They arrived back at the Estate after lunch so Maximus went straight to his office to finish the paperwork that needed to be done on time and did not have time to join his children on their lunch.
Because it was past lunch time, Maxwell and Maxineirah ate in the dining room rather than on the training ground and none of the Knights was there anyway since they were still on someplace for their training. Except for the Knights who have duties to attend to.
Maxell and Maxineirah were not in the mood to play so they were coped up in their rooms.
Maxineirah was too bored until she unconsciously fell asleep in the couch inside her room when the sun was half way in setting on the horizon in that afternoon but when she awoke, the sun had already set and was already laying on her bed with a blanket on.
She sat on the bed and immediately felt her empty stomach. She slept longer than she had expected, maybe she got tired, traveling and dealing with insolent people.
It was way too past dinner already. Maybe Kathelina and Creston went in to check on her that time but found taking a nap and so, moved her to the bed.
She also did not see her personal maid and guard all day except for the morning, before they left for the Viscounty.
She sneaked out on the hallway, she was careful on her every step to not wake anyone up.
She passed in front of the basement’s door and heard voices again in a whispering manner.
Was her family making some kind of cult inside their Estate? Or were they perhaps hiding a very wanted criminal in pursuit?
Maxineirah thought it was absurd since she had not heard of anything, not even a rumor in the past.
She did not listen to them anymore since she would not be able to hear anything again and it was scary for her if she were to know it.
Also, there was a saying, ‘Ignorance is bliss.’
She could pretend not to know. For NOW since she was sure that everything that her family was hiding would be revealed in its own right time.
Somehow, she felt deja vu, suddenly remembering the same time when she sneaked out at night because she was feeling hungry and caused something embarrassing to herself.
The embarrassment she brought to herself.
Maxineirah felt her cheeks suddenly heated up. Her face flushed after remembering that time. She was grateful that no one was around and it was dark.
Who was her brother who saw her that moment with some maids again?
Was it her Brother Maxlein or Brother Maxwell? She had not seen their faces clearly because her mind literally got blocked because of the trouble she made.
She remembered one thing, she never heard anyone talking about that the next day. It was fortunate that her embarrassment did not spread to anyone or anywhere.
It was probably because of her brother that blocked the words from coming out who saw her that time.
Anyway, why was she trying to remember that shameful event again?
Maxineirah opened the door to the kitchen.
She had closed her eyes tightly because he really felt deja vu after seeing the same scene and smelling the same scent of the kitchen.
She felt like she went back to being the naughty cat again, who sneaks to the kitchen at night because of hunger.
This time, she succeeded in bringing out food to eat without causing a ruckus, unlike the other time where she woke up and alerted the maids.
‘Ugh. I am going crazy. Why do I keep on remembering that unfortunate time?!’ Maxineirah was bothered by the thought that she ruffled her hair.
Why did she keep on having that unsavory flashback?
Could she not think of any honorable moments instead?
Maxineirah silently ate the food she stole right inside the kitchen.
She hid under the table, facing the door, to know immediately if anyone would come by.
She finished the food quickly because the amount she found was just little and stayed hidden under the table while thinking what she could do that night since she just woke up from her not-so-long slumber.
In the end, Maxineirah decided to take a night walk to digest the food she ate and train her swordsmanship afterwards since she would not be able to get back to sleep anymore now that she already slept more than enough in the afternoon to the middle of night -or early morning(?).
She wanted to practice with Sir Halnois but she remembered her promise not to bother him again whenever it is the time when people are sleeping.
Maxineirah was just wearing a nightgown and her plump slippers for bed. Her overcoat was placed improperly on top of a rock under the tree.
She removed her overcoat long before the sun even rose in the East because she felt hot while training and it would just be a hindrance if she stayed wearing it for too long while practicing.
It was the coldest part of the day in the morning but she could not feel any chill since she started practicing and perspiring even if it was still spring season.
She was sweating too much and panting heavily but the way she controlled her breathing while swinging the sword was exemplary.
Maxineirah’s lips were slightly parted apart so she could minimize the air going out from her body and she inhaled air from her nose. Her face was flushed from being exhausted but that did not stop her and just continued with bright and clear eyes.
That next day was the day the Knights would come back from training somewhere.
Before arriving at the Knight’s quarters, they would need to pass through the training ground.
They arrived early in the morning and found their Young Mistress training in that state in the training ground alone.
They found her adorable and started to admire her like her fans. The Knights’ eyes were almost heart-shaped. How could their Little Miss be that adorably cute?
They did not want to disturb her and so, they just appreciated and admired her from afar.
If they just could preserve that image of her, they would and would take more than just that!
They had become her fanatics since she was born but they could not show it outwardly because they thought that His Excellency and their Young Lords hated the Little Miss because of the Lady of the House’s death in delivering.
They did not want to enrage their Masters because it would not be a good idea so they had been walking on thin egg shells just recently, but one day, when they saw how they started to care for her, they did not hesitate anymore to raise their banners for her.
