Ajin's mother looked fondly at her son, her heart swelling with pride. "After this, you deserve an ice cream," she said warmly, gently stroking his dark hair, which caught the sunlight and shone like a raven's wing.
"Mooom," Ajin interrupted, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "Not here. And for the record, I'd totally take that ice cream."
His mother nodded, a smile dancing on her lips, but behind that warmth, a shadow of concern flickered in her eyes. Though her son had achieved a milestone, gaining admission into the prestigious academy he had dreamed of, she was painfully aware of their financial struggles. As a maid earning a modest 100 gold coins each year, she knew she couldn't afford the academy's steep tuition of 200 gold coins annually.
"You okay?" Ajin asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he noticed her distant expression. "You look worried."
"Yes, my dear," she replied softly, forcing a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Meanwhile, in the bustling courtyard filled with students chatting excitedly, Sidonia searched frantically for Ajin, her eyes scanning the throng of faces, their laughter and chatter a dull backdrop to her mounting anxiety.
"Don't tell me you're looking for that worm," said Albert, her older brother, snickering as he playfully grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not unkind.
She brushed him off, determination igniting her steps as she pushed past him, treating him like an unwelcome obstacle in her quest to find Ajin amidst the crowd.Ajin's mother looked at him.
"After this, you deserve an ice cream," she said warmly, stroking his hair.
"Mooom," Ajin interrupted her. "Not here. And for the record, I'd take that ice cream."
His mother nodded, smiling, but beneath her joy, his son had achieved his dream; she knew the truth. She couldn't afford to support him with the 100 gold she earned each year as a maid. The academy's tuition was 200 gold a year.
"You okay?" Ajin asked. "You look worried."
"Yes, my dear," she answered softly.
Meanwhile, Sidonia was searching for Ajin through the crowded courtyard, her eyes darting everywhere.
"Don't tell me you're looking for that worm," said Albert, her brother, grabbing her arm.
She ignored him, pushing past as if he were nothing more than an obstacle.
"SIDONIA!" Albert shouted, his voice slicing through the murmur of the bustling crowd. "I'll tell Adris what you're doing. You're a princess searching for a worm, probably from District X."
A sharp noise cut through the tension in the air as Sidonia's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Albert! Watch your words," she snapped, her tone laced with urgency. "That 'worm,' as you call him, might save your life one day."
Albert rubbed his cheek, caught off guard by the intensity of her expression and the fierceness of her words. He opened his mouth to retort but found himself speechless, his bravado waning in the face of her conviction.
"That's not what Father taught us," she continued, her voice firm but impassioned. "We, as representatives of the kingdom and the royal family, must respect every person in the realm. Every last one, understood? We are Antanta, and Antanta lives through us. Remember that. Don't let the title of royalty go to your head." She smirked, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "Or did you forget you're the second-born, sir?"
With that, she turned and walked off into the sea of faces, her royal garments flowing behind her as she searched for Ajin among the throng. After a few minutes, she finally spotted him and his mother standing near a vendor, their faces alight with the excitement of the fair. They looked ready to leave.
"Hey, wait!" she called, sprinting toward them, her breath quickening with the effort.
They turned at the sound of her voice, muffled by the distance. Sidonia waved her hand energetically. "Over here!" They halted, surprise evident in their expressions.
Panting slightly, she flashed them a genuine smile. "Good, you didn't leave yet. I just wanted… to thank you for what you did for me today." With a graceful motion, she bowed slightly, a gesture of gratitude.
"You! You're the princess! Oh my God," Ajin's mother exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth in disbelief as she instinctively moved to kiss Sidonia's hand.
"No need," Sidonia interjected, gently pulling her hand away. She turned her gaze to Ajin. "Ajin, right? Sorry, I'm terrible with names."
Ajin nodded, still in shock, and glanced at his mother, who stood frozen, eyes wide. Their child was recognized by the soon-to-be queen of Antanta an honor beyond measure.
"My lady, what an honor," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Please, there's no need for titles," Sidonia replied warmly, her smile brightening. "I'm just a person like you with a fancy label." She turned her attention back to Ajin. "Thank you again. I owe you one."
An awkward silence fell over the trio, the weight of the moment hanging in the air as they processed the encounter.
"Well, I'll get going then," Sidonia finally said, glancing back to where Albert was now deep in conversation with a butler, his demeanor noticeably more relaxed.
"Here, disinfectant," Albert said, handing her a cloth soaked in alcohol, his expression serious. "I hope you didn't catch something from those creatures."
Without a word, Sidonia passed him, her gaze fixed on the ground as she contemplated the day's events.
"Butler, please don't tell Mom or Dad about this or about the actions of my beloved brother," she said, glancing back at Albert, whose eyes were cast down in an expression of remorse. "He is tired and is not in the right state of mind right now."
The butler nodded, his face composed yet respectful. "Yes, my lady," he affirmed before quietly closing the door behind her, sealing off the noise of the fair outside.