The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0952

"Has Ella looked her over?" Hank asks, his professional demeanor returning now as he studies Marigold from a few feet away. Maryam turns, hearing the shift in her father's voice and bringing Marigold back over. "Is she healthy, besides being malnourished?"

"Oh, she's fine," mom says, clearly overhearing her name and coming over. "I did a scan last night after we fed her. As you say, Hank, she's malnourished and going to need some feeding up - but I cleared up some bumps and bruises and a little viral bug she was carrying. But beyond that she's a perfectly healthy little four-year-old girl."

"She's not four," Maryam says, laughing a little and coming close.

Marigold whips her head to Maryam with a frown. "Four!" she says, quite definitive, holding up four fingers.

"What?" Mom asks, confused, looking between the pair.

"Oh, little baby liar," Maryam says, laughing and wrinkling her nose at Marigold, who blushes, caught. My mouth falls open in surprise.

"She - she knows how to lie?" Jackson whispers, his eyes wide. "I didn't know... they could do that..."

"Well, apparently this is a crafty, clever little rabbit," Maryam says on a laugh, turning to grin at the rest of us. "Food was distributed according to age, with children 1-3 allotted a slightly smaller amount than the 4-8 year olds. This one has been telling me that she's four since she was barely big enough to walk into my aid tent."

"Four," Marigold growls, her brow lowering, quite definitive.

We all laugh, imagining the hungry little girl making her bold bluff for more food. Jackson grins, sensing an affinity with his daughter and reaching for her. Maryam laughs and hands her over to her dad.

says with a sigh. "Timeline-wise, she's closer to three and a half.

and definitive. "Four," she says,

all grin and nod, giving

to know her birthday?" Mom asks, excited, turning to Hank. I

snapping my face up to Jackson. "When's

looking down at me, clearly

way of knowing," Hank says, shrugging.

of time?" Rafe

I look around for Mark but see that

appalled at her son for suggesting that

this year,” Jesse says

grin. "Since me and Juniper and Ariel were

realize that Jesse's right, that we completely

now, this year, I've forgotten my

a few steps towards him, apology

never forgive you," he says, quite loftly, raising his face to the ceiling

worst sister on earth, wrapping my arms around his waist and giving him a squeeze. "I'm so sorry, Rafe, I'll get you any present

want you to stop squeezing me so hard, Ari, for heaven's sake - I don't need a girdle

sure about that?" Jesse asks, dry, looking Rafe