Knock, knock, knock~
As soon as the witch finished speaking, there came a knock at the door. The young girl had clearly been waiting outside.
Miss Winslet therefore said directly:
"Come in."
"This seems to be my room."
The eighteen-year-old sorceress complained softly. Then the three of them watched as the door was pushed open and a black-haired girl who looked to be around twenty entered. Though her hair was short, she had still tied it into something resembling braids.
The black-haired girl wore a white shirt on top and a black skirt below. The traditional black-and-white outfit made her look quite ordinary, but her face was actually remarkably pretty. Her head was slightly lowered, and she seemed somewhat sorrowful, though Miss Winslet rejected Shade's assessment.
Setting aside her thoughts on complicated matters, she smiled and walked over to the young girl:
"Let me introduce her. This is my apprentice, and of course my most important assistant—Charlotte Bell. She always wears that sorrowful expression, but just like Galina's maid is always expressionless, it's simply their habitual mannerism."
Shade and Miss Danist each smiled and nodded at Miss Bell. The witch then introduced them to her apprentice:
"Charlotte, this is Professor Danist from Saint Byron's, a new local friend of mine. We're both staying at this hotel. The male beside her, who doesn't look much like a man, is the professor's student—I mean a student she has taught real abilities to: Shade Hamilton.
"Don't worry, you two. A witch apprentice will not reveal secrets obtained from her teacher. That is an important part of the apprenticeship contract."
She added that last part.
"Good evening, Professor. Good evening, Mr. Hamilton."
The black-haired girl spoke softly. Shade saw that her complexion was somewhat pale, as though she were in poor health, but his