made of metal and has a panel made of glass which is like a solidified version of the magic Silvers used. Katarina explained that the artifact is capable of different functions such as capturing scenery into a 'photo' which she demonstrated by taking up 'photos' of each of them which she called 'Selfies'. It is done by standing close together and having the 'smartphone' work like a small hand-held mirror held by Katarina. Once ready, Katarina clicks the screen, and their reflection remains displayed in the panel.
Most of the photos they captured are selfies with Katarina and at least 2 other people. The only photo they have with just two people in it is of Sophia and Nicol (Nicol requested to have a photo with his sister) and Maria and Gerald (only because Katarina pleaded heavily for them to do it). As for solos, Maria has most of them with her face getting redder as Kataria keeps praising how pretty she is in every shot. Mary, on the other hand, was also getting red for a different reason.
Speaking of Mary, they also recorded a 'video' of her and Alan having a duet. She was playing her violin and Alan with the piano.
What they fancied the most, however, was the virtual library which had a 'digital' copy of everything they looked into—an entire library in the palm of a hand.
And those were the only ones that Katarina demonstrated to them, from what they see, there are a lot more 'applications' available.
The origin of the artifact is obvious. Katarina said that Silvers had gifted it to Anne so they could talk anytime. It is supposed to be used mainly as a communication tool which is a lot better than the [Mimeo Card].
Anne let her borrow it with a promise that she would not look into the 'Messages'...
...Which from what they are seeing, Katarina just did, and she even replied too!
"I have to tell Anne right away!" She announced with a trace of worry in her voice as she rushed out of the classroom.
Running is prohibited in the hallways so she sticks up to walking as fast as reasonable for her trek to be still called a walk. The last thing she wants right now is getting called by teachers, or worse, getting the smartphone confiscated.
As soon as she exits the building, she lifts her dress and is about to sprint her way to the back dormitory. She didn't get far before she was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Lady Katarina!" Someone just called her from the academy's entrance.
"Anne!" She called back. Looking at the side of the gate, she found the person she was rushing to meet. "Shiro-san will be visiting today!" She told her as she got close to the maid.
"Is he? And how did you know that milady?" Anne asked in return, giving her mistress an unamused look.
"I errr..." Katarina looked away and she felt her neck sweats.
"Did you read my messages, milady?"
"Yes. I'm sorry..." She bowed and admitted it. She also hands the phone back.
"Lady Katarina, you promised not to look into it." She accepts the phone back and inspects it.
"I didn't mean to, it's just, that the messages just popped in and I clicked it on instinct." Katarina explains "I swear I only got a glance of it, I haven't read much."
"You also replied 'yes' to sir Silvers."
"...Hai, I'm sorry."
Anne takes a deep breath and sighs "Just please don't do it again, milady. It is wrong to read the people's conversation."
"Hai... I'm sorry." Katarina apologized the third time.
"Alright." After she finishes whatever she was working on the phone, she then gives it again to Katarina.
"Huh?"
"You can have it back, milady."
"Are you sure?" Katarina asked in confusion, "You are not going to confiscate it or ground me?"
"Do you want me to?"
"No," She quickly swipes the phone back but still looks at her maid confused like she has grown a second head.
"You can keep it. She has a new one." Another familiar voice joins the conversation.
"Shiro-san!" Katarina looks at Silvers who is standing right behind Anne. "I didn't notice you there."
"Yes, quite rude if you ask me. I've been here the whole time" He replied, "I told you, Ms. Sherry, she will come out running." He said to Anne who just shook her head in response.
Earlier that day...
Anne has just stepped out of the post office. Once a week, she has to mail a report to the Duke and Duchess Claes about how their children were doing, especially about Lady Katarina. It is mid-afternoon and she just finished posting her report for the week. Her mistress won't be back from school before dark, thus she has quite plenty of time to spare at the moment. With that, she decided to take a stroll at the market.
