CHAPTER: THE SHINING SUN (2) (To read after the first volume)

LANUVEL GRANDCROSS POV:

"Nice to meet you. it seems Roxcia finally made some friends." The woman greets us by waving her hands elegantly with a smile you would see on a queen. Was she a noble perhaps?

"Please Rebecca, you know it is because of you."

"Oh… Please do forgive me."

That woman has the same behavior as mom. And the same smile. A warm smile that melts your problems.

"I am the saintess Rebecca. I hope you will continue to get along with my sweet little hero."

The saintess lightly pinches Rocxia's cheek. Why are you blushing, Rocxia?

"Y-yes, of course, we will." Romas seems somehow afraid of the Saintess. Or is it my impression only?

"Wait, your name is only Rebecca?" She doesn't have a surname? Was she a slave? It would not be surprising since she is from Titanium but is it possible for a slave to become a saintess?

"Yes, I have my own circumstances. Rocxia, I will go and greet other guests, please do not wander anywhere, okay?"

"Yes, I know. Just go already."

When Rebecca goes away, Roxcia sighs in relief and looks at us:

"She has too much presence so people don't easily talk to me when she is near." You can say that again, she indeed has much presence.

"Anyways. What were you and my husband talking about earlier?"

"Rocxia was asking me if I will go to the eternal academy this year." Oh right, Romas and I are fourteen, we can finally go to the academy. But why does he look so sad then?

"And what? You won't?"

"I…Yes, I won't. I am sorry."

"WHY?!!!" Romas's answer surprised me so much I scream without noticing.

Guests start looking at us and the atmosphere becomes somehow awkward. But then everybody starts talking like normal, phew... 

"Why are you not coming?"

"Because I must go to the army, first." The army, of course. Uncle David is a general so it is only obvious he will have to follow the same path as the only child.

"I see. All my hopes were for nothing, after all."

"Not really."

"Ah?! What do you mean?"

"Well, I have received three elemental attributes from the goddess so I will only follow the army training for two years instead of seven then I will go to the academy. So we won't see each other for two years only, no, maybe even less. Though when I will join, I will be your junior."

"That's great." I am so happy to hear that, I jump at Romas's neck unconsciously.I can see Rocxia looking at us with a big sincere smile from the corner of my eyes.

"Then we will all see each other at the academy. How much elemental Angas can you use Lanuvel?" Rocxia asks me after I let go of Romas. He is acting shy and blushing. So cute.

"I have four, one more than Romas." I answer while puffing my chest out.

"Wow!! From what they teach us at the church, you are almost like a chosen one. Most talented people receive three elemental as a blessing. Four is rare and five is close to impossible. The priests told us they never saw anybody using six elements aside from us."

"Yes, I heard the same thing. And just so you know, I can use all the four basic: fire, water, wind, and earth."

"Yes, Romas told me before you came. he also said he can use fire, wind, and water."

Suddenly, a bell rings. Romas leaves us and goes over to his father who is now standing in the middle of the garden. It is time to greet the guests and open the buffet. I am hungry so I have been waiting for this. Just like Kevin that d… Argh! Why do I think about him again? What is it with me today?

Romas does a rapid and elegant speech. He is a shy one so he doesn't really talk much. After that, he comes back to us. Roxcia and I laugh at him a bit because his hands were trembling. Then, we sit and dishes are presented to us.

Ah, the joy of being a special guest. There are so many dishes: chicken, beef, pork… so many types of meat, and sauces that I don't know what to start with. But of course, etiquette obliges, I wait until Romas fill his plate. Then I make my own and put almost every type of meat inside. Sitting near Romas, he looks at me instead of eating.

"What?"

"Nothing, you look cute when you are eating." I almost choke when he said that.

"Why would you say that now?! " I must be so red right now! What's with him?! Calling me cute all of sudden!!

"And this is how you obtain an embarrassed Lanuvel." Romas looks at Roxcia. So this was your plan? !! I will show you a real embarrassed face!

I touch Romas's shoulder and when he turns towards me, I kiss him lightly. It was more like pressing my mouth against his. He becomes so red you could name a new color under his name. YES!! I will call that the red Romas.

"Who is embarrassed now?" I ask casually but Romas is not even with us anymore, he is in the clouds already. This party will be quite fun.