Chapter 367 Reunion With A Best Friend
Adam woke up to faint sounds coming from downstairs. The thick winter curtains on the window made the room dark, but he guessed it was probably early morning because he could sense the servants moving around.
Although he still felt a bit sluggish, Adam figured that moving his body would help. Even right after waking up, he noticed that part of him was calm. However, he still had other physical needs, so Adam got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
'It used to be a hassle to go to the bathroom until I calmed down. But thinking about it, this is actually pretty convenient.'
Adam flushed the toilet first and then went to the shower booth. This bathroom had not only a toilet and a bathtub but also a shower booth.
'The Maiden's Tower has better water facilities than the main residence. Especially this shower; it should be installed in the main residence and the capital residence too. Having hot water available anytime is really convenient, and more than anything, I can wash my body by myself.'
By the way, Adam usually takes a bath by having a servant bring hot water and lying in the tub while they wash his hair and body. It's not that Adam enjoys being waited on by the servants. The bathroom attached to his room doesn't have a hot water supply, so several people have to carry water to his room. Since they bring hot water, he has to mix it with cold water to use it. However, making water to rinse while washing his hair and body is really troublesome, so it ends up with someone else washing him.
Originally, Adam, the noble's son, was taken care of mainly by male attendants instead of maids. However, since Sara did not allow male attendants in Maiden's Tower, the tasks were left to golems. But Adam was not used to having golems take care of him. In fact, he still didn't realize that Thomashiina was a golem. Because of this, Adam started bathing alone and got completely hooked on the comfort of it. It was hard to believe he had thought bathing was a hassle before.
After getting out of the shower, he heard a knock on the door. When Adam asked who it was, it was Thomashiina. Adam opened the door and let Thomashiina in, who sat on the sofa in the guest room.
"Good morning, Sir Adam. How are you feeling?"
"I feel a bit sluggish, but it's probably just because I've been sleeping too much."
While they talked, Thomashiina opened the curtains, placed a bookmark in the book that was lying open on the desk, and checked Adam's hand for his temperature and pulse.
"How's your appetite?"
"I'm pretty hungry."
"Then I'll bring you breakfast. Today we have pancakes. Do you think you can eat a lot?"
"I can easily eat 5."
"What about eggs?"
"Can you make an omelet?"
"Of course."
"Then let's go with that."
"Understood."
While checking his vitals, Thomashiina communicated Adam's requests to the kitchen through other golems without leaving the room.
"Body temperature, pulse, and blood pressure are all normal. I will inform Sir Rihito as well. Now, I will bring your breakfast."
"Thank you."
Thomashiina left the room and returned in less than 5 minutes, carrying a tray for breakfast.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No, I wasn't waiting at all. I still don't understand Maiden's Tower."
"If you think of it that way, there's no problem."
"I always feel that I don't need to force myself to understand things I can't grasp. Well, right now, I don't have the energy to think about things that don't concern me."
"I see. In that case, I can help. The answer to question 3 in the math practice problems you studied last night is incorrect."
"Huh? You didn't see what answer I wrote, right?"
"When I checked your heart rate earlier, I saw the paper on the desk. After I opened the curtains, I marked the page with a bookmark."
"You could tell just from that?"
"Yes."
"People in Maiden's Tower are really something else..."
Adam focused on enjoying his delicious breakfast without thinking too much. He felt a bit down that the maid was smarter than him (he thought of Thomashiina as just a maid), but then he remembered that Marg was also a girl, which calmed him down.
'I'm just not good enough. So what if I lost to a smart woman? I just need to study more.'
After finishing breakfast, Adam left the room in simple trousers and a shirt. It was finally time to meet Marg. He had already sent a message ahead, and since she had finished her breakfast, he had received word that she could visit his room anytime.
Adam's footsteps were heavy. To be honest, Adam still couldn't believe that Marg was a woman. He thought she had a pretty face, but many nobles were good-looking. Plus, the Grandchester family was known for their looks, rivaling the royal family, so Adam had gotten used to seeing beautiful people.
More than that, Adam was worried about Marg finding out that his true identity was the eldest son of the Young Marquis. To be more precise, he was scared that Marg would dislike him after learning his true identity.
Moving from one guest room to another on the same floor didn't take much time. However, Adam kept wandering in front of Marg's guest room, unable to knock.
Then, suddenly, the door swung open.
"Your footsteps have been so loud! If you're coming in, just come in!"
It was Marg who peeked out. With her long, straight strawberry blonde hair half-up and wearing a frilly dress, there was no doubt she was Adam's close friend, Marg.
"Marg! Are you feeling better now? What about Millie?"
"No, that's my line. You were the one who got hurt so badly!"
"I'm fine. My injuries are healed with healing magic."
"That's good. I'm really glad. I was worried that Adam might die because of us... I was going to call for help, but then I just collapsed... I'm sorry."
"That's okay. You were suffering from a fever too."
"Anyway, come in. I mean, excuse me, Sir Adam, please come in."
