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.

Jackson says with a sigh. "Timeline-wise, she's closer to three and a half. I guess you could round up to four, if it makes

"Four," she says, resting

grin and nod, giving

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

suddenly I frown, snapping my face up to Jackson. "When's your

looking down at me, clearly at a loss.

Hank says, shrugging.

our best use of time?"

Mark but see that he's already

quite appalled at her

pissed his birthday go skipped this year,” Jesse says with a

little grin. "Since me and

realize that Jesse's right, that we completely skipped his birthday. And I didn't

Twice now, this year,

towards him, apology and

says, quite loftly, raising his face to the

in agony, feeling like the absolutely worst sister on earth, wrapping my arms around his waist and giving him a squeeze. "I'm

deep, giving me a hug in return. "I want you to stop squeezing me

about that?" Jesse asks, dry,