#19.
Chapter 6. The Mysterious Boy
“Sasha, what’s really wrong with your master?”
While walking with Sasha, Roni suddenly slumped down with a sigh, seemingly reminded of how Allen had been bothering her.
Sasha merely blinked his gray eyes slowly, not looking particularly sympathetic. He just looked drowsy from the heat.
Roni had good reason for her complaints—not just because of the recent art theft. Allen had continued to subtly torment her ever since.
Once, a message from school had summoned her urgently, and when she arrived, Allen shamelessly greeted her himself. Another time, on her way home, he disguised himself as a coachman and took her somewhere completely different instead.
It was infuriating—but complicated. She couldn’t really call it harassment because they were technically engaged.
“Young lady, it’s time to get ready to leave,” Vivi called out just then, reminding her of the upcoming outing.
“Oh, is it that late already? Sasha, next time you see your master, bite him hard! Mom will take care of the rest.”
— Grrrr.
Sasha gave a low growl, as if he understood. Roni patted his fur and returned to her room to get ready for the recital.
Today was recital day at the art school. It was a seasonal event where students from all departments—piano, strings, and others—gathered to perform.
She had attended a few recitals back in Korea, but she was curious how music was appreciated here. She took a bouquet of yellow freesias for Sharon and got into the carriage.
Since attending Sharon’s birthday party, Roni had grown much closer to her. They often had tea together at school or strolled around town.
Sharon hadn’t appeared in “The Game of Vienna.” In fact, the art school itself had never been part of the game’s background.
Because of that, Sharon felt like a relationship she had formed on her own—something outside the script. That made her harder to push away.
Roni got along very well with Sharon. Their personalities were a bit different, but conversation with her was always enjoyable and relaxing. Sharon did most of the talking, but Roni liked listening.
Though summer dresses had grown lighter with the heat, sweat still beaded on her forehead. She dabbed it with a handkerchief as she looked out the window.
In the distance, she saw the recital hall. On days like this, the school didn’t restrict outsider entry. Many unfamiliar nobles were gathered, each holding a bouquet.
Roni got off the carriage and checked the time—about 30 minutes remained until the recital started. Wanting to surprise Sharon, she decided to wait and approached the hidden lakeside area behind the hall.
Cool breezes flowed by the lake. It was a secret spot only a few art students knew. Roni leaned against a tree in the shade, enjoying the wind.
Suddenly, she heard someone approaching, followed by the sound of something being thrown.
Startled, she turned to look—and saw a young boy, about ten years old, angrily trying to stomp on a violin case.
“W-Wait a second!”
Shocked, Roni rushed over. The boy looked at her in surprise, clearly unaware anyone else was around. Nobles usually didn’t show strong emotions openly, so this was unexpected.
She stopped him, but didn’t know what to say next.
‘Why did I even stop him?’
She briefly regretted stepping in—but what was done was done. She walked up, picked up the case, and checked if the instrument was damaged. Thankfully, the sturdy case had absorbed the shock.
It looked like an expensive violin. Why treat it so carelessly? Did he not want to play?
Just then, tears welled up in the boy’s large eyes, and he began to cry loudly.
“Hic! Hnghh… What’s your problem? Why’d you stop me?”
The sudden tears left Roni frozen. How do you comfort a crying child again?
She sat next to him and gently patted his back. She didn’t know his story, but it seemed he really didn’t want to perform.
The art school didn’t have an age restriction, so exceptionally talented children occasionally enrolled very young. Maybe he felt isolated among older students.
As she patted him, he cried even harder. She waited patiently until he calmed down.
After a long while, his sobs died down to sniffles. He plopped down, and Roni sat across from him.
“Today’s incident stays a secret.”
The boy suddenly snapped at her with a cold look, as if he hadn’t just been crying. His red face and nose made his serious tone oddly amusing.
Must be some noble’s son. I’m from a noble family too, kid—watch your tone.
Though Roni disliked his attitude, she had no reason to go around telling anyone a child cried.
“I don’t even know who you are. Why would I talk about it?”
“Hmph! You must be from some low-ranking family.”
Excuse me? The family pride is real with this one. What house are you from, exactly?
Roni gave a forced smile and replied coolly.
“If Sharligan counts as low-ranking, I guess there aren’t any ‘high-ranking’ families in this country.”
Feeling weirdly insulted, she let childish pride take over. She’d gone out of her way to comfort him, only to be met with this attitude. It reminded her of the arrogant Gale from her childhood.
“Hmph, and to think you don’t even recognize a Sharligan. You really don’t keep up with people around you.”
Roni’s patience wore thin. She slowly reached out and pinched the boy’s cheeks.
“Excuse me, but it’s not ‘you,’ it’s ‘Roni noona.’ Repeat after me: Ro. Ni. Noo. Na.”
“Wha inna aoo in’?! (What are you doing?!)”
Startled by the unexpected attack, the boy flailed around. But Roni refused to let go until he called her “Roni noona.”
After a lot of squirming, the exhausted boy, red-faced, shouted:
“Roni noona!! Now let go!”
The moment he said it, Roni released his cheeks and gently rubbed them.
It’s not like I pinched that hard.
The boy looked utterly bewildered. He couldn’t believe that this noble lady had casually touched his face.
If she was from the Sharligan family, she should know proper etiquette. Even if he was just a boy, wasn’t it improper to touch a man’s face without permission?
His face, flushed with embarrassment, started to return to normal—but his cheeks remained red from the pinching.
Despite his stubbornness, he was still just a child. Roni suddenly felt embarrassed for treating a kid like this.
She realized she had handled him like she would have with Gale. Trying to make up for it, she glanced at the violin case and got an idea.
“Well, since you called me noona, I should give you a gift.”
She took out a portable marker and began drawing on the white violin case. She figured kids liked pictures.
She drew a scene of them meeting by the lake, adding bright colors that made it even more beautiful.
The boy said nothing throughout. When she finished, she handed the case back and smiled.
“You’re the first I’ve ever given a drawing to. Technically, it’s a hostage disguised as a gift. I mean, the Sharligan lady drew this—surely you wouldn’t dare throw it again?”
The boy, now less wary, asked in a quieter voice:
“…How did you know what family I’m from?”
“Well, come to think of it, what’s your name, little one?”
Roni grinned, realizing she hadn’t even asked. The boy paused, then mumbled, “Kahn.”
He probably didn’t want to say his family name, afraid she’d tell someone he cried. Roni just nodded casually and stood up.
“Kahn, are you going to the recital?”
“…There’s no one to listen anyway.”
“Why? Your parents didn’t come?”
“They… couldn’t make it.”
Ah… so that’s why he was so upset.
Roni looked at his pouty face. At that age, not having family at an event must feel pretty lonely.
Feeling a familiar sense of loneliness, she crouched to his eye level and gently said:
“Then I’ll be your honorary big sister for today.”
