The Reincarnated Archmage

Weeks passed since I got Zain as my personal butler. Zain is a very diligent and responsible attendant. He also works quietly. Our daily conversation was consists of my requests and his few words to answer me. His silence doesn't bother me too much since I enjoy his quiet company.

Zain always does the things I usually need without me asking him. He also knows my likes and dislikes even I didn't tell him those details. From my favorite tea to my favorite scent, Zain is too knowledgeable when it comes to me. It feels a little weird, to be honest.

And the weirdest part for me is about the relationship between Zain and Lyle. I thought Lyle would hate Zain a little and vice versa, but I was wrong. He is also attentive to Lyle's preferences. After he serves my meal, Zain will also prepare a plate full of bacon or a bowl full of chopped meat for Lyle. Since Lyle is being well-fed by my personal butler, he doesn't mind if Zain brushes his fur sometimes. Even though Zain is a quiet kid, I can tell through the glimmer in his eyes that he loves to play with animals.

Looking at Zain while brushing Lyle's fur brings an idea in my mind. Why do I feel like Zain is trying to tame Lyle to like him by giving a huge amount of food to Lyle? Is it just me?

-//-//-

After my lessons with Mr. Lanmere, Victor and Eliana visit me at the same time. They even brought a cake and macaroons as a gift. I know better that they will be the ones who will eat those pastries later, but I don't mind. It's better for them to eat those pastries so they can grow taller and healthier.

"Aly, what's wrong? You look so glum." Eliana asked me as she eats a whole piece of macaroons before moving her chair closer to mine.

"Eliana, please be mindful of your manners." I said.

Eliana ignores my words and she clings on my arms like a spoiled child. Recently, Eliana has acted like this whenever I'm with her. I didn't mind it, but she should refrain from doing it since she's a noble lady. In this society, people love to talk and gossip about someone's life.

"You look tired." Eliana said as she looks at my face.

To be honest, I feel a little tired. Aside from my lesson time with Mr. Lanmere every day, I requested to take more lessons so I would not feel like I'm wasting a lot of my extra time every day. Seeing how busy my family lately, I feel a little ashamed that I'm just wasting my time even though I'm the youngest member of the family. They try to stop me telling me that I may push myself too much, but reluctantly changed their mind when they saw how determined I am with my decision.

After that, mother assigned another teacher for me. These past few weeks, I'm learning how to play the piano. Not only that, but I also started to learn how to dance. When my brother learned about it, he suddenly volunteered to be my practice dance partner.

Even though he's already busy with his official work, he still never forgets to be a good brother to me. Because of that, I'm trying my best to learn fast and don't make a single mistake on every practice. I'm doing good in every lesson I received, but I can't help but to feel a little sluggish and tired when the evening comes. Aside from my body that is naturally weak, the lifestyle of being a pampered lady of a ducal house is also not helping me. We have a lot of maids plus Zain, who always attends to my every need, so all I have to do is to sit quietly and let them pamper me to no end.

"Uhm... Aly, are you feeling down because of those rumors?" Eliana asked me carefully. Victor harshly glares at Eliana, but she ignores it.

"Rumors?" I asked. "What rumors?"

"About you and the crown prince!" Eliana said. "But you don't believe them, right? You're the one who told me that we should never indulge ourselves listening to those baseless rumors!"

I'm torn being amused and confused because of these two. Eliana is being aggressive trying to comfort me. This is quite an improvement, though I hope she can console someone in a mild manner. But why does she need to console me? Did the crown prince do something behind my back? Don't tell me he's spreading a rumor about us being close again?

"I'm confused. What kind of rumor is spreading in the high society nowadays?"

Forgive me for being clueless. It's natural for me not to be informed with the latest rumors. First, I'm totally not interested in it since I'm busy living my life as a normal kid. Second, my family was determined to make me a sheltered princess so they never allowed me to go outside our residence. I guess the moment my mother gave birth to me, I'm destined to receive these best treatments from them.

