137 – Ghost of the Guardian Tree (16)
At the beginning of the letter, there was a chilling phrase.
[If you joke like this one more time, I will really kill you.]
And that’s the end of the letter.
It was the most intimidating and bloody thing I’ve ever heard while living with Silverine.
It was the first time I had ever heard such harsh words directly.
By the way, it seems that the person who said that he was detained in prison as if he were a third party and that he could not be contacted unless he visited him changed his mind sooner than expected.
And I feel a bit unfair. Wasn’t Silverine the first to play this prank? She wouldn’t have any reason to be so angry. Unless I was seriously deceived by my words and overturned the saints….
“…….”
First of all, Silverin’s anger had to be put to rest.
I was worried as I covered my head with both hands. What should I reply to? It’s my first time doing something like this, so I’m not sure what to do.
I hurriedly took out the paper and ink. After chewing my lips for a while, I quickly wrote down the answer that came to my mind vaguely.
[My master always left an unfalsifiable red mark next to the concluding words of his letters. However, this letter does not show that. Please send proof that the sender is Master. If you don’t send me, I’ll find Master and immediately stop studying and head to Chengdu.]
The meaning behind it is that we will just do what we are told to do. Master says it’s dangerous, so I’ll beat them all and go. Do you use it when a disciple rolls around in the dormitory?
The relationship between master and disciple is not equal. Since Silverin is in a position to be responsible for me, it is my fault for causing needless concern by sending her letters sparsely.
I folded the reply finely and got stuck in the stitch. It soon flicked its wings like a wasp and soared into the sky.
And after sending the letter, a group of people walked in front of me. Because I was distracted by Silverin’s letter, I didn’t even know it was approaching.
Five middle-aged men with spiky beards and luxurious tunics stood in front of me with their chests stretched out. If nothing else, he was definitely not from Eternia.
“Is Damian-kun correct?”
“… Who are you?”
“I was waiting in front of the dormitory, but I didn’t expect you to come to a place like this beforehand. First of all, we are the envoys who came to deliver the invitation of the duchy and princess.”
“You could have delivered it through Eternia.”
“The Archmage Silverin and our proud Principality of Ulysia have always maintained a good relationship. That’s why the principality thought it was right to give enough respect to the disciple who inherited his lifeline.”
“….”
An envoy took out a golden scroll from his bosom and held it out in front of him.
***
Gerald knocked and entered the princess’ bedroom. He entered the room and got down on one knee.
The princess looked quite busy. Three of her maids are attached to Bibi. One brushed her hair and the other two were busy taking care of each hand and trimming her nails.
Vivi’s back was covered by her maid, so she had to check her face in the mirror.
“What’s going on?”
“I will report on the Eternia class observation.”
“Ah, don’t worry about how I look, just tell me.”
“That boy’s swordsmanship skills are halfway there. He is neither excellent nor inferior. And he seemed to be avoiding a proper fight.”
One corner of the princess’s mouth, reflected in her mirror, went up.
“I told you. She’s hiding a talent.”
Gerald was still in an ambiguous position, but the princess was almost certain.
“We are sticking to an extremely passive attitude regarding external activities. I politely declined both offers of personal contacts and invitations to social gatherings.”
“It must be because the incentives were poor.”
“It’s because I’m lacking. Sorry.”
There was a bit of an unfair side to Gerald.
He thought of the youngsiks who drooled to meet the princess and waited for her chance. A woman would understand it, but it was a position that a vigorous young man who was gradually getting married would want to hold on to her family property even if it was robbed.
Can’t you feel how great it is to make connections with the highest power in the Duchy of Yulicia? The tangent offer itself was, in fact, the most honest and powerful inducement.
Perhaps he lacked a sense of reality, Damian didn’t show any interest in the proposal.
“Well, I expected it. I’m sorry, but what can I do? That child’s teacher must have taught him that.”
“….”
The princess raised her hand and shook it. Accepting her signal, the ladies-in-waiting stopped what they were doing and she left the bedroom all at once.
Bibi slowly rose from her seat.
