#17
“Me?”
“Yes. I was very frightened.”
That was the moment I realized what being a genius was like. He had only played one game, yet he had devised a new move all by himself. How amazing that was – Kara, who recognized Rikin’s fearsome potential, started intensive training from the very next day.
However, Rikin seemed unable to believe my words and began sniffling again, preparing to cry. I must have really gotten on his bad side. To think he wouldn’t trust me this much. I suppressed the emotions that had risen to the top of my head. There was no point getting angry at a nine-year-old child right now – it wouldn’t get through to him.
“Do you remember the move you made on the first day?”
“It was a mess.”
Rikin hung his head low as he recalled his past self. Just thinking about that day seemed to hurt his pride. Then, as his thoughts reached today’s defeat, he became pitiful again and tears welled up in his eyes.
“Yes. It was a mess. But then at the end, what move did you think of? One move that would lead to victory without sacrificing a single piece.”
Rikin was a genius. In his first game, he had made a move that even Kara had never shown me. That was truly amazing and made me fearful. I thought I might no longer be able to stay by Persis’s side.
For such a Rikin to become like this in just one week – wouldn’t I have reason to be angry? What on earth are they looking at to become like this? Was the teacher who taught him wrong? I was very displeased.
Was it because I had first encountered Rikin and Persis as adults? Or was it because I looked up to them? They should have been more outstanding than they were now. To simply conclude that it couldn’t be helped because they were still young – the things they would accomplish in the future were too amazing for that.
Persis, who currently doesn’t have succession rights, would become crown prince through recognition of his abilities. He was destined to have charisma that numerous royals would all look up to. The person who would stand beside such a man was none other than Rikin Parten.
What exactly was the problem? If it wasn’t that the teacher taught him wrong, could it be that meeting me too early had caused this? Surely at the moment we first met, he was a child with abilities comparable to the future Rikin.
I couldn’t let Rikin continue flowing in this strange direction.
“That was just a move that came out by chance.”
Where on earth had the confident Young Master Parten gone?
“It may have been a move that came out by chance, but I found that move truly frightening.”
I spoke while emphasizing once more. His pupils trembled as if he still couldn’t believe it. I cleared away the game board completely and began placing the pieces one by one again.
“I’ve played this game countless times with our family’s employees.”
“I did too.”
“Then what do you think of this move?”
I recreated the move that Rikin had made once more. Rikin’s face looked grim as he looked at each small piece. Did he feel overwhelmed? Unable to endure any longer, Rikin closed his eyes.
“It’s a childish move.”
“Damn it, who said such crap.”
“Pardon?”
I forcibly held back the words that had burst out in anger. Whether it’s the palace employees or the Parten family people, I don’t know what they’re teaching the child. Sometimes they’re too lenient with the child, and other times they constrain him too much. How on earth did the Persis and Rikin I saw grow up so well from such a state?
“This move is a very good move.”
“…I can’t believe it.”
It seems he can’t believe my words with this method. Then I should show him directly with his eyes. Without saying anything, I moved the pieces again. This was the pattern Kara had played for me, showing how Rikin would have won if he hadn’t fallen for my psychological warfare back then.
In the end, Rikin’s pieces defeated the knight without sacrificing even a worthless pawn, and finally toppled the king.
Rikin stopped crying and looked at the board that had ended in his victory.
“It was a good move.”
“…A good move?”
“Yes. Though not today.”
“I, I practiced. I practiced hard, so hard.”
Practice is important. Effort is also indispensable. That was exactly why I didn’t like the palace employees. They said Persis was still young and let him live as he pleased. Because he was just one of many royals.
I knew what the palace employees were thinking. They probably wanted to raise Persis as a royal who lived happily without any thoughts. The more outstanding he became, the more he could become a sacrifice of power. A playmate existed simply to let Persis play around.
I didn’t want to become such a playmate. The Persis I knew was also not a man who wanted to live the same life as any other royal.
The same was true for Rikin. He would live a different life from ordinary people. So it was very welcome that such a Rikin practiced hard at anything, but ironically, for him, practice led him in a worse direction.
