Chapter 71
Bunny gazed at Daphne, who was still fast asleep, and thought to himself.
‘She helped me during the second test.’
She had caught him when he nearly fell and even encouraged him. In such a grueling situation, looking out for someone else wasn’t easy.
If she were really the rascal the kids said she was, wouldn’t she have shoved him aside and run ahead instead of helping?
It was then, as Bunny’s mind grew a little dizzy.
The carriage jolted once more with a clatter.
“Oh. We must be almost there! The carriage is slowing down.”
A kid who glanced outside raised their voice.
“Ooh. I see something! Look! The dormitory! The training ground!”
The carriage, now filled with a new group, brimmed with far more energy than before. It was likely due to the sense of security from having allies and the unspoken agreement to help each other if needed.
“Huh? Hey! They say to get off! Let’s go!”
“Please disembark, Lady Rachel. I’ll assist you.”
“Yes.”
The kids began filing out of the stopped carriage one by one. Bunny, seated in the very back, was bound to be last, but as he moved to exit, he hesitated upon seeing Daphne still sleeping.
‘Should I wake her?’
But no one else was trying to rouse Daphne. Bunny’s eyes wavered. After a brief hesitation, he stealthily reached out toward her. Or rather, tried to.
“Hey. What are you doing?”
The kid right in front of him stopped Bunny.
“Waking her? Nah, forget it. Don’t make it noisy for no reason. Didn’t you hear what Lady Rachel said earlier? Don’t touch her. You might get beaten up if you do.”
“…Uh, what?”
Bunny was momentarily dazed by the rapid flood of words but quickly regained his composure.
No, what…
-If you’re about to fall, at least use a breakfall technique. You almost hurt your face.
-There aren’t many left. Run.
No matter how he thought about it, the person who said those things didn’t seem like she’d beat him just for waking her.
“Th-Thanks for the concern, but I’ll handle it. Go on ahead.”
“…”
The kid who had warned him muttered something like, “Help him and this is what I get,” before leaving. Bunny swallowed dryly.
“Um, excuse me.”
Bunny extended his hand toward Daphne.
“W-Wake up. We’ve arrived.”
The moment Bunny’s hand touched Daphne’s sleeping shoulder.
“Lowly… Ack!”
“Eeek!”
Daphne, muttering in her sleep and flailing, smacked Bunny hard across the face.
“How dare an elf incite rebellion! Aaack… Huh?”
Daphne bolted upright, looking around wildly, and realized it had been a dream.
“It was a dream. Phew. A nightmare.”
She had dreamed that Teiti learned some weird acupuncture and stuck needles in her head, muttering that everything was going according to plan.
Ugh, am I low on energy? Why dream something like that? As she grumbled to herself,
“Uh, ugh…”
She spotted a kid collapsed and rolling nearby. Daphne tilted her head.
“Who are you?”
Facing that utterly indifferent gaze, showing not a hint of remorse for her actions, Bunny thought.
I shouldn’t have woken her… I lost a molar for nothing…
***
‘It’s spring.’
Polin murmured as he felt the warming air and inhaled the rich scent of blooming flowers.
Spring meant new beginnings, and seeing fresh green buds sprouting on the once barren branches made him feel a flutter of excitement himself.
Ahem! He cleared his throat lightly to steady his mind. Then he followed behind Heros, who walked ahead.
“It seems spring has arrived already.”
At Polin’s words, Heros finally focused his eyes and looked around. The air, much warmer than yesterday, tickled his cheeks.
“Flowers will bloom soon.”
Heros turned his head to gaze at the still barren garden. It was the one Elije had tended herself long ago. Heros steadied his faintly trembling eyelids and averted his gaze.
“As the weather warms, the risk of plague outbreaks rises, so ensure the territory is well-managed.”
“Yes. As it happens, we plan to purify the reservoir tomorrow. The Grand Sage has offered to help.”
Heros nodded. Since the Grand Sage’s arrival, using magic within the territory had become much easier. Daphne had unexpectedly done something beneficial.
