It's been five days since the magic beasts attack happened. Things were calmer and okay now at the manor but.. I'm not.
I keep getting anxious every now and then since the headmaster hasn't visited me since then nor interrogated me about Ignis.
The headmaster has been staying at the palace apparently because of the attack. Right now, a conference must've been going on with the council of nobles.
"Well, that's to be expected. It's a large scale attack after all." I shrugged off while reading a book about the empire's history.
The door clacked opened and Vincent bringing more books inside, came smiling. "Lady, here it is."
"Thank you, Vincent. Please just leave it there." I flipped the page.
Even though I've learned the empire's alphabet, mathematics, history, etiquette, and etc. here I am, pretending.
The letter my brother sent before to the headmaster was strangely written using the way we write outside. I thought then, he intended for me read it as well.
"You're studying hard, my lady. Indeed, a genius!"
I hid my face from embarrassment using the book. Ahh.. it's been a long time since I heard that phrase.
"Vincent.. stop."
"It's true, though. You've been learning for five days our empire's language and alphabet, in just a short time at that, lady."
I closed the book and stared at Vincent. He looks really impressed, though unfortunately for him, it took me half a year to learn them completely in my past life.
'Is this a cheat of regression?'
"It's like seeing the former Duke Callice over again but as a young woman." Vincent laughed.
Really? I grew up thinking I looked like my mother but do I resemble my father in terms of personality?
Thinking back now.. my mom is a really soft-spoken and gentle person. I guess it's true that I didn't take after her personality.
"But Vincent.. why is the manor so busy today?"
The servants were bustling today. A lot of them were so busy walking back and forth, cleaning, and etc. I thought someone important must be coming.
"Ah, right, Lady. The reason I came here as well was to rely this to you."
"What is?"
Vincent smiled at me, "The council meeting for nobles are being held today as of the moment. They're talking about the incident that occurred days ago."
Yep. As expected, they would talk about this to the council.
After all, the council always do this even then when a diplomatic issue happened at the kingdom where the tower resides.
"What about it, Vincent?"
"The Duke of Trovis and the Grand Duke of Lavrins will come after the meeting. Since you weren't able to go at the duchy because of the accident, don't you think this is great?"
My eyes widened at his words. Brother Killian will come here? Is he serious? Why? Didn't he send Ashercian before to just get me there?
'Although.. why did he ask Ashercian?'
"Lady? Is something wrong?" Vincent called out when I fell silent.
"No. I'm just expecting a lot. Haha! But why is the Grand Duke also coming? Are they actually going to talk about something important?"
Vincent also pondered. It seems he doesn't know either and those two high rank noble coming here was something that wasn't scheduled at all.
"I don't really know, lady. Maybe we'll know later. You're going to wait for them with us later outside, after all." Vincent happily announced.
I picked up the books he laid out in the desk. "Huh?" From the window near the desk, I spotted a child walking around to the garden.
My room that was adjacent to the garden can see and observe things freely. I looked back at Vincent and pointed to the child.
"Who is that? Was there a child in headmaster's manor?"
Vincent also peeked at the window. "Ah! It's the young master Trykiel. Young lord Ashercian's brother."
His small frame and the silver hair dancing along the gentle wind while he walked around is cute. If he's Ashercian's brother.. is he around seven years old?
'Well, most of his information didn't really make it to the tower so I don't know.'
"The young lord, Ashercian, brought him here last night as no one's around at their estate."
I turned around and finally started reading again. "I see. Then thank you for this Vincent. I now know you're busy." I said while smiling at him.
Vincent bowed a little before finally leaving my room. I'm alone again with my books.
'I should walk around later…'
★
My fingers touched the daisies planted on the greenhouse. I thought it would smell fragrant but it didn't .
'Come to think of it, my lilies really smell good compare to normal flowers.'
"Now.. this is a sight." The daffodils, tulips, and roses planted around the greenhouse were really pretty. There's also a bunch of herbs in a separate place of the greenhouse.
"Hmm.. are they being grow using magic stones as well?"
"They are, lady."
"Oh my god!"
I was startled at the small voice at my back. There, I saw Ashercian's younger brother, Trykiel staring at me with blank eyes.
'What the.. I didn't even hear the door open!'
His purple eyes looks so tired and was a little sunken. He's also a bit pale and thin compare to other children.
'How can a child have that kind of gaze?'
"A-Are you okay?.." I was about to reach my hand to check on him but stopped midway as it may seem rude.
He shook his head and went beside me, "Do you like flowers, lady?"
I stared at him picking out some daisies using his hand, "Well.. s-somewhat?"
He looked back at me, "Me too!" I was at a dazed when he flashed a wide smile. It was cute and adorable but..
It never reached his eyes.
"I heard you're the duke's sister. I'm Trykiel Lavrins, hehe!"
"Oh.. I'm Zaria. Nice to meet you, kid." My hands which stopped earlier, patted his head now.
His soft hair was felt on my hands. Trykiel stared at me for a long time until I took my hands out.
"Was that… offending?"
He shook his head, "No. You have gentle hands."
I smiled at him and extended my hands again, "Do you want to chat a little more?"
Trykiel accepted my hands and we both sat at a bench nearby, near the door. I didn't think we'd hang around like this. I thought we would just interact and left on our own ways.
'A cute child is my weakness after all!'
"Hey, can I call you Kiel? You have quite the complicated but cool name. Though, I just really like shortening people's name."
"Hm! That's fine!"
Kiel is a nice child. Compare to Ashercian who avoids a person's gaze, this child loved to stare at someone's eye.
Although it worried me at how sunken his eyes are and his complexion, he's cheerful.
"Are you also good at studying, Kiel?"
Kiel pouted and looked away, "Well that.. I'm not but I'm good at swordsmanship!" He exclaimed that it made me laugh at how cute it was.
"Swordsmanship huh? That's amazing, Kiel." I patted his head again. His ears that were a bit red made me giggled again.
It's not surprising since the Grand Duke and Ashercian were aura users so that make sense. I knew this child will grew up to be amazing as well.
But it's weird. For three years that I was free around the tower, I heard about him quite a lot as the child of famous Lavrins.
A child that is also phenomenal in swords.
However, after a while— for two years that I got locked up, news about Kiel completely stopped.
'His existence was never brought up again until my death.'