Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Look What I Can Do
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It contained everything from the yarn and soap bubbles she played with as a baby bird to her most treasured star candies.
I glanced at Kasana, a little worried.
*Oh no. It looks like Kasana is interested in my treasure box. This is Aileen's.*
I quickly put the treasure box in a drawer and returned to my seat.
"Shall we begin the lesson, then?"
"Okay! Aileen study!"
"Since it's the first day, I will simply teach you how to write your name, Lady Aileen."
Kasana took out a notebook and wrote the letters, large and neat.
The characters felt a bit rigid.
I watched the strokes carefully, then gripped the pen and traced what I saw.
"Alright, now curve it to the side here."
"Mmm. It's hawd."
"That's just because you're not used to it yet. Shall we try one more time?"
I copied my name over and over. *So this is my name.*
I finished tracing the long, winding letters. The long characters at the end must be my family name.
As I focused all my concentration on my name, I suddenly looked up.
"Kasa!"
"Yes?"
"Papa and Set and Arban too! And Wosawia and Kasa."
I flipped to the next page of the notebook, asking her to teach me their names.
"Aileen wanna know names. All of them."
"Understood. Shall I write them here for you?"
"Uh-huh."
*Once I memorize them all, I'm going to surprise everyone.*
*Now I can write my family's names too!*
I moved my little hands diligently.
"Pewfect!"
I had finally memorized all the names.
A proud smile spread across my face; all I had to do now was go show them.
I was eager to go show them right away.
I left the room, pen in hand. The first person I went to find was Set.
After hesitating in front of his door several times, I squeezed my eyes shut and called out to him.
"Set oppa!"
"…What is it? Aileen, why are you here?"
I had worried he might not be there, but thankfully, Set was in his room.
I beamed when Set opened the door.
"Can I come in?"
"What do you want?"
"I came to see Set oppa..."
I rolled my eyes. I was worried he would just turn me away at the door.
A brief silence followed.
Set, who had been staring down at me, let out a sigh. His voice sounded somewhat annoyed.
"You came to see me?"
At the same time, his suspicious gaze didn't waver.
His red eyes narrowed as if trying to figure out what I was plotting.
I quickly nodded.
"Yup!"
"Why me?"
"Because I wanted to see oppa."
"Hah?"
Set let out a deflated sound, his reaction one of utter bewilderment.
He scowled and blinked slowly, his expression still showing a complete lack of understanding.
I gave a little grin and stepped into his room.
Set's room, which I was seeing for the first time, was very tidy.
*So this is where he lives.* The atmosphere was different from my room.
Unlike my room, which was filled with snacks and toys, Set's room was furnished with only the bare necessities.
One thing that stood out was the potted plants placed here and there.
*Does he like plants?*
Set followed me into the room and spoke, his voice full of displeasure.
"If you're just going to stand there and look around, why don't you go back, Aileen."
"Ah! No. Aileen has something to show oppa!"
I remembered why I came and said quickly.
"Then I'd appreciate it if you showed me quickly and left."
"Aileen learned to write her name, and I memorized oppa's name. I came to show you."
I had brought a pen, so all I needed was paper.
I took a blank piece of paper from the table and clumsily wrote out the name I had worked so hard to memorize.
As I carefully pressed down on each letter, Set's eyes widened slightly.
"Ta-da! Look at this!"
*Surprised? You're surprised I can already write your name, right?*
"You know how to write my name."
"Yup. Aileen worked weally hawd to memorize it."
As Set brushed his fingers over the crooked but carefully written name, the corners of his mouth lifted into a meaningful smile.
A moment later, a harsh critique followed.
"Your handwriting is so awful, I almost wouldn't have recognized it if you hadn't told me it was my name."
"…That's not twue. I got pwaised for writing well!"
"Is that so? Whoever it was, I wouldn't trust them too much."
Expecting praise here as well, I let my shoulders slump in disappointment.