The place is bustling with people as usual but not to the point where it's crowded. She wanders around, looking at different stalls selling different trinkets and stuff, there is also food but she not feeling peckish at the moment. She sees plenty of items on display but nothing catches her interest until she passes in front of a particular jewelry store. Behind its glass walls stands a bust figure on display, wearing different jewelry, including a pair of teardrop-shaped earrings made from light blue polished gemstones.
"They match Lady Claes's eyes." A recognizable voice says behind her "Good afternoon, Miss Sherry."
"Sir Silvers!" Anne gasps in surprise "Go-good afternoon as well."
"I'm sorry for startling you." He looks at the same earring that she was looking at. "It'll suit her, surely."
"Indeed, her old pair is getting a little old. Milady would probably need a new one."
"Would she?" He raises an eyebrow. "I have an impression that she does not care about this stuff."
"Right, Milady has this last on her mind. That's why I have to take care of it for her. "
"Touche." He turns to her.
"Huh?" She did not understand what he just said.
"I mean, that's admirable, though it's the same for you isn't it?"
She raises an eyebrow at him, prompting him to continue.
"You are not wearing accessories as well, aside from the bare minimum of your uniform. Is it a work policy or something?"
"Nothing like that. It's my preference to not wear one."
"Really? Not even simple earrings or necklace?"
"They are not necessary in my station. Besides, they have no practical use and I am not used to wearing them. They might as well be a hindrance. "
"To that I agree. I too avoid wearing anything unnecessary."
She smirks at him.
"Well I do have quite a few in me, but I assure you that they have their purposes."
"Even the mask?"
"Especially the mask."
"Why?" Anne finally asked. It's been bothering her since the first time she knew about Silvers. She just doesn't feel it's right to ask about them before, but since it was already brought in, might as well go for it.
"It's kind of troublesome."
Unsatisfied with the answer, she decided to push for more details. She has to know more about him if he is to stick around. "Why?" She repeats the question, looking at him suspiciously and she makes it obvious. It seems that he got the message.
"I'm not a wanted person if that's what you're asking." He answered, "It's that... just let me show you." He pulls his mask down and shows her his face.
To say that she was astonished was an understatement. He did warn her about this but it did not cross her mind that it would be this kind of trouble. Now she can't help but gasp upon seeing his face. She was expecting him to look bad, or average at most not someone that could be mistaken as royalty. He could have presented himself to be a close relative of princes and she would not doubt him for even a little.
She should have been already desensitized when it came to 'this matters' given how usually she was around different dream-dashing lovely gentlemen yet here she was, stunned and awed at her suitor.
Is it because Silvers is hers, unlike the usual men around who are coming for her mistress?
Did she just put her claim on him?
"Ms. Sherry?" He calls her, breaking her out of stupor.
There were now quite several ladies around them and they were in the same boat as hers.
"Please excuse me..." Without waiting for his permission, she reaches for his mask and puts it back on him. She then starts to walk away.
"Wait up!" He called as he followed her, leaving the astounded audience behind.
Silvers convinced her to stop and take a break in a bakery just a block away from the jewelry store. He waves at one of the waiters and one of them immediately comes to lead them to a vacant table. Another one also arrives and puts different slices of shortcakes on the table along with a pitcher of what appears to be tea but at room temperature.
"I'm a regular here." He explains.
"I know you were an odd person, but cold tea?" She asked.
"Oh, that! Give me a moment." As his hands touched the pitcher's handle, frost crawled from his hand and covered the entire pitcher. A chilling mist rises from the drink as he pours it into her cup. "This blend of tea is meant to be drunk cold. Please try it." He offers the cup to her
She took a small sip at first to try it and she finds it delightful. "It's good." She praises it. She takes a larger sip next. Since it was cold, the beverage was easier to drink and very refreshing. She imagines that this would be a perfect drink for her mistress during summer or when they were working in the field on any hot day. If only she could have some ice. It is a rare commodity to have since the only way to create one is through magic and it's not like she could ask Prince Alan or Lady Hunt for it.
