Chapter 46
Holding my lips together, I tried to hide my laughter.
“That’s right, if it’s normal friends! You just go visit suddenly when you feel like seeing each other!”
“…….”
Probably feeling embarrassed, Kyle lowered his head and couldn’t continue speaking.
Then it would be hard for him to say something like “come play more often.” That was probably the best honesty he could show given his personality.
I also wanted to visit Kyle more often, but there was one problem.
I had become quite busy recently.
Not only with new classes, but as the social season restarted, many young noble ladies began sending tea party invitations.
After thinking for a while, I came up with a brilliant solution.
“Kyle. Want to take horseback riding lessons together?”
“What?”
“You’re not learning yet, right? You’ll have to learn soon anyway. So let’s learn together. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 2 p.m. for one hour, at the riding ground behind my house. Let’s tell our parents!”
Since I had to learn horseback riding anyway, I could also meet Kyle at the same time. Two birds with one stone.
Kyle, who had been stiff, relaxed the corners of his mouth.
Perhaps judging that it wasn’t a bad idea, he scratched the bridge of his nose and finally agreed.
“…Well, okay.”
After that, we had tea together and opened the duke’s duchess’s return gifts that Kyle brought.
The items were mostly rare decorations from overseas, top-quality fabric and jewels, and premium food ingredients.
It was too generous for the price of feeding, lodging, and guiding her for just one week.
In addition, the duchess returned the that I had given away a few months ago, thinking I would just give it to her.
Along with other butterfly books and illustrations.
Looking at the luxurious butterfly picture frames painted by artists, I clicked my tongue.
“Wow. This must be expensive….”
Feeling a little guilty, I looked at Kyle, and he raised his eyebrows slightly.
“How long are you going to keep pretending you like butterflies?”
When will you tell about your peach allergy?
The words almost came out of my throat, but I held them back.
It felt a little strange.
Even though we shared secrets, their weight was different.
Surprisingly, I now didn’t dislike butterflies that much.
“I don’t love them yet, but lately I’ve been doing more outdoor activities and taking care of animals, so my disgust toward insects has improved.”
“…Is that so?”
“When a butterfly lands on my body, I don’t really mind now.”
I got used to it.
Then if I try to like them, maybe I will actually start liking them.
If I like them, exchanging books and pictures like this would also feel more comfortable.
“Please tell the duchess that I am very grateful, and that I will visit her soon.”
“Okay.”
I set aside the butterfly books and paintings and let the butler and servants organize the rest.
“Then… want to look around my house? It’s not as big as your house, but it’s well decorated. Ah, but our library is definitely bigger and more beautiful than yours!”
The library, filled with tens of thousands of books left by the former countess, was the pride of the Brante mansion.
“I’ll show you desserts too. After seeing them, you’ll definitely want to learn horseback riding quickly!”
Standing up proudly, I pulled Kyle’s arm.
Kyle clicked his tongue as if it was annoying, but he still stood up.
Walking toward the library together, I suddenly felt that Kyle had grown taller.
‘He grew taller?’
Standing side by side, it was clear. The height difference that was two finger joints before had reduced to one.
At this rate, he would catch up next year and probably surpass me the year after.
Imagining his childish round face becoming more angular and hard, and his small cute body turning into a muscular male body, I got goosebumps and felt strangely uncomfortable.
Even if I imagine Darius as a completely grown adult, it doesn’t feel awkward, but Kyle feels very strange.
Maybe it was because the current Kyle and the villainous Kyle Diarne from the original story were completely different.
While many thoughts crossed my mind, we soon reached the library.
I grabbed the golden shiny doorknob of the library.
“Alright. Prepare yourself. Our house library, which can rival the royal library, is about to open!”
Leaving aside distant future thoughts, I decided to focus on playing with this child for now.
A majestic fortress with dusk settling over it — the Landers Royal Military Academy.
Landers Royal Military Academy
Simon Brante was sitting in an empty student lounge, studying the schedule for the irregular training that would be held for one week starting next week.
