Chapter 56
“You’re so petty, Killian.”
While waiting for the award ceremony, Adele scuffed at the dirt beneath her feet and spoke curtly.
“What now?”
Killian, who was staring off at Tia on the stage—her brow deeply furrowed as she judged the acrostics and portraits—asked back.
“If you knew things like that, you could’ve told me too. Not just because of the quiz competition… I’m Tia’s friend as well, but it feels like I’m the only one who doesn’t know. It makes me sad.”
Ah, that’s what she meant?
Killian, who had been about to fire back just as strongly at Adele’s accusation of being petty, changed his mind and answered more gently.
“They’re things you naturally come to know if you spend time with Tia. I thought you knew as well. You said you, being the same gender as her, had more chances to spend time together.”
Adele, lips jutting in a pout, gave a small nod.
“From now on, I’ll let you know too. By the way, what is Tia’s favorite fruit?”
“I think you were right. Oranges. Let’s eat lots of oranges from now on, together.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Killian chuckled at the sight of Adele smacking her lips.
Adele wrinkled her nose, then extended a hand for a handshake. Killian accepted it without protest.
“Anyway, congratulations on winning! What are you going to wish for with your prize? Don’t tell me…”
“Hm?”
“You’re not going to wish to marry Tia, are you? Pfft, hahaha!”
At the joke, Killian’s face instantly turned red, and Adele—her expression suddenly hard—snatched her hand back.
“I’ll make sure that never happens.”
Her voice dropped so low it was downright menacing.
“Adele, who do you think you are!”
Killian snapped back, offended.
A wish to marry? He hadn’t even dared to think of such a thing, but still—was it really her place to stop him?
Adele calmly crossed her arms, tilted her chin, and spoke.
“Marriage is for two people who love each other. If the feelings aren’t mutual, then I’ll oppose it. For Tia’s happiness, no matter what!”
“Tch….”
It was the truth, so he had no rebuttal.
Especially when compared to Adele, who was growing up surrounded by love, stuffing herself full of it, unlike him.
The fact that she’d once been an orphan was something you had to really think back on to even remember. Adele had become a perfect noble’s daughter—graceful enough, humble enough, and just the right amount insufferable.
Surely it was because she’d received abundant love from the Marquis and Marchioness of Lewendif.
Even as a child, Killian had known: Adele had a vastness of heart and a freedom of thought that he could never catch up to.
That was why he lashed out instead. Why he acted rebellious. To hide the lack of space in his heart.
“It’s not like I ever planned to wish for that anyway?”
“Good. That’s a relief. We may be getting along peacefully right now, but don’t forget, Killian Märchen. My enemy will always be you.”
Adele raised two fingers, pointing them first at her own eyes, then at Killian’s.
“Again! Again with this! You always ruin the moment. Ugh….”
Hopeless. Such a tomboy.
But since she no longer butted heads with him the way she used to, Killian had to admit—it felt nice, almost like having a real friend.
His eyes drifted back to Tia, still on stage.
“Wow… really? This one?”
“Yes. I’ve decided. This piece is one of a kind. A masterpiece. Just imagine—what kind of child is this little bard…?”
“Ha… seriously? This one?”
“Yes. Absolutely. There’s no going back. This contestant clearly understood the intent of the assignment. Look, Tia. Isn’t it beautiful?”
During the hour before the award ceremony, Father, Sir Ain, and I judged the children’s submitted acrostics and portraits.
Of course, every child who came today would be receiving a gift from the Emperor, but since we’d called this a ‘competition,’ there still had to be official winners.
The portrait division was easier to judge than expected, but the acrostics? That was another story.
Honestly, far too many of them made my toes curl just by reading them. All they did was heap blatant praise….
“Ughhh. I’m going to break out in hives.”
“What? Really? Why? Suddenly? Is it because of the greenhouse? Pollen, maybe? Sir Ain, call the imperial physician immediately—”
“Don’t you dare!!!”
The moment the word “hives” left my mouth, Sir Ain was already about to dash off, and I barely managed to stop him.
Please, don’t.
