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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Growing Pains
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“You’ve gotten that tall?”
“Of course! I wonder how much taller you’ll be next month.”
As if struck by a good idea, James led Lucian to a pillar by the main gate.
“What are you doing?”
“I'm measuring your height. Hold still.”
James took out the small knife he always carried and made a small scratch on the pillar. Lucian looked at the mark indicating his height.
“Now, if I write today's date next to it...”
Imperial Year 315, June 27th.
Lucian traced the inscription James had carved.
“How about we measure your height here every time we meet from now on?”
“I’d love that!”
“Great. Then let’s see how much you grow. Whoops, I should get going now.”
As James was gathering his things, he remembered something and turned back.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Anything I need? Hmm...”
Nothing came to mind.
“If you think of anything, tell me next time. I'll get it for you. Or if you're in a real pinch, you could go to the village... Ah, maybe not?”
“A village?”
James winced, realizing his mistake, and looked back at Lucian. Having heard everything, Lucian's eyes were sparkling.
“There’s a village here?”
James, who had been wondering what excuse to make, widened his eyes at the unexpected question.
“...Didn’t you live around here?”
“Live around here?”
“Well, since you’re an orphan... oops.”
Fortunately, Lucian didn't seem to hear, tilting his head in confusion. James, watching him carefully, softened his words.
“Where’s your hometown?”
“Hometown?”
“Yeah, the place you used to live.”
“Well... I don't know either.”
‘Is it because he’s so young that he doesn’t know where he lived?’
Thinking that was plausible for an orphan, James nodded.
“Then do you know any of the villages around here? Or the capital?”
James eagerly listed the names of several villages and the capital, but Lucian didn't seem to recognize any of them. Assuming he came from far away, James breathed a sigh of relief.
‘He told me not to sneak the kid out, but he never said he couldn't go to the village, right?’
James, who felt pity for Lucian, dismissed the Head Chamberlain's advice with a grin.
“You're given twenty gold a month. With twenty gold, a family can eat for a month with money to spare.”
In other words, it was more than enough for a child to spend on his own.
“It looks like you haven't spent any money so far, so you should have about sixty gold saved up.”
“Wow, James, you’re really quick with numbers.”
“Ahem! It's because I'm good with numbers that I was able to get into the Imperial Palace. Ah. N-no, that's not...!”
James steered the conversation back on track.
“What I mean is, it's all your money, so you can spend it however you like. You won't have much use for it here anyway, so why not go down to the village and spend it?”
“I can go down to the village?”
“Why not? Ah, but when you go, you should wear a hat or something. Hmm, your current appearance is... rather conspicuous in many ways.”
For example, that white hair and those golden eyes, which brought the Imperial Family to mind.
‘But even if someone tried to imitate royalty, could they really look like that all the time?’
For a moment, James found himself doubting Lucian's appearance.
“Okay, thanks for telling me, James.”
“Don't mention it. It's nothing. But just in case, you do know the currency units, right?”
When Lucian tilted his head, James slapped his forehead and explained the approximate value of the money and the way to the village.
Once he confirmed James was gone, Lucian looked behind him.
“Ria, did you hear that?”
[Yes. For someone who tried to steal from you at first, he's quite kind.]
“What do you mean by that?”
[...It's nothing.]
Ria hid the fact that James had tried to steal money on the first day. He was the only human Lucian was close to; there was no need to tell him something that would cause unnecessary trouble.
“James was here earlier, so I couldn't say anything, but is there anything we need?”
[Things we need? Let's see...]
Thinking it over, there were quite a few things.
Spices that weren't in the supplies, parchment and ink for studying.
Since most of the items in the mansion were old, all the small consumables needed to be replaced with new ones.
Since it had come to this, Ria decided to write down a list of needed items on a piece of paper.
[Is there anything you need?]
“Not really.”
[Hmm... Ah! Your shoes!]
At Ria's cry, Lucian looked down at his feet. The supplies had included a couple of outfits he could wear, but there were no shoes.
Even if there had been, they likely wouldn't have fit. The clothes from the supplies were still too big for Lucian.
[You said your feet were uncomfortable the other day. Isn't it because your shoes are too small?]
“Now that you mention it, I think you might be right...”
Lucian wiggled his toes. Now that he was aware of it, his toes felt strangely curled.
[You're growing so fast these days, we should probably get you shoes a size bigger. The sleeves on the clothes you wore the first day are too short now, right?]
“Yes, that’s right.”
[That's proof you're growing well. You probably couldn't grow properly before because you weren't eating like you are now.]
As she stroked his head, Lucian's face relaxed into a silly grin. He curved his eyes like a puppy and snatched the memo floating in the air.
“So, I just need to go buy these things now?”
[You're going to buy them?]
“You can't go outside, Ria. I have to go.”
[That's true, but...]
The only places he'd ever been were a small, obscure palace within the Imperial grounds and here. He hadn't even stepped outside the mansion for nearly three months. Could Lucian really make it to the village and back on his own?
What if he gets scammed in the village? What if a pickpocket steals his money? No, before that, with such a pretty face, he could be targeted by human traffickers.
As all sorts of ominous thoughts filled her mind, Ria's expression hardened.