A black corset dress that exposed the upper body line, and a translucent chiffon skirt swayed in the wind from the balcony.
Then he turned and looked down at Gerald.
Rips painted red and hair trimmed down to one shoulder. Countless accessories worth a mansion for each jewel.
Indeed, Bibi boasted a fascinating figure that everyone could look up to.
She put her brimmed hat on her head at an angle and said.
“Maybe her mother is doing what she tells her to do.”
“… ….”
“I will go to Eternia myself. I’ll check with my own eyes if he’s really a good enough person to reject the principality.”
***
A monologue in an awkward acting tone echoed across the stage.
“Oh long and boring night. Time is short. When the blessings of the east bow their heads, you will meet my love.”
Shortly after, the director tapped the guidance stick to stop the rehearsal and went up on stage.
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With a half-hoarse voice, she gave a face to the male student who played the lead role.
“It’s the first time in my life that I’ve seen such trashy acting.”
“Sorry….”
“Is that the feeling of a man who stays up all night in front of the house of the woman he loves? It means to put a little more longing and sadness and immerse yourself in those feelings. It’s not just about imitating a sad-looking expression or a sad-looking tone!”
“Uh, how can you immerse yourself….”
“Ahhh, it’s my daughter. Somebody show me an example Ah, Trisha! Don’t hide, come out.”
Then I opened the door to the set that was decorated like a mansion on the stage and Trisha came out hesitantly.
“Yes, sister?”
“Hey! On stage, don’t call me sister, call me director. You, the same freshman, show me a demonstration.”
“What… ?”
“Let’s play a sad love.”
“Yes!”
Tricia replied briskly, then she climbed onto the set and opened the window wide.
“Kuhm! I will begin.”
Then she took an exaggerated pose and started reading her lines.
“Ah, his heart is like a closed door. It always hovers around him like a butterfly, but the bud is tightly closed. Oh, to love that beastly man. My stupid fate! If my father finds out, even this feeling will not be allowed.”
Trisha’s acting wasn’t perfect, but she wasn’t lacking in expressing emotions. For some reason, she liked Trisha’s immersion in this kind of acting.
The director said, pointing at Trisha with the rolled-up script.
“Look, even that nerdy Tricia is that good. Your older brother is good at acting, so why are you like that? Bringing out past experiences or whatever and immersing yourself in them….”
“It’s not a joke!”
The director ignored Trisha and continued talking to the male student.
“Have you ever liked anyone? There won’t be someone pretty enough to get your mind off your head. I mean, remember that person.”
The male student thought for a while, as if thinking of someone, and continued his answer.
“Oh, I see.”
“Who did you think of?”
“In my imagination….”
“No, think of someone you have seen before.”
“Then… uh….”
The seniors who were sitting in the audience and watching this said teasingly.
“The ghost of the guardian tree is said to be the prettiest.”
“Su, I will remind you of the ghost of the guardian tree.”
“Have you seen it yourself?”
“No….”
The director hit a male student on the top of the head with a script book.
“You think of something you haven’t seen before. Put one of the people around you in your head.”
Then the boy scratched her head in embarrassment and glanced at a girl sitting in the crowd writing her script.
It was Luna who was in charge of the scenario.
Sensing this, Luna’s eyes briefly had a stern aura.
She shook her head as if she couldn’t be the director. She then grabbed the back of her neck as if her fever had gone and declared her rest.
“Ah, when are you going to make this bastard a human? I’d rather die sooner. I can’t. 10 Minute break!”
Soon after, the tension on the stage was relieved. The actors who were waiting came out of the curtain and became confused.
She came off the stage holding her back by the neck.
Tricia sprinted quickly and stood next to the director.
“Sister, sister!”
“Ah, this support team. Why.”
“Me, me, friend, friend.”
“Are you talking about that friend again?”
“Yes!”
“Haa, why are you trying to analyze each and every action like that? Then both you and he are tired.”
“But this one was really weird.”
“Oh my head….”
