"Let's start with the very basics. This is a book for children, the 'Lugnica Fairy Tale Collection'."
Ram pushed a beautifully bound book in front of Natsuki Subaru.
"Fairy tales?" Natsuki Subaru took the book, unable to resist complaining, "Hey, hey, are you treating me like a three-year-old?"
He was a high school student, after all. Making someone his age read children's books was just too ridiculous, no matter how he thought about it.
"Someone who doesn't recognize a single word, isn't that the same as a child?"
Ram slightly tilted her head, her pink hair swaying, and retorted matter-of-factly to Natsuki Subaru.
"Er, about that..."
Hit right where it hurt, Natsuki Subaru was instantly speechless.
Indeed, in this other world, his proudly amassed knowledge was completely useless. He couldn't even understand the simplest signboards, making him a complete illiterate. What was the difference between that and a child who couldn't read?
Hmm... It seems there really isn't much difference.
Damn it!
"Don't worry. Starting tonight, Rem and I will take turns teaching you how to read." Ram paused, then added, "We'll try to make sure you master basic vocabulary before the trip to the Royal Capital."
"Eh? Rem is coming to teach me too?"
Natsuki Subaru's eyes instantly lit up.
If it's Rem, that doesn't sound too bad either.
"What? Do you have an opinion?"
Ram slightly raised her eyebrows.
"N-No! Thank you both so much, sisters!"
Natsuki Subaru said politely, but his heart was already leaping with joy.
To be able to study with the twin maids, Ram and Rem.
This is practically a heaven-sent blessing!
Thinking of this, Natsuki Subaru suddenly felt an unprecedented motivation to study.
"Any other questions?" Ram looked at Natsuki Subaru and asked faintly.
"No problem, it's just reading and writing." Natsuki Subaru gave a thumbs-up, revealing his trademark bright smile. "This little thing can't stump me."
"Barusu's conversational grammar is fine, so learning shouldn't be too difficult, however..." Ram's wine-red eyes glanced at Natsuki Subaru as she said, "Your vulgar choice of words, it's probably too late to correct that now."
"This sounds like a supplement, but it's actually an insult, isn't it?"
Natsuki Subaru complained as he sat down at the table.
He picked up the quill pen and solemnly wrote the first line of words since his transmigration in his notebook:
"Natsuki Subaru, has arrived! ...Perfect!"
"There's no time for you to play graffiti games." Ram gently tapped the tabletop, reminding him, "You have to wake up early tomorrow, time is limited."
"No, these are the characters of my native language... You probably can't understand them, right."
Natsuki Subaru looked at Ram and said.
Although he could converse normally with Ram, Rem, and the others, the written words were not automatically translated. It seemed just as he couldn't understand the writing of this world, the writing here wouldn't change for him either.
"Let's start by learning the most basic 'I-script'." Ram spread open the book in her hands and began to explain, "'Ro-script' and 'Ha-script' will be taught after you've mastered all of the 'I-script'."
"There are actually three writing systems? Just hearing about it makes my head spin..."
Natsuki Subaru held his head and lamented.
At this moment, he finally and profoundly understood the despair foreigners felt when learning Japanese and facing hiragana, katakana, and kanji. It seemed the path to mastering a new language was far more difficult than he had imagined.
"As long as you learn 'I-script', you'll be able to read fairy tales. You must finish by the first hour of nether-time at the latest." Ram then added, "There's work tomorrow, and Ram also needs to rest."
"That last sentence revealed your true feelings, didn't it, Big Sis Ram～"
Natsuki Subaru said with a mischievous grin.
Although Ram always had a sharp tongue, deep down she was actually gentler and more considerate than Rem, just not good at showing it.
"Ram also believes that honesty is a virtue."
Ram responded without hesitation. It was hard to tell if this was a joke or her true feelings, but it was most likely the latter.
"By the way, is Ram worried about my learning progress?" Natsuki Subaru said.
"Of course." Ram looked at Natsuki Subaru, her expression unchanging as she said, "After all, teaching an idiot who doesn't even recognize basic characters is quite a troublesome job."
"Hey, hey, calling me an idiot is too hurtful, isn't it?"
Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but protest.
"Ram is merely stating an objective fact." Ram calmly smoothed the pink strands of hair at her temples. "If staying up late affects tomorrow's condition, Ram will be the one to clean up the mess in the end."
"I know, I know, Big Sis Ram..."
Natsuki Subaru waved his hand, his face full of a helpless expression that said, I can't win against you.
"Well then, let's begin the literacy lesson."
Ram gently placed the quill pen on the parchment, the candlelight dancing at her fingertips.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Natsuki Subaru gave a playful salute, but his eyes turned serious.
In this other world, mastering the written language was indeed a top priority.
"Your wrist should be relaxed like this..."
Ram had appeared behind him at some point, her slender fingers gently covering the back of his hand, a faint fragrance lingering at his nose.
The warm touch on the back of his hand made Natsuki Subaru's heart skip a beat; he subconsciously thought of Rem's hand.
Wait, now is not the time for idle thoughts!