Looking at Silvers, he is drinking through his mask without any problem. It's quite bizarre to watch but she did not comment. It's not like she wants him to remove his mask again. The experience a while ago was already troublesome, and there are a lot of other people here as well.
Perhaps if they were in a more private setting, she would ask him to remove it once more...
Anne shook her head quite violently to drive away the thought.
"Are you alright? Did your head ache?"
"I'm alright, please ignore what I just did." Now she's embarrassing herself again.
"Okay..." He finishes his cup and pours a new one for himself and refills her cup as well. "Say, about what we were talking about a while ago. The accessories, you say that you do not like wearing them as they have no practical use. Would you wear one if they do?"
"Perhaps? Though I don't follow. Does jewelry have another purpose than to make the wearer beautiful? "
"The wearer also dons them for sentimental purposes, but generally I agree with what you meant."
"I don't need them."
"Agreed as well." He puts down his cup "I've seen countless pieces of jewelry yet none of them can make you prettier..."
She scowled at him.
"...they'll all just be a distraction. I am already looking at perfection as it is. " He said it while looking straight at her.
Her heart skips. Good thing that she wasn't drinking at the moment or she could have choked on it. "Please let's stop with the flattery. You're the only one who thinks that way."
"Really? No one?" He asked with definite interest. "You don't have other coworkers, acquaintances, or secret childhood friends that have a crush on you?"
"No...?"
"Their loss."
They then spent a few minutes in silence. Anne tried the cakes, they were... tolerable. It was also funny watching Silvers eat. He just put his fork near to his mouth and the cake simply vanishes.
"I think I got it!" He said after finishing his last slice, putting the fork down.
"You got what?"
"Accessories that will suit you, I figured it out!"
"And what are those exactly?"
"This" He pulls a small brown box with round edges from his pocket. He then opens it to show her its contents.
"Eyeglasses?" Anne stated as she looked at the glasses from its case. The frame is made from shiny white metal, probably silver, and the glasses were semi-circular in shape. They are not as large as the one Silvers himself is wearing but she is sure that they are large enough to cover her eyes.
"Let me put them on you." He picks the glasses from their case and unfolds its arms. She closes her eyes while he gently puts them on her face. She felt ticklish as she felt something slide behind her ear which thankfully vanishes as fast as it came. "Please open your eyes, you can't try these with your eyes closed."
She ignores her banter but does as he says. At first, everything is blurry, like she is trying to look through a thin cloth but it rapidly becomes clearer. At first, she didn't realize the difference from her regular eyesight since everything looked pretty much the same until she saw the street sign outside across the street.
She can read them, properly and clearly.
She raises her eyeglasses and looks at the street sign again. Her eyes instinctively squint to focus but can only make the shape and color of the sign, everything written is extremely blurry. She then put the glasses back and she can read the writings again.
"How was it?"
"They are great!" She exclaimed.
"I'm glad." He then pulls a mirror out of nowhere and holds it in front of her "How about the design? Do you like the shape of the lens? Are they comfortable to wear?"
She looks at herself in the mirror. The glasses look alright, though it makes her look a little stern. She let out a small smile to balance it out. "I barely even feel it on my face. I like it. Thank you! It never came to me that my eyesight was bad until now. How did you know?"
"I noticed you squinting your eyes as you were looking at the writings on the board, back when I was teaching your mistress and her friends." He explained.
"You noticed that?" She asked in disbelief of how observant Silvers was. "That's wonderful... and also concerning."
Silvers just happily shrugged her banter "What can I say? I can't take my off you, milady."
"Again, please stop talking to me like that. It's... unsettling."
"Sorry, can't help it. By the way, do you have your phone with you?"
"I don't." She straight answered " Lady Katarina borrowed it for school. She was better at me on using them so I figured it would be fine." She then explains.
"Figures."
"I hope that is alright with you as well, sir Silvers."
