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Chapter 24
The garden was full of spring blossoms.
Back then, Tiya had made a secret hideout where she could spend time with the spirit who would one day come to her, and whenever she returned home, her brother was always the first to welcome her.
He would hug her once, then carefully pick off the petals, leaves, and cobwebs clinging to her hair and clothes.
Seeing how much he seemed to enjoy it, Tiya had once asked without thinking:
“Brother, do you like this?”
“This? Ah, you mean taking off the petals stuck on you, Tiya?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Of course, I like it. It’s like spring’s spirit has come into the mansion.”
Ah, so that was why.
Tiya realized why she always imagined the Spirit of Spring first when she dreamed of meeting a spirit in the future.
She paused where she stood, catching her breath.
“I thought you would be jealous of her.”
For some reason, Winter’s words resurfaced. Unlike before, she thought she could now understand what he meant.
“Do you know much about Lady Valentina?”
Startled by Tiya’s sudden question, Mia looked puzzled but then smiled warmly.
It seemed to her that her young lady had finally found interest in a friend of the same age.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much Mia could tell. Valentina was a guest from far in the south, and very capable on her own.
“Well… I’ve heard she can do everything by herself.”
“By herself? Everything?”
“Yes. Washing up, changing clothes, even getting up in the morning.”
Tiya rolled her eyes to glance at Mia’s reflection in the mirror, gently brushing her hair.
Not only did she need Mia’s help to make her hair neat, but she also couldn’t wear dresses with ribbons everywhere without her maid’s assistance.
Not to mention—without Mia, she would’ve walked around with soap bubbles still clinging to her ears after washing.
“There’s no such child in the world!”
“True… ah, but perhaps because of her complicated family circumstances…”
Mia suddenly cut herself off awkwardly, changing the subject.
“Oh, right—Lady Valentina often goes to the back garden. She might even be there right now.”
“Mm, got it! Thanks for the tip!”
Jumping off the chair, Tiya rushed straight to the back garden.
Sure enough, she found Valentina examining the plants there.
Hiding halfway behind a pillar, Tiya watched every move without blinking.
‘Is that why Rodion is close to her? Because she subdued the Flower Spirit and can do everything by herself?’
These days, Tiya’s thoughts were consumed by that single question.
What exactly made Valentina so different from herself?
‘…Could it be? Did Brother Rodion open his heart to her?’
‘Are you even listening? She’s coming this way.’
As Tiya wrestled with her thoughts—
“Um…”
“Kyaaah!”
Valentina’s face suddenly appeared right before her eyes. Startled, Tiya screamed.
When had she gotten so close? Tilting her head, Valentina asked:
“Do you… have something to say to me? You’ve been watching me for a while.”
Tiya pressed her pounding chest and clamped her lips shut. She had nothing to say—and, more importantly, she was momentarily speechless because of how breathtaking Valentina was up close.
‘How can a person look like this?’
Her golden lashes framed eyes that shimmered softly, like a violet sky at dusk, the very same evening when Tiya had first become a mage.
Her jaw dropped in awe. She stared so intently at Valentina’s glowing beauty that she forgot time itself.
‘This little crow… dazzled by something shiny again.’
Winter’s scolding snapped her out of her trance, and she quickly turned her gaze away.
“Ah, it’s nothing! I have nothing to say!”
Her voice came out sharp, almost defensive.
Seeing her guarded response, Valentina hesitated before asking carefully:
“That thing on your shoulder… are you raising it? Is it your spirit?”
That thing?
Tiya turned her head—and froze.
Vertical, slit pupils.
Glinting scales.
The sinister little creature flicked its tongue with a wet hiss.
“Kyaaaah!”
Screaming, Tiya spun around in circles with Winter.
“Get it off! Get it off, get it ooooff!”
A lizard, no bigger than a finger, was dangling from her shoulder.
But this time, even Winter couldn’t help her.
‘Reptiles aren’t really my thing either… J-just calm down. It’s only a gross, slimy little monster, that’s all.’
“That makes it worse! Kyaaaaa!”
Her shrieks grew louder.
Valentina, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward.
“Let me take it off—”
Half out of her mind, Tiya leapt blindly toward the sound of Valentina’s voice.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
Her arms were just about to wrap around Valentina’s neck—
Thud!
A strong force shoved her back.
She tumbled to the ground, the lizard dropping from her shoulder and wriggling belly-up.
Finally free of the little dragon-like thing, Tiya felt no relief at all.
“Ow, ow…”
She ached all over, especially her shoulder, which stung as though it bore a burning handprint.
Valentina gasped and quickly knelt down in front of her.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m not skilled with handling my spirit yet… If it touches someone suddenly, it can hurt them. Are you in a lot of pain? Can you stand?”
“N-no, I’m fi—”
‘Ha. And yet she so easily let Rodion touch her.’
In that instant, the image of Rodion brushing flowers from Valentina’s hair flashed in her mind.
The words ‘I’m fine’ stuck in her throat.
Instead, a strange sense of rivalry bubbled up inside her.
Tiya glanced at the still-wriggling lizard.
Her body ached as though on fire, but she hid it, stood up, and pointed sharply at the creature.
“Aren’t you afraid of that?”
“Of that? Oh, you mean the lizard? Hmm, not really.”
Valentina blinked at the odd question, then gently flipped the lizard upright.
It scurried off into the shaded bushes, and Valentina’s lips curved in a faint smile—so kind and soft that it seemed capable of melting even frozen hearts.
The sight made Tiya’s face flush. She couldn’t help but feel she had just lost.
“See? It’s gone now, so don’t be afraid—oh, wait. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Ignoring her concern, Tiya sprang up.
She stared briefly into Valentina’s eyes—then abruptly turned and ran off.
“Wait—!”
Valentina called after her, but Tiya neither slowed nor looked back.
For as long as she could remember, this was her very first defeat—and her first retreat.
Later.
In <The Great Parenting Encyclopedia: Raising Children into Wonderful Adults>, Chapter 2 was about physical affection.
Spend time with your child through skinship. Tip: Let the child sit on your lap and share whispered conversations about the day.
Tiya was putting it thoroughly into practice.
Sitting on the Count’s lap while he worked, her legs swung back and forth.
“And then she asked me why I was there! Isn’t that too much?”
“…”
“If you don’t take my side, I’ll deduct ten minutes of Daddy time!”
“I see. That is too much.”
“Right?! Daddy also thinks Brother was too mean, right?”
Though not a shred of sincerity colored his reply, Tiya beamed, as if she had gained the greatest ally.
Then she narrowed her eyes into a mischievous “ㅅ”-shape at Winter, who was busy peeking over Anton’s report.
