Chapter 22 (1/2)

Translator: Jawbrie

Surfania Calibrachoa.

She was the third daughter of Marquis Calibrachoa, and while it may sound like sarcasm coming from such a genius as I, she was rather intelligent for a nine-year-old. She had enchanting chestnut colored hair and mahogany eyes that suggested much coldness. She was one of the very few people that I could show my true self to, and she was also my best friend.

“Well, I’ve given my opinion now. May I return to my book? I hate being interrupted while reading almost as much as I hate speaking with my older sisters.”

“Of course you may not. You must listen to what I say.”

Those were incredibly icy words, but I was not such a weak person that I could be shot down by that alone.

First, I confiscated the book from Surfania, who was already starting to flip the pages when she pretended to ask for my permission.

“Hey, wait.”

Her hands stretched out in an attempt to retrieve the book, but Surfania was quite small for her age. She was nearly the same height as Mishuli who was seven years old. On the other hand, I had grown tall and healthy. Once the book was raised high above my head, there was no chance of her ever reaching it.

“Give it back. You better give it back!”

Surfania was on her toes and reaching out desperately, but it was all a wasted effort for her. I had no intention of returning it. In the first place, it was unfathomably rude to try to read when someone was trying to have a conversation right in front of you.

I looked up at the book I was holding and skimmed through it with a sigh.

“I can’t believe you are still reading these popular entertainment novels.”

I only needed to read a few lines to tell that it was an adventure story.

I read books for the purpose of increasing my own knowledge, but the books that Surania preferred were different.

She had an obsession with reading the kinds of adventure novels that were popular on the filthy streets.

It was a complete waste of time and intellect. I sighed at the wastefulness of it all, but Surfania glared at me in return.

“What! What is wrong with reading adventure novels? I won’t forgive you for slandering these books. They are entertaining!”

“Of course it is wrong. You will only become stupid if you keep reading these.”

“No, I won’t. It won’t matter how many adventure novels I read, there is no possibility of me becoming a bigger idiot than you!”

“Ho ho?”

Surfania gave me a most unfitting label as she started to hop around. By the way, Surfania was a bit of a shut-in and her athletic abilities were unfortunate at best. No amount of hopping about would give her the height needed to reach the book.

“If anything, you are living proof that no amount of educational texts will make a person truly wise. And yet that living proof is trying to mock adventure novels? That is something only an idiot would do. Chris, you really are an idiot after all!”

“You sure have a lot to say, Surfania. Who, is a what? Say it in front of the face of this genius one more time, if you have the courage.”

“You are incredibly stupid. Well, it’s true, isn’t it? What’s wrong with calling a spade a spade?”

“Surfania. What is it with your attitude today? Am I not the proud daughter of a duke? We are of the three great families. And more than anything, I am an officially invited guest. I am superior to you from every vantage point. You must treat me with more respect.”

“I refuse. I too am an illustrious daughter of a marquis. We are great enough not to bend to the wrongful authority of a duke. And first of all, a guest? What a laughable thing to say as someone who came without notice. Why must I entertain such a fool as you? That does not seem right… Ahhhh kyaan!”

Surfania had been hopping around so desperately that it was only inevitable she would eventually slip.

And of course, there was no question of her having the reflexes to recover her balance, and she fell on the floor as if she had been crushed.

That was most surprising.

“Oh, hey. Are you alright, Surfania?”

“…Of course, I am.”

I called to her frantically.

Surfania peeled her face off of the floor and slowly got back to her feet. She pretended to be calm, but there were tears near the corners of her eyes. She had hit the floor face first. That would have been painful in spite of the carpet.

“Whatever, just give me my book.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“I couldn’t do anything if she was willing to go to such lengths. Surfania’s strong will had pushed me, and I had to return the book to its owner.

After she pulled the book out of my hands, Surfania held it tightly to her chest as if it were something precious.

“Hmph. That went according to plan.”

“Ah… oh. Is that so.”

She was insisting that she had fallen on purpose in order to get her book back. She was as proud as ever.

“But, to fall like that after jumping around a little… Don’t you think you should go outside once in a while?”

“I don’t want to.”

Perhaps it was because I had taken the book from her the last time, for she now kept it close and held it against her as we talked.