When Marg's tone shifted, Adam felt a chill of fear run down his back. Her polite manner made him feel distant, like she was putting a barrier between them. In Marg's guest room, a golem usually served tea, but Marg had asked it to leave. Now, it was just Adam and Marg in the room.
Adam entered the room and sat on the sofa as Marg urged him, but he found it hard to speak. He had a lot to say, but he didn't know where to start.
"Um, Adam. I'm sorry for staying quiet until now."
Marg was the first to break the silence.
"About pretending to be a boy?"
"Well, that's part of it, but mainly it's that I'm the daughter of Viscount Radford."
"You did tell me that your parents committed embezzlement."
"But, you see, my father and brother are the main culprits. From the perspective of the Grandchester family, they are the enemies who caused a crisis in the territory."
"Wait a minute! Did Marg know that I'm from the Grandchester family!?"
"Well, if you think about it, it makes sense. It's not something an ordinary commoner would know, but I am technically a noble, and even if we haven't met, I can tell Adam is a child of Grandchester. At that age, the only boys from Grandchester are Adam and Scott, and I know Scott, so it's pretty obvious. Plus, you haven't used a fake name or anything."
"I see..."
"I don't know why you're attending Miss Cordelia's private school, but I can tell that you respect her. If you want to learn from her while hiding my identity, I thought it would be best to keep quiet about it."
"Thanks, Marg."
Adam smiled at Marg, looking relieved.
"I thought for sure that if you found out I was the Young Marquis's eldest son, you would hate me."
"I could understand that if it were the other way around, but why would I hate you, Adam?"
"I heard that your father and brother dislike the main family. Plus, I've been keeping my status a secret. I feel bad for deceiving you."
"You didn't deceive me; you just didn't say anything. I wouldn't hate you for that."
"That's good to hear. So, will you still be my friend from now on?"
"Hey, Adam! Look at me closely. Don't you have something to say?"
Marg stood up and spread her arms wide to show Adam.
"Um... well, I see your real hair color is like that. I think it's really pretty. But I think fewer frills on the dress would suit you better. That's Chloe's style, right?"
"That's not what I meant! I'm a girl, the daughter of the embezzler Viscount Radford!"
"It doesn't matter to me if you're a boy or a girl. You're my smart and cool best friend. And even if your father and brother committed crimes, that doesn't make you bad. Or do you think I wouldn't be your friend if I were the Young Marquis's son?"
"Think about it normally. Our positions are way too different. You're going to be Marquis Grandchester in the future!"
Breathing heavily, Marg started talking quickly.
"Marg, can you please calm down and sit? I think we haven't talked enough about a lot of things. We've both kept too many things to ourselves. If I'm not mistaken, we're best friends, right?"
"Yeah, it's not a misunderstanding. I thought so, and I still think so."
As Marg sat back down on the sofa, Adam let out a big sigh.
"First of all, I don't know if I can really become Marquis Grandchester in the future. Until I met Miss Cordelia, I was really lazy and couldn't do anything. Even at this age, I kept failing the academy's exams, and I was selfish, only thinking about playing around instead of studying."
"That's surprising. I thought Adam was a dedicated student."
"My grandfather clearly told me that he wouldn't make someone who can't even get into the academy his heir. So, the next exam is basically my last chance to become the future Marquis."
"Wait! You're at such a major crossroads in your life?"
"It's completely my own fault, though."
Suddenly, Adam looked out the window with a distant gaze.
"If I talk about this, Marg might hate me, but I almost killed Sara."
"What?"
"It wasn't on purpose. Back then, I was an arrogant noble brat, so I bullied Sara, who was taken in by the Grandchester family. I treated her badly just because she was a commoner."
"Wait, that Sara? Adam, you really survived that."
Marg shivered, remembering the moment of anger she had shown for just an instant.
"I pushed Sara into the pond, and that's when she awakened her magic."
"Oh, I've heard that people can awaken magic when their lives are in danger."
"When I saw her fall into the pond, I got scared and didn't help her. I was too cowardly to even call for help because I was afraid of getting caught bullying her."
"Yeah, that's pretty low. I'm glad Sara is okay."
"Sara says she will never forgive me for this, and I don't think I can be forgiven either."
"You guys had such a bad relationship? You don't look like it."
"Sara says, 'That's that, and this is this'."
"What does that mean?"
"She said she would team up with enemies if it benefits her. I feel like we're on completely different levels. I keep getting told that I could never be the future Marquis."
"Hmm."
Marg tilted her head to the side, lost in thought for a moment.
"So, to sum it up, the really annoying you got crushed by Sara's strength and fell for her, so you changed your ways? Well, I guess Sara is a beautiful girl, so it's understandable to like her."
"Wait, wait. Sure, Sara is beautiful, but her personality is pretty disappointing. There's no way I'd fall for her. I just don't get why Scott likes her."
Adam quickly denied Marg's misunderstanding.
"Oh, so Scott likes Sara?"
"He asked her out on a date yesterday. They went out together."
"So, are they dating?"
"Maybe it's just Scott's one-sided love. There are a lot of guys who like Sara, but Sara is crazy about Sir Jeffrey."
"Hahaha! It's true that Sir Jeffrey is super handsome!"