Geniuses are frightening. Just practicing could make things flow in a bad direction. Sometimes moving according to instinct might be the path to developing genius. Perhaps he was the type who learned through actual experience.
Only then did I understand Rikin’s words when Persis wanted to skip lessons – that sometimes resting was good. He could say that because he was this kind of genius.
“Don’t do it.”
This was the answer for him. However, Rikin was shocked by my words and gaped.
“What? But then, things might go wrong! I might lose!”
“Do it when you want to do it. Don’t do it when you don’t want to. Enjoy it. Young Master Parten seems to produce the best moves when you’re enjoying yourself.”
Even as I said it, it was quite strange words. I was envious too. Some people have to practice without rest, even cutting into sleep time, to produce somewhat decent moves and increase their knowledge, while others show incredible abilities just by doing it a few times with an enjoyable feeling.
Suddenly my stomach hurt. I was truly envious.
“Really, is it okay to do that?”
“Yes. You told His Highness to rest sometimes, but Young Master Parten didn’t do the same for yourself, did you?”
“That, that’s…”
“It’s fine. You’re doing well.”
Perhaps these words might make him regress. I was a bit worried about that, but I couldn’t say nothing when he had brought such results. I thought of the future Rikin who handled everything with flexibility.
Without realizing it, I nodded automatically. Rikin would do well.
“Then, Young Master.”
“Yes?”
Rikin wiped away the tear stains on his cheeks and spoke to me. I could see his lips trembling slightly as if he was nervous. Finally, Rikin, who had made up his mind, shouted to me with great difficulty.
“Sometimes, could you play this game with me?”
“Yes. As much as you’d like.”
We’d be seeing each other often at the palace anyway. I could do this much several times over. Even though it wasn’t a big deal, Rikin smiled brightly like someone who had received a great gift. That sight was so cute that I found myself smiling along without realizing it.
* * *
“*cough cough*”
“I knew this would happen.”
I couldn’t respond to Kara’s low voice. Was my body this weak? It wasn’t before. Ah, I’ve only lived in this body for 7 years. So I didn’t know. My body wasn’t that weak, but it seemed more vulnerable to viruses than I thought.
“Your fever is starting to rise.”
“*cough cough* Ka, ra.”
“Yes. I’m here.”
“I, *cough* water.”
I struggled to drink the water Kara gave me, then lay on the bed like an exhausted person. After the sick Rikin visited, my body has been suffering from a cold for the 6th day. In other words, even though today was the day to go to the palace, I couldn’t enter the palace.
Persis kept coming to mind, crying out ‘Ana!’ in my head.
I was being foolish. I’m seven years old, seven years old. I keep forgetting, but I’m only seven years old now. Of course a seven-year-old would quickly catch it after being with the sick Rikin. On top of that, the day before, hadn’t I used up all my stamina running around here and there in the palace with Persis?
Why do I keep forgetting the most important facts? Come to think of it, lately I haven’t been paying attention to my speech patterns or word choices either. I don’t know. Everything’s bothersome because I’m sick.
“Kara, I’m sick.”
“Yes. Our Young Master. You’re very sick.”
Without realizing it, I sniffled and leaned my head against Kara’s arm nearby. Since I started getting sick, the Duke hasn’t looked for me even once. I thought that would naturally be the case, but since he hasn’t come at all like this, I thought it was a bit too much.
Couldn’t he at least consider other people’s perspectives? If an only son is sick but the father doesn’t even come to see him, wouldn’t the image of the “reasonable hero” that the Duke has built up disappear?
Anyway, he’s a man who knows one thing but not two. So blockheaded. That’s why he becomes a villain who roars about dominating this world later.
“Sleep.”
“cough can’t, sleep.”
My head hurts so I can’t sleep. But if I said that, Kara would be upset, so I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Several doctors had visited, but my illness showed no signs of getting better. I was even starting to think this might really become serious.
No. I absolutely won’t die until I see that person. Until I see that person’s happy face directly, even if I close my eyes, it won’t be truly closing my eyes.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
