Ch#97
Summer was already passing before they knew it.
“Look, Miss Airin's carriage is arriving!”
“Everyone, get ready.”
The carriage that had left Yeongjae Academy early in the morning finally arrived at the Terrins family mansion as the sky turned completely crimson.
At the entrance to the main building, the servants were waiting to welcome Airin, who had returned after a long time.
“I thought we'd see her more often.”
“Right? I didn't know Yeongjae Academy was such a busy place. She says she doesn't have enough time to study, so she doesn't come some days, and even when she does, she has to rush back because of her friends……”
When Airin had first entered Yeongjae Academy, she had grumbled that she would definitely come home every time outings were allowed.
But what happened instead?
Far from coming home, she hardly returned at all, as if she had hidden a jar of honey somewhere at Yeongjae Academy.
When they suggested she come with her friends, she said it was awkward because of her guardian's watchful eyes.
‘Our young miss minding others' opinions.’
It felt like anything could happen.
The ones who missed Airin the most during her absence were her personal maids.
“Still, she said she'll stay here the whole break……”
One maid let out a sinister chuckle. Then another couldn't stay still and fidgeted her hands.
“Exactly. I've been itching to style her with the things that arrived from the main estate.”
“Sigh, Miss Airin's silver hair…… How diligently I brushed it every day……”
As the maids made strange gasping noises, the main house servants exchanged looks of 'They're at it again' and quietly backed away.
“And this time, she said she's bringing that 'friend'?”
“Yeah, yeah, apparently super small and cute?”
“What do I do? My heart's pounding.”
They were southerners too.
They couldn't resist anything young and small.
Then the carriage came into view, and everyone straightened up, eyes sparkling.
“Whoa, she's finally here!”
Soon the carriage stopped, and the coachman opened the door.
The first to step out was Airin.
Airin turned around immediately and extended her hand inside.
Then a child with golden hair appeared from within the carriage.
Was the trip tiring?
Her slightly flattened, tousled hair and puffy eyes that hadn't fully woken still held traces of sleepiness.
“Ibi, watch your step. Gonna jump? I'll catch you.”
Ibi, who had reached out to Airin, hesitated at her words before leaning forward trustingly.
Airin's body swayed briefly as she caught Ibi, but fortunately steadied without further wobbling.
After safely setting Ibi down, Airin took her hand and turned around.
“Everyone, long time no…… Oh.”
She had meant to greet them warmly after so long, but seeing her maids' eyes gleaming, Airin sighed. She knew this would happen.
“Ibi, say hi. From left to right, Amber, Vicky, Cindy. They've been with me from the south since I was little.”
At those words, Ibi let go of Airin's hand, clasped hers neatly in front, and bowed politely.
“Hello! I'm Ibi Alden.”
At her greeting, the three maids covered their mouths, flustered, then suddenly started bickering among themselves.
“I'll do her hair!”
“I'll handle her clothes!”
“Everything else is mine!”
“……?”
Ibi, unable to understand what they were fighting over, just stared wide-eyed.
“Knew it'd be like this. Anyway, we've been shopping since morning, so Ibi's exhausted. While I show her around the mansion, prepare the bath and clothes.”
“Of course. Oh, Miss……”
Amber approached Airin as if borrowing her ear and whispered.
“Yeah, yeah, so the clothes that arrived……”
“……Handle it discreetly, got it?”
A bit too far to hear, Ibi just thought they were discussing where to put the clothes Madam Crevel had sent from the shop that afternoon, since she caught the name Crevel.
After giving detailed instructions to the maids, Airin smiled and took Ibi's hand.
“Alright, time for the mansion tour! Let's go!”
* * *
The Terrins family townhouse was an incredibly grand mansion.
Every corner proudly displayed the family's wealth, with no spot lacking beauty.
Southern-style bold colors and decorations gave it an exotic feel despite being in the capital.
Naturally, Ibi couldn't close her mouth.
“Wow……”
“What do you think? Nice? Like it?”
It wasn't a matter of liking or not. The mansion itself was a work of art.
As Ibi marveled without responding, Airin added anxiously.
“Our main estate in the south is much bigger and cooler than this! If you don't like here, let's go there for winter break. It's warmer in the south and more fun to play.”
This place already made her eyes spin, and bigger and cooler?
“Airin, you really are a princess……”
“Oh, come on. What are you saying. Anyway, this way! Come here.”
Airin grabbed the dazed Ibi's hand and led her upstairs again.
Soon a very large and splendid door appeared.
Entering with Airin, a room with a slightly different atmosphere from the previous ones unfolded.
A room with smaller, cuter furniture and items.
The moment she entered, Ibi realized what room it was.
“Airin's room?”