“Ah. But the Grand Sage mentioned he’ll be away for a while. Along with the elf healer.”
“The two of them? Why?”
“I don’t know. He just said he’d return when Lady Daphne comes back.”
Perhaps he sees no need to stay in a place without Daphne, who invited him.
Heros pictured Grand Sage Siocen and the elf Teiti, then inserted Daphne’s face between them.
He didn’t know how it happened, but Daphne had a firm grip on both.
They would undoubtedly prove helpful not only to Daphne but to the grand ducal family in the future.
‘Truly astonishing.’
Before, the mere thought of Daphne gave him a headache and stirred disgust, but not anymore. At times, an inexplicable warmth rose to his throat. Heros cleared his throat with an ahem.
“Come to think of it, has the young lady entered safely?”
“She might have failed.”
“Come on, the young lady?”
Polin chuckled as if to say, don’t joke.
Of course, Heros didn’t think Daphne had failed either. She must have passed. He felt a certain pride in that.
But separately, one corner of his heart felt heavy. After all, Daphne was… destined to die.
Heros let out a small sigh, careful not to let Polin notice, and tried to scatter his thoughts.
“Even if she passed, what’s important is what grades she achieves.”
“You mean how they offer apprentice guardian positions to those who graduate with high ranks? But that doesn’t apply to the young lady, does it?”
“…”
Heros looked up at the sky for a moment, then shook his head and spoke.
“The Duke of Brown has petitioned to open imperial reports to noble children who complete training with top ranks.”
“…Is he mad?”
“And if not that, to allow private armies.”
“He’s really lost it. Is he on drugs?”
Polin pondered seriously, but Heros paid it no mind.
“His Majesty approved both.”
“What? Really?”
Seeing Heros nod, Polin gaped.
“Reports opened and private armies too? Why? What’s the gain? What if the ducal or marquis kids snatch up the spots?”
“Probably…”
Heros narrowed his eyes. He recalled the emperor’s words.
-Blocking the water’s path doesn’t stop its flow, does it? It pools and pools until it bursts.
-Everything will flow toward what is right.
Knowing he was a dragon made the emperor’s usual detached demeanor somewhat understandable. Heros clicked his tongue.
“He must have something he’s relying on.”
“Hmm. Even so, it’s a big risk.”
Polin folded his arms and swayed side to side, then his eyes lit up.
“Could it be… he’s counting on our young lady?”
It was a plausible idea. Polin’s eyes sparkled as he drew closer to Heros.
“With the young lady’s skills, graduating first isn’t impossible, right?”
But Heros shook his head firmly.
“No matter how exceptional she is, she’s still a five-year-old child.”
“Come on, she even beat Lord Arius, who’s eight.”
“That’s…”
Heros’s brow furrowed.
Arius wasn’t without talent either. He learned quickly for his age and had persistence. But was Arius as remarkable as Daphne? No.
Daphne was a genius in the truest sense, while Arius was more of a bright but ordinary child in comparison.
Heros suddenly recalled Arius’s bitter smile as he watched Daphne’s sword forms. Immediately, a corner of his heart ached sharply.
“Where is… Arius?”
So he blurted out the question without realizing. As if ignited by those words, Heros felt an urge to go to Arius right then and comfort the boy.
“He should be at the training yard now, right? Uh, where are you going, Your Grace?”
“The training yard.”
“…Pardon?”
Polin questioned, but Heros was already striding past him.
“You’re not planning to instruct Lord Arius, are you? Really?”
Heros didn’t answer, but judging by his direction, Polin’s guess seemed correct. So Polin felt a bit bewildered.
“What’s with him? Why the change?”
He muttered to himself.
“…It’s like when the madam was alive.”
They had been a family who cherished and loved each other more than anyone, always filled with laughter.
But as soon as Elije, the pillar, died, the family crumbled in an instant.
“Could we really recover?”
Polin smiled bitterly and clenched his fists.
“That would be wonderful, but…”
His face crumpled.
“Why leave without finishing the work! Leaving it all to me again, again!”
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