Watching Enoch’s clueless expression, a bubbling feeling stirred in some deep corner of my heart.
I found myself wielding a sword for someone I knew nothing about, leading to such profound contemplation!
I bit my lip and silently glared at Enoch. He must have felt my gaze as he turned to look at me.
“…….”
“…….”
Enoch and I locked eyes for a while, creating an illusion that the surrounding air had momentarily ceased.
This silent standoff was brought to an end when Duke Jade Gray, Enoch’s grandfather, called for him.
“Enoch, come here.”
“Yes.”
Enoch quietly followed behind Duke Jade Gray.
Beside Enoch, his father also aunt Diana husband, uncle Edward, approached, nodding slightly in greeting.
I casually shook hands with Uncle Edward and then turned towards my mom, who had finally escaped the crowd.
“Mom, I’m hungry.”
“Really? I’ve been feeling a bit peckish too. Shall we grab something to eat?”
“Yes.”
I held my mother’s hand in one hand and extended the other hand to my dad. My dad looked thoughtful for a moment, then smiled and held my hand.
Thinking deeply and to the point where my head would bleed did not suit my personality. It just makes me hungry and depressed.
On my birthday, I was going to enjoy the first party I attended with my mom and my dad.
“Did you just see it? The airflow that flowed between the Emblem young and the Gray young master.”
“Oh my, I guess it’s true that they both started holding swords.”
“Have they’re already realized at such a young age that they’re each other’s enemies?”
“I heard that two kids already meet each otherr since they were conceived and have prenuotial agreement. I had imagined something sweeter.”
I heard the nobles whispering due to the exchange of glances just now, but I ignored it.
It wasn’t until I saw my mother being treated like a space star that I realized. People in this country were very interested in the Emblem and Gray.
In their eyes, Enoch and I were nothing more than promising players who would lead the sports competition known as the sword dance performed by the all-time Emblem’s and Gray’s.
So there was no need to give meaning to those words or feel burdened.
“Hey, Lord Gray. If you don’t mind, would you like to have a cookie with me?”
“I brought milk because I was afraid you might be thirsty.”
“My mother has given me permission to dance starting this year. I would like to give you the honor of sharing my first dance with you.”
The young ladies. The kids who had been tearing my eardrums all the way to the County of Condrius today spoke in an unbecoming noblewoman’s way, which I don’t know where they learned it, and started talking softly to Enoch.
Lord Gray. It’s a wonder to Enoch, who hasn’t even become a knight in training yet. His hands and feet all shriveled.
“I appreciate your invitation, but today, I attended to study by my grandfather’s side. Please forgive me for anticipating the next, my lady.”
Even Enoch, in an entirely mismatched polite tone, was responding to the kids conversation.
“Ha.”
As I stuffed the leftovers my mom gave me into my mouth, I couldn’t help but swallow a dry laugh. I almost spat out everything I had eaten so far due to their strange manner of speech.
‘No, but come to think of it, it’s irritating.’
It was absurd that these kids, who could imitate adults so well, had acted so stubbornly towards me. Nowadays, young kids were indeed clever. Changing attitudes on the fly like that was incredibly cunning.
Moreover, seeing Enoch, who had freely insulted me without any filter, pretending to be polite made me feel sick.
Seeing me looking uncomfortable, my mom asked with concern.
“Cherry, is the food not to your taste? Don’t you enjoy it?”
“No, it’s delicious.”
I completely averted my gaze from Enoch. Whether Enoch was called a lord or not and whether my playmates went along with him without saying a word to me was none of my concern.
Since Enoch was born with that face, and from the moment girls went crazy over it, I thought making friends was out of the question.
I had no regrets.
“Um, lord Emblem.”
At that moment, a group of boys approached our family, mumbling greetings. Were they my mom’s young fans? so cute.
I continued to mechanically eat, lost in thought.
“Is there something you need, boys?”
My dad, replacing my mom, kindly greeted the boys who looked more comfortable as their stiff expressions eased.
“Well, you’re isn’tthe Emblem Commander but…”
The boys shyly glanced in my direction.
I almost forgot I had food in my mouth and was about to open it.
“Are you just called me lordEmblem?”
Their faces turned pale in an instant. I couldn’t believe that I, who had felt uncomfortable seeing girls calling Enoch ‘lord Gray’ just a moment ago, would now be in a similar situation.
I shivered, rubbing my arms with both hands.
“I haven’t even been appointed as a knight, why am I called lord?!”
The boys and even myom and my dad were startled by my almost seizure-like reaction.
What could you expect from these youngsters imitating adults, trying to act so sophisticated?
Children were the most natural and cute when they were just being kids.
I set down the food plate I was holding and approached the boys, gently patting their shoulders one by one.
“Hey. When we get older, we have to live surrounded by all those frustrating things like manners and dignity. Kids are the most natural when they’re still young.”
“……?”
“Let’s just live somewhat carefree now, while we can group immaturity with age.”
I led them to the food table, handing them plates of food like sprouts into their hands.
“Kids like us just need to eat a lot and play around.”
Whether they didn’t understand my words or not, the boys blinked their eyes, holding the plates as if caught in a wave.
Occasionally glancing back at their parents, it was clear that approaching me wasn’t entirely their own decision.
I guess, as an Emblem, I’m supposed to try and make connections with kids of my age.
The high-nosed central nobles had an attitude that couldn’t be seen, probably the local nobles aspiring to enter the central region or heirs from less prestigious families.
“How about playing ball if you’re bored? Mom, can I go outside and play ball with them?”
I simply didn’t understand the circumstances of the adults and planned to let these kids play around a bit before sending them off.
“That won’t do. His Majesty will be here soon, and we need to keep our seats. Besides, playing ball here? If you really want to, do it in a place where nobody can see later. This mom is an old lady; we can’t just lump immature things together.”
“Ugh, then what should we play?”
Considering my mom’s cheerful veto, I thought about what could be played around here.
“How about arm wrestling?”
“What’s that?”
The boys, who had been using formal language with me, unintentionally responded in my tone. Seeing their curious, innocent faces, I silently cheered for this delightful moment.
“It’s a quiet game. Are you strong?”
“Yeah! I’m a strong boy.”
“A boy, huh?”
“No, I’m all grown up! My mom said I’m all grown up!”
“So, are you going to stop growing now? Won’t you grow anymore?”
“No way! I’m going to be bigger. Like Duke Seffield Emblem!”
“Then you’re not big. You’re less grown. We decided to call that being a kid.”
“Hey!”
“Ahahaha!”
I playfully teased the kids and chuckled.
Young kids should play comfortably like this. It felt like the children in this world were forced to become mature like Enoch.
Enoch executed that pressure so excellently that he seemed to have absorbed it entirely.
A child should be childlike, after all.
“Let’s do arm wrestling. Grab hands like this. Yes, put strength into it, and the one who manages to topple the other wins. The back of the hand should touch the table.”
Holding the hand of the boy next to me, I explained the rules of the game. Other kids gathered around me, listening to my explanation.
“Is it that simple?”
“Yes! It’s a great game to easily prove that I’m strong.”
“I’ve never done this before.”
A blush appeared on the boy’s plump cheeks. I thought it looked charming and said so.
“Alright, ready. I’m going to beat all of you.”
“Okay! I’m going to beat the Emblem!”
“Bring it on!”
Giggles and chuckles, the typical laughter of children, subtly spread from my side.
I could see a faint smile on the faces of the adults, including my mom and my dad, who were watching from the sidelines.
