(Just.. another cloudy, funny day! — or not..)
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I had fully intended to once again disrupt the saccharine gatherings of my siblings and their persistent admirers.
However, it appeared that the lovesick fools had anticipated my interference and come prepared, having acquired a veritable gang of reinforcements.
Lian, ever the picture of gentle grace, caught my eye and offered a warm smile, beckoning me closer with a delicate wave of her hand.
"Nhat!" she chirped, her voice laced with an unsettling sweetness.
"You'll have so much fun with your- (In slow-mo)New... Friends. .."
..New.. what?! Nahuh!- The realization struck me with the force of a physical blow.
Before me stood my worst nightmare come to life:
five undeniably handsome young men and two strikingly beautiful young women, all radiating an aura of youthful charm and potential romantic entanglement.
Noo!!!!
I can't- I can't bear to be separated from the twins!!
The silent scream reverberated within the confines of my mind as I was unceremoniously herded towards the garden, while my siblings and their unwelcome guests made their way to the drawing room.
Sheep!- I wish I could just- ughhhh!!!
I've gotta take the bad apples away from themmmm!~~
Those jerks.. probably bought these cute little punks to get me off their shoulder...
Aghhhh!! Noo!!~~
Thus, I found myself in the unenviable position of a reluctant babysitter, forced to endure the company of a gaggle of unfamiliar children while my siblings were left to the predations of their admirers.
Forcing a smile onto my face, I attempted to engage the children in a game, hoping to at least distract them from their potential role as pawns in a romantic scheme.
....However, my efforts were immediately met with resistance in the form of a particularly arrogant young boy.
Jhayson Garinc, nephew of the future Duke Xhane Garinc, sneered at me with an air of unwarranted superiority.
"Don't smile like that," he blurted out, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You look like a frog."
His words, though childish in their delivery, struck a nerve, causing my face to flush with a mixture of embarrassment and childish anger.
How dare he insult me in such a manner?
I thought, my inner turmoil threatening to erupt into a full-blown tantrum.
"Tch," I retorted, rolling my eyes in a display of practiced defiance.
"Says the one who looks like a fly!"
To my surprise, my simple comeback was met with a chorus of laughter from the other children, their amusement directed squarely at Jhayson.
"He certainly has a knack for embodying that from time to time," Ashley mused, her eyes twinkling with playful intrigue.
The young boy's face crumpled, his pride wounded by the unexpected ridicule.
Just one comeback and he was faltering? Nah.
Oh boy.. It felt fun messing around with a kid...
And so.. a commotion broke out, the little argument between kids turned into a mess of cries and yells as they tried to make comebacks to each other, leaving the maids to separate and calm them down.
With a sigh of exasperation,
I abandoned the chaotic scene, leaving the children to their squabbles and the maids to their peacekeeping efforts.
My destination:
the secret garden that my father had shown me not long ago, a sanctuary of tranquility and solitude.
Upon reaching the secluded haven, I sank down beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like the arms of a benevolent giant. I deeply sighed.
"Gosh.. Should I have just smack his head right away and ran.." I mumbled, my thoughts still consumed by the earlier confrontation.
Suddenly, I heard a rustling sound behind me, emanating from the depths of the tree's foliage.
My senses immediately sharpened, my body tensing in anticipation of the unknown.
"Wouldn't go for a violent choice," a mysterious voice spoke up, its tone soft and melodic, yet carrying an undercurrent of undeniable authority.
I quickly turned, my eyes scanning the surroundings in search of the speaker.
To my surprise, I found myself face to face with a young boy, seemingly about my age, with short, black, silky hair that framed a face partially obscured by a mask.
The mask, crafted with meticulous detail, bore a peculiar design that seemed to represent a family crest.
Nah. Just some art,
I dismissed, attributing the intricate pattern to mere artistic expression.
"Huh..?" I stared at him, my mind struggling to process the unexpected intrusion.
"Huh?! Who are you?! How did you get in here?! T-this place is off limits..!" I almost yelled in frighten, my voice betraying my growing unease.
The little guy simply tilted his head, his masked face conveying an air of detached curiosity.
"..Relax," he said, his voice low and soothing.
"I'm not doing anything. Can't I appreciate nature?"
His calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to my rising panic, further fueling my confusion.
"Wha-" I stammered, my words failing me as I struggled to make sense of the situation. Appreciate nature?! In a secret garden no one else knows?!
"Appreciate wha-.. Just how did you found this place?.." I glared at him, wary of his every move, my instincts screaming at me to be cautious.
".. Let's just say.. I've been introduced here by someone," he replied, his tone remaining unchanged, as if he were discussing the most mundane of topics.
... Bruh.. Is he seriously thinking I'd buy that?..
"Um.. Someone? Who's this someone?" I asked again, pressing for information.
"Because, if you're not going to leave immediately, I'll have my father clear this out and look for you every inch of this garden," I threatened lightly, hoping to intimidate him into revealing his identity and purpose.
Fudge, can't I think of a more terrifying threat?! Dumbo!-
"Don't bother," he brushed aside my threat with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I don't live here, and I always come here unnoticed. I was curious as well when you heard and saw me right now. No one was supposed to." he added, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.
"..What do you mean.. B-but, So.. You've been staying here. Are you a noble?" I asked lightly, my initial apprehension slowly giving way to a sense of cautious curiosity.
Feels like I can be at ease around this mysterious guy.
..Just who is this little punk? He's someone who can use mana influence, though..
"You can call me 'Red'," he said softly, his voice a mere whisper in the gentle breeze. Why do I feel like I can feel his gaze boring into me through that mask?..
..Either way, Is this kid an important character in the novel?..