Chapter 35

Chapter 35

“The first magician to side with the people was a Lewelton. That’s why this family wields such great authority.”

I nodded and listened to Sion’s explanation with bright eyes.

“Then do the rankings of noble families depend on who supported the kingdom?” I asked.

“Well, that’s not always the case, but House Lewelton’s significance is symbolic. This family continues to provide the kingdom with a plethora of magical resources, and the kingdom reciprocates in kind.”

“How so?”

“It gives the Leweltons exclusive rights. For example, the right to manufacture, sell, and import goods. And because these are intrinsic rights with a long history and the interests of many intertwined, the royal family cannot confiscate them.”

I nodded. So that’s why Dad’s rich.

Sion then stood up and said, “It appears that the time to prepare dinner has already arrived. I shall go and check on the kitchen.”

“What will be for dessert?” I asked.

“I will ask them to make chocolate cake, my lady.”

I nodded eagerly, and Sion smiled at me before leaving the living room.

All right, time to write my poem… I lay belly down, tucked my chin into a cushion, and reached for my pencil. The warmth of the fireplace loosened my limbs.

I now know for certain that exceptional language abilities don’t automatically lead to the ability to write a poem. Composing a song, writing poetry, and writing a thesis all require unique skills, don’t they? Am I even actually gifted? My mind raced, but I eventually fell asleep.

I was awoken by the movement of my body through the air. I yawned and rubbed my tired eyes.

“You’re back, Dad,” I mumbled, a smile spreading across my face.

His Grace held me in his arms and his red eyes stared down at me.

So this is what a father’s embrace feels like.

“Why do you keep getting lighter?” Kallen muttered.

“When will you grow heavy?”

“I am heavy now, or so Marianne says whenever she picks me up.”

“We must measure your height. You haven’t grown even a centimeter since you moved into this house. I don’t mind if you remain small, but it would be of no advantage to you.”

“Would you prefer that I stayed small?”

“Any parent desires their child to remain small enough to never venture beyond the nest.” Kallen opened the door to my room and placed me on my bed. “Dinner will be ready shortly. Come down once you’ve changed.”

I nodded. “Yes, Dad.”

I turned and looked in the mirror. My hair and clothes were disheveled from wiggling around in front of the fireplace.

* * *

After dropping Leticia off at her room, Kallen headed to his chambers to change. He was about to summon Sion but then found there was no need. The butler was standing in the living room by the fireplace, his hand covering his mouth as he read something.

“What’s the matter, Sion?”

“Oh, Your Grace! I-it’s nothing.”

That’s strange, Kallen thought. He rarely shows any emotion, as if he were a statue. He raised an eyebrow, bewildered by Sion’s desperate struggle to keep the corners of his mouth from rising and his dignity as a butler from slipping.

“How suspiciously you are behaving. What is that you’re holding? Give it to me,” the duke said.

“I was simply thinking I should give Lady Leticia the homework she left behind,” Sion said.

“Homework? Ah, from the governess, I presume? Were you stealing a peek at it?”

“It was on top and looked at me first, Your Grace.” Sion’s cheeks flushed red. “I had no intention of spying. Honest.”

“Hand it over,” Kallen ordered with a flick of his hand. Just then, Jade opened the door and stepped inside.

“Father, where’s Leti—”

The next breath, all three men found themselves huddled together, gaping, as they read Leticia’s poem.

[Title: My Favorite Sounds

By: Leticia

Rattle.

The sound of the carriage wheels turning. The sound of Dad coming home.

Knock-knock.

The sound of a knock on the door. The sound of Jade asking me to play.

Squeak.

The sound of Sion wiping water beads from the silverwear. The sound before he gives me delicious food.

I love chocolate cake the most.]

“I can’t believe it,” Jade muttered after taking a deep breath.

“Look at her messy handwriting!” Kallen exclaimed.

“She even spelled a word wrong,” Jade then added ever so solemnly.

A hand flew to Kallen’s chest as he continued to wax poetic about her work. “As expected of my gifted daughter. We must invite scholars to analyze this poem!”

Sion grimaced slightly, believing his masters were taking it a bit far, but lacked the courage to contradict them.

Jade rubbed his chin and nodded gravely. “The most adorable part is the final line about chocolate cake. It was as if she tried her hardest to stick to the assigned structure but conceded at the thought of her favorite thing.”

Or perhaps she just grew tired of doing her homework, Sion thought. Anyone can see she only wanted to finish the assignment.

“Please don’t tell her ladyship that you read her—”

“I’d better keep this poem for myself.”

“We should frame it.”

Sion sighed, once again feeling compelled to dispute their words. Can you two even hear what I’m saying?

“I suspect she isn’t human. I daresay no human could possibly have such adorable handwriting.”

“But not even a fairy can be this cute, so perhaps she is a human after all.”

Sion began to wonder if one could say that the father-son conversations had improved or deteriorated from the past.

“Why don’t you use a preservation spell on it first, Father?”

“Oh, what an excellent idea.”

Sion couldn’t argue this time because he agreed that the poem was worth preserving.

Kallen then lifted his chin. “Sion, you’ve become quite arrogant.”

“I really didn’t mean to look at the poem, Your Grace…”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m upset that you’re even mentioned in the poem.”

“Your Grace is targeting me before the chocolate cake?” Sion sighed wearily.

Jade then glared at Kallen softly. “Something else vexes me more,” he said. “I play the most often with Leticia, so why is Father the one mentioned in the first stanza?”

“That is my right as head of this family,” Kallen sniffed.

“I’m honored that I was included, even if I was last,” Sion said quietly.

He then decided it was time to resolve the situation before Jade grew frustrated. “In any case, please return the poem. Lady Leticia will be furious if she learns that anyone saw it.”

“Why would she be furious?” Jade asked indifferently.

Kallen looked at his son and grinned. “Have a stack of copies printed at the printing house. Then instruct everyone in this manor to read it and write a positive report on it.”

When it came to Leticia, the duke recently seemed to struggle with being objective.

“This poem could even be published in the papers! It could be a wonderful memory from her—”

“But Your Grace,” Sion quickly interrupted. “If you do such a thing, I guarantee her ladyship will grow up to resent you for it. And if others read her poem, she will most certainly be embarrassed.”

“Sion’s right, Father,” Jade said, attempting to dissuade Kallen. His reasoning however was entirely different from that of the butler. “It’s enough for only our family to know about Leticia’s adorable charm. I will personally compliment her writing later.”

Sion fidgeted. “M-Master Jade, that’s also a bit…”

In the end, Sion told them he was afraid that showering Lady Leticia with praise at such a young age would stunt the growth of her poetic talent. He realized it was imperative that he conceal the fact that she kept a picture diary. He would also never tell a soul that usually when she fell asleep, he would carry her to her bedroom and smile at her cuteness. Or that he secretly reviewed her homework assignments.

If the duke learns about her picture diary, he may try to get it published. I mustn’t tell them that she read me a storybook today, either. Sion chuckled to himself. Having seasoned tact was essential to every member of the Lewelton staff.