The sky was an unknown world to me. While she had invited me to fly with her several times before, I had never had a chance to experience it on such a close, intimate level.

The feeling of the wind on my cheeks, the floaty sensation of being high above the ground—it all made me realize just how much I still didn’t know.

I was flying with her. Then, her platinum blond hair flowing like sunlight in the wind, she turned to me with a joyful look.

“We’re almost there, Euphie!” she called.

Anisphia Wynn Palettia was First Princess of the Kingdom of Palettia, a nation that thrived on the use of magic and its abundance of spirit resources.

She hailed from a land that valued magical abilities above all else, but she was born with no natural talent for it whatsoever.

She remained undaunted by this adversity, though, and eventually, her innovative ideas and dedicated research enabled her to harness the power of magic in the form of tools.

I—Euphyllia Magenta, the daughter of Duke Magenta—was currently living in Lady Anis’s detached palace, where I served as her assistant.

So, why was I soaring through the sky here with her?

It all started earlier this morning…

I, Anisphia Wynn Palettia, wake at the same time every morning—not because I have pressing business to attend to, but because of the schedule of my personal maid, Ilia.

Lately, however, I had been seeing to my own morning preparations. The detached palace, which had been home only to Ilia and me for some time, had welcomed a new resident.

Her name was Euphyllia Magenta. She was the daughter of the illustrious Duke Magenta—the head of the foremost noble family in the entire kingdom—and she was currently serving as my assistant.

Euphie was a talented young lady, which was why she had been chosen as the consort to the future king.

I, meanwhile, had a reputation as a troublemaker.

For instance, I was incapable of using magic, despite being royalty. And my strange inventions had caused quite a few disturbances throughout the capital.

…I will admit, I was a little out of control!

Unlike me, a royal misfit, Euphie was a proper lady, so her morning preparations took some time. For that reason, I had asked Ilia to look after her in the mornings. But that meant I had to take care of myself, of course…

“…Huh?”

While I was busy tidying myself up, a certain tool caught my attention—my Hair Dryer.

I carried a secret with me that I couldn’t share with anyone—that I had been reincarnated, and that I had memories of a past life growing up in a country called Japan. It was because of this knowledge and experience that I was something of a mischief-maker.

The Hair Dryer was one of many tools I had recreated based on knowledge from my past life. But while it shared the same name, this tool was no simple electrical appliance.

In this world where I had been reborn as Anisphia, magic was part of everyday life. This place had a different history from the world of my past life, and it was governed by different laws of nature.

That was why I was captivated by magic, a force that simply didn’t exist in my past life—but at the same time, I never would have even remembered my past life without that fascination for magic. There was no denying it—I was hopelessly obsessed.

In this world, science and technology hadn’t advanced as far as they had in my past life, since magic had served the same purpose.

But I still recalled the perfected versions of tools I had once used effortlessly, so I set about recreating them with the system of magic I had. And that was how I invented my magical tools.

I called the technology I had developed using knowledge from my past life magical science, or magicology.

“…Is it broken? Hmm?”

My Hair Dryer had become an essential tool for my morning routine, but it wasn’t blowing any hot air. I turned it upside down to take a closer look, but I couldn’t see anything wrong with it.

“…So basically…”

I would have to take it apart. My hair, however, had a mind of its own, and if I neglected it for even a few hours, it would bounce all over the place!

I let out a sigh and tried to smooth down my damp hair.

At that moment, a knock sounded at my door. Only a few people visited my personal chambers, so I didn’t hesitate before calling out, “You can come in!”

“Good morning, Princess.”

“Morning, Ilia. Is Euphie with you?”

“Yes, I’m here. Good morning, Lady Anis.”

The two of them stepped into the room. Euphie gave a respectful nod, her light silver hair swaying as she walked. When her rose-colored eyes met mine, a puzzled look crossed her face.

“Why haven’t you dried your hair, Your Highness?” Ilia asked disapprovingly. Her blue eyes betrayed no emotion, but I could still sense her disapproval.

I pointed to the broken Hair Dryer.

Ilia tilted her head to one side, her reddish-brown hair bouncing with the motion, and clapped her hands together in understanding. “Did the Hair Dryer malfunction?”

“So it seems.”

“That explains it… In that case, if you’ll excuse me…” She nodded, gently reaching out to pat my head.

Ilia possessed an aptitude for fire magic, and after taking care of me for as long as she had, she had a fair amount of knowledge about my magicology.

Ilia combed her fingers through my hair—the sensation was more like a hair straightener than a dryer—and my hair was dried and styled in no time.

“This is just a temporary fix, but it should do the trick.”

“It’s fine. Thank you, Ilia.”

She gave a slight bow, then stepped back. Her expression was still neutral.

“Is your Hair Dryer broken, Lady Anis?” Euphie asked.

“Maybe? I won’t know for sure until I take it apart. But I think the spirit stone has worn out.”

“The spirit stone…?”

The hearts, or cores, that powered my magical tools were spirit stones.

In the Kingdom of Palettia, these precious stones were a vital export. They also allowed the common folk who couldn’t use magic themselves to experience a small touch of it.

My magical tools were built around these spirit stones, which meant they were absolutely essential.

“I was running a test to see how long it would last. I think the stone has reached its natural lifespan; once I’ve made sure the other parts are working fine and there aren’t any other problems, we should just be able to replace it. Then, the dryer will be as good as new.”

Yes, spirit stones were a lot like the batteries from my past life.

Euphie nodded in understanding.

“Why don’t you come to my workshop?” I invited her with a smile. “We can open up the Hair Dryer together and see what’s going on.”

“In that case, I’ll be happy to join you.”

“Thanks, Euphie.”

Euphie was here as my assistant, so I was eager to show her more about magical tools and hear her opinions of them.

“It is the spirit stone. Look at that! There’s a crack running right down the middle of it.”

“…So there is.”

After disassembling the Hair Dryer, we discovered that the spirit stone was indeed broken.

“The wind stone is fine… I suppose it must place a heavier burden on the fire stone?” I said, thinking aloud.

Under another lid was a green crystal—a wind-type spirit stone. There were no problems with that one.

The Hair Dryer combined a fire-type spirit stone with a wind-type one, and the reason it had stopped working was because the fire stone had cracked, rendering it unusable.

“So this is what a Hair Dryer looks like on the inside…!” Euphie exclaimed as she watched me work.

While these tools were familiar to me, they must have seemed mysterious and unusual to her.

“Hmm. After they lose their original attributes, the neutral spirit stones must be what’s left…”

In this world, spirit stones could be categorized into six types: the primordial elements of light and darkness, along with the elements that comprised the building blocks of phenomena: fire, earth, water, and wind.

There were too many subtypes and variants to count, but I mainly used the six primary elements.

Fire spirit stones looked like red gemstones—but the one in question had faded after cracking down the middle.

Spirit stones were imbued with the attributes of their corresponding spirit, but one could also find neutral spirit stones in nature. Frankly, they were a bit of a mystery. They didn’t do a whole lot other than store magical energy.

Unlike other spirit stones, neutral ones exhibited no effects whatsoever. One possible explanation, which seemed the most plausible to me, was that they were shells that had been used up.

What stages did a spirit have to go through to become a spirit stone? The mechanics of the process remained unclear.

Through my research, I was able to deduce that spirits were essentially nonphysical, ethereal beings, and they tended to be drawn toward those who possessed a high amount of magical energy.

My theory was that spirit stones were essentially crystallized fossils that came into being when spirits, originally formless beings, clustered together.

Ultimately, however, this was still just a hypothesis. I needed to gather more information if I hoped to confirm it.

“Let’s fix the Hair Dryer first, I guess. We need to make sure there aren’t any other problems…,” I mused.

“How will you do that?” Euphie asked.

“The quickest way would be to replace the spirit stone and put it back together… But what’s our stock looking like?”

With all my research projects, I tended to burn through my inventory fairly quickly. I ended up breaking spirit stones during my experiments more times than I care to count.

“Hmm… Looks like our stock isn’t empty, but we haven’t gathered any new resources in a while, either. It won’t be long until we run out…”

It had been a while since I had done any intensive research that would warrant restocking. What should I do?

I had enough for the time being, but not if I wanted to engage in any deep research down the road. That posed a bit of a conundrum.

“You have a stock of spirit stones?” Euphie asked.

“Yeah. I’ve collected them on my own. My research doesn’t get any official support, you know?”

My research hadn’t won over many nobles. In fact, they thought it was just a hobby of mine.

Given their opposition, I couldn’t use national funds to procure spirit stones. That meant I had to gather them by myself. Not that I minded collecting them, however.

“Ah, right!” I exclaimed.

“…? What is it?” Euphie asked.

“I was thinking this might be an opportunity to get more spirit stones, since I haven’t been in a while. Do you want to come with me?”

“…Outside the royal capital, you mean?” she asked with a frown.

Naturally, foraging would mean leaving the city.

I guess she’s worried about me…

In this world, leaving urban areas meant stepping into danger. Bandits roamed the countryside—but more worrying than them were the monsters. Here, one wrong step could mean death.

Of course, I was only suggesting this because I had the skills to defend myself, as Euphie well knew.

Yet I noticed her exasperated sigh. “Well… Knowing you, Lady Anis, I’m sure it will be fine.”

She knew exactly what I was capable of. I would never fall prey to some wild monster.

I couldn’t help smiling at the sight of her troubled expression, and her gaze turned sharp. Apparently, I had only added oil to the fire.

“Sorry. Let’s leave tonight then, okay?”

“…Tonight? Why nighttime?”

“I thought I could show you something interesting while we’re out,” I said, grinning at her bewilderment.

We asked Ilia to take care of the detached palace while we took to the sky on my Witch’s Broom, watching the colors of sunset fade into night.

Back when I had regained the memories of my past life, the first thing I wanted to do was fly atop a broomstick—and so my Witch’s Broom was born.

With Euphie holding on behind me, we glided smoothly through the sky.

Sarlatellia, the capital of the Kingdom of Palettia, was nestled in a serene plain. The city was surrounded by sturdy walls, and within the city lay a bustling castle town. And within that town was the detached palace where Euphie and I resided.

There was a lake beside the royal capital, but it was actually a manmade reservoir specifically created to prevent water shortages. Its water level was regularly adjusted using water-spirit stones. It also served as a retreat of sorts, and it wasn’t unusual to find people stopping by during the day to enjoy the scenery.

By now, I had grown accustomed to this aerial view of the city. If we had set out earlier in the day, we might have spotted people outside waving to me as we took off. But at this hour, approaching dusk, there wasn’t anyone else around.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve flown this slowly. Are you used to flying by now, Euphie?” I asked.

“…We aren’t going as fast as last time, so I’m all right,” she answered, holding tight to my waist.

It seemed flying didn’t bother her as much as it once did. Hopefully she would come to appreciate the joy of soaring through the skies sooner rather than later.

“We’re almost there!” I called.

We landed in a forest on the outskirts of the royal capital of Sarlatellia.

“We’re going to collect spirit stones here?” she asked.

“Yes. They aren’t great quality here, but it’s an easy place to get to.”

“Right. I don’t sense any monsters around…”

“There will be some, so we can’t let our guard down completely. Anyway, let’s have a look!”

The Witch’s Broom was certainly a convenient mode of transportation, but it was a hassle to carry around when you just wanted to go for a walk.

Maybe I could devise one that could be disassembled for portability? That might not be very durable, though, and it would require considerable skill to build. I would have to consult with the craftsmen about that…

“Lady Anis?”

“Ah, sorry! I was lost in thought. It’s almost nightfall, so let’s head into the woods once the sun goes down.”

“Why wait until night before going in?” she asked dubiously.

“There are things you can only find in a peaceful forest like this one. Come on, you’ll be amazed!” I said with a grin before taking a look around.

It didn’t take me long to spot a rock that was just the right size to take a seat on.

“Why don’t we sit down, Euphie? There’s still a bit of time before the sun fully sets, and Ilia made us some tea. Let’s have a drink.”

“…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“No, I shouldn’t say anything… Ugh… It’s just that a royal princess really shouldn’t be sitting on a rock…”

“Don’t worry about it,” I laughed. “There’s no one around to see us.”

“You do realize I can see you?” she said dully—but that didn’t stop her from sitting down on the rock beside me.

Once she was properly situated, I brought out my water bottle and opened the lid.

I would have drunk straight from the bottle if I were alone, but since I wasn’t, I had brought a couple of cups to use.

I poured one and handed it to her.

When she brought it to her lips, her eyes widened in surprise. “It’s warm… Is that water bottle like your Thermal Pot?”

“Yes. It doesn’t hold much, though… It’s still just a prototype, and I’m thinking of changing it to a boiling temperature so I can sterilize water. I’m having a hard time building it, though, and I’m not sure what to do with the design of the exterior…”

“It can be tricky to shrink a magical tool or add extra functions due to the capacity of the spirit stones. Am I understanding correctly?”

“Yes. So we need to find a balance between what features to include and the overall size. That’s always a problem.”

The sun set while the two of us discussed magical tools, and our surroundings were covered in darkness. We had finished our tea by then, so we decided to venture into the forest.

The air was filled with the sounds of insects, the rustling of the trees in the night breeze, and the calls of nocturnal birds.

We made it about halfway through the forest, but even then, Euphie remained tense and guarded.

“It’s a good night for this, with all this moonlight. It would be more difficult to navigate without it,” I pointed out.

“…So what are we doing here?” Euphie asked.

“Looking for spirit stones?”

“…I mean after dark,” she said, concerned.

I glanced around. Even with the moonlight, it was still somewhat difficult to see clearly.

“You can’t see anything? Don’t worry. I know a little trick to help.”

“You do?”

“Yes. Just watch me.”

I reached into my skirt, pulling out a magical tool from the holder attached to my thigh.

This was my Mana Blade. At first glance, it might look like a regular sword hilt. If you had never seen it before, you might wonder why it didn’t have a blade.

But this blade was created by channeling magical energy. Thanks to that, it was highly portable and could be used by anyone with magical energy of their own. I liked to think of it as one of my masterpieces.

“Your Mana Blade? What are you going to do with that?” Euphie asked.

“You can do this with other magical tools, too, but basically, the Mana Blade can double as a wand.”

Many mages used a wand when they cast magic—objects inlaid with spirit stones of the same type the mage specialized in.

The Mana Blade similarly had a spirit-stone core embedded in its hilt, making it useful both as a weapon and a tool for channeling magic.

As magical energy flowed through the hilt, it started emitting a brilliant light, like it was drawing a magic circle through the air.

“I would normally deploy the blade, but let me show you another way of using it,” I said.

Indeed, the blade failed to take on a clear form. Instead, it manifested as a thin mist giving off a pale blue light—the color of my magical energy.

As I gave the Mana Blade a wave to dispel the mist, soft light flickered into being all around us.

Red, blue, green, yellow, white, purple—flowing lights spread across the forest floor.

“Are those…spirit stones…?”

“That’s right. You can normally find them just by keeping a careful eye out, but one time, I wondered what would happen if I filled the area with magical energy. Turns out, they light up and reveal themselves. Letting your magical energy out at night when visibility is low tends to attract monsters, so I guess no one had ever considered that before… But as you can see…”

I gave the Mana Blade a swing, scattering another thin, misty cloud of magical energy, and the spirit stones shone even brighter.

“You can only see them like this at night. It’s amazing, don’t you think? Though doing it out here is basically a beacon to any nearby monsters.”

“…Yes, I see. The theory follows the same reasoning as some rituals performed during festivals and the like…,” Euphie said with a sigh. “But the only reason to do it is because it looks nice…” She pressed a hand to her head in disbelief.

When she lifted her gaze, however, her voice softened. “I understand how you feel, though… And it is a beautiful way to find spirit stones,” she whispered, with a hint of admiration.

“Right?” I chuckled. “I can’t feel the presence of spirits, because I can’t use magic. I’ve always wanted to, you know? I tried everything I could think of, and sometimes it led to something beautiful.”

After a moment, Euphie turned away from the enchanting scenery to face me. She looked worried.

I flashed her a smile, hoping to ease her mind. “Don’t look at me like that. That just means I’ve got to keep working harder. Sure, I can’t use regular magic, but that’s why I’ve been trying so many other things, learning as much as I can to create something new. It’s nice, in its own way.”

“…Yes. I don’t doubt you. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“You’re incredible.”

Under the moonlight, with the glow of the spirit stones twinkling like holiday lights, Euphie’s smile was almost too mesmerizing to put into words. I was embarrassed trying to tell her how beautiful she looked.

Honestly, I thought she was incredible. I didn’t quite understand how anyone could use that word for me.

“All right, then. Let’s get some spirit stones to take back. Can you give me a hand, Euphie?”

“Of course, Lady Anis.”

Our late-night spirit stone foraging passed without incident. We only collected a small amount, enough for personal use.

The main reason for going was that I wanted to show Euphie the glowing spirit stones.

“Shall we head back?” I asked.

“Yes… The weather is looking like it might turn.”

“Huh? Seriously?!”

I glanced up and saw thick clouds covering the sky in the direction of the royal capital. The moon was almost completely obscured, but we were so deep in the woods that I hadn’t noticed.

“We should hurry. I’m going to lower our altitude and increase our speed. Is that okay, Euphie?”

“Yes. It will still be better than last time, right? Do you need any help?”

“If I do, I’ll let you know! Let’s go!”

Euphie sat behind me, like before, with her arms wrapped around my waist. I sped up and began flying back toward the capital at a comfortable speed.

As we approached the capital, the air grew heavier, and the clouds thickened and began turning darker. This wasn’t good.

There was a flash in the sky ahead of me that was followed by a booming thud a few seconds later—a lightning strike somewhere far ahead.

In the next moment, we were in a heavy downpour.

“Ngh, come on! We’re nearly home!”

It was only a little ways back to the royal capital, but by the time Euphie and I stumbled into the detached palace, we were completely drenched.

“Whew… We’re soaking wet…,” I muttered, shaking my head to dry off.

“Welcome back, Your Highness, Lady Euphyllia… I see you caught the rain,” Ilia said, letting out a small sigh. “I’ve prepared a bath for you, so please go ahead and warm yourselves. I’ll take care of your clothes.”

“Huh?” I murmured. “You got the bath ready?”

“When I saw rain coming, something told me you would end up in it on the way back. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.”

“That’s great! Come on, Euphie! We don’t want to catch colds!”

“Huh?! W-wait! L-Lady Anis?! Please don’t pull me like that!”

Euphie resisted at first, but she must have realized it would get her nowhere, and she reluctantly allowed me to lead her to the detached palace’s bathhouse.

“Ah… This is so nice…” I sighed, leaning against the wall of the bath with the water up to my shoulders.

Baths were simply the best.

Perhaps it was because of my memories from my past life, but I really enjoyed taking baths. In fact, I had meticulously designed the large bathhouse in the detached palace myself.

It was the stuff of dreams, large enough that you could even take a little swim, and I could indulge in it all by myself if I wanted.

“…You really do love soaking in hot water, don’t you, Lady Anis?” Euphie asked in a whisper, submerged only up to her waist. Her silvery hair was neatly tied up in a bun to keep it from getting wet.

“Do you not, Euphie?” I asked.

“Hot baths tend to make me dizzy…,” she murmured.

Indeed, there was a slight pink flush to her skin, giving a different impression from usual.

The nape of her neck, which she usually kept covered, was absolutely stunning. By any definition, she was beautiful. It was almost unfair.

That was probably the result of her upbringing as the daughter of a duke, too. She was so slender, I couldn’t help but sigh. What kind of diet did she follow to maintain such a figure?

For my part, I wished I was a little taller. I was tired of people telling me I still looked like a child.

“…You’re so slender, Euphie. It’s nice.”

I didn’t particularly care whether others found me attractive, but that didn’t mean I was oblivious to appearances.

Euphie gave me a dubious look. “Oh? I don’t really give it much thought.”

“So you’re one of those!”

“People say I’m beautiful, but I believe the important thing is how you use that beauty. A great first impression is also about how you carry yourself. It’s always important to be mindful of that.”

“Huh…”

This wasn’t the kind of girls’ talk I wanted with her. Wasn’t it supposed to be bubblier and more fun? Why were we talking so seriously about achieving some objective with our looks? But this turn of the conversation was awfully like her.

“…I’m not very charming, if you ask me,” she said.

“You’re charming enough from what I’ve seen,” I answered.

“You are, too, Lady Anis. Like a cute little animal.”

“An animal?!”

“The way you’re constantly on the move. I don’t know… It’s hard for me to take my eyes off you.”

“No one’s ever said that to me before.”

Was I really that busy? Hmm… If I had to compare myself to an animal, what would I be?

…Nothing came to mind. It was hard to get a sense of how others saw you…

Euphie was rather puppylike. Maybe that was because the Magenta family was known for their loyalty? And I got the impression she never forgot when someone did her a favor.

“What kind of small animal did you have in mind?” I asked.

“…You mean, what kind are you like?” Euphie asked, brushing her hair away from her face. She briefly tilted her head to one side in consternation. “A sheep…?” she said at last.

“A sheep?! Those aren’t little!”

There were sheep in this world, too. Then again, while they looked similar, they were actually an entirely different kind of creature. But still—why a sheep, of all things?

“Um… Because you’re adorable, Lady Anis.”

And so Euphie began to explain, stumbling over her words. I gave her a stern glare.

“…Isn’t that just a roundabout way of saying I’m short?”

“…”

“Hey! Don’t look away from me!”

And she thought I was childish, too?! Ugh! At least I had more of a chest! Though hers did have a wonderful shape, without being too large…

“But really, why a sheep?” I insisted. “How am I like a sheep?”

“Well, your hair curls in a very unique way. It’s impressive. That must be the main reason.”

“…Maybe I should baa for you, then?”

Honestly, what kind of analogy was that? I had never been called sheeplike before. I would have to ask Ilia what she thought.

Ilia, by the way, was like a cat—aloof and clearheaded.

“Ah, baths are amazing for melting away your stress… They’re so relaxing,” I said, leaning back.

