As we walked through the dimly lit hallway, the little maid tilted her head slightly, her emerald-green hair swaying gently with the movement. The golden glow of the enchanted lanterns lining the corridor reflected in her curious eyes, making them shimmer with an almost mischievous glint. The polished wooden floor creaked softly beneath our steps, and the faint scent of old parchment and dried herbs lingered in the air, remnants of the magic that thrived within the mansion’s walls.

  “Then… Miss Mashiro and Miss Yuzu are here for girls' talk in the garden?” she asked, clasping her small hands together in front of her apron. Her voice was light and airy, carrying a hint of playfulness as she peeked up at us.

  “Bery yes,” Yuzu beamed, her fox ears perking up as she eagerly nodded. Her fluffy tail swayed behind her in rhythmic excitement, brushing against my leg every so often.

  After the little girl had managed to calm Yuzu down from her initial ‘witch-punching’ instincts, we properly introduced ourselves. Yuzu, naturally, wasted no time in taking the lead.

  “What your name, kyut little girl?” Yuzu asked, crouching down slightly to be at eye level with her. Her bright black eyes twinkled with interest as she grinned, revealing small, sharp canines. She even reached out and gently patted the tiny maid’s head, causing the girl’s pointed elf ears to twitch slightly in response.

  The little maid blinked a few times, as if surprised by the sudden head pat, but she didn’t seem to dislike it. Instead, she giggled softly, her cheeks slightly puffing up with amusement. “Fufu~ That’s a rather direct way of asking, Miss Yuzu.”

  Yuzu’s tail wagged slightly, and she gave a confident nod, clearly pleased with herself. “Of course! Yuzu bery straightforward fox girl.”

  I sighed, watching the exchange with mild amusement. It seemed that, in typical Yuzu fashion, she had already decided to claim the little maid as her new ‘bery cute’ acquaintance.

  The little maid straightened her posture and gracefully grabbed the edges of her neatly pressed maid uniform, giving a polite bow like a proper maid addressing nobles. Despite her small stature, there was an elegance in her movements, a natural refinement that made the gesture seem effortless. The soft fabric of her apron fluttered slightly as she dipped forward, her emerald-green hair catching the warm glow of the hallway’s lanterns.

  “Let me introduce myself,” she said with a gentle smile. “I’m Luna, one of the two maids who take care of this mansion. I handle the night duties for Miss Viola.” Her golden eyes gleamed with a quiet sense of pride, but there was also a hint of something playful lingering in them.

  As she straightened, her pointy elf ears twitched slightly, reacting to the sounds around her. With a knowing smirk, she added, “I’m an elf, so my age and my appearance might be a little deceiving.”

  Yuzu’s black fox ears twitched in response as she leaned forward, staring at Luna with wide, sparkling eyes filled with curiosity. “Bery deceiving! You look bery tiny, tiny little girl! Not fair, bery unfair!” She pouted, crossing her arms while dramatically swishing her tail behind her.

  Luna giggled, pressing a hand to her lips as if to stifle her amusement. “I get that a lot,” she admitted, tilting her head slightly. “I suppose it’s an advantage when I need to sneak around unnoticed.”

  Yuzu gasped, her tail fluffing up with excitement. “Ohhh! Tiny elf girl is secret sneaky type?! Like bery cool shadow maid?! Yuzu approves!” She gave an enthusiastic nod, looking as if she had just discovered a rare and fascinating creature.

  I sighed, shaking my head as I watched the two interact. “Yuzu… you really shouldn’t just declare approval like that,” I muttered, but there was no stopping her once she got like this.

  Luna simply giggled again, clearly entertained. “Well, I do my best to fulfill my duties properly.” Her golden eyes twinkled with a playful glint before she turned toward me. “And what about you, Miss Mashiro? Do you approve as well?”

  I blinked at the unexpected question. “Uh… approve of what exactly?”

  Luna’s smirk widened slightly. “Of me, of course.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “I… guess?” I awkwardly smiled, tilting my head in confusion as I studied Luna’s youthful appearance. Despite her refined demeanor and perfectly pressed maid uniform, she looked no older than a child, her delicate features and petite frame only adding to the illusion. Yet, her golden eyes held a quiet wisdom, something that didn’t quite match her appearance. “How exactly old are you?”

  Luna placed a delicate finger on her chin, tilting her head slightly as if pondering my question. Her golden eyes shimmered under the dim lantern light, filled with a teasing glint. “Now, now, Miss Mashiro,” she said with a mischievous smile. “It’s not very polite to ask a lady her age, is it?”

