Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Are they your friends?” I asked, even though the boys had appeared two or three years older than Jade.

“They’re upperclassmen, but we’re not very close. We work alongside each other at the academy, is all.”

“Doing what?”

“Running the student society. It’s a club that organizes events and the like.”

Hmm, is it like a student council? I’d assume the members were chummy with each other, but I guess not.

“Don’t you need to be a good student to join the student society?”

“Yes, inclusion is typically based on grades or family status.”

“Are you a good student, Jade?”

“Good enough to skip a grade, I suppose.”

Huh? Doesn’t that mean he’s at the top of his class? I don’t think he studies very hard, though. I’ve never even seen him pick up a book or a pen. He’s always just playing with me.

“Aren’t you meant to attend the academy every day?”

“Daily attendance is the norm, yes, since attendance points count heavily toward your grade.”

“Then you’re not normal?”

“I make up for my absences by testing well. And by well, I mean well enough to exceed any points lost for attendance.” Jade spoke as if it were easy, but in truth, what he was describing was a superhuman feat.

“And the academy accepts that?”

“Well, the Leweltons are one of the few pure-blooded magician families in the kingdom. If I tell the school I’ll be training at the magicians’ tower, they leave me be.”

“But instead of training, you play hooky at home…?”

Doesn’t that mean he’s lying? I blinked at Jade, surprised by his trickery.

“It’s mostly you that I play with at the manor, so that makes you my accomplice,” he said.

Is that really true? I opened my mouth slightly, mulling over what Jade had said. As the boat creaked and rocked, my hair billowed around my face.

The tuition for the schools that nobles attend must cost a fortune, right? I’m glad just to learn to read and write, but it’d be nice to attend the academy someday. Ah, no. I’m already thankful for the opportunity to live with Leweltons. That should be enough. I tried to suppress the bubbling, tempting interest that rose in me when I thought of attending school. I shouldn’t push my luck. I can’t be greedy.

I hid my feelings behind a smile and turned to Jade. “You seem to enjoy leading me astray, teaching me trickery over honesty.”

“Being bad and exceptional is just as valuable as being good and diligent.”

“Hmm… In that case, I want to find a middle ground. Not too nice, not too naughty. Besides, I already find learning how to read and write overwhelming.”

“And I’m sure learning will sharpen your wit even more. You can already write a few words, can’t you?”

“Yes, I can.” I nodded shyly. I was embarrassed to admit it, but the governess had complimented me on my quickly developing literacy, and I had been impatiently waiting for the opportunity to tell Jade. “I know how to write my name now, although I still mess up sometimes…”

Jade chuckled. “And what else?”

“I know how to write the words ‘father’ and ‘brother.’ Oh, I also learned how to spell your and His Grace’s names. I should be prepared to write you letters in the future, after all.”

The governess had mentioned that nobles frequently exchange letters with those they are close to. I’d then decided that one day I would write a letter to Jade, whom I considered my closest companion.

I watched Jade squeeze his fist as if he were suppressing something. “What am I going to do with you? You’re such a silly little thing.”

I tilted my head, unsure if I was being teased. “Please don’t poke fun at me,” I said.

“Understood,” Jade replied with a chuckle.

I’m not a fan of being treated like a fool, but I’m glad to see Jade laughing more lately.

“By the way, darling…” Jade said, glancing back at me.

I now had my own respectable name—Leticia—but Jade, Kallen, and Marianne continued to address me with pet names at times.

“Is there anyone you miss?”

I froze at Jade’s unexpected question. “I have a friend who lived with me on the streets. His name’s Walter, and he used to help me a great deal.”

“I see. Is there anyone else besides him?”

I shook my head. There were a handful of friends with whom I shared food when we were given free rations or were successful panhandling, but that was the extent of our loyalty to one another. A single slice of bread. Nothing more.

“No, but it’s all right. We all made a promise that if we ever left the street, we would pretend not to know each other.”

“A promise?”

“Yes, every child in the slum understands this promise. Even if we are ill, beaten while begging, dragged away to a workhouse, or even dying. Even if someone was fortunate enough to escape and ended up somewhere pleasant, we agreed not to search each other out. To act like we were strangers.”

This was the unspoken promise among the back alley kids, which is why I hadn’t cried when some of the other children had died of the plague. When I had lain in pain for three days after meeting Kallen, no one had approached me. We weren’t entirely disloyal, of course—we helped each other as long as we were in good health. That much was to be expected. There were times when the pricklier children had bullied me, but it didn’t matter. The rule was to forget everything once you left the alley—even the bad.

“But I’m very lucky,” I said. “It’s almost winter, and winter on the streets is difficult to bear. That’s why I’m forever grateful to you and His Grace. Sleeping beneath a frayed blanket while trying to regain feeling in your frozen feet is a dreadful thing.”

Jade stared at me. “I thought you said the alley you slept in was warm,” he said.

My body tensed. That… was a lie I told to make myself look better in the interview with His Grace.

“R-right… But I’m in good health, I promise. And the alley was warm during every other season.”

Jade looked at me intently before leaning in close. “There’s no need to be grateful for such things, you know. My home is your home now.”

