When I picture scenes that could only appear in fairy tales, my heart pounds for no reason, even though I know it can’t happen. It’s embarrassing.

A girl of nineteen getting absorbed in made-up stories!

Though I read fewer books while going to school, when I can’t sleep or feel bored, there’s no better friend than books. Rather than buying new books, I mainly touch books I bought but haven’t read, and grandfather’s old books.

Oh right, there was a memorable incident recently.

Though it’s too petty to call an ‘incident,’ by my standards it was worthy of being called an ‘incident.’

It was during lunch break, the day I went back to school after two days. The day before that, I suddenly developed a high fever, and the day before that I had to suffer from lingering fever.

Anyway, after being sick enough to endure it, I was eating bread grandfather packed for me when a boy I’d never even greeted spoke to me! I was startled.

Neither Rosette nor Lucio was beside me. Those two, who were among the tallest in school, had gone to run an errand for the teacher. Naturally, there were no kids who would acknowledge me.

Usually when kids spoke to me, Rosette or Lucio was beside me. Most of the time they used me as a stepping stone to naturally talk to those two.

Even without going to such lengths, those two would have answered good-naturedly.

Anyway, my point is, Carol. This was extremely rare and new! The kid who spoke to me was someone I only knew by face. He looked about two or three years younger than me.

He looked around cautiously, then suddenly asked, ‘Can we go somewhere quiet for a moment?’ You who’ve read this far would get excited thinking ‘A confession?’

You were always like that. You always seemed thirsty for romance.

Whenever there was a kid who showed me the slightest favor or acted meaningfully, you’d confidently conclude ‘He likes you.’

Despite all that fuss, I’d never actually received a confession though.

Unfortunately, Cas. You were wrong this time too! Definitely.

Of course, it was related to a ‘confession.’ The kid only opened his mouth when his dark tanned skin looked like a softly crushed radish.

The gist was ‘Can you write a letter for me?’ When I didn’t understand and asked back, he said ‘There’s a girl I like but I’ve tried several times and it doesn’t work. I need decisive words that will move her heart.’ He also added ‘I become a pathetic idiot in front of her, so writing might be better than speaking.’

It was my first ghostwriting request.

I mean, you just write if you need to write, so why borrow someone else’s hand? When I stood there not understanding, he became anxious and spilled all sorts of things.

From how he’d carefully listened to my writing read aloud in composition class, to how it was the most touching piece he’d ever read.

And most importantly, the fee for ghostwriting.

He said he’d give me five fairy tale books just for writing the letter, and five more if the letter succeeded. I was immediately tempted.

Grandfather never raised me lacking anything, but it’s embarrassing to always hold out my hand. Other kids start helping with work at sea from fourteen or fifteen.

Even Rosette learned to dive from age ten and went out to deep sea to gather pearls from thirteen. Kids who go to school and those who don’t all work and get treated like adults in their spare time.

At this age, only Lucio and I don’t earn money here. But Lucio will return to Delling soon, and cities are different from islands……

I can’t lean on grandfather forever.

I agreed to write the letter. I’ll report how it turned out in my next letter.

April 7th

Sent by Asha

P.S. I’m fine. Are you fine?

[To fine Sha

Nothing special happened. Since I sent my last letter, that is.

A few renowned merchants and artisans from the city did visit. I had to carefully examine items for my older brother and his spouse whose face I’ve never seen. If I showed even the slightest careless attitude, Dad or mom would come over and scold me.

Even though they pushed this bothersome task onto me.

Everyone says such work will be necessary for me someday, but I seem to be the only one who doesn’t trust that assertion.

They want me to follow in Dad’s footsteps, managing the old estate and playing a role in interfering with Kasoche’s major and minor affairs.

Since our house is the only building in the village that could serve as a center, when there’s need for resident meetings (regarding taxes or wall repairs), usually it just ends with everyone sharing news they all already know—we lend out the hall or reception room that was once used as a banquet hall.

Though no one asked me. Did they think my saying ‘I hate it’ was just simple whining? Asha, I……

I’ll stop whining. I’m showing you too much of my, um, unsightly side too often. I didn’t want to do that.

Certainly from the beginning we’ve edited and changed stories we couldn’t easily tell others to our liking before sharing them, but still, it wasn’t always like that.

We didn’t always talk about such things.

Really nothing special happened.

The most anticipated time in the past two weeks was just waiting for letters from you. Though for something so monotonous, I’m too busy to read letters immediately when they arrive.

I can barely look at paintings these days. It’s just a matter of going up a few steps, but that’s quite difficult. I only pass by the paintings lined up when sending letters to you.

Even then I can’t appreciate them seriously. Mom stopped buying new paintings, so the gallery is no different from a few years ago. It’s a composition I know well.

Our precious mail carrier, and the sea large enough to swallow even me, and a half-n*ked woman, and a young warrior showing off his muscular physique, a fallen god bleeding under a temple……

Works that don’t match in theme or era hang on the wall according to mom’s purchasing order. I once played a game of finding commonalities among those mismatched paintings.

Opening up to other kids—you’ll soon make other friends. Friends other than Rosette and Lucio.

Still, don’t get too close.

I know your letter-writing skills best. Is there probably anyone in the kingdom, no, in the world who knows the words and expressions you frequently use as well as I do?

I could probably pick out writing you wrote in an instant even if a hundred sheets of paper were randomly mixed together.

Because I know which letters you extend to the end, curl round, or finish faintly. I could also look for writing that uses ‘thinking’ and ‘imagining’ unusually often.

Writing love letters for another child. You promised to report, but I hope you’ll explain in detail without omitting anything.

You often leave out all the important points and finish vaguely. Like someone hiding stolen goods in their chest—I don’t mean you stole writing—hastily.

With a heap of remaining questions, your letter ending with a period is frustratingly just that. I’ve even stared persistently at brief letter paper before. Though you couldn’t satisfy my curiosity anyway.

It was cute stubbornness.

Love letters, love letters.

Nothing is more joyful than letters with someone who shares your heart. But what’s a bit puzzling is how sincere a letter written by someone else can be.

Dear Sha, the sentences you write are entirely your own—even if you write imitating that unidentified boy, even if the unidentified recipient accepts his heart, that……

It’s probably unnecessary worry. But I’m concerned that even that sincerity might be distorted.

If the recipient opens her heart to that boy after reading the letter you wrote, it would be thanks to your brilliant skill rather than the boy’s character and conduct.

But separate from this unnecessary worry, I hope your first commission ends well. Though it’s for somewhat impure purposes, it’s also good that someone noticed your writing skills.

You might wonder ‘What’s good about it when it’s not even your business?’ But Sha, you know how I’d answer, right? So I’ll cut down on obvious words.

Sending friendship and hugs, Cas

P.S. When I become an adult, should I come see you first?

[To Carol

It’s good news.

My first commission succeeded. The commission process was simple.