Kir’s height became quite tall compared to mine, we used to be the same for a while. Kir’s new tutor was great and made him look pretty decent when he wasn’t going crazy. Or maybe as time went on, Kir grew up to be able to communicate.

By the way, Kir was said to be with the Grand Duke at least three times a week these days. Of course, the Grand Duke is too busy to spend a lot of time talking alone. Still, if he doesn’t have time to talk, he takes Kir with him to work and increases the amount of time they spend together.

Perhaps after taking a close look at the Grand Duke’s dignified figure, it seemed that Kir wasn’t acting like he used to, but was trying to imitate the Grand Duke’s maturity.

I looked up and down at Kir who was sitting in front of me. As expected, he looked fine on the outside. Not only that, he was less forceful than before… Now it seems the time has come. I have made Kir, who used to be a demon baby, quite human, so I have to find my own life.

Today, while taking a bite of a delicious macaron, I reported to Kir.

“I’m trying to reduce the number of tea times now.”

Kir’s face, who looked happy, hardened.

“Why all of a sudden?”

A year has passed, and the boy, who has always been unhappy and dissatisfied, has been able to endure his anger and pretend to be precocious. Children grow up really fast. With that thought in mind, this time I picked up a chocolate chip cookie and put it in my mouth.

I guess they didn’t know I was going to say this. Mrs. Seryl and Knight Henry’s surprise seemed greater than that of Kir. But the two of them didn’t talk to me during tea time, so it was quiet. Or they may be holding on because they think that my conversation with Kir will reveal the reason.

Munch munch. Kir waited calmly as I chewed what was in my mouth. He also learned patience and grew up a lot. I swallowed the cookie and wet my mouth with tea.

“I want to study.”

“Study?”

Kir’s brow furrowed.

“You still study a lot.”

Although Kir had grown up on the outside, he still hated studying. He still attends classes, but he seems to do a lot of other things in class. He is doing such a shameful thing. Still, he doesn’t skip classes like he used to.

“It’s still not enough. The more I study, the more I learn.”

Kir’s expression wrinkled even more. I know. This guy will never understand why. Even if I studied, I had a strong feeling that it was not enough. I thought that my hardship in my previous life was because I didn’t study, so I became more obsessed with it. It was a desperation that a person who had everything naturally, like Kir, would not know.

Actually, I am struggling with my studies right now. I am now 8 years old. As one more year passed, the amount of study that Mr. Hafterry gave increased and became more difficult.

I don’t know if it’s because my brain is a child, or if the kids in this world are smart enough to be geniuses. History, politics, and society were too vast, even without advanced mathematics and physics.

There was a tight time of preparation and review to get Mr. Hafterry’s approval. I’m already struggling like this, and I’m nervous about what will happen in the future. I had to work hard when I could.

In such a situation, the tea time twice a week was not worth it. So I declared the end of tea time to Kir, who looked at me with eyes that didn’t understand me.

“So, let’s stop the regular tea time now.”

***

Like it or not, I have been seeing Kir consistently for over a year. A year was not a short time. I was no longer afraid of Kir, and I went one step further, and now we have lost the class boundary to the point of calling each other by nicknames.

The people around me did not stop my actions, so we became like normal friends. So much so that I can honestly state my argument. A year ago, I would not have dared to say this.

Ignoring Kir, who was staring at me with bewildered eyes because he didn’t like my opinion, I picked up a piece of chocolate and shoved it into my mouth. The nutty flavor of the hazelnut cream inside spreads full.

It would be a pity if we stopped tea time. The tastes that cannot be satisfied by a local dessert shop that I buy with my pocket money. As I was thinking with the slightest regret, Kir clenched his teeth and shot back.

“Is studying that important?”

It was a bittersweet question, like asking a child to choose ‘Do you like Mom or do you like Dad?’. He seemed to ask ‘Is it studying or is it me?’ When I asked if I had an attachment with Kir, I watched it for a year, so of course.

But how great a feeling of affection with only one year. In particular, it was even more so with a dry, profit-focused personality like me. Rather, I seem to be feeling a sense of liberation from taking care of troublesome children. It felt like a declaration of independence.

But it seems that Kir doesn’t like being far away from me. His expression, waiting for my answer, looked determined. I’m sorry, but my answer was fixed.

“Of course. Studying is very important.”

A shock flashed across Kir’s face after hearing my answer. It’s the eyes that ask how the word ‘of course’ comes out. Again, Kir’s emotions fluctuated. I was the only friend to Kir, who didn’t have any friends his age. Besides that, I am not just a friend, but an adviser and a person to rely on.

Now that the only person he had is calling for a distance, I know that it is disappointing for Kir. But what can I do, my future is more precious. There was no reason and no room for me to take responsibility for that little boy’s life.

“Why the hell is studying so important?”

Oh man, he keeps saying things he doesn’t know.

“Because I’m going to be a civil servant!”

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