Chapter 112: As Rasputin Would Enchant (1)

A woman who appeared to be in her late 20s to early 30s was leaning on the sofa, staring intently at the door. Her face, half-lying in a posture identical to that which Cleopatra might have taken in ancient times, was full of boredom and irritation.

Anyone who saw her might think she was just a sensitive young beauty.

But appearances didn't always reflect the truth.

Unlike her appearance, she had lived since Nazi Germany and had earned the title of 'Grand Witch' from other witches due to her age and formidable power.

Grand Witch Odilia A Reich.

She had come to Russia.

Odilia, staring at the door, seemed to get irritated and turned her head to look at the bed. Ella was on the bed.

She opened her mouth, looking at a face that seemed to make her irritation explode just by looking at it.

"What trouble this is because of you... I never thought I'd come voluntarily to this cold and barbaric Russian land. Having quite a novel experience at this age, I feel so~ good. Hm?"

A blunt tone full of irritation.

"It's hard to properly sell cosmetics so I can't do business-related work, and there are smelly Russians everywhere so it's difficult to go around. There are too many barbaric people so it's hard to sightsee. Moreover, the food made by Russians is unnecessarily high in calories, so it's not helpful at all for maintaining my figure. Hey, do you know what this means?"

Odilia spewed out abusive language incessantly, as if she had no intention of listening to Ella's response.

"You did well to make a connection with a skilled sorcerer. It might be the best thing you've done in your life. But what's the use? You should have persuaded the sorcerer and kept him here, but what? We need to spend time alone? El-la. Ella Blue Zoisite Win-ter! I thought you'd gained some sense as you grew up, but it seems I was greatly mistaken! You must have thought this person called a Grand Witch, the owner of a world-renowned cosmetics company, could waste time like this! Or perhaps, did you think you were worth that much of my time?"

She vented her irritation welling up from her heart onto Ella.

And she did so indiscriminately.

Only Odilia and Ella were in the room.

Agnes, her master and the one who acted as a restraint on the Grand Witch, had gone out with Anastasia.

Ella felt like running away right now, but knowing that Odilia would use that as an excuse to make a fuss if she did, she kept her mouth shut obediently.

Then Odilia, as if losing interest, turned her head sharply and pressed the bell placed on the mini table next to the sofa. After a short while, a voice flowed out.

[ Hello... ]

"Take my order."

Odilia cut off the voice before it could finish and started to give her order.

"Coffee."

[ Yes. I'll help you with your order. What kind of coffee would you like? ]

"Panama La Esmeralda Palmira Estate beans, full city roasting, flat white. But use an artifact for the espresso, not a regular machine. If that's not possible, have a magician do it directly. Use lactose-free milk, 7g of stevia. Grind 3g of Madagascar vanilla bean and add it, and freeze one Delapierre chocolate rapidly using magic or an artifact, then grind it finely and sprinkle it on top. Ah, the coffee temperature should be exactly 90 degrees. And porcelain supplied to the royal family... Ah. There's no way such a thing would be in this backwater. Just serve it in a first-grade thermal artifact tumbler. And as quickly as possible."

[ ...Yes, I understand, Ma’am. We'll bring it to you as quickly as possible. ]

The hotel staff was at a brief loss for words at the demanding order.

But to avoid creating any issues that could be picked on by the Grand Witch, who had already been marked as a troublesome guest by the hotel, they quickly responded in a kind tone and moved busily.

The staff completed the ordered coffee in an instant.

And they did it perfectly enough not to be picked on.

Knock knock.

"Come in and give it to me."

When she heard the knock, Odilia snapped her fingers to open the door.

Then a hotel staff member handed her the coffee with a smile full of kindness. The staff member's every gesture was full of tension, as if afraid of being picked on.

"Hmm, the aroma is fine. Well, passable? Go. And."

Odilia threw a bundle of dollars on the table onto the staff member's chest.

Thud!

The wad of bills hit the staff member's chest and fell limply to the floor.

"It's a tip, so pick it up and go."

"...Yes. Thank you, ma'am."

"Ah, and there are chocolatiers in Russia too, right? Buy some from a famous person. About $1,000 worth, focusing on chocolates. But maintain the chocolates at 12 degrees celsius. Use an artifact or cast a spell, do it however you want, but bring it as quickly as possible. What are you doing? I’ve finished ordering, so go."

She gestured to chase away the staff member.

