TMKWPL CH 26

Chapter 26

• ────── ✦ ────── •

The First Official Day of School

Today was Nia’s first official day of school.

The knights had been busy since dawn: prepping Nia’s uniform, making breakfast, and readying the carriage early. Perhaps wanting to make up for yesterday’s chaos, Gillie and Vernon were aiming for perfection, making sure not a single detail was missed.

“……Yawn.”

Unlike the others, Heath looked like a walking corpse. He let out a long yawn and eventually collapsed onto the sofa. With his pale white hair and washed-out complexion, he looked like a crumpled piece of discarded paper, a sight that would stir pity in anyone.

Lucia, still in her pyjamas, grabbed Heath’s face and lifted it with ease. She turned his head side to side, inspecting him with a worried gaze.

“You look terrible.”

“……Stayed up all night.”

Eyes still closed, Heath’s face was squished like a fish’s face by her grip.

“Was it because of that?”

Lucia was referring to the Control Stone. Heath nodded, his face still compressed.

“It’s fine. Even if it takes more time.”

Admittedly, Lucia felt uneasy about Nia being in public without a way to suppress her power, but since she was technically on leave, she figured she could just go into hiding near the kindergarten if things went south. Seeing Heath push himself this hard, however, made her feel a pang of guilt for asking.

Heath slid out of her grip, slumped back onto the sofa, and fumbled through his pockets.

“It’s finished. But……”

In his outstretched palm sat a tiny black gem, no larger than a fingernail, sparkling darkly.

“Oh, it gotten that small?”

The Control Stone Lucia had stolen from the temple was originally the size of an ostrich egg. She vaguely knew that Control Stones were special minerals used to seal magical spells, and the stronger the spell, the larger the stone required. When she stole it, she had just grabbed the biggest one available, but later asked Heath to refine it to a manageable size.

What Lucia didn't know was that no one in the last century had ever successfully refined a Control Stone that already contained a sealed spell. With a single casual request from her, Heath had essentially turned a national treasure into a masterpiece on a whim, but he didn't bother mentioning that.

“……I don't have a place to put it.”

He had finished the gem, but he couldn't exactly have the child carry a loose gem.

“That’s true.”

“…How about here?”

Heath fished around his neck and pulled out a silver necklace. By chance, the pendant had a groove that looked like a perfect fit for the control stone.

It was a practical suggestion, but Lucia, knowing the history of that necklace, shook her head.

“No.”

“……I don't mind.”

“No. We’ll find something suitable after today’s schedule.”

Heath seemed satisfied by her firm refusal, nodding with a small smile. Even for a genius, he still had a boyish side that craved validation.

• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •

“Commander, we’re out of time! Have you changed yet? VERNON!!! Look here! The Commander hasn't even changed!”

Lucia stood up at Gilliana’s frantic shout. If Vernon came in, the nagging would reach a whole new level. But Vernon was already on his way down, looking down at everyone in the living room with immense pride.

“Attention, everyone! Little Commander?”

From the second floor, a tiny yellow chick, looking so fluffy and soft that a light breeze might blow her away. carefully trotted down the stairs.

“Wow!! Little Commander! My goodness! You’re way too cute!!”

Matching Gilliana's hype and Vernon’s pride, the uniform suited Nia perfectly. The yellow dress, styled like a miniature military uniform with crisp white lace and gold embroidery, made Nia’s golden eyes sparkle even brighter.

Even though it was the same room she had first arrived in, Nia now looked like a plump little dandelion born from dazzling sunlight. Yet, despite her appearance, her face remained downcast. She looked like a child being dragged somewhere against her will.

Porbably because of what happened at the entrance ceremony?

Lucia knelt down to meet the child’s eyes.

“You look pretty.”

“……Yees. Thank you.”

Despite complimenting her, Nia avoided eye contact, lacking her usual energy. She certainly didn't look like a child who had begged to go to school.

Was she really that bothered by what that brat said?

“Nia, you don't have to get along with every child. If you don't like someone, you don't have to play with them.”

“……Really?”

“Yes. It’s hard enough just getting along with people you actually like.”

Lucia recalled Nia sleeping so hard she drooled after playing with Ivonne, if Nia had to deal with another child like that, she might actually faint. Nia’s ears perked up like a rabbit's and peeked at her mother’s eyes.

“Then, even if I’m only friends with Ivonne…… you’re still Nia’s mommy?”

Lucia didn't quite grasp the deep insecurity behind the question, but she nodded anyway. Nia’s face instantly bloomed. Her eyes sparkled with a joy she couldn't hide, and her feet practically itching to jump with joy.

The truth was, Nia hadn't slept well because of the incident with Gederin. She had tried so hard to be brave, but she felt she had failed. Her biggest fear wasn't going to school, it was that Lucia would be disappointed if she didn't get along with the other children. Now that she had a clear answer, she could finally let go of her anxiety.

“Oh come on, what are you saying? It's better if everyone gets along. Here, Little Commander, a gift.”

Vernon took something from his pocket and tucked it into her hair. It was a cute yellow flower-patterned hairpin.

“Wow, it's pretty. Th-thank you……!”

Nia, still awkward with receiving gifts, touched the pin with her tiny hands. Vernon and Gilliana clutched their hearts at the sight.

But the moment of warmth ended quickly as Vernon glared at Lucia’s pyjamas.

“Commander! Do you really think you have time to just stare at this cute child?”

“……”

Lucia scurried upstairs while Heath, who had briefly stood up, collapsed back onto the sofa.

