Chapter 55

Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 55

Then, Alexei, who came into the living room, asked a question with a smile on his face.

“Elliot, why are you so sulking?”

“Dad!”

Elliot sprinted and grabbed his father’s neck and hung on it. At that, Alexei held his son in his arms.

Anriche gazed at the two of them and smiled brightly.

“You’re here, Duke?”

“Yes. Come to think of it, I think today was the day the contest winners were announced…”

“Argh, why are you even saying that!?”

His words made Elliot threw a fit.

‘Look, he’s really concerned about it…’

Anriche and Liliana looked at Elliot with worried eyes. Meanwhile, Alexei flinched and comforted his son.

“Well, Elliot? Maybe you remembered the date wrong or something?”

“No! It’s not!”

On the verge of crying, he hugged his father’s neck.

But right then.

“Excuse me, Young Master Elliot.”

The butler almost ran towards them. In his hand was an envelope with the imperial emblem engraved on it.

Elliot’s eyes widened.

“That, that, maybe…”

“Yes, it was sent from the Imperial Family.”

That said, the results of the contest were contained in that envelope.

In addition…

“…Receiving that letter itself doesn’t mean that you won a prize in a contest?”

Anriche said with a questionable voice.

“Come on, take it.”

With a smile on his face, the butler held the envelope in Elliot’s hand.

Elliot grabbed the envelope with trembling hands. It looked like he couldn’t open the envelope because he didn’t have the courage.

Feeling sorry for shaking his shoulders, Liliana carefully opened her mouth.

“Hey, Elliot. Are you okay? Shall I open it for you?”

“Oh, no. I can.”

Swallowing a gulp, Elliot opened the envelope. Closing his eyes tightly, he took a number of large, deep breaths.

“Huu, huu, huu…”

Then, he opened her eyes and read the letter slowly.

“…Huh?”

He stuck his nose in the letter, and he stiffened.

“This, gr, gra—”

After licking his lips for a while, Elliot spit out the words like a scream.

“This is the grand prize!”

At the same time, cheers erupted among the family members.

***

The Duchy of Valois family all headed to the Art Hall.

It was because it was said that all the winning works of the contest would be displayed in the Imperial Art Hall for the next month.

As soon as the round roof of the art hall in the distance came into view, Liliana’s eyes widened.

“Wow…!”

Inside the splendid building, people rush in like clouds.

Liliana glanced at him with an excited face and asked, “Is Elliot’s painting hanging over there?”

“Huh? It is.”

“Wow, that’s great!”

As Liliana exclaimed, Elliot’s cheeks reddened.

“Let’s go inside. At this rate, I won’t even see the pictures because I’m hit by people like this.”

At Anriche’s words, the family of four entered the art hall.

Elliot’s painting, which received the first prize, was also hung in the best place in the art hall.

People who gazed at the paintings stopped once in front of Elliot’s painting. And, the admirable voices of the people tickled his ears.

“How can it feel so warm?”

“A seven-year-old child drew this picture…”

Hearing that, he couldn’t overcome his shyness and hid behind, Anriche was clutching the hem of her skirt. Trying to resist her bursting laughter, she gently patted Elliot on the shoulder.

Alexei and Liliana were approaching the painting before they knew it.

The painting itself had a very simple structure.

However, it had a unique vitality.

All of the characters in the picture had vivid expressions as if they were alive.

Anriche smiled brightly as she put her arms around the shoulders of two children, with Alexei standing next to her.

In the picture, Alexei’s gaze at his wife and children is just warm.

「 Elliot von Valois, ‘Family.’ 」

Below the nameplate, the judges’ evaluation was written.

[ It’s just a picture of four families standing side by side, but you can feel the warmth of a friendly family.

The delicate touch and soft color are unbelievable for a seven-year-old child… ]

‘Yes, our Elliot was this good…!’

Anriche, who was looking at the painting with a happy face, suddenly felt a small hand grabbing her hand.

As she lowers her gaze, Elliot’s and her gaze meet.

“You know, Mom.”

Elliot, who opened his mouth, gave strength to his hand, holding her hand. “When I was thinking about what to draw, my mother told me.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Draw what I like the most.”

