Chapter 13
Who did he take after to nag so much? I frowned in annoyance.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Were you nice to César while I was gone?”
“Stop it. Do you think I’m a five-year-old?”
“Yeah, you are a kid.”
“Fine!”
Well, this body is thirteen, so technically still a kid. Though my soul is…
I froze while thinking about my past life.
Wait, how old was I when I died back then? I can’t even remember anymore.
My memories of that world are fading more and more.
Trying to hold both past and present in my head is too much. I can feel my past life memories disappearing.
That’s not good.
If I let my guard down, I end up acting like a real thirteen-year-old.
‘Should I sneak some holy water again and dunk my head in it one more time…?’
While seriously considering it, I felt someone poke my forehead, interrupting my thoughts. I dodged the rude finger.
“You act like you’re eighty years old or something.”
“Oh, right. I have something to show you.”
“What is it?”
“Wait here a second.”
I ran and came back waving my proud test paper with a perfect score.
Ta-da! Behold my flawless perfection.
“A perfect score?”
He looked at the test paper and raised an eyebrow, tilting his head suspiciously.
What’s with that lukewarm reaction?
I thought he’d freak out like, “How did you get a perfect score!?”
“Isn’t it amazing?”
Say it’s amazing already! His weak reaction made me want to poke him in the ribs until he bowed in praise.
“It is amazing. But…”
“But?”
“Why’s the date yesterday?”
“Uh… Why does it matter?”
Does he know something?
“I’m pretty sure your test was last week.”
How the heck does he know that?!
“Don’t you know everything about you gets reported to me? Why are you surprised?”
I knew that, but I thought he didn’t pay much attention.
Even I forget my class schedule, and he remembers it all?
“You’re like a creepy stalker.”
He didn’t even flinch at my insult.
“Mr. Hermann wouldn’t have postponed the test, so… you retook it, right?”
He’s usually clueless, but suddenly he gets sharp at times like this.
“No, I didn’t!”
“Retaking it means you failed the first time.”
“Shut up.”
If I could turn back time and stop myself from showing him the paper, I’d sell part of my soul from the shame.
“Agnès, my little sister. You failed? Unbelievable!”
He dramatically stretched both arms toward the ceiling.
This is why I went through all the trouble for a retake!
And it was all for nothing. My head throbbed from the unexpected stress.
“Stop it.”
“How can I face Mr. Hermann now, feeling so embarrassed?”
Then don’t face him.
“I said stop it.”
“I mean, Mr. Hermann teaches way above your level anyw—”
I couldn’t take it anymore and tackled Arno, pulling his hair.
“I said stop it! I told you!”
“Agnès! Let go, right now.”
“No! Never!”
“I’ll count to three, then you better stop.”
Knock knock
“Young Master, it’s Roderick.”
We ignored the knock and the butler’s voice like we couldn’t even hear them.
“Who said you could just barge in!”
Knock knock
“Young Master, I’ll come in for a moment.”
Roderick knocked again, sounding like he was used to this, and said he’d come in.
“One— Two—”
The butler came in and didn’t try to stop us, just said what he had to.
“You two! There you are. I bring a message from the Marquess. Tonight’s dinner will be formal, so please gather in the dining room. Now, carry on. I’ll take my leave.”
After Roderick left, we both froze for a moment, then started moving again like someone hit play.
“Yah!”
“Ahhh!”
I yanked out a chunk of Arno’s hair while he was distracted.
The light blonde strands fell from my hand.
“I told you to stop when I said so.”
Arno stared at his fallen hair in shock and muttered,
“A savage has invaded our house…”
I snorted and walked out of the room proudly like a victorious general.
Back in my room, I relaxed reading a book until it was time for dinner.
When I went to the dining room, Dad and César were already sitting at the long table, looking awkward.
“Agnès, you’re here. You’ve lost weight since I last saw you. It hurts your father’s heart. We made your favorites today, so eat lots, okay?”
“Arno keeps teasing me, saying I’m chubby.”
“He’s the one bulking up like a racehorse. Looks weird.”
“Right? I prefer being strong like you, Father.”
“Do you?”
Dad proudly patted his round belly.
“You two were talking bad about me again, weren’t you?”
Arno had come in and sat next to César. When our eyes met, he glared at me.
“We were praising you.”
“I heard everything.”
“Anyway, let’s eat.”
Arno grumbled, but Dad ignored him.
When Dad rang the bell, dishes started coming out one by one.
Champagne was poured into Dad’s glass, and grape juice into ours.
“I heard Duke Valdeon’s son was top of his class again. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Arno helped me a lot in fencing.”
“When you fall short, help each other and grow together.”
“I basically taught César everything he knows about fencing.”
Arno proudly puffed out his chest.
“You’ve been swinging a sword since before your grandfather taught you to read. Your mother worried herself sick, though she never said anything.”
Dad took a sip of champagne, looking a little sad.
He always looked like that when talking about Mom.
“Even without Grandpa, I still would’ve picked up the sword.
My talent is too bright to hide.”
“Didn’t the academy teach you humility?”
“I’m being very humble right now.”
Dad shook his head like he couldn’t believe it.
“Now that I think of it, it’s been a while since I saw the Duke. Is your father well?”
The Duke’s condition was a secret, so most people thought he was recovering at home.
“…My father is doing well.”
After a brief pause, César finally answered.
“Actually, your father and I were in the same class at the academy.
You really resemble him.”
It was the first time I heard that, but I wasn’t too surprised.
High Elne Academy is the best in the empire, and most nobles and royals attend it.
Of course, talented and rich commoners can attend too—
though it’s hard and very competitive.
When Dad said he looked like his father, César swirled his glass and gave a crooked smile.
“I heard my father attended for a short time, but I didn’t know he knew you, sir.”
He took a sip of grape juice.
“It was a short encounter.”
After a brief silence, the next dish was placed on the table.
“How is life in Lecenne?”
“Thanks to your support, I’ve been well.
Lecenne is wealthy and lively. I now understand why it’s called the Jewel of Artines. It’s nothing like Finessé.”
“I don’t know what Finessé is like now,
but before the Duke ruled it, I thought it was unlivable.”
“Not much has changed. Finessé is still cold and poor.
More people die than are born.”
César’s face darkened while talking about his land, Finessé.
Dad rubbed his chin with a troubled look.
He was about to say something about that land but fell silent.
“You and your father must have many worries.”
