Ch#104
The Duchess hugged Ibi tightly once before letting her go.
A fleeting look of regret appeared and vanished on Ibi's face at the receding warmth.
“Thank you for coming, Ibi. It must have been tiring after such a long ride. Wouldn't you like to rest a bit?”
“No, I'm really fine. Arcel suggested we stop and rest several times on the way.”
She hadn't ridden in a carriage for that long before, so the trip had been a bit tough.
'I rode one when coming to Yeongjae Academy, but...'
Direct carriages straight to the destination were so expensive that they had stopped at multiple cities to switch, which actually prevented any motion sickness.
Airin's house was in the capital, so there was no need for long rides there either.
So at first, she had been excited in Arcel's carriage, but as time passed, she grew quieter.
Her stomach felt queasy, and her head heavy for some reason.
Each time, Arcel had amazingly suggested stopping the carriage, saying he was a bit tired himself.
Thanks to that, Ibi was able to get out several times midway and look around.
“How spirited she is. Still, your stomach probably isn't fully settled. I'll have some cool sorbet prepared, so in the meantime, why don't you show Ibi around the mansion, Arcel?”
“Of course. Come this way, Ibi.”
As Arcel held out his hand, Ibi naturally approached and grabbed it firmly.
At the sight, the servants' eyes—which had already widened a bit when Ibi got down—grew even larger.
Among the Duke's household, Arcel was the hardest for the servants to deal with.
He was only thirteen. Objectively young, yet everyone checked their attire and worried about mistakes when facing him.
So when it was said their young master was a candidate for the Emperor's adoption, they nodded as if it made perfect sense.
He was already a genius renowned across the empire. He never made mistakes, always calm and composed.
Thus, no one but the ducal couple treated Arcel casually, yet here was a young child boldly grabbing his hand without fear.
What surprised the servants even more was Arcel's reaction.
Just as at Yeongjae Academy, there were many outside who targeted Arcel.
Especially in summer, when families from all sorts of houses flooded this famously beautiful estate.
“We were caught in a sudden downpour on the way... We're truly sorry, but could you graciously allow us to stay just a short while?”
Families with young daughters knocked on the duke's door with blatantly obvious lies.
“My greatly lacking young daughter would consider it the greatest honor to be a conversation partner for the youngest young master, even briefly.”
The servants inwardly clicked their tongues even at the shameless display of pushing their children forward.
Each time, Arcel treated them politely in his own way.
Then they would presumptuously approach him, deliberately trying to grab his hand or link arms.
But Arcel never allowed that.
Smack! He brushed them off with a sharp sound loud enough to echo, then continued the conversation with his usual serene expression as if nothing had happened.
He neither got angry nor warned them not to.
It was utterly indifferent, as if swatting away a real fly.
The only one Arcel had ever allowed by his side until now was Ruska.
Even then, when Ruska grabbed his arm to drag him into sparring, Arcel would kick him away annoyedly—it wasn't like they stayed attached long.
'Just who is that child?'
For Arcel to extend his hand first and treat her so intimately.
Not just the Duchess, but smiles they couldn't hide bloomed on the servants' faces too.
The duke's household was fully prepared to sincerely welcome this young guest.
* * *
“Wow......”
The moment she opened the door holding Arcel's hand, Ibi couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
“It's the library.”
A place as vast as Yeongjae Academy's library existed inside the mansion.
Three stories high, occupying an entire annex.
The library was quiet, but not empty of people.
Some were borrowing books here and there, others sat at desks hurriedly copying something.
That made Ibi like it even more.
'Everyone can read books freely!'
Back when she attended upper school, Ibi had to sneak into the library avoiding others' eyes.
Many frowned as if they didn't want to see her enter.
Even Yeongjae Academy was the same.
Though it was a space all students could use freely, noble students subtly disliked commoner students coming in.
If they kept entering to read or study, they gave open glares or muttered disparaging remarks loud enough to be heard.
As long as Yeongjae Academy staff didn't catch them.
Even at Yeongjae Academy, the invisible walls of status loomed high.
So she had assumed the duke's library was prepared solely for the duke's family too.
Yet like the research institute in the palace she had toured before, it bustled unexpectedly with people using it.
“Surprised?”
“Yes. There are so many people.”
“Father runs many research gatherings here in the mansion. So we have all the newest books from across the empire for each field.”
When Arcel became famous as a genius, people marveled that like father, like son.
Because Arcel's father, Duke Kailun, had also been renowned as a genius since childhood.
He had entered Yeongjae Academy and back then competed for 1st and 2nd place with Clois, another genius.
After becoming duke, he assisted Clois in state affairs but also sponsored costly research at a private research institute—not an academy—in his territory.
“There's a small town a bit further away that's almost like an academy. People doing unique research gather and live there, and they often hold academic festivals here.”
Before she knew it, faint pride colored Arcel's voice.
Seeing Arcel like that made Ibi feel good too for some reason.
'Arcel rarely talks about himself.'
When Ibi spoke of the orphanage, Arcel listened attentively without a hint of annoyance.
He didn't just listen. He asked who that friend was, how many were at the orphanage, how they lived in which rooms, what the Director was like, and more.
Arcel was curious about Ibi's life.
He didn't know it, but Ibi was overjoyed each time he asked such questions.
Because it meant he wanted to know more about her while listening to her stories.
'So I wanted to hear about Arcel too.'
Since he almost never spoke of himself, she thought he just didn't like sharing.
So it had been a bit regrettable, but...
“Before entering Yeongjae Academy, I often participated in the gatherings here too. And...”
Ibi listened intently, not missing a word of Arcel's.
'Arcel knew what I like and dislike.'
So she wanted to know what Arcel liked and disliked too.
After explaining the library at length as well as various places in the duchy, Arcel suddenly turned his head, looked at the building across, and said.
“Ibi, have you ever played any musical instruments?”
* * *
“That child has come?”
Duke Kailun handed his bag to the head butler and received a brief report on today's mansion events.
His eyes widened at the mention of Arcel's guest.
Having been at the palace continuously, he knew well who Ibi Alden was.
'The child His Majesty cherishes so specially, even revealing himself as her guardian.'
He knew Arcel was close to her, but to bring her to the mansion.
And even go fetch her at dawn from another house.
'It's the first time Arcel's been so eager.'
Having never seen her himself, the duke grew curious.
“So, where is she now?”
“Still in the annex. Seemed to be playing with instruments in Madam's classroom. Ah, here they come.”
At the head butler's words, the duke looked toward the path connecting to the annex.
There were Ibi and Arcel, holding hands tightly as they returned.
Seeing them chatter nonstop and laugh about something so fun, he rubbed his eyes briefly.
Was my son a child who could laugh like that?
Then suddenly, the duke felt a strange familiarity.
“That child...”
A name flashed through his mind.
Lilian Shell.
The child resembled her.
