While the class was in full swing, Selphius couldn't concentrate at all.
"Ha."
Startled. The students' bodies simultaneously jumped at Selphius's sigh. Now, the children no longer teased Selphius. Even the older, higher-grade seniors hurried to avoid him from a distance.
"Hmm."
It was a famous story that the three who used to bully Selphius had vanished from the capital in the blink of an eye. Moreover, there were rumors that they had fallen ill, nearly died, or become disabled. The rumors grew and became distorted like a snowball. Some said that the three families had died, or lost their titles and wealth, or that they were all cursed and suffering from illness. Although the contents of the exaggerated rumors varied, they were enough to instill a sense of caution.
"Hmm."
Selphius believed that if he scowled, a curse would be cast upon the academy. To prevent that from becoming a fact, everyone in the academy always tried their best to make Selphius smile.
"Hmm."
Such was Selphius.
"Hmm."
He had seemed very uneasy from the morning.
"Sel, Selphius. Have this... please."
"Huh."
Even when given his favorite drink.
"Um, um. H-Here, t-take this."
"Huh."
Even when given his favorite dessert.
"Selphius. This is a new doll that just came out..."
"Selphius. This is a new toy I bought yesterday."
Even when given his favorite dolls or cherished toys!
"Huh."
He never smiled once!
"Ha."
The children in the same class, who were sitting at the back, clutched their hearts in shock every time a stifled sigh escaped from him. However, Selphius was lost in the same thought all morning.
'The marriage started to achieve what each wanted...'
Selphius was young, but he wasn't so young that he couldn't understand those words. His feet felt frozen in place. After standing there for a long time, Selphius hurriedly ran back to his bedroom when he heard someone coming out from inside. In fact, he barely remembered how he got back to his bedroom. He remembered holding the pillow tightly with both hands as he ran, but that was all. Worried that perhaps Perechati had noticed, he peeked out, but fortunately, she was descending the stairs with a red face, seemingly unaware of anything. Selphius, feeling uneasy, couldn't sleep properly and stayed up all night.
'Fortunately, it seemed they didn't notice this morning.'
Normally, Teldio would have definitely noticed, but because he was sick yesterday, it seemed he hadn't realized that Selphius had overheard their conversation. Selphius suddenly recalled a conversation he had with Perechati in the carriage.
'If, by any chance, even if it's a million-to-one chance, the day comes when I leave the Laphireon Dukedom, remember that I will always be your mother. This feeling is genuine, so please remember it.'
At the time, he was curious about why she would say such a thing... but today, he finally understood the meaning of her words. The third class had already ended, but Selphius was still lost in the same thought, chin in hand. The child scribbled wildly on the white notebook with a quill pen. Although he was surprised when he first heard about the two people's relationship, it didn't really come as a huge shock. It was a calmness born from familiarity with countless partings. To Selphius, the relationship between the two wasn't important. Even if they actually hated each other, he would have just thought, "Oh, I see," and moved on. What mattered was the relationship between Perechati and Selphius, and between himself and them. To Selphius, Teldio was more of a protector, "His Highness the Duke," rather than a "father." But Perechati was different.
'How can I...'
Selphius really liked Perechati. To be honest, he thought it was a great pity for her to be with Teldio. He had even considered that if he weren't Teldio's successor, he might have tried to persuade her to break up with him and find a better man. Of course, there probably wasn't a man in the world who wouldn't find Perechati a great pity. To Selphius, Perechati was more than just a protector; she was a "mother." Perhaps it was a word he had never spoken aloud, a word he thought he would never call anyone in his lifetime, but she was the one who made him want to call her that. It was the first time in his life. She was the one who accepted him completely, just as he was, and empathized with his pain rather than finding his scars disgusting. Selphius...
'How can I make sure Mom doesn't leave?'
He didn't want Perechati to leave. Selphius's eyes widened. As his red eyes flickered, the children around him trembled. Despite his nine-year-old mind, he couldn't find an answer no matter how much he thought about it overnight. Selphius scribbled on the notebook, deep in thought. Suddenly, he saw the back of a girl sitting alone. Selphius jumped up from his seat.
"Whoa...!"
The sudden action of Selphius made the surrounding children gasp in surprise. Ignoring them, Selphius walked up to the girl.
"Maryam."
The girl looked up at the sound of her name. Her indifferent eyes seemed to hold a considerable amount of time.
