Chapter 74
“Mister! Over there too, over there!”
“That…”
“There too!”
“Stop.”
“Huh? Sis… Hehe… When did you get here?”
I don’t think this is the kind of situation you can laugh your way out of.
Yulia, who had been raising her hand cheerfully, gave an awkward smile as if realizing she was in trouble.
“What are you doing?”
“Playing with her.”
“Sis! Mister is the Snow Queen!”
“I’m not a queen.”
You just called him “mister.” You do know the difference between male and female, right?
Ceres let out a short sigh and looked at Kainel with a gaze full of disbelief.
This isn’t what I paused your time for.
The ice ability passed down only through the Duke of Persia.
Who would’ve thought he was using it… to play with a child.
The entire shop was covered in ice.
The walls were frozen, the tables were frozen…
“It’s already winter here! Isn’t it amazing?”
“Yeah. Now stop being amazing and restore it to normal.”
“Huh?”
“Right now.”
“…Okay.”
“……”
At the sight of Ceres’ eyes narrowing into slits, both Kainel and Yulia had no choice but to hurriedly clean up the frozen shop.
—
<The School Festival>
“Cough!”
“Are you okay?”
“Kh, hm… Yes. This happens sometimes, so don’t worry.”
As Alex de Devrica coughed while sipping tea, Chaian de Devrica’s eyes were filled with concern.
“What did the healer say?”
“Well, same old things as always.”
Alex smiled faintly and brought the teacup back to his lips.
At that sight, Chaian’s brows drooped even lower.
He had watched Alex since childhood—he knew well what the healers always said.
‘He doesn’t have long.’
‘At this rate… We’re sorry.’
‘Today is critical.’
They constantly lived with death looming around the corner.
The fact that Alex was still alive felt like a miracle in itself.
An illness with no known cause, not even a name.
From birth, Alex had suffered all kinds of ailments and had faced death countless times.
Not only the Ellsia family, but even the best physicians across the continent had been summoned for treatment, yet none had ever brought any meaningful results.
“Have you seen Father?”
“No. Not yet…”
“Why not?”
“He’s busy.”
“Even if he’s busy, he should make time to see you! Father was so worried about you.”
Chaian frowned deeply, feigning anger.
This kid used to adore Father more than anyone, but lately, he’s been so distant.
“Yes. I plan to visit the palace soon.”
As if reading Chaian’s thoughts, Alex smiled softly to reassure him.
“But… am I making you uncomfortable by staying here?”
“Not at all.”
Chaian shook his head firmly.
When Alex returned to the capital and expressed a desire to stay in the Magic Tower, Chaian gladly accepted.
He was happy to spend time with his younger brother after so long.
“But, Brother.”
“Hm?”
“How did you meet that person?”
“Who?”
“Lady Ceres Drow.”
“Oh, Ceres?”
Just saying her name brought a soft smile to Chaian’s lips.
“I was looking for something.”
“For what?”
“A magic stone.”
“A magic stone?”
“Yes. Ceres had a very rare one.”
“Hm, if even you found it rare, then it must’ve been an extraordinary stone.”
“Right. I’d never seen one like it before.”
Chaian then shared how he first met Ceres, what happened afterward, and the things they’d done together.
“She seems like a good person to me too.”
“She is. But do you know what she said the first time she saw me? ‘Filthy beggar.’”
As Chaian continued with a smile that wouldn’t leave his face, Alex’s lips also curved into a playful grin.
“But still, I’m a bit hurt.”
“Huh?”
“I thought I was the person you cherished the most, but now it feels like you like her more than me.”
“What are you talking about? You’re still the sibling I treasure most!”
“More than her?”
“Huh?”
“…”
“…Huh?”
“…”
“……”
“I’m kidding, Brother.”
Seeing Chaian struggle to respond with a stiffening expression, Alex finally let out a small chuckle.
“You’re still terrible at lying.”
“…Have a snack.”
“Yes.”
With a gentle smile, Alex took a cookie from Chaian and began nibbling on it.
“But Alex.”
“Yes?”
“Where were you last night?”
“Last night?”
“Yeah. I went to your room, but you weren’t there.”
“Oh, you must’ve come while I stepped out for a walk. I felt a bit suffocated, so I went outside.”
“Alone? That’s dangerous. Call me next time. Let’s go together.”
“Yes. I’ll do that from now on.”
Like an obedient child, Alex nodded deeply.
***
“Christine.”
“Mother!”
The main gates of the Imperial Academy, located in the center of the capital, opened wide.
With the school festival and sword competition being held today, countless people entered through the gates.
“Father came too?”
“Of course. What kind of parent wouldn’t come on a day like this?”
A lavishly dressed couple beamed brightly at their young daughter.
It was Countess Angsera Lukia and her husband, who had previously visited Ceres’ shop.
“Father, don’t say that. Some children don’t have parents.”
Christine, dressed just as extravagantly, scolded her father with a seemingly guilty expression as she turned her head.
Where she looked, Yulia stood alone.
“I’m sorry, Yulia.”
With both hands clasped, Christine apologized.
Yulia quickly shook her head at the gesture.
“It’s okay. My sister said she’s coming.”
“Sister? Oh… Your sister’s coming, huh? Hmm… Still, a sister isn’t the same as a parent.”
“Huh?”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Don’t be too sad. It’s not your fault you don’t have parents. But I’m really glad your sister’s coming, right?”
“Yeah! I’m so happy she’s coming!”
“…Right.”
At Yulia’s beaming smile—as if Christine’s words were the most obvious thing—Christine’s expression stiffened slightly.
‘Idiot.’
What’s the point of mocking her if she doesn’t even get it?
Christine spun on her heel and went back to her parents.
“Isn’t that Count Lukia?”
“Oh my, Countess. Fancy seeing you here.”
Soon, a crowd gathered around them.
The Lukia family had solid standing, and many people approached them to flaunt their connections.
Standing proudly beside her parents, Christine once again wore a bright smile.
She glanced at Yulia, who was still standing alone, her gaze full of triumphant satisfaction.
“I was so surprised when I heard the news. I thought Christine was the lead, of course.”
“Me too.”
“Whose family is that girl from again?”
“I heard she has no parents.”
“Oh my, really? Goodness…”
The women crowding around Countess Lukia began to glance at Yulia and whisper.
“Haah, I was worried about the school festival too, so I looked into the girl’s guardian… Not the kind of family you associate with.”
“Oh dear.”
“Well, what can you do? Let’s just hope she doesn’t ruin the festival.”
At Countess Lukia’s words, the others didn’t bother to hide their disapproval.
They too were displeased that their children weren’t chosen as the star.
The idea that their child lost to some nobody was simply unbearable.
“Uh…”
Yulia had been doing her best to stay calm, but the cold stares of the adults eventually cracked her expression.
Why are they looking at me like that?
I didn’t do anything wrong.
Yulia’s head unconsciously drooped.
Their gazes hurt more than she expected.
Christine, who hadn’t taken her eyes off Yulia, smiled even deeper.
Finally, her frustration over losing the lead role felt eased.
If only you had known your place and stepped down quietly.
“Huh? What’s going on?”
“Oh my, oh my!”
At that moment, murmuring erupted from outside the classroom.
The noise peaked near the classroom where Yulia was.
Step.
A person entered the classroom, drawing the attention of all.
The room instantly fell silent.
—
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