She Banished Me Yesterday, But Today She Calls Me Master? - Episode 5
“Master, you look a little pale…”
Linde’s voice reached me as I was getting ready for school. I looked up at her. Now that she mentioned it, I did feel sluggish.
Sadly, I’d been conditioned by my past life working at a black company—this level of fatigue barely even registered. In fact, it almost made me want to go to work.
“I’m fine. Just a little tired. Working will fix it right up…”
Before I could finish speaking, Linde crouched in front of me and gently reached out her hand. Her soft palm touched my forehead.
“…!”
The sudden contact made me gasp. Her hand was cool and soothing. But more than that, the closeness of her face made my heart pound uncontrollably.
“Your face is flushed… and it feels like you have a slight fever. You should probably rest today.”
Her breath brushed against my cheek, and I blushed. Her delicate features, long lashes, and those worried eyes—so close I couldn’t look away.
“I’m really okay, Linde. Just a bit of a cold. I’ve got class, so…”
“Still… please don’t push yourself. Your health is the most important thing—for the sake of your students, too.”
I tried to smile, but a sudden cough cut me off. Linde gave me a sharp, disapproving look, as if to say, See? Told you so.
“A-Alright… you’re right. I’ll take the day off.”
Linde’s face immediately lit up.
“I’m glad. I’ll call the school to let them know and then make you some warm soup. Make sure you rest properly in bed, okay?”
“Got it, got it. You’re like a mom or something.”
“…I would’ve preferred a different comparison…”
Calling a younger woman “mom” probably was a bit rude. Maybe something more like a girlfriend…?
I glanced at Linde, who was adorably puffing out her cheeks, and once again, my heart thudded in my chest.
“Alright then, I’ll go lie down in bed.”
“Okay. I’ll bring the soup once it’s ready. Fufu, I get to have you all to myself today… how lucky.”
She said something else, but I barely heard it. The embarrassing thought “If she were really my girlfriend, I’d be so happy…” had slipped into my mind, and that alone was enough to fluster me.
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“Master, has your fever gone down?”
Linde’s gentle voice reached my ears. When I opened my eyes, I saw her blurry figure come into focus.
How long had I been asleep? The sluggishness had all but disappeared.
“Yeah… I feel a lot better now. Thanks to that soup you made.”
At my words, Linde’s face lit up with joy.
“I’m so glad! I used a special selection of rare ingredients, you know.”
“It definitely had an unusual taste… What exactly was in it?”
“Fufu, a maiden’s secret. If I had to say… love, perhaps?”
She smiled sweetly and placed her hand on my forehead again. The gesture was so natural, as if she’d been caring for me like this all along. And yet, it still made my heart race.
Though now I was curious—what exactly were those special ingredients? Well, knowing her, it was probably nothing dangerous…
“Thank you, Linde. I really mean it. Having you around makes everything easier.”
When I expressed my gratitude again, Linde’s cheeks turned a soft pink.
“Of course. I’d do anything for you, Master.”
She gently stroked my hair, adjusted the blanket, and smiled warmly.
“Please rest a bit longer. I’ll go prepare your meal.”
After she left the room, I started to drift back into sleep—until the sound of the doorbell suddenly rang out.
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“Oh? I wonder who that could be at this hour…”
I faintly heard Linde’s voice, followed by the sound of the door opening.
“You are…?”
“Um, I’m Teresa, a student from the magic academy. I came to check on Professor Asto…”
I recognized the voice and opened my eyes. I tried to get up, but my body still felt heavy.
“I’m sorry, but Master needs to rest right now.”
Linde’s tone had a noticeable edge of caution. Understandable—they hadn’t met before.
I summoned my strength and called out.
“It’s alright. She’s one of my students. Let her in.”
“…Understood. This way, please.”
I heard their footsteps approaching, Linde’s voice sounding slightly reluctant. When the door opened, Teresa entered with a bright smile, followed by a stone-faced Linde.
“Professor Asto! I’m so glad you’re okay. I was so shocked when I heard you took the day off!”
Teresa was a student in my beginner’s class—a short-haired redhead with a curvaceous figure. Apparently, she’d gotten more than a few confessions from classmates. That aside, she was one of my most dedicated students.
