Ch#88
“Ruska's house?”
“Yeah! I told my brothers about you last time, and they said to invite you over since you're curious!”
As Ibi showed interest, Ruska's voice grew louder.
“The Ragselbv territory isn't far from the capital. We have a townhouse too, but I go back to the territory where there's a really big ranch and lots of farms? The ranch has the best horses in the empire. My dad and brothers love riding horses.”
“Horses?”
“Don't like them? Are you scared maybe?”
“No. I like them!”
When she lived in the inn's stable, during cold winters she would sneak into the adjacent horse stalls and cuddle up close.
It wasn't a good environment filled with hay and horse manure smells.
Still, pressing against the gentler horses let her forget the cold for a little while.
It had been years since she'd been near horses—maybe she could touch some at Ruska's house.
“Then how about staying at my house the whole summer break? We have plenty of rooms, so feel free to stay comfortably!”
“Hm, but……”
“Why? Going back home?”
“No. I don't think so this time.”
She had considered it at first. But there was a lot to study for second semester prep.
On top of that, the library officially opening, the imperial palace museum, and more—there were many places she wanted to see.
‘Yeongjae Academy said they'd gather students staying over break for capital tours.’
That way, she could tour the capital comfortably and safely.
Of course, she missed the Orphanage.
She wanted to see her old roommates after so long, and the Director and other teachers too.
But the biggest reason not to go was money.
‘They said carriage fares are expensive.’
Plus, for her to leave, her guardian the Director had to come escort her.
‘But the Orphanage is busy in summer.’
To prepare for winter, there was much to plant in the fields, and with the heat making everyone sweat a lot, there were tons of laundry too.
Everyone was busy moving until sunset every day. No matter how she thought about it, there was clearly no time or money spare in their busy summer.
Knowing that, she couldn't beg them to come fetch her.
So Ibi had already sent a letter saying she'd stay here this break.
‘I haven't told them about His Majesty the Emperor yet.’
If she wrote that, the Director would surely come running in shock.
As Ibi thought of the Orphanage, Airin hugged her and glared at Ruska.
“What are you saying! Ibi's coming to our house first, right? We said next time we'd go out together during the last outing. Remember, Ibi?”
Come to think of it, there had been that. She'd felt sorry for Airin going out alone, so they'd promised to go together next time.
As Ibi made a face showing she remembered, Airin smirked triumphantly at Ruska and waved her hand dismissively.
“So wait your turn for the stables. I'm taking Ibi shopping, playing in the river near the capital, and every night in the Terins family townhouse garden, we'll have barbecue parties.”
“Whoa, barbecue! Sounds delicious. I wanna go too.”
“Do that…… No! Don't come!”
“Why? I wanna go too! Invite me!”
“Why should I!”
As Ruska jumped at the word barbecue, Airin waved her hands even more roughly as if to shoo him away.
While the two bickered, Arcel met Ibi's eyes and smiled with a rare sharp glint.
Arcel's wide smile like this had destructive power.
As Ibi thought it was too dazzling to look at straight, Arcel said in a gentle voice.
“Come to think of it, Ibi, you wanted the next volume of that travelogue we read last time, right? Our house library has the entire series. And right on time for break, foreign books are arriving. If you come over, you could read them perfectly timed……”
“Uh, then I……”
Before Ibi could shout 'I'll go!' like she was enchanted, Airin, sensing something off, grabbed her urgently and yelled at Arcel.
“Where do you get off cutting in? That's cheating!”
“Ugh, unfair, Arcel. Using your looks like that.”
Ruska joined in attacking Arcel too. Arcel clicked his tongue and backed off, but didn't drop his smile toward Ibi.
Ibi's heart raced.
It would be fun anywhere. And summer break was long.
“Then I'll go to all of them!”
At Ibi's answer, the three fell silent briefly before nodding. Then they said in unison.
“Still, our house will be the most fun?”
* * *
The argument that followed over who she'd visit first ended abruptly at the gurgle from Ibi's stomach.
“We've been talking play without even eating.”
The four hurriedly cleared the table and rushed to the serving line together.
And as always, they piled their trays high with all sorts of food and dug in happily.
* * *
After the meal, they scattered for their separate classes that day.
With time alone, Ibi thought of heading back to her room.
Because with the three always beside her gone, she already saw people stealthily approaching.
It had been a daily sight since Professor Sian was revealed as the emperor.
Ibi deliberately turned away pretending not to see and walked quickly.
She now knew well that once caught by such people, it took quite a while of talking to escape.
On her quick steps toward the library, Ibi ran into a few staff members.
They all smiled brightly at her and greeted her.
Since the Izriella incident, there was no Yeongjae Academy staff who didn't know Ibi.
Not just staff, but professors too.
Some had looked at her displeased when she entered class and never glanced her way again.
Even those people now all smiled at her.
Ibi felt unfamiliar with the world that had suddenly changed faces. And it scared her.
Before, everyone had freely shown their true thoughts in front of her.
They easily discarded manners or common sense for others and revealed their disgust and contempt.
Ibi didn't hate that.
People showing their real selves like that were ones she could be cautious of, making them safer instead.
But now with the emperor behind her, everyone wore thick masks.
So it was hard to tell if someone disliked her or not.
Still, Ibi had her own way of discerning people.
“Oh, isn't that Ibi Alden.”
Near the library, the History Professor spotted Ibi and called out.
As Ibi bowed her head, he patted it fondly as if impressed.
Then he said to the person beside him.
“You've probably heard. Recently, His Majesty the Emperor took on guardianship of a Yeongjae Academy child. This is that child. She's in my class.”
“Ah, this is the child……”
While doing so, the History Professor kept talking about the emperor regarding Ibi to his guest.
In the end, Ibi spoke first.
“Professor, I have something to find, so I should get going.”
At that, the History Professor looked regretful.
As if losing an accessory that decorated him.
“Alright, go on.”
But he couldn't keep holding Ibi either.
What if this child later met the emperor and said something bad about him?
The History Professor waved smiling until the end, and Ibi quickly entered the library.
There were still people approaching inside the library too. So she had to find a quiet corner space.
As she hurried through the library lobby, Ibi spotted a welcome face.
“Professor Males!”
“Ibi.”
Professor Males, alternating between the ceiling and blueprints, was with a guest who looked like an outsider, like the History Professor earlier.
As Ibi approached, he said to his guest.
“This is the child I mentioned. The one finally teaching me math worthy of math.”
Then he bent at the waist and checked Ibi's cheek.
“Oh dear, kiddo. The swelling's all gone down now. No pain anywhere really, right? You look tired from exams—seemed like it wasn't getting better.”
At the voice full of worry for her, Ibi beamed.
This was the difference.
People who thought of Ibi always spoke of worrying about her or thinking of her before bringing up the emperor.
