CH 55

55  Monologue of a Certain Duke Daughter 5

Ever since the study group started, the rival daughters have been getting along very well with one another. As for the boys, well, they still looked awkward together. However, things were much better after Theodore greeted everyone; albeit he was still being ignored by most of them, the situation was much better than before.

The most notable change was Elliot, who was clearly delighted when he found out that he could now speak with his big brother, though Elliot still looked like he was perpetually in a bad mood even then. However, I knew that he was delighted inside. After all, the least he should do, if he wants to hide his delight is to conceal his loosened smile first.

Oh my God, this kid does look adorable like that, doesn’t he?

But, no matter how endearing he was, I still didn’t feel like getting along with him more than necessary since he was still a pain in the *ss.

However, there was still our engagement to consider. Since I couldn’t rely on Heroine-chan, what should I do to break our engagement? I mean… I was still his fiancee right now.

Furthermore, he was also still acting cold toward Theodore. Despite concealing it in recent times, there was a time that it was very obvious; when a rumour about Elliot that had been going around since a member of the demon race was captured three years ago. And perhaps, that rumour was the reason why sometimes he looked at Theodore as if the latter was his parent’s enemy.

Then again, it might be due to him trying to achieve the goal that was imposed on him by Her Majesty the Queen, and His Majesty the King. He might be trying to answer their expectation, but his effort had yet to bear fruit, causing him to look almost like he wanted to hit Theodore with how irritated he looked when he saw him (Theodore).

I could actually give him some advice in this regard, but… our relationship honestly wasn’t good enough for him to allow me to do that.

Gosh, things may be better if I actually speak to him properly during our childhood, but… at that time I thought I shouldn’t do something that might put Heroine-chan in trouble…

Anyway, speaking of this, Elliot seemed like he didn’t wish to involve me in this matter. I mean, he always avoided giving me an answer whenever I tried asking him about the reason why he kept trying to do his best.

If it was in the game, he would say ‘I’m not being recognized even though I had done my best.’. However, I knew that this place was slightly different from the game. Because the reason he was making efforts was different from the game.

Still, it always felt like Katrina (me) had no qualification to listen to his worries.

I honestly don’t care about such things, and would even force him to spit his worries out to me, yet… I couldn’t take that final step when I saw the expression in Elliot’s eyes that practically scream ‘Don’t talk to me’.

Then, as if telling me that the rumours; that spread along with the captured demon race; about the revival of the Saint and Six Gods were true, the eyes of the adults looking at us had clearly changed.

It was as if they were expecting something from us.

… Wait, was it possible that he was actually worried about that? Really?

Elliot was a descendant of Serendiaz, one of the Six Gods, and Saint Selendia. Furthermore, in the game, there would be an awakening event as well. Although since the difficulties degree of capturing Elliot was quite high, causing me to always put off his awakening event for the end game, that just showed how powerful he was. So, truly, there was no need to worry about this matter.

Anyway, currently, it was not a big deal for them to not have such power. After all, the capture targets already had high specs to begin with.

But… should I really let things go as it is? I mean, he could actually take it easy… No one would actually blame him for that… Perhaps I should prepare his favourite pancake. As a reward for his perseverance. 

Still, it shouldn’t be too difficult for him to lighten up a little bit… And no, I didn’t prepare this to hear about his worries. It was just what caring friends should do.

Additionally, this pancake was really popular, and I quite like it too. After all, who wouldn’t like a fluffy pancake garnished with fruits, a lot of whip creams and an ample amount of maple syrup on top? It was a literal deluxe edition pancake for God’s sake. Plus, eating that would help ease Elliot’s mood a little bit, so there’s that too.

“Should we eat this with His Highness Frederick?”

“… Big Brother might be busy with school right now. There’s no way I can disturb him during such a busy time.”

Although he said that, I honestly didn’t think there would be a problem even if he asked his brother to spare some time to join us for an afternoon tea party…

In case it wasn’t clear, let me explain. Right about this time, Frederick had already enrolled to the Elementary Division of Selendia Academy. It was a place where noble children who had turned 11 could join. And they would be studying for two years there to master their magic that had just been unlocked a year prior.

Naturally, a normal young noble would have already received some private tutoring on how to control their magic before enrolling there, so they would definitely become a joke if they’re still unable to control their magic by the time they entered. And this didn’t preclude me.

I would definitely become one if I was unable to do it, so I had to do my best to master my power during the private lessons.

Although you might want to ask why then must we enter the academy, well, the reason was probably for us to learn together in a group and compete against each other. After all, from the adults’ perspective, it was around this age where we began to discern from right to wrong.

After elementary, we would enter the Junior-high Division for three years and then we would go to the Senior-high Division for another three years. Incidentally, the game started at the beginning of the Senior-high Division.

That was the case for the nobles. Commoners, on the other hand, had to attend the public school in the temple when they turned seven years old. And after performing their Magic Unsealing Ceremony at the age of ten, they would learn how to control their magic for two years at the age of eleven years old and twelve.

The majority of these children would then start working when they turned thirteen years old. A small number of them would advance to Junior-high or Senior-high though, so it wasn’t all nobles.

Anyway, Frederick was 12 years old this year, so this would be his last year in the Elementary Division. And he would attend the Junior-high Division next year, hence our chances to meet him was not high.

“Indeed. His Highness Frederick has to go back and forth to attend the Elementary Division… You must be quite lonely since you have less chance to meet him.”

Hmm, should I arrange a small afternoon tea party for the two of them to meet? In case Elliot couldn’t endure the urge to meet his elder brother anymore?

Just when I was wondering about that, Elliot suddenly made a displeased expression on his face.

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“Is that how much you want to meet Big Brother?”

“Eh? Ah! Do you want to meet him too, Your Highness Elliot?”

“I… don’t want to meet him. At least not when you’re there.”

Whoah, stop glaring at me like that. I’m innocent. Whoops, did he think I would disturb his relaxing moment with his big brother if I’m there?

“Since that’s the case, I shall arrange a private tea party for you to meet His Highness Frederick.”

“Stop… It’s going to bother Big Brother.”

“… Is that so… then, I shall drop this topic.”

WHY?!?!?! Did he get irritated by something? Why is he glaring at me?!