The way Yuzuriha reacted a few moments ago still lingered in her mind. Even when she tried to brush it off as nothing, it just kept creeping in.
Yes, she understood that wasn't a proper way to treat someone who's shown you nothing but kindness so far, but what she was worried about was how she couldn't justify it.
It definitely wasn't because she was too greedy to share, no. It just felt…familiar in a way, a very unpleasant way.
Fortunately, while she was still conflicted by this, Grace had gone back to her normal tone of voice. The attention was still on her, but it was for a different reason this time.
Yuzuriha heard the sounds of digging through some paper bags by the windowsill, followed by a rustle of cellophane and the faint sound of a tin lid being pried open.
"Oh, right! Here we go. Yor dear, would you care for cookies? These are from Miss Eloise on the third floor"
"She gave you cookies again?!"
Marcille asked with disbelief, there was also a hint of excitement in her tone. But then again, she did jump from her chair when she said that, so she was definitely excited.
"She owed me. I did a neighbor's visit this morning. One of her cats was acting odd. All jittery, twitchy tail, and sensitivity to sound. When I took a look at it, I recognized the problem immediately."
Grace sighed.
"Turns out, it brushed against one of my husband's failed potion bottles last night. The compound's still volatile. It messed with the feline's inner equilibrium. Heh, that's what it gets for breaking and entering. But I at least got cookies out of it, so eat up you two!"
She said as she placed a cookie in the blind girl's hand. Yuzuriha immediately felt the crumbly texture and the bits of chocolate embedded in the dough. She smelled almonds and brown sugar. Clear signs that these were homemade.
'I'd be lying if I said I'm excited to eat this. I'm really not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sweet things, but there's got to be a line somewhere'
Yuzuriha thought with a frown.
"Why is your house full of failed alchemy again? I get the feeling you've told me before, but I really want to hear you say it again"
Just like Marcille, Yuzuriha was equally curious. She took a bite as she waited for an answer. The cookie crumbled perfectly in her mouth. Surprisingly, it was just good, it was homemade with love and care!
It would be an upfront to that kind Miss's hard work if she didn't enjoy it!
For a moment, she wanted to cry, but she didn't. She simply sat there in silence while listening to the adults talk. Well, technically she was a child and an adult at the same time…but still!
"Well, currently I work as a teacher at Miss Bellrose's Seminary for Young Ladies of Good Standing, or Miss Bellrose's Young Ladies for short…"
'What kind of name is that?!'
Yuzuriha internally gawked at the name. By her understanding, it was just an all girl's school, but why was the name so long?!
Ignoring her internal strife, Grace continued…
"But before that, I was an Alchemist Instructor at none other than Saint Sable College before I was let go, though they call it Potioncraft these days"
There was a brief pause after she said that. All Yuzuriha could hear was the clinking of a spoon against porcelain.
"My beloved husband, Benedict, and I made something of a name for ourselves in the field. There were few compounds we couldn't refine though. Potions for clarity of mind, bolstering strength, inducing sleep—ah, we were terribly ambitious in our day. One of our more controversial breakthroughs involved—"
"Alright, alright! Forget what I asked!"
Grace was flowing when she spoke, you could even tell from her tone that she was reminiscing of the good old days, but before that could go on for any longer, Marcille suddenly interrupted her.
She tore through her daydreaming like shredding a photo of memories into pieces. Her voice was loud and provoked. Unlike the Marcille's she's seen up till now.
Yuzuriha didn't know what kind of relationship the Drapes had with Grace, but her response made it obvious.
"If you insist, dear"
"I should get going, I'm already late. Excuse me"
Marcille declared as she made her way toward the exit. Opened the door then closed it on the way out, but not without reminding Yuzuriha of what she had to do.
'Tell Leo not to cook until supper'
She had to remind herself that before she had almost forgotten it completely. And with that, Grace wished Marcille luck before she departed.
What followed was silence. A gentle, weighted, deafening silence.
Yuzuriha didn't move for quite a bit, she hadn't even taken a second bite of the cookie on her palms. For some reason, she found it much more fitting to just stay still because…
"...She hasn't forgotten. No matter how much she wants to"
The atmosphere in the room had suddenly dropped. It made any sound, even as low as a heartbeat that much more audible. There was also no humor in Grace's voice. It was as though something in her had shifted.
That moment lingered in the air like a steam that refused to rise. Then, she suddenly clapped her hands.
"Now then!"
With that hand clap and chirped voice, the earlier tension dissipated just like that.
"We begin today's lesson shortly, we're already behind but we can make up for it. However, not before you finish your cookies and tea, Yor. It is an unforgivable sin to waste food after all"
She winked, even though Yuzuriha couldn't see it, that sort of gesture seemed suitable for someone of her nature at this moment. Also, what lesson was she talking about?
Curious, Yuzuriha decided to ask for herself, after taking a bite of the cookie and swallowing it up as quickly as possible. It left her throat dry so she washed it down with the sweet cooled tea.
"What lesson is that?"