Four Years (3)

Four years went by in a flash.

'It wasn't an oracle, but I'll make it one. I mean, isn't that how oracles work? They are proven right after the event happens, not before.'

Adelaide's mind wandered as her right hand continued to scribble on the parchment paper. She was sitting in her unique study hall. As always, her physical body was still having its much-needed sleep.

The past four years had been relatively peaceful to her. Not because it was actually 'peaceful', but because she got used to all the annoying aspects of it to the point it could not bother her anymore.

"Brother's graduating soon. Ah, I'm so glad." the young girl murmured, her eyes switched from the paper to the virtual screen. On the screen were the contents of Alfred's letter to his ten-year-old younger sister.

Of course, the now soon-to-be adult didn't send the letter the normal way – he simply put it into their shared 'inventory', Pandora's Box.

"…he'll be back by the 10th of May with his friends…so they're hosting their hunting trip here. The trip will last for three days and two nights…13th of May?" Adelaide continued to mumble to herself.

Alfred was already done with all of his schoolwork with exceptional grades like the genius he was. He did not skip any class, nor did he graduate early despite being admitted to the academy three years earlier compared to his peers. It seemed like the seventeen-year-old also wanted time to grow not only academically, but also mentally.

'Besides, seventeen is the legal age for one to be considered an adult with full rights. If you think about it, he still stands out. Other graduates are all around twenty-one.'

"Well, it's time." Adelaide folded the parchment paper in half and put it in one of the drawers. It had been a while since she last took a look at the records on the shelves. As she got older, the 'library space' expanded by itself and gave room to more and more bookshelves, but her ability to recall memories also increased.

"At this rate, I'll have to be careful to not embarrass myself since it is unlikely that I'll ever forget anything."

"I should start my plan. It's been four years. Enough is enough."

Adelaide called it a 'plan', but it wasn't anything grand or spendid. It was, in fact, very simple.

'All I have to do is make sure brother isn't involved in this and that no suspicions will be directed towards me. Not that anyone with common sense would – I'm ten.'

Adelaide had used the past four years to not only improve herself, but also plant various seeds inside Baron James' head. He did not submit to her fully, of course, for his heart was still somewhat belonged to Goddess Avalina. Rather than an independent figure, his reverence towards the Unnamed was still similar to a holy leader of a religion.

'To him, I'm like the Pope's boss.'

The kidnapping incident was blamed on Sir Vaheil, vice-captain of the duke's elite squad. He was a knight brimming with talents.

"Such a waste of promising personnel." Adelaide sighed. Vaheil was Sir Wallace's proud disciple – a straightforward man. Too straightforward that he had the guts to advise Duke Charles to get rid of his trusted sycophant minions who knew nothing but flattering.

The duke didn't mind Vaheil's words at first. All he thought was that some kind of misunderstood situation might had happened between them. Small ideology conflicts happened between academias and the knights from time to time, after all.

But after being caught by his son about the Esine incident, he could not help but become more and more suspicious. Vaheil acted like a loyalist that would never be under the radar with his brutal straightforwardness, but what if it was some type of reverse psychology? What if his son, Alfred, was laughing at his ignorance again?

Once the thought was planted, it continued to grow. The seemingly minor details became 'evidence' to him. Small conflicts between both sides do happen, but they were all minor and insignificant ones.

The knights and scholars stopped complaining after some time, but why was Vaheil so persistent? Why did he suggest something that could destroy his trusted advisors' careers?

Duke Charles used to believe that his vice-captain was a simple-minded person (which he was), but his resolve was hardened. No matter how incompetent he was, after years of swimming in the world of politics, he was no longer the man he used to be.

Yes, Vaheil was an exceptional knight. Yes, they had countless trips together. Yes, Vaheil had his back and always served with dedication. Yes, he could be wrong.

But Vaheil was quite young. With Samuel being a sponge at absorbing sword arts, Duke Charles could not tolerate another speck of suspicion. Young people with talents that disagreed with him all became a sore in the duke's eyes.

"And so little Vaheil was out." Adelaide hummed lightly, knowing full well it was unlikely that Vaheil was one of Alfred's subordinates. Influenced by his teacher Wallace, he was one of Duke Charles' hardcore fans.

Sir Wallace was lost in emotions when his best student was announced as the culprit, but he was soothed well by the duke. A little of fabrication and 'evidence' soon convinced him.

'I thought he was incompetent the first time I read the records, but he cleaned all the mess professionally. I misjudged you, Father.'

The girl laid down on her comfortable chair. The familiar ceiling with that countdown timer that she rarely looked at came into view.

113,765 hours and 30 minutes. It had really been four years since her transmigration.

"This fucking timer," Adelaide murmured in frustration. "What will happen when it reaches zero?"

She had no idea. No matter how many books she read, how much knowledge her brain managed to absorb, or how hard she thought about it, she still had no clue.

Not even myths and folklores mentioned a room like this, much less a countdown timer with only hours and minutes.

A weird sense of urgency ran through her.

"The only way now is to be freed from current troublesome people as much as possible."

Adelaide closed her eyes, but she didn't relax her body and fall asleep for real. She had spent the entire night in this room of subconsciousness; it was time to wake up.

The feeling of falling back to her physical body came. Adelaide squinted in discomfort as she opened her eyes and yawned. Her hand reached towards the small bell on the nightstand.

She never liked moments like this; it was as if her mind was detached from her body. Her mind was sharp and wide awake, but her body decided otherwise.

"Good morning, milady. Did you have a good rest?" Mila quickly entered the room with the signature motherly smile. The two maids behind her greeted Adelaide and stood quietly.

"I guess I did." Adelaide rubbed her eyes. The heavy feeling of a body that had just woken up slowly disappeared.

She was pleased.

"You're happy today, milady. Is it because the young master is visiting today?"

"That's one reason. How long is brother's hunting trip?"

"Three days and two nights. The young master will leave this afternoon."

"I see."

"Don't be sad, milady. Young master Alfred will be able to spend more time with you after his trip. He's going to attend to his ducal duties as the official heir here."

"Of course, who do you think I am? I'm ten, Mila. I'm not a kid." Adelaide pushed her chest out and exclaimed indignantly. She looked cute in her messy nightgown while standing on the soft pink carpet, with her bed hair and shining blue crystal eyes.

Mila and the two maids could not help but giggle.

"What are you laughing at?" the girl pouted, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel.

"Of course, our lady is the cutest and most grown-up ten-year-old of them all." Mila picked her up and waved to the two maids behind her. It was a sign for them to make the bed and clean up the room.

"Now shall we choose you a pretty outfit for the day? What about this white dress with rose gold chiffon? Young master would be happy to see milady in the dress he bought you."

"Fine."

Adelaide mumbled like a child. She used to cringe at herself every time she had to act cute for the sake of being a kid back then, but she got used to it eventually.

It was never easy pretending to be a child. You can't just act all mature and count on everyone to take it lightly.

Nevertheless, that day was one of those rare days where the thought of being transmigrated as a kid was a blessing.

'Ah, I'm all excited.'

The phrase "a pinch of Esine leaves" was all she could think of.