Chapter 23 Just Why Wasn’t I There During My Absolute Fave’s Early Childhood…?

Translated by: chocolalaProofread by: -

Luna was not affected by Launen’s disease as we had feared, and was doing very well.  

Right now, Father was in the study while Mother was resting in the room next door. And I was sitting in Luna’s bedroom, pretending to read a rather difficult book I had recently started.

Well, unless it was a particularly interesting book, my head couldn’t process its content at all. So I was plainly eye-reading the words there. However, when my tutor told me ‘Orsis completely read this book at the mere age of eight years old,’ I inadvertently said that I wanted to try reading it. I didn’t expect it to be so complicated, though.

Tired of following the words with my eyes, I slammed the heavy book shut.

“Phew… What I got from reading this book was the reaffirmation that Brother is truly brilliant…”

It was amazing that an eight-year-old could read and understand such a complicated book. The book was about how to rule a territory, but it was so complicated that I couldn’t understand a word of it.  

So not only my body that was useless, even my brain… Yep, I already knew that.

As I turned my head to relieve my stiff shoulders and looked at Luna, the sight that met my eyes made me freeze and then scream out loud.

“It’s freezing around Luna! Holy moly! Somebody help!”

At my words, the maid who was in the room with me came unhurriedly to my side.

“Young master Alba, please calm down. Miss Luna’s magic was invoked, I see. This happens a lot in early childhood. Please don’t be in a hurry to call the Master and Mistress. I’ll change Miss Luna’s clothes.”

“Huh, magic invocation…? Th-there is such a thing…? I understand. So I should just call Father and Mother over here, right?”

“Yes. I’m counting on you.”

I replied with a yes and ran to the next room. The moment I ran in, I was warned by my mother, who was drinking tea, for my bad manners. 

“Luna! Is! Frozen!”

“Alba, that’s not how to report to the master of the house.”

As Mother shot me an astounded gaze, I found that her reprimand did make sense, so I dashed out of the room to redo it. I felt like I could hear her voice from my back scolding me, but I suppose that was only my imagination. 

I couldn’t spare any moment, I had to tell this matter to Father as soon as possible. 

As I walked quickly down the corridor, I was reminded of what I had just seen. The cradle in which Luna was lying glistened and was covered with ice as if protecting her. I guessed that was her magic in action.   

The maid told me that was pretty common, but if it worked like that, you wouldn’t have to check the attributes. Since I never checked my own attributes and never had I had my magic invoked like that, it felt surreal to me. 

In my case, even before activating my magic, it seemed I was more frequently in danger of getting my mana drained out of my body. Now that I think about it again, Launen’s disease sure was a terrible disease. 

This time I was calm and knocked on my father’s office. Immediately, Sven answered the door, and I explained to him that Luna’s magic had been invoked. 

Then he squinted at me and said, “Please, Alba, explain this to the Master,” and led me to Father.  

“What’s the matter, Alba? It’s unusual for you to come here.”

“It’s an emergency. Luna’s magic was invoked.”

“…Indeed, that’s an emergency. Sven, we will test her mana level at once. Go contact the others.”

“Very well, sir. Would you like me to contact the young master Orsis?”

“Um… Oh, yes, arrange for him to leave the school early.” 

“Yes, sir.”

“Alba, let’s go!”

Father got up from his seat, leaving his business papers as they were, and held out his hand to me.

“Was it Alba who noticed it?”

“Yes. I was very shocked.”

“What condition was Luna in?”

“Frozen!”

When I said this with a straight face, Father squinted his eyes and scooped me up in his arms.

“We’re going to move faster,” Father said and started walking at a much faster pace than I was. 

Wow, different leg lengths made such a difference in speed. I wondered if I would grow up to be as tall as Father. Surely, Brother would grow even taller than this, and he’d be so cool strutting around with his long legs.

As I looked closely at Father’s face, which was a look-alike to Brother’s, I thought to myself how I couldn’t wait to see that scene.

“So, that child’s attribute is the same as me–ice. But you know what, Alba? Usually, the magic invocation in infants is not that distinctive. It’s just that you can feel the magic moving and the surroundings change a little. It’s only when the infant’s mana is very high or very powerful that the attribute becomes apparent.”

“Is that so? I was so surprised to see Luna covered in ice that I let out a loud scream. But Luti, who was nearby, calmed me down and told me that this happens quite often.”

“I see. So it’s Alba’s first time. Does that mean, this is also Floro’s first time to see a little child’s magic invocation?”

“I think so. It never happens to me.” 

As I added that Mother would be surprised too, Father’s arm that was carrying me tightened its hold. 

‘It’s okay, I’m not bothered about it’ I almost said that but it would only make me sound like I actually did so I kept mum. Well, I would never say that my loud scream was because of me purely frightened at the sight; that’d be embarrassing.

When I arrived in the room with Father, Luna was already awake and in Mother’s arms. She had been completely dressed and was in a good mood. The ice had disappeared without a trace from her cradle and the fluffy little duvet was wet all over. 

“Husband, this child inherits the same power as yours.”

When Mother showed Luna to Father, he gently put me down and then took Luna from her hand.

“Yes. That’s right. Alba has explained it to me. It’s a bit early, but I think we should have the mana level test now, so will you be present to witness it, Floro?”

“Of course. What about Orsis?”

“I sent a messenger to his school. I’ve given him permission to use the teleportation magic circle, so I’m sure he’ll be back immediately.”

“I see.”

Just as I was puzzled as to when Father had issued such permission, there was a knock at the door of the room.

“Young master Orsis has returned.”

Along with Sven’s announcement, Brother entered the room.

It was really immediate. Once again, I was impressed at how efficient were the teleportation magic circles.

Brother looked alternately at Father, Mother and Luna before shifting his gaze to me and he said, “Alba, will you greet me home?” 

I positively replied to Brother’s request with “YES!” and gave him a hug. As he hugged me back, he exchanged glances with Father. 

“Father, so the mana level testing would be conducted today, am I right?”

“Yes. This child seems to have about the same level as yours.”

“You mean?”

“Orsis, you too used to invoke magic by covering yourself with ice when you were small.”

At Father’s words, I couldn’t help but react.

You’re telling me that when Brother was a baby, he was covered in ice like Luna just now…? So that time, there was a super mystical neonate Brother…? 

My eyes opened wide and Brother’s cloth that was in my grab was tightly squeezed.

WHY! WAS! I! NOT! THERE! WHEN! THAT! HAPPENED!  

I couldn’t believe myself that I had missed such a mystical scene…!

Using all the strength I had left, I muttered, “I also want to see that…!” and Brother’s chest quivered. 

It seemed like he was trying to repress his laughter and as a result, I could directly feel his vibrating body.

“Alba really loves Orsis. I wonder why?”

Mother, that’s because I’ve reincarnated here to adore and love my absolute fave, Orsis-sama to my heart’s content. From the moment I first saw him on the screen, I knew he was the one! Strictly no one else. He was so reverent I wanted to worship him so much. He was so cool and beautiful, yet his dignified gaze highlighted his strength so well that I didn’t see anyone else. It was my habit to say ‘Ahhh, I wuv youuu!’, you know.

Well, not like I’d actually say all this out loud.