"Of course, on the contrary. It's as expected." He then raises a finger, pointing at her glasses. "I have enchanted those glasses to have the same functions as your phone. Look." He snaps his finger and a translucent screen appears right in her eyes displaying the same images and icons as her phone. "This one displays them right on at your glasses so you can see them directly, aaaand~ you don't even have to touch it. Just think of what you want it to do and tadaaa! Try it!"
And she does. She starts by thinking of removing the translucent screen to clear her sight and it vanishes. She wishes for it to return and it does. It also switches displays as she wills it and it can also display multiple screens at once too. She clears all the display for now but she will check this further later.
"Sooooo~ did you like it?"
"Yes, the glasses on their own were already great, then this. I don't have words to describe them. It's just too wonderful. But..."
"Hmmm?"
"It's just... as I said, this artifact, and the other things that you been gifting me. They are just way beyond~" She tried to explain but struggled to give a proper word on it. "I don't think even my masters, have anything remotely similar to them. Is it all right for me to have them? "
"I made them for you, Ms. Sherry, and they are yours, and it's their purpose to be yours."
"But... it's just too valuable for a maid."
"Milady, I am but a humble mage courting a humble girl. I would fetch the stars and moon should you wish for it." He declares and winks at her.
"There is nothing humble with that sentence or with any of this yet I feel that you are not kidding."
"Try me."
Anne let out a defeated sigh but smiled at him afterward.
Silvers waves at the server again and leaves a gold coin on the table before they leave the Cafe. He continues to accompany her which then brings both of them outside the academy. Since she was already outside, Anne decided to pick up her mistress from school as well. They, however, arrive a little early so they have to wait outside for a while.
"What time does she usually come out?"
"Around 5? If I remember her schedule correctly, her last class should have ended by 4, though she would be at the student council until much later."
"Lady Kataria in student council? That doesn't sound right."
"She does not have a position there, though all her friends are. She just stays with them."
"That explains it. "He nods "Lady Katarina has your phone right? I'll message it, so she knows we're out here."
"Milady promise not to read my mails. I doubt she will notice the message at all."
"Bet she would come out running as soon as her class ended."
"How would you know that?"
"She just replied."
Hearing that, Anne raises her hand wanting to facepalm but stops herself after remembering the eyewear on her face. She is unsure of how to do it now without hitting the glasses. Not only that her mistress break her promise, but she even went and sent a reply.
"It's fine" Silvers reassures her as if he heard what she's thinking. "There ain't much to read yet, and it's not like we have talked about anything sensitive there...yet"
"She still should not have read my emails. She even promises not to."
"I'm not saying it's alright, it's just it's better now than later. Besides, you won't have to share anymore."
She glares at him.
"On second thought, It's your job so I'll leave it to your jurisdiction, and I'm shutting up now." He then made a motion of zipping his mouth.
They waited in silence while Anne was checking the functions of her glasses. Unlike her previous phones, she can easily use them without getting unwanted attention since only she can see the panels thus there's no problem with using them in public. From time to time, she raises some questions and Silvers happily answers them. Soon after, just like Silvers had predicted, they saw Katarina step out of the building in a hurry and about to run her way back to the dorm.
"You tricked me!" Katarina points her finger at Silvers "You are already with Anne but you still sent a message!"
"Bite me!" Silvers just shrugs and laughs at her.
"Grrrr" She growls.
"Don't tell me you really gonna bi-" He was unable to complete his sentence as Katarina lunged at him. While she didn't bite him, she instead resulted into punching his stomach continuously.
"Milady!" Anne calls her mistress. It was the first time she had ever seen her behaving like this.
She was going to restrain her mistress but Sir Silvers his hand, gesturing to her that it's alright. Then, using the same hand, he hits Lady Katarina's head with his knuckle, making a resounding 'Tonk' sound!
"Awu!"