“…I feel like I’m about to collapse.”

In the middle of our relaxing, casual chat, Euphie stepped out of the water and sat down on the edge of the tub.

Her skin had a faint red hue, and she wore a dazed and frankly alluring look. For some reason, I felt like she had defeated me.

No. To be honest, I doubted I could win against her in the first place.

I didn’t really care about that sort of thing, but the other noble ladies must have felt a ton of pressure trying to keep up with her.

“Shall we get out?” I suggested.

“…Yes.”

I felt bad making her keep me company here, especially when she was trying so hard to be considerate of my feelings. Though I would have liked to stay a little longer.

We climbed out of the bathtub and made for the changing room. All that was left was our loungewear, so it seemed Ilia had already collected our wet clothes.

“Do you need help getting dressed?” I asked teasingly.

“I can handle it myself,” she answered with a shake of her head as she did just that.

I got dressed quickly so she wouldn’t finish without me.

“I’ll dry your hair, Lady Anis.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve never used a Hair Dryer on anyone else before…”

Seeing her blushing slightly, I had to smile. I was so used to these magical tools that it was easy to forget they weren’t commonplace.

“Please.”

“All right, then.”

The changing room was equipped with a mirror, a chair, and a Hair Dryer. It really did remind me of one of those public baths from my past life.

I sat in the chair, and Euphie charged the Hair Dryer with her magical energy until the hot air started blowing out.

She combed her delicate fingers through my hair as she dried it. It was kind of ticklish.

“Your hair has a unique texture, Lady Anis…”

“I know, right? I get terrible bedhead.”

“I’m sure you do, Lady Anis.”

“Huh?! What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“It’s just like you—always bouncing all over the place.” Euphie giggled.

In the mirror, I could see her face was lit up with joy—a sight that filled me with pleasure as well.

This must mean she’s getting used to life here.

Originally, there had been nothing to connect Euphie and me. She was my brother’s fiancée, of course, but he and I had become estranged long ago.

Given the complications surrounding the royal succession, I had never imagined we might become close enough to have a casual chat like this.

Euphie was a young prodigy, brimming with talent, and the admiration of nobles the kingdom over, and I had been following her rise long before I got to know her personally.

Yes, that was partly because she had been my brother’s fiancée, but she was also the closest thing I had to an idol.

I’m glad she’s feeling better. She was awfully depressed when she first came here.

I had originally invited her to the detached palace in an effort to cheer her up. She had been attentive to my magicology explanations as my assistant ever since, and at her core, she was a good, hardworking person.

The only hiccup with her personality was that she often came across as overly refined and distant—to the point she might seem to be lacking in human warmth.

“We’re finished, Lady Anis.”

“Y-yeah. Thanks, Euphie.”

My hair was on the shorter side, so it didn’t take too long to dry. It wasn’t bad after having been given the proper treatment, but those pesky curls still had minds of their own, springing up in all the wrong places! I really do have stubborn hair!

“My turn now. Sit down, Euphie. Let me dry your hair.”

“…All right. Go ahead.”

For a moment, I thought she would say no, but she must have realized I would insist.

We changed places, and Euphie sat in front of me with an awkward smile.

Her silvery hair, damp and glistening, was incredibly smooth and luxurious to the touch. I had to wonder if the Magenta family wasn’t holding on to a private trove of beauty secrets.

“Your hair really is beautiful, Euphie. I’m jealous. And so soft and smooth as well.”

“Really…?” she asked, visibly confused.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. I wished she would embrace her feminine side more often.

“I know we’re distantly related, but we’re far enough apart that our hair is completely different. I wish mine was like yours!” I murmured.

“Distant is understating it a little. We Magentas have long since lost the royal hair color,” Euphie answered.

“It’s amazing how it gets inherited, don’t you think? I wonder what causes that…?”

My platinum blond hair was said to be the mark of the crown, passed down faithfully through the generations, but it was a bit of a mystery. There must have been some reason behind it. Maybe it was worth delving into sometime…

Bards often sang praises of my hair, and I couldn’t say I minded.

“People often say it’s the color of daylight. In that case, yours is like moonlight, Euphie. I really like it.”

“…Like the moon? That’s quite an honor, if the royal color is that of the sun.”

“…Yeah. Right.”

“…What?”

Honestly, why did she always have to take things so seriously?

“…That wasn’t what I was trying to say, but it’s fine. Though I’m sure we would have been happy with matching colors.”

“…”

“…Huh?”

She was making another strange face… Huh? Could it be she didn’t want to match?!

“…What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Um… I’m just trying to find the right words.”

“You hate the idea that much?!”

“It’s not that…! Er… I was just wondering why you think so highly of me…,” she said shyly.

I felt a wave of affection washing through me.

Euphie could be clumsy at times—or to put it another way, she struggled to accept kindness from others.

Now that her hair was done, I turned off the Hair Dryer and wrapped my arms around her from behind. “It’s all right,” I whispered, gently patting her head.

“L-Lady Anis…?”

“I admire you so much, Euphie. So I wanted to tell you how much I like you. You should take more pride in yourself.”

I had no talent for magic. Yet with magic being so deeply intertwined with the kingdom’s formation, magical skill was regarded as a necessity for someone in my position.

When I first regained my memories of my past life, I was thrilled to find myself reborn into a world of magic—but that excitement was quickly dashed when I realized I had no innate ability to use it.

“You’re so close to being the ideal magic user, Euphie. You’re everything I wanted to be. You have the power to make so many people happy, and you deserve to be happy yourself. I know living as a noble lady is important, but here, you can act more freely than that.”

“…Lady Anis.”

“That’s why I keep saying I like you. You’re too perfect at times, and at others, you’re awfully clumsy, but I’ll keep saying it again and again. Because to me, it’s the most natural thing in the world. I want you to know there are people who like you. So smile, Euphie! I love it when you smile!”

I loosened my embrace, locking eyes with her in the mirror.

Euphie’s naive nature and obliviousness to other people’s kindness were partly due to her personality, but they were also the result of the environment she was raised in, and the education she received to rule as the kingdom’s future queen consort.

Circumstances had prevented that eventuality from happening, but that didn’t mean her accomplishments had been for nothing thus far.

I wanted her to be more honest with herself, to live her life more joyfully—not for the country or her family, but for herself.

“…I…”

“Hmm?”

“I think you’re a better magic user than I am, Lady Anis,” she said, turning to look directly at me.

There was no mistaking the warmth and affection in her eyes.

“Magic is all I can do,” she continued. “But you—even without the ability to use magic, you can still embody it… I think that’s what makes someone a true magic user.”

“Huh… That’s a nice thought.”

“Yes. Achieving something that once seemed unachievable, making the impossible possible. It’s because you can push yourself like that that I—”

Before she could finish speaking, there was a knock at the door as Ilia let herself in.

“Excuse me, Your Highness, Lady Euphyllia,” she said, with a polite bow.

“Huh? Ilia? Has something happened?”

“I prepared a meal, but I was starting to get a little concerned when you didn’t come back from your bath.”

“Sorry, sorry! I lost track of time chatting with Euphie.”

“It seems I’ve interrupted you. My apologies,” Ilia said with another bow.

At that moment, my stomach let out a low growl.

“…Lady Anis,” Euphie began.

“Ha-ha… Maybe I am getting a little hungry. Shall we eat?”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

Euphie stood up from the seat, and the three of us made our way to the dining room. I was wondering what Ilia had prepared for us today when a thought occurred to me, and I turned to Euphie.

“By the way, Euphie. What were you about to say a few minutes ago?”

Ilia had interrupted us before she could finish, so I was wondering what she had meant to say.

Euphie looked back at me, hesitating for a moment. Then, she flashed a bright smile at me and lifted a finger to her lips.

“It’s a secret.”

I—Euphyllia Magenta—sat down to reflect on the day’s events and jot them down in my journal.

It was only recently that I had started keeping this diary.

In the past, my diaries had been dry and bland affairs, almost report-like.

Even now, I was only making basic comments. To be honest, it was hard to call it a proper diary.

“…It’s starting to make sense now.”

I started keeping a diary because I had noticed changes in myself since coming to the detached palace, and I wanted to capture them, so I could better understand them.

First the Hair Dryer broke, then I checked its components with Lady Anis, then we went on an outing in search of spirit stones, where we witnessed that wonderful display. We shared a deep conversation after bathing together, then we took turns drying each other’s hair.

…All of a sudden, my pen came to a stop, and my thoughts turned to Lady Anis’s question while we were on the way to the dining room.

What had I been about to say back then? Pondering that question, I couldn’t help but smile.

She called me her inspiration—yet I found myself admiring her as well.

“I hold you in great esteem, Lady Anis.”

I was still trying to figure out what these feelings meant. Never before had I felt this warm sensation in my chest, and I didn’t yet have a name for it.

Here’s a question for my future self: Looking back, do you know the answer now?

After penning that short line, I quietly closed my diary.

In life, everyone is bound to encounter at least one or two people they aren’t fond of.

Everyone is unique, and there are as many personalities as there are people. There will inevitably be those with whom you just don’t mesh.

I—Anisphia Wynn Palettia—knew that struggle only too well.

It was understandable, in a way. I’d had a complicated upbringing, and I didn’t share the mindset of most in this country.

I reasoned it was best not to get involved in things if I didn’t have to—to keep my distance and avoid conflict.

But what if the people you can’t stand are just as important to you as they are annoying?

I had no idea what to do. I wanted to improve the situation, but there were so many things both parties refused to compromise on.

And so I struggled. How exactly was I supposed to deal with Sylphine Maise Palettia, my mother?

“You’re very composed, given you’re facing me directly, Anis.”

“Ugh…!”

A sharp, metallic clang rang out as I swatted away the spear aimed at my neck.

Even after I blocked with the Celestial, my mother raised her spear once more—this time, swinging it in a sideways motion.

I leaped backward, but before I could catch my breath, she stepped forward with an unerring thrust.

“There!”

“Tch…!”

Her attack was so exquisite that my tongue clicked in annoyance. Her attack, aimed at my weak spot, rushed toward me like a capricious gust of wind.

Yes, I was facing a storm that attacked your vulnerabilities the moment your focus wavered. If I let down my guard, even if only for a second, I would be swept away.

“Air Needle.”

“Whoa!”

“So slow! Air Whip!”

Again, I deflected the burst of wind shooting my way with the Celestial.

As my stance faltered, the wind wrapped around my mother’s spear, shaping it into a whip. Then, as I stepped back again, the wind whip lashed out.

I adjusted the blade of my magic sword into a similar whip, parrying the oncoming strike.

“Impressive. I must admit, I admire how skillfully you can transform that Mana Blade of yours.”

“Was that praise?! From you?!”

“I didn’t know your Mana Blade was so versatile.”

“You’d be surprised!”

The truth was, my ability to adjust my Mana Blade on the fly ultimately came from my mother’s influence.

She was a master of wind magic, effortlessly using it to forge blades or whips while she attacked from a distance. And so, to counter those attacks, I trained myself to manipulate my Mana Blade at will.

The farther back she kept herself, the harder it was to predict her next moves, which meant I was forced to stay close to her. But when I stepped forward, her spear came flying toward me without mercy.

“That was a mistake!”

“This is impossible!”

Now that I was within range, my mother was fully poised to intercept me. If I engaged her with any halfhearted attack, I could expect a sharp counter.

Get close, and it was like walking into a beehive. Stay back, and you would get caught up in a storm. It wasn’t fair!

My mother’s spear was both fast and perfectly aimed. And she always tried to take advantage of gaps in my defense while I fought to catch my breath.

She always claimed that wind magic was the only area she excelled in, but if you ask me, every single aspect of her combat strategy was second to none.

Fluid and fierce—that was how I would describe it. She could hold her own against practically any opponent. Deep down, I couldn’t deny she exuded a strength that defied her age.

After all, she was the legendary woman, the master of wind magic who had once stood alongside Duke Grantz to support my father. If those abilities were directed at anyone but me, I would probably have felt proud of them. But right now, they were nothing short of traumatic.

“Part of me thought your skills might have dulled after withdrawing from society, but it appears I needn’t have worried.”

“Th-thank you…?”

“Yes, yes. Though I was never too concerned. Even if you don’t become queen, Anis, you’ll always be a central member of the royal family. And now that the fruits of your magicology are gaining momentum, you’re more indispensable than ever.”

I caught my breath as she repositioned herself, fixing me with a stare so piercing it could have stabbed right through me.

“I will admit that you went incognito this time around, and there were several mitigating factors. But what were you thinking, charging ahead to attack a Fenrir?”

The moment she mentioned the Fenrir, I felt like whistling to myself and calling it a day.

My mother was referring to the monster run-in during the trip I had planned with Euphie to inspect a potential development site.

A Fenrir might not be as nasty as a dragon, but it was still quite a handful. Typically, a knightly order would form a band to trap monsters of that caliber and whittle them down until they were defeated.

Yet I had faced one alone, taking Euphie with me. Considering her status, that course of action had not been recommended.

And now, I was getting a mid-training lecture from my mom…!

“I—I was the best equipped to deal with the situation…!” I protested.

“I understand that. Your decision was no doubt the right one. But that’s one thing, and this is another. While I would like to encourage our knights to take more initiative, you also need to learn when to take a step back and prioritize your own well-being. Don’t you think?”

“…You’re one to talk…”

“What was that, Anis?”

“N-nothing!”

“Then shall we continue?”

“Eeep?!”

Suddenly finding myself on the defensive, I raced to deflect the spear lunging my way.

Ah… This training session is turning out to be a good workout, I thought with a heavy sigh.

This…this isn’t how it was supposed to be…! I never intended to end up in a sparring match…!

As soon as I finished eating dinner, I slumped down over the table.

“How did it come to that…?” I muttered under my breath.

“…Good work today, Anis,” Euphie said with a wan smile.

“I’m exhausted… It’s been so long since my mother put me through the wringer like that…,” I sulked.

I was so drained I could barely move.

“But how did your conversation turn into a sparring match?” Euphie asked. “I thought you were supposed to be catching each other up on recent events…?”

“Ugh…” I moaned with an exhausted shrug.

Exactly. I hadn’t wanted to be lectured by her, or to be thrown into an impromptu sparring session…

I had reunited with Allie—banished from the royal capital—while out on an inspection with Euphie the other day. That had proven to be a great opportunity for me and my mother to mend our relationship and update each other on recent events.

After all, the rift between my brother and me had emerged due to a variety of factors.

I was partly at fault, as was he—and then there were the attitudes of the nobles who had engineered the situation, which were frankly terrible.

And yet we had managed to overcome everything to bridge that gap.

So after mending ties with Allie, why not try the same with my mom?

I had great respect for her, though I still had some reservations. I did look up to her as a decent parent, and if circumstances allowed, I would like to have a normal relationship with her.

However, considering how things had been between us until now, I couldn’t say we were particularly close. It was one thing to want a closer relationship, but our mutual past made it rather challenging.

Still, with Euphie’s ascension to the throne and Allie’s situation, I realized I had to step forward…

“Mending a relationship that has soured over the years is no small feat, Lady Euphyllia… That being said, Lady Anisphia was truly something else today.”

“D-did you just say what I think you did, Ilia?!” I blurted, and she shot me a cold glance and shook her head in disbelief.

Euphie raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Was it really so bad…?”

“It’s great to see Lady Anis trying to talk to her mother, but with Lady Sylphine, she can’t keep herself from losing her composure. She comes across as secretive, and she can’t get her words out properly… Given her past behavior, it’s little wonder her mother suspects she’s up to no good again.”

“Ugh…”

“It would have been better for you to just come clean instead of getting so embarrassed and hiding your true feelings. But as usual, you got another lecture, didn’t you?”

“…That sounds terrible…,” Lainie whispered.

“Y-you too…?”

Euphie and Lainie flashed me looks that were equal parts warm and scathing, forcing me to avert my gaze.

“I-it’s not like I went in completely unprepared… But when it came down to it, I couldn’t find the right words…”

“…Isn’t that a serious problem?” Lainie asked, worried.

“Indeed. Though she can’t be held entirely responsible, given the history between them…,” Ilia said coolly.

“…Do you still feel intimidated around her?” Euphie asked with concern.

“…Maybe.”

“Why are you and your mother on such difficult terms? Is it because she’s always lecturing you?”

“That’s part of it… But I know she’s only strict because she worries about me. And all that fighting practice was incredibly useful as an adventurer. Things have changed, and I’ve settled down a bit, so it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to.”

“Then why?” Euphie asked.

“…I wonder…”

I took a moment to sort through my feelings.

Sitting up, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to visualize my previous interactions with my mom.

What came to mind wasn’t her usual stern look, but rather…

“…I think what it comes down to is…I’m afraid.”

“Afraid…?”

“Not in a bad way… I’m just scared I might end up hurting her,” I admitted with a heavy heart. “In the past, I was convinced I shouldn’t act like a proper royal. At least, up until Allie was sent off to the frontier. I acted like an eccentric for his sake; I thought if people thought less of me, it might help him become king. Despite all my shortcomings, my mother still tried to love me. But back then, I couldn’t let it stand. If I let her love me like she wanted, the backlash from all the religious nobles would have been too much.”

“Anis…”

“…There was nothing to be done about it, and that made it worse. I couldn’t afford to be the princess she wanted me to be. That’s what I thought. Maybe it wasn’t true, but the thought always lingered in the back of my mind…”

…By putting my thoughts into words, they began to take on a clear, recognizable shape.

“I’m scared to hear what she really thinks. I’m not sure I can handle it.”

“…I think that’s just what you’ve convinced yourself,” Euphie insisted.

“I know… But I can’t stop thinking it!” I answered in a pathetic whisper.

In the end, I was just assuming. And to be honest, I doubted it was true.

But I couldn’t say for sure, which was why I was still scared. It always made me freeze up.

“I was a burden to her. And I’m worried I’ll end up being a burden to her again…,” I mumbled, dropping my gaze.

For a long time, no one said anything in response.

It was Euphie who broke the silence. “You’re worried, Anis. You think you might end up hurting her.”

“…Yeah.”

“But you’re worried about something that only exists in your own head. You don’t really understand her, do you?”

“I suppose that’s true…”

“Then you should talk.”

“Talk?” I repeated, looking up.

Euphie nodded. “Yes. To someone who knows her well. And I think I know just the person.”

“I see… So that’s why you summoned me.”

“Yes. Thank you for coming, Father-in-law.”

Euphie and I, joined by my father, were in her office in the royal castle.

If I was going to consult anyone about my mother, my father was the best choice, no doubt about it. But while this meeting made perfect sense, I still felt awkward about it.

“I think it would be great if Anis and her mother could get along better. So I thought it would help if Anis had a better understanding of her,” Euphie explained.

After hearing Euphie out, my father breathed a deep sigh and rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. “Hmm… I see. That will be quite a challenge.”

“Do you think so…?”

“Sylphine is something of a klutz.”

““A klutz…?”” Euphie and I repeated in unison, our heads tilted to one side.

My father flashed us a nervous smile.

I never really got the impression she was particularly clumsy…

“I’ve known her for a long time, so I understand her deep down,” my father continued. “Let me ask you something, Anis. I promise I won’t be angry if you answer honestly. You find your mother difficult to deal with, don’t you?”

“Ugh… Well…”

“It’s my fault you feel that way… No apology will ever be enough.”

“…Father?”

“Like I said, she can be awfully clumsy at times. She has a strong core when it comes to serving as a warrior or as queen, but once she strays outside those roles…”

“…Uh… You mean she has a hard time showing her true self?” I asked.

Father nodded, his shoulders slumping. “Sylphine was born a marquis’s daughter. Due to her high status, she received a rigorous education and constantly disciplined herself to act every part the proud noblewoman. But that meant she had very few opportunities to reveal her true self. She was strict with others, but she was equally hard on herself. Lowering her guard is something she has always found difficult.”

“She’s certainly serious…,” I admitted.

“Though it isn’t surprising, Sylphine has a bad habit of bottling herself up. She grew up in a strict household, and her family was involved in the coup d’etat. The days she spent serving me, even when it meant turning her back on her family, made it hard for her to relax around others.”

“That’s…understandable, from what I’ve heard.”

My father’s ascension to the throne was precipitated by a coup d’etat, during which my mother turned her back on her family to fight alongside her husband and eventually become queen.

After going through something like that, it was little wonder she was constantly on guard. After all, carelessness could have meant death, or worse.

My father, however, shook his head, visibly anguished. “In some ways, relaxing could bring the trauma flooding back again… She suffered greatly in the past.”

“…Trauma?”

“It bothered you, too, I’m sure, Anis. I’m not saying it’s your fault, but when it became clear you couldn’t use magic, it weighed on Sylphine so much she couldn’t bear to look at you,” he said, staring at the floor.

“…Ah.” I gulped.

I still remembered my mother apologizing to me as a child; her eyes had been full of so much pain and anguish, the moment had left a lasting impression on me.

Had that caused her to suffer as well…?

“Being a mother helped her loosen up somewhat,” my father continued. “You might not remember, but she was perhaps a little too attentive to you as a child.”

“Sh-she was…?” I asked, confused.

I had no memory of it at all. It felt too unreal…

“When you were born, it was like she broke free of all the pressure she had been under. As a mother, as a young woman, she finally brought herself to relax. I was genuinely happy for her. I always felt guilty about her having to serve a half-baked royal like me. She was content…”

“…But then she learned Anis couldn’t use magic,” Euphie said.

“That’s right. Anis was branded a failure, and Sylphine’s qualifications as a mother were called into question… She had been so happy raising you and your brother, and then…”

“Father…”

“If only I were stronger, perhaps she wouldn’t have been driven to that point. Some people even suggested I divorce her.”

“That’s…”

“She became a diplomat to escape the scrutiny. She’s always been a powerful woman, on par with Grantz in that regard, and she received a top-notch education. With her handling foreign affairs, I could focus on matters at home. And there was always a certain possibility at the back of our minds…”

“And what was that?” Euphie asked.

