"Hahaha. Young master Axion is the same as always. It seems just like yesterday when I first saw you at the winter ball."
Before me stood a tall man with a long mustache. He was Count Dolkan, and he was in charge of overseeing a vast northeastern territory.
"Your words flatter me, count. Still, you are the same as the last time I saw you.
Even as an adult, you were drinking the orange juice and you're still the same." I smiled at him and he laughed again.
"Haha. It's my honor you remember that young master. But oranges are way better and healthy than that intoxicating grape juice." He was one of the few people famous for his dislike of alcohol in the empire.
It was an even more well-known fact because Dolkan county was famous for its fine wine production.
He was a unique person, but their land and wine factories were undoubtedly amazing. It was really fun when we went there.
"Right. I almost forgot." As if he suddenly remembered something, he looked to his other side.
"Maybe you already know, but this is my daughter-"
"Of course, I know lady Janet. We have met on occasions. But count…" I was smiling, but then my eyes became sad.
"She already has someone she likes. I didn't think you would be the same as those people."
There were few people in the hall as it was still early, but most of them were talking with their daughters, telling them the obvious things silently.
'And I don't even need Celes's clones to know their talks.'
Anyway, the count before me had a confused expression.
"Ahh… no, no master Axion. I think you're mistaken about something.
I already know about them.
I wanted to say that Jan here is your fan. I mean, she loves your book.
She wanted to meet you for a while, and this was the perfect occasion. I hope you will hear her out."
'Right… he wasn't that kind of person to begin with.' Looks like this stuff with Rein really is making me anxious.
He was famous and had good trade relations with my mom's merchant company, and his daughter was also a famous young literary critic.
She was beautiful, had dark gray hair like her father, and was beautiful. But she fancied baron Cava's son.
He was a nice person, pure like Alf.
And though he was clumsy and not much special or strong, he sure was famous for his classical poetry.
Few knew about them, and it was natural that her father would be one of them.
But it was interesting that a famous person like her still loved my year-old book.
"Father! You just…!"
She was angry at her father and as they chatted, I thought back to the chaotic time when I first published my book, the epic we found in that evil spirit's tomb.
It was a genuinely hard time, as the book became so famous that the emperor wanted to award me with a noble title.
It was difficult to turn him down, even more so to the three empresses who were still one of the top fans of that book.
It was a story that I didn't write, and there was little I did to spread that magnificent piece of literature to as many people as I can.
It was a book that was already noted down in history as the sales it had were off the charts for any general book in known history.
It was something that made me as famous as I am now throughout the empire and continent. But meeting a fan was still a weird task for me.
"Umm… master Axion? C-can I have your autograph!"
She held out a copy of her book, one of the first editions for sure, and looked down. There was probably an embarrassed face she wanted to hide.
But still, just like every other fan I had met till now, my answer to her was the same.
"I humbly decline, lady Janet. I believe you already know my reason." I smiled bitterly as she looked up, her face now painted with sadness.
"But still, you were the one to make it into what it is right now. I want your signature, the person who did all the work on his own. To decipher, edit, cut, and rewrite things from an ancient script all by yourself...
I know from experience how hard it is to do all that. And even more so when we are talking about an unknown language. But you did it. And for that… I respect you from the bottom of my heart."
She was sincere. But still, I can't do something I didn't believe in for some pretty words.
So I just shook my head without any words and she understood the negative answer. But still, she didn't lose hope, stored the book in her storage device, and took out a blue diary.
"Then can I at least have your autograph on this?"
It was her personal diary, a famous artifact she always carried with her.
"Never thought I would get the chance to be on the same list as those great people…"
I shook my head with a bitter sigh at her adamant behavior. She sure was a tough young lady.
"Ginger is a lucky guy…"
This diary was an artifact that contained autographs of almost all the finest artists on this continent. Something she had worked hard to create and maintain.
Only the best ones had their names in this personal property that had value far beyond a collector's collection. So it was obviously an honor to be one of the people in the blue diary of the literature prodigy, Janet Jeremiah Dolkan Von Vionna.
"He sure is," she giggled with a bright smile. The two sure had a tough but beautiful future ahead of them.
"Here. Hope you both enjoy your time here."
She was excited when she received my sign in her book. It was as much of an honor to have that for her as it was for me to be on that list.
It will be fun to see them at the academy. They will definitely be a famous couple like uncle El and aunt Aug.
With a last smile, I left the two of them and greeted some other 'good' people in a way it seemed I wasn't avoiding the interaction with the bastards camping in this hall.
Time passed as my birthday night became cheerful and the hall started crowding with people.
There was still time for the thing to start though, so I waited for mom and other ladies with dad, two uncles, and grandpa. They all, like me, were also a little too excited to see their partners.
It was a fine night, and each passing moment was tormenting. The ladies were definitely teasing us by being late.
"Eon, what are they doing?" Dad asked while scratching his cheeks under his mask.
"They shouldn't take this long, even if they were making clothes by themselves." Uncle Theo mumbled under his breath with a subtle hint of impatience on his ever-calm face.
"Calculating their behavior pattern, adding the certain variables, and subtracting the unpredictability of their wills, I think they will be here in a minute or two." Uncle El was visibly in anguish. I could tell I wasn't the only one the ladies had teased.
"Haha, you all. Relax a little and give some advice to our little one… oh, right. It should be our grown-up little one now. Hahaha!
You all married adults should give some advice to the little brave one.
Can't you see his nervousness that isn't visible even while facing me?"
Grandpa laughed at all of us, mostly at the three of them, and patted my shoulder.
The three of them looked at him with a confused gaze, then noticed my faint signs of nervousness, exchanged some glances among themselves, and then shrugged.
"I don't think he needs it. He knows almost all the things, maybe more than necessary, so I think he will be alright." Dad had no doubt in his voice while saying that.
"We did try it yesterday, but we received a good class on relationships from him and ended up learning a few interesting things.
He's quite knowledgeable about certain stuff that none of us knew about." Uncle El was the same as dad and uncle Theo nodded at his words.
"If anything, I think it should be us who need to worry about the aftermath after they are done." Uncle Theo sighed, and the other two nodded.
Grandpa was astonished at the three of their carefree behavior but then burst out laughing. The male trio of their house sure was as adorable as ever.
I smiled at the three of them, and their desperate gazes. Then I looked at grandpa and his subtle, very subtle, and almost unnoticeable eye movements.
'He's the same as us…'
Age definitely wasn't relevant when talking about things like these. The two were prime examples of how love can be the same even after such a long time.
'And Rein's grandparents, too. It would have been perfect if they were also here.'
It was unfortunate, but there was suddenly a small problem in the south that required their attention.
I made sure they see everything with a live communication device, but it still would have been best if they were here.
'Damn the hoard of grasshoppers.'
It was a natural occurrence in the south and something which always happened on unusual occasions every year. And it started exactly before they all were leaving for the capital this time.
Bastard insects.
'Haaa… it can't be helped now, anyway.'
I shook my head with a sad expression and they understood its meaning.
But then I felt something different and my heart started beating a bit faster.
"They are here everyone," I spoke in a low voice and all five of our eyes looked in the direction of the stairs in unison.
We were speechless as we looked in one direction, the clock ticked, the sweat on our necks slid down gently, and as our breathing became unusual, they appeared on the horizon…
"Gulp!"
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