Chapter 18

Chapter 18. Kindergarten Interview

Eldarion Academy's affiliated kindergarten, located south of the Imperial Palace grounds, facing the plaza.

In front of it, a black-haired mother and daughter emerged from a cluster of carriages, catching the eye.

A woman and a child, dressed like dolls in matching outfits of milky white silk blouses and navy skirts, and a silk dress with navy sandals, respectively.

They exuded a harmonious atmosphere that clearly indicated a close mother-daughter relationship, seemingly dressed to make a good impression for the interview, like many families gathered here.

Of course, this good idea was not Lucia's, who doesn't care about what others think.

It was the strong opinion of the more sensible members of her unit, who stopped her from wearing her uniform, which she thought was the proper etiquette.

Thanks to them, she was more comfortable with the attention, as no one recognized her, but the unfamiliar skirt and high heels made her gait awkward.

It seemed to be the same for Nia.

However, Nia was probably uncomfortable not because of the clothes, but because of the unfamiliar environment.

If Nia were a normal child, she would be gazing at the world with sparkling eyes, as it was her first time out in it.

But instead, the child held Lucia's hand and kept her head down, scanning the floor until they entered the Academy entrance.

Could it be because it's her first time coming to a place like this?

Before Lucia could sort out her worries about the child, an employee approached and spoke.

"Are you here for the interview today?"

He checked something and handed over a number tag.

Following his lead, they entered the waiting room inside the Academy, where many families seemed to be sitting on sofas, waiting.

As soon as they sat down at the assigned table, an employee's voice was heard from the entrance of the waiting room.

"Parents of number 128? Could you please come to another waiting room for identification first? Ah, only one of you needs to come."

Lucia examined the paper in her hand.

'133... Is that why they gave it to me?'

There were many people, but the staff didn't explain separately because the parents were sure to come with prior information.

Five teams ahead.

It seemed they would be called in less than an hour at the earliest.

When a young male employee called a number, one of the corresponding parents got up and headed elsewhere.

It seemed that they were calling numbers instead of names to prevent the stereotypical incidents that could occur when family names were revealed.

It was a stroke of luck that even the unit members, who had deliberately concealed Lucia's identity, hadn't anticipated.

If they had called out names and families here, this place would have undoubtedly become a chaotic mess for some reason.

But without the capacity to even think about that, she was completely focused on Nia.

The child was still clutching her arm with a very anxious expression.

She had been looking anxious since the carriage ride.

It was Nia's first time seeing such a crowded and active place.

It seemed difficult even for Lucia, who lacked social awareness, for a child who had been confined to the orphanage and warehouse in that small village to adapt.

But she thought it was better for her to learn to live with others rather than her own solitary life, and to do that, the child would have to adapt to this kind of life someday.

That was Lucia's plan, to let her live a normal life again after she was born as a Saintess, awakened, and used her powers.

However, even with such a firm resolve, she felt doubtful at the child's trembling.

'But what if it's just my desire to make up for my regrets?'

Was it really the right path for Nia to be forced to be here, where she didn't even want to be, just to become normal?

Lucia couldn't shake the feeling that she had forcibly brought an unprepared child here out of her own wish.

"Parents of number 133? Where are you?"

Just then, the voice of the employee calling the number in her hand was heard.

'The interview is canceled.'

Lucia finally made up her mind, stood up, and said to Nia, who was trembling with anxiety.

"You don't have to go to kindergarten. I'll just cancel it and we'll go home."

When she said that and left her seat for a moment, Nia was startled.

She was relieved to hear that she didn't have to go, but...

'...Why? Is it because of Nia?'

The only way a child who is anxious can respond to a sudden change in attitude from an adult is through self-blame.

Nia looked at Lucia's back and remembered what Vernon had been telling her all night.

If she went here, she would have many friends and learn good things.

But the child's goal was to be by Lucia's side, not to enjoy better things.