“Of marrying Anis off to someone beyond the kingdom’s borders.”

“…When did that come up?” I startled.

Thinking about it, though, the idea wasn’t all that farfetched.

In the Kingdom of Palettia, I was seen as a defective royal incapable of wielding magic.

In terms of political value, then, marriage was probably the most likely option—especially if the suitor hailed from a foreign land.

“Well, after you abandoned your claim to the throne and started acting so bizarre, we concluded we couldn’t risk sending you abroad… Though I suppose your mother wanted to keep that option open out of consideration for your future happiness.”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it…”

“…We couldn’t tell you… No, that’s just an excuse. I’m sorry we didn’t involve you more in these discussions, Anis.”

“…I suppose we all made mistakes, despite all caring for each other. That’s why I think we need to talk more.”

“No doubt about it.”

My father and I exchanged awkward smiles.

Perhaps I was the reason my mother poured so much of herself into her diplomatic work. But in the end, that was something I would have to check with her to know for sure.

Ultimately, I needed to speak with her directly.

“Getting back to the point, your mother has been struggling with showing her true self ever since those previous traumas. It was especially tough when you were the source of that trauma. Of course, I also feel like lecturing you sometimes when you make a mess of things…”

“Was that last part really necessary…?”

“If you care to explain yourself, I’m all ears.”

I looked away, and my father let out a tired sigh.

“Ahem… In any event, your mother has a tendency to take too much upon herself. If I say something, there’s a risk it will backfire, and then she’ll feel like she’s burdening me.”

“That sounds difficult… It’s like she’s constantly fighting something.”

“I suppose the battlefield and diplomatic missions aren’t so different to her. That’s what makes her so reliable, but it’s an unhealthy mindset to be trapped in…”

My father bowed his head, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together in prayer, before raising them to his forehead.

“I wish I could do something to help,” he said at last.

“…Me too,” I said.

“…Indeed. Did meeting Algard shift your mindset, Anis?”

“Yes. I don’t want to leave things alone when we have a rare opportunity to see eye to eye. I want to see her loosen up and smile more.”

If I had caused her hardship, I wanted to make it up to her.

Despite everything, my mother had never abandoned me. She showered me with unconditional love. I owed it to her to return it, and more.

“…Perhaps I can offer a suggestion,” Euphie, silent all this time, murmured as she placed a thoughtful finger on her lips.

“Euphie? You have an idea?”

“It just might help your mother to relax, and improve your relationship with her at the same time.”

“What do you have in mind?” my father asked.

“I want to know, too,” I added.

The two of us looked up, surprised and hopeful.

“I don’t think it should be too difficult. Essentially…”

A few days later, my mother paid a visit to the detached palace.

“I was told you wanted to see me… What’s going on, Euphyllia? Has Anis gotten herself into trouble again?” she began, before fixing me with a sharp glare.

We were all seated around a table, enjoying a pot of tea prepared by Ilia.

Why did everyone immediately jump to the wrong conclusion…? Still, I knew what they would say—what goes around comes around.

“There’s something important I want to discuss, ma’am. How about you spend some time here at the detached palace to relax and focus on yourself? Surely a few days wouldn’t hurt?”

“What?” She startled, looking back and forth between Euphie and me.

Yes, Euphie’s idea was to have my mother stay with us at the detached palace.

“Me? Here…?”

“I should be frank,” Euphie continued. “I’m hoping you and Anis can come to better terms.”

“…And what is that supposed to mean?”

“This is just the selfish wish of your stepdaughter, wanting to see her adoptive family have a healthier mother-and-child relationship,” Euphie said with a smile.

My mother knitted her brow in confusion. She stole a glance my way, but her eyes lacked their usual strength.

“I’m grateful for how sternly you’ve overseen Anis’s education, but I’ve noticed she tends to feel somewhat nervous around you. I believe her behavior may be causing you some anxiety.”

“…So you want me to spend some time here to improve my relationship with Anis?”

“I believe you both need to communicate more. Maybe we should have addressed the issue back when I became queen, though I suspect it would still need further discussion.”

“…That may be true.”

“Part of the reason for your anxiety may be because you don’t know Anis as well as I suspect you might like. So I thought having you live together would be a great opportunity for you both.”

“…I…”

“I’m not going to force either of you. But I think it would be good for you both if you took a moment to observe, listen, and feel. If, after that, you still have something to say, that’s perfectly fine. Ideally, I’d like you to share those thoughts with Anis. And the same goes for her—Anis, you should tell your mother how you’re feeling.”

I had steeled myself for this ever since Euphie had first proposed the idea.

I’m sure it was my own trauma that made me want to turn and flee. I wasn’t the only one unable to respond; my mother remained deep in thought, eyes closed.

There was a long silence—until at last, she opened her eyes and looked straight at Euphie.

“…I understand. I’ll take you up on your offer, Euphyllia.”

With that, it was decided she would be staying with us at the detached palace.

My mother stayed the night after that discussion, and so a new day dawned.

I woke up and started getting ready as usual. Typically, Ilia would help with my morning routine, but today, she was busy with my mother.

“So we don’t need to do anything special, huh?”

That was what Euphie said—that we needn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Rather, she insisted it was important for my mother to see the real me, and what life was like for us here at the detached palace.

“Hmm… It’s been a while since I’ve had to do everything myself.”

Ever since Lainie had joined us, I had always had either her or Ilia to look after me. Though of course, I had taken care of myself back during my adventuring days, and again when Euphie had first arrived at the detached palace.

Reminded of all the changes we had been through, I checked in the mirror to make sure there was nothing amiss with my appearance before leaving my room.

As I headed to the dining room, I bumped into my mother, accompanied by Ilia.

“G-good morning.” I greeted her with a nervous voice.

“…Good morning,” she answered, her expression unreadable.

For whatever reason, an awkward silence fell over us, and both of us were frozen in place.

“…Did you get ready all by yourself?” my mother asked at last.

“Y-yes! That’s right…”

“…I see.”

“…Yes.”

With that, the conversation trailed off once more.

I knew this silence wasn’t good for either of us, but it was like my mouth was glued shut.

Ilia feigned a cough to catch our attention, then said, “Well, breakfast will be getting cold…”

“R-r-right! L-let’s go, Mother!”

“Y-yes…”

It seemed my mom felt just as awkward as I did.

Flashing each other awkward smiles, we made our way to the dining room.

Once we were seated, Ilia served up the breakfast she had prepared.

“…Is this what you always eat?” my mother murmured.

“Um, yes. It’s usually something like this.”

“It looks elaborate, but it’s actually rather close to what the common folk cook.”

“H-huh?! I-it’s not good enough for you…?” I stammered.

“I didn’t say it was bad…,” she answered with a sharp glare.

I froze, like a frog caught in a snake’s sights.

“It occurred to me you must be used to this type of food, what with how often you’re going on your adventures,” she said, turning away and letting out a soft sigh. “It was just a thought.”

“O-oh. I see what you mean…”

“Plus, I’ve traveled quite a bit myself, you know? The meals weren’t always extravagant. If you ask me, a breakfast like this can be much more relaxing… It reminds me of the old days.”

“What old days…?” I said.

She smiled softly. “I’ve told you how I used to travel a lot with Orphans and Grantz before your father became king, yes?”

“Ah. You mean like when you went looking for Lumi?”

Lumi was a spirit covenantor, and a distant ancestor of the royal family.

She was supposedly staying here in the royal capital, but she was so elusive it was hard to say for sure.

“I can still remember my first trip to visit her. It was tough, but it was a rewarding experience. We were right in the middle of the coup d’etat, so we couldn’t reveal our true identities. We had to blend in with the common folk.”

“…That must not have been easy.”

“It most certainly wasn’t. But it was that journey that brought us together. Until then, I wasn’t particularly fond of Orphans or Grantz—in fact, I could hardly stand them.”

“Huh?! R-really?!”

“Does that surprise you?”

“Um… Well, the three of you are so close now…”

“All thanks to Orphans. You know, none of us had a good first impression of each other. Back then, I was too caught up in my family’s honor and pride, while he was a down-and-out royal lacking in ambition, and Grantz was an annoying genius capable of handling just about anything with ease. Of course we clashed.”

“…It’s kind of hard to picture… But at the same time, it isn’t…”

I couldn’t see my mother fighting with them now, but considering her temperament, perhaps she was much more intense back in her youth.

Her youth… There must have been a time when she, too, was young and carefree.

“But when we had to travel incognito as commoners, it was Orphans who really came through.”

“Father did?”

“Without my noble status, I was just a young girl with some fighting skills, while Grantz was just a spoiled, cocky brat. Orphans was so good-natured, taking care of everything we needed. Like cooking, for example.”

“Father can cook?!”

“I wouldn’t call him a chef… But back then, Grantz and I struggled with all the basics. It tasted pretty good, you know? He always wanted to study horticulture, and he had a wealth of knowledge about wild plants. So Grantz and I did the hunting, while your father cooked whatever we caught.” She chuckled, smiling warmly.

There was no doubt about it—she was genuinely fond of those memories.

“Grantz didn’t care so long as it filled his stomach, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything that wasn’t good. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the taste of that burnt meat I cooked—it made me want to throw up. Ever since that disaster, Orphans took over cooking duties for us.”

“I see…”

For the life of me, I couldn’t imagine Duke Grantz cooking. And if my mother was raised as a highborn noble lady, she had probably never needed to cook before, either.

It made sense that my father had filled the gap, though I still couldn’t exactly picture him cooking…

“Are you surprised?”

“Yes… But maybe…?”

“Anis?”

“No, um…”

I hesitated, unsure if I should really speak my mind.

But then I remembered what Euphie said—that we should both share our inner thoughts.

So I decided to try it.

“I, um… I suppose I don’t know much about your private lives…”

“…Anis.”

“B-but that’s just because I’ve been holed up here in the detached palace for so long! I never really had the chance to talk to you or Father! So I’m happy to hear about your lives.”

Her eyes widened slightly at this. I instantly regretted saying it, racking my brain for some way to recover.

I knew it. In the end, Euphie was right. We just didn’t have the words.

We had never really had a successful chat before, so perhaps this outcome was inevitable.

I just didn’t want her to worry. That was why I hesitated to tell her. Because I was sure she would end up being stressed.

“…Huh?” I startled. “Speaking of which, where’s Euphie?”

I had been so caught up with my mother that I only just realized Euphie and Lainie weren’t with us.

“Lady Euphyllia and Lainie have already gone up to the royal castle,” Ilia explained. “I’m told they’ll be working late today.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes. They’ll be spending the night in the royal castle.”

“So we’re the only ones in the detached palace…?” I asked, taken aback.

“That’s correct,” Ilia answered, before turning her attention to my mother. “I have a message for you from Lady Euphyllia. She wishes to leave Lady Anis in your care today.”

“…I see,” my mother said, her lips curling in a smile.

Euphie wanted to leave me with my mother? Did that mean I would be spending the whole day with her? In other words, we would be alone together once Ilia stepped out?

All I could do was stand there in shock, unsure how to react.

“Anis.”

“Y-yes?!”

“If you don’t mind, might I take a look at your workshop?”

“You want to see the workshop…?”

“Yes. I’ve never been in there before.”

“Indeed.”

When I saw my mother, it was usually at the royal castle.

Even on the rare occasions when she came to the detached palace, I usually saw her in the drawing room.

It was a little surprising to think about, but she had never been into my workshop.

“I’m familiar with your magical tools, but I’d like to see where they’re made. Would you mind showing me how you do it?”

“I… Sure, I don’t mind.”

It felt so strange. My mind was a mess, and I couldn’t make heads or tails of my own emotions. All I could do was answer my mother with a nod.

And so, after finishing breakfast, we made our way to my workshop. Nervous, I opened the door and showed her in.

“This is it.”

“…So this is where you made those things.”

My mother cautiously stepped inside and looked around the room. She approached my desk and bookshelves in silence. The longer she remained quiet, the more my tension kept rising.

“…This book…”

“Y-yes?”

“…Ah, it brings back memories. I didn’t know you still had it.”

The tome she had pulled from the shelf was a textbook on the basics of magic usage.

It had been in my possession for years, and I remembered reading it time and again. It meant a lot to me. After all—

“You gave me that one, Mother…”

Yes, she had given it to me back when I all but begged her to learn magic.

Her eyes narrowed in fond remembrance as she handled the cover. “You really went for it, didn’t you?”

“…Mother?”

“…I should have come here years ago.”

After placing the book back on its shelf, she turned to me. Her expression was so calm I felt my chest tightening.

“Euphyllia was right. I thought I understood, but I didn’t. I knew you’d achieved great things, but I didn’t realize how hard you had worked to achieve them.”

“Mother…”

“…I was afraid of getting hurt. I was scared of confronting my own inadequacies. I thought you would blame me, so I made excuses and ran away from you and Algard. I realize now how badly I neglected you both…”

“I mean, I understand why you did.”

“…Anis?”

“I know how much it hurt you when it became clear I couldn’t use magic. And how other people’s heartless comments affected you. That’s why I didn’t want to let you down. I wanted you to think I was fine… But in the end, I took on too much and made a mess of things anyway…,” I said with an awkward smile.

With that off my chest, I felt a sense of calm, like my feet had finally found solid ground.

I looked her straight in the eye. “It’s okay, Mother.”

“…What is?”

“Even if you ran away, the work you accomplished while you were gone was incredibly important. Father always told me how you made your presence felt as queen, and ensured the Kingdom of Palettia wasn’t taken advantage of in the aftermath of the coup.”

“…But I failed you as a mother.”

“Says who? You’re the only one who says that.”

“Huh? B-but…”

“As your daughter, I think you’re a wonderful mother. I respect you. I love you. Sure, you can be a bit demanding at times, and scary, and overwhelming, even when you’re right—but you’re still my mother. You’ll always be.”

Yes, I could say that now with pride.

I wanted her to know what I felt—to share these feelings welling up in my heart.

“And now you’ve praised me. You don’t know how happy that makes me.”

Her approval, her acknowledgment, was enough.

I knew that she loved me. And that was all I needed.

“…Anis?”

“Yes?”

“…Can I give you a hug?”

“Of course.”

She wrapped her arms around me in a warm embrace. I leaned into her, holding her in my arms.

“…You’ve grown so much,” she whispered.

“I know…”

“…I wish I could have held you more.”

“From now on, you can. You can hold me as much as you want.”

“I wanted so badly to watch over you, to see you grow…”

“Maybe I was a little too dependent on you all.”

“What are you talking about? You’re awful at acting dependent.”

“We’re pretty similar in that way, aren’t we?”

“…Ah. I hate to admit it. I really do.”

She patted me on the back—a rhythm I remembered from deep in the past.

Yes. Somehow, I knew—she had patted me the same way when I was little.

“Anis… My daughter…”

“Yes.”

“You never needed magic. So long as you were in good health, that was enough for me. That’s how I felt, personally—but we were royalty. With everything that was expected of us all, I treated you harshly. I’ve never considered myself a good mother. And I was afraid you would accuse me of being a bad parent…”

“I’m hardly any different. You’re so amazing, and I never thought of myself as anything special. I didn’t know what to do. I just didn’t want you to abandon me…”

“…Yes, we are the same. I thought I understood, but I was wrong, wasn’t I…?”

She let out a forced laugh, gently pulling away, and met my gaze.

Then, she flashed me a smile, gentle and full of love.

Ah. Yes, I remembered this look. I used to love seeing her like this.

I loved her, too. Her smile meant so much to me—which was why I couldn’t forgive myself for taking it away from her.

“Father called you clumsy when it comes to emotions, you know…”

“…Orphans did? I’ll be sure to ask him about that.”

“Go easy on him. I guess I’m the same.”

“…That may be true.”

“It is.”

“But there are still some things I can teach you, like how to patch things up.”

“Please. And tell me more about your experiences in other countries.”

“…Yes. Though I’m sure one day won’t be nearly enough.”

“…And no more lectures, please.”

“That depends on you. Shall we ask Ilia to make us some tea?”

“I can brew a pot.”

“…You can? In that case, please. An offer like that doesn’t come every day,” she said with a gentle smile.

I felt my cheeks relaxing. Just being able to engage in a simple exchange like this put my heart at ease.

“…It is a little unfortunate,” my mother said under her breath.

“What is?”

“Euphyllia. We finally have a chance to talk, but it wouldn’t be right for me to keep you all to myself.”

“Huh? Wh-what…?”

“Ilia’s message. Euphyllia said she’ll let me have you today. In other words, she considers you her own, wouldn’t you say?”

Hearing that, I lifted my hands to my face in an effort to hide my blushing cheeks.

My mother broke out into laughter, wiping away her tears with a finger.

“She loves you, Anis.”

Not knowing what else to say, all I could do was let out a low groan. “Yes…”

Honestly, Euphie…!

“I’d love to hear that story from you,” my mother joked.

“…Then why don’t you tell me what you liked about Father?”

“Oh? That’s a long tale.”

“I don’t mind. I want to hear it.”

“Very well. Then which should we start with?”

The two of us discussed many different topics—making up for all the time we had spent apart.

And so I said a prayer in my heart—that this warmth, this happiness—would last forever.

I was unwanted when I was born. As far back as I could remember, I was aware of this.

I—Ilia Coral—was born the daughter of an unremarkable viscount. My father, my blood, was perennially dissatisfied with his position; his every thought was dedicated to climbing the social ladder.

He was, to all appearances, unhappy that I was his firstborn child.

“Is that it…? I hoped you would have more talent for magic… At least your looks should be enough to secure a decent match…”

Looking back, I realize now he didn’t look at me as a father ought to look at his daughter.

Perhaps it stemmed from the stress of living with him, but my mother, pressured to bear another child, began to resent me.

“You’re so ungrateful, Ilia. Why couldn’t I have had a better child…?”

But there was nothing I could do about my existence.

When she glared at me so reproachfully, all I could do was stare back without saying a word in response.

“You…! I can’t even guess what you’re thinking, it’s so eerie! I’ve given birth to a demon! You, the demon who stole my happiness!”

My vision blurred from the pain of my mother’s hand striking my face. A tear streamed down my cheek—but only one.

I couldn’t cry any more than that. For as long as I could remember, I felt next to nothing for her.

“You ghastly child! Give it back! Give me back my happiness!”

“Ma’am! Please, stop!”

“Let go! Let go, I said!”

“Miss Ilia, over here…!”

Weeping, my mother slapped me again and again, until a maid intervened.

When my father heard my mother had slapped me, he rounded on her.

“What are you thinking, attacking her face like that?! Did you even pause to think you might affect her value as a bride?!”

“Why are you blaming me?! Why is it always my fault…?!” she wailed, breaking down into tears.

“That’s rich, coming from you…!” my father bellowed.

He always said he wished I had more talent, that I could rise to the top of the pack, or at least find a way to serve the family as a woman.

My mother lamented her fate. She wanted a brilliant child—if only to live as a happy mother.

She could never bring herself to love an eerie child like me.

It was always the same old routine. Those are the only memories I have of my family home.

A weird child, incapable of smiling, shunned by her father and hated by her mother. Even the butlers and maids shied away from me.

I couldn’t smile? They thought I was unsettling? In a place like that, how could I be anything else?

“Did they ever smile at me?”

Of course, I couldn’t have known the first thing about happiness. Not in that house.

I woke up at the same time I did every morning, and as soon as I got out of bed, I checked myself in the mirror and saw to my appearance—a habit of mine ever since Lady Anisphia had brought me with her to the detached palace.

In the mirror, a woman stared back at me, her eyes blank and unsmiling. After making sure everything was in order, I turned away.

“…Now then, time to check today’s schedule.”

Recently, more and more people had been coming in and out of the princess’s villa. Even Lady Anisphia herself, the head of the house, was kept busier lately. The detached palace had become quite lively.

She had always had a talent for summoning joy around her, but recent events had seen our lives become even more vibrant than usual.

I, for one, found the changes quite pleasant. Having long watched over her while she shut herself away and immersed herself in her hobbies, I couldn’t help but smile at the progress she had made.

Naturally, I was kept busier as well—but I didn’t mind.

“First, breakfast…”

Leaving my chambers, I headed to the dining room. As I was planning breakfast before going to wake Lady Anisphia, a delightful scent wafted through the air and tickled my nose.

For a moment, I stood frozen in confusion—and then it suddenly hit me.

“Ah, right. Today is her turn… Old habits are hard to break.”

The aroma was the scent of breakfast cooking. Indeed, when I entered the kitchen, I found a young woman deftly preparing the morning meal.

Lainie, with her dark hair and dressed in the same style of maid outfit I was, turned around to greet me.

“Lady Ilia. Good morning.”

“Good morning, Lainie.”

“I’m almost finished here, so could you go and wake Lady Anis? I’ll wake Lady Euphyllia in a moment.”

“You’ve really grown, Lainie. I don’t have to worry when you’re in charge.”

“Hee-hee. All thanks to you, Lady Ilia!” She flashed me a shy smile.

A warm glow spread through my chest. Before I could break into a smile of my own, however, I felt my face tensing up to resist.

This was another habit of mine, but I accepted that this was how my body tended to react, and that it wasn’t what I intended. I did my best to relax my expression and pull close to Lainie.

“Here. A reward.”

“Eeep?!”

I gave her a light kiss on the forehead, and she jumped back with a cute little squeal.

She quickly backed away, pressing a hand against her forehead and glaring at me sharply. It didn’t have the effect she wanted, however, as even that was awfully cute.

“Ugh… I’ve told you again and again—please, no sneak attacks!”

“Lovers are meant to be spoiled…”

“Please! Go easy on me!”

“I never cut corners.”

“My heart won’t be able to take it!” she protested, and I thought of a puppy barking with all its might.

Yes, it was a heartwarmingly adorable sight.

We’d had more than a few misunderstandings since we became a couple, but I took pride in the relationship we had built with each other.

Such bonds, however, could easily fray when one neglected to connect with one’s partner. That was why I was trying so hard to express my feelings honestly.

My actions often left her embarrassed, but that didn’t mean I was about to relent. If I was less direct, she would hesitate to accept my kindness.

