Ch#129
The day had finally arrived to attend the God's Natural Numbers gathering.
Evi and Irene had been surrounded by three maids since morning.
"Here! Curl your hair a bit more!"
"Would this hair accessory be better?"
"A smaller bag!"
They had spent all day since Evi's return agonizing over what to wear, yet even on the morning of departure, everyone was still bickering over what was best.
Amid the maids braiding her hair into twin tails, Evi looked at the invitation Irene had given her.
She had already received her brooch, but she was excited to see the other three receive theirs, and above all, she looked forward immensely to meeting Professor Males and the seniors who could be called her predecessors.
"That excited?"
"Yes!"
There had been no one at the Genius Academy she could call a senior since it was the first batch of students after reopening, but to think they'd have them now.
"By the way, Irene. Where is this Libera Hotel?"
"It's the largest hotel in the hotel district at the capital's center. It's glamorous and beautiful... Sometimes foreign royalty stay in the special suites here instead of the Imperial Palace when they visit. It's built by the river, so the scenery is pretty too."
Irene's eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"Right next to it, our Terins Family bought some land. We're planning to build a top-notch luxury hotel within ten years, so look forward to it."
"Y-Yes... But isn't a hotel like this huge?"
"It is. This place has four hotel buildings alone."
"Then where do we go after getting off?"
"Hmm, there should be a separate venue inside the hotel used for seminars, so we can just ask there. They probably rented a small hall."
Irene clenched her fist as she said that.
"Anyway, from what I looked into, there are quite a few major figures of the empire attending, right? If I can get the brooch and officially be called their junior... Hehe... Hehehehe..."
When she first clashed with Izriella, she had honestly felt daunted.
Her reason for entering the capital's Genius Academy was to build connections here and pave the way for the Terins Family's future advances.
It had been the right choice, but there were times her heart stung thinking she had dashed her parents' and sister's expectations.
Fortunately, even her sister had come in person to tell her not to worry, but she knew there would be nobles who resented her, so the path ahead wouldn't be easy.
'Quality over quantity, right?'
Upon hearing she had received the God's Natural Numbers Brooch, she got dozens of letters from her family saying 'Our Irene is the best!'
With this, she could achieve her original goal anew, so her shoulders naturally puffed up with pride.
Just then, the sound of a carriage arriving came, and a maid came up to say,
"Arsel Kailun and Ruska Ragselb have arrived."
"Hmph, no reply to my letter, so I thought they might have forgotten we were going together, but apparently not. Let's go down, Evi."
"Yes!"
It hadn't been many days since they parted, but missing the lively days playing together, Evi happily hurried downstairs.
"Arsel! Ruska!"
"Evi!"
The two waved gladly toward Evi.
As Evi approached them closely, she tilted her head.
She had thought both had quietly spent their time at home resting after she and Irene left. But...
"Why do you both look so tired?"
"Huh? Oh, that..."
They couldn't exactly say they had been investigating Count Aradman's family and Evi's past right up until coming here.
"You really studied like Irene said?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! The second semester starts right after we return, and there's the Seasonal Festival too, so we didn't have enough study time and did it in advance. Haha!"
Irene, coming down the stairs, made a face that said she doubted Ruska had studied so diligently.
In the meantime, Arsel naturally extended his hand to Evi. She took it right away.
"Shall we go then?"
* * *
As Irene said, Libera Hotel was located in the capital's center, the most glamorous and bustling area.
Even so, behind the building facing the road, there were separate buildings for guests, making the center feel quiet and cozy.
Returning to the capital's hustle after so long, Evi couldn't tear her eyes from the window.
Spotting a large candy store, she memorized its location.
'Next time I go out with His Majesty, I should say I want to go there.'
Evi recalled how Clois ate sweets better than expected.
'So he must like candy too, right?'
By then, the carriage had arrived at Libera Hotel.
Upon stating the names of those aboard, the hotel staff welcomed them gladly and let the carriage in.
Then, as if no more were coming, they closed the main gate.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Seeing that, Irene looked on with eyes saying even this happens.
"What's wrong, Irene?"