  I blinked, feeling as if I had just stepped into some kind of verbal trap. “That’s not— I mean—” I hesitated, trying to find the right words. “You did just say your appearance was deceiving, so I figured—”

  Luna giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. “Relax, I’m just teasing,” she said, swaying slightly as she walked. “I’m forty-two.”

  There was a pause.

  “…Bery what?” Yuzu’s ears twitched, her expression frozen in pure disbelief. She stared at Luna, blinking slowly as if trying to process the information. “Bery tiny elf girl… bery over forty?!”

  Luna gave a small, amused nod. “That’s right. Compared to other elves, I’m still fairly young, though. It’s not unusual for elves to look youthful for centuries.”

  Yuzu’s mouth opened and closed a few times before she dramatically flopped forward, resting her hands on her knees. “Ughh… Yuzu thought bery found smol lost child… but is actually bery older lady…” She let out an exaggerated sigh, her tail drooping slightly in mock disappointment.

  Luna chuckled, watching Yuzu’s antics with a bemused smile. “Would it make you feel better if I acted more like an ‘older lady’?” she asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.

  “Uhnn… no,” Yuzu grumbled, puffing out her cheeks. Then, as if suddenly deciding something, she poked Luna’s cheek lightly. “Still bery soft and tiny, so Yuzu will continue to call bery little elf girl ‘bery little elf girl.’”

  Luna only laughed, shaking her head. “I suppose I’ll allow it.” She then glanced up at me, a smirk still playing on her lips. “And what about you, Miss Mashiro? Do I look my age to you?”

  I exhaled, rubbing my temples. “Honestly, I don’t even know what to believe anymore.”

  We continued walking, the quiet tapping of our footsteps against the polished stone floor echoing softly through the dimly lit hallway. The cool night air brushed against my skin as we stepped through the arched doorway leading outside.

  A stone pathway wound through the neatly trimmed hedges and clusters of vibrant flowers, their petals appearing to glow under the flickering light. In the distance, a small, circular fountain trickled quietly, its crystal-clear water reflecting the soft golden glow surrounding it. Vines crept up the stone pillars supporting a nearby gazebo, their blossoms adding a faint, sweet fragrance to the night air.

  I found myself standing still, taking in the dreamlike atmosphere. “This is…” My voice trailed off as I gazed at the scenery in silence.

  The garden was like a scene from a dream. Soft, pulsing glows of countless fireflies drifted through the air, weaving between the leaves and flowers, casting an ethereal golden light over the space. The scent of fresh grass and night-blooming flowers filled the air, mixed with the faint dampness of the evening breeze. The stone pathway beneath our feet was cool, slightly damp with lingering dew, leading toward the wooden benches nestled between the lush hedges.

  Yuzu twirled in place, her tail swishing excitedly as she took in the sight. “Waah… bery pretty!” she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. She spun once more before flopping onto one of the benches, stretching out her arms. “Fireflies bery glow like star! Yuzu love!”

  Luna let out a soft chuckle, standing beside us as she clasped her hands neatly in front of her. “Miss Viola might act detached, but she actually maintains this garden herself,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of fondness. “She uses just a little bit of magic to help the plants grow, but the fireflies? They come here on their own.”

  I sat down beside Yuzu, watching the little orbs of light drifting lazily through the air. “It’s beautiful,” I admitted, feeling a rare sense of calm. The quiet hum of nocturnal insects and the occasional rustling of leaves filled the silence, creating a tranquil atmosphere that felt almost surreal.

  Yuzu suddenly perked up, her ears twitching. She turned toward me with a mischievous grin and nudged my arm. “Nee, nee, Mashiro, let’s catch one!”

  “…You want to catch a firefly?” I raised an eyebrow, watching as she cupped her hands together as if already preparing for the chase.

  “Bery yes!” she declared. “Yuzu will protecc one and keep in hands, like tiny bery pet!”

  Luna smiled but shook her head. “They’re not meant to be caught, Miss Yuzu,” she said gently. “They shine the brightest when they’re free.”

  Yuzu pouted, crossing her arms. “But… but bery glowing bugs look so soft…”

  I chuckled, leaning back against the bench. “Just watch them, Yuzu. They’re prettier this way.”

  She huffed but eventually relaxed, her ears flicking slightly as she gazed at the glowing insects. “Hmmm… Yuzu guess… bery pretty bugs better when flying.”

  The garden continued to glow softly around us, the peaceful night stretching on.