TAPGB - Chapter 15
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
"Have you grown that much taller? I wonder how big you will be next month?"
James seemed to have a good idea and took Lucian to the pillar in front of the main gate.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm measuring your height. Just stay still."
James made a small scratch on the pillar with a small knife he usually carried. Lucian checked his height displayed on the pillar.
"Now, if you write today's date next to here... June 27, 315, Imperial Calendar. Lucian traced James' engraving. How about checking your height here every time you see me from now on?"
"I like it!"
"Good. Then let's see how big you grow in the future. Tsk. I guess I'll just have to go."
James, who was carefully packing his luggage, looked back with a sigh.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"What do I need? hmm... Nothing in particular came to mind."
"If you need anything, let me know later. I'll save you. Or, if you're in a hurry, go to the village... Oh.. this doesn't work?"
"Town?"
James looked back at Lucian. Lucian's eyes, who had already heard everything he said, sparkled brightly.
"Is there a village here?"
James, who was wondering what excuse to make, widened his eyes at the unexpected question.
"Didn't you live near here? You live nearby?"
"That's right, you're an orphan.. Oops."
Fortunately, Lucian tilted his head as if he hadn't heard. James looked at him and softened his words.
"Where is your hometown?"
"Hometown?"
"Yes, where you lived."
"Well. I do not know either."
"Are you so young that you don't know where you live?"
James, who thought that an orphan could do that, shook his head.
"Then do you know the village near here? Or the capital?"
James tried hard to explain the names of various villages and their capitals, but Lucian seemed unaware. James, thinking he had come from far away, breathed a sigh of relief.
'He told me not to steal the child, but he never said he shouldn't go to the village, right?'
James, who had sympathy for Lucian, ignored the chamberlain's advice and smiled.
"20 gold is paid to you every month. 20 gold is enough money for a family to eat for a month."
In short, it is too much for a child to use alone.
"It looks like you haven't spent any money so far, so I guess you've saved up about 60 gold."
"Wow, James, you're really fast."
"Hmm! I was able to enter the palace because I was strong in numbers. Ah. This isn't this..."
James corrected the conversation that had almost gone astray.
"It's all money given to you, so it doesn't matter how you spend it. There won't be any use if you stay here in the first place, so why don't you go down to the village and use it?"
"Can I go down to the village?"
"Why not? Oh, by the way, when you go down to the village, at least wear a hat. Well, your appearance stands out in many ways right now."
For example, that white hair or golden eyes that remind him of the royal family.
"But no matter how much I dress up like royalty, can I still look like that?"
James was momentarily suspicious of Lucian.
"Yeah, thanks for letting me know, James."
"What. It's nothing special. I'm just saying this just in case, but you know the unit of money, right?"
When Lucian tilted his head. James touched his forehead and told him the approximate value of the money and the route to the village.
Lucian soon saw that James had moved away and looked back.
"Leah, did you hear?"
(Yes, he is quite kind to the subject who initially tried to steal it.]
"What do you mean?"
[ No, nothing.]
I hid the fact that James tried to steal money on the first day. He Is the only human who is close to Lucian, so he doesn't need to tell us anything.
"I couldn't tell you earlier because James was there. Do you need anything?"
[What do I need? Well...]
Thinking about this and that, there were quite a few things I needed.
Things like spices that weren't in the supplies, or parchment and ink to use when studying. Since the things in the mansion were very old, all the small consumables needed to be replaced with new ones.
I had already written down a list of necessary items on a piece of paper.
[Do you need anything?]
"I don't really like it."
[Hmm... Ah! Your shoes!!]
Lucian looked down at his feet at my shout. Although his supplies included a couple of clothes he could wear, there were no shoes.
Even if it exists, it doesn't seem likely to be correct. The clothes supplied are still too big for Lucian.
[You said you had trouble with your feet last time. Isn't it because your shoes are small?]
"After hearing it, it seems like that."
Lucian fidgeted with his feet. When he became conscious, his toes were strangely curled.
[You're growing bigger every day these days, so you should buy shoes that are one size larger if possible. The clothes you wore on your first day here also have short sleeves, right?]
"Yes, that's right."
[It's proof that you're growing well. I guess you haven't been able to grow properly because you haven't been able to eat like you do now.]
As I stroked his head, Lucian's face relaxed. Lucian rolled the corners of his eyes like a puppy and snatched up a note floating in the air.
"Then can I just buy this now?"
[Are you going to buy it?]
"Leah can't go outside. I have to go."
[But...]
The only place he has ever been to in her entire life is a small palace that I don't even know exists within the imperial palace, and he hasn't been outside the mansion for nearly three months. Will Lucian really be able to get to the village on his own?
What if he goes to town and gets scammed? What if a pickpocket steals his money? No, before that, human traffickers may target him because he has a pretty face.
My face hardened as all sorts of ominous thoughts filled my head.
[Not yet. It's dangerous to send you alone.]