“That’s not how I see it. The more certain something is, the more grateful I am for it.” This was something my mother had taught me in my past life.

“Is that so?” Jade asked.

“Yes, of course.”

“Then I’ll be more grateful to you from now on. I’d first like to thank you for joining our family.”

I blinked in surprise, and a smile slowly formed on my lips. I’m glad for moments like this—when I wish Jade was my real brother. I’d even say that such moments embody what I consider to be happiness. And this warm feeling… How wonderful would it be if I could write these feelings down on a postcard and keep them in my heart forever? That way, if I return to a life of hardships, I can survive by reflecting on the happier days.

The swaying boat suddenly came to a stop.

“We have arrived, Master Jade,” a servant holding an oar politely informed us.

Jade stepped out of the boat first, then lifted me up and placed me on the shore. The two servants who had helped us cross the river anchored the boat and started preparing the picnic area.

Meanwhile, I glanced around at the rose bushes. “Wow, the flowers smell lovely! They’re so pretty! And blue!”

The bright blue roses were growing along the riverbank. It was a bizarre sight, the first time I’d seen anything like it. Until now, I’d lived under only square cut-outs of the sky—in my previous life, I’d lived in a narrow hospital room, and in this life, I’d grown up in a small back alley. For that reason, the roses and water looked even brighter, bluer, and more beautiful.

“Look around, Jade! It feels like we have the whole island to ourselves.” I wandered around the island merrily, clasping my teddy bear tightly. “Let’s go over there!”

“Slow down a little. You’re still injured,” Jade said curtly, but I noticed a slight smile creep onto his face. “Don’t scamper around like that. You’ll tucker yourself out if you overdo it. I thought you intended to play the whole day.”

“That still is my intention, and I definitely will,” I said ambitiously.

“Make sure to stay clear of the thorns. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“Okay!” I nodded, then glanced around the island.

It was silent as the grave.

“There really isn’t anyone else here, huh?”

“There have been two sudden deaths on the island, both of which occurred while the blue flowers were blooming. Since then people started telling stories about the rose bushes being cursed.”

“T-two deaths? On this very island?”

“Mm-hm. On this very rose bush.”

I grew rigid with fear. I suppose such incidents are common in this kingdom, but when I imagine this place as a murder scene, it gives me the willies.

“But the roses aren’t cursed,” Jade said. “There are mana stones buried along the riverbank, and the energy they emit simply discolors the roses temporarily.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Until the truth was known, there was a myth that people would be driven mad and perish from the roses’ poison.”

As I nodded, a swarm of butterflies burst through the rose bush.

“How incredible,” I whispered, taking in the breathtaking sight. “I wish His Grace had joined us.”

“I know, but Father had a royal meeting to attend. His job there may be trivial, but he can’t miss the meetings.”

I was saddened by the duke’s absence but nodded in understanding. He, too, had seemed sad to leave me this morning.

At that moment, we heard a commotion from afar.

“What a tribe of nuisances,” Jade muttered solemnly.

“Lunch is ready,” a servant announced.

Oh, right! Picnics are all about eating a packed lunch.

When we approached the mat laid out on the grass, three gangly young men with a basket of champagne and strawberries were waiting for us.

Who are they? I quickly ducked behind Jade, but I could feel their curious eyes on me.

Young noblemen are scary. When I lived in the back alley, there were a few heartless noblemen who would make a game out of beating the children. I couldn’t forget such a thing, so I was still afraid of them.

“We haven’t seen you in ages, Jade.”

“Are you not attending school these days?”

As the young men approached Jade they spoke to him warmly, but Jade’s face had already turned cold.

“Yes, it’s been quite some time,” he said.

“Right. Anyway, what brings you here?”

“I assumed the island would be quiet today, so I invited my younger sister to come look at the flowers.”

I tightly gripped Jade’s sleeve as I followed their conversation.

He’s the one who needs to introduce me, right? Even I, who had only recently begun my education in etiquette, was aware of this, but Jade appeared to have no intention of doing so.

“I see. This meeting seems to be fated, so—”

“It was a pleasure to see you all,” Jade interrupted. “Why don’t we go ahead and enjoy the rest of our day now? Separately.”

I stared up at Jade, who was like an impenetrable iron wall. Isn’t this… rude? Disconcerted, I remained frozen behind him, unable to do anything but blink.

“Oh, Jade. Unfriendly and uptight, as always. You should at least allow us to say hello to the young lady behind you.” The person who’d spoken was a young man—or rather a young boy—with brown hair and a kind smile.

Jade grimaced, not bothering to hide his annoyance, and gently nudged my back. He’s telling me to step forward and say hello, right?

“This is my younger sister,” he said, his tone frosty.

My ears grew hot with embarrassment. “Hello, my name is Leticia,” I introduced myself, curtsying slightly. I heard them each draw in a quick breath.

“Oh my, she’s quite adorable.”

“Did House Lewelton always have such a cute child?”

The boys looked at me with wide eyes. The one with a gentle appearance then took a step forward.

“Hello, Leticia. My name is Ryan,” he said softly.

I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere. I stared at him, sensing something oddly familiar.