“How'd you know?”
“It smells like you.”
It carried the same pleasant scent as Airin's dorm room back at Yeongjae Academy.
‘It's huge.’
Even combining Airin's dorm room and hers wouldn't match this.
“Here, balcony. You can see the whole garden from here. And this is the bathroom……”
After excitedly explaining for a while, Airin opened a door in the wall.
Beyond it was a room as large and splendid as Airin's.
Wondering what this was for as Ibi peeked in, Airin puffed out her chest proudly.
“Ta-da! This is! Your! Room to stay in!”
“Meeee?”
Ibi's already large eyes grew even wider.
“M-my room?”
“Yeah! Naturally connected to mine! Look, they prepared everything new just for you.”
Airin explained in an excited voice, thrilled to finally show it.
Ibi looked around the room in disbelief.
Really?
Really okay to stay here the whole break?
Come to think of it, her bag that the coachman had carried in was by the table beside the room.
On the table sat a vase full of vibrant flowers, simple fruits and snacks, and a pretty card welcoming Ibi and hoping she stayed comfortably.
Ibi stood still gazing at them.
“Ibi? What's wrong? Don't like it?”
Airin asked cautiously at Ibi's frozen stance.
Ibi shook her head frantically.
“No, no! I just couldn't believe I could really stay here……”
Yeongjae Academy's dorm had been amazing, but this room Airin showed her made her heart race in a whole new way.
“This is my first time visiting a friend's house…… I thought just looking around and going home would be fine……”
To prepare such a splendid room just for her.
Ibi approached Airin, hugged her waist tightly, and smiled.
“Airin is the best.”
At those words, her pretty purple eyes curved softly in satisfaction.
‘Hehe, as planned. With this much, Arcel or Ruska won't surprise Ibi easily.’
She wanted to put her hands on her hips and laugh wickedly.
Just then, the maids announced the bath was ready.
After hurrying in, the two emerged an hour later, refreshed and rid of the day's fatigue.
“Ta-da, matching pajamas.”
In front of the mirror, Airin gazed contentedly at herself and Ibi.
‘This is what I wanted.’
Of course, Yeongjae Academy pajamas were the same design too.
‘But not that! Something just for us two!’
So she had ordered them prepared in advance.
The pajamas made of fabric printed with a silver cat and yellow chick suited them so perfectly that the maids behind them unwittingly clapped.
“Hehe.”
Above all, seeing Ibi delighted, twirling in front of the mirror multiple times, satisfied Airin completely.
“Yaaawn……”
After admiring the pajamas for a while, Ibi let out a long yawn.
They had been moving since morning. They ate dinner out and bathed clean, so now only sleep remained.
“Ibi, let's sleep together tonight. You might wake up not knowing where you are and get scared.”
“Yeah, okay. Sounds good.”
Ibi, following Airin with heavy eyelids, suddenly turned back as if remembering something.
As Airin wondered why, Ibi opened her bag and took something out.
Seeing it, Airin said in surprise.
“You brought the mana stone?”
“Yes. It's precious.”
With that, Ibi placed the mana stone on the bedside table.
As always, placing her hand on it made it emit a soft glow.
As the two slipped under the covers, the maids smiled, turned off all other lights, wished them good night, and left.
Lying in bed, the two giggled and chatted about the day's events.
Gradually their responses slowed, and soon enough, they fell deeply asleep, breathing softly.
A smile lingered on Ibi's sleeping face with eyes closed.
The mana stone's light warmly illuminated the child who had been happy all day, just as always.
* * *
Clois turned his head while flipping through piled documents.
A breeze carrying lingering summer heat blew in through the open window.
On such a night, the crickets should be noisy.
‘It's quiet.’
Feeling the stillness different from yesterday, Clois rose and stepped onto the balcony.
His office was quite high up, so from the balcony, he could see Yeongjae Academy's lights in the distance, even if just the rooftops.
Normally, lights would still dot here and there at this hour.
But tonight, none were visible.
As if Yeongjae Academy had vanished, only darkness remained.
“Sigh……”
It had only been the first day of Yeongjae Academy's summer break.
Yet why did this silence feel endlessly vast?
“Five weeks, she said.”
He had heard Airin, Arcel, and Ruska had neatly divided those five weeks to spend with Ibi.
Recalling the schedule, Clois unwittingly grumbled in a sullen voice.
“She could spend at least a week with her guardian too.”
Indeed, no matter how he thought about it, that made sense.
Hearing about her Yeongjae Academy life so far, enjoying experiences hard to have at other children's homes—it didn't sound bad at all.
“Yes, that's what we'll do.”
Clois returned to his desk and hurriedly began writing a letter to the Terrins family.