I puffed out my cheeks sulkily and was about to leave when Set fluttered the paper with his name on it.
"Has anyone else gotten one of these?"
"I'm gonna go show them now."
"…So I'm the first?"
"Yup. I like Set oppa. …But oppa said my handwriting is awful."
As I fidgeted with my ink-stained fingers, on the verge of tears, Set showed a slightly surprised expression and gave an uncharacteristic smile.
"Ah. I've suddenly changed my mind."
"Huh?"
"You write quite well, Aileen."
The next place I headed was to find Arban.
Arban was lying listlessly in a hammock set up in the garden. *He's not skipping class again today, is he?*
"Arban!"
"What?"
At my call, Arban sat up and got out of the swaying hammock.
"Aileen has something to show you!"
"Something to show me?"
"Yup."
But there was nothing suitable to write on in the garden.
Arban, who seemed interested by my words, feigned indifference while glancing over.
"What is it?"
"What do I do? Aileen wants to show you I can write Arban's name."
"My name?"
It couldn't be helped. I'd have to show him next time. There was nowhere to write right now.
Just as I resigned myself to leaving, Arban stopped me.
"Hey, why are you leaving when you just said you came to show me something?"
"Aileen has no paper."
"You can write on this."
Arban held out his palm. My eyes went wide.
*If I write on his palm, it won't come off easily. Is it really okay?*
"Weally? Wwite here?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Then watch closely. Aileen memorized Arban's name the fastest."
Because our names shared some letters, Arban's was the easiest to memorize.
As I bowed my head and wrote letter by letter, his palm twitched.
Arban hesitated before asking tentatively.
"You really memorized my name the fastest? Not Father's or my brother's?"
"Yup. Arban is number one. All done!"
"I'm number one…"
I beamed, proud that I hadn't forgotten and had written his name perfectly, and looked up.
My eyes met Arban's, who was also looking down at the name on his palm with a smile.
The moment we made eye contact, Arban's smiling lips pressed into a firm line.
Arban seemed flustered.
"Arban smiled!"
"Wh-who said I was smiling because I was happy!"
His face bright red, Arban quickly ran out of the garden.
I headed to my final destination.
The last person to visit was Kaide.
I went down to the first floor and carefully opened the door to his office.
I peeked my head through the crack in the door, and my eyes met Kaide's, who was looking at some documents.
Beside him, Baon waved, greeting me cheerfully.
As if he already knew I had been loitering outside, Kaide looked at me with amusement and asked.
"What have you been doing at the door all this time? Finally coming in, I see."
"Is Papa busy?"
I asked hesitantly, and the two of them gave conflicting answers.
"No, not at all."
"Yes, he is extremely busy."
"...Aileen just needs a wittle bit of time."
"Come here."
Kaide put down his documents and held out his hand.
I quickly opened the door and went inside. The desk was piled high with documents. He still seemed very busy.
I stood on my tiptoes at the desk that was taller than me, and Kaide pressed his finger firmly on my forehead.
My tiptoed heels fell flat on the floor.
"Ouch!"
"Stop pretending it hurts."
"But Aileen did get an ouchie!"
As I covered my forehead and puffed out my cheeks, the corners of Kaide's lips lifted faintly.
He reached out as if to tease me more, so I quickly hid behind Baon.
"Lady Aileen."
"Yup."
"I trust I am not being offered as a sacrifice?"
Baon, who was bearing the full brunt of Kaide's murderous glare, asked uncomfortably.
"Aileen was gonna show you something amazing. Not gonna show Papa now."
"Something amazing?"
"That's wight. Something amazing."
"Come here and show me. I won't touch your forehead."
"Weally?"
I was highly doubtful he would keep his word, but I decided to trust him for now.
I approached the desk again.
Kaide sat me on his lap and gestured with his chin, telling me to show him this amazing thing.
Baon, also curious about what I was going to do, sidled up next to us.
I held up the pen I had brought.