-she can take my ride-

After the long, exhausting evening, I still decided to go to the Flower House. I changed my uniform back, and before the sky turned orange, I hurriedly went to the back of the academy. I used the same excuse for getting to the mansion late at night, but I needed to be back before dinner time.

"You're in a hurry again?"

The senior asked me at the door gate at the back of the academy.

"Yeah."

"Extra class?...You know you can't get more than A+"

"Hahaha, yeah, I know."

I laughed at his joke and agreed with him instead of explaining more.

He didn't ask anything more profound about it. I knew that he knew about my circumstances vaguely. He knew that I was the mistress' child, but it was normal in this society. However, it didn't make them stop gossiping. He might wonder why I didn't take the chauffeur ride from place to place or back to the mansion. 

"I heard that Anthony wants you to join the team."

He asked about Anthony, the head of the Polo team. He was the leader of the team. I had taken a horseback riding class before, but I wasn't good at it at all, and I had no idea why.

"Really? How come? I couldn't even ride the horse properly."

"He might see something in you."

"I doubt that."

"Eh, is that?"

He tilted his head a little bit and looked behind me. 

"Mr. Achlys?"

He said his name before I turned my head to see, so I stopped immediately.

"Senior, I want your help."

I stepped closer to him and whispered.

"Hm? What's going on?"

He was confused and whispered back.

"Can you..."

I hadn't explained or asked yet, but he could guess what was happening after seeing Achlys looking at us.

"You go... I'll take care of it."

He said.

"Thank you so much, senior."

"Ken-to."

He spoke his name slowly.

"Alright, Ken-to senior, thank you."

And then I quickly ran behind Kento.

The leaves were falling along the way to the Spring area. I wondered what the garden would look like in the Flower House. During the rush, I was trying to keep my pace like usual and on time; hence, I wanted to keep my visit longer or the same, at least not shorter.

I ran my heart out on the pathway, avoiding getting hit and trying not to hit other people as well. Seeing horses leading the carriage on the side reminded me one time that I almost got hit by them. Back then, I didn't know how to get to the Flower House and was in a rush. Then, I bumped into a big brown horse on the way. 

Running without a break took almost 30 minutes. I stopped at the tall white gate filled with a yellow-greenish vine. I pushed the gate inside to open, brought myself in, and closed the gate back to its original position. Then, I did not hesitate to get inside.

"Miss Zephyra."

The butler greeted me.

"Hi, my mother?"

I asked.

"She's drinking tea in her room right now, Miss."

The butler answered me and allowed me to go inside. 

It was the same butler from the Stygian mansion. At first, he disagreed about this situation, but I didn't care anyway. Plus, I had to keep myself here every evening except on weekends. And he seemed to understand or try to understand how it felt being me or being her.

I walked to her room, and watching her from far away seemed like a dream picture. She was drinking her tea peacefully, her pale skin covered by a white dress.

"Do you like it?"

I asked her.

"Zephyra?.. Yes, it's splendid."

She turned her face to me with a calm smile and answered me.

"May I join?"

I asked her politely while walking to her room.

"If I say no."

She teased me.

"I'm going to join anyway."

I answered with a smirk and sat across from her.

"Please drink. Seeing you sweating like a pig, I'm worried."

"Like a pig? I look like a pig?"

"You're cute like a pig, and your skin is very pinkish when you use a lot of energy."

"Fine, I'll be a pig, but only you can say that."

"Hahaha."

"The sunset is gorgeous today."

"Yeah, have you gone outside today?"

"After lunch...Now tell me, how was your day?"

"Hmm..."

We had a long conversation about my day at school, how the classes were, about clubs after school, and stuff. It was normal for me, and I didn't know how to exaggerate to my mother so she didn't get bored. But she seemed very excited every time I talked about school and clubs, specifically outside-class activities.

"You know Zephyra...You're 16 now."

"Umm, Umm."

I made a sound while a piece of vanilla cake was in my mouth.

"You should have fun."

"Umm U..."

"I know you are focusing on school and the Mansion."

"Hm?"

The Mansion? How did she know? After my mother moved here, I was ordered to take care of the mansion on the weekend. My father wanted to keep me busy, so I didn't have time to leave the house. The head lady disagreed at first, but when he left her in charge of me, she was very fine with it automatically.

"I know you work hard to get out of there and try to please everyone right now, but I'm afraid that you will not have a wonderful time as a young 16-year-old...or even a teenage life."

"Mother, but I do all that because I want to live my life with you. I'm not trying to please anyone..."

"I know, sweetheart… at least... try to have fun for yourself. That will make me very happy."

She said and ended with a beautiful smile.

The Stygian's Mansion

"We're having dinner in 5 minutes."

Serena spoke to me after accidentally seeing me come in the front door.

"I'll change my clothes quickly."

I answered. 

I ran to my room, washed my face, hurriedly washed my body, changed into comfy clothes, and ran downstairs. Fortuitously, I tripped on the last step, and some hand grabbed my arm without me realizing it.

"Ah...Thank you."

I looked up, and it was Achlys.

"Dinner is ready."