“Listen carefully, sister. I woke him up when he overslept in the dorm. But suddenly, when I looked at the calendar, my expression didn’t look good. There is no special practice.”
“It could be. I also check when my day off is, as a habit.”
“He is always diligent regardless of weekdays or weekends. That made it even weirder!”
“Something like the anniversary of someone I forgot… Or maybe it’s an anniversary that we don’t celebrate anymore or something like that.”
“… That’s right! It really felt like that!”
“Then don’t bother me and stay calm. It just sparks.”
Tricia’s expression became more and more meaningful.
***
After she finished some classes and personal training, the sun was setting.
I headed to the small theater where Trisha was in a sweaty state. She was there to meet her.
Aside from Silverin’s letter, it was a moderately satisfying day in that nothing extraordinary had happened.
I killed time by lightly hanging my body on the railing in front of the entrance of the small theater and cooling off in sweat.
In the meantime, from somewhere, a white dog walked over and put its butt across from me.
I thought it looked familiar somewhere, but when I looked closely, it was Luna’s wolf spirit.
He stuck out his tongue and panted, staring into my face.
“… ?”
Come to think of it, Luna also seems to have heard that she is in the theater department. Want to be here
Then suddenly the spirit stood up and growled ferociously at the door. As she pondered over what signal she was sending, someone opened the door and her Luna spirit vanished in smoke at the same time.
The person who came out that way was Trisha.
“… ?”
“Huh? Damian was there. Did she wait long?”
“Yes. She never came out, so I thought someone had taken it.”
“If I take it, my friend will come and find it, right?”
She brushed off the odd noise and said.
“I’ll have to bring it. Let’s go, it’s cold.”
We walked towards the Northern Village. I was thinking of making a stop at the dormitory to pack some things to move to Thorn Garden.
As we passed the student garden, Trisha suddenly asked in a cautious tone.
“Damian, what day is it today?”
“No. Why?”
“Mmm…Or not!”
No matter what happened, if no one remembers it, it’s just an ordinary day.
Trisha stood on her own as if something was troubling her.
I went on like that for a while and stopped in front of the Widrup House dormitory.
“Wait here for a while. I’ll just pack my things and come back.”
“I want to go in too!”
“No.”
“Can’t you just let me look around? I rent out my entire dorm.”
You have to speak clearly. That’s what you were forced to do.
“Okay, come in. Instead, don’t make a fuss, stay calm.”
Trisha jumped up and liked it.
“Yes!”
“But don’t be surprised if you find something strange in the room. I didn’t put it there.”
Three baskets of welcome waste were left undisposed.
“I won’t be surprised because you are the strangest person.”
When I entered the dormitory, a maid in the corner of the hall greeted me lightly. The face she hadn’t seen followed behind her, casting a suspicious look on her face. She signaled that she would be leaving soon, and the maid nodded her head.
I and Tricia passed through the hall and climbed the stairs.
When we reached the third floor, Tricia was already out of breath.
“Why is it so high?”
“I’m here.”
I passed through the corridor and moved to the end room.
In front of room 31F, I rummaged through my pocket and took out the key, but I stopped when I saw a strange object placed in front of the door.
A pure white box the size of a fist carefully decorated with a red ribbon.
Trisha, who was next to her, asked as if she noticed her strange behavior.
“Damian… what’s wrong?”
I picked up the box. My hands were trembling faintly.
And then, seeing this, my heart started pounding and my stomach started to throb.
I felt like someone was pulling me into the deep darkness of the ground because the floor was sunk.
An anniversary that neither the nun of the orphanage who took me in nor Silverin knew about it, and my one and only blood relative would have forgotten about it.
A day no one remembers. A day to curse those whose existence is denied deep in their hearts.
Because of the heavy weight of memories piled up year after year, I couldn’t handle the emotions that continued to bite my tail once they were discovered.
That’s why I hoped it would be a more normal day.
This is something that shouldn’t exist.
Under the ribbon, you can see a note without the name of the person who left it behind.
There was a short text written on it.
[Happy birthday.]
Time to face your past Damian.