"Concentrate... Concentrate!"
Natsuki Subaru hurriedly reined in his thoughts, forcing himself to focus on the tip of the pen, yet he couldn't control his racing heartbeat.
In this strange other world, even a boring literacy lesson could become so heart-poundingly exciting.
This was probably Teacher Ram's unique charm.
In the flickering candlelight, the literacy lesson officially began.
Ram's nimble fingers guided the quill pen, sketching beautiful arcs on the paper.
Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath, striving to focus all his attention on learning, imitating her movements over and over again, until the entire parchment was covered with his somewhat clumsy handwriting.
What he needed to do now was to use this repetitive practice, almost to the point of visual saturation, to overcome the language barrier before him.
As for other distracting thoughts... it was better to put them aside for now.
After a period of diligent study, Natsuki Subaru finally couldn't help but sigh towards the heavens.
"Ah—I thought it would be fine to start from zero and take it slow, but it's so much harder in practice than I imagined!" Natsuki Subaru ruffled his black hair, staring at the crooked characters on the paper.
"After all this effort, I've only memorized these dozen or so characters..."
"To be able to memorize these in such a short time..." Ram gently put down the book in her hands, her ruby-like eyes glancing sideways at him. "For an idiot like Barusu, it's already a miracle."
"Don't use a complimentary sentence structure to insult me!"
Natsuki Subaru said helplessly.
"Then, let's continue."
Ram reopened the book.
"Yes, Teacher Ram..."
Natsuki Subaru replied, dragging out his tone, and secretly peeked at the slight upward curve of Ram's lips.
Ram must be in a good mood.
...
The night grew deeper, the candlewick occasionally crackling softly, casting flickering shadows on the wall.
The quill pen rustled on the paper, intertwining with the sparse chirping of insects outside the window to form a unique nocturne of this other world.
Unconsciously, the silvery moonlight had quietly crept onto the windowsill.
Under the assault of fatigue and drowsiness, his eyelids felt heavier and heavier, as if being pulled down by invisible lead weights.
But for Ram, who was diligently studying with him, Natsuki Subaru forcefully pinched his thigh, absolutely not allowing himself to doze off.
Speaking of which, this was the first time Ram had proactively offered to tutor him in the writing of this other world. It was indeed a precious opportunity, not an exaggeration to call it a godsend.
"How should I put it—although you say it's for pleasure, I'm still very happy."
Suppressing his restless heart, Natsuki Subaru honestly conveyed his inner thoughts to Ram behind him.
"It's getting late, Ram has been studying with me for so long, you must be tired too, right? You should rest..."
The chair creaked, and Natsuki Subaru turned his head, but his words died in his throat.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Ram had, at some point, already lain down on the neatly made bed, letting out cute snores.
Pat!
The quill pen in his hand snapped in response.
"Alright, I take back my earlier feeling of being moved."
Natsuki Subaru looked at the sleeping Ram with black lines on his forehead.
In the soft light, Ram's cherry-pink short hair was scattered like silk on the white pillowcase, a few strands rising and falling slightly with her even breathing.
That face, usually devoid of any expression, now looked exceptionally peaceful and gentle in her sleep.
"Only when she's asleep does Ram show such an unguarded expression..."
Natsuki Subaru unconsciously leaned forward, gazing closely at Ram's sleeping face.
Speaking of which, Rem was an impeccable all-powerful maid, proficient in everything from cleaning and cooking to other household chores. In comparison, Ram was indeed slightly clumsy in household matters, so most of the daily affairs of the mansion were handled by Rem.
However, Ram shouldered the important responsibility of assisting with the political affairs of Roswaal's domain, and her work was equally arduous and complex.
Although they were twin sisters connected by blood, their personalities were completely different. Rem was gentle and considerate, meticulous in her work, while Ram was more calm and rational, her words always carrying a certain sharpness.
This difference in personality allowed the sisters to complement each other perfectly in work and life.
Rem managed the mansion impeccably, while Ram displayed extraordinary talent in political affairs.
"These sisters, both are such dazzling existences..."
Natsuki Subaru's gaze lingered involuntarily on Ram's sleeping face.
"Such a cute Ram, it's hard to look away."
Looking at Ram's unguarded sleeping face, a gentle arc unconsciously formed on Natsuki Subaru's lips.
Just as he was lost in thought—
"..."
Ram suddenly opened her eyes, her wine-red pupils sparkling.
"When alone, Barusu not only has a lewd gaze, but even his smile is so perverted."
"Hey, hey, I clearly didn't do anything, don't wrong an innocent person."
Natsuki Subaru calmly straightened up, his expression frank.
I haven't done anything wrong, I was just watching her sleep soundly. What's there to panic about?
"Hmph!" Ram couldn't help but snort lightly, elegantly standing up and straightening her skirt. "It's getting late... You should go to sleep."
—Click.
After the door was gently closed, Ram in the hallway unconsciously touched her slightly warm cheek, muttering to herself:
"It's just Barusu... Why did he have that kind of expression..."
__
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