The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend

I was so concerned that not a single word of the book that was open caught my eye. I grabbed my head and closed my eyes.

Let’s empty this thoughts. It’s time to do my assignment. Let’s read the book!

“Does your head hurt? Or is it that difficult?”

While I was self-suggesting to dispel my thoughts about Kir, the voice I heard made me raise my head. Miss Katie came down and was already by my side. Afraid that she would be worried, I quickly shook my head and whispered in a low voice.

“No. I was just thinking for a moment. What brings you here?”

I asked that question because it seemed like she came to see me, not the book. But instead of answering right away, Miss Katie checked the list of books I had chosen. I just picked it without thinking because I was half mesmerized by Kir in the morning, I hope there are no strange books among them.

“Is your father here?”

“How did you know?”

“There’s a way to know everything.”

Watching Miss Katie smile gracefully, I wondered if Mr. Hafterry had told her. I stayed at Mr. Hafterry’s mansion. But yesterday, since Father visited, I slept in the Grand Duke’s residence in the capital.

Since I was staying out, I naturally informed my guardian, Mr. Hafterry, of the reason.

The only person who knew that Father had come was Mr. Hafterry, so the culprit could only be Mr. Hafterry. Disappointed, my mouth pouted.

It didn’t matter if Mr. Hafterry told Miss Katie. I haven’t seen Mr. Hafterry for quite some time even though I live in the same house because he’s so busy with his academy work. It was hard to meet me, but he went to see Miss Katie.

I feel like I’ve lost my teacher because I haven’t seen him for so long. The sadness kept piling up.

“Have you met Mr. Hafterry?”

Miss Katie let out a low laugh at my sullen voice.

“No. I haven’t seen him.”

Huh? So, that wasn’t it? I wrongly guessed. The pouted lips withdrew in embarrassment. I glanced over.

“Then how did you know?”

“I heard that Grand Duke Rheinfont was visiting.”

She reasoned that if the Grand Duke came, then Father would also come. It’s natural, but I got emotional and impatient to reveal my sadness before I even thought about it.

“Yes. He came with the Grand Duke.”

“You don’t have to come on a day like this. Don’t you only see your father a few times?”

I wondered why Miss Katie came down to the library, but even on a day like this, she came because she was being considerate of me who was in the Sage’s study.

Miss Katie always told me in advance that if my father had come, I could rest because she was afraid that we would not be able to talk properly. Looking back, I think I’m really good at meeting good people.

It wasn’t long after I started studying in the Sage’s Study that I knew I was not a genius. There were so many real geniuses around me, so I couldn’t even become at least ordinary.

Get out of here because you don’t belong with us! – I was nervous that people would say that.

However, Miss Katie and the other sages accepted me easily. Sometimes, I couldn’t even understand it – they did not even reject me or looked at me as someone who’s lacking in many areas. They always made it easy for me to do as much as I could.

I was afraid of being rejected, so I worked harder. Anyway, everyone in the Sage’s Study were kind to me, and I could study without any burden.

“No. Father is also busy because he came here for work.”

I could have taken a break from studying today if my father stayed in the Grand Duke’s residence. However, Father also went about with the Grand Duke, so I couldn’t be with him anyway.

“Well, since he came here on official business, he must be busy. Take it easy though.”

“That’s okay. I can see him tonight.”

He said he would come back in the evening, so I could join him then. Miss Katie’s eyes widened with excitement. Miss Katie was really a nice person. The look in her eyes made me feel moved. Even though I am a student who was infinitely lacking, when I receive that kind of attention, I feel like I have become a really good student. My shoulders trembled for no reason.

At that time, Miss Katie picked up a book piled up next to me.

“Do you know why I gave you this assignment?”

What Mary had said yesterday flashed through my mind.