Youngest 148

Chapter 148
Ch.15

The day of the presentation!

I woke up, thrilled.

‘Finally, I get to see Dad!’

Sortie and I were bursting with excitement as we ate breakfast, stopped by the library to greet Professor Yuliophe, and then headed to the grand banquet hall.

The presentation was to be held here, in the form of a party.

“There are so many people outside!”

“I know! My mom and dad said they’d come as soon as the Academy opened its doors… Ah! Daddy! Mom!”

Sortie darted away.

Count Camelan, who had been waiting near the entrance, scooped Sortie up with a beaming smile.

“Oh, Titi! I’ve missed you!”

Such a heartwarming sight.

But where’s my dad?

‘Wait—did he not come back from his business trip? He promised he’d make it to the closing ceremony…’

I tapped the floor with my shoes.

I’d even gone so far as to wear my prettiest shoes…

‘Well, if he’s busy, there’s nothing I can do!’

After all, I was used to my parents not being there on observation days.

‘Seriously, whose idea was it to start these observation days, anyway?!’

My hopes, which I’d secretly allowed to grow, shriveled up like a popped balloon.

‘It’s such a cold-hearted system, made by adults who assume all children have plenty of family and parents who are available and well!’

My lips pouted as my heart soured.

Muttering criticisms at life’s unfairness, I entered the banquet hall alone.

Unlike the bustling crowd outside, the hall was still fairly empty.

‘Looks like Karl isn’t here yet either…’

Maybe I’ll just look around a bit?

“Man, it’s finally the last day.”

At that moment, a familiar grumbling voice reached my ears.

“Why didn’t the princess come, anyway? My father insisted I befriend her and set up a private meeting with the Duke…”

It was Haven, playing catch with his friends in a corner.

“Well, so what if she didn’t show?”

“My father’s annoyed at me about it. That thing… the purple stone? He’s planning on selling those!”

“Purple stone? What’s that?”

“I don’t know. They say all the northern knights wear it? Because of that, purple gemstones have been selling like crazy in the capital and the south. But people say they look a bit different from the ones the northern knights use.”

That would be because those are mana stones…

I blinked slowly.

“My older brother wants one of those, too. They say if you have it, you become insanely strong.”

“Whoa, so the rumors are true.”

Hmm.

‘What exactly have the knight seniors been doing in the capital and south?’

I considered this seriously.

Of course, the Zevert Knights are admired by everyone… but I never imagined this would cause purple jewels to become trendy.

‘Wait, could this be our shop’s chance to hit it big?’

My mental calculator whirred.

Asha! We’re about to get rich!

Even as I plotted, Haven continued to grumble.

“Seriously, she registered but never shows up. They say she’s got a stuck-up nose and a nasty temper, must be true.”

I fiddled with my own nose. It’s just kind of soft, I don’t know about being stuck-up…

“Lu!”

Someone called my name. Turning, I saw Zerdine approaching.

Today, she’d taken obvious care to tame her usually fluffy hair—probably because she was meeting her parents.

Kind of like how I’d put on my nice shoes.

“Hello, Zerdine.”

“What, it’s commoners.”

As always, Haven spotted us and started picking a fight.

“You’re even wearing fancy shoes today? Huh, they almost look real.”

“They are real.”

I proudly stretched out my shiny shoes. There was a small jewel set in the strap over the arch.

It was the sixty-fourth pair in my birthday present collection! What’s your move now?

“Hmph! As if! Let me see. I’ll inspect if they’re really genuine.”

“Alright! Then get down and check thoroughly by my feet!”

“Why does this feel irritating?”

I was getting used to this kind of playful bickering.

“P-picking fights is bad. Haven,” said Zerdine gently, stopping Haven. She hadn’t even been able to make eye contact with him at first…

This time, even though he was grumbling, Haven didn’t spit out any mean words like before.

‘Wow, the power of 99 demerit points.’

In fact, Haven had almost made it to 100 by teasing Zerdine. But Zerdine had given him one last chance.

Professor Yuliophe said that if Haven sincerely apologized to Zerdine and Zerdine accepted, one demerit point would be removed.

‘Well, maybe it was just a forced apology to avoid being expelled.’

Still, maybe it was a chance for him to realize what he did wrong.

“Really! Sticking together and helping each other, huh? Let’s see how well you two commoners get by helping each other!”

“Now he’s even giving us blessings.”

Though the way he called us “commoners” still showed he had a long way to go.

“No, it’s just—!”

“Haven, you’re being noisy.”

Just as Haven started to shout, a large shadow fell over him.

“Ah, Father!”

My eyes widened a bit.

A stern-faced man, clearly strict in appearance, was looking our way with a deep scowl.

‘Wow, that’s Count Hujin.’

Next to me, Zerdine subtly shrank back.

“I see you’re doing well. But…”

His icy eyes turned to me and Zerdine.

“What are you doing among children like these?”

Children like these…

How fitting, such vocabulary for Count Hujin…

“There are nobles gathered over there. Go to them.”

“Yes, sir…”

“The atmosphere here at the Academy… The smell of commoners is everywhere… Tsk.”

So it was from his father that Haven picked up that habit of calling people commoners.

“Move along now. Don’t get in the way.”

Swatting his hand irritably, the Count shooed Zerdine and me off like bothersome flies.

I took a few steps back, thinking how unpleasant he was.

At that moment, the entrance was becoming unusually rowdy.

What’s going on? I began to turn my head to look—

“Wah! What the—!”

My body was suddenly lifted up into the air.

“Just like I said.”

Gasp—That voice!

“Eat well.”

“…!”

“Sleep well.”

My body spun around once.

Then, filling my entire vision, those deep violet eyes!

“Ah…!”

“And if anyone bullies you, write down their name.”

“D-Daddy!”

It’s Dad!

Ruby’s dad is here!

Unable to hold back, I flung my arms around that thick neck. Dad gave a low laugh and squeezed my back with his big hand.

“When did you get here? Was your business trip alright? What time did you arrive? How did you get here? Where did you go! What did you do!”

I’d thought he might not be able to make it or would come very late!

Overwhelmed by joy, the questions tumbled out of me in a rush. Dad tapped my mouth lightly.

“One at a time. I only have one mouth, you know.”

“I only have one too, but you asked me a ton of questions!”

“Hm, true.”

He looked over my face carefully and gave a wry smile.

“Feels worth sending you to school.”

I was so, so happy to see him!

“Hing. Dad…”

“You’re even more spoiled now. I really think I did well, sending you to camp for the first time.”

I hugged his neck tight again.

All the noisy clamor of the banquet hall seemed to cut off in an instant. Every eye was turned to us in astonishment, but I was so overjoyed to see my dad, I didn’t even notice.

Not until Count Hujin—specifically, Count Abellus—spoke in a voice thick with disbelief.

“Duke Zevert… is… your… father…?”

Only then did I realize how eerily silent the hall had grown, and I gently pulled away.

‘Oh no, I got so excited I shouted it out loud.’

Looking around, I saw Zerdine’s face, wide-eyed in surprise.

And even more astonished—Haven’s face.