“Sorry for the scare. Did class go alright?”
“Well… Professor Arnold filled in, but his explanations were kind of complicated. I still think your classes are the most fun—and the easiest to understand!”
She beamed like the sun, making me feel both flattered and embarrassed. Still, hearing that my efforts paid off was rewarding.
As we chatted about school, Teresa suddenly started fidgeting shyly. Did she need the bathroom?
“Oh, if you need the restroom—”
“No!! Geez, Professor, that’s way too blunt!”
Okay, definitely not that.
Looking embarrassed, Teresa pulled a piece of paper from her bag.
“Actually… I got my test results back. Thanks to all your help after school, I got the highest score!”
“That’s amazing, Teresa. I’m proud of you—your hard work really paid off.”
“Thanks… So, um, can I get my usual reward?”
“Of course. Good job, Teresa.”
I smiled and gently patted her head. She blushed and looked up at me, delighted.
This had started back when I used to praise Eltrinde by patting her head. Somehow, it became a habit with Teresa too. I thought she’d see it as inappropriate, but she ended up loving it and started asking for it herself.
“…Head pats… not fair.”
I heard a murmur and turned toward the sound—Linde stood frozen with a tea tray in hand, her expression icy. Why did it suddenly feel like the room temperature had dropped?
“Miss Teresa, Master needs his rest. Perhaps it’s time for you to head home?”
Her voice was polite, but her eyes… not so much.
“Ah, you’re right. We’ve talked enough. Take care, Professor Asto!”
After seeing Teresa off, Linde returned—with a strangely blank expression.
“Master, you really shouldn’t overexert yourself. I’ll take good care of you.”
“Y-Yeah… sorry. I guess I talked too much…”
I had made her worry even though I was still recovering.
“Thanks for looking after me, Linde. I really mean it.”
She smiled, but there was something unreadable in her eyes.
“Master… I worked really hard today—cleaning, cooking, everything.”
“I know. I appreciate it, really.”
Linde fidgeted again. Is it the bathroom this time? I stopped myself, recalling my earlier blunder.
Eventually, she seemed to gather her courage and looked up.
“So… um…”
Her cheeks turned redder as she continued in a tiny voice:
“Could you… pat my head, too?”
I blinked in surprise, then smiled. Who could say no to something so endearing?
“Of course. Come here.”
Linde’s eyes sparkled as she took a small step forward, kneeling beside me and gazing up with anticipation.
“Are you sure… it’s okay?”
“Of course. You always do so much for me.”
I gently reached out and touched her pale blue hair. It was softer than I’d imagined—like silk.
“Mmm…”
She closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. Her face was filled with bliss, like a kitten leaning into my hand.
“Does that feel good?”
“Yes… very much…”
Her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and her eyes welled with tears. I kept stroking her hair gently, a little unsure of how to react.
For some reason, an image of my younger sister Eltrinde flashed through my mind.
Would I ever learn the truth about the girl before me? Her refined manners were hardly that of a commoner. There must be a story behind how she ended up as a slave. And why did being with her stir memories of
Eltrinde and make my arm ache?
Even so, I wished that these peaceful, ordinary days could go on forever.
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“Big brother’s sleeping face… was so lovely. And he even patted my head… fufu.”
After confirming Asto was asleep, Linde hummed happily while preparing dinner. A silent figure approached behind her.
“Lady Eltrinde… did you call for me?”
“I told you—when I’m like this, call me Linde.”
“Ugh… what a pain…”
“I heard that, Anbi!”
Though she scolded her disrespectful subordinate, her voice lacked its usual bite—because her beloved brother had patted her head.
In such a good mood, she was willing to let a few things slide.
“Well, no matter. Thanks to the soup made with the elixir, dragon’s bl00d, and World Tree’s dew that you fetched, my brother’s health has improved. I appreciate it.”
“Normally, those ingredients are reserved for people on the brink of death, you know…”
Eltrinde grinned with glee, but Anbi wasn’t wrong. Those were indeed exceptionally rare and expensive ingredients…