Under Reytan’s accompaniment, Berry and Theon set out to buy a cake.
Since the Evening Primrose Inn was located on the outskirts of Hispoth Town, they had to walk toward the bustling downtown area.
“This is an Ixellona imperial carriage, isn’t it? Impressive.”
Berry and Reytan entered the cake shop first, and just as Theon was about to follow them inside—
Hearing the conversation of some nearby passersby, Theon turned his head and momentarily doubted his own eyes.
A carriage with a deep wine-red body and dazzling gold embellishments passed right in front of him. The golden-maned lion crest engraved below the door immediately caught his eye.
“This is something I picked up from your father long ago. Keep it hidden from everyone until you can face him yourself.”
It was the same emblem as the one on the pocket watch his mother had given him just before she passed away.
Was that really the imperial crest? Why did my father’s possession bear the emblem of the Ixellona imperial family…?
In Leaf Village, Theon never had a chance to see the imperial crest. No—perhaps he did, but he had never recognized it. His mother had always made sure he never saw newspapers or any media that might contain information about the Ixellona imperial family.
Because of that, even after his mother’s passing, Theon had grown up as a child who cared for nothing but the sword.
But now—
His heart pounded violently.
His father’s possession bore the imperial emblem.
Theon turned to a passerby and asked, despite never having met them before. They seemed to know more about the imperial family than he did.
“Can anyone carry a pocket watch with the imperial crest engraved on it?”
“Oh dear, young master. Anyone who did that would face severe punishment. Only members of the Ixellona imperial family are allowed to engrave the imperial crest on their belongings.”
That answer only confused Theon further.
Did my mother know? If my father was royalty… then he must have been rich. Wouldn’t that mean my mother could have gotten better medicine…?
Countless thoughts swirled inside him.
Theon was good at suppressing his emotions. So even when faced with an unfamiliar situation that stirred something within him, it took him a while to recognize what that emotion was.
“Theon! Dad is giving us snack money as compensation for taking away our allowance! Huh? Oh dear… Looks like you need two cakes. Right, Dad?”
“Sweet things are best when you’re feeling down.”
“…I’m not feeling down.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yeah.”
Something felt off. Berry and Reytan both looked at him and said he seemed sad. But when he saw his reflection in the glass display case, his face looked the same as always.
And yet, they didn’t ask him anything more.
That day, Theon’s cake had two extra strawberries on top.
That night, he couldn’t sleep.
The golden-maned lion crest he had seen earlier in the day kept swirling in his mind.
After thinking about it all night, Theon finally made a decision.
I have to become strong enough to stand before the imperial family with confidence.
If he became a Sword Master, he could stand before the emperor. If he reached that level, he might be able to find out who his father really was.
And if he met his father—
There was something he wanted to ask him.
Father.
Why didn’t you save my mother?
“…….…”
Theon shook his head, trying to shake off his emotions. That night had been the only time he allowed himself to grieve. That was enough.
How strange…
Berry had immediately noticed that he was feeling sad.
Theon wiped the remaining sweat off his face with a towel and stepped into the training hall.
Another unfamiliar feeling stirred within him.
***
Sigh…
After arriving at the main building, I let out a deep sigh. My grandfather’s study was right in front of me, but—
I couldn’t bring myself to knock.
“Ugh.”
If I went in, he would definitely start talking about the Edward Equation again, right? Maybe I should get ahead of him and complain first? Why do you always give me such difficult problems?
Alright, let’s go with that!
I clenched my fists in determination, ready to knock on the door. But just as I was about to, my hand hesitated and fell back down.
No, I should think a little more about what to say first—
“Why are you lurking outside someone’s room like a thief?”
“Ahhh!”
A sudden thunderous voice from above startled me, and I instinctively jumped like a spring. My forehead almost hit the door, but a large hand reached in just in time to shield my head.
It was my grandfather.
“Ah, hello!”
His hand covered half my face, blocking my vision. That was actually better. His golden eyes were way too intimidating.
“Are you here to be scolded?”
“Huh?”
“I heard your math scores were a complete disaster. Get in here. And what’s with all the onlookers you dragged along?”
Onlookers?
Grandfather moved his hand away and opened the door to his study.
I glanced to the side and noticed that, just beyond the hallway corner, the twins and Calypso were peeking out, watching us. As soon as our eyes met, they quickly pulled their heads back out of sight.
It seemed they had come to watch me get scolded by Grandfather.
In that case…
I should put on a good show for them. That way, they could go back and tell Aunt Marian and Uncle Yossel that they saw me getting scolded.