"Sir Silvers!" She then yells at him, glaring even as he hits Lady Katarina. To her surprise, it was now her mistress who was stopping her, gesturing to her that it was alright just like Sir Silvers did a while ago. She does it with one hand and uses the other to rub the part the Silvers just hit. It appears that her mistress has already calmed down.
"Sooo...Can I really keep the phone?" Katarina asked Silvers casually like nothing just happened.
"Yep, though do us a favor and delete all the messages first. "
"Really?! Sure!" Katarina pulls out her phone and taps on the screen assumingly to do what Sirl Silvers has requested "Thank you!" She then lunges on him again, this time to embrace him. The gesture, however, was blocked by Silvers catching Katarina's face with his hand, keeping her away.
"What are you doing? My girlfriend is right over there!"
"Anne isn't your girlfriend yet!"
"We just went on a date. Look, she has new glasses." He points at the accessory on Anne's face. "It looks good on her, does it? I picked the design myself."
"Oh! right... so that's what makes her scarier than usual." This earns her a scowl from her maid to which she immediately apologizes. "I'm sorry!"
Not that Anne minds it.
"You really have to think through your words before you say them," Silvers advised to Katarina who is now hiding herself behind him.
"Lady Katarina!"
"Sister!"
A little later than expected but it's about time for Katarina's entourage to arrive.
The afternoon went on like the usual. Katarina goes straight to her field to do a quick check of her plants and then joins with everyone. They stay at the same place they studied before since it already had decent furniture in them, courtesy of Silvers.
Silvers and Anne remained on the side, serving the group with refreshments and whatnot. Despite being technically a guess, Silvers was actively assisting Anne with her task.
"I've worked as a butler before." He tells Anne after the maid tries to refuse his help.
Without homework to do this time, the group did some random simple activities, all centering on Katarina, of course. At some point, Katarina blurted that the phone was now hers which earned a side-eye a sigh from Anne that Katarina didn't notice. Everyone starts suggesting different activities they can do with it. Nicol on the other hand, asked if they could somehow have a copy of the 'photo' they have taken.
"We could! We'll just need a printer and uh..." She stops, remembering that she is literally in a different world right now where such technologies don't exist. She looks toward Silvers who seems to be having a deep conversation with Anne and without being interrupted, he signals her to look at her phone which she just felt vibrate.
It has a message from Silvers
"Just send me the photos, and I'll have them printed in the office tomorrow."
"Thanks!" She replied.
"Shiro-san says that he'll have the copies ready tomorrow!" She relays the answer to Nicol. Of course. Everyone heard of it as well and with that, they all requested to take more pictures.
By using the 'Sibling' card, Keith was able to have a photo with only her and Katarina, mentioning the same reason stated by Nicol when he asked for a photo of himself and Sofia, and much to his delight, Anne backed him for this. Anne took the photo for them, in which Katarina's arm was around his shoulder with her fingers forming a 'V' sign on them with her hands. Keith put his hand around his sister's waist and did a huge smile (or more like a grin, much to Gerald's displeasure.)
By the end of the day, they have about more or less a hundred pictures added to the gallery.
As the sun sets, Hoots arrives to pick up her master. She played with Sophia and Katarina until it was dark, and then everyone left for their abodes.
Sir Silvers didn't come the next day but Katarina received a parcel containing the printed copy of all the photos she sent last night. The pictures were printed on small cards in size smaller compared even to the smallest painting they had seen, but despite this, they are also a lot better when it comes to the accuracy of the image.
"We can commission a painter to make a larger portrait using these as reference." Allan pointed out.
'And perhaps remove some unsightly parts' A shared thought among most of them.
"Sister, where is the one that Anne took for us?" Keith asked, apparently not finding a particular photo from yesterday.
"Oh, that?" Katarina raises a finger " I gave it to Anne. I figured Mom would like to have a photo of us."
"I... see." Keith's eyes twitch upon her sister's answer. Gerald returns the smirk he gave him yesterday. Mary hides her face behind the fan but he is sure she is doing the same.