Then she inhaled deeply as if enjoying the coffee aroma, and looked back at the door while sipping the coffee little by little.

When she had drunk about half of the coffee...

Clatter.

"It's so~ cold!"

"Hoho. Asha. Don't try to go straight to bed because it's cold, wash your hands first!"

"Okay~"

Agnes and Anastasia had returned.

Like Odilia, Agnes also had brown hair, but unlike her master, she had it slightly tied at the end and let it hang down. She was treating Anastasia with a kind smile that didn't match her fierce makeup, and Anastasia seemed pleased with that kindness, treating her highly affectionately.

Moreover, as if they had become incredibly close in that short time, Agnes called Anastasia by the nickname Asha without hesitation, and Anastasia willingly accepted that nickname and showed her full-blown affection.

Agnes's appearance, which looked to be in her early 30s, and Anastasia's appearance, which looked like an elementary school student.

When the two were combined, it gave the impression of a young mother and a young daughter.

Anastasia ran to the bathroom, fluttering the hem of her snow-white one-piece dress, washed her hands, and then stuck close to Agnes again. Then she kept touching Agnes's knit dress, seemingly liking the texture.

Then her eyes met Odilia's, who was half-lying on the sofa.

"I'm back~"

"Hmph. If you're back, you should warm up your body quickly, why are you running around so noisily?"

Knock knock.

Odilia, who was about to say something to Anastasia, used her ability to open the door, and when a staff member came in with an armful of chocolates, she gestured for them to put it on the table. And when the staff member had placed all the chocolates, she said with a nonchalant expression.

"If you're done, go."

"Thank you for the chocolates."

Agnes thanked the staff member kindly as if to comfort them, and took out a $100 bill from her handbag and put it in the staff member's hand. Then the staff member said thank you and left the room with a slight smile.

"Master."

"What?"

"Huu... Did you make another strange order and trouble the staff?"

Agnes asked Odilia with a sigh. Then Odilia looked at her as if it was no big deal and spoke. In a tone full of familiarity, even using 'Nes' which was Agnes's nickname.

"It's their job anyway, isn't it? I didn't ask them to do anything they couldn't do, I just asked them to do what they should naturally do, so what's the problem? More importantly, Nes, there's chocolate you like over there, so eat it. And."

She slightly turned her eyes to look at the child clinging tightly to Agnes's side.

A child who looked similar to Ella when she was young, but unlike Ella, had bright eyes, an active personality, and lots of affection.

It should be normal to feel irritated just by looking at her face since she had exactly the same appearance as Ella when she was young.

Strangely, Anastasia didn't irritate Odilia.

No, rather, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Was it because she had heard about Hans from the strange sorcerer?

Or was it because the sight of her clinging tightly to Agnes's side stimulated her emotions?

Odilia spoke to Anastasia with a slightly less irritated face.

"You. Anastasia. You eat too. I ordered plenty so there shouldn't be a shortage."

After saying that, Odilia closed her mouth tightly. Then Agnes asked her as if reproaching.

"Master? Don't you have something more to say?"

"...Right. Ella, you go eat too. Do as you like."

She threw the words bluntly and snapped her fingers. Then one of the flowers on the table shuddered and crawled out of the vase. Then it moved its roots like feet, approached the pile of chocolates, used its leaves like arms to pick up a chocolate, then jumped down under the table and approached Odilia, politely offering it to her.

"The chocolate doesn't taste bad."

"Really? Let me see, huh?! Wow!"

Anastasia's eyes widened in surprise at the taste of the chocolate.

She grabbed a chocolate identical to the one she had put in her mouth and ran towards Ella.

"Sister! Sister should try it too~"

"No, um. I'm fine."

"Don't argue with your sister's order. Open your mouth!"

Ella, who had been under a lot of stress from being with the ill-tempered Grand Witch, seemed to have lost her appetite and tried to refuse the chocolate, but unable to resist Anastasia's cute order, she finally opened her mouth.

The chocolate melted as soon as it entered her mouth, offering a sweet taste...

"Huh?!"

Ella too couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise at the taste, just like Anastasia.

Satisfied with this reaction, Anastasia smiled brightly and patted Ella's head. Then she whispered very softly in her ear.

"Your benefactor will come soon~ Everything will be fine. You won't be stressed anymore from now on~"

At those words, Ella met her eyes as if to ask what she meant, but Anastasia just smiled brightly without giving any answer.