"Yes? Why? You said I need to buy new shoes, too."
There were grumblings, but my priority was his safety.
[I can't do it. Let's start swordsmanship training today.]
Lucian, who had been sulking when he told me he couldn't go to the village, opened his eyes and smiled brightly.
“Wow!!”
[Let's go to the village when you can protect at least one of your bodies. No matter how far the road to the village is, you may encounter a pack of wild dogs along the way, and you may get into a fight with a strange person in the village.]
"Yes! All right!"
[Aren't you sad? I won't let you go.]
"I almost felt a little disappointed, but you said you would teach me swordsmanship. I want to learn swordsmanship first."
Well, Lucian wanted to learn at least one more thing, whether it be swordsmanship, archery, or something else.
After organizing the supplies that came in today, we headed to the training ground.
After having Lucian stretch and do a light jog, I went down to the weapons storage room.
[Is this enough?]
Among the many weapons, I chose a sword that Lucian could use.
"Is that what I'm going to use?"
He was already full of anticipation
Okay, I'm going to use this starting today. It may seem a little big for you, but...Well, I guess it's okay.
"And! I can't wait to swing It!"
When Lucian begged for it quickly, I calmly handed him the sword. First, start with the basic posture.
[Vertical cutting.]
I stopped speaking and just looked at Lucian. He was embarrassed, his face turning red.
"Hmph! Phew! Uh, it's heavier than I thought... Ahh!"
He was barely able to hold it with both hands so carefully held the handle and lifted the sword. However, he was unable to overcome the weight of his sword and fell forward. After that, he tried hard to somehow lift the sword, but he found it difficult to even lift it, let alone swing it.
"Huh!"
[Since it is for adults, it may be too heavy for you.]
"It's okay! I can do it!"
[Ugh, put it down quickly before you get hurt.]
I barely managed to snatch the sword from Lucian. Lucian eventually burst into tears when he saw the sword in my hand.
***
"Miss, where is this again?"
A man was irritated with his long red hair. Every time he took a step, the animals that were resting peacefully got startled and ran away, or they trembled and urinated. It was as if he was looking at something that shouldn't exist.
Either way, the man looked around. He was lost. That too in the middle of the forest.
"No matter how much I think about it, it's strange. This is definitely the right path."
There was no way the forest would change. It's just that the man can't find his way.
"I got several books this time. I'm sure he'll be happy too, right?"
The man grinned as he remembered the gifts in his subspace. It was a fatal smile that could not help but captivate any human being, regardless of age or gender.
"Wait, ghost! This body is going!"
The man jumped up and down with excitement as he remembered a ghost living in a huge mansion. But for a moment, he went in circles around him, trying to find his way again.
***
"Sniffle. Leah is an idiot."
Lucian brought his knees together with tears in his eyes. Today is the second day he fought with Leah. Rather than hitting and fighting, Lucian just sulked and avoided her. He went to the basement the other day and got into a big mess, so this time he went into the forest. Of course, only as far as the location where the mansion can be clearly seen.
[Lucian! Stop and come back.]
Sure enough, he heard Leah calling him at the entrance to the forest. Lucian made a sullen expression and shouted in the direction where her voice was heard.
"No! I won't leave until you give me the sword!"
[I told you how many times I had to tell you that you couldn't come in! And then you get hurt!]
"I'm still going to lift it!"
Of course, the sword was heavy. He knows very well that it is difficult for him to hold a sword properly, but it is a shame that it is a swordsmanship class that he was looking forward to so much that it ends in vain without being able to do anything. He just hated Leah, who didn't even know how he felt and just said no.
[You really want to be like this!]
There was anger in Leah's voice. Lucian trembled and peered behind the tree.
In the distance, he saw Leah with her hands on her waist. But why is her hair floating? It makes her look scarier for no reason.
[I don't know either! Either live there for the rest of your life or not!]
Leah, who must have been very angry, turned her head and headed toward the mansion. Lucian, who was momentarily embarrassed, stood up from his seat and looked at Leah who was walking away.
He was so sad for no reason that he cried.
"Huh! Leah is a stupid idiot!"
Lucian began to cry so desperately. In fact, Lucian didn't know why he was so disappointed.
Somehow, he feels like he has shed more tears since coming here.
He had never cried so loudly before because he was always concerned about what other people thought, and he was desperate not to shed any tears.
Young Lucian did not yet realize that he had opened his heart to Leah and that he had high expectations for her.
Thanks to the attention and love he received for the first time, and Leah's acceptance of all his pampering, Lucian gradually learned various emotions, knowingly and unknowingly.
Of course, there is still a long way to go before he can notice any changes in himself. He just wants to relieve his current sorrow.
"Ugh! Leah!"
In the end. Lucian walked with a face covered in tears and snot to find Leah who would accept him.
He didn't even realize it because his eyes were filled with tears. He knew he was going deep into the forest, not the mansion.
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