CH 42.1

“Dad!”

I came home and ran straight to Collen. Collen was riding a black horse at the stable.

Hiiie-

When he saw me, he jumped over the fence and got off the horse.

I was amazed and opened my eyes wide.

In his riding suit, Collen held out a gloved hand to me. I ended up in Collen’s arms. He smelled like wood.

“How was school, sweetie?”

I spoke with excitement:

“It was fun. Tyutor told us about the paintings and also told us about the Duke.”

“You learned a lot, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t study too hard. Take a break at the mansion tomorrow and go to school again next time.”

Can I really go to school whenever I want? Collen is so unpredictable. I burst out laughing.

“Can I really do that?”

“You don’t have to go every day. Clever kids like you can study on your own even if you’re tied up.”

When Collen put me down, Zion came over and greeted me with his eyes.

Collen wiped his neck with a towel from Zion’s hands. I followed Collen and went to the mansion.

“That might not be possible. In fact, I think I’ll be busy at school for a while.”

“Busy?”

“Yes. I’m going to participate in a play that the kids are doing at the royal palace event. I also have a role.”

Zion’s eyes widened as he followed us quietly from behind. Collen suddenly stopped, and I was surprised.

“Dad?”

Collen gestured for Zion to come closer.

“Zion.”

“Yes, master.”

“It’s important. Collect all the magical stones in the country right now. Every single one, including those at Mage Tower!”

“It is important. Collect all the scribblers in the country! Let them come and see, and then write reviews.”

Why did he say that?

“Just a small role, that’s all!”

“How could this be? Miss is going to perform in front of people in a play…”

Zion held his breath.

“Remind me to appear there.”

“Yes, master. I will reconsider the schedule.”

“Dad, you don’t like events like that. You really don’t have to come.”

A dark hero and serial killer will sit in a children’s theatrical performance and clapping hands.

“Of course I have to go.”

“But it’s just a small event that the kids are doing… I mean…”

I have a really small role, but I think I’ll be happy if dad come.

Zion asked softly

“But how did you suddenly end up participating in the play? Last time you said you weren’t going?”

“Well… I became a little closer to some classmates in our class. Then it just happened naturally,” I shrugged.

“It’s really fortunate that those stupid, precious people who grew up know how cute you are, but what method did you use?”

“Uhm, well. Like my dad said, they’re kids who grew up precious, so they didn’t hold back much. We got close while playing games together.”

I remembered the scene during our school break earlier that day when I taught the kids a special game.

“I’m glad that these stupid children have finally recognized your importance. But how did you get through to them.”

“We made friends by playing games.”

I taught children new games that were not known in high society.

<Odd or Even?>

<Odd?>

<I guessed right!>

<Hey, teach me the same. I won this round, right?>

<Hey, shake it better.>

Lavigne was enthusiastic about participating. We played Odd or Even, then moved on to betting poker.

‘Kids who grow up in nice families wouldn’t know about these back-alley games.’

The more they looked, the more children came up to try. I have to keep this a secret, but I even won money from them. This is the money that was supposed to go to the class fund. But they didn’t make it.

<This will be our secret, okay? Let’s act like adults.>

And a few magic words were enough to seduce these children. ‘Like an adult’. And that was it.

<Ha, don’t think that this broke down the wall between us,> added Lavigne grimly.

But I saw it with my own eyes, Lavigne. You were jumping around in place when you won some money playing Odd or Even.

<You’re a really interesting person. It was fun,> Angel whispered to me before we went home that day.

Anyway, thanks to these games, I started talking to my classmates.

During class, we had rehearsal time for the play. I was busy with acting advice and script consulting, and the kids wanted me to evaluate their performances.

But during rehearsal time, Angel brought up a bombshell.