“Consider it a perquisite…for your own good,” I said.

“You’re just being mean now, aren’t you?” she answered.

“Oh? I never said it wasn’t mean.”

“Then go easy on me!”

“People don’t change overnight, Lainie.”

“Ngh! Just go and wake Lady Anis already! I have to wake Lady Euphyllia! Keep teasing me, and I’ll won’t pay you any more attention!” Lainie said, blushing as she rushed from the kitchen.

Watching her leave, I let out a soft, satisfied sigh. Yes, another calm and relaxing day was upon us.

Or so I thought. But an unexpected bump in the road was about to disrupt my peace.

I was busy slicing vegetables, keeping time with the steady rhythm of the knife against the cutting board.

I was preparing dinner in the detached palace. Though she was a royal princess, Lady Anisphia preferred simple dishes over fancy ones, and so the meals I prepared were relatively straightforward.

But now that we were joined by Lady Euphyllia, a true noblewoman, we couldn’t stick to the same old dishes, and so I had begun to serve more elaborate fare.

Lady Euphyllia’s manners and etiquette were beyond reproach, but she had little attachment when it came to food, eating whatever we served without complaint.

I appreciated that, but if I were a professional chef, I would no doubt be concerned. There were times to be particular and times when not to, after all.

“Hmm… Is this right?”

After tasting the end result, I breathed a sigh. I had lost count of how many times I had found myself enjoying these quiet moments.

Though I was a maid here at the detached palace, I was mostly left to my own devices as far as work was concerned.

Why? Because the mistress of the house, Lady Anisphia, was a free spirit who was unable to settle on structured plans.

Some days, she holed herself up in her workshop, while on others, she ventured out and was overflowing with energy. As a result, there wasn’t a lot of predetermined work that needed to be seen to.

Before Lainie had come, I had to be mindful of Lady Euphyllia. But now that we had another pair of hands on deck, I had been able to return to my old routine.

Every day, I would clean the rooms of the detached palace in a certain order, prepare meals, and ready the bath at the designated hour. Such was my daily schedule.

My routine had been starting to show cracks in recent months, but as far as I was concerned, there had been no dramatic changes.

And so, as usual, I found myself readying dinner and waiting for Lainie and Lady Euphyllia to return…

“Lady Ilia? Are you in here?”

“Lainie?”

I startled, staring wide-eyed as she came trotting into the kitchen.

For some reason, she seemed nervous. Had something happened?

“Um… Actually, I was asked to give you something,” she began.

“…Something for me? From whom?”

Who on earth could it be from? Why would anyone want to send something to me?

Since coming to the detached palace, my social life had been quite modest. The only people I met on a regular basis were Lady Anisphia and the others who lived with us.

There shouldn’t have been anyone interested in sending me a letter…

“Um… Actually, it’s from someone who claims to be related to Viscount Coral…”

“…My family, you mean?” I asked in a low voice.

Lainie flinched, so I made an effort to adopt as normal a tone as possible before continuing. “Did they hand it to you?”

“He thought you might burn it if he sent it to you directly. When he asked, I couldn’t say no…”

“…Hmm.”

I frowned. I certainly wouldn’t have expected my family’s name to come up at this point.

Who in the world could have sent it? I sincerely doubted it was my parents, but then again, that wasn’t completely out of the question.

“Show me.”

“Um. Here.” Lainie held out the letter.

I turned immediately to the sender’s name—and my worries dissipated in an instant.

Noticing the change, Lainie gave me a puzzled look. “Lady Ilia?”

“Oh. It’s from him. There’s no problem, then.”

“Huh? No problem…? Um, so you are related? You’re sure it’s okay?” Lainie asked, tilting her head in concern.

She knew about my history with my parents, so it was only natural for her to be worried.

“He’s my cousin, and the heir to the title of Viscount Coral. He isn’t a bad man.”

“Your cousin…?”

“I’ve told you about my parents, but I never went into any great detail about my family situation.”

At the time, I didn’t think it was worthwhile to discuss my family’s fallen status—and to be honest, it wasn’t something I liked to bring up unless someone asked…

“First off, my parents. There was a conflict with the man I was betrothed to when I first became Lady Anisphia’s personal maid. My parents wanted to sell me off, but instead of paying my parents a bride price, the man’s family demanded a penalty fee.”

“W-wow…”

“After that, I received so many brazen letters from my parents asking me to help them get close to Lady Anisphia. I ignored them all, and Lady Anisphia herself made sure they stopped coming. Apparently, that caused my family to fall into disarray. Because of their ineptitude, my grandfather had to come out of retirement and take over the family’s affairs.”

I only learned all this after the fact—and to be honest, I thought it served my parents right.

My father wrote to me, ordering me to talk my grandfather out of taking drastic action—but I burned his letter, too. I wished I could have seen his reaction, but I figured it would be best not to get involved.

“My parents are being kept at the family estate, while my grandfather works to rebuild the family name.”

“I see…”

“My grandfather is too old to leave the estate, and I’ve never met him in person.”

We were connected by blood, but that was all.

He did send me a formal written apology, just once, but I didn’t bother to reply.

“My grandfather chose my father’s younger brother’s son as his heir—in other words, my cousin.”

“Have you ever met him?”

“He came all the way to the capital asking for my hand in marriage.”

“…Huh?” Lainie’s eyes opened wide in shock. “M-marriage…?”

“Oh, it wasn’t like I ever really entertained the idea. Besides, it was more like the kind of proposal I made with you.”

“The one you made with me…? You mean, a fake engagement to deter other suitors?”

“Yes. My cousin’s father—my uncle—left home to become an adventurer. At first, my grandfather tried to bring him back—but my uncle had been away from noble society for so long, and he had received an offer to take over the local adventurer’s guildhall where he was based. He didn’t want to go back to noble life. So he offered his son instead.”

“Ah…,” Lainie murmured, her expression unreadable.

Like Lainie, my cousin had effectively been elevated from commoner to noble, so she no doubt felt a certain amount of sympathy for him.

Maybe I wasn’t one to speak, having cut all ties with my family, but it must have been a real disaster for my cousin.

“He resisted at first, but he eventually agreed to be named the family heir. With a few conditions.”

“…Was marrying you one of them?”

“He had already promised his future to another woman, but there were several issues with her becoming a nobleman’s wife. Apparently, she didn’t really care for any official title or status and thought it would be better with me as his lawful wife, seeing as I had received a noble education from birth.”

If the marriage had gone through, the Coral bloodline would have been preserved and the family’s issues resolved. From that perspective, it wasn’t such a bad idea.

However, Lainie’s expression was grim. “That may be true…but that wouldn’t be enough to restore your family’s reputation, would it?”

“No. My cousin said he wouldn’t mind if I stayed on at the detached palace, that a marriage of convenience would be enough… But I still didn’t want to deal with my family anymore, so I politely declined. In any event, he was kept busy trying to sort out a whole range of issues, so he couldn’t take over the family right away.”

“I see…”

While my cousin hailed from noble blood, he had been raised as a commoner, so it wasn’t easy for him to take over the family’s titles and estate. I’m sure he had to work behind the scenes to establish connections and restore the family’s standing.

It couldn’t have been easy for my elderly grandfather, either, but in a way, it was inevitable with a son as bad as my father.

“So he was your cousin, then…?” Lainie murmured.

“Did he come all the way to the royal capital in person? I suppose I should read it. If it’s from him, I’m sure it won’t be anything too bad…”

But why would he want to reach out to me after all this time?

Filled with questions and doubts, I opened the envelope to find a letter written in an elegant, aristocratic hand.

“…What does it say?” Lainie asked.

“…Hmm. I see…”

Lainie fidgeted nervously while I finished reading the letter, and I sighed as I returned it to the envelope.

“He’s reporting that he’s laid the groundwork to succeed my grandfather as viscount, and that his plans to marry are on track. It won’t be long now.”

“Ah. That’s great news!”

“Yes. So he wants to meet me to discuss my plans for the future.”

“For the future…?”

“Once my cousin becomes Viscount Coral, he can officially remove me from the Coral family. Right now, I’m still officially an unwed nobleman’s daughter.”

I wasn’t exactly young anymore, but my position put me in that role.

It would be just a formality at this point, but my cousin had to be anxious about acting without my permission. After all, I was still officially part of the family.

“I have no particular attachment to my family home, so I wouldn’t mind being officially disowned.”

“…Is that all there is to it?”

“Why would there be more? There’s nothing else that needs saying.”

“But the situation has changed. Lady Euphyllia is queen now, and Lady Anis’s circumstances have improved as well.”

“Lainie?”

“Don’t you think you should give it a little more thought?” she pressed with a sulky glare.

Perhaps that was true, but my cousin didn’t seem like the kind of type to do anything wrong by me.

Still, it had been years since I last saw him, and it was probably fair to say I had been a little too trusting.

“Your cousin already suggested a marriage of convenience in the past,” Lainie pointed out. “Who’s to say he won’t propose to you again?”

“…I suppose that’s true.”

“Then perhaps you should turn him down?”

“He hasn’t even suggested anything yet…”

“But given your position, he might insist you go through with a fake marriage again. Even if it isn’t with him. He could be thinking of some other noble he’s involved with…”

“I don’t imagine he would repeat the same mistake my father made. Besides, even if he did do that, I’m not about to accept any such proposal…”

“Come on, Lady Ilia! You’re too calm about this! You never know how the other party will react! He might be a good person, but what if he’s trying to deceive you…?”

“Lainie,” I said, reaching out to pinch her soft cheeks.

She glared at me with tear-filled eyes.

“Calm down,” I said. “I told you, I have no intention of marrying anyone.”

“Ugh…!”

“Are you jealous?”

“…Did you think I wouldn’t be?” Lainie pouted.

My heart gave a little squeeze of joy.

Being worried wasn’t such a bad thing. So I decided to say something to put her mind at ease.

“Don’t worry. Even if he comes out with such an offer, I’ll decline. All I want is to serve Lady Anisphia and Lady Euphyllia by your side, Lainie.”

“…”

“…Lainie?”

“In that case, I’m going with you,” she declared. She seemed quite determined.

“What?” I asked, taken aback.

There was a fire in her eyes that she seldom let show. “I’ll keep an eye on things to make sure you can turn him down properly!”

“Haah…”

“I’m definitely going with you!”

…There’s no talking her out of this, I thought with a deep sigh.

“Is this Viscount Coral’s residence?”

“Yes. Though I’m told the family purchased it after I left home. Apparently, they had to part ways with the old one.”

A few days after receiving my cousin’s letter, we paid a visit to the Coral family’s secondary villa in the imperial capital.

I had responded to the letter at once, and my cousin had written back suggesting a date and time to visit, so here we were.

The Coral family’s residence in the capital was a small and modest affair for a viscount.

My father had been an incorrigible show-off, so our mansion had been larger and flashier than one might expect from someone of his station—a stark contrast to the simplicity of the new Viscount Coral.

It was all so strange. I found myself struggling to put my emotions into words.

“Shall we enter, Lady Ilia?” Lainie asked.

“…You really want to come in with me?” I asked, turning to her to make sure she was having no second thoughts.

She certainly didn’t seem to be.

“Are you saying I should turn back now?” she asked.

“…Very well, I give up. Let’s go together.”

As it turned out, Lady Anisphia and Lady Euphyllia had both approved of Lainie accompanying me. Lady Anisphia had been a little anxious at first at the thought of me seeing anyone from my family, but she ultimately gave her approval when Lainie noted her intention to come with me.

“I’d be concerned if you went alone, but with Lainie’s support, I’m sure you’ll be fine,” she’d said at the time.

“Indeed. I can ask Halphys to step in while you’re away, Lainie, so don’t you worry about work,” Lady Euphyllia added, readily giving her permission.

And so it was decided. I felt bad about inconveniencing everyone…

“You all needn’t worry about me at my age…,” I murmured.

“Not at all. We can’t let you go alone,” Lainie answered.

“I’m with Lainie,” Lady Anis added. “I’m worried.”

“Yes, me too,” Lady Euphyllia said.

With the three of them joining forces against me, I had no choice but to go along with it.

Looking back on the discussion, I breathed an exhausted sigh. But it was time to switch gears and move on.

We stepped up to the entrance of the Coral mansion, where the gatekeeper greeted us with a polite bow.

“You must Lady Ilia. We’ve been expecting you. And who might this be?”

“Lainie Cyan, a colleague of Lady Ilia’s,” she answered. “I’m here at the request of Her Highness Princess Anisphia.”

“Very good. I’ll call someone to take you inside. Please wait here a moment,” the gatekeeper said as he let us through.

It wasn’t long before a butler—perhaps my age or a little younger—arrived to show us around.

The gatekeeper was around my age as well, so it seemed the staff had been changed out.

The mansion’s unfamiliar decor made it impossible for me to feel at home.

I suppose the Coral family I knew is no more…

I thought it might be refreshing to see how the family’s circumstances had changed, but it was like a hole had opened up in my chest. Why?

While I was busy pondering that question, the butler came to a stop and knocked on a heavy door.

“I’ve brought your guests, Master Elk.”

“Hmm. Show them in,” someone said inside the room.

It was an office, and the man sitting at the desk rose to his feet to welcome us.

He was tall and well built, clearly marking him as someone who took care of his body. His reddish-brown hair was a similar hue to mine, and he had a straightforward, sincere look about him.

A wide smile spread across his face as he laid eyes on me—a smile that called to mind the young man I once knew.

As nostalgia filled my heart, my cousin, Elk Coral, offered up a genuine greeting.

“It’s been too long, Ilia! When did we last see each other? I hope you’ve been well?”

“Yes, it’s been too long, Elk. I’m fine. And you?”

“Ha-ha-ha! I’m still new to all these titles and fineries! You could probably say I haven’t quite outgrown my youth yet.”

“I’m glad to see you look well. That outfit suits you.”

“Hah! I’m glad you think so! And you—you’re still exceptionally young and beautiful!”

Her cheerful laugh betrayed no hint of scorn, though as a noble, he was perhaps letting a little too much emotion show.

With that, Elk turned to face Lainie, following a step behind me. “And who might this young lady be?”

“A colleague of mine, Miss Lainie Cyan,” I answered.

“Miss Cyan! I see! So you’re Baron Cyan’s daughter!”

“Do you know my father?” Lainie was clearly taken aback by Elk’s show of surprise. She probably hadn’t expected her father’s name to come up here of all places.

Elk vigorously shook his head. “No, no, I’ve never met him in person! But he is a famed adventurer, one who rose to the rank of nobility! I admire him! I never dreamed I’d be introduced to his daughter before meeting the man himself! Once again, I’m Elk Coral. Feel free to call me by my first name.”

“It’s, um, nice to meet you…,” Lainie said, swept up in Elk’s energy.

I myself was caught up by his rapid pace and had to clear my throat to gather my thoughts.

“Well, Elk. May I ask what prompted your letter after all this time?”

“Always straight to the point, cousin. No, I understand. It’s only natural for you to be cautious. But please, take a seat.”

He gestured for me and Lainie to sit down on a sofa, while he sat on the one across from us. With that, he motioned for the butler to leave us.

With a bow, the butler stepped outside—and Elk turned to face us.

“To put it simply, I’ll be formally inheriting the title of Viscount Coral from your father soon. My wife will likewise be adopted into the nobility to become Viscountess Coral. Grandfather really went out of his way to help with the adoption process.”

“Oh? So your wife has been adopted by a noble family…?”

“Like me, she was born of noble parentage but raised as a commoner. She knows how to use magic, so she chose the path of an adventurer. We promised each other a future together, but I never expected to be sent back to the main family. Unfortunately, she had no support or backing, and her skill with magic wasn’t enough for her to claim noble status.”

“I see. It isn’t easy for commoners to join the nobility.”

“We were eventually able to find a family willing to adopt her so that our marriage could move forward. After making her wait before we could tie the knot, it feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”

“I’m pleased to hear it.”

“Thank you.” Elk breathed a tired sigh.

Given the tensions between the nobility and the common folk, he must have gone through a lot.

Within seconds, however, his smile was back. “Hmm. So, Ilia, we can arrange this so it will be of benefit to you as well once I become head of the family. Do you still want to cut ties after all this time?”

“My thoughts haven’t changed on that matter.”

“I see…”

“Would it inconvenience you in any way?”

“It’s more a feeling of regret than inconvenience. After all, times are different now. The changes Queen Euphyllia and Princess Anisphia have brought are the reason my wife was able to be adopted into the nobility in the first place.”

“I see. So you wish to maintain a connection to me, at Lady Anisphia’s side?”

From a nobleman’s perspective, that was the natural choice. Social connections were everything in the aristocracy.

I had anticipated that he wouldn’t want to let me go easily, not with my connections to Lady Anisphia and Lady Euphyllia, so I managed to take this turn of events in stride.

“Well, it wouldn’t look good for the family if I expelled you here and now… And frankly, it feels like a waste to cut ties with you when you’re so close to Princess Anisphia.”

“You want a direct connection to Lady Anis?” Lainie asked. “But I thought she didn’t think very highly of Lady Ilia’s parents…?”

Elk gave an awkward smile. “Yes, that’s only natural. I hope with the former head stepping down, I’ll have a chance to make things right. But I’m aware it has to be a sincere effort on my part. Personally, I wish to reconcile—not only for the family’s reputation, but for your sake, too, Ilia.”

“…Reconcile…?”

“Yes. If we can’t, you won’t be able to show your face at home, will you?”

“…What does home have to do with any of this?”

“It has to do with Grandfather. All this trouble has taken a toll on him. With his age, he doesn’t have a lot of time left. I’m not blaming you, Ilia, but your father’s actions have worn Grandfather down, both physically and mentally.”

“Grandfather…”

“He wants to see you face-to-face before he leaves this world, and to personally apologize to you. And if at all possible, he doesn’t want to see you leave the family. I suppose he’s also worried about me. After all, being shunned by the royal family isn’t a comfortable position to be in.”

Elk let out a deep sigh, and his serious expression put a damper on the bright atmosphere just a few moments ago.

I understood what he was trying to say, but I wasn’t moved by it.

“I’ve never met Grandfather, so it’s hard for me to think of him as family.”

“He said he thought you might feel that way. Now that he’s at the end of his years, he regrets how you were treated.”

“I’m not sure what to say…”

Frankly, this left me in a bit of a bind. I knew he didn’t have any bad feelings toward me, but it was too late to set things right now.

Perhaps sensing my confusion, Lainie addressed Elk in an unusually harsh tone. “Excuse me, may I say something? I understand how Lady Ilia’s grandfather must feel, but couldn’t this have been addressed beforeshe was pushed into wanting to leave the Coral family? Digging all this up now will only put more of a burden on her.”

“You’re right, Miss Cyan. I can’t refute any of that. In fact, there’s no denying it was Grandfather’s neglect that led to Uncle turning out the way he did.”

“In that case—”

“Please, hear me out. Grandfather was a typical nobleman back in his day. He managed to survive the coup d’etat during the reign of the previous king, but his luck only went so far. My uncle wasn’t ready when he took over as head of the family, and he made a mess of it. I suppose he became too ambitious, thinking he could climb the social ladder.”

“He’s a shallow man.”

“You’re absolutely right, Ilia. I know it’s harsh, but there’s no defending him. I promise to take full responsibility for his mistakes. I certainly have no intention of bringing him before you. He and your mother may have brought you into this world, but they’re absolutely hopeless at being parents,” Elk all but spat.

From the sound of it, he had had his own share of quarrels with them.

So, in the end, they were unable to change… In a way, I was relieved to hear that. It was easier to give up on them knowing they were the kind of people who couldn’t help themselves.

“Grandfather has long since given up on our fathers. You’re his last lingering regret, Ilia. According to my dad, Grandfather has softened in his old age—or perhaps the years have worn him down.”

“…I’m sorry, but I still can’t bring myself to feel anything for him.”

“Then would it be too forward of me to beg you to stay within the family, even if you don’t see him?”

“It doesn’t bother me if you do, but I don’t want to have anything to do with my parents ever again. That’s why I want to cut ties.”

“…I can’t convince you otherwise?” Elk leaned forward, hands clasped, and looked me square in the eye.

I could tell that he was worried about me, and as I kept refusing him, I felt as though a needle was stuck in my chest. I couldn’t breathe.

“I have my own thoughts about your current situation,” he continued. “Even if you can’t hope for conventional happiness, I want to help improve your circumstances. If things keep going the way they are, your past may eventually drag you down one day.”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t deny what he said. After all, Lady Anisphia and Lady Euphyllia were dealing with all sorts of nobles now, and that was unlikely to change.

With my family drama and lack of outside backing, I could end up becoming a liability for them.

In the past, I would have stepped down and left their service before it could come to that. But now…

“We want to help you. Nothing can change the fact that you’re the heir to the Coral family by blood, or that you’re my cousin. I want to ensure the family name doesn’t become a burden for you. If nothing else, please consider that a reason for reconciliation.”

“Elk. I—”

“I used to be nothing more than a helpless boy. I was foolish to think I could marry you for appearances’ sake. But this time, I genuinely do want to help you. What do you say?”

I was moved by this display of sincerity, but I still couldn’t find the words to respond. My lips opened and closed wordlessly.

Meanwhile, Lainie spoke up. “Might I ask something, Master Elk? With all due respect, please refrain from misleading Lady Ilia any further.”

“Lainie?”

“Oh? You think I’m trying to deceive her?”

“Lady Ilia’s connections would undoubtedly be of benefit to the Coral family should a reconciliation take place. You’ve been up front about wanting to take advantage of that, and I believe you’re genuine in your wish to settle past ties and restore ties with her as well.” She paused there, lifting a hand to her chest as if to calm her racing heart. “But when it comes to love… One can’t give love without first learning to receive it. Did the Coral family raise Lady Ilia in a way that she can accept its love?”

“…No.”

“Do you think one’s heart can grow to accept love after being kept a distance for as long as hers has?”

“Perhaps not. But it certainly won’t if we don’t try.”

