_______________________________________
"Wait, what do you guys mean?" Claire look toward her parents as they just finished their meal.
"You're going to the capital next month," her father said to his younger daughter with a serious expression. Her mother, seated beside him, wore a similar look.
"From now on, you won't just be Claire Keres," her mother continued. "Soon, you'll bear the title of a Duke's daughter. You'll inherit your uncle's legacy and take over his business."
You see, Claire's uncle, Raven Harvey, a man with the title of Duke, lived in the Sorcie Kingdom. Long story short, Raven didn't have any children, and there was no one else suitable to manage his wealth after his passing.
If not for certain events in the past, his sister Merlisa Harvey and her husband, Karlis Keres, would have been the ones to carry the family name.
All of their children had already grown up and gone their own ways. Besides, none of them wanted to get involved with the royal family or take on such responsibilities. Knowing this, they didn't hesitate to move elsewhere, avoiding the burden.
And so, only Claire Keres, the youngest among them, was chosen to be adopted by her uncle. This decision was made when Claire was just three years old.
That's why it was considered normal for her to study in the kingdom, to learn about the Harvey family and prepare to become a Duchess.
"But... isn't it too early?" said Claire, now a twelve years old.
"Exactly because you're young, you should start early," Merlisa said. "At your age, it's the right time to learn all of this."
"Since you mastered a basic swordsmanship, horse riding calligraphy, and other basic subjects, it's better for you now continue to go to next step."
In other words: study far, learn more.
'Are they just trying to kick me out of the house?' Claire thought to herself.
________________________________________
Three years later
Tap tap tap.
The sound of footsteps echoed as students and teachers walked through the hallways. Claire, holding a book at her side, listened to the faint chatter around her.
With her short red hair, she stood out among the students. Her golden-yellow eyes glowed beneath long red eyelashes, her pale pink lips forming a thin line. She wore a long-sleeved black shirt under a red waistcoat, a red tie with a yellow pin, and a black skirt that reached just below her knees. A pair of black gloves, socks, and shoes completed her uniform.
That was Claire Keres—adopted daughter of Duke Harvey, known for his wet food business and his influence in politics.
It was break time. Most students either stayed in class, went to the cafeteria, or wandered off to do whatever they liked.
Claire walked down a flight of stairs, only to be stopped by a voice calling her from the other end of the hallway.
"Claire, could I have a moment of your time?" said a woman in her mid-30s as she approached.
"Is there something I can help you with, General Alenka." Claire asked.
The woman had long, silky silver hair tied into a ponytail. Her sharp silver eyes and delicate pale skin gave her an elegant appearance, though the scar on her face told a different story—one of strength and experience. She was a head taller than Claire.
Her name was Wennie Alenka, a former general who had led soldiers in war and earned her title through her own achievements. She had recently started teaching swordsmanship this year.
"How many times must I tell you? Just call me Winny," she said with a light giggle.
Just as she was about to speak again, Winny paused and studied Claire's face.
"You.., look a little tired. Do you get enough sleep?"
"I'm fine. Just a bit busier than usual," Claire replied. A faint dark circle under her eyes was visible if one looked closely.
Winny shrugged and got to the point. "Are you free tomorrow morning?"
"I am," Claire answered. She only had a dance class, but the teacher was sick, giving her class some free time.
"Great. I want you to come to the training field in the morning. You're skilled in swordsmanship, right? Since you're one of my favorite students, I'd like your help teaching the others."
"But—" Claire began, but Winny interrupted her.
"Then it's a date. See you tomorrow morning." And just like that, the eccentric teacher walked away without waiting for a response.
'But I'm not even your student… I've never taken your class,' Claire sighed slightly and gave up before continuing her walk toward the back of the school building.
You see, there was an old, small garden hidden behind the building. Most people didn't go there anymore—not since a newer, larger, and more beautiful garden had been built. The new garden was much closer and easier to access, so it made sense why the old one had been forgotten. After being abandoned for so long, the old garden was no longer maintained. Its path was overgrown and blocked by a fallen tree, making it easy to mistake the area for part of the nearby forest.
Claire had only stumbled upon it by chance while searching for a place to hide after a small incident a few days ago. She never told anyone about it—except her close noble friends.
(Winnie: "What about me? We're friends, right?")
After doing a little digging into its history, Claire discovered that the garden was called Verdant Garden, which meant green garden. It was once meant to be a peaceful grove full of trees. But after the school created a newer garden filled with colorful flowers, Verdant Garden was forgotten and left behind.
Claire remembered the moment she first found it—it felt like love at first sight. She fell for the quiet atmosphere, and even took the time to clean it up little by little herself.
What stood out the most was a single large tree, completely different from the others. Claire found it strange that she had never noticed it from the school building, considering how big it was. The tree had unusual wood and leaves, their color and shape unlike anything she'd ever seen.
She liked sitting beneath that tree, reading or napping in peace. Being there made the world feel like it stopped just for her. It gave her a sense of calm and belonging—as if the garden itself was welcoming her. And Claire didn't hesitate to accept that warmth.
After a short walk, Claire finally arrived. She stepped under the large tree and leaned her back against it before opening the book she had brought along. The weather was pleasant, and there wasn't a single bug in sight—unlike her days back home. It really was the perfect spot.
After a while, Claire felt something slithering under her shirt. It slid from her side, up past her armpit and onto her shoulder, before poking its small head out from her collar. It yawned and looked around with sleepy eyes
"Aka, you're awake?" Claire asked, glancing down at the small black snake. Its red eyes met hers with a familiar calmness.
Aka, the little snake with unknown origins, had been by Claire's side for as long as she could remember. She had tried once to identify what kind of snake it was, but nothing matched. Despite that, Aka was incredibly friendly—especially toward her.
He could be described as an omnivore, though he didn't really look like one. One thing was certain: Aka loved sweets. Claire often fed him various sweet fruits, along with bits of meat and vegetables. He wasn't a picky eater, but he only accepted food if it came from Claire.
After scanning the area with sleepy curiosity, Aka slithered back inside her shirt. But instead of returning to her arm, he coiled himself gently around her neck.
She read a few more pages before placing the book aside, resting her head against the tree. A short nap before the bell rang wouldn't hurt.