BSS 16

chapter 16

“Uh-huhm?”

I was spacing out when the dean kicked the back of my heel, and Iel gave me a serious look.

Both of them were giving me a silent pressure with faces sweating nervously…

“Ah!”

Only then did I realize how rude I had been, staring at the king for so long. I should have shown proper respect.

“I pay my respects to King Dmitri! Long live His Majesty the King!”

In my panic, I did something completely foolish—I quickly dropped to my knees and performed a deep bow.

It wasn’t until my forehead touched the floor that I realized my mistake.

This was not how one greeted anyone here. Kneeling on one knee was the utmost display of respect. And as a noblewoman, I would never kneel fully for anyone in my life.

Even kneeling on one knee was usually reserved for knights pledging loyalty. But I had knelt on both knees and pressed my forehead to the floor. My embarrassment reached a level where I just wanted to disappear entirely.

For a moment, there was deep silence around me.

“Puhut!”

A laugh of unknown origin burst out, followed by various other laughter.

“Ha-ha-hat!”

I slowly got up, my face burning red, keeping my head bowed. If I could, I would have hidden under my mother’s skirt. The king’s gentle laughter was at least bearable.

“Hehehehe.”

The dean’s laughter lasted unusually long. Seeing me, usually cheeky, bow my head in panic was obviously amusing to him.

Even if it was my first time seeing the king, a lady—especially a noble one—should never behave like this.

“Giggle-giggle.”

“Ho-ho-ho.”

Even the maids started laughing now.

Ugh, stop laughing! I might die of embarrassment here! Anyone would be nervous in such a situation!

[Hahaha!]

That blasted spirit! Totally oblivious to the atmosphere!

[Hey! Stop laughing!]

[Heh-heh.]

[You’ll live as a mouse from now on.]

[…What? Master, I didn’t laugh! This is unfair! Master! Master!]

There was no way I couldn’t recognize Rai’s laugh.

He had a distinctive voice in many ways. On the way back, I decided I would have to pick up a dead mouse for him. My seriousness would surely be felt by Rai.

“Hehe, this is my first time in such a place, so I suppose I got too nervous. Please understand, Your Majesty.”

“Of course. Children naturally make mistakes. It is my duty to see it as something endearing.”

“Jinny, greet formally again. But this time, do not bow deeply.”

When the king stopped laughing, the surroundings suddenly became quiet as if nothing had happened.

Feeling the king’s influence, and noticing the maids’ earlier laughter, I vaguely understood that the king had a kind and generous nature.

“I greet you. I am Jin Crowell, the fourth child and first daughter of the Crowell family. It is a triple honor to meet Your Majesty.”

I knelt, slightly lifted my skirt, and bowed my head deeply straight ahead.

This time, my greeting was perfect and proper. Though life at the academy rarely required proper etiquette, I had received basic education and, after all, I was a noble girl.

After greeting, I felt my tension ease, and my heart relaxed.

“Please, sit comfortably. Marquis Lyle, would you offer a seat to the young lady?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“This must be your first time at a gentlemen’s tea party.”

Normally, noblemen would host a drinking party rather than a tea gathering, but a king could hardly move freely or behave frivolously. So inviting acquaintances for a simple tea or luncheon seemed to be his choice.

It was well known that older, powerful men enjoyed tea parties, often as part of political strategy.

“I am still young, so this is my first tea party.”

“First time? At ten years old, one would normally have attended at least a few tea gatherings.”

“I entered the academy early… so I never had the chance. Thank you for inviting me, Your Majesty.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

I sat demurely and picked up a pastry topped with red jam as the king offered. Looking at the plate, I noticed it was made of gold and silver.

I felt my brooch at my chest tremble slightly.

[Gold… Silver…]

[Calm down, you crazy thing.]

Smiling brightly, I internally issued a fierce warning. I feared the spirit inside my brooch might act up.

I did not want to cause any trouble at the royal palace.

“I often have tea with Marquis Lyle. He cannot drink even a drop of alcohol, so tea is the only way to bring him out.”

“Your Majesty, alcohol is not good for one’s health.”

“You always say such obvious things. I imagine even when he dies, he will try to teach me what it feels like. Entrusting him as dean was inevitable.”

From my perspective, the dean seemed like just a nagging old man, but in truth, he was a marquis with the king’s deep trust.

According to Iel, the academy’s Spirit Department existed thanks entirely to the dean’s influence, which demonstrated the degree of his power.

Still, to me, he remained a nagging old man.

“So, how is the academy? Anything lacking? Is it good for studying? How is life as a student? Speak freely.”

“…It’s perfect. Nothing is lacking. All thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

When I gave this proper answer, Iel, who had been standing beside the table, looked at me as if I were insane.

She seemed to think, “This is not a girl who would answer like this.”

“Talents are treasures of the nation, the future. It is only natural to cherish them. Having someone like you gives me immense relief… You are too young to understand, but it is better not to understand at such an age.”

The king was a fierce swordsman on the battlefield, yet as he held his teacup, he looked like the epitome of royal elegance.

Is this what a noble bloodline is like? Or is it only because he is king? Are all kings like this? Or is King Dikel III particularly exceptional?

“I will grow old and vanish someday, but talents will create and nurture talents. That is how the nation remains strong forever.”

“….”

“Was that too difficult to understand? Do not strain yourself. I merely wish there were more talents like you.”

It seemed our king was extraordinary. During the short time of sharing tea, I felt a quiet loyalty to him grow. Seeing the king, who always seemed like a fairy tale illusion, right in front of me, speaking to him, and meeting his gaze, I could not help but feel it.

If this was the reason he summoned me, he was indeed a brilliant politician.

“If you face any difficulties, speak to Marquis Lyle anytime.”

“It is an honor.”

“Our nation severely lacks magicians, so I plan to actively support that area. Spirit mages are considered in the same context. I don’t yet know much about spirit mages, but I will study further. As you grow, my knowledge will grow as well. My expectations of you are very high.”

“I will do my best, though I am insufficient.”

“Good. I should grant you some reward. Is there anything you desire?”

“A reward?”

Normally, one should not ask the king a question like that. There were many rules. But I was still a child, and people seemed to overlook my mistakes.

“Speak of what you have always wanted.”

This was sudden.

The king asked for my wish. I had to suppress the genuine desire rising in my throat.

‘I want to quit the academy!’

You have zero sense, don’t you?

If I said that now, I wouldn’t end up well. So what should I wish for?

Should I ask for gold and treasures? It’s a reasonable wish, but it might make me seem greedy. Though I do like money.

Or should I ask for various metals instead of gold and silver? That might be good for Rai, since the more metals he could absorb, the better.

But that would be such a sudden, random wish. Ugh.

“I hear your father holds the title of baron. How about this? If you wish, I will grant you the title of viscount.”

Isn’t that too much? I blinked several times.

Then I realized the king was testing me. His sweet words were bait to gauge my ambition.

The king seemed curious about the depth of ambition in a girl like me.

“If you become a great spirit mage in the future and bring honor to the nation, what difference does a title make?”

But I had no desire for power at all. Even if he wanted to see ambition, there was nothing to reveal.

I had never wished to become a great figure in this life.

Even my parents here were not people obsessed with status.

Though noble, their rank was just for show, essentially wealthy upper-middle-class citizens, not much different from regular people.

“Do you not wish to become the daughter of a viscount?”

The king seemed curious about humans. What kind of desires, what kind of thoughts they had.

He probably assumed I was young and easily understandable. But I…