"Marg, you too?"
Adam sighed softly, looking a bit exasperated.
"I just realized again that Marg is really a girl. Is it okay to keep talking like this?"
"Well, I've gotten used to speaking like a guy in front of Adam, but I might be forcing it a little."
"You can talk however you want."
"Thanks, Adam. Should I add 'Sir'?"
"Please don't. It makes things feel distant. I thought I had a lot of noble friends in the capital, but I didn't have anyone I could call a close friend. Meeting you, Marg, made me understand that."
"Adam doesn't seem noble at all."
"That's because of Sara. Until recently, I was really a snobby guy who thought nobles were the best."
"Do you really say that about yourself?"
"It's better to admit mistakes quickly."
Adam and Marg looked at each other and giggled.
"Sara is amazing. She's only 8 years old, right?"
"Her actual age is definitely that, but..."
"I get what you mean. She was the one who fixed my hair too. I heard she's the owner of this tower."
"Sara is really something else. She was the one who healed my injuries too."
"I don't think it's just something else; it's on a whole different level."
"There's no point in thinking about it. We just have to accept that she is that kind of person. Also, even though Sara hides it, she and Sophia are probably the same person."
"Wait, wait. Are you talking about Lady Sophia, the president of the Sophia Merchant Guild?"
"Yeah."
"But Lady Sophia is an adult woman, right?"
"Sara has a lot of fairy friends. I don't really understand it, but I think she probably changes her appearance with magic. But we all decided as a family that we won't ask unless Sara tells us herself."
"So that means the Young Marquis family knows too?"
"Yeah. I think my grandfather and Uncle Robert probably know. It's too much of a coincidence; their words are too similar, and Sara doesn't hide the fact that she runs the Sophia Merchant Guild when she's with us."
Marg leaned back against the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.
"She really is extraordinary. I was so excited to meet Lady Sophia, but I can't believe I've already met her... it's a bit shocking."
"Are you disappointed in Sara?"
"I imagined someone more mysterious."
"That mysterious woman swings a sword and fights off attackers, you know?"
"That's amazing! I want to spar with her!"
"...Marg, do you practice swordsmanship too?"
"Just a little. My father and brother were totally against it. They said my hands would get rough and I wouldn't find a husband. But my mother secretly taught me."
"That explains why you're stronger in a fight than I am. By the way, I heard Sara trains in swordsmanship early in the morning, so wouldn't it be good for you to join her?"
"Do you think she'd dislike me for being selfish and wanting to join?"
"I don't think so. She probably wants someone to spar with. But, you know, Sara fights with a sword while wearing a dress."
"Really? Is that true?"
"Yeah. She wants to be able to swing a sword freely while wearing a dress."
"That's so cool!"
"Plus, she's planning to create her own style using dual swords."
"I want to join!"
While glancing at Marg, who looked dreamy, Adam felt a slight headache.
"I wonder. Is Grandchester a place where women become strong?"
"Are you talking about Mrs. Elena?"
"Yeah, and also about my great-aunt, but Marg and Sara are women from Grandchester too."
"Hmm. Maybe the guys in Grandchester are weak, so the girls have to get strong to support them..."
"I can't deny that."
Marg, who was staring at Adam with a grin, seemed to make a decision.
"Alright, I've decided. I'm going to become the adopted daughter of the Young Marquis."
"Huh?"
"When's your birthday, Adam?"
"It's April 10th."
"Mine is August 15th, so I guess that makes me your little sister."
"Wait a minute. What do you mean by adopted daughter?"
"Fortunately, the Grandchester family is going to protect me and Millie. So, I've been told to become the adopted daughter of either the Young Marquis or Sir Robert."
"I see."
"So, I'm going to be the adopted daughter of the Young Marquis and support Adam. First, I need to help with the academy entrance exam. As your best friend and future brother-in-law, I will do my best to cheer you on to become Marquis Grandchester."
"I'm happy about that, but what about your future, Marg?"
"I want to work at the Sophia Merchant Guild. In the future, it would be great if I could connect the Grandchester family with the Sophia Merchant Guild. I think it would be a fulfilling job."
"Is that really okay?"
"That's what I want. Even if you graduate from the academy and marries the future Mrs. Marquis, I'll make sure to work outside so I don't seem like a little step-sister."
"Isn't Marg going to get married?"
"Well... if someone I like wants me, I might consider it. But I think it would be fine if Millie's husband takes over Viscount Radford. I want that girl's cuteness to charm some excellent guys."
"Haha, if it's Millie, she might be able to do it."
Marg stood up gracefully and gave a curtsy to Adam.
"Step-brother Adam, I look forward to working with you in the future."
Adam also stood up, returned the gesture, and lightly kissed Marg's fingertips.
"Nice to meet you, my lovely step-sister."
The two of them locked eyes and burst into laughter.
"Haha, we're the best friends and the best siblings, aren't we?"
"Yeah, that's true."
Even though they knew it was a bit rude, they clinked their teacups filled with herbal tea together for a toast and drank the cold contents in one go.
It seems that Adam and Marg managed to gain a new sibling without losing their friendship.
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