Chapter 53
Member Caliburn replied,
“I thought you should formally greet Smith. From now on, within the Knight Academy, Smith will be attending to you, Young Master.”
“Does Smith know who I really am?”
“Yes. Smith was recognized for his talent when he turned ten and was officially inducted into the Caliburn unit.”
Baldwin gave a small nod. Of all people, Baldwin knew best that age mattered little when it came to swordsmanship.
They quickly made their way to a quiet lakeside, about ten minutes from the inn.
It was late at night, so there was no one around. Waiting there were the head of the Rinea family and Smith.
“It is an honor to meet you, Young Master!”
The Rinea family head carefully lifted his tear-streaked face. His eyes were filled with emotion.
“Lord Rinea.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
The middle-aged man leaning on a cane knelt and kissed the back of Baldwin’s hand.
“…Have you been well? It weighs heavily on me that I have not been able to serve you all this time.”
Rinea’s voice trembled. Tears slid down the wrinkled corners of his eyes.
What Lord Rinea was seeing through Baldwin was likely Kyleus Winchester—the master Caliburn had once failed to protect.
There was only one thing Baldwin could say now.
“Thank you for waiting for me.”
“No, Young Master! I always believed you were alive.”
Baldwin gave another small nod. The Rinea family head pulled Smith forward by the arm.
“This child will succeed me in serving you, Young Master.”
“Allow me to introduce myself formally. I’m Smith Rinea.”
Unlike earlier, Smith presented himself with a much more mature demeanor.
It was a far cry from the impression he gave when he had stood beside Lila and gotten on Baldwin’s nerves.
Maybe it was because Lila wasn’t there now that Smith didn’t seem so bothersome.
“I’m Baldwin Winchester.”
Smith didn’t ask any questions, as if he had already heard everything—even why Baldwin was cross-dressing.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I look forward to serving you well, Young Master.”
“You can call me comfortably. For now, go with Ludella.”
Baldwin granted him the use of his current name.
The nickname ‘Didi’ was reserved for only a select few.
A breeze passed between Baldwin and Smith, then settled again.
“At the Academy, this child will attend to you, but I will always be waiting nearby. If you need anything, please reach out through him.”
Lord Rinea bowed his head.
“Very well. Then here is your first order. Before tomorrow’s entrance ceremony, purchase a pair of earrings made from red communication orbs.”
Smith’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ll take care of it, Young Master!”
His eagerness to fulfill his first command burned brightly.
Baldwin gave a small nod.
Lila had fidgeted with those earrings for a long while before finally setting them down.
He wasn’t sure who she had intended to wear the pair with…
If it was meant for Camilla, then Baldwin could insist that since he bought them, he should be the one to wear them with her.
He thought the red earrings would suit Lila very well.
Baldwin smiled in satisfaction.
✦
“Our little Didi… you’ve grown up so much… sniff.”
…Mom?
Are you crying?
Startled, I began circling around my mother.
She turned her head away, sniffling, trying to hide her tears—but I caught her.
“Why are you crying, Mom? Didi said he’d come back during break…”
And once I’m old enough to teleport, we can come here together more often.
“Then why are you crying?”
She pinched my cheek lightly.
“A-a speck of dust got in my eye!”
“Then I was yawning.”
Mom and I both stubbornly denied we were crying.
But as Baldwin packed his things to leave, the tears really did well up.
Just thinking about the empty carriage on the way back made my heart feel like it was being pricked by needles.
Baldwin had come to mean more to me than just a male lead.
He was the first true family member I had ever had.
A friend, a little brother, an older brother.
I’d never experienced the kind of sadness that came from a family member being ill or a loved one going away to study.
“Lala. Stop crying.”
Baldwin pulled me in to sit beside him.
He rested my head gently on his shoulder and sighed.
“I’m not going far. I’m not going somewhere you can’t visit.”
“I didn’t think it would be this sad!”
I burst into tears. Mom was crying too, though buried under my sobbing.
I looked at Baldwin with a pout and accused him.
