Chapter 53

A few days have passed since I helped Cedric save Polly. Cedric and I have gotten pretty close since that day.

‘Well, it may be just my thoughts.’

At least, as before, he doesn’t come up with crude and sloppy arguments or make annoying replies, so I guess I’m pretty close to him.

‘Even now, when I call, he even answers all the time.’

So, it seemed right that our relationship became very close. I paused my thoughts on the friendship between Cedric and me, and watched the children playing gonggi over there.

‘Proud.’

I felt feelings of satisfaction. That’s a given, because the fact that the game I introduced was popular in kindergarten brought a little sense of happiness. It is said that it is a game that even the Princess of this empire enjoys. Hoho.

‘Of course, the prince still seems not interested.’

Then I immediately turned to the corner chair. There was a chair and table facing the window, where Nicholas was sitting and reading a book. It would be fine to say that the posture is the standard of a good student and he has already been fixed like that for an hour. Without moving a muscle, he was flipping over the book’s pages. He was still, not only choosing and reading books that seemed difficult, but also keeping an unconventional attitude as if not interested in the young children.

‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

After a quick look at Nicholas, I sighed so little that he couldn’t hear it.

‘But later, when I get acquainted with the prince, I need to bring a little more interesting game. I can’t get the attention of the prince with gonggi.’

For now, Nicholas was still very difficult for me, so I decided to put aside my thoughts for a while. I got up from my seat only then. As I approached the children with a cautious step, Jake and Alice, who quickly recognized my presence, made a place for me to sit down.

“May I join again?”

It was Ninaina’s turn for a while. To my question, Ninaina gave a short answer, saying ‘yes,’ without raising her head, focusing on her stone. Of course, she told me that the other children would also be willing to join us from the next turn.

‘As expected, the princess can make a difference with people with just gonggi……’

Feeling a bit bitter, I waited for my turn. It was then. I felt a stinging gaze toward my face, so I raised my head.

‘Cedric?’

The owner of the gaze was Cedric. Why are you staring at me like that? Curious, I asked why with the shape of my mouth.

“……”

Then Cedric looked like he wanted to say something. However, it seemed like he wanted to talk only with the two of us, since he didn’t say it easily. I have a feeling. It feels like something important! Intrigued, I said again with my mouth,

Let’s talk outside the classroom.

Then Cedric nodded his head. When me and Cedric got up at the same time, Jake grabbed me asking where I was going.

“I’ll be back soon, Jake, give me one minute!”

I frowned at Jake and hurried my steps.

***

The outside of the classroom was guarded by the Imperial Guard. Well, I always think about it, but let me just say, the security is tight. And yet, just in case, I swung around. After confirming that there were no specific risks, I asked Cedric a question.

“What do you want to say?”

“……There is a sword.”

“Yes? A sword?”

I asked Cedric, who suddenly came up with a sword story out of the blue, and asked again in wonder. Then Cedric said again, rubbing his head with his one hand.

“So, I got a sword from my father yesterday.”

“Is that so?”

I felt a little steam leaking from him. He gave off a sense that it was very, very important, but suddenly he was showing off his sword.

Are you asking me to congratulate you because there is no one to congratulate you?

If so, it can’t be helped. Cedric’s personality is odd, so I don’t think he will have friends his age, so I have to congratulate him.

“Congratulations. Grand Lord. You received a sword……”

I clapped my hands soullessly. Cedric’s mouth was slightly raised. But it seems that wasn’t the reaction Cedric really wanted. Cedric hesitated after a while and asked me a question.

“The sword, you don’t want to see it?”