CHAPTER 132……………………………………………
The academy was bustling with children and parents.
According to the schedule, the kids moved from one activity to another.
Parents watched from outdoor tables arranged by the academy.
Their attire was unusually light for nobles.
For the treasure hunt later in the afternoon—the highlight of the sports day—it would have been impractical to dress formally, as usual.
Of course, I was an exception.
Today, I wore a dazzling dress and even carried a feathered fan. I could have attended a party like this without looking out of place.
Lower-grade students, like Piace, didn’t participate in the athletic events for safety reasons. Instead, they performed social dances with their partners.
Parents observed through opera glasses provided at each table.
Laughter and exclamations broke out everywhere at the children’s adorable, lively movements.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Piace for even a moment.
Her cheeks flushed red, shoulders tense in worry over missing a step, and lips parting only after finishing a tricky move.
Everyone else laughed, yet I felt tears welling in my eyes.
After the social dance, it was lunchtime.
“Ah, I’m hungry. Duke, is there food?”
“Duke, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Duke, I’m here too! May I sit?”
Ruspell, Owen, and Ibella gathered at the Ibrante family’s designated table. I nodded at them in greeting.
“Everyone, sit. Butler, prepare the meal.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Since everyone was hungry, the mood lifted as the food was served.
The ten-person outdoor table overflowed with dishes, thanks to the butler bringing enough to fill an entire carriage.
With ten servants standing behind us to attend to our needs, nearby nobles looked somewhat intimidated.
The maids distributed the dishes that couldn’t fit on the table to those around us, earning polite thanks from the nobles.
“I’ve heard the Ibrante family chef is truly talented. Thank you, we’ll enjoy this.”
“These dishes are more like works of art than food. Thank you.”
“But Duke, where is the Third Prince? I’d like to greet him.”
Silence fell instantly over the previously lively table.
The noble who asked last realized the awkward situation and broke into a cold sweat.
“My… I shouldn’t have asked… Um, well, enjoy your meal, then.”
The nobles hurriedly left, leaving our table in heavy silence.
Piace looked downcast too, disappointed that Leonhart hadn’t arrived.
“Piace, His Highness will come soon. Your godfather promised to bring him. Isn’t that right, Professor Ruspell?”
I glared at Ruspell. You were supposed to bring him! Ruspell averted his eyes awkwardly.
“Yes… little one, His Highness will surely… come?”
Piace’s expression grew even gloomier at his uncertain words. Owen smiled and gently reassured her.
“Piace, he’ll be here before the treasure hunt starts. Don’t worry too much.”
“Y-yes…”
Piace’s face brightened slightly at Owen’s confident voice.
I gave Owen a thankful look, then pushed a plate toward Piace.
Her eyes widened at the bear-shaped steak.
“Wow… Mom, look! It’s a bear!”
“Looks delicious. Which part will you start with?”
“The ears!”
Excited, Piace raised her knife, prompting quiet sighs from the adults nearby.
While Piace focused on her meal, I quietly asked Owen.
“Professor Ruspell, what happened? Did you inform His Highness?”
Ruspell glanced at Piace and whispered,
“Of course. He promised to come… But what the hell happened?”
Owen wiped Piace’s mouth in his usual calm tone.
“It seems something happened at the palace.”
“What happened?”
“This morning, the royal knights went to the temple and took the High Priest. We suspected His Majesty might have been injured.”
Ruspell stirred the salad lazily.
“If His Majesty were hurt, he would have taken you himself.”
“The High Priest’s divine power is strong. He has far more experience than I do.”
I immediately knew the knights hadn’t taken him for healing.
This was a situation requiring the High Priest’s unique abilities, not simple healing.
Was Leonhart involved in this too?
I lowered my gaze to hide my expression.
Leonhart didn’t appear until after lunch.
After lunch, the treasure hunt began.
The treasures were hidden in the forest near the academy.
Each child-parent pair could exchange the treasures they found for golden badges.