“I believe we must acknowledge that this is right, and that it is your own personal wish. If you truly care about her, I hope you won’t force her to bear the burden of that love.”

Her voice was so calm and steady it was hard to believe all this came from Lainie. I was left speechless.

“…The right kind of love…,” Elk murmured.

“Even if you are right, even if your love is perfectly selfless, it won’t be received unless the other party is ready for it.”

“You’re saying mistakes were made from the very beginning, and now it’s too late to ever resolve them?”

“I didn’t say never… But that chance is somewhere that will be very difficult to reach.”

“…May I ask you something, Miss Cyan? Why are you giving me this advice?” Elk asked, straightening up in his chair.

It was an aristocratic gesture, one that carried with it a weight of authority.

Lainie, however, stood tall and unperturbed. “Because I consider Lady Ilia family.”

“…Family.”

“I care about her, and for that reason, I wonder if it’s right to wish for a bond of love when it might hurt her a great deal. Even among blood relatives. It’s ostensibly for her own sake, but will that love really bring her happiness and peace?”

“There are benefits to accepting that burden. What do you say to that?”

“There’s no avoiding scandal. I suspect there are many who would threaten Lady Ilia’s peace. The higher one rises in status, the more people will covet your position…”

“All the more reason to—”

“But she has me to protect her,” Lainie said.

Her strong voice overwhelmed Elk’s, and the room was left in stunned silence.

After taking a breath to compose herself, she continued. “Lady Ilia is very important to me. Please. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“…You’re telling us to sever ties?”

“I don’t mind if you believe I’m being impudent. I don’t care what you think of me. If I fail to make her happy, feel free to curse me to the ends of the earth. But I’m the one who wants to be with her.”

“You’re saying there’s no room for me?”

“No matter how sincerely you want to care for Lady Ilia, no matter how much you want to rekindle ties with her…if it risks causing her pain, then it falls to me to keep you away from her.”

“What gives you that right?”

“Nothing, maybe. I might even regret this choice. But it’s my burden to bear.”

“Yes, but why?”

“Because I love her.”

…I almost let my guard down for a moment.

Before I knew it, my clenched fists relaxed, and my hands moved up to my face.

At that moment, Elk burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. “Wow! All right, I’ll admit defeat. At this point, there’s no point in even trying to flirt with her.”

“Master Elk…”

“Sorry. I just heard some rumors and wanted to confirm it for myself. Sorry if I came across as rude,” Elk answered gently.

“N-no, I should be the one to apologize…,” Lainie insisted. This was the flustered girl I knew.

Elk urged her to sit back, then turned to me with a calm look. “You’ve found a great partner, Ilia. Honestly, there’s no rebuttal to all that. Perhaps I shouldn’t have pushed so far after all…”

“Elk…?”

“Miss Cyan spoke about the right kind of love, but you should have received that from the very beginning. There’s no erasing that mistake your parents made. It isn’t easy putting something back together once it’s fallen apart. That’s one thing I’ve learned from Grandfather. On top of that, I have to be mindful of the family’s interests.”

“That’s a given for the head of any family.”

“But nothing else can proceed without a heartfelt apology. So you have my sincerest condolences and apologies, Ilia Coral.”

“You aren’t responsible, Elk…”

“No. I’m speaking in my capacity as heir to the title of Viscount Coral. In fact, I should have done this when we first met… I really am sorry,” he said with a deep bow of his head. Without looking up, he continued, “If you ever do feel ready to visit the family home, by all means, please come. I swear to you that I will strive to become a respectable nobleman. And once again, please understand that I expect nothing from you in exchange.”

“…I understand. I hope you receive some good news.”

“I’m glad we took the time to speak today… Perhaps this isn’t for me to say, but I pray you find happiness, Ilia,” Elk said. When he raised his head, his eyes were completely sincere.

That night, Lainie came to my room to offer a profuse apology.

“I’m sorry for embarrassing you today, Lady Ilia…”

After leaving Elk, she seemed to come back down to earth—and had been feeling down ever since. She clearly hadn’t been herself back there.

“…I never expected you to come out with such an impassioned confession,” I pointed out.

“Me neither…,” she said, turning red and covering her face with both hands.

I stared at her for a while, then breathed a sigh and called her over. “Come and sit here, Lainie.”

“O-okay…”

We sat side by side on the bed, Lainie glancing at me apologetically.

I stared back at her so long that I lost track of the time.

Eventually, she broke the silence. “U-um, Lady Ilia…?” she began in a puzzled tone.

“…”

“Lady Ilia…?”

“Lainie… Can I be honest with you?”

“Huh? Oh. O-of course, please.”

“Well then…”

Now that she had given her permission, I decided to follow my heart—leaning forward, pushing her down on the bed, and resting a hand on her chest. I could feel her heartbeat growing faster and faster under my hand.

“L-Lady Ilia?!”

“…Could you let me listen to your heartbeat for a moment?”

“…Lady Ilia?”

I buried my face in her chest, listening closely. I wanted to feel every part of her—her heartbeat, proof she was alive, her scent, her warmth. I wanted to soak in every sensation of her.

“…Lainie?”

“…Yes?”

“Lainie.”

“Yes?”

“…I’m being honest with you, showing you the feelings I can’t put into words. I know it’s confusing, but I don’t know how else to share this with you.”

I want to touch you.

I want to feel you.

I want you to be mine.

Those were the feelings welling up in me, expressing themselves in my actions.

“I was so happy when you said how much you love me. But I can’t help but wonder—why?”

If I released all the emotions I always kept at bay…I would start crying and never stop.

I wasn’t sad—not exactly. But it was like there was a gaping hole in my chest.

I should have been happy, but for whatever reason, I ended up feeling anxious and lonely.

Everything seemed to melt away as I embraced Lainie’s presence.

Then, for some inexplicable reason, I wanted to cry. There was no end to my tears, and my emotions were all over the place. I didn’t know what do anymore.

“I’m sorry… I really don’t know what to do…”

I felt so pathetic—but I didn’t want to make Lainie apologize, either. I had to be honest, but still, I couldn’t get my words out.

What was I supposed to do? That question kept spinning around in my head, and I almost found myself regretting not stopping, when—

“Lady Ilia,” Lainie said, reaching up to cradle my head on her chest, so gently that my eyes drifted shut. A wave of relief I had never felt before spread through my chest.

“I want you to know how much I love you, Lady Ilia. With all my soul. I want to give you everything your heart desires.”

“…You do?”

“Maybe you doubt me. Because I just appeared by your side one day without warning. And you’re afraid of losing it, because it feels so incredibly warm.”

“…Yes… It does.”

I was terrified of losing it. Yes, that made sense.

I was always ready to be thrown aside. Even by Lady Anisphia. I didn’t want to be a burden to the person who had saved me.

But I was happy now, and I felt like I belonged. Having it all pointed out to me today made me realize just how insecure I truly was.

“We’re like a family, aren’t we?” Lainie whispered.

“…Is it okay to think we are?”

“Of course. Lady Anisphia and Lady Euphyllia want you to be happy. And so do I,” she said, holding me close.

Then, she whispered the words I most wanted to hear. “Tonight, I’ll look after you. Give yourself to me.”

I wanted nothing more.

Here was someone who loved me for who I was, unconditionally.

My childish, selfish whims began to take on a clear shape.

“Oh. I’m so happy,” Lainie murmured.

“About what…?”

“I could never act this way around Lady Anis… Not in my wildest dreams.”

“…No.”

Lady Anis was free to fly wherever she pleased.

If she wanted something, she would go to any lengths to make it happen.

If she did that for me, I would owe her more than I could ever repay.

Maybe that was why I was afraid to step in. Because I knew I couldn’t handle it.

I wanted Lady Anisphia to be free. I wanted to see her chase her dreams. And that was why I couldn’t bring myself to wish for anything. Most of all, I didn’t want to be a burden to her.

Wanting to be loved, but not wanting to accept it. Wanting to be embraced, but not wanting to be a burden…

…Ah, I see. No wonder I couldn’t do it…

“…Are you sure, Lainie?” I asked. “Will you really love me? Will you really forgive me? No matter what?”

“You would do it for me, wouldn’t you? So I’ll do it for you. I’ve always felt this way. I didn’t want Master Elk to take you just because you’re related by blood. I had to stop him with everything I have.”

“…Isn’t it heavy, all that desire?”

“…Definitely. But I’m a vampire, right? Anyway, I’d still lose to you. You said you would accept me, no matter what.”

I looked up at her. She had a smile on her face, her vampire fangs peeking through.

She was right—and with that thought in mind, I couldn’t help but smile. I let out a light chuckle.

“I love it when you smile, Lady Ilia.”

“…You’ve beaten me today, Lainie.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have been the one begging her for love—but today, the tables were turned. It was surprisingly difficult to accept another’s love, but this feeling was something I didn’t want to let go of.

I had always wanted this from Lainie, hadn’t I? I had to learn to be more aware of myself.

“Lainie,” I began.

“Yes?”

“…Thank you for loving me… I want to love you, too. With all my heart.”

“Yes… Um, er… Ahh… I’ll do my best to accept your love.”

We stared into each other’s eyes—and burst into laughter.

Then, we playfully touched our foreheads together, until our lips met.

Lainie, usually so shy, took it all in stride today with a dreamy look.

Loving, and being loved. It was a cycle that helped us both grow, wasn’t it?

For you and me both.

“You’ve scored a full hundred points today, Lainie.”

“Can I ask you something, Lainie? Do you ever feel like you want to get back at Ilia?” I asked.

“Huh? What are you talking about, Lady Anis?” she asked. She seemed briefly confused, then gave me a look of both annoyance and disbelief.

As her secretary, Lainie was almost always by Euphie’s side, and I seldom had an opportunity to talk to her.

That was precisely why I couldn’t let this chance slip by. No matter how cold her gaze was, I wasn’t about to back down. I wouldn’t!

“When I heard you wanted to talk, I thought it would be about something serious…,” she scolded me.

“It is serious. So you’ve never felt that way?”

“I don’t think so… Besides, what would I need to get back at her for? I don’t recall her doing anything that would make me want to retaliate against her,” she answered, tilting her head as she pondered my question.

I clenched my fists. This problem had been plaguing me for a while now, and I desperately needed her as an ally if I was to solve it!

As such, it was important we speak honestly here, so we could understand each other’s thoughts without falsehood or pretense.

“I mean, don’t you ever feel like she’s got you wrapped around her little finger?!”

“Bwah!” Lainie burst out with such force it almost sounded like a fit of coughing.

Once she had her breathing under control again, she stared at me like I was full of nonsense. It was a rare expression from her.

“Can I go now?” she asked.

“Not yet! Come on, Lainie! You have to have felt that way at least once or twice, right?!”

I clung to her, unable to let go. Her demeanor became extremely cold.

“…Did Lady Euphyllia do something to you again?”

“Wh-what?! Th-this isn’t about me!”

“Then why are you bringing this up?”

“I was just curious…”

“Could you at least look me in the eye when you say that?”

Her expression was terrifying…

Yes, the reason I went out of my way to consult Lainie did indeed have to do with Euphie.

Euphie and I were in love. I cared about her more than anything else in the world and respected her more than anyone. I adored her.

But however I felt, we still had to maintain an appropriate distance. In other words, I didn’t think it was good for Euphie to coddle me so much! At this point, I could almost hear the sound of her mouth on me!

My body couldn’t handle so much love! But at the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her to stop. If she could just step back a little, I would be able to accept it normally.

Right! The real problem was that Euphie was getting full of herself! She pushed too hard, leaving me no room to escape!

I had to find a way to balance the scales, but I couldn’t tackle it alone. Lainie’s help was essential!

“Come on, Lainie. You must have felt this way before!”

“…Why do I have to tell you?” She looked away, her cheeks turning bright red.

Neither of them showed it in front of me, but from what I gathered, Ilia positively doted on Lainie.

On more than one occasion, Euphie had excitedly told me about how cute they were as a couple.

From what I’d seen, Ilia was the sort of person who loved intensely. I knew she didn’t open up easily because of her past experiences, but she devoted everything to those she cared about.

I didn’t want to say anything bad, given how many times she had saved my life, but I did sometimes worry about Lainie. In a way, I could relate to her.

“See! You looked away! You know exactly what I’m talking about!”

“I might have had an inkling…”

“Why not join forces with me, then?”

“You must realize how suspicious that seems…,” Lainie said warily, backing away slightly to put some distance between us.

She was a good person with a gentle temperament. I hadn’t expected her to agree to join me immediately, but making my case was tougher than I thought.

Still, I wasn’t about to relent, so I followed after her and took her hands in my own.

“Are you sure, Lainie? There will be no end to it if we keep letting them do whatever you want! Do you really think either of us will be able to withstand them forever?”

“…Well, um…”

“Do you?!”

Are you listening, Euphie? Ilia? You might not be here now, but I want you to hear this!

Being loved is great! I couldn’t be happier! But there are limits to everything! Flowers will drown in too much water! And so will I!

We had to push forward. If Lainie joined my side, the tides would turn.

“You know what I mean. You don’t hate it, but there are times they do too much. But you can’t just tell her to stop, can you? Those two definitely know what they’re doing, don’t you think?!”

“…I can’t deny that.”

“Then we need to get back at them!”

Lainie seemed unconvinced by my passionate argument.

She groaned slightly in the back of her throat, then slumped forward with a sigh. “I feel like you’re dragging me into something I’d rather stay out of… But let’s say I did want to get her back—what can I actually do?”

All right! I had her now! Now I had a real chance to win!

“That’s what we’ve got to figure out! I know Ilia pretty well, and you’ve been spending a lot of time with Euphie, so let’s exchange ideas and come up with a solid plan of attack!”

“This isn’t a personal grudge between you and Lady Ilia, is it, Lady Anis? I don’t want to get caught in the middle.”

“Oh, come on! That isn’t the case at all!”

It looked like Lainie could see right through me after all…

It wasn’t like Ilia had just embarrassed me or anything! I was just trying to prove I had the dignity of a fully grown woman!

“We’re allies, aren’t we, Lainie?”

“…Haah… I don’t want you doing anything weird, so I suppose I should keep you company…”

“Huh? Why do I feel like you think I’m a hopeless case…?”

“That’s not true,” she said with a gentle smile.

Was she treating me like a child? I wanted to think it was only my imagination…

“So how exactly do you want to get back at them, Lady Anis?”

“The same way she always gets at me! I want to see Euphie’s cute side! So I need to take the initiative!”

“…”

“Wh-why are you looking at me that way?”

“Putting aside her ‘cute side,’ why can’t you take the initiative normally?”

“You’re asking me that directly?!”

How could she ask that with a straight face?! Did she think I wasn’t able to do it?!

But Lainie rolled on.

“To be honest, I think Lady Euphyllia would hand over the reins if you really pushed for it, Lady Anis,” she said.

“You make it sound like I’m not pushing for it.”

“Perhaps it’s more a case of…er…not being very good at it…”

“What did you just say?!”

“Perhaps you’re a pushover?”

“Ugh?!”

“So you are aware of it…”

I can’t let her speak to me like that! Why is she coming after me…?!

I wasn’t a pushover! I wasn’t…!

“Wh-what about you, then, Lainie…?!” I said.

“Me?”

“I mean, your difficulties…with Ilia…,” I asked.

Lainie’s expression gave way to an awkward smile.

There was no negativity in her eyes—I could sense the happiness radiating from her as a warm, ticklish emotion.

“Yes, Lady Ilia can be a handful at times. But I realize I have my own faults, too, so I can’t say I’ve ever felt dissatisfied…”

“What faults?”

“I can’t honestly accept the affection she shows me, and I know the fault lies with me.”

“Ugh…!”

“I take it you’ve realized that about yourself as well?”

N-no…!

…W-well, maybe I had. All right, there was no maybe about it…

“…Okay, maybe I am to blame sometimes…,” I admitted. “But don’t you get scared? It feels like drowning.”

“…Yes, it can, at times.”

“So you understand? I mean, I know she loves me! But she doesn’t need to smother me all the time!”

“It can be a lot to handle all at once…”

Haah… We both let out deep sighs.

It looked like we did feel the same way, at least on that score.

“I’m glad Euphie loves me,” I said. “But I wonder if I’m capable of giving back the same amount…”

“Well, I do want to do something for Lady Ilia,” Lainie admitted.

“Exactly! So we need to fight back!”

“I think that’s a very disappointing way to put it, Lady Anis…”

“Disappointing?!”

Was it me, or was Lainie being awfully harsh today?! Who was disappointed with whom?!

“To be honest, I think it would be best just to be more straightforward…,” she said.

“But that’s hard!”

“…Yes, I know.”

“That’s why we need to do something about it!”

“I feel like we’re losing sight of our goal.”

“To take the lead, you’ve got to catch your opponent off guard!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll come up with a surprise for Ilia from you, so you help me think of a way to surprise Euphie, okay?”

“I’m not really trying to catch Lady Ilia off guard, though…”

“Don’t you want to see what she looks like when she’s flustered or embarrassed?” I suggested.

“…!”

At last, Lainie gave me a very different kind of reaction.

She did want it. I could almost hear her heart crying out. Yet it took Lainie a moment to voice those thoughts, closing her eyes and scrunching up her face.

I don’t know how long she stayed like that, but eventually, she let out a deep sigh and gave me a sulky nod. “All right, all right… I’ll help you, Lady Anis.”

“You ought to be more honest with yourself, Lainie. You can just say you want it.”

“Lady Anis?” she said, breaking out into a smile and pulling my cheeks hard.

“Ouch, ouch! You’ll tear my cheeks off!”

Her smile was beautiful, but also intimidating.

When at last she let go, it felt like she had stretched my cheeks. They really stung…

I rubbed them with my hands to distract myself from the pain, when Lainie continued, “So, you were talking about surprising Lady Euphyllia?”

“Yep…”

“To catch her off guard, you’ll have to try something you wouldn’t normally do. Wouldn’t you say?”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Hmm…” Lainie crossed her arms in thought, and the motion emphasized her chest in a cute way. It was no wonder she had so many secret admirers. Not that I expected her to get involved with anyone else, certainly not someone with ulterior motives.

She pondered the question for a moment before answering. “You could actively seek affection from her, maybe?”

“No! That would be missing the whole point of this!”

Would I offer a sheep to a wolf? I wasn’t about to sacrifice myself!

“I’m sure it would succeed in catching her by surprise,” Lainie said.

“I didn’t mean like that! I want to mess with her a little!”

“Haah…”

“You think I’m being troublesome, don’t you?”

“I said nothing of the sort.”

Did she realize how insincere that sounded?

“Well, what do you hope to achieve by messing with her, Lady Anis?”

“I want to see her all flustered and confused.”

“…I see?”

Was it me, or was she looking at me like I was crazy? But she switched gears so quickly it might have been just my imagination.

“…For example?” she asked. “Like if you pretended to dislike Lady Euphyllia and tried distancing yourself from her?”

“Yeah.”

“What would you do if she took you seriously and let you drift away?”

“I—I don’t want that!”

“I thought not. Okay… If you did do that, hypothetically…I think she would still end up dragging you around.”

“Ugh… Yeah, she totally would…”

Euphie didn’t know how to take a joke. Plus, she could be a bit of an airhead at times. And she was so serious that she might not understand what I was doing, which would make things incredibly awkward…

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to play games with Lady Euphyllia,” Lainie warned.

“You’re telling me to be more up-front, then?”

“Yes, I think honesty would be the way to go…”

“…You can’t think of any other way?”

“Hmm… Another way to push her buttons… To act in a way you normally wouldn’t? You want to repay her for all the love she’s given you, yes?” Lainie asked.

“Y-yeah… R-right.”

“Then why not just do your best to support her?”

“Support her…?”

With that, an idea sparked to life in the back of my mind.

Caught by the momentum, I shook Lainie’s hands up and down.

“Thank you! I just got an idea!”

“Just to make sure it’s a safe one, would you mind telling me?”

She was wrinkling her nose, like she had a bad feeling about this.

But I responded with a grin. “I’ll be her maid!”

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

“…? What are you doing, Anis?” my beloved Euphie asked, visibly confused.

Of course she was. I was standing in front of her dressed in a maid outfit. Yes, this was the plan.

Something I would never do…like being a maid! Euphie had been raised with a proper, noble education, so the notion of me working as a maid would have been out of the question.

My strategy was to serve her diligently. If that didn’t catch her off guard, I didn’t know what would!

Confident in my plan, I greeted her with a graceful smile that had already received Lainie’s approval.

“Hello. I’m Anis, and I’ll be your personal maid today.”

“…?”

“Shall we start by getting you changed?”

“…Hmm.”

Euphie seemed to be thinking, What on earth is going on here? She nodded vaguely—and before she could ask any further questions, I started gathering her clothes.

Thinking back, I had helped her get changed once before, back when she first joined us at the detached palace.

My feelings were completely different now, of course. Seeing her this morning, I was stunned by at how beautiful she was.

This could be kind of fun. With that thought, I almost started humming a soft tune.

But of course, I was a maid. And so I buried those emotions in a flurry of activity and proceeded to help her get changed.

Euphie’s shock seemed to wear off a little by the time I finished helping her get dressed.

“What kind of game are you playing, Anis?” she asked with a suspicious look.

“As your personal maid, I want to serve you with all my heart, Your Majesty.”

“…?”

I could see it in her face—she still didn’t follow.

I couldn’t help but smile. Yes, this was exactly what I wanted—to catch her off guard like this!

Pretending to be her maid was definitely the right decision, especially since it meant I could dedicate my every action to her. I was a genius for coming up with this idea!

Euphie looked like she wanted to ask me something, but I hurried her into the dining room before she could get a word in.

Since becoming a spirit covenantor, she had lost most physical desires—including for food.

Nonetheless, she needed to maintain her human habits, so my next task was to make sure she enjoyed breakfast.

It was with those feelings in my heart that I had prepared the morning meal for her.

“Today’s breakfast was made by me. Please, enjoy.”