Being here without her mother was meaningless to the child.

And the curious gazes of the children she occasionally encountered were all too familiar.

Nia's unique black hair, her gloomy atmosphere.

To the child, all those gazes were looking at an easy target for teasing.

No, in fact, it was just the pure curiosity of children.

However, Nia, who had only seen Ivanne as being kind to her, still had a negative view of her peers.

But according to Heath, she had to get along with those children.

Nia was afraid as she looked at the children in front of her.

So many. How?

The reality was that Nia's small world didn't want to increase the number of peers she knew.

So, that's good. Mom said I don't have to go...

Just then.

"Oh, I feel like I can finally breathe now that my child is going to kindergarten. My child is so active, you know."

"Yes, that's right. We have three boys, and it feels like the floorboards will break if they just run around a little bit! I don't think we could have raised them if we hadn't sent them here~! Hohoho!"

"……!!!!"

The child seemed shocked, her large eyes widening so much that the whites were fully visible.

And, as if realizing something, her pupils darted around.

'……That's what it was!'

They can't raise them. They can't raise them if they don't go here!

In Nia's trembling pupils, Lucia, with a tired face, was approaching from afar.

It seemed that the cancellation hadn't been properly processed, as it was right before the interview.

"Ah, it's become difficult. Let's just stop by for a moment. We'll go straight to the accommodation, so don't worry..."

"Nia!!! Will go!! To kindergarten!!!!"

Compared to leaving Lucia's side, all the fears in front of Nia were very, very easy.

The desperate courage of the introverted child, who had been shrinking back until now, echoed throughout the waiting room.

Even the children who were hurriedly preparing for the interview dropped the papers they were holding.

"Oh my, look at that child. How admirable. My child didn't want to go, so I scolded them, and now they're memorizing things they just learned."

"I know. I like such bright children. The parents must be so happy!"

The two women who had ignited Nia's passion began to praise the child for a long time.

*

"What a lovely outing outfit for the mother and daughter. As someone who only has sons, I'm quite envious. Hoho."

It was the energetic voice of Director Norzia.

But unlike the director's comfortable atmosphere, Lucia became uncomfortable with this place because of the strange woman behind her, covering her face and sweating profusely.

'She's definitely my age and a teacher from the Academy...'

She couldn't see her face, but even if she did, she wouldn't remember.

Not only had time passed, but Lucia's time at the Academy was just a place she went to because of her family's wishes, so she didn't have any special memories of it.

She just hoped that if the child went here, that strange woman wouldn't be in charge.

Perhaps sensing her discomfort, the director said with a smile.

"Teacher Emily, you can leave if you have urgent business."

"Hi... Yes!!! Yes, Director!! Thank you!!!"

As soon as the director finished speaking, Emily rushed out of the door, not even noticing that the information sheets she was holding were falling.

No, it was closer to running away.

'...The director doesn't seem like that. Is this place more authoritarian than I thought? I need to watch a little more.'

No matter how much the child wants to go, this is an interview to see each other.

Lucia, who prioritizes Nia if the place to send the child isn't suitable, was already thinking of not sending her right away, just as she had decided.

"Nia, you said you wanted to come here, is there a reason?"

"……."

Despite her big decision, Nia was very intimidated by the stranger's question and clutched her dress tightly.

Then, she tried hard to think of a reason, but the only thing that came to mind was that she wanted to be by her mother's side, so Nia kept her mouth shut.

Norzia calmly looked at the silent child.

Lucia looked at her and thought.

She didn't know what the system here would be like, but she was no different from the image in the book she had read last night.

Not only did she have stereotypical knowledge, but she also knew about children's bowel movements, how to make a child who is feeling unwell vomit, and skin diseases to be careful of in each region.

While other childcare books only wrote about the elegant appearance of a swan on the water, she seemed to have gathered information about the hard work of paddling under the water.

So, the fact that she thought those things were really necessary and included them led her to guess that, unlike her young and glamorous appearance in the book, her behavior would also be very simple.

