Chapter – 12
I picked up items at the general store without hesitation. The maid looked confused as she gathered the stomach medicine, stimulants, and other items I handed her.
“Your Highness, what on earth are all these…?”
“Let’s just buy them quickly and go. I’ve stayed at Joshua’s house longer than I expected, so time’s tight.”
The sun was already high, and it would soon be time for my grandfather to wake up.
Perhaps because I had caused trouble and run away before, meeting my grandfather again felt strangely awkward. But if I fixed Hou, he might see me differently. More importantly, I would feel a bit more dignified when I spoke to him.
My feelings toward my grandfather were different from those toward my brothers.
Since I shared the same mother with my brothers, I had a belief that we were connected by blood. So I never felt awkward around them.
But my grandfather was different. No matter how kind he was, I had always kept my distance as a child, thinking, “What if I’m not really his granddaughter?” and quietly crying behind his back.
Now, I wasn’t a child anymore. I could make a new resolution.
“Even if I’m not really my grandfather’s blood, even if he thinks that, it’s fine as long as he acknowledges my usefulness in some other way.”
I used to find my grandfather simply awkward. I thought I could only stand in front of him as a proper granddaughter if I summoned a familiar. But I had already become a seasoned adult who had even reached the rank of professor.
“I just need to show I’m useful with my own abilities. I’m impressive even without a familiar!”
I had already experienced that at the academy. Even without sharing a single drop of blood, when I produced results, people trusted me.
Since I was sixteen, most of my relationships had been formed at the academy. That experience had greatly influenced my values. The less confidence I had in my bloodline, the more I wanted to prove my usefulness to my grandfather in another way.
I was about to leave the store after buying only the essentials when it happened.
With a ding-ding of the bell, the door opened. My usually inattentive eyes suddenly moved, almost reflexively, tracking the new arrival.
A young man with black hair and golden eyes had just entered the store.
“…Huh?”
I was a bit dazed.
‘I’m pretty sure a person like that wasn’t in the capital six years ago.’
I had thought my perception wouldn’t easily be deceived by the appearance of my two flawless older brothers. Yet, mocking that assumption, my eyes followed this man without resistance.
His straight legs were shapely, his broad shoulders solid, and the high nose and sharp jaw at the center of his face were perfect. But the most beautiful thing wasn’t visible—his innate elegance.
‘How can his clothes be so immaculate, his movements so refined and poised…?’
I stared at him for a moment, lost in thought.
‘Well… the more I look, he’s not that handsome after all. Looking closer, he’s rather ordinary.’
Then, with another ding-ding, a squid entered the shop and spoke to me.
“You’re here, Kiana.”
Oh my.
“Of course, I thought you’d come to the Pubbs estate first. I’m a bit disappointed.”
It was amazing—the squid could talk?
…No. I quickly realized the “squid” was someone very familiar. Rodrigo Pubbs—the one I had chased around so eagerly as a child.
Rodrigo, with light brown hair and deep red eyes, was fairly tall, but after staring at too many beautiful men, he now seemed relatively plain.
When I didn’t answer, he cautiously said my name.
“Kiana?”
Suddenly, the attention of everyone in the shop fell on us.
“Ah, sorry.”
I blinked and politely apologized.
“My eyes were adjusting to the ordinary. Think of it as dark adaptation.”
“…?”
Apparently, he didn’t understand the term. Normally, I would explain the science behind light and dark adaptation, but I decided to skip the lecture and simply concluded:
“It means I was slow to react because you look… not that great.”
The people murmuring behind us snickered, then quickly dispersed. Not many in the capital would dare mock the second son of the Pubbs family so openly. About a third of the customers left.
Rodrigo looked at me and smirked.
“It seems you’ve been holding a grudge against me, Kiana. About the engagement with Melissa, is that why you’ve avoided greeting me?”
“Huh?”
“But you should understand. One day I suddenly left for the academy, even though I liked you. As for the engagement with Melissa… I did it in a fit of anger, not sincerely.”
He took a slow step toward me and continued.
“Of course, you probably went to the academy in a fit of anger too, to get my attention. So, we both threw little tantrums at each other. Shall we call that our past accounts settled?”
Honestly, it was complete nonsense, but out of nostalgia, I listened carefully. I even analyzed his absurd words and asked probing questions.
“Accounts? Do you know how to integrate transcendental functions?”
“…Eh? What function?”
“Clearly, you can’t. Seems like you gave up on math when someone tore up a calendar, didn’t you?”
“How dare you!”
I tilted my head.
“Then when Mary and Charles ran in opposite directions?”
“That was fine!”
“And when someone kept mixing saltwater?”
“….”
“You gave up then. At least that’s beyond expectations. Anyway, it’s brave of you to mention calculations in front of a magical engineering major.”
I sighed lightly and added politely:
“Well… anyway.”
I gently held the hem of my skirt and gave a proper greeting. Even if he wasn’t someone I wanted to impress, etiquette as a noblewoman mattered, and after all, he was my first love. A little late, but I greeted him warmly.
“If you wanted a greeting, here it is. Have you been well? I imagined you’d be an excellent cook by now.”
“…A cook?”
“You’ve always been tasting things between Melissa and me since childhood.”
Another snicker escaped, and again, about a third of the remaining customers hurried away.
“Kiana, what is this…?”
“I understand. Planning to marry into the Frellai family to outdo the eldest son was clever too.”
A legitimate granddaughter unable to summon a familiar, and Melissa, who wasn’t direct lineage, could. Looks like he was unsure who to choose and thought hard.
Out of old affection, I offered him serious advice.
“But Rodrigo, in such situations, you usually pick just one. Understood?”
There was no need to scold him, since we had no more stakes. As a former professor, I also didn’t forget to give constructive advice for the future.
“Of course, now, it’s best to cultivate your masculine charm before choosing anyone.”
“…Huh?”
“Melissa ran off to the convent before her engagement. That’s better than serving you—it means she might as well serve the poor around the world.”
Again, a snicker, and nearly all remaining customers hurriedly left.
I still had more to say, but someone quickly appeared in front of me.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry!”
It was the shop owner.
“Please… please take your private conversation outside… it’s greatly disturbing business…”
“Oh, sorry.”
I blinked.
“When Rodrigo first spoke to me, he smiled thinking it would be amusing for the crowd, so I thought everyone enjoyed our conversation.”
Apparently, the shop owner had loved the gossip earlier when customers lingered, whispering, “How exciting!”
But if he asked us to leave, we should comply. I respect others’ wishes.
“Kiana!”
Yet someone grabbed my wrist. My body swayed.
