Chapter 97

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Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.
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The summer sun was already setting.

“Look, the carriage of the young lady Irene is entering!”

“Everyone, get ready.”

The carriage that had departed the Gifted Center early in the morning finally arrived at the Terence family’s mansion just as the sky turned a deep orange.

At the entrance of the main building, employees were waiting to welcome Irene, who was returning after a long time.

“I thought we would be able to see her more often.”

“I know, right. I didn’t know the Gifted Center was such a busy place. There were many days she didn’t come because she said she didn’t have enough time for study, and even when she did come, she said she had to return quickly because of a friend…”

Even Irene herself had grumbled when she first entered the Gifted Center, saying she would return home whenever an outing was permitted.

But lo and behold.

Far from returning, she hardly ever came back, as if she were someone who had hidden a honey pot in the Gifted Center.

When they asked if she might come with her friend, she said she was a bit cautious of that guardian’s gaze.

‘For the young lady to be mindful of someone else’s gaze.’

They thought it was quite unusual.

The people who missed Irene’s absence the most were the maids in charge of her daily life.

“Still, she said she would stay here throughout the break… hohoho.”

One maid gave a sinister laugh. Then another maid, unable to stay still, moved her hands.

“I know. My hands are itching because I want to dress her up with the things that arrived from the main family.”

“Sigh, the young lady’s silver hair… how hard I used to comb it every day…”

As the maids made strange breathing sounds while gasping, the servants of the main building threw them looks that said ‘they’re at it again’ and slunk away.

“Besides, she said she was bringing that ‘friend’ this time, right?”

“Yes, yes. I heard she’s completely small and cute.”

“Oh my. My heart is pounding.”

They were Southerners too.

That meant they were suckers for anything young and small.

Then, when the carriage came into view, everyone straightened their posture and their eyes sparkled.

“Hut, she’s finally here!”

Before long, the carriage came to a stop and the coachman opened the door.

The person who got off first was Irene.

As soon as she got off, Irene turned around and reached her hand inside.

Then, a child with golden hair peeked out from inside the carriage.

Was she tired from the journey?

Sleepiness remained in her slightly puffy eyes and her somewhat flattened, disheveled hair.

“Evi, watch your step. Or do you just want to jump down? I’ll catch you.”

Evi, who had reached her hand toward Irene, hesitated for a moment at her words and then threw herself forward as if trusting her.

Irene’s body wavered slightly as she caught Evi, but fortunately, she stood firm without shaking further.

After setting Evi safely on the ground, Irene held her hand and turned around.

“It’s been a while, everyone… oh, dear.”

She was about to give a friendly greeting after so long, but upon seeing her maids’ eyes flashing, Irene let out a sigh. She knew this would happen.

“Evi, let me introduce you. These are Amber, Vicky, and Cindy, in order. They are people who came up with me from the South. They’ve been with me since I was young.”

At those words, Evi let go of Irene’s hand, placed her two hands together neatly in front of her, and bowed her waist to greet them.

“Hello! I am Evi Alden.”

At that greeting, the three maids covered their mouths, not knowing what to do, and then suddenly began to bicker with each other.

“I’m going to do her hair!”

“I’ll do her clothes!”

“Everything else is mine!”

“…?”

Evi, who couldn’t understand what they were fighting about, just opened her eyes wide.

“I knew it. Regardless, Evi is very tired because we’ve been shopping from this morning until now. Please prepare for washing and get the clothes ready while I’m explaining the mansion to her.”

“Of course. Oh, more importantly, my lady…”

Amber approached Irene closely as if asking to borrow her ear and whispered.

“Yes, yes. Then the clothes that arrived…”

“…So, be sensible and do it well, okay?”

Because she was a bit away, Evi couldn’t hear what the two were talking about.

She just thought that since Crebel’s name had come up for a moment, they were probably talking about where to put the clothes they had bought and sent here during the day.

Irene, who had given the maids some detailed instructions, smiled and took Evi’s hand.

“Now, then, I’ll explain the mansion to you! Let’s go!”

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The Terence family’s townhouse was a truly massive mansion.

Since it was a place that unreservedly displayed the wealth of the Terence family, there was not a single part of the mansion that was not beautiful.

Furthermore, decorations unique to the South, which used strong colors, were in various places, giving it an exotic feel despite being a mansion in the capital.

Naturally, Evi couldn’t close her mouth.

“Wow…”

“How is it? Is it okay? Do you like it?”

It wasn’t a matter of liking it or not. The mansion was a work of art in itself.

When Evi couldn’t answer because she was in awe, Irene added more words anxiously.

“Our main family in the South is much larger and even more wonderful than here! If you don’t like it here, let’s go there during the winter break. It’s much warmer because it’s in the South, and it’s good for playing too.”

If even this place made her head spin, for it to be even larger and more wonderful.

“Irene, you really were a princess…”

“Oh, really. What are you saying? Anyway, this way! Come here.”

Irene took the dazed Evi’s hand and led her upward again.

Before long, a truly large and magnificent door appeared.

When she went inside with Irene, a room appeared with an atmosphere slightly different from the rooms until a moment ago.

A room with smaller and more charming furniture and items.

The moment she entered, Evi realized what kind of room this was.

“Is it Irene’s room?”

“How did you know?”

“Because it has the same scent as Irene.”

