Chapter 7

Maryvel promptly submitted her reflection letter to Cynthia the next day.

After breakfast, Cynthia visited Maryvel’s room as usual. She casually read the letter handed to her and frowned.

"Mary, did you write this—after asking Aidan?"

She was immediately seen through.

"Why, how did you know?"

The points were concise and accurate. The words were so sophisticated, unlike the usual ones Maryvel used.

Aidan, too, wasn’t cunning enough to mimic Maryvel’s writing style, which was rather endearing.

She would have to scold him later.

Cynthia tried hard to keep the corners of her mouth from relaxing.

"During your suspension, when did you manage to go to Aidan’s place?"

"......"

Cynthia sighed.

"Mary, I’m not saying you should endure being insulted. It’s not good to lash out, but it does happen sometimes."

She repeated, "Violence is not good, but—"

"But, I don’t want you to use the fact that you’re the princess of Pencilia to hurt someone without even trying to improve yourself."

"I understand."

The answer came quickly.

She must have already guessed that her suspension was over. Maryvel answered with unusual determination.

She had a good sense of things, which was also a problem.

A hint of unease crossed her mind at Maryvel’s lack of malice.

"Stop forming cliques to bully others, really."

"Forming cliques... what are you talking about...?"

Right, the conversation had veered off track.

Cynthia cleared her throat.

"Anyway, you are your mother’s precious daughter. If you were insulted, I would be very angry and couldn’t forgive it. So, I want you to tell me when that happens. I want to be angry with you and think about what to do together."

Maryvel nodded silently.

"What will you do when you see Lylis next?"

"——I’ll apologize."

She answered this way because she knew it was the right answer. Whether she would actually apologize, Maryvel wasn’t sure. If the same thing happened again, she might slap Lylis again.

But, as Aidan said, she had learned to avoid misusing her power.

—She doesn’t get it.

Cynthia felt a complete lack of progress.

For these three days, she had tried her best to convey her message, but it seemed to have no effect on Maryvel.

Perhaps she had taken too much distance, thinking the children were becoming independent.

Once they start to grow up, contact decreases dramatically. With the house being so large and having so many adults, they naturally don’t run into each other as often.

It’s complicated.

"Alright, your suspension is over."

"Yay! Can I go see Alro?"

"—But. I’ve heard from the teachers that you forget things a lot when Alro isn’t around. If you keep relying on Alro, I’ll put the squire position on hold again."

"I understand. I’ll do my best!"

Now, she was like a dog with meat dangled in front of her.

Her responses were too good.

Cynthia pinched Maryvel’s cheek. It was still soft and smooth, like a child’s.

"Ow!"

"Do you really understand, this child?"

"I understand!"

Cynthia let go and stroked her cheek.

"Thinking about how Lylis’s mother must have felt when her daughter was hit, I can’t bear the thought of it happening to you."

"......Yes."

Maryvel’s golden eyes were the same color as hers.

Young, easily hurt, but running forward without looking back.

"Alright, go on."

Maryvel bounced out of the room.

Cynthia remained there, lost in thought.

Is this what they mean by 'pushing against a hanging curtain'?

She felt no progress.

Cynthia was deeply discouraged.

"—Oh, really, I’m such a bad mother.”

Whispering this, she became even more aware of it, and a heavy sigh escaped her.

She had no idea what to do.

In the end, she hadn’t even made a formal apology. She learned that Lylis had been quite abusive, so she decided not to force Maryvel to apologize. Rias had told her he had warned Marquess Mark about it.

They would leave it for the next time they met, treating it as a children’s fight.

However, Maryvel hadn’t shown any signs of reflection. This would likely continue for days without change.

No matter how much she tried to explain, the response was poor. Punishments didn’t seem to have any effect.

So, in the end, she gave in.

It was a bad move, the worst possible.

There was a saving grace in Maryvel’s competitiveness and lack of deep thinking. A more sensitive child might have broken under the pressure of the public’s scrutiny of her light abilities.

No matter what, she was a cute daughter. To a mother’s eyes.

But, this child would surely face some hard times someday.

A vague worry crossed her mind.

Cynthia stood up with a sigh.

There was no point in dwelling on it. Things would keep coming up, and parenting was a long-term battle.

There was one more thing on her mind.

—Alro’s father seems to be able to talk now. He’s still experiencing some hallucinations, but he’s out of the delirious state.

Rias had said this yesterday.

—Alro himself often asks if it’s okay to visit.

She didn’t want them to meet.

But she couldn’t keep stopping him forever. It wouldn’t be right to keep them apart.

