On a bright, sunny morning, Callian's hair had grown long again. Her greatest pleasure was playing freely in the water. This made Betty terribly anxious.
"Please come out quickly, young master."
"The sun is so nice. How could one not go swimming?"
It turned out that Madam was about to return, and she absolutely must not see Callian with long hair.
At times like this, she was always especially troubled, because she was too good-looking. The maids always fawned over him. Yet he only wanted to quietly be a handsome man. Even such a small request could not be satisfied.
At this moment, she thought of her brother again. After going to Gear to be treated and to study, he had become a hostage. But for the sake of the treatment, there had been no choice. During these four years, she had never received any news at all about Jaelan and the young duke. But only if Jaelan returned safe and healthy could she go back to the home that truly belonged to her.
At this moment, a retainer came to report. "Young master, people from the academy have arrived."
Simply because he was too beautiful and yet happened to be a boy, he had already become widely famous at a very young age. Even the teachers at the academy praised him greatly.
Because of the matter of dressing as a boy while being a girl, the family had repeatedly postponed Callian's enrolment. But after learning that he was going to the capital to study, he could no longer sit still.
"Father, I want to enrol."
Under the banner of thinking of the family's honour, she smoothly obtained her father's approval.
"Then I will arrange a residence for you near the academy."
Callian's eyes instantly lit up.
Since the matter had already been settled, the group of teachers prepared to leave. But the inconspicuous man with a small moustache in the crowd quietly repeated Callian's name over and over.
In fact, the reason she insisted on going to the capital was also very simple. Ruber was in the capital, and her mother was in Ruber. This was her last chance to reclaim Kallia's life.
Just as she was imagining the future, a dark shadow behind her enveloped her completely. She had just seen this man. He was the dormitory supervisor who would oversee her in the future. The man's name was Eddie.
At this moment, he was sizing her up with a meaningful look on his face. Callian felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
"An appearance that is too beautiful always easily invites trouble. And not only among humans, but among all living beings."
As he spoke, that large hand heavily rubbed Callian's shoulder a few more times.
"No matter where you go, there will inevitably be people who dislike you. A pampered young nobleman like you needs to be even more careful."
Because she was a girl, the Marquis would not agree to let her go to the capital alone. So he arranged for the maid Peppa to accompany her.
"You wanted me to wear a dress a long time ago, didn't you? When we get to the capital, let's try it."
For no other reason than that she was afraid her mother would not recognise her as a boy.
The capital was both prosperous and lively. It was completely different from how she remembered it. It turned out that she had never left the Ruber region before, only because her mother had once said that the outside world was very dangerous.
Before enrolling, she first had to have a school uniform made.
"Wait. Let me guide Callian there."
"It's His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince."
"Long time no see, Lord Marquis. And Callian Bell."
He invoked his father the emperor to send the Marquis away, then personally took Callian to have his measurements taken for clothes. The crown prince's act of coming in directly, without even knocking, also drew the shop owner's dissatisfaction. After all, there were other customers in the shop right now. But he said that he was only helping a lost customer find the way.
"Look who's here. Claude, you haven't changed at all. Hello, Callian."
So the customer just now was the young duke.
It was Callian's turn to be measured. Claude also showed no intention of leaving at all. At this moment, however, the shop owner asked him to take off his shirt.
It turned out that the shirt Callian was wearing was too big. Dignified and elegant — that was the soul of the academy uniform. Such loose clothing was obviously not suitable for him. If they kept measuring like this, she would be found out sooner or later.
"Could you draw the curtain for me?"
Because this was the shop her father had recommended, Callian naturally felt very at ease. But Claude was full of confusion about this act of drawing the curtain.
Although it was very embarrassing, Callian still took off her shirt, revealing her snow-white skin. The old shop owner was shocked on the spot. This was clearly a little girl.
Fortunately, the shop owner Frank was experienced and knowledgeable. He did not expose her on the spot. He even made her a suitable shirt. Compared with the suspicion that a loose shirt's attempt at concealment invited, a well-fitted shirt was instead more natural and less likely to arouse doubt.
It was also the crown prince's first time seeing Frank care so much about a customer.