I shook my head firmly.
“No, just… it’s so cringe. I never would’ve thought of writing something like this. The vocabulary and writing skills of our Saliante Empire children are no joke.”
I’d only expected silly, childish wordplay, so this level of flowery prose honestly shocked me.
But apparently Father and Sir Ain felt differently. Could judging standards really vary this much….
Outvoted, I had no choice but to go along with Father’s pick for the winner.
“So then, no objections to making this one the winning acrostic?”
“Ugh… fine.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m convinced nothing better could ever be written than this.”
Sir Ain, already copying the acrostic into his notebook before burning the original, declared firmly.
Ugh. Whatever.
I clicked my tongue as Father recited the winning acrostic again with great satisfaction.
“Among countless fruits,
like how eating a lemon makes your eyes squint from the sourness,
when you look at the radiant Princess Celestia,
it’s only natural for your admiration to tip out,
because ah—my eyes feel like they’re going blind!”
They call this a masterpiece? Why me!!!
“The more I read it, the more moving it becomes.”
Please, spare me!!!
For the record, my pick was this one:
“Princess Celestia!
Would you like to go to a restaurant with me?
Have some spring salad,
a T-bone steak,
and some ice cream too.”
It was fresh, and it wouldn’t embarrass me. Father, though, was unimpressed.
Sir Ain—who could out-cringe anyone when he tried—chose this one instead:
“On Princess Celestia’s fingertips,
I wish for the honor of becoming her lace gloves.
Even in spring breezes, her warmth would be greater
than any cup of tiea.
Please allow me your amazing touch.”
So cheesy… but it weirdly suited him. Ugh.
There were plenty of others, too:
“I hate celery,
I hate lemons,
I hate strawberries,
but I love tia,
love her so much.”
This one got disqualified for being too casual.
And another:
“Congratulations to Princess Celestia for becoming the Empire’s Princess. Cel,
congratulations to Princess Celestia for becoming the Empire’s Princess. Cele,
congratulations to Princess Celestia for….”
This one got tossed out for being endless and boring despite the clever trick.
After finally settling on the acrostic winner, the award ceremony began.
When had they even prepared a podium? The sheer sincerity of it was almost offensive….
Never again. I swear, never again for this kind of competition!
Sir Ain announced loudly:
“Now begins the award ceremony for the Princess Celestia Commemoration and Celebration Banquet! For the acrostic competition, the portrait competition, and the quiz competition!”
Bwooo!
The sound of trumpets, and the children gathered before the stage.
“The first event was the acrostic competition using Princess Celestia’s name. And the winner is…!”
The children who had submitted the chosen works—including Father’s, mine, and Sir Ain’s picks—took turns climbing onto the podium.
The winners each recited their acrostics aloud, shook Father’s hand as he handed over their wish coupons, and every child on stage received prizes.
The second event, the portrait competition, had three winners as well. Their reward was special lessons from the Imperial Portraitist.
And finally! The third event, the quiz competition about Princess Celestia—
“The winner of the third event, the Princess Celestia Quiz Competition, is… Young Lord Killian Märchen!”
Killian, Adele, and one other child who had lasted until the very end earned the honor of standing on the podium.
It became our little shared secret that Father, unable to join the podium himself, looked wistful even as he handed Killian his prize.
“Congratulations! That concludes the award ceremony! Thank you to all the children for participating. Don’t forget to each take a gift before you leave, and please travel home safely!”
Phew. Finally over.
At Sir Ain’s words, the children lined up and began filing out of the greenhouse. As they left, the sweltering space quickly cooled down.
Can kids even get stiff shoulders?
I stretched my neck from side to side, rolled it in circles, loosening my cramped body.
Because of the unexpected quiz competition, Father had been away from his office longer than planned. Hugging me tightly, rubbing his cheek against mine, he said he’d see me later and left the greenhouse.
So the only ones remaining were me, and Killian and Adele, who had been waiting for me.
The moment our eyes met, all three of us burst into laughter together.
It had been exhausting, but one thing was certain—this competition had become a special memory for the three of us.
