Math Is Magic Chapter 23: CHAPTER 23: Struggling with Silence

Read chapter 23 of Math Is Magic by iminchoo on NovelPedia.

Although the King's presence had become a routine, every time for Mirac it felt like the first. The idea that his father was carefully observing his progress filled him with a strange mix of pride and anxiety. On one hand, there was the euphoria of being able to show the fruits of his hard work. On the other hand, the anxiety gripped him like a too-tight suit of armor, suffocating him at the thought of not measuring up to his father's expectations. And every first of the month, King Arthur had always left him with the same unshakable reaction... After watching his son's training, the king never uttered a word! With a cold, impenetrable look, he would turn and silently return to his duties at the castle, leaving Mirac with a thousand questions and a sense of emptiness. In recent months, Mirac had also begun to notice a gradual change in his father's attitude. He seemed more distant, with a cold and stern look that made their encounters increasingly brief and silent. But... WHY?! Perhaps, Mirac speculated, it was just the weight of royal responsibilities that was afflicting him. But if that were not the case... Mirac feared that the change in his father's attitude was actually born from a deep disappointment! He kept wondering if King Arthur had stopped seeing him as the son destined to meet his great expectations. Every silence, every cold look seemed to strengthen that fear. But fortunately, every time this happened, Leonard was always there to lift Mirac's spirits. Indeed, the swordsmanship instructor, whenever he noticed the tense and downcast expression of the young Prince, constantly offered him words of encouragement. "Don’t worry, young Prince. I am certain that His Majesty King Arthur is absolutely proud of you!" the swordsman would declare with great confidence. However, Mirac had begun to doubt it. After the third month of silence, many questions began to torment him: ‘Why does he look at me like that? Why does he never say anything? Why doesn’t he show any sign of approval? WHY?! I would be happy with just a smile!‘ And so, for that day, determined to change things, Mirac had prepared himself in advance to break that silence! In the past six months, he had trained harder than ever before, intensifying and lengthening his sessions, even requesting extra lessons on weekends, convinced that every extra minute was crucial to perfecting his technique. Sometimes, he would experience excruciating pain that lingered for days, testing every fiber of his body. But he never really minded, as the desire to make his father proud resonated within him, stronger than any suffering. So, today, Mirac would not settle for the usual silence: he was ready to push his limits to earn his father’s approval! Arriving at the designated training area, Mirac saw both Leonard and King Arthur already there. The Grand Knight, standing with his usual impeccable posture, had his hand resting on the hilt of his wooden sword, ready to begin. In the distance, King Arthur observed the scene, leaning on the fence, arms crossed, with his gaze fixed on his son, inscrutable as ever. The King wore a long crimson cloak, embroidered with intricate golden patterns, symbolizing his royal authority, while an elegant golden crown, identical to the Queen's and set with red gemstones, gleamed atop his head. His attire, equally imposing, was of a deep and refined black. The long, wide jacket had tight sleeves, decorated with crimson trim that reflected the light, like a trace of icy elegance. The high, closed collar, accompanied by decorative buttons along the front, gave the king an air of unyielding majesty. The white shirt peeking from beneath the collar added a bright contrast to the black of the suit. Two belts, one tight black leather and the other wider and more richly decorated, held the outfit together, while the dark, fitted trousers completed the ensemble. Mirac, however, did not dwell on the splendor of the royal garment. Instead, he felt the weight of hi