"Hmm."
Maryam, with her chin in hand, answered with a bored expression. Selphius suddenly looked around. All the children were staring at the two of them.
"...It's a bit awkward here."
"...?"
"Come with me."
Selphius put his hands in his pockets and walked outside. It had become a habit to keep his hands in his pockets while walking around the academy. Once, he had walked around without his hands in his pockets and almost got injured when he bumped into a running child. Since then, Selphius had always been careful not to expose his bare skin. Of course, the children, who didn't know anything, were scared by this.
"...Hurry up!"
Selphius shouted at Maryam, who, despite her bored expression, followed him with her arms crossed. Maryam was the only child who didn't stand by when Selphius was being bullied. Although she didn't actively intervene, she advised the three not to do such things and sometimes helped Selphius when he was in trouble. Moreover, she had told Perechati the truth. That alone made her different from the other children in the class. Most importantly, Maryam was always mature. Her actions, tone, and thoughts were all mature. The professors at the academy often praised her, saying she might be a child with innate talent.
'She might know.'
Selphius walked to a corner of the academy garden and sat on a bench. Maryam walked over with short, wobbly steps and stopped in front of Selphius. She looked down at him with a bored expression.
"Why did you call me? I only came because I owe you. So, just get to the point. I'm bored. I'm sleepy."
Selphius sighed. Maryam, with a bored expression, yawned widely and tried to turn around.
"Wait, wait!"
Selphius hurriedly got up from the bench and blocked Maryam's path.
"Then!"
"...?"
"I don't want those two to break up. No, to be precise, I don't want one of them to leave!"
Maryam tilted her head in confusion, then nodded as if she understood.
"You're talking about someone close to you."
"Ah."
Selphius, struck by the truth, covered his mouth with his palm. But Maryam didn't seem curious; she still looked bored.
"Why are you so surprised? Contract marriages aren't that big a secret among nobles."
"R-Really?"
"Half of the ten people you know would probably be like that. They marry because they want something or to avoid some situation. It's all like that, what's the big deal?"
Half of ten? Selphius counted on his fingers and let out a sigh of relief.
"Anyway, did you call me here just to ask about this? You don't want one of them to leave?"
"Y-Yeah. It's not about someone close to me, just something I heard from someone I know."
Maryam casually agreed and calmly suggested a solution.
"Then, they should really fall in love."
Selphius's ears perked up like a rabbit's.
"Really... fall in love?"
"Yes. They're already married, right? But you're worried that the marriage will break up after a year and one of them will leave?"
"Y-Yes."
"If they really fall in love with each other, it won't matter what purpose they started with."
"It won't matter...?"
"Yes."
Selphius thought seriously. It was a good point. If they fell in love, Perechati wouldn't leave Teldio! And then she wouldn't leave him either! Selphius's lips curled up, dancing like they were floating in the sky. Then, he lifted his head with a bright face.
"Maryam."
Selphius's eyes shone like stars in the sky.
"You're really a genius! I didn't understand why the professors called you a genius, but now I do!"
Selphius laughed heartily and lightly patted Maryam's shoulder. His laughter echoed loudly and widely throughout the academy. The students, who were studying, all turned their heads towards the source of the laughter. They shed tears of relief, thinking Selphius had escaped the curse of the rumors circulating in the academy. Of course, Selphius, who didn't know about this, clenched his fists tightly with a determined look. A grand goal was set in his heart.
'Let's make His Highness the Duke and Mom fall in love!'
Honestly, it's a pity for Mom! But I don't want to lose her, so I have no choice! Selphius skipped happily, leaving Maryam behind.
'And who wouldn't fall in love with my mom! There's no one in this world who wouldn't!'
The excited Selphius skipped along, puffing out his cheeks. He needed to get back to his desk. He had to return quickly to plan this! To make the two fall in love, he first needed to understand what love was.
'I should ask the butler to buy me a book about love for my academy classes!'
It would be good if Teldio read it with him. To Selphius, Teldio was a very stiff and expressionless man. Not only that, he lacked consideration, had a terrifying reputation, and rarely smiled.
'The more I think about it, the more I feel Mom is a great pity!'
That's when it hit him. Selphius clapped his hands.
'Then, I should turn His Highness the Duke into a good man!'
I am indeed smart! Selphius hummed a tune as he skipped along. And the rumor that Selphius liked Maryam's reactions spread widely throughout the academy.