“You made this, Anis?” Euphie startled as she surveyed the arranged dishes. She glanced at me, then quietly started eating.

Her movements were so graceful. I could never grow bored watching her. So I thought when our eyes met.

I had to fight to hold back my smile. I was a maid today, so I had to keep any response modest.

She glanced at me several more times as she ate, while I watched with a faint smile.

At last, when she had finished, I approached with another question: “Would you like some tea?”

“…Yes, please.”

I had practiced serving tea with Lainie as well—for as long as it took for her to give me a passing grade.

When I was alone, I tended to throw a drink together without giving it much thought. This time, however, I consulted Lainie for guidance.

Lainie was gentle and sweet, but she was a strict instructor. She didn’t yell or shout, just cut right to the chase to point out all my mistakes.

Thanks to her, I could brew and serve tea to a decent standard. Now, it was time to put that practice to the test.

I watched nervously as Euphie took a sip.

“…This is nice,” she said at last.

“I’m flattered,” I answered.

Whew. I breathed a sigh, a wave of relief washing over me.

So far, so good. My plan was proceeding perfectly!

“Today is a holiday, so you don’t have any official duties, Your Majesty. Do you have any requests? If not, I was thinking of helping you relax a bit.”

“Helping me relax?”

“Yes.”

“Then why the maid outfit? If you wanted to cheer me up, I’m sure there are better ways to go about it.”

She gave me a sidelong glance, resting her chin on one hand. Her provocative gaze almost sent my emotions spiraling out of control.

Damn it, she knew just how to tease me! Couldn’t she imagine what it was like to be me, being flustered all the time?!

But today was different! I was a maid. I was a maid! I wouldn’t be affected by these things! I wouldn’t back down! I wouldn’t let her cow me!

“Please stop teasing me, Your Majesty.”

“Am I teasing you…?”

“Yes, you are.”

I was not going to let her toy with me! Not today!

She narrowed her eyes for a moment, and a shiver crept down my spine.

“Hmm… Is that so? You’re my maid for the day, then, Anis?”

“Yes, of course.”

I was going to spend the day pampering her under the guise of doing maid work! This would be fun for me, too!

As I was thinking that, Euphie flashed me a faint smile. “If you’re my maid, you have to do what I say, don’t you?”

“…Huh?”

Uh-oh.

By the time I realized what she was doing, it was already too late—Euphie had jumped to her feet and pushed me up against the wall.

I tried to run, but she slammed a hand against the wall to block my escape. Trapping me there, she leaned in close to my face.

Ah, that chill I felt earlier definitely wasn’t just my imagination! I had triggered Euphie’s wild side!

“Um, could you wait a moment?” I asked.

“Talking back to your lady? You are poorly trained…”

“I told you, don’t toy with me! Stop! Stop!”

I had to get out of here, but my eyes were locked with hers! If I moved the wrong way, I would end up trapped for sure.

She was like a snake, and I was the frog caught in her sights.

At that moment, for whatever reason, she breathed an exasperated sigh. “It’s adorable, how you think you can play these jokes of yours and expect me not to respond… Now, what shall I do?” she asked warmly.

Whenever she spoke like this, it was either because she was calm and collected, or she was trying to sweet-talk me. This was unmistakably the latter case.

“So? How exactly did you think this would go?”

“Eeep…! I—I…! It’s not fair! You’re always so relaxed, no matter what I do! Sometimes I want to pamper you, you know?!”

For a long moment, Euphie stared back at me, puzzled, then she heaved another exasperated sigh. “You could have just said you love me.”

“You’re always so indifferent about it! That’s what gets me so worked up!”

“…Is that so? Hmm…”

With that, her eyes slowly narrowed.

A chilling aura emanated from her. Hold on… D-did I just say something I shouldn’t have?

“Euphie? Er, Lady Euphyllia…?”

“You have no idea how I feel, do you…? You have no idea how much I want you to take the lead sometimes. Or maybe you do—but then, how awful of you.”

“Um… Hello? Euphie…?”

“Hah… You’re not the only one who’s upset. Besides, bad maids need to be properly educated. Wouldn’t you say, Anis?”

Gently, she reached out and traced my jawline with her fingers, before continuing down to my neck.

A shiver ran down my spine. N-no, wait! We only just had breakfast! I’ll be in serious trouble if I let her sweep me away like this!

“Euphie! Stop!”

“Oh? Are you done pretending to be a maid now?”

“Your eyes! They’re not smiling…!”

“You were mistaken. Did you actually think this would shake my feelings for you? Maybe I haven’t expressed myself as well I should have. I’ll need to reflect on all this. In the meantime, we can take it slow so you don’t get any weird ideas. How does that sound, Anis?”

“Ugh…! N-no! Let go!”

“Oh-ho. You’re a naughty maid, disobeying your lady,” she giggled, dragging me along.

Why did she have to be so strong when I didn’t want her to be…?!

“E-Euphie…! I’m really sorry! Please, forgive me…!”

“That depends on your attitude from here on out.”

“No…!”

“That was awful!” I vented to Lainie when reporting back to her.

“I did warn you,” she answered dryly.

My plan to surprise Euphie by becoming a maid had failed spectacularly.

“You didn’t say it would turn out like this!”

“I thought you would have seen it coming. If you ask me, it was a foregone conclusion…,” she said with an exasperated shrug.

My shoulders slumped in defeat.

In the end, Euphie had her way with me. It was awful! Just thinking about it made me want to curl up and die. I had to shake my head to stop the memories from resurfacing.

“Ugh… I’m going to get her back one of these days…!”

“You’re steadily losing your dignity as the older one in your relationship…”

“It’s terrible!”

Lainie could have phrased that in a nicer way!

At that moment, I remembered something that had been bothering me earlier.

“Speaking of which, how did it go with you?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, with you and Ilia?”

While I was working on my plan to become a maid, I had helped Lainie develop her own strategy with Ilia.

Sure, our consultation had ended up being somewhat one-sided, but we were allies here, so I hoped she’d managed to score a win against Ilia.

At that moment, Lainie flashed me an indescribable smile as she shook her head. “I never said I would actually do it.”

“What?!”

“I mean, I don’t have any complaints with the way we are now. And I admitted I’m partly to blame, in any event.”

“Ugh! You’re a sneak, Lainie! That’s cheating!”

“Cheating…?”

“You can’t keep letting her have her way with you! Before you know it, she’ll start taking more whenever she wants!”

“Oh-ho. Is that what you think, Lady Anisphia?” came a chilling voice from behind me.

Slowly turning around, I found Ilia staring at me.

“…Ilia? How long have you been there?”

“Since a few minutes ago. As your elder, let me offer you some advice. Trying to make others feel unhappy is a surefire way to make yourself miserable,” she scoffed.

Ugh! There was no denying that…! But all the same—

“N-no way!” I shot back. “I was only trying to help! I wasn’t trying to make you unhappy or anything…!”

“Yes, I suppose you are narrow-minded enough to convince yourself of that. I’m glad my worries were unfounded.”

“Sh-shut up! I hate you all!”

Ilia’s sarcastic reply cut me deep. All I could do was cry out in defeat and run away.

You’re merciless when it comes to Lady Anis, Lady Ilia.

I watched as Lady Anis threw out a parting shot and then darted away like a frightened rabbit.

Lady Ilia watched her leave as well. The minute she was out of sight, her expression softened, and she let out a quiet sigh. “There’s no helping her, is there?”

“A-ha-ha…”

“…Well, the fact that she put up such futile resistance probably speaks to how happy she is. Love is far from straightforward.”

“Happiness can be frightening in its own right, can’t it?”

Lady Anis had had a complicated upbringing, and because of that, she struggled to accept happiness.

When she was pushed beyond her capacity, she often found herself getting shy and embarrassed—but there was no way Lady Euphyllia had failed to realize that.

Well, Lady Anis wasn’t the only one at fault. Lady Euphyllia had her own set of flaws; as smart as she was, she had no patience when it came to Lady Anis.

That was why she gave her more love than she could readily accept—though still, as Lady Anis herself said, she wanted to be able to take it with grace.

“It’s only natural. After all, Lady Anisphia has been offering so much for a long time now… But more importantly, Lainie…”

“What?”

“If you have any complaints about me, please come out with them directly.”

“I don’t. But if you have any about me, please let me know!”

Lady Ilia truly cared about me. The reason I could keep going without breaking down in shame like Lady Anis had was because I had her respect.

To be perfectly honest, Lady Anis should have consulted with Lady Ilia rather than me…

Knowing her, however, she would be too shy to approach her about that. Perhaps there was no helping it…

At that moment, Lady Ilia reached out to stroke my head. “For my part, I wouldn’t mind you indulging me a little more.”

“…More than I already am?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a tall order.”

“You’re too modest, Lainie.”

“Maybe that’s just my nature…?”

“I wouldn’t mind if you were a bit bolder.”

“…I’ll work on it.”

…Maybe I was causing Lady Ilia unnecessary headaches, too? I was in no position to be criticizing Lady Anis.

But I didn’t want to rush and drive myself into a corner like she had. I did feel sorry for her and Lady Euphyllia.

Just give me a little more time to prepare myself.

Best of luck, Lady Anis! I’m always here if you want to talk or need advice.

I’m wishing happiness for you both.

I’ve always been fond of quiet places.

The rustling of the wind, the calls of farm animals carried on the breeze.

The clear, gentle air. Leaves filtering the sun’s rays.

Those were the moments when I—Tilty Claret—felt most at ease.

“Tilty.”

I looked toward the voice.

“Father.”

“You’re out here again?” he asked while I cooled off in the shade of a tree.

My father came over, leaning on his cane, and sat down beside me. This spot, on a small hill, was my favorite. I used to beg the servants to bring me here back when I was a kid.

My father, of course, was well aware. He knew I spent more time here than I did in the house.

“You really do love this place, don’t you?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not as such…”

My father didn’t exactly deny it. He had always been a quiet person who would often prefer to sit next to me in silence. I didn’t dislike that aspect of him.

“Does home bore you, Tilty?” he asked without looking my way.

“Not really,” I answered without hesitation. “I don’t dislike it.”

“Then why leave?”

“Because this is my free time.”

“But still. Everyone worries when you leave so suddenly. They wonder if you hate them.”

He placed a hand on my head, ruffling my hair. His hand was rough and starting to wrinkle with age.

I didn’t mind the gesture and found myself leaning toward him.

“I don’t hate anyone,” I answered. “I’m just here because I’m comfortable here.”

I didn’t hate anything—not really. Then again, I didn’t have anything I especially liked, either.

People tended to say I was a calm child, but it was more that I just didn’t have violent mood swings.

I didn’t dislike that side of myself, and I wasn’t chasing after anything else. It was nice being able to live peacefully.

My father was a distinguished nobleman, and my mother was a wonderful wife who supported him in his endeavors. Then there were my brothers, set to inherit the family legacy.

There were no strong demands placed on me. I was happy just passing the time in peace and quiet.

I was aware, however, that other people found this trait of mine unsettling.

“Are you unhappy with the family?”

“No. I don’t have any complaints.”

“Then do you like it here?”

“…I wouldn’t go that far.”

“You don’t seem to have many interests or attachments. That worries me a little.”

My father’s words were calm and collected, but I knew that was just his quiet nature. He did care for me.

I knew I tended to be indifferent to the people and the events around me, just like he said.

“Am I being a bother?” I asked.

I was well aware of my own quirks.

I might not have been able to develop strong interests in anything, but that didn’t mean I was bored with my life.

All I wanted was to spend my time in peace and comfort. Nothing more.

But I knew that, as a noble, I had the option to live a wealthy life. For most, once you tasted luxury, there was no turning back.

To people like that, I must have been incomprehensible. But I never meant to be a burden to my family.

“I’ve never thought that,” my father answered. “You handle your tasks without difficulty. It’s just that I’m a bit unsure what you actually like, and that makes me anxious.”

“I’m not hiding anything. I’m just acting the way I feel.”

“Then what do you think, looking at all this?” he asked, gesturing to a familiar view.

The animals, tended to by the servants, roamed freely in the pasture. A pleasant breeze was blowing, and the bright sunlight filtered through the shade of the trees.

This was my world, the landscape of the Claret territory, which was said to be one of the most prosperous in the Kingdom of Palettia.

“It’s calming. All of it.”

“Calming… So that’s what you want, somewhere you can feel calm?”

“Yes. I’d be even more relaxed if I were permitted to take a nap here.”

“…You don’t wake easily once you fall asleep. It worries the servants, and it’s dangerous. You shouldn’t sleep outside.”

“I know.”

Though I had few interests, one thing I was very particular about was sleep.

I couldn’t tolerate anything that disturbed my sleep, and there were times I made all sorts of onerous requests just to make sure I could get a good night’s rest.

I wasn’t interested in pretty dresses or beautiful jewels. Dressing up was depressing and never failed to kill my mood.

Sometimes I just wanted to sleep all day.

“I’m just taking a little breather. It’s easier to catch my breath when I’m out here.”

“You still feel trapped at home, don’t you?”

“I have no complaints. This is just how I am. You’re reserved, and I’m like this.”

Peaceful moments were the most calming as far as I was concerned. My only wish was that I could sleep forever.

But I understood my position didn’t allow for that.

“…Tilty?”

“Yes?”

“It’s time you got serious about studying magic. With your abilities, I’m sure you wouldn’t have anything to worry about.”

“I understand.”

“It’s fine to be yourself here, but you’ll have to go to the royal capital to enroll at the Aristocratic Academy one of these days. While no one here will question your behavior, it will be another story in the capital.”

“I understand.”

“Our family tries to stay out of politics. The realm is at a crucial juncture. To maintain the peace, we have to keep the balance between the major factions. Never forget our family’s position, Tilty.”

“I’ll strive to live up to the family name.”

“Just so long as you really do understand.”

My father didn’t say anything more, but he did not leave.

This scene before me of the animals roaming the fields… Was this the pride of our domain or of the villagers who raised them?

Maybe it was both. Father had always held himself to high standards as a marquis.

It wasn’t so bad having a parent like him. He never said anything unnecessary.

“It’s time I went back. What about you, Tilty?”

“I’ll stay here a little longer. There’s no need to worry about me if you’re busy.”

“…I see. Be careful on your way back.”

For a moment, he looked as if he wanted to add something else, but in the end, he stood up without saying anything.

I watched him as he faded into the distance, then I turned my gaze to the sky.

“…So peaceful.”

Time spent like this was my time—a peaceful time, free from trouble.

But can I still relax the way I could back then?

“…Why now?”

The paper crinkled and tore as I crushed it in my hand.

In one of the rooms in the Claret villa, permeated by the smell of medicinal herbs, I let out a low groan.

The letter had brought to mind old, buried memories.

Why? Why now? Those words wouldn’t stop spinning around in my head.

“…This is too much for me,” I complained quietly to no one.

In the dim room, even the flickering candle was too bright.

“I can’t do this again…”

Now this was a rare occurrence.

The sky was overcast, and rain would be soon to follow. The end of the year was approaching, and the Kingdom of Palettia was entering its rainy season.

I, Anisphia Wynn Palettia, was receiving a guest at the detached palace—Tilty Claret.

“I know this is sudden, Anis, but could you hide me here for a while?” she asked from behind her black veil.

“…Huh? Where did that come from, Tilty?”

I was taken aback by this sudden request from my old friend.

Tilty and I were what you might call bad friends. She had a troublesome condition that made it hard for her to use magic—something every noble in the Kingdom of Palettia was expected to master. If she tried to force herself, she could lose all control, so she spent her days holed up in her family’s mansion in the capital.

Her hobbies included alchemy and researching curses—cases that were impossible to cure through medicine or magic. As a result, she had become something of a pariah in social circles.

Given our similar circumstances, the two of us got along quite well, and we had recently helped out with each other’s research. I’d never imagined she would come asking me to shelter her at the detached palace, however.

“Some tea, Lady Tilty?”

“Thank you, Ilia.”

“Can you tell us why you want to hide here?” Ilia asked before I could get a word in.

Tilty took a sip of her tea, then breathed a deep sigh. It was hard to read her expression through her veil, but I sensed she found explaining the situation incredibly tiresome.

“…I received some news from home.”

“Home? You mean from Marquis Claret?”

“They’ve instructed me to go back at the end of the rainy season,” she said with a disgruntled click of her tongue.

Ilia and I exchanged glances. Tilty had been my friend for so long that you could probably call ours a toxic bond.

I knew about her relationship with her family, which was why I was puzzled.

“Just to make sure I understand, you’re being thrown out of your house… Right?”

“Yes. A marquis’s daughter who can’t use magic isn’t much good for a political marriage. On top of that, I have a terrible reputation. They only allowed me to stay on the condition I remain in the mansion.”

“Your reputation is no worse than Lady Anis’s once was,” Ilia pointed out.

“Shut up!” I interjected. “Tilty’s reputation is much worse than mine!”

Tilty was notorious for overusing magic in the past, causing her to become unstable and lash out, hurting others in the process.

She had calmed down considerably since I first met her and started treating her symptoms, but a bad reputation was hard to shake. In the end, she had decided to limit her use of magic as much as possible to live a stable, reclusive life.

“Your family hasn’t complained before, have they? I wonder what Marquis Claret is thinking…”

Marquis Claret was Tilty’s father and the head of one of the kingdom’s most distinguished noble families.

With fertile lands, strong agricultural development, and a plentiful supply of livestock, he had bolstered the kingdom’s food supply and established a solid political foundation through trade with less well-off territories.

As a faction, the Clarets maintained strict neutrality while also keeping themselves at a certain distance from the crown.

Marquis Claret himself was a dignified man and lived up to his reputation. I remembered him as a quiet person who kept his thoughts closely guarded.

Tilty, however, furrowed her brow at my question as if she were trying to ignore a headache. “He says he wants me to come back…”

“Go back? You mean, to your parents’ place?”

“Yes… Ugh! This is all your fault, Anis!” she exclaimed, throwing off her veil and pointing a finger at me.

Huh? I didn’t exactly appreciate being yelled at. And what was my fault? I stared back uncertainly.

“They think with your reputation being on the mend, mine ought to be improving too!” Tilty glared.

“Ah… I see?”

With Euphie as queen, the days when I was derided as the kingdom’s Princess Peculiar were long in the past.

Magicology and magical tools were gaining broad recognition and were on track to be widely adopted throughout the kingdom.

So now that my reputation had been restored, Marquis Claret wanted to do the same for his daughter?

Looking at it that way, I could see why he had asked Tilty to return to the family estate.

“If you want me to hide you here, I suppose that means you’re not planning on going back, then?” I asked.

“Hah! I have no intention of being a noblewoman at this point,” Tilty answered in a huff, crossing her arms and legs.

This response was typical of her, and I smiled a little.

“Hmm… Well, I guess you’re not exactly suited to high society, are you?” I murmured.

“Are you really sure about this, Lady Tilty?” Ilia asked.

“What do you mean?” she demanded.

“I don’t mind you staying with us, but are you sure?” Ilia continued. “Either way, you’re still part of the Claret family. You weren’t paying for the upkeep of your mansion yourself, were you?”

Tilty set her cup of tea on the table and looked away.

That was a natural response. The Claret mansion might have been her fortress, but it actually belonged to her father, the marquis.

Tilty was still formally part of the Claret family, and if she refused to return home and fulfill her duties, there was a chance she could be disinherited.

If that happened, she would lose the right to live in the Claret’s capital mansion.

“…Hmm. I wonder if they would really disown me if I refused to go?”

“Are you willing to take the risk?” I asked.

Tilty refused to meet my gaze.

Her silence was its own response. Maybe that was why she had asked us to shelter her here at the detached palace.

I appreciated her help in my research, and it was rare for her to turn to me for assistance like this. I wanted to help. And yet…

“You can stay, Tilty. But you need to think this through, all right?”

“…I know. If I am disowned, do you think you could hire me here? I could work as your assistant.”

“Halphys is already a great help, and I’m not really looking for another assistant. I suppose we could use an apothecary, though.”

“Would you be able to cover the costs of my medicine?”

“I guess that would depend on how hard you work?”

“…”

“What does that silence mean? At least say what you want!”

“Working is such a hassle…”

“Wh-where are your morals…?! You’re hopeless…!”

I couldn’t help but worry about this troublesome friend of mine. Would she be okay?

“…So there you have it. Tilty will be staying with us here at the detached palace for a while.”

“Thank you for opening your home, Lady Euphyllia, Lainie.”

Later in the day, when Euphie and Lainie returned after completing their duties, they found Tilty making herself at home. After she explained what she was doing here, their reactions were difficult to read.

Lainie cleared her throat to pull herself together, then she turned to Tilty. “Um… Are you sure about this, Lady Tilty?”

“Anis here has already asked me about that, Lainie. Several times. Clearly things aren’t okay, or I wouldn’t have turned to her for help…”

“Does that mean you’re considering leaving the Claret family?” Euphie asked in a quiet voice.

Tilty stared back at her in silence for a long moment before heaving a deep sigh. “I think it might end up being inevitable…”

“That would make you a commoner… Are you sure?” Euphie pressed.

She seemed particularly concerned, probably because she had been forced to cut ties with her own family to become queen.

“Do you people really want to send me back to high society that badly?” Tilty said in a disgruntled huff.

“No, that isn’t what I meant. I don’t know what your relationship with your family is like, so I may be overstepping, but do you really not mind breaking ties with them?” Euphie asked again.

Tilty’s lips twisted with distaste.

“…I’m not as soft as you three. Besides, my father would cut me off the second he decides I’m unnecessary. He’s a respectable noble, after all.”

“Tilty…”

“So I wouldn’t be surprised if they do disown me for not going along with their wishes.”

“Are you saying you don’t even want to talk it over with them?”

“…What would be the point? There’s no fixing my reputation now,” she said with a self-deprecating grin. And yet she seemed tired in a way she didn’t normally let show. “It’s too late to fix anything. Even if I went back, I would just be damaged goods with a troubled past. It would be better to have a clean break.”

