The first time we met, the world was still bright. It was the New Year's Grand Celebration—the same event that, decades later, have led to my nephew helping me in cutting the rotten corner of my house, and redo My incompetence.
"It's an honor to you, Little Grand Duke." she said, her voice like the chime of silver bells. She curtsied with a flawless, elegant posture, raising the hem of her silk dress. "I am Natasha La Carvy, the heir to the Carvy Count family."
"Lady Carvy... Yes, I have heard about you. It's nice to meet you too." I said indifferently.
"It's an honor to know that the Little Duke has heard of me." She said with a smile.
Back then, it was our first ever meeting. She was twelve and I was Eleven.
"I can hardly 'not' hear it. 'the pink Jewel of the high society'. You're quite famous for someone who rarely leaves her estate."
She had pink hair like cherry blossoms and peach pink eyes.
'the Name is made just for her' i couldn't help but think.
"Hehe... Am i ?" She smiled in slight embarrassment "Those are nothing but exaggerated, empty praises—Cough! Cough!" She suddenly started coughing.
The light in her eyes vanished, replaced by a sudden, violent spasm. Her small frame shook as she doubled over.
"Naty! Are you okay ?!" Count Carvy, her overprotective father, who was standing not far from us, Watching over us, came to her side in an instant for aid.
"I am fine--Cough! Cough!" She couldn't even finish the sentence. Her face, once vibrant, had turned a terrifying shade of pale porcelain white.
"Your highness! Please excuse us!" He looked at me and said and then He swept his daughter up and rushed toward a quiet corner before i could even reply.
A great disrespect, but I can quite understand his situation.
It's not a secret that Lady Carvy was born weak.
She had a weak constitution. In fact, she didn't even join a Junior course in any school and was doing home study with her private tutors, arranged by her father.
That was how our first meeting went.
A first greeting, a first compliment and an unfinished conversation between two kids who were practically just strangers.
Our Second meeting ?
As Rivals.
After four years, I saw her again. This time at the stage of the Royal Academy, during the orientation ceremony. While I was standing among the sea of new cadets during the orientation ceremony
"And now, I would like to invite Our academy's honor student for this year to give the orientation speech." the Headmaster's voice boomed across the Great Hall.
And she climbed the stage and started her speech "I, the honor student of this academy, Natasha La Carvy....."
She went on with her speech. The voice was stronger than I remembered, though it still carried that melodic, ethereal quality. Every eye in the hall—male and female alike—was glued to her. She was a vision of peach-pink and gold, the Academy's uniform tailored perfectly to her slight frame.
"So, that's the famous 'Pink Gem'. The rumors were not exaggerating." Some students started to gossip.
"True. She doesn't show up much in social events, either. In fact, it's my second time seeing her."
"Me too. But by age, she should already be a second year, right ?"
"Yes. But apparently, the academy faculties took pity on her because of her illness and she was accepted as a first year."
"Choosing someone who is one year older than us as the honor student ? That's unfair!"
"Indeed! Lord Volk is much more suitable for that position."
I was hearing the exchanges between the students around me. Not because I was interested, but because They were just too loud to ignore.
Talking behind others backs... I don't like it.
So, i intervened.
"Hey," I said, my voice cutting through the gossip like a cold blade. "You lot."
"Oh! Lord Volk!"
"The orientation speech is still going on. So, keep your mouth shut and maintain your position." I reminded them in a stern voice.
"But Lord Volk—surely you agree that—"
"I said, shut it!"
"Y-yes!"
The silence that followed was absolute.
Normally, the student who ranks the highest in the national exam among all the students is chosen as the Honor student.
Natasha had ranked first.
And on that note, I was second.
After scolding the students, I looked back at the stage and.... Our eyes met.
She was looking right at me, With a knowing Smile, Slightly tilting her head.
Her lips moved. While I could not hear it, even with mana, Since she was probably just moving her lips without actually making any sound, without saying something. But, I knew how to read lips.
'Thank You' She said
Did she hear me ?
I didn't have to wait long for the answer. As she finished her speech and the hall erupted in applause, she didn't step back. She maintained that eye contact.
***
I was halfway to the lecture hall when the silence of the morning was shattered by a voice that sounded far too energetic for someone with a failing heart, Which i did not have.
"Yo!" She greeted me with a smile.
I will never understand. How can someone who is suffering from illness like that always keep such an energetic smile all the time.
"Is that a new form of greeting that I was previously unaware of, Lady Carvy?" I asked, looking back with a raised eyebrow
"Yeah! Apparently, commoners greet each other this way," she said, catching up to me with a brilliant, effortless smile. "It's efficient, don't you think?"
"We are nobles"
"Status don't matter in the academy grounds, though." she countered, leaning into my personal space. "The rulebook says we are all 'students' here."
"Heh.. that's only on paper." Saying that, i passed by, ignoring her, continuing my walk.
"Hey! Wait!" She followed behind me.
"Why are you following me ?" I asked without slowing down.
"Hmm~ what do you mean following ? What a narcissist. I am going to my own class. We are in the same class, you know." She said with a pouting expression.
"I see.." I kept silent. If I didn't want to give her an opening, surely she would eventually run out of breath. But Natasha La Carvy was not a girl who required air to speak.
"By the way..."
"What ?"
"Thanks for earlier."
"For what ?"
So she did hear me.
"Oh! Come on! Don't play dumb. For defending me during the orientation speech."
"I see, apparently, our honor student has a habit of eavesdropping, huh ?"
"Haha... I was already aware that there would be backlash for my age." she said, her laughter turning a bit softer, more genuine. "I just wanted to confirm it. But..."
She stared at me silently without continuing.
"But What ?" I asked
She stopped walking and stared at me. Her peach-pink eyes were searching for something in my expression.
"Nothing. It just surprised me that someone cold like you still has a sense of humor and knows how to joke."