"I heard from my uncle that recently, the crown prince was always with a girl from Deria family. They said that the crown prince and that girl are getting closer as the days passed." Eliana said carefully while looking at my expression. "They say that girl is much closer to the crown prince. Much closer than to his own fiance."

"The hell is that!" Victor suddenly roared and slam the table with his hands.

"Language, Victor." I scold him.

Victor mutters a soft apology before awkwardly sitting on his chair again. I can see his hands balled into fists. Victor is still mad. When he didn't say anything, I turn my attention again to Eliana.

"When did these rumors start?"

"A week ago."

I see. That matches everything up. I have a hunch that is the reason why my father was mad the last time I saw him. I haven't seen my father lately since he got a lot of work to in the palace. He also needs to supervise his subordinates while doing an inspection of the nearest lands in the country. It's not really impossible for my father to know the gossip that is running in the noble society.

"How come a mere girl from a baron family met with the crown prince?" Victor asked.

"I don't know the whole story, but my uncle said they met when the crown prince saved that girl from a group of bandits while he was having a short vacation in the South."

"A perfect meeting to make two people fall in love." I commented.

When I said my honest opinion, Eliana is looking at me with a worried expression. Victor is also observing me. Did they think I make that remark as a form of sarcasm? But I'm honestly thinking that it's a perfect mood and timing if they want to have a harmonious relationship.

"What a disrespectful moron." I heard Victor whispering under his breath. When Victor noticed that I'm looking at him, he awkwardly reaches for his cup and sips on it.

"Did you know what's the name of that girl?" Victor asked Eliana.

"If I'm not mistaken, that girl is called Veron Deria."

"...Oh."

I'm quite surprised not because of the said rumor, but because of that girl's name. It never crossed my mind that I'll be hearing that nickname again. I'm not the only one who reacts to it. Victor looks at Eliana with a funny expression. Knowing who is Victor from the past, I know he's also surprised to hear that name too.

"Tch. How dare she to possess that name? She didn't deserve that name at all." Victor spats. "That prince and that girl... They're both disrespectful towards master!"

This kid...

Does he know that he's saying his thoughts out loud? This child still didn't know how to control his temper. He's a real a.d.u.l.t with a kid's body, but still, act like a real kid either way. Sigh.

"What are you murmuring there?" Eliana asked Victor, but quickly ignore him. "Aly, you're not feeling sad about it, right?"

What a good kid you are, Eliana. I can't help but to pat her head. Even though she's acting like a spoiled brat sometimes, everyone can easily see that she's truly kind and caring towards others. A blush suddenly blooms on Eliana's cheeks, but she didn't avoid my hand.

"Don't worry. I'm not bothered by it." I said, reassuring these two children in front of me. "I'm just a little tired. That's all."

"Really?"

"When did I lie to you?" I said with a smile.

Eliana smiles brightly when she heard my answer. Victor didn't say anything, but he's now calm based on his expression. As I look at these children, I can't help but to remember that weird crown prince.

Our engagement was just made because I'm the only girl for now possess all the things they are looking for the next Queen. It doesn't mean that I'll really become the next Queen though. Being a part of the royal family is not my style. And besides, the prince is only a kid who loves to ruin my mood whenever he sees me. It will be too awkward for me to be partnered with someone who is like my great-grandchild considering that I'm already an old lady inside a kid's body.

If that rumor happens to be true, then that would be beneficial to the both of us. I can finally free myself from our engagement and the prince can also be with someone he really likes. Thinking about it, this may become more favorable not to me, but also to my family, especially to my father since he's really against my engagement with that prince.

I should confirm it first to know if it's true or not. I don't want to base my decision on a rumor only. I haven't met that prince again for a long time. I should confirm this with the crown prince first to know the truth before I can talk with my father to break the engagement. When I confirm that the rumors are true, then we can finally end our engagement.