After Father left to the border and as Mother moved to speak privately with Duchess Valemont, I remained standing awkwardly near the corner of the hall. My hands fidgeted behind my back, wooden-sword calluses stinging faintly. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do now. Do I need to try speaking first? No, why would I try to start a conversation with this girl.
Maybe… I just stand here and pretend I'm invisible? Maybe she will go to the garden to play by herself? Who am I kidding? If I don't go, she will come for sure.
As I was thinking, a soft shuffle of shoes made me look up.
The Valemont girl had walked closer—quietly, almost like she was afraid to disturb the air around us. Her eyes were clear and bright, reflecting the sunlight from the tall windows.
She stopped only a step away, her hands clasped behind her dress.
Girl: "You don't like this, do you?"
I blinked, caught off guard. Of all things she could've said, that wasn't what I expected.
Kael: "W-what do you mean?"
She tilted her head slightly, studying me with curious eyes.
Girl: "Your shoulders were stiff. And you looked at the floor almost the whole time." A soft pause. "People do that when they don't want to be here."
…She noticed all that?
I shifted uncomfortably, glancing away.
Kael: "It's… not that. I just… don't like fancy greetings. Or crowded places."
She nodded as if she understood perfectly.
Girl: "Me too."
Silence settled between us—not uncomfortable, just… very quiet, like neither of us knew what to say. I wanted to leave this conversation as soon as possible. And then...
Her gaze drifted to the wooden sword tucked behind my belt.
Girl: "Is it true? You train with that every day?"
I caught off guard, then nodded.
Kael: "Yeah. I'm trying to get stronger."
Her eyes sparkled slightly.
Girl: "To protect your home?"
A tiny jolt ran through me. That wasn't something a normal six-year-old should say so seriously.
Kael: "Yes… something like that."
She looked down at her shoes.
Girl: "I train too, you know. Not with a sword." A faint smile pulled at her lips. "With mana."
Mana? At her age?
I frowned.
Kael: "But… you're six. You shouldn't be able to use mana yet."
Girl: "I can't use it." She shook her head lightly. "But I can feel it. Papa says it's rare. So I train in theory."
A strange sensation crept through me. This girl… being able to sense mana before awakening means she would have a large mana pool.
Kael: "Why are you telling me this?"
She met my gaze directly now—steady, brave.
Girl: "Because you looked lonely."
I froze.
Lonely?
Me?
She stepped a little closer, the faintest smile on her expression.
Girl: "Everyone talks about you. The Ravenor heir. The future sword prodigy. But when you looked at your father…" She hesitated, searching for the right word. "You looked like you wanted to go with him."
My throat tightened unexpectedly. I wanted to go with him? In your dreams. Why would a normal person want to go to the border to fight demons? It is true I want to go, but going at the age of six is against my rules to survive.
Does she think she is smarter than me? Yes, yes, dream on.
Kael: "You're… weird."
She laughed—not upset.
Girl: "Maybe. But you didn't run away. You stayed and talked. So you're weird too."
I scowled, though heat rose to my ears. Who would run away from a six-year-old girl? I just didn't want to come here; I never wanted to run.
Kael: "I wasn't going to run."
Girl: "Really?" Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Because Master Joren told my mother you run from teachers all the time."
I whipped my head toward Master Joren across the hall, who pretended not to hear.
Traitor. I will take my revenge.
The girl giggled.
Girl: "My name is Lyric." She extended a hand, small and pale. "If you want… we can be friends."
I stared at her hand. Her eyes. The soft, peaceful smile.
That thing was a problem for everything in the novel. A cute girl wants to be friends with you. The real Kael could not refuse this and what happened after loving this childhood friend, of course, he died. But...
Right now, she was just a child. I can't blame her now. Not yet.
Slowly—reluctantly—I lifted my hand and shook hers.
Kael: "I'm Kael. And… maybe. This is enough."
Her smile widened just a little.
Lyric: "Maybe is enough."
After that, I left the girl near the room where my mother and the Duchess were conversing, and I ran like a leopard, never looking back. Master Joren started to run after me, shouting, "Young master, you can't do this to a lady! You need to be polite with girls!"
But I did not hear him. Even if I did, I don't care about his nonsense. I don't have time to play tea party with a little girl. So let's look at what to do today.
I know I need to train. I will run until I run out of breath, and I will hide in my new hiding spot until dawn, and I will leave Master Joren with the problem of finding me. Revenge must always be delivered. Even if it's little. Little by little, I will take my full revenge.
General POV
Selara led Duchess Valeria into a small room off the main hall, the sunlight spilling through tall windows and illuminating the delicate tapestries that adorned the walls. The two women settled into their seats—Selara graceful as always, and the Duchess carrying the subtle dignity of her house.
Selara: "It's a rare pleasure to finally welcome you here, Valeria. I hope your journey was comfortable."
Valeria: "Thank you, Selara. The journey was smooth, and your hospitality already makes me feel at ease."
Valeria: "I have heard much about your son. A young boy, yet already skilled with a sword, is it not?"
Selara allowed a sigh to escape. "He is but It has its challenges, naturally. But he is strong-willed… and he has a sharp mind. At times, perhaps too clever for his own good." She gave a small smile.
Just as Selara and Duchess Valeria were exchanging thoughts about their children, a sharp knock echoed from the door. Both women turned toward the sound, and almost immediately, the voice of a small boy rang out, loud and triumphant.
Kael (shouting): "I am off! Goodbye!"
When the door opened, they saw Lyric coming their way, and Kael was running outside, not even looking back.
Selara's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise on her face.
Selara: "Kael!"
Duchess Valeria's lips curved into a small, amused smile. "Is that… your son?" she asked with a hint of amusement in her tone.
Selara nodded, trying to hide her shame as a mother. "Yes… that is Kael. He can be… rather impulsive at times."
The voice came again, this time more insistent. It was Master Joren's voice from the other side, flustered and strained:
Master Joren: "Young master! You cannot leave like this! Come back this instant!"
Selara (sighing, muttering): "I knew he wouldn't sit still for a moment…"
The shouting outside the door continued, accompanied by the faint sound of running feet across the hall.
Kael (yelling): "You can't catch me, Joren! Ha Ha Ha! Too slow!"
Selara (turning to Valeria, embarrassed): "He has always been competitive… even with Master Joren. And he never listens to advice unless he chooses to. I fear he will exhaust poor Joren before he reaches his hiding spot."
From the corridor came a muffled crash, followed by another shout:
Kael: "Off to my new spot! You'll never catch me, Joren!"
The two women exchanged a quiet glance, understanding passing between them.
Then Selara's gaze fell on the girl. "Ah… Lyric. I suppose you were waiting here?"
Lyric nodded politely, though her attention was clearly caught elsewhere.