[Not yet. It's too dangerous to send you alone.]
“Huh? Why? You just said I need to buy new shoes.”
She heard him grumble, but his safety was her priority.
[This won't do. Let's start sword training today.]
Lucian, who had been pouting about not being able to go to the village, widened his eyes and beamed.
“Wow! Finally!”
[Let's go to the village when you can at least protect yourself. The path isn't that far, but you could run into a pack of wild dogs, or someone strange could pick a fight with you in town.]
“Yes! Okay!”
[...Aren't you upset? That I'm not letting you go.]
“I was about to be a little upset, but you said you'd teach me swordsmanship. I want to learn that first.”
It was true that Lucian wanted to learn something more, be it swordsmanship or archery.
After organizing the supplies that had arrived that day, they headed to the training grounds.
After having Lucian do some light jogging and stretching, Ria went down to the armory.
[This should do, right?]
From among the numerous weapons, she chose a sword that Lucian might be able to use.
“Is that the one I'll be using?”
He was already filled with anticipation.
[Yes, you'll be using this from today. It seems a little big for you... but it should be fine.]
“Wow! I want to swing it right now!”
As Lucian impatiently begged for the sword, Ria calmly handed it to him.
[First, the basic stance, starting with a vertical slash...?]
Ria trailed off mid-sentence and stared at Lucian. His face was beet red as he struggled.
“Hnngh! Hah! I-It's heavier than I thought... Aaah!”
Barely holding it up with both hands, he carefully grasped the hilt and tried to lift the sword. But unable to bear its weight, he tumbled forward.
After that, he tried everything he could to lift the sword, but he struggled even to hold it, let alone swing it.
“Hyaaaaaaaah!”
[...It's an adult-sized sword, so I guess it's too heavy for you.]
“I-It's okay! I can do it!”
[Sigh, put it down quickly before you get hurt.]
Ria managed to pry the sword away from Lucian. Seeing it in her hands, Lucian finally burst into tears.
***
“Dammit, where the hell am I now?”
A man with long, flowing red hair grumbled in irritation.
With every step he took, the peacefully resting animals would startle and flee, or tremble and wet themselves in fear.
It was as if they were looking at a being that should not exist.
Ignoring them, the man glanced around.
He was lost. In the middle of a forest, no less.
“Tsk... This is strange, no matter how I think about it. I was sure this was the right way.”
The forest couldn't have changed. It was simply that the man couldn't find the path.
“I got a bunch of books this time. That ghost will be happy, right?”
The man grinned, thinking of the presents in his subspace.
It was a deadly smile that could captivate any human, regardless of age or gender.
“Just you wait, ghost! I'm on my way!”
The man thought of the ghost living in the huge mansion and hopped around excitedly. But that was short-lived, as he soon started wandering in circles again, trying to find his way.
***
“*Sniffle*, Ria is stupid.”
Lucian hugged his knees, his eyes welling with tears. Today was the second time he had fought with Ria.
It wasn't so much a physical fight as it was Lucian sulking and avoiding her on his own.
He'd gotten into big trouble when he went to the basement before, so this time he'd come to the forest. Only to a spot where the mansion was still clearly visible, of course.
[...Lucian! Stop this and come back!]
Sure enough, he could hear Ria calling for him from the edge of the forest. Lucian, with a sullen expression, yelled back in the direction of the voice.
“No! I'm not coming back until you give me the sword!”
[How many times do I have to tell you, you can't lift it! You're going to get hurt!]
“I'm still going to lift it!”
Of course, the sword *was* heavy.
He knew full well that he could barely lift it, but he was just disappointed that the swordsmanship lesson he had anticipated so much was ending so emptily, with him unable to do anything.
He just hated Ria for blindly saying no without understanding how he felt.
[Are you really going to be like this!]
Ria's voice was tinged with anger. Lucian flinched and peeked out from behind a tree.
In the distance, he could see Ria with her hands on her hips.
But why was her hair floating in the air? It just made her look even scarier.
[I don't care! Live there for the rest of your life for all I care!]
Clearly furious, Ria whipped her head around and headed for the mansion. Startled, Lucian hesitantly stood up and watched her walk away.
Feeling a fresh wave of sorrow, his face crumpled.
“Waaaaah! Ria is a stupid idiot!”
Lucian began to cry his heart out as if it were the saddest day in the world.
In truth, Lucian didn't understand why he felt so upset.
Somehow, he felt he'd become more of a crybaby since coming here.
Before, he had always been too busy watching others' reactions to ever cry his heart out like this; he had desperately tried not to show his tears.
Young Lucian had yet to realize that he had opened his heart to Ria and, because of that, held great expectations for her.
Thanks to Ria, who accepted all his tantrums and gave him the attention and love he was receiving for the first time, Lucian was slowly and unknowingly learning a variety of emotions.
Of course, he was still far from noticing this change in himself. He just wanted to release his current sorrow.
“Uwaaaaaah! Riaaa!”
In the end, seeking the comfort only Ria could provide, Lucian started walking, his face a mess of tears and snot.
Blinded by his tears, he didn't realize. He was heading not toward the mansion, but deeper into the forest.