“…If that’s what you want, then very well. Shall I inform Marquis Claret? We could ask to take you on here at the detached palace like Lainie rather than let him disown you.”

“…You don’t have to go out of your way, but if it would make things easier, feel free. I won’t be going to see him.” Tilty sighed and raised her hand in a listless wave, then turned to leave the room.

“…How am I even supposed to show my face there now?” I heard her mutter under her breath as she left.

The door closed quietly behind her, and the rest of us let out a collective sigh.

“…Hmm. It’s disorienting, seeing her like that,” I murmured, scratching my cheek.

“Lady Tilty is very delicate, Lady Anis…,” Lainie said in her defense.

“Well… A bit neurotic, maybe?”

“That’s interesting coming from you, Lady Anisphia,” Ilia remarked. “For someone so brazen, you can be strangely considerate at times. Not that you show it with your words.”

“Ilia? If you have something to say, you can say it,” I prodded.

She looked away.

Euphie, meanwhile, cleared her throat. “Ahem. I’m not Anis, but we can’t just leave Tilty be. Let’s talk to Marquis Claret about all this.”

“I’ll go with you,” I said. “I’m worried about her as well.”

“Of course.”

I couldn’t leave Tilty alone, not when she was facing the grief and pain of being estranged from her family. I knew what that felt like only too well.

Perhaps I was being overly nosy, but I couldn’t help myself. From what I had seen, it wasn’t like Tilty truly hated her family.

“Have you ever met Marquis Claret, Anis?” Euphie asked. “My father and I belonged to a different faction, and the Clarets tend to stay in their own territory, so we didn’t have much contact.”

“Hmm. I guess he comes off as strict and reserved? I wonder how he is now. It’s been ages since I last saw him.”

“When was that?” Lainie asked.

“When I made the offer to treat Tilty. I didn’t get the impression he was a bad person… But he definitely carries himself like your typical aristocrat.”

“I see…,” Euphie murmured, resting a hand under her chin in contemplation.

Marquis Claret was, to put it in a positive light, an upright and virtuous man—or to be less kind, he could be quite stubborn. I got the impression that once he made up his mind, he wouldn’t back down no matter what. His strong sense of responsibility made him somewhat reserved and taciturn, and he could be a bit stifling to be around.

“Speaking of which, how did you go about treating her?” Lainie asked.

“Yes… I was wondering that, too. Everyone knew how dangerous she could be,” Euphie added, glancing my way.

Since they asked, I looked back over my memories from the time I first started treating Tilty…

“It wasn’t anything complicated,” I said at last. “It was quite simple, really.”

“How so…?”

“Well… I guess this is a good opportunity to explain.”

I felt a little awkward talking about Tilty’s circumstances without her permission, but I realized it would help if everyone was on the same page.

“Basically, the cause of all her problems was that she was overusing magic, right?”

“Yes, you said she tends to lose her physical and mental balance when she uses it too much. So why was she using it so much…?”

“At first, her magic instructor forced her to do it, but then she went berserk and started attacking anyone who tried to stop her.”

“…So she was using magic to attack people?” Euphie asked, brow furrowed.

“Yes.” I nodded. “So the only way to calm her down was to lock her away and keep anyone from contacting her. But once she came to her senses, she would try to figure things out on her own.”

“How?”

“She tried to control her impulses by herself, testing the limits to see how much magic she could use. But in the end, that just led to a vicious cycle.”

For nobles in the Kingdom of Palettia, magic was a necessity. Tilty understood that and just how precarious her situation was.

As such, she strove to control herself, not realizing that she was making her condition worse.

“Ultimately, she ended up losing her mind. She started seeing anyone who tried to stop her as an enemy, and when she came back to her senses, she struggled with what she had done. But if she locked herself away, she would just bottle everything up and hurt herself.”

“…That sounds terrible.”

“I couldn’t stand to watch. Honestly, there were times she came close to killing me.”

“I’ve heard the stories. But you’re serious? She nearly killed you?” Euphie asked, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Come on, that was a long time ago. I’m still here, so you can relax…

“She came close… But it wasn’t like she wanted to kill me. It was more of a defensive response.”

“A defensive response…?”

“Back then, Tilty was really shaken about not being able to control her magic, and she was afraid she might end up hurting someone. She tried to overcome her difficulties by herself, but it only made things worse. It was self-reinforcing.”

So long as she didn’t use magic, her symptoms would gradually settle. Not using magic, however, was like a mark of failure for someone of noble birth.

As such, she kept trying…and kept losing her mental equilibrium.

It was so bad you could almost describe it as a curse.

“That does sound like a terrible cycle…”

“I’ve heard about her going out of control, but I didn’t know there wasn’t anything she could do to help herself…”

“It was awful when I first met her. She looked even more unhealthy than she does now. Afraid of sunlight, holed up in her room, pushing everyone away if they got too close. She was overcome with paranoia, and even though she knew she was being irrational, she couldn’t stop herself from spiraling further…”

“That’s awful…” Lainie gasped, covering her mouth.

Euphie wore a serious look, while Ilia, pained and already aware of what happened back then, lowered her eyes.

Back then, whenever someone reached out to help Tilty, she would push them away in confusion. And when she came back to her senses, she would despair at what she had done.

“The ironic thing is she’s really talented. If not for those symptoms, she would be on par with you, Euphie. That’s why she’s impossible to control when she starts going wild. No one can get close to her, and she ends up isolating herself…”

“Um… So how did you end up helping her?” Lainie asked.

“I had to hold her down with all my strength.”

“All your strength…? Meaning…?”

“Well, she might have had a talent for magic, but she spent all her time inside and wasn’t very strong. Anyway, it was the magic causing her to go haywire. Without it, she can come back to her senses. So I convinced her to stop using it. She’s pretty stubborn, though, and we had lots of fights about it.”

“Quarrels I can imagine…but do you mean actual fights?” Lainie asked.

“Yes. Anyway, I let her wear herself out with her magic, then knocked her out and restrained her until she realized magic wouldn’t help.”

At this, Euphie and Lainie exchanged measured glances, then started whispering to each other in shock.

“How reckless…”

“But that is like Lady Anis…”

“Do you understand why I was so worried about her now?” Ilia murmured sadly, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her eyes.

Was it my imagination, or were those eye drops in her hand…?

“That must have been so difficult, Lady Ilia…”

“I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you, Ilia…”

“Hey, wait a minute! Am I being left out?!”

The three of them shot me reproachful glares.

“A-anyway!” I said, clearing my throat in an effort to shake off their gazes. “I know it was reckless, but I thought it would work. Tilty wasn’t eating or sleeping properly, so she was weak and scrawny. It wasn’t hard knocking her out!”

“…I feel so sorry for her,” Euphie said.

“Yes. It’s just so sad…,” Lainie added.

“I thought you were worried about me a minute ago! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“No remorse. That’s even worse…”

“You’re so mean!”

I helped her! So why were they all looking at me like that?!

If only Tilty were here… Then again, she wasn’t the kind of person to show any gratitude.

“…What do you think, Anis?” Euphie asked.

“What do you mean?”

“About Tilty’s future. What would be best for her?”

“…I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t think she knows, either. She loves collecting curses, but the second she unravels them, she loses interest. She is a huge help with my research, but her view of magic is extremely negative…”

To me, she was a research buddy and a friend with a complicated relationship, but I didn’t know what she actually wished for. Maybe she didn’t really want anything at all.

“…In that case, what do you want to do, Tilty?” I murmured under my breath.

No one could answer.

“Hmm… Things are proceeding smoothly, but that just makes me feel more uneasy.”

“Yes, I didn’t expect them to reach out before we even had a chance to inquire.”

Just as I was wondering how best to approach Marquis Claret to ask about Tilty’s future, he asked to meet us to discuss the matter.

We agreed to meet the marquis at the royal castle, arranging a face-to-face during Euphie’s usual hours.

In the meantime, I explained the situation to Tilty.

“She really is hopeless in the mornings…,” I remarked.

“…You’re not exactly a morning person, either, Anis,” Euphie pointed out. “For a while, I had to wake you up.”

“…Um, Euphie? That was a long time ago. It’s hardly worth mentioning now,” I said nervously, trying to calm her down.

At that moment, there came a knock at the door.

“Lady Euphyllia, Lady Anis?” Lainie called from beyond the room. “I’ve brought Marquis Claret with me.”

“Come in,” Euphie instructed.

Lainie peered inside; a white-haired man in his fifties was standing behind her. He had a strong build, and his rugged features gave off an intimidating presence.

Marquis Claret looked older than the last time we had met, but he was just as sharp as I remembered.

“It’s been too long, Queen Euphyllia, Princess Anisphia,” he said.

“Thank you for coming, Marquis Claret. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

The marquis sat across from us, while Lainie set about preparing tea.

“Thank you for taking the time to see me,” he began.

“Not at all. We were hoping to speak with you as well,” Euphie answered.

“About my daughter Tilty, I take it?” the marquis said, cutting right to the chase.

“Yes. As you may already know, she’s currently staying at the detached palace.”

“Yes. I hear she barged in quite suddenly. My letter asking her to come back to the main residence seems to have prompted this. I apologize for the inconvenience she’s caused you.”

“No, please don’t worry. I consider her a valuable friend. It’s no bother.”

The conversation between Euphie and Marquis Claret unfolded smoothly. They were both completely even-keeled—which was unsettling in its own way.

I had a bad feeling about Marquis Claret, but it was probably just because I didn’t know what he was really thinking. In a way, he wasn’t dissimilar to Duke Grantz.

“Um, Marquis Claret? Can I ask something?” I began.

“Go ahead, Princess Anisphia.”

“Why do you want Tilty to go home all of a sudden?”

The marquis narrowed his eyes. All at once, the air turned heavy, and I swallowed in apprehension.

“…I thought the time had come.”

“…The time?”

“Our long-standing traditions are evolving. I think you must feel that more than most, Princess Anisphia.”

“Are you saying my change in position has altered your thoughts?”

“My thoughts remain the same as they were when you first offered to treat Tilty.”

“So you want Tilty to reenter society as a noble lady?” Euphie asked.

For a long moment, the conversation ground to a halt.

Lainie filled the silence by offering tea.

The marquis reached for his cup and slowly brought it to his lips. “If that’s what she wants, yes.”

“…I can’t imagine she does,” I answered.

“Nor I. If I ordered her to make a social debut, she would no doubt refuse.”

“Then why ask her to return home?”

The marquis rested his teacup on the table and sighed softly.

Was I imagining things, or did I catch a glimpse of fatigue in that gesture?

“I thought the time was right. Whether she decides to let go of the name Claret or reclaim it as her own, now is the time for her to make that choice.”

“…With all due respect, can you really say that after neglecting her for so long?”

“I won’t deny that I’ve neglected her. You’re her close friend, Princess Anisphia; from your perspective, I must seem incredibly irresponsible.”

“I—I didn’t mean to go that far…!”

He admitted it so readily that I struggled to find a response.

But the marquis only continued. “I understand. However, Your Highness, do you really think my daughter would reach out to me of her own accord?”

“…Well…”

“I’ve already missed the right moment. I couldn’t take her hand when she needed it. You did. What can I say, having achieved nothing? I couldn’t save her, nor could I give up my position for her. I chose to continue as a marquis.”

I had no idea what to say.

Indeed, Marquis Claret chose to retain his position. He made Tilty live in a separate residence and left her to her own devices.

But I didn’t understand what was going on in his head. At the very least, it was clear he wasn’t indifferent to his daughter.

Looking back, he had always been like this. When I offered to treat Tilty, the marquis had given his permission immediately.

“The best I could do was provide an environment where she could live quietly.”

“That may be true, but still…”

“I’m not trying to excuse myself. I did receive reports on her. I wasn’t indifferent. I was just prepared for whatever might happen.”

“No matter what happened?” Euphie repeated.

The marquis breathed a deep sigh before looking up at the ceiling. “Whatever path Tilty takes, I’m ready to accept it. Anything to lift her worries. Even if she decides not to be family anymore.”

“Why don’t you try telling her that…?”

Tilty believed she couldn’t show her face at home, while her father had decided he had no choice but to accept whatever she chose.

It was a terrible misunderstanding, and I couldn’t just ignore it.

“…She should never have been born into the nobility.” The marquis sighed.

“Huh?”

“Sometimes, I think she would have been better off if she wasn’t my child.”

The marquis’s voice as he stared into the distance was so weak it could have been swept away by the breeze.

“All her misfortunes, I brought upon her—her status as a nobleman’s daughter, the expectation for her to wield magic. People praise those as wonderful gifts, but none of it served to protect her.”

“…That’s… That’s not true!”

“You understand, don’t you, Princess Anisphia? You were in the same position once. The difference between you and Tilty is in how you approach magic.”

“…!”

“She maintains her view that magic is a curse. And who can blame her? If she had been born a commoner without her title or magical ability, she might have lived an ordinary life. Perhaps that’s what she wanted most.”

Having said that, the marquis shook his head.

“But that doesn’t mean I could throw my life away for her. This is who I am, and I have to protect it. As Marquis Claret, I have an obligation to fulfill my responsibilities.”

I couldn’t help but grit my teeth. Duty and responsibility. It all made sense in my head, but my emotions weren’t in agreement.

Tilty wasn’t easy to defend, not when she saw magic as a curse capable of destroying one’s mind. That was a fatal flaw for someone of noble birth.

I could also understand the weight of Marquis Claret’s responsibilities. If he had failed in his duties, the Kingdom of Palettia could have been plunged into chaos.

So the most he could do was confine her to his secondary residence. I got it. But I couldn’t quite swallow these feelings…

“I have not conducted myself as a parent should. At this point, I have no right to consider myself her father…”

All of a sudden, the door was thrown open with tremendous force.

I glanced over my shoulder, and there stood—

“You’re always so selfish, Father.”

—Tilty. She was absolutely furious.

Honestly, I never intended to come here.

Anis tried to bring me, but I pretended to be asleep.

Not that I could sleep. I felt uneasy the whole time, like something was stuck in the back of my throat. A restlessness was rising up from deep inside me.

I knew what lay behind it all, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I could have just covered my ears and waited for the storm to pass.

…And yet here I was.

I’d half-threatened a maid at the royal castle so Anis and the others wouldn’t find out, and I listened in on their conversation with my father.

It was an impulsive act, but if I hadn’t done it, I might have exploded from all the emotions inside me.

Then, my father’s comments poured oil on the fire.

At first, I couldn’t find the words to express myself. But I couldn’t stay quiet, either, so I flung the door open as hard as I could. I regretted the outburst immediately—but for one fleeting moment, I’d let my emotions sweep me off my feet.

…Father. How many years had it been since I last saw him? The fact that I couldn’t even remember spoke to how long it had been.

The wrinkles on his craggy hands had grown deeper, and his face looked somewhat haggard. There were hints of gray in his hair, and he seemed to have shrunk ever so slightly.

“…Tilty?” he called, unsure.

Ah, it had been so long since I last heard that voice.

I clenched my jaw, and a harsh, grating sound came from my mouth. The blood drained from my fists, while my eyes felt like they were burning. I could hardly breathe.

Ah. All I wanted was to catch my breath. I never wanted to go through something this painful. And yet… And yet…!

“Tilty!”

My vision blurred, and my back slammed against the wall.

Only then did I see Anis, desperation in her eyes. She was the one who had pinned me.

The pain of the impact pulled my feverish mind back to reality.

No matter how many times I experienced this sensation, I would never get used to it. It was like being pulled back to the surface after drowning in a bottomless swamp.

“…What are you doing?” I muttered.

“You idiot! You were just about to explode…!”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“Yes, you were!”

“I wasn’t.”

That was a lie. I was pathetic. If Anis hadn’t stopped me, I might have lashed out at my own father.

…She never held back, not when it came to bringing me back to sanity.

I had always been incredibly grateful for her help. Whenever I started losing my mind, she was the only person capable of keeping me together.

Small as she was, she had little restraint; she was like a desperate fireball ready to explode.

And then she called me an idiot—like she was pleading with me to come back.

“I’m fine. Let go,” I insisted, patting her back.

My appeal must have reached her. She released me, though her expression remained worried.

I took in the situation in the room. My father was staring at me, half out of his seat, while Lainie and Lady Euphyllia were poised to stop me if they needed to.

“…Tilty?” my father called.

“Shut up. Wait until I’m ready,” I answered before I could stop myself.

Filled with a prickly tension, I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair. I needed to remain calm. If I didn’t, I might miss my chance.

…If I had just closed my eyes and ignored all this, I wouldn’t have to deal with this stress.

…Maybe it wasn’t too late? Maybe I could plug my ears, close my eyes, and try not to feel anything?

An unbearable weakness was filling me from inside. I gritted my teeth, pushing back against it with all my strength.

“…Anis. Lady Euphyllia. Lainie. I’m sorry, but could you let my father and me talk in private?”

“Are you sure?” Euphyllia asked with a stern look.

I nodded.

She had been watching me carefully for a while now, but she eventually breathed a small sigh. “We’ll be right outside. If we sense anything unusual, we’ll be back to stop it. That’s my one condition.”

“…Thank you.”

“I’ll make sure you have privacy, so feel free to speak your minds.”

With that, Euphyllia cast a soundproofing spell over the room and headed for the door.

“Tilty…”

“I’m fine, Anis. I’m not going to make a scene.”

“…Make sure you don’t lose control. You’re the one who’ll end up regretting it most.”

“I’m aware. Just hurry up and get out of here.”

Even so, Anis walked toward the door with extreme reluctance.

She didn’t step outside right away, glancing back at me a couple of times, until Lainie gave her a gentle nudge and urged her to step out.

And once the three of them were gone, it was just me and my father.

I took a deep breath, then faced him directly. He seemed a little confused at first, but he quickly composed himself and adopted an aristocratic bearing.

That was so like him. And it left me feeling even more miserable about myself.

This was why I hadn’t wanted to see him—because it forced me to acknowledge my own wretchedness.

“…Why didn’t you just leave me?” I asked.

If he had just discarded his worthless daughter, I would have been able to accept it. That was what was expected of a noble.

But he didn’t. He simply kept his distance and didn’t interfere in my life at all. It wasn’t that I felt lonely, or sad, or hurt. Rather…

“All you ever give me is your pity. It makes me miserable…!”

I pressed my hands to my face, squeezing my eyes shut to hold back the wave of emotions rising up inside me.

If I didn’t, I might pass out.

“…Pity… So that’s how it appeared to you,” my father murmured. His voice was so quiet it could have been carried off by the wind.

It was too late for him to be second-guessing himself. What did he even want after all this time?

“…Tilty. I know my achievements as a marquis have caused you pain.”

“…Oh, do you?”

“I’ve gone too far to turn back now. On my shoulders, I bear the weight of my vassals, our people, and the stability of the whole kingdom. If I wanted a reason not to give you up, there would have been plenty to choose from,” he said self-deprecatingly.

Those words sent a chill running down my spine, like a tendril of ice was working its way across my skin.

“No matter what I say, the fact remains that I left you behind. It would be presumptuous of me to act like a parent. If I’ve made you miserable, then I need to set things right… Misery is an unbearable pain.”

“Father.”

“I was afraid to reach out to you. I thought I would end up wounding you more. But that was just an excuse. In the end, it was Princess Anisphia who saved you. And I used that as yet another excuse, convincing myself there was nothing I could do. That’s all there is to it. There’s no justification… I’m sorry, Tilty,” he said, kneeling before me and bowing his head.

…No. I didn’t want to hear all this.

Then what did you want from me?!

I hadn’t gotten a single thing I wished for.

Instead, what he gave me shone too bright for me to even look at it.

A life saved, dreams spoken of, futures forged—and I was here, in the shadow of that blinding light.

I couldn’t be Anis or Euphyllia. But I never thought being confronted with that fact could be so painful.

Just abandon me! Tell me I’m worthless! Tell me I’ve always been worthless!

“Tilty,” he said again.

I was afraid of his eyes, gazing up at me, but I couldn’t look away.

“…The world is changing. The world you fear is becoming a thing of the past. Those two can guide you toward something new.”

“…Huh?”

“You’ve been afraid of the world ever since you started losing control. Haven’t you?”

My heart skipped a beat.

Afraid? Me? About what? The world…?

I should have been able to make sense of what he was saying, but all I could do was stand there like an idiot.

“You were living your life without difficulty when all of a sudden, an insurmountable obstacle loomed over everything you knew. You were afraid people would judge you for being unable to overcome it. From your perspective, the world must have been full of terror.”

“What are you saying…?”

“You were always a quiet child. You had nothing to fear, but we were always finding new ways to provoke you.”

“Don’t act like you understand…”

“Am I wrong?”

My tongue felt numb in my mouth. My thoughts were a mess, and I could hardly breathe.

But I couldn’t deny any of what he had said.

“I regret that my position didn’t allow me to let you live a life of peace. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the parent you wanted me to be.”

…Stop it. If you’re going to say that now, after all this time…!

I didn’t have any particular likes or dislikes. I had never been the type to feel strongly attached to anything.

I used to be a quiet and gentle child.

…And I was happy that way.

“…Why did I have to use magic?”

That’s what it all came down to. People praised me for my talent, but when things got difficult, they turned against me.

They all said that if I couldn’t endure, I would be worth nothing.

“Why did I have to suffer so much just to live as a noblewoman?”

Without magic, I was worthless. But the more I used it, the harder everything became.

I was good at dark magic; it was the only kind that quieted my mind.

But that effect was only temporary. I believed if I could just get better at it, that would save me.

Before I knew it, everything went wrong. It was like the whole world was out to hurt me.

“Magical talent is a curse… It’s never going to make me happy!”

I was happy. And magic ruined it.

The peace and quiet, the familiar scenery, the smiles of my family members as they greeted me.

Magic had destroyed it all!

I couldn’t stand the nobles who held it in such high regard.

I hated them all: magic, this country, the world.

“I get it. My happiness might have been shattered, but there were options to start over, paths I could have moved forward on.”

I had closed my mind to my escapable reality—when Anis burst in like a force of nature, blowing away the barriers that contained me.