The children went wild for the badges.
Though truly gold, it wasn’t valuable for nobles and was the size of a fingernail.
Yet they coveted them intensely. Perhaps they were like a premium “Well Done” stamp? I couldn’t understand the appeal.
In any case, Piace wanted a golden badge too.
The problem: other teams had at least three members, while we only had two.
Realizing we were outnumbered, Piace’s mood was low even before the start.
“Treasure hunt begins! Everyone, come out!”
“Piace, fight! Sweep up all the treasures with the Duke!”
“You can do it, Piace!”
I held Piace’s hand tightly as we stepped forward.
Around us, children gripped their parents’ hands and puffed out their cheeks, ready to run.
“Now, the rules. First, no magic. Once you enter the forest, magic won’t work, so don’t try. Second, treasures are outside the red line. Search within that area.”
I listened to the rules half-heartedly, keeping a firm grip on Piace’s hand.
“Piace, do you think I won’t find the treasure?”
“…”
Piace glanced at my dress and remained silent. Even the kind Piace couldn’t bring herself to lie.
Speed was key in treasure hunts, and it was true I couldn’t run easily in this outfit.
Still, making Piace the treasure hunt champion wasn’t difficult.
I had the spirits.
[East is all found. Thirty-one total.]
[South has forty-nine.]
[West is the smallest, twenty-eight. Gnome’s North has twenty-two, right?]
[(Nod)]
I bent close to Piace’s ear and whispered.
“Piace, this is a secret…”
“Yes?”
“Mom is the treasure hunt queen.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
“Wow…”
Piace looked up at me with admiration. Her expression was so cute that I couldn’t resist kissing her cheek.
“Eh…?”
Piace froze, holding her cheek. Her face flushed instantly. Why did I feel embarrassed too?
“Then let’s start! Ready—”
At that moment, the sound of hooves rang out, and a white horse appeared.
Leonhart was in perfect ceremonial uniform.
Perhaps it had been a long time? I couldn’t take my eyes off him. My heart raced painfully in my chest.
“D-Dad!”
Piace called out, beaming.
Leonhart leapt from the horse, drawing everyone’s attention.
Even under so many gazes, his composed expression remained unchanged. He calmly handed the reins to Ruspell.
“Why are you giving this to me? I’m not the stable boy… Huh? What did you say?”
After Leonhart whispered something, Ruspell glanced at me and nodded.
Having handed the horse to Ruspell, Leonhart approached me.
“Sorry I’m late, Duke.”
“…Not at all, Your Highness.”
Nothing had happened at the royal palace?
His low voice was as usual, even forgetting our previous quarrel.
Had he known I was a dark sorceress, he wouldn’t have been so calm.
I exhaled in relief.
Even if he despised me later, at least not today.
Leonhart stood opposite me and took Piace’s hand.
“Shall we start?”
“Ah… yes! Treasure hunt, start! Ready—”
Bang!
The children and parents bolted like buffalo at the sound of a gunshot.
We set off too, but running was difficult with me in this outfit.
Compared to the others, our pace was like that of a snail. Ruspell and Owen shouted, and Ibella stomped her feet.
“Your Highness, walking won’t do! Don’t you see everyone running?”
“Piace! Hold the Duke’s hand and run! You’ll lose otherwise!”
“Duke! Oh dear, with that dress… running must be hard.”
I couldn’t understand the fuss. After all, Piace was going to win anyway.
Just as I chuckled, Leonhart suddenly lifted me effortlessly.
Instinctively, I clung to his neck at the sudden height.
“Y-Your Highness!”
“Hold tighter. You’ll fall otherwise.”
With one hand holding me, he grasped Piace’s hand again.
“Piace, ready to run?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s go.”
“Yahoo!”
My body swayed with his, wind brushing past.
I rested my forehead gently against the nape of Leonhart’s neck. My heart raced; I could hear his heartbeat faintly.
I wished time would stop right there.