“Heath, go pack Nia’s bag. How long are you going to sleep?”

“……”

Heath, the one who had actually done the most gruelling work for the child, couldn't reveal that fact. He just rubbed his sleepy eyes and packed the bag like a soul-less ghost.

Finally, the mother and daughter rushed out to the waiting carriage. Just like yesterday, the sky was a cloudless blue, filled with birds gliding lazily through the air.

“Oh, wait! My gift! Well, maybe not a gift? Share this with Ivonne, Little Commander.”

Gilliana handed over a warm paper bag. When the carriage started moving, Nia opened the bag to find chocolate muffins, the kind both she and Ivonne loved. Nia didn't say anything, but she met Lucia’s eyes with a face full of happiness.

The yellow uniform, the hairpin, the muffins. One by one, Nia was gathering things and memories that belonged only to her in this house. Today was shaping up to be the kind of exciting, happy day that made all her previous courage worth it.

• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •

In the Eldarion Academy Affiliated Kindergarten, Parent Meeting Room.

After dropping Nia off at the Sparrow Class entrance, Lucia arrived at the meeting room. While there were still many people seated around expensive tables, the crowd was smaller than the entrance ceremony.  The mothers were mostly gathered today yet there was an odd tension hanging in the air.

Is this not just a simple parent meeting? 

She looked toward the large window. In the middle of the distant plaza, she saw a group of figures dressed in white from head to toe. Their outfits were peculiar but strangely familiar. Just as she moved toward the window to get a better look—

“Lady Lucia, over here! Over here!”

She turned to see the two ladies she had spoken with at the ceremony, along with Julie and Marien, all at one table. They pointed to an empty chair. They quickly became friends and were already deep in gossip. Lucia checked the window one last time, the white group had vanished, and took her seat.

……I thought they were priests. Did I see wrong?

From head to toe, even wearing white masks. As far as Lucia knew, that was the attire of the Priests of the Temple of Assir. But since they disappeared so quickly, she couldn't be sure. She decided to focus on the meeting since Nia’s first day was short and she'd have to pick her up soon.

As she looked up, she was startled to see four pairs of eyes narrowed like flatfish, staring intensely at her.

“Lady Lucia.”

“Yes?”

“We know everything.”

“……?”

Lucia’s genuine confusion only made the four women more excited.

“We heard Lord Leon escorted you during that chaos yesterday! We saw the whole thing!”

“Exactly. Just tell us a little bit. What’s your relationship?”

“That’s right, Lady Lucia. You’re young, you can get remarried! If it’s Lord Leon, that would be hitting a jackpot!”

“Exactly! Hohoho!”

Lucia stared at Julie, who was teasing her about remarriage, and Marien, whose cheeks were practically touching the ceiling from grinning.

Remarriage?

She understood the two strangers' misunderstanding, but shouldn't Julie and Marien know better? They knew at least some of the situation.

Then it hit her. Julie Berna was also rooting enthusiastically for her love life.

To her sister Gilly, it was about hiding their status for the kid; to her friend Marien, it was about using Cézar to play matchmaker with Leon. Julie, knowing everything, was stirring the atmosphere on purpose. Lucia shot her a look, but Julie completely ignored the signal and laughed heartily. Like Marien, she seemed to want Leon’s one-sided love to succeed…… or maybe she just found it entertaining

.

Lucia gave up. If her idiotic subordinates hadn't shown up, she wouldn't have had a reason to let Leon escort her, but in the end, she did owe him one. She hadn't expected such scandalous rumours, and feeling uncomfortable, she decided she had to set the record straight.

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what? Why? Why did you leave together?”

What do I say? That there was Knight business? 

Then they’d ask why a regular mom has business with the Knights. Back to square one.

Should I say I went to borrow money from the Marquess?

No, that would make Nia look too poor.

“……That’s.”

She had denied it on impulse, but no good excuse came to mind.

Just then, the speakers on the podium crackled to life. Everyone turned toward the front, where Marchioness and Headmistress Norcia stood with a stern expression.

“First of all, on this exciting day, I must unfortunately address the unpleasant incident that occurred during the entrance ceremony.”

“Eldarion Academy has a system for admission through donations. We have been informed that the parents of a child who met those criteria obtained those donation funds illegally. Consequently, we have processed an expulsion for that child. We apologize for yesterday’s disturbance.”

As she bowed politely, the room erupted in applause. The parents were moved by the fact that a high-ranking Marchioness, a major figure in the Empire, would bow her head so humbly. Just as Lucia had seen in the interview, the Headmistress was upright and modest.

Lucia was starting to become guilty. Even if the Headmistress son (Leon) was a man who constantly warned and threatened her, his gifts were being used well, and he had been helpful. She felt bad that rumours involving her might cause trouble for such a respectable family.

“Now then. According to the schedule, we shall select the parent representative for each class.”

Parent representative?

Lucia finally understood the tension in the room. The mothers, who had just been clapping emotionally, now had eyes glowing with ambition.

“Since Eldarion receives significant support from the Imperial Family, the duties aren't heavy, but we do need help during events. Volunteers during events will be appreciated.”

The room buzzed. One by one, the mothers stood up from their tables.

“Dove Class, the Literin family volunteers.”

“Duck Class, the Poppin family volunteers.”

Two people from Lucia’s table had volunteered. The names Literin and Poppin sounded familiar.

Mera Literin, Serdin Poppin……

“And,” Mera and Serdin said, winking at Lucia.

“We recommend this person.”

Lucia’s pupils shook violently as she stared at them.

Chapter 25

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Chapter 27