"Alro!!"

Maryvel called out loudly as she entered the training hall.

She had heard from the guard knights that Alro had been there all day, so she rushed over.

"Princess."

Alro responded quickly to Maryvel’s call.

He had been practicing with a wooden sword. He stopped, hid the sword behind his back, and bowed politely.

"It’s been a while, Princess."

"Alro."

It was good to see Alro again.

His black hair and beautiful black eyes were drenched in sweat, making his hair even blacker. His bangs stuck to his forehead, and sweat trickled down his cheeks.

When Maryvel took a step closer, he took a step back. Another step, and he backed away again.

"Alro?"

"Well, I, I’m sweaty."

"So?"

"You might think I smell."

"Aren’t you happy to see me after four days?"

Maryvel pouted.

"N-no! I’m happy. I’m really glad..."

He had been afraid of being told to leave. The butler had said it was just for the suspension, but there were no guarantees.

He thought he might be asked to pack up and leave at any moment.

"Without Alro, I’m completely lost."

Maryvel’s words instantly dispelled Alro’s anxiety.

His chest, which had felt cold, suddenly warmed up.

"But, relying too much isn’t good, so I’ll try my best. So, let’s work together from today."

She didn’t want to lose her squire position again.

Maryvel took a step forward. This time, Alro tried to hold his ground.

They were quite close.

Maryvel took a deep breath and smiled.

"You don’t smell. Alro’s smell!"

Alro turned bright red, looking like he might cry from embarrassment.

The knights watching from a distance were either laughing or covering their faces. They had known Maryvel since she was born and understood both her personality and Alro’s discomfort.

"Princess..."

Maryvel offered a handkerchief.

"Here, wipe your sweat."

"It will get dirty."

"It’s for that. Use it?"

It was too much to use the pristine, lace-trimmed handkerchief offered by Maryvel, even though it was covered in sweat and dirt.

Alro tried his best to refuse.

"Let me do it for you?"

"Princess..."

Alro’s voice was pitiful.

He was so embarrassed and apologetic that he didn’t know what to do.

"Princess Maryvel."

A shadow loomed over them.

It was Ben, a veteran knight who used to be the deputy captain. He was now a regular knight due to some incidents, but his skills were still excellent.

"Alro is in a difficult position. He doesn’t want to dirty such a beautiful handkerchief or trouble you."

"I’m doing this because I want to. As a squire, shouldn’t he follow my wishes?"

Ben raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed, that’s true. —Alro, why don’t you accept her offer?"

"......Yes."

Alro hesitantly took the handkerchief and wiped his sweat. Maryvel looked satisfied.

"Is your training going well?"

"Alro is amazing. He’s agile and has a good sense. If he keeps practicing the basics, he’ll become a great knight."

"Is Alro going to be a knight?"

"N-no way!"

Alro shook his head vigorously.

Being among the strong knights made him realize how much he lacked.

Aidan was in a league of his own, but even the other Pencilian knights were elite soldiers. He knew he couldn’t compare to any of them, even with their kindness in training him.

"Isn’t Alro your squire, Princess?"

"But, if Alro wants to be a knight, I think it would be wonderful."

Knights were the most respected profession in Maryvel’s eyes.

She wanted Alro to stay by her side as a squire, but if he wanted to be a knight, she would support him.

"Princess, I’m not worthy of that."

"Ben said you could."

Alro clutched the smooth handkerchief.

The beautiful, spotless handkerchief was now dirty because of him. The weight of his inadequacy pressed down on him.

"Alro?"

Maryvel reached out, and Alro instinctively took a step back.

"Sorry, I... I’ll wash the handkerchief. —I’ll get ready for the morning class."

He bowed and ran off.

Maryvel was left standing there, looking at Ben.

"I was left behind."

She had intended to prepare for class together.

"Well, well. Alro is at that age. You shouldn’t push too hard."

"Even though he’s my squire?"

Ben, while arranging the wooden sword Alro had hastily put away, smiled.

"If he gains more confidence, Alro’s sword skills will improve a lot. Thanks to Princess Maryvel, they’ve already improved, though."

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Ben didn’t answer and walked away with the other knights.

"Ah, it’s nice. A knight should have someone to protect. —It’s sweet..."

Ben nodded with the other knights. Since she often didn’t understand their conversations, Maryvel decided to ignore the men for now.

She headed to the study room with a light step to meet Alro.

Maryvel’s approval rating is plummeting...

From tomorrow, it will be Alro’s story.

At 8 years old... it will take a while for her to mature... (;´Д`A)

I’m sorry.