I pulled a sorrowful expression, slumped my shoulders, and walked into Grandfather’s study as he held the door open.
“Hurry up and get in. My hand is getting tired.”
“Yes, sir…”
After closing the study door, Grandfather sat down on the sofa and gestured for me to sit across from him.
I slowly walked over and placed both hands on the seat cushion.
Huh?
I had planned to climb up, but the sofa in Grandfather’s study was much taller than the one in the sofa in the chief director’s office.
Was this sofa custom-made for Grandfather?
“Are you still carrying that rock around?”
“Yes! I have it right now.”
I had already asked Aqum to transform back into a stone and safely tucked it into my pocket. At least I wouldn’t get in trouble for that.
For now, it was just the two of us.
Which meant I had to climb onto the sofa by myself.
I braced my hands against the cushion and jumped.
Hop.
“…………”
Hop.
“…Pfft.”
Was that… laughter?
Startled, I turned around. Grandfather was looking at me with an unfamiliar expression.
Did I hear wrong?
“…Um, I don’t have to sit on the sofa.”
“Your legs are too short, that’s why.”
I gasped at his brutally honest remark about his seven-year-old granddaughter.
“My legs aren’t short…!”
“Oh, really? You’re even smaller than that wolf pup your father picked up.”
“I’m taller than Jeffrey, though…?!”
“You always have to get the last word in.”
Grandfather clicked his tongue and lifted me onto the sofa. As I sank deep into the cushions, I blinked up at him, now seated across from me.
His piercing golden eyes.
No matter how many times I saw them, I could never get used to them.
I swallowed hard.
“Alright, let’s talk about your math test.”
Here it comes.
Maybe it was better if I spoke first.
“G-Grandfather! The math test paper was weird—”
“Are you trying to hide how smart you are from everyone?”
At his sudden question, I sucked in a sharp breath, startled.
It felt like his eyes could see right through everything.
Even so, I had to play dumb. I struggled to open my mouth and ask a question.
“What—Hic! What do you—?”
A hiccup escaped me.
Was it because I was breathing wrong? My hiccups wouldn’t stop.
“What do you think? You made my aide suffer.”
“Hic… What?”
Grandfather casually poured water into a glass from the table between us as he continued.
“You troublesome child. Do you know how hard it was for Callet to track down the person who solved the Edward Equation? He couldn’t find you because you’re so small.”
“…That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Don’t even try to play innocent. Unless you want me to throw out those strays your father brought home.”
“…Wow. That’s unfair.”
Oops.
Hearing Grandfather threaten to kick out Theon, Anne, and Jeffrey made me blurt out my thoughts without thinking.
At my response, Grandfather let out a chuckle, clearly amused.
“I am Count Travel. If you’re upset about it, then why don’t you take my seat?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Good.”
Grandfather stood up and handed me a glass of water.
At some point, my hiccups had stopped.
“Are you naturally left-handed?”
Instead of answering, I fiddled with the decorations on the glass. I wasn’t sure how much he knew, but it was clear he had already figured out that I was the one who solved Calypso’ math book.
There’s no way to deny it now.
I lowered my head. My lips pouted involuntarily. I wanted to pull them back in, but I couldn’t.
“You did a good job pretending to be right-handed all this time. You solved the Edward Equation with your left hand, didn’t you?”
“…….…”
Drip. Plop.
As he pressed me further, tears welled up and fell into the glass, making the water ripple.
“…Daddy…”
Grandfather had discovered my intelligence.
“Are you… crying?”
I was supposed to be a strange child with memories of my past adult self. A seven-year-old like me shouldn’t be crying. I needed to quickly tell Grandfather that I wasn’t the one who solved the math problem.
But instead—
“Huuaaah—!”
Once the sobs burst out, they wouldn’t stop.
I was scared.
Dad couldn’t die.
I had to do well.
“Hic… hic…”
“A-Ah, oh no. What do I do?”
Grandfather, now in front of me, panicked and clumsily dabbed my cheeks with a handkerchief.
“Daddy—!”
“Are you hurt? I’ll be gentle. Oh dear… That rascal Callet, I’ll have to teach him a lesson! Who made my youngest granddaughter cry like this?! CALLET!”
“You called for me, my lord?”
At Grandfather’s loud shout, Mr. Callet entered the study. Seeing me sobbing, he let out a deep sigh and asked—
“…Did you make her cry?”
“I did not!”
“Waaah—!”
“Ah, no, not you! That wasn’t meant for you!”
“……..…”
Count Travel, usually so intimidating, now crouched in front of his crying seven-year-old granddaughter, completely flustered.
Mr. Callet quietly closed the study door.