But more than that, was this really that difficult of an interview?

According to Gillianna, it was a difficult interview with an uncertain chance of success, but all the questions were just asking about her well-being in a joking manner.

That's when it happened.

Norzia smiled playfully and said.

"Nia doesn't really want to come here, does she?"

"……!"

Nia shook her head quickly as if she was agitated, but the director was firm.

Lucia was a little surprised because the child's reaction seemed to reveal her inner thoughts.

Then why did the child say she wanted to come here on her own?

She wanted to ask right away, but she decided to watch because Director Norzia's expression seemed to indicate that she shouldn't.

The director smiled again and asked.

"Does Nia have any friends?"

"……Ivanne."

Whether the baby boar had already made a mess, Director Norzia laughed loudly as if she knew everything.

"I see, yes. Then that's good. Even if you don't come here, you can give your mother gifts every day."

"A gift...?"

Nia, who had been looking gloomy, raised her head at the headmistress's words and met her eyes.

"Yes, a gift. You see, in this world, there is exactly one person who treasures your stories."

"......?"

"That's your mom."

At the word "mom," the child glanced at Lucia.

It seemed she really wanted to see how Lucia would react to the headmistress's words.

Fortunately, Lucia nodded at just the right moment.

Only then did Nia seem relieved, and she listened to what the headmistress was saying again.

"So, if you tell her what you ate with Ivanne, what you played, and what you learned every day, your mom will be very, very happy, and it will be like receiving a gift."

"......Really? Every day? I can tell her?"

"Of course. There's no mom who wouldn't love her daughter's stories. So, you can tell her a lot, a lot."

Lucia looked at her and remembered a phrase written in a book.

An introverted child isn't silent, but full of stories they want to tell inside. You have to give such a child the courage to speak.

Was Nia also such a child?

If so, did she have her own reasons for wanting to come here and for not wanting to come?

Lucia felt like she had realized something about the child's unexpectedly complex inner thoughts.

At the headmistress's words, Nia smiled so brightly that her cheeks rose, and Lucia saw the headmistress Norzhia's eyes filled with sincere affection in front of Nia's smile.

And she thought.

Even if she gets accepted and attends, it's okay to quit if the child has a hard time along the way.

Adapting here isn't the only way to live a normal life.

But if entrusting the child to a place with such teachings allows Nia to smile brightly like this, Lucia thought it might be good to accept the offer.

*

The interview ended with Nia looking much brighter, and they were about to step out the door.

"Nia is accepted."

Lucia, turning back at the unexpected words, looked at her.

"......Wasn't the acceptance supposed to be announced in a month?"

"If such a lovely child doesn't attend here, who will? Hohoho."

The headmistress stroked Nia's small head and said with a playful smile.

"I'm sorry for speaking as if it were a joke. Actually, I have ulterior motives."

"......Pardon?"

"Ah, but it's not unfair. Teacher Emily is busy, so I have no choice but to decide alone. And..."

The selection of successful candidates is a discussion between the headmistress and the attending teacher.

So, was that why she chose Teacher Emily?

Lucia, unaware of such suspicions, still waited for the headmistress to open her mouth again, wondering about her unknown intentions.

"My foolish son has been causing trouble."

Ah, now I understand.

She's talking about the gifts. I guess she couldn't possibly not know.

Still, she seems to be a thoughtful person, knowing that her son's actions are foolish...

"It's been a long time since I've seen him... but I always support my son's choices. I hope you have a good relationship with my son. Since you'll be seeing each other every day now, you might as well treat each other like family. Hohoho!"

"......?"

Did I hear that correctly?

Like family... not just like family?

Even though she knows that they are already in a bad relationship, naturally intertwined as rivals, she says she hopes they have a good relationship.

'She's a stranger woman than I thought.'

Lucia had no idea that she was just a doting mother who wanted to help her son's love life.