"No, why are they closing the gate? This side has seminar buildings, restaurants, and cafes, so it's usually busy all day..."
"Huh? Hey. There's no one here?"
Ruska spoke up after looking around the hotel entrance.
As he said, the hotel entrance, which should normally be bustling with people, was unusually quiet.
"What's going on...?"
As everyone puzzled, a crowd of people suddenly poured out from inside.
"Oh, my dear! You've come!"
Naturally, the first out was Professor Males.
He ran up, scooped Evi into a hug, and beamed.
"My, how much fun did you have to come back so tanned? Did those guys take good care of you?"
"Yes! It was so much fun! And..."
About to mention Clois, Evi shut her mouth.
'His Majesty said not to tell everyone he was out resting.'
Knight Hilde had said the villa's location must remain secret too.
"And?"
"I missed you too, Professor."
"Oh, good girl! Look at this! Our dear thinks of her teacher like this."
Professor Males, still holding Evi, turned to the disciples who had followed him out and said.
He also brought the other three children to his side, as if not forgetting them.
"Here, these kids are your new little juniors."
Then the group that poured out shouted excitedly upon seeing the four children beside the professor.
"Little junior! Finally, new little ones in our group!"
"Heavens. Four of them! What a miracle!"
The four children gaped wide-eyed in surprise at the many people surrounding them.
Professor Males puffed up proudly at the sight.
"They all wanted to see you so much they gathered like this. Honestly, numerically it's not that many, but there's a guy who became an ambassador abroad, one who rose to a ministerial post in the Imperial Palace. Even the guy who designed this hall, built it, decorated it—all my disciples. Who knew? Thanks to that, we get to use the whole place comfortably today."
"The whole... place?"
"Yes! Otherwise, too many people stick around wanting to get friendly. Come on in! Lots more waiting inside!"
Professor Males grinned broadly as he led his new disciples inside.
* * *
At that moment, Clois was gazing at an old legal code and documents he had prepared long ago.
They were papers he had readied to designate an heir.
To become the heir, several processes were required.
Above all, first, the person had to be registered as Clois's adopted child.
Even ordinary families needed many documents for adoption, but becoming the emperor's adopted child required dozens of times more.
Things he had prepared long ago and left untouched for a while.
"...Hoo."
He squinted and rubbed his brow while reading the tiny print in the legal code.
Upon returning to the Imperial Palace and handling urgent matters, he had immediately sought these documents.
Because the thoughts from the villa kept circling his mind.
'If Evi became my daughter.'
That single thought filled his head.
If he could become that child's father and watch her grow from now on...
Ridiculously, just thinking it made his throat tighten.
A child who ate well, laughed well, and chattered well by his side.
Other children might fear the Imperial Knight Order a bit, but Evi faced the bear-like knights without any fear.
As if she firmly believed they would protect her.
Clois's thoughts spiraled.
She's eating well, so soon she'll grow as big as her peers.
She likes foreign language and math studies, and he'll whisper he'll buy her his favorite candy.
Sometimes she might cling to his arm, whining to go play outside.
Just imagining it made Clois's heart race.
These were his small wishes to one day share with his daughter.
'Not Evebien.'
He knew. Even so...
'If Evi accepts and acknowledges me.'
Clois wanted to become that little child's father, a solid ground and vast sky for her.
So she could live happily and joyfully between them.
* * *
As Evi and the others entered the hall, a huge cheer and shout erupted.
"Everyone, our little juniors have finally arrived!"
Bang! Bang! Small fireworks burst inside the hall, showering colorful paper and sparkles overhead.
At the spectacle, the four children froze.
"Heavens..."
On the wall of the hotel's largest hall hung
[Congrats! God's Natural Numbers Welcomes New Juniors After 26 Years!]
with the four names listed.
Seeing Professor Males and the four enter, Lucy—among the members—picked up a 'simple amplifier designed most mathematically to carry voices to the ends' and shouted,
"Applause for the new juniors joining after 26 years! And!"
Excited, Lucy shouted even louder,
"Thanks to the little juniors, something tremendous has happened!"