It was a room with the same pleasant fragrance she smelled every time she entered Irene’s room in the dormitory.

‘It’s incredibly large.’

Even if she combined Irene’s room and her own room at the dormitory, it seemed like it would be narrower than this place.

“Now, here is the balcony. If you stand here, the garden is visible at a glance. And here is the bathroom…”

After excitedly explaining for a while, Irene opened a door on the wall.

Beyond the door, a room as wide and wonderful as Irene’s room could be seen.

As Evi peeked in, wondering what kind of place this was, Irene puffed out her chest and spoke.

“And ta-da! This is! Right here! Your room!”

“Whaaaat?”

Evi’s eyes, which were already large, became even larger.

“My, my room?”

“Yes! Of course, it’s a room connected to my room! Look at this? The people prepared everything here newly for you.”

Irene explained in an excited voice, as if she were thrilled to finally be able to show it.

Evi looked around the room with eyes that couldn’t believe it.

Really?

Really, I can stay here during the break?

Come to think of it, the bag of Evi’s that the coachman had moved in was also placed next to the table in this room.

On the table, along with a vase full of colorful flowers, were simple fruits and snacks, and a card with beautiful writing saying they welcomed Evi’s visit and hoped she would stay comfortably.

Evi stood still while looking at them.

“Evi? What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

Seeing Evi completely frozen, Irene asked cautiously.

Evi shook her head hurriedly.

“No, no! It’s just that I wondered if I really could stay here…”

The dormitory of the Gifted Center was also surprising, but the room Irene showed her as her own made Evi’s heart throb in a different way.

“You see, this is the first time I’ve ever visited a friend’s house… I would have been happy just looking around and going back…”

To think that they were preparing such a wonderful room for her.

Evi approached Irene, hugged her waist tightly, and laughed.

“Irene is definitely the best.”

At those words, the beautiful purple eyes curved softly in satisfaction.

‘Hehe, just as planned. Since I’ve done this much, Arcel or Ruska won’t be able to surprise Evi easily, right?’

In her heart, she wanted to put her hands on her waist and laugh out loud.

Just then, the maids informed them that preparations for washing were finished.

The two, who hurriedly went into the bathroom, came out an hour later with a fresh appearance, having completely washed away the fatigue of the day.

“Ta-da, matching pajamas.”

In front of the mirror, Irene looked at Evi’s and her own appearance with satisfaction.

‘I wanted to do this.’

Of course, the pajamas at the Gifted Center were also of the same design.

‘But not that! Something that only the two of us wear!’

So she had told the mansion in advance to prepare them.

The pajamas made of cloth with silver cats and yellow chicks drawn on them suited the two so perfectly that the maids standing behind them clapped their hands unknowingly.

“Hehe.”

Above all, the sight of Evi looking here and there while turning in front of the mirror a few times because she liked them made Irene very satisfied.

“Yaaaawn…”

Evi, who had been looking at the pajamas for a while, let out a long yawn.

They had been moving since morning. They had already eaten dinner out and come in, and they had washed up cleanly, so all that was left was to sleep.

“Evi, let’s sleep together today. It would be scary if you woke up and didn’t know where you were.”

“Mmm, okay. I’d like that.”

Evi, who was following Irene while blinking her heavy eyelids, suddenly turned around as if she had thought of something.

Wondering what was the matter, Irene watched as Evi opened her bag and brought out what was inside.

Seeing that, Irene spoke in surprise.

“You brought the mana stone?”

“Yes. Because it’s a precious thing.”

After saying that, Evi placed the mana stone on the nightstand next to the bed.

As she always did, when she placed her hand on it, the mana stone emitted a soft light.

As the two got under the covers of the bed, the maids smiled, turned off all the other lights in the room, and left after wishing them a good night.

Lying in bed, the two giggled while talking about what had happened during the day.

In the meantime, their answers gradually became slower, and after a while, without knowing who was first, the two fell into a deep sleep, breathing softly.

A smile was hanging on the face of the sleeping Evi.

The light of the mana stone illuminated the child who had been happy all day, shedding its usual warm light.

* * *

Clois looked away from the stack of papers he was turning over.

A breeze carrying the heat that had not yet cooled blew through the window he had left open because it was summer.

On such a day, the sound of grass insects would normally be noisy.

‘It’s quiet.’

Feeling a stillness different from yesterday, Clois rose from his seat and went out onto the balcony.

Because his office was located quite high up, standing on the balcony allowed him to see the light of the Gifted Center in the distance, even if it was only the upper part of the building.

Normally, lights would still have been on in various places at this hour.

But today, no light was visible anywhere.

It was as if there was only darkness, as if the Gifted Center had disappeared.

“Phew…”

It has only been the first day since the summer break of the Gifted Center began.

But why did this silence feel so distantly long?

“You said it was five weeks.”

He had heard that Irene, Arcel, and Ruska had decided to play with Evi by very substantially dividing those five weeks.

Recalling that schedule, Clois found himself muttering in a sulky voice unknowingly.

“Couldn’t she spend at least a week with her guardian?”

Indeed, no matter how he thought about it, that was only right.

It seemed not bad to spend time together while hearing how her life at the Gifted Center had been and enjoying things that would be hard to experience at other children’s houses.

“Yes, that’s what I should do.”

Clois returned to his desk and began to write a letter to be sent to the Terence family in a hurry.