And they started to idolize Maxineirah.
Maxineirah finally could not swing her wooden sword anymore so she sat down on the ground.
She felt eyes were watching her so she tried looking at her side and found many Knights staring at her, and that widened her eyes in shock.
At the same time, Maxwell woke up earlier than usual without anyone waking him so he still had time to spare for an early training.
He dressed up for the training and went straight to the training ground but what greeted him was his sister, who was still in her nightgown and sitting at the ground, and the Knights who just arrived from somewhere, with their bags unpacked and wearing travel clothes, watching his sister from afar.
Maxwell felt all his blood go up to his head and there it boiled.
He gathered air in his lungs and readied his throat before shouting in a very loud voice.
“YOU SCOUNDRELS! I WILL GONNA RIP YOUR EYES FROM YOUR SOCKETS!” Maxwell shouted with all his might that startled everyone and made them jump from their places. Even the birds flew from the trees because of his roar.
Everyone looked at Maxwell’s spot without a second.
‘Uh-oh. The Young Master is mad.’
‘He is mad.’
‘Young Lord is probably angry.’
‘Fuming mad.’
‘Certainly infuriated.’
They only have one thought and Maxwell’s expression showed it.
He had not to take his first step yet when the Knights immediately ran away in fear that their Young Master would kill them because his face was pitch dark and he was emanating murderous aura.
Everyone felt like Maxwell would be chasing them with the sword he was holding.
They ran as fast as a horse being chased by a lion back to their rooms.
“Brother Maxwell!” Maxineirah exclaimed in delight when he approached her.
Maxineirah was nervous because her brother’s expression was not good.
She has a half-smile plastered on her exhausted face. She was still resting and not in the mood to stand up but her brother pulled her up in the arm harshly that made her wince in slight pain and surprise.
“Brother?” Maxineirah asked in confusion when Maxwell suddenly removed his shirt and put it on her as if he wanted to wrap her up and erase the looks the Knights gave her as if their eyes stuck to her body.
Because of that act, Maxineirah realized what she was wearing and her face instantly blushed in red in realization.
“I-I-I…I-“ Maxineirah did not know what to say. She could feel the steam coming out from her ears.
What happened on the training ground was, of course, reported to His Grace by Maxwell and the Knights who just came back from the intense training were punished by more intense training that very same day.
They did not even get a wink of rest after coming home that day.
Being in a fandom of their Young Miss who have a possessive and obsessive father and olders brothers was too hard.
Maxineirah felt guilty. She thought it was her fault that the Knights were punished cruelly.
Letters from the academy arrived at Zachrono Estate but instead of it going to the Duke first, the letters were brought to Maxineirah because she was the only recipient of the letters.
Obviously, those were from her pampering brothers. It was not surprising at all that she was the only one who always got the letters and bypassed their father as if he was not existing at all.
Well, it was not enough for Maximus to sulk but a thought came to his mind briefly that he should have confiscated the letters before they even got to Maxineirah.
It was late spring in March and Maximillian, Maximo, Maxlein and Maxillary had already sent letters six times since they entered the academy but all of the letters were sent only to Maxineirah.
Whenever they send letters, It was in bulk, as if they were writing everyday and only sending it once every two weeks, just like what they discussed about it.
They could make their letters into a novel series because of how long it was.
And as if they were already writing their own biography.
Maximillian’s letters’ have contents like this:
‘Dear Maxine,
I have received the bulks of tea jars you sent last time together with your reply. You told me that I should share those with my friends but it was a shame that I could not do that. I forgot to give them until I finished it all before I remembered what you told me. Do not worry, the tea leaves were excellent even when I am bad at brewing, as you know, I was able to brew it deliciously. You gave me such precious tea so I sent you exquisite pearls that can only be found in this nation. I stumbled upon it, the most shimmering purple pearl, while having outdoor activities with my class on the shore. I wish to see you wearing it when I get back home.
I am also happy to tell you that I ranked first again in our whole batch and whole Academy. All of my grades in every subject were so perfect S+ that even the Headmaster called me to his office and had a chat with him regarding my wit. You might not know but I already defeated the Headmaster in intellectual games many times and all of the students, Prefects and Masters are praising me non-stop and it sometimes becomes a bother.
Summer is coming up so drink more water to keep you from dehydrating and if you need to buy more new dresses, hats and parasols, do not hesitate to contact me because I am willing to transfer all of my allowances to you. Be it school or monthly allowance. I can also give up all my heritance to you, just say so. You can pick stuff with the highest quality and most expensive ones. Also, go for shaved ice, ice cream and cold drinks since it is the most popular when summer comes to lessen the heat you are feeling. Just be careful of catching summer colds.
Academy life here is so boring that I want to escape from here and go out with you.
Always take care, Maxine.
P. S. Do not be too close with those brats, Grenchant and Drenschville.
-Maximillian Altrei Leicester Levyne Zachrono-‘