“Why aren’t you crying? Are you not even a little bit sad to leave me?!”
“I’m not crying because you are.”
“Huh?”
“If you cry, someone needs to comfort you. So even if I’m sad, I won’t cry. Lala, do you want me to cry?”
I rubbed my eyes and thought for a second.
Seeing Baldwin cry? I didn’t like that. My favorite character should be happy for a thousand years.
I wanted him to be as happy as the joy he gave me just by existing.
“No. I don’t want you to cry.”
I said, my voice quivering.
“I’ll cry for you. So you don’t have to. You should only be happy, Didi.”
Baldwin let out a soft laugh, a hint of a sigh behind it.
Then he gently held my cheeks in his hands and kissed my forehead.
Next, my eyelids.
Finally, the bridge of my nose and cheeks.
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter through my tears—it tickled too much.
“Then I will wish for your happiness,” Baldwin whispered.
Softly, as if breathing divine grace into me.
Mom wrapped both of us in a tight embrace. She kissed our cheeks in turn and said,
“My precious little ones, let’s all be happy. I’ll protect you both. Didi, if you ever struggle while studying… if anyone bullies you… if you ever get sick… call me, okay?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Oh, when did you grow so big, my baby? Mommy loves you so much.”
Baldwin looked back and forth between me and Mom, then gave a firm nod.
“Me too. I love you too, Mother.”
I really didn’t want to let him go, but time had crept up on us—Knight Academy was starting.
When Jared came to pick us up, he looked shocked to see both me and Mom with swollen eyes.
“Uh… is something wrong? Did something happen at the estate?”
“No, nothing like that. Don’t worry, Viscount Jared. Let’s go, or we’ll be late because of us.”
Mom used magic to bring Baldwin’s luggage from his room.
Baldwin and I walked together behind the floating luggage cases.
Even though our palms were sweaty, I didn’t let go.
Thankfully, Baldwin didn’t pull away either.
Mom loaded me, Didi, and Camilla into a small carriage. Jared was the last to climb in.
Mom said she would only escort us this far. Most kids were riding with friends or by themselves.
Jared and I would return once we reached the Academy.
Mom kissed Didi’s cheeks several times, a bittersweet expression on her face.
“My baby. Have a good trip.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Baldwin hugged her tightly.
“Lala, make sure you see Didi off properly. I’ll have something tasty waiting when you get back.”
“Okay!”
“Camilla, you too. Take care.”
“Yes!”
Camilla answered brightly.
Mom waved at us.
“Lala! Take care!”
“Okay, Mom!!!”
I waved back at her.
Eleven years old. Yeah, I was already eleven.
It felt like just yesterday I was wondering when I’d grow up—yet now, here I was, seeing someone off to Knight Academy.
Camilla cheerfully said,
“If Lala hadn’t failed her exams, she could’ve come too!”
“Camilla! Ahem! I didn’t fail every subject, you know! I’ll do better next time!”
Not that I could guarantee it…
This little brat is teasing a grown-up! Unacceptable! Hmph!
I wagged my finger, and Camilla burst into laughter.
“Lala. Sit up straight.”
Baldwin gently sat me upright as I leaned on him.
He mumbled something about me getting hurt.
Our baby… when did you grow up like this…
I threw open the carriage window.
Brilliant sunlight streamed in.
We were growing strong under the rays of this Bendelhoim sun.
I poked my head outside, watching the passersby, until Baldwin pulled me back in.
“It’s dangerous. Be careful.”
“I was being careful! I was going to duck back in if anything came close.”
“What will you do when I’m not around?”
Baldwin looked at me worriedly.
“I think you’ll be the one who’s lonely when I’m gone. No one to cheer you on…”
At the word “cheer,” Baldwin’s face froze.
“…You don’t have to do things like that…”
He mumbled, his face pale.
He must’ve imagined me cheering for him inside the Academy.
I whispered into his ear,
“Secretly… you liked it, right? You did, didn’t you?”
“Not at all!”
Ah, Baldwin really is adorable.