And before he opened his mouth, the maid came in and called us. He saved me from getting injured, and the maid saved me from him.

At dinner time, it was the same as usual: the invisible bright silver-haired girl sitting and eating silently while others were having a conversation. I was minding my business, hoping that Achlys wouldn't bring up the topic of me sneaking out after school.

"It's your birthday next month, Medora. How about we go to Doraella Island for the weekend?"

The head lady asked her daughter.

"Doraella!? I'd love it, Mother. I heard it was so beautiful. My friend Jemma went there last month."

Medora was so excited that I could hear from her tone of voice.

"What do you think, honey?"

The head lady asked her husband.

"Hm... there's a lot of work I need to finish."

"But it's your daughter's birthday. You can leave it to your man."

"...I'll try. Achlys, how long are you going to give the lecture at the academy?"

He asked him the question that made my ears pop.

"Long as they need me to."

"I think you are better than just teaching students there, Achlys."

The head lady.

"I agree. Why don't you work with me full-time?"

My father suggested.

"But the director asked for Achlys himself, Darling. That might be hard for him to leave the academy now."

"What do you think, Achlys?"

"..."

He was in silence.

"Do you want to leave? You can tell the director directly. He wouldn't mind."

Father asked.

"..I want to stay longer."

He answered.

"..."

I looked at him out of curiosity and saw his eyes were looking at me.

"But I still help you after school as always."

Then he turned his face to the head of the table.

"That's not what I meant."

"..."

"How about you, Zephyra?"

"Hm?"

I made a sound, not intentionally. I thought I was completely missing out on their world.

"Your grades and your work are amazing."

"Thank you."

"The director contacted me himself."

"Hm?"

This time, the head lady made a noise.

"Your school work is wonderful because of your hard work. I think you don't need to attend an extra class after school."

"But.."

"You can maintain the grades by studying only the academy's classes. So, you don't bother getting home late by yourself."

"It doesn't bother me, Father."

I tried to explain 

"And I've heard that you are in the Sayamura club, is that right?"

"Yes, father."

"Sayamura?!"

The head lady screamed out the name.

"That's very impressive. I heard that no one's allowed to audition or register unless they are chosen."

My father continued.

"Yes, father."

"Anyway, after school and your activities, you come home by the chauffeur ride."

"..."

Shit..

"She can take my ride."

Achlys voice interrupted.

Fuck.

"Thank you, but It's okay."

I quickly responded to him.

"She has to train for the upcoming competition, and I heard that the polo team wants her to join, so she must practice more than the average member."

"Polo team? Is that so? But why does she have to practice more than others?"

"Because she sucks at riding horses."

"What...how do..."

I almost shouted at him.

"Hahaha. Alright then, she can come home with you."

My father decided.

"..."

After that conversation, I heard nothing else until dinner was done. I wanted to talk to him and clear things out, but…What the hell? What was Achlys thinking? I took a bath intently this time, but my head was a blur, thinking about what had happened and how I could go to see my mother if I had to go back with him. 

I made up my mind.

"Let's talk to him."

I said it out loud and got out of the bathtub.

Before I was going to open my door, I saw the shadow behind it, so I decided to open it.

"Achlys?"

"Where are you going this late?"

"To see you."

"..."

"What is it?"

He asked.

"I can come home myself."

"..."

"How about we talk tomorrow at school?"

"No!"

I grabbed his arm immediately to stop him from walking away, and he looked at me.

"Why?"

"I don't want anybody..."

It was hard to explain directly. He looked at me curiously, or maybe he knew.

"Hah."

I was startled that he moved closer to me.

"Okay, then talk here."

He surrendered.

"I don't want to bother you. I can come home by myself."

I explained again.

"No."

"No?"

"I knew the secret activity that you do after school."

"!!?"

He knew?

"Why did...Why didn't you tell Father?"

"...You still can go there."

"I don't get it."

"On one condition, you have to join the polo team."

"Ha? Why do people really want me to join? I am not good at all and if I join, how can I have time to go..."

"!!"

And his hand covered my mouth to stop me from saying that place.

"I know you enjoy the Sword Club. Do whatever you want, but give 2 days to the polo team. You got 3 days for Swords and only 2 days for riding horses."

"Hmm."

What did he get from this? 

"What?"

The way I looked at him made him question me.

"Can you just tell me why? Why do you want me to be on the team?"

"Let's just say I'm helping you right now, aren't I?"

"And how can we…"

"I'll take you there."

"No."

"Don't you think it will save more time?"

"..."

He was right, but I wanted him to avoid getting involved, and he might make things complicated.

"Why are you so stubborn?... I give you a ride, and I'm doing my things and pick you up."

"..."

"I won't rush.."

He continued.

"..."

"I take your silence as a yes."

Should I thank him or resent him instead? At least I still got home late so I could see my mother. He might be the only option here, and Father trusted him.

"Um."

I made a sound and nodded.

"Goodnight, Zephyra."

"...Goodnight."

"You don't want me to leave or what?"

"Ha!?...Oh...sorry."

I was shocked and realized that I was still holding his arm.