Nearl carefully took hold of Ardan's outstretched arm, her other hand gently resting on the other girl's waist. With a soft but firm pressure, she guided Ardan's arm around the back of her own neck.
"Heads up, I'm going to stand now."
Nearl gave the warning just before she began to rise.
"I'll be fine."
Ardan had already pulled herself together from her earlier moment of distress, returning to her usual gentle and resilient self.
"Good."
In the time it took to say that single word, Nearl had already helped Ardan to her feet—so quickly that Ardan barely processed the movement.
One moment she was on the ground, the next her view suddenly expanded as she was lifted upright.
Turning her head to the left, she found the fierce, handsome eyes of the horse girl startlingly close, barely a hand's breadth away.
'So fast, and so steady,' Ardan marveled inwardly as she steadied herself against Nearl.
Then she watched as Nearl hooked one of the crutches with her foot, gave it a light kick upward, and caught the aluminum aid neatly with her tail.
"Here you go."
Taking the crutch from her tail, Nearl handed it over to Ardan, who was still leaning on her for support.
"Thank you for your help. May I ask your name?"
Accepting the crutch, Ardan used it to balance herself as she watched the kind horse girl retrieve her other crutch.
"My name is Margaret Nearl. Please, just call me whatever you're comfortable with."
Nearl answered the sickly beauty's question as she bent down to pick up the other crutch, though her attention remained fixed on the cracked pavement.
"I should probably make a note of this. Can't just leave the broken tile like this—it's a hazard."
"Hm? What was that?"
Ardan, who had been hopping closer on one crutch, looked puzzled.
"It's nothing. I just don't want to leave this damaged tile as it is. Wouldn't want anyone else to take a fall like you did, Miss Ardan."
Seeing how much effort it took for Ardan to hop closer, Nearl quickly handed over the second crutch.
Now with both crutches, Ardan could finally stand steadily.
"So you plan to report it to the city transportation department? How thoughtful of you."
Ardan smiled warmly, impressed by Nearl's consideration.
'Then again, that's no surprise—she's clearly a good person, the type who didn't hesitate to help when she heard me cry out.'
Ardan's gaze softened as she watched Nearl, who was still lost in thought, and she quietly reflected on this.
"No, I'm not going to report it. I'll fix this tile myself later. It's just a small thing—best to handle it quickly."
Shaking her head, Nearl dismissed the idea of reporting it. The bureaucratic process would be too cumbersome, and who knew how long it would take? Better to do it herself.
"Oh? You know how to do that kind of handiwork?"
Ardan was surprised. She hadn't even considered that Nearl might have those kinds of skills—though that was partly because such practical matters were entirely outside her own experience.
"Well, I'm the oldest child in my family, so I have to take on some parental responsibilities. Little repairs like this are things I had to teach myself. You can't just call a handyman for every little thing—that would get too expensive."
Turning back to Ardan, Nearl smiled faintly as she explained a bit about her life.
"Ah, haha…"
Ardan, who came from the prestigious Mejiro family, laughed awkwardly. Everything Nearl described felt like it came from a completely different world.
Houses could actually develop cracks? You had to fix things yourself? Hiring someone cost a lot of money?
Ardan, who had no frame of reference for any of this, suddenly became acutely aware of the gap between her life and Nearl's.
It made her nervous—what if she accidentally said something that Nearl might interpret as boasting about her background?
Nearl noticed Ardan's sudden caution and guessed what was worrying her.
"Miss Ardan, you don't need to be like that. I'm not ashamed of my family—in fact, I'm proud of them and the life we have."
Nearl turned slightly toward the path ahead and gestured gently, silently inviting Ardan to walk slowly with her.
Ardan followed her lead, and the two continued side by side along the narrow path, making their way up the hill.
"Your family must be quite distinguished, Miss Ardan. Only a prominent background could nurture such a refined grace. And this outfit—while the design isn't flashy, the fabric is clearly high-end."
"Oh, you noticed? I thought I could keep that hidden a bit longer."
Ardan smiled shyly, trying to pick up her pace a little.
Nearl, meanwhile, matched her speed, walking steadily without rush.
"I've got a good eye for these things—you could call it a talent. Manners and poise like yours aren't cultivated in just any ordinary household."
As she helped Ardan navigate the steps, Nearl kept the conversation light.
Ardan, for her part, was thoroughly enjoying hopping up the steps with Nearl's support, a look of pure delight on her face.
"But Miss Nearl, your demeanor is just as polished. The way you helped me up, your posture, your way of speaking—none of it seems like it came from the kind of difficult background you described."
The longer they spent together, the more Ardan relaxed her formal manners. Now she even felt comfortable teasing Nearl a little.
"My situation is a bit of an exception, I suppose. Have you ever heard this saying, Miss Ardan?"
"What saying? I'd love to hear it."
Ardan fixed her moist, violet eyes on Nearl. Anyone who saw those eyes would inwardly praise their beauty.
"It's a common saying: 'One who is filled with knowledge naturally radiates elegance.' …Do you understand it? Or is it a bit difficult to grasp?"
As soon as she said it, Nearl felt a twinge of regret. The phrase might not make much sense to someone unfamiliar with her previous life's culture.
But to her surprise, Ardan's expression immediately lit up with excitement.
Her violet eyes seemed to sparkle like starlight, and her ears twitched eagerly with emotion.
She covered her mouth with both hands, looking as though she'd just received the gift she'd always wanted.
"I understand! I know that saying! So you're also interested in China, Miss Nearl? In its ancient and profound culture?"
(T/N: This isn't that nationalistic, seeing as ancient china starts from before 2000B.C. Don't know much about the 'profound' part of it though. Just keeping ancient doesn't make sense contextually, so I kept it in.)
"Also? You're familiar with Chinese culture as well, Miss Ardan?"
Nearl reached out to steady Ardan, who had gotten so excited she'd forgotten about her crutches.
"Ah, my apologies, that was presumptuous of me."
Seeing Nearl's reaction, Ardan blushed deeply and lowered her voice in embarrassment.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.