It was a comprehensive practical exercise including various high-intensity simulated combat training, camping, and marching.
Simon’s class was divided into four groups by academic ranking, and he was assigned as a team leader.
Being the leader of Group 2, Simon scribbled down the specialties of his team members and planned strategies.
“During shooting, I go to the front line and assign this guy as support….”
Since scores were given by group performance, cooperation and unity were very important.
To compete for first place this semester, they had to surpass Group 1 led by Darius, so Simon was more serious than ever.
At that moment, the third son of Count Colt family, Trevor Colt, entered the lounge.
Simon gave a light nod since they were classmates and he was the leader of Group 4, then focused again on his strategy.
Trevor approached Simon and placed a sandwich wrapped in wax paper on his desk.
“Haven’t eaten dinner yet, right, Simon? I didn’t see you in the student cafeteria.”
“…Thanks, Trevor.”
Simon had no appetite or leisure at the moment, but since it was personally prepared, he lifted the sandwich once to express gratitude.
“You’re welcome.”
Trevor, who seemed like he would leave, pulled the chair opposite Simon and plopped down heavily.
Simon’s eyes froze slightly.
There were plenty of other seats in the wide lounge, so he felt annoyed that Trevor had to sit right in front of him.
“Simon, you’re working very hard.”
Trevor leaned his arm on the table and grinned like a frog while looking down at Simon’s notebook.
Simon turned the page naturally, hiding his notes.
“Well, next week’s schedule is important.”
Personally, Simon didn’t like Trevor Colt.
If the Colt marquis family wasn’t among the top five most powerful families in the kingdom, he wouldn’t even associate with them.
“There’s an easy way to take first place without doing such useless effort.”
Simon raised his eyebrows, and Trevor moved closer with twitching cheeks.
“Why don’t you team up with me during this irregular training? More precisely, our Group 4 and your Group 2 cooperate.”
“…What kind of cooperation?”
It was obviously a lowly method, but he asked anyway just to listen.
“We destroy Group 1 together. During obstacle training, we hold Group 1’s pants legs, and in the simulated city combat, your group interferes with Group 1. Since city combat has many covers, it’s hard to tell who is shooting where, so Darius won’t know your betrayal. And there’s no rule prohibiting cooperation between other groups. Nothing to worry about. What do you think?”
As expected. Simon sneered softly, and Trevor quickly added.
“First place can go to your group. Our Group 4 will be satisfied with second place. You can crush Darius and reclaim the top position, so it’s a win-win deal, right?”
“Simon Brante.”
Simon’s lowered voice made Trevor flinch and pull back.
“If I was going to bury Darius using that kind of method, I would have taken first place last semester.”
The smiling Simon suddenly changed his expression, looking terrifying.
“Get lost, you idiot.”
Simon spoke the insult in a strangely gentle voice.
Trevor’s cheeks turned red with anger as he slammed the desk and stood up, pushing the chair backward with his heavy body.
“You damn bastard, you’ll regret this!”
After shouting, Trevor slammed the lounge door and left.
His next move was obvious.
He would try the same scheme with Darius, get rejected, and then go to the leader of Group 3.
Whether the Group 3 leader accepted or not, Simon didn’t care.
As long as he could fairly compete with Darius, he didn’t care what those small fries plotted.
During the summer vacation boat trip, Simon had interrogated Kyle and found out why Darius, who usually acted lazy, suddenly became serious.
‘If he loses first place even once, he will be called to the Diarne territory and receive education from the duke.’
From what Simon observed, Darius seemed to harbor deep resentment toward his father.
If he had to leave Pellen and Mitras and live in Diarne territory, it would be hell for him.
But that didn’t mean Simon would easily give up first place.
For his goal of becoming the captain of the royal guard, and because Darius also didn’t want such sacrifice, Simon knew he had to fight fairly.
Even though he could use family power to gain advantages, Darius had studied honestly and diligently last semester.
So Simon would also respond by doing his best honorably.
Rather, Simon smiled with pleasure at the appearance of his rival.
‘Let’s see who will graduate early, Darius.’