Elliot nodded his head as he glanced down at his toes as he struggled to suppress his shame.

“Mom said so, so I… was able to finish the painting.”

“…Elliot.”

“Thanks for helping me take on the challenge of drawing, and for continuing to support me.”

He took a deep breath and raised his head.

And then, he smiles brightly.

“Thank you very much.”

“….”

Feeling somewhat moved, Anriche bit her lips and asked.

“You say a lot, it’s all thanks to Elliot’s excellence.”

“But, still. I just wanted to say thank you.”

“Mother!”

Just then, Liliana rushed over.

The round, light blue eyes twinkled like stars.

“Elliot’s drawing is really, really cool! It feels like it’s alive!”

“Is that right? Elliot, you are really that great, aren’t you?”

Saying so in an exhilarating voice, Anriche took the children one by one in her arms. Beside them, Alexei stared at his wife and children with tender eyes.

The appearance of such a family of four was exactly like the picture Elliot drew.

5 — As long as you guys are happy

Recently, Anriche has been in a very proud mood.

After all, Liliana and Elliot were studying very hard.

‘It is said that when a child studies hard, the strength is put on the parents’ shoulders…’

Pondering in thoughts, she gazed at the scenery in front of her with a friendly gaze.

Liliana was working hard on the swordsmanship training.

Wheeing, whoong!

The sound of the wooden sword cutting through the air was quite sharp. It seems that Liliana now has a virtual enemy in front of her. The way she straightened her back and swung the wooden sword was very serious.

‘Well, it seems that you are studying the culture you need to build up as a lady diligently in your own way…’

After all, Liliana’s happiest moment was when she held the sword in her hand.

And, Elliot…

Anriche glanced at her side.

The sound of square pencils rubbing against the croquis was loud.

“Are you drawing Liliana?”

“Yes, my teacher gave me homework to draw a hundred croquis.”

His croquis book contained Liliana, who was absorbed in her training.

Elliot, who was busy playing with the pencil, asked a question. “I mean Liliana, wouldn’t she get bored if she keeps doing the same thing over and over again?”

“Well, is Elliot bored of drawing croquis?”

“No, I’m not bored.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be the same as Liliana?”

“Well…”

At that, Elliot, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, glanced into his mother’s eyes and smiled.

“I think so.”

“Right?”

Anriche followed Elliot and smiled.

The most enjoyable part was that the two children found their aptitudes and added fun to their studies.

‘Elliot takes the lead in homework and does it first…’

Isn’t it really a major development for the family?

Just in time, Liliana’s sword training was over. The knight who approached her with a full step towards Liliana greeted her.

“I think today’s training should be enough. Good job, miss.”

“Thank you.”

Liliana, who had her head bowed down, looked behind her. As soon as Anriche’s eyes met with hers, a bright smile spread over her little face immediately.

“Mother!”

Liliana rushed over to this side.

Looking at them, Elliot pouted his lips and asked her a question.

“What, Liliana. Can’t you see me?”

“Oh, no. That’s…”

“Come on, take it.” Elliot said, handing a soft towel to the shy Liliana.

“You’re sweating. Wipe it off.”

“Oh, thank you.”

At that, Liliana took the towel and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

As Elliot looked at her with a sullen face, he opened his mouth.

“Training, isn’t it hard?”

“It’s hard, but it’s fun.”

Liliana was gasping for breath while still smiling.

Anriche looked at the two children with delight.

It was because Elliot, who cares about Liliana while pretending not to, is cute, and Liliana’s face, which is much brighter than before, is also satisfying.

“Elliot.”

Anriche playfully pokes her son’s in the side.

“To give Liliana, did you bring anything?”

“Oh, right!”

Remembering it now, he quickly rummaged through his pockets and pulled out colorful candies.

Elliot, with her candy peeled off, said to Liliana with a serious face.

“Come on, say ah—“

“Yes…?”

“Mom told me, if you move a lot, you should have that much sugar charge.”

At those words, even though Liliana was a little shy, she opened her mouth like a little chick.

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