I was convinced I would end up hurting her, too, someday—but then Euphyllia became her savior.

While I hated magic as a curse, those two saw it as a blessing.

It was easy to see me as the outlier. But what if I had been given the chance to do something great?

I knew that prayer was out of my reach. After all, I was just a coward, so afraid of the world that I had turned away from it.

I wanted magic to be a curse—because curses were unbreakable, and there was nothing anyone could do about them. Ultimately, I was just looking for a way out.

If that were the case, I could have just despaired and resigned myself to my fate.

I was just like my father—seeking out excuses to give up, refusing to look for solutions.

I had no right to blame him for all that.

“You’re a smart child, Tilty. And a sensitive one. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to notice that.”

My father rose to his feet and rested a hand on my shoulder. “I was planning to wait. Whatever choice it was, when the time came for you to step outside, I wanted to be there to acknowledge it… I wanted to tell you not to worry.”

My strength left me.

It was like the ground had dropped out beneath me, and my stagnant feelings drained away.

“…Father?”

“Yes?”

“Is my favorite hill still there?”

I’ve always been fond of quiet places.

The rustling of the wind, the calls of farm animals carried on the breeze.

The clear, gentle air. Leaves filtering the sun’s rays.

I longed to relive those moments more than anything else.

But I couldn’t go back. I could never return. I had been avoiding it for so long, convinced I could never hold on to it again.

“Why don’t you come home and see? This time, I want to hold your hand. Let me show you everything.”

“…Ah.”

My father’s words brought my childhood flowing back.

My quiet, reserved father. Back then, I had found something uncomfortable about his silence.

I realized he had always been on the verge of saying something before he left. Now, I finally understood why.

…How might I have reacted if I had known it at the time…?

But the past wouldn’t change. I failed to read the feelings that he kept under wraps.

This time, however, I knew what I had to say.

“Father.”

“…Yes?”

“Can you take my hand? Back then, if you had pulled me back, maybe things would have been different. That chance has passed, but I still want to try.”

Hesitantly, weakly, I held out my hand—I might have faltered at the slightest nudge.

A rough, wrinkled hand reached out and took mine as if it might break under his touch.

Ah. That told me nothing. But maybe if I could see that view once more, something would change.

It was just a hunch. An uncertain future. But if I could grab on to something…

“…I’ll go home, Father.”

Maybe then, just maybe, I could change.

Yes, I felt like I already knew the answer to that question.

I only hoped I was right.

Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if I deserve to be this fortunate.

I—Halphys Nebels—was born the humble daughter of a viscount family in the Kingdom of Palettia.

My family’s status wasn’t particularly high, and my magical skills—the hallmark of the nobility—weren’t anything to brag about, either.

Under normal circumstances, climbing the social ladder would have been impossible for me. Yet my new boss was anything but ordinary, so that old assumption probably didn’t hold water anymore.

I worked for Anisphia Wynn Palettia. Although she had been born a royal, she had long been overlooked for her inability to use magic.

She was an incredible individual, undeterred by adversity. She had gone on to develop a unique school of research known as magicology and invented magical tools that allowed commoners to use magic.

There had even been talk at one point about her inheriting the throne, but now that Euphyllia was queen, the princess had settled into her role, and she was assisting in Her Majesty’s rule as the kingdom’s foremost expert in magicology.

Naturally, my association with her kept me incredibly busy, but it was equally fulfilling.

And so I found myself questioning whether I truly deserved all this luck.

“…Maybe it’s just an escape from reality…”

“Halphys? Did you say something…?”

“No, it’s nothing. More importantly, do you think you’ll be okay with all this paperwork? It has to be completed by the end of the day…”

“…I’ll do my best.”

“O-of course… Thank you for all your help…”

Why did I think this might be just an escape from reality? Because Anisphia was buried under a mountain of paperwork with her head plunked down on her desk.

And why was she in this state? Because she had major plans on the horizon to build an entirely new city for the explicit purpose of studying magicology.

“It was fun making plans, but now that we’re actually getting ready to start, it’s one headache after the next…,” she moaned.

“Shouldn’t we be glad everything is proceeding smoothly? That magical tool has been a wonder,” I said, trying to console her.

“The Thought Boards… Why did I have to bring them into the world…? It’s all cause and effect, isn’t it…?!” she complained, fixing the Thought Board on her desk with a baleful glare.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Personally, I didn’t even want to think about going back to a time without them, so I kept my mouth shut.

“Let’s take a break, and then get back to it. As long as we take it one step at a time, we’ll get it all done.”

“Ugh… You’re right… I’m the one who started this, after all…”

Reluctantly, Anisphia went back to reading through the documents, while I turned my attention to the materials in front of me to complete my own tasks.

At that moment, there came a knock at the door, followed by a voice. “Lady Anis? It’s me, Lainie. Do you have a minute?”

“Lainie?” Anisphia exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise at this unexpected visitor.

Lainie was Queen Euphyllia’s private secretary, and it was quite rare for her to drop by here.

She must have been running an errand for Queen Euphyllia. Anisphia seemed to come to the same conclusion.

“You can come in, Lainie,” she called.

“Excuse me. Good afternoon, Lady Anis, Lady Halphys,” Lainie said, stepping inside and offering a polite bow.

When I looked up, her expression seemed somewhat clouded. Or maybe she was just tired? Had something happened…?

“What’s wrong?” Anisphia asked.

“Um… It’s just…Lady Euphyllia is…”

“Did something happen to Euphie?”

“…Yes.”

“…You’re being awfully vague. What is it?”

“Um, the thing is… She’s in a terrible mood…”

“Huh?” Anisphia tilted her head theatrically to one side.

Queen Euphyllia was in a bad mood? But she was usually so calm! She was perfection itself!

“What exactly upset her…?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t say here… Could you come and help her calm down? I can’t handle her myself…”

“She’s too much for you? It must be serious, then. All right, I’ll head over. Sorry, Halphys, can I leave the rest here with you?”

“I understand. Please go see to Her Majesty.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Halphys,” said Lainie.

“It’s fine, Lainie.”

With that, she bowed her head once more and left the room after Anisphia.

Only moments after Anisphia and Lainie left, Navre and Gark returned from their errand.

“Halphys? Did I see Princess Anisphia and Lainie rushing out just now?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah. Welcome back, Navre, Gark.”

They must have seen Her Highness; it was no wonder they were concerned.

“I’m not quite sure specifically…but it seems something has happened with Queen Euphyllia.”

“Huh? I thought she didn’t have anything special scheduled for today…”

“Do you think they’ll explain it to us later?”

“Maybe.”

“All right, then.”

There really wasn’t anything to be gained by speculating further.

“Could the two of you help me sort through these documents?”

“Sure.”

“Ugh…”

“Don’t make that face, Gark,” Navre scolded.

“I get it, I get it…”

“And don’t sound so pathetic!”

Watching this exchange from across the room, I couldn’t help but recall my earlier conversation with Her Highness. I laughed.

Yes, I was still capable of smiling. I never imagined the events of that day would come back to haunt me.

One day, just as I was finishing up work and preparing to head home, I was greeted not by my usual carriage, but by someone else. I startled when I realized who it was—my fiancé, Marion.

“Marion? What are you doing here?” I asked.

For whatever reason, he seemed upset.

Something must have happened.

A moment before worry could get the better of me, he spoke up: “I’m sorry, but can we talk? I have something important to discuss.”

“What would that be…?”

“I’ll explain the details inside,” he said, gesturing to the carriage. “I want you to come back with me.”

“What on earth is it?”

“…I don’t even know where to begin. I still can’t fully wrap my head around it myself.”

“I understand. I’ll go with you.”

I had never seen Marion so serious before. There was no way I could turn him down.

He breathed a sigh of relief, then led me into the carriage, and we set off for the Antti mansion.

He remained quiet on the way. I waited for him to gather his thoughts. Mid-journey, he finally began to speak: “Let me get straight to the point, Halphys.”

“Yes?”

“…It seems I might end up inheriting the title of Count Antti.”

“…Wh-what?! M-Marion?! What does that mean?!” I nearly jumped up from my seat.

At that moment, the carriage hit a bump, and it would have sent me flying if Marion hadn’t reached out to catch me.

“Are you okay, Halphys? I’m sorry for startling you.”

“N-not at all…”

He gently sat me back on my seat.

I took a moment to catch my breath, then looked him in the eye. How could Marion be inheriting the Antti estate? What did that even mean?

Marion was the second son, and our engagement was supposed to bring him into my family. And now those plans had been turned on their head? In that case, what was to become of our engagement?

“It’s all because of a crisis with my brother’s fiancée’s family. They’ve disgraced themselves, and it could lead to their downfall. Hasn’t Queen Euphyllia mentioned it?”

“No, not at all…” I shook my head.

Marion breathed a long, deep sigh. “I see… Maybe Her Majesty was just trying to be considerate.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen much of the queen lately. I thought she was just busy…

“It seems my brother’s fiancée’s family has fallen out of favor with Her Majesty.”

“Did they upset her?! What on earth did they do…?!”

“…They argued her relationship with Princess Anisphia was a problem and suggested she take a consort or a paramour to produce an heir.”

“…Huh?”

It took a moment for those words to register with me.

I just couldn’t make heads or tails of it. I mean, I understood the meaning of the words. But for the life of me, I couldn’t grasp why anyone would dare say such a thing.

“Did he actually say that directly to Queen Euphyllia?! No wonder he’s in trouble…! The succession is already a sensitive topic, especially for Princess Anisphia…!”

Many people looked up to and respected Queen Euphyllia. The fact that she had revived the spirit covenants of legend was extremely significant to those born into the nobility.

While the truth she had revealed about spirit covenants had shaken the faith of some, her influence remained as strong as ever.

If she had made anything clear, it was how much she favored Anisphia, the princess who had once been despised for her inability to wield magic.

Their love for each other was so deep you could feel it whenever you saw them together. And that fool had dared suggest she be with someone else to produce an heir?!

“I suppose he wanted to see her qualities as a spirit covenantor passed on to the next generation,” Marion continued. “And with all this talk of Princess Anisphia leaving the capital to oversee construction of a new city, there was some suggestion another companion might help to alleviate Her Majesty’s loneliness…”

“I can’t say I don’t see the logic behind it, but to even consider saying all that to the queen’s face…”

“It’s outrageous. When I first heard about it, the shock almost knocked me off my feet…”

I was feeling faint myself after hearing all that.

Not too long ago, the magical talent needed to enter into a spirit covenant would have been admired and coveted above all else. It was easy to see why someone might wish for their children to inherit such a gift.

But broaching the topic to Queen Euphyllia…? I couldn’t imagine anything more foolhardy.

“Thinking it is one thing, but saying it to her…? There’s no taking that back… To be honest, I thought the topic would come up eventually. I just didn’t expect anyone to mention it so soon or so carelessly…”

“I suppose it was inevitable…”

“Her Majesty, it seems, was prepared for it. But that didn’t stop it from throwing her emotions into turmoil…”

“Ah…”

It all made sense now. That was why Lainie had dropped by to summon Princess Anisphia.

She had rushed out in a near panic. Could that be the reason…?

“The Ministry of the Arcane is already going through a generational change, and there’s talk about their family passing the torch… But now an even bigger problem has cropped up.”

“What do you mean…?”

“When the heir to the family’s titles caught wind of it all, he ended up running away…”

“Really…?”

“I suppose he couldn’t bear the thought of taking over under these circumstances. I’m told he left a note saying he wasn’t coming back, and then he vanished. The shock took a massive toll on my brother’s fiancée’s parents, though I can’t help but think they brought this on themselves…”

“There’s no denying that…”

Frankly, I felt sorry for him being all but forced to run away from home. I couldn’t imagine my parents doing something so reckless. If I were in the same situation, it would be too much for me.

“…Wait a second. You’re saying there’s no clear successor?”

“That’s right.”

“Marion. You’re not seriously telling me you might end up inheriting the Antti titles and estates…?”

“My brother wants to change the terms of his own engagement and join his fiancée’s house. That would make me next in line for my own family.”

“Just as I thought…!”

“My brother and his fiancée are head over heels for each other… He can’t bring himself to abandon her.”

“I see…”

I had met Marion’s brother and his fiancée several times, and while their marriage was political in nature, it was heartwarming to see how well they got along with each other.

“But this is all rather sudden, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Yes, it certainly is. That’s why I wanted to bring you here, Halphys. To discuss our options moving forward.”

With that, both Marion and I fell silent.

I needed time to organize my thoughts. I’m sure Marion did, too.

In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the Antti mansion.

A moment later, a steward emerged from the house to tell us that Marion’s brother, Kenneth, was waiting.

We made our way to the drawing room, where we found him waiting for us.

His features were similar to Marion’s, though his hair was a lighter shade of brown. Everyone in the Antti family was gentle and composed, and Kenneth was no exception in that regard. Right now, however, there was no hiding the dark circles beneath his eyes.

“You’re back, Marion. It’s good to see you, Halphys,” he said in greeting.

“It’s been too long, Kenneth,” I answered.

“Sorry to call you here on such short notice. Please, take a seat.”

With that invitation, Marion and I sat across from him on a sofa.

Kenneth sank into his chair and leaned against the backrest. His posture alone revealed just how exhausted he was.

“Marion, Halphys. I know about your achievements. Especially you, Halphys—it’s hard to believe how far you’ve come. Your parents must be proud.”

“No, I was just lucky…”

“There’s no need for that. Humility is a virtue, but you could stand to take a bit more pride in your work. And it would make this discussion easier.”

“…I heard Marion might inherit the Antti family titles.”

“That’s right. My fiancée’s brother was supposed to inherit his own family’s, but he got cold feet after his father’s blunder. He thinks he can’t handle it. I always thought he was a bit weak-willed, but then again, he can be strangely decisive when he wants to be…”

“So you’re planning on marrying into your fiancée’s family?”

“She doesn’t have any close relatives who can take over. That’s a lingering issue from King Orphans’s time. And now it’s affecting us personally,” Kenneth said with a tired sigh.

Marion and I couldn’t escape this.

A coup d’etat had taken place prior to King Orphans’s ascension to the throne. It had divided the nobility, greatly reducing their numbers.

After quelling the civil war, King Orphans promoted a moderate political approach to keep the country from succumbing to even more infighting. As a result, however, treacherous nobles had ended up taking advantage…

Now that Queen Euphyllia had taken the throne and ushered in sweeping reforms, those corrupt nobles were falling one by one.

Many who had survived the coup were now being punished by the new queen. It was no laughing matter—plenty of families now found themselves short of heirs.

“…Besides, I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. You’re a better fit to be the future Count Antti, Marion. And I would prefer to leave the royal capital if I can.”

“You want to leave the capital?” I asked, taken aback.

Why? How long had he been considering this…?

“King Orphans abdicated, and Queen Euphyllia took the throne. A spirit covenantor in modern times is certainly an epoch-marking event. The kingdom is on the cusp of change…and I don’t think I can keep up with it.”

“Why would you say something that?”

“I like to think I know my place. And that brings us to you both. Marion, you’re recognized as one the ministry’s chief reformists. Many have placed their hopes on your shoulders. And you, Halphys—I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said you’ve accomplished even more than Marion has.”

“You’re flattering me.”

“Don’t be so modest. You have the trust of both Queen Euphyllia and Princess Anisphia. The way I see it, it would be more advantageous for you to be Countess Antti rather than Viscountess Nebels.”

“What…?”

“Besides… I have to admit, I was in awe of Queen Euphyllia even before this latest incident. I could never remain here.”

“Huh?”

“She terrifies me. I lack the confidence to serve her up close…,” Kenneth murmured in a grave whisper.

A heavy weight seemed to settle over my shoulders. I swallowed, trying to clear my throat.

“I think highly of you two. I just don’t see how you can trust her so easily. I can’t. I respect her, I fear her—but I can’t imagine wanting to serve her. To me, she’s more an entity to be revered than a human ruler. She’s immensely powerful, comes from a noble lineage, and is surrounded by remarkable individuals. Her unwavering commitment to fairness, without becoming ruthless, is admirable,” Kenneth murmured weakly, staring at the ground to avoid my gaze.

“…The problem is that I just can’t see her as human…”

Unable to let that comment go unanswered, I rose to my feet and gave him a sharp look.

“Kenneth! You can’t say that!”

“I don’t mean to speak poorly of her. I just feel she’s not like the rest of us. Every time she acts like a perfect ruler, every time she flaunts her power, the sense of distance grows. She isn’t human anymore. She’s closer to a god.”

“That’s… There’s no denying that… But still…!”

“I understand why you’re defending her. After all, you might say it was the nobility’s corruption that led to her making her spirit covenant in the first place… Perhaps it’s foolish of me, but I sometimes wonder whether she wasn’t born to punish us.”

“Kenneth…!”

“I know it’s an irrational fear, but I can’t shake it. Any magic user or noble ought to be able to understand this feeling. She could dismiss any one of us. And she’s practically denied the way we’ve always lived. It hurts, hearing such denouncements from one who is supposed to embody our faith,” he lamented, pouring his feelings out in despair.

My lips moved, but no words came out. Deep down, I understood how he felt.

“I don’t want to be judged by a god for the way I live my life. I want to believe that living a good life means living in harmony with the spirits. Laugh at me if you want. I understand the limits of my own abilities. I’m not strong enough to serve the likes of Her Majesty.”

“Kenneth…”

“And then there’s Princess Anisphia. She may not be able to use magic, but she’s accomplished things most magic users wouldn’t even be able to dream of. I can’t go against those two. It’s terrifying to think how everything I’ve always believed in might come crashing down. I’m constantly worried I’ll slip up in front of the queen. I can hardly breathe… If she were to judge me, everything I have would be shattered in an instant…” He sounded crushed.

What kind of reply did I have? Consolation? Encouragement? Admonition? Nothing seemed quite right.

“I’ve followed the spirit faith all my life. I thought it was a path to living well. And now that I’m being told I have to abandon it…I can’t do it. I would rather live quietly in my domain, within my means. The Antti family isn’t a prestigious house, but we have a long history and connections with influential nobles. It would be better for you two to carry on that foundation and support Queen Euphyllia’s reign.”

“…Kenneth. Think about it a little more. And we’ll need to discuss all this with Viscount Nebels,” Marion said.

“Of course. Let me know if there’s anything I can do. I’ll do whatever it takes if it means you can come to a decision you’re comfortable with,” Kenneth said, finally regaining a modicum of his usual calm demeanor.

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. All I could do was watch the two of them.

“I don’t think you’re a failure, Kenneth… And I have some understanding of how you feel,” Marion said.

“I know… Thank you… I’m sorry.”

I knew Marion truly understood Kenneth’s feelings, and that Kenneth genuinely felt terrible about thrusting this responsibility on us.

But that was why it was so heartbreaking. None of us had wanted it to come to this…

“I know I’ve made things difficult for you, Halphys. And I’m aware of the harassment you’ve faced from nobles wanting to strengthen their ties with the Antti family.”

“You heard about that…?”

“There was a lot of political infighting within the Ministry of the Arcane at the time. Those extremists are long gone—but the title of count is no small thing. I mean no disrespect to the Nebels family, but the reality is that their power is limited. This way, Marion will be able to support you, just as you’ll be able to support him. For the Antti family, I believe this is the best way forward.”

Kenneth said all this with conviction, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond. All I could do was give him a small, silent nod.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble today, Halphys.”

“No, Marion.”

After the discussion ended, Marion offered to take me home in his carriage.

During the ride, my thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation with Kenneth.

“Marion… What do you think about what your brother said?”

“You mean about me becoming the next head of the family?”

I nodded. Marion turned his head to look out the window, and I could see the melancholy on his face.

“I understand how he feels. It’s no surprise he thinks that way, having been part of the Ministry of the Arcane. The situation being what it is, I think it’s better for me to take over from my father.”

“I see.”

“That said, you’re my fiancée, Halphys. This isn’t a decision I can make on my own. What do you think?”

“…I don’t know yet. It’s all so sudden.”

“That’s understandable. I’m willing to wait until your feelings settle.”

I was grateful for his patience, but there was an uneasy weight in my chest.

Marion always waited for me to decide things at my own pace. Even when our engagement drew jealousy and ill intentions toward me, he remained by my side. When I could hardly bear the pain of what I was going through, he was always there to comfort me.

I had been trying so hard to be worthy of him. But now, when it really mattered, I couldn’t seem to find the resolve I needed—and I hated myself for that.

“My father said he would leave the decision to us,” he added softly.

“Count Antti said that?”

“Yes. He even said he plans to step down early once this is all decided. His thinking aligns with my brother’s—he’s said more than once that he considers himself a relic of the past, unsuited for this new era. And as my brother pointed out, the Antti name isn’t insignificant. If I take over, I’ll be able to help you in ways I couldn’t before.”

“That’s true… But…”

“Like I said, what matters most is how you feel. I want you to take your time and think it over.”

“…Yes. Thank you, Marion.”

I wanted to give him the answer he wanted. I really did.

I knew he was waiting for me to come to the same decision.

But it was all so sudden. In the end, I couldn’t give him an answer.

A few days after the meeting at the Antti mansion, I found myself in yet another nerve-racking situation.

Queen Euphyllia herself had extended an invitation for tea.

I was supposed to join her in a corner of the palace gardens. As I walked there, trying to will my leaden feet to keep moving, I spotted the queen and Lainie waiting for me.

“Your Majesty,” I said in greeting.

“Thank you for coming, Halphys. Lainie, could you prepare a cup of tea?” Queen Euphyllia instructed.

“Of course,” Lainie answered.

The tea smelled wonderful, but with how tense I was, I could barely taste it. Come to think of it, while I had the chance to sit with Princess Anisphia during our meetings, I had never had the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with Queen Euphyllia like this.

Why had she called me here? That question made me realize just how little I knew her as a person.

“Um… Your Majesty, may I ask why you invited me today?” I finally ventured.

“There are a few things I wanted to discuss with you,” she began. “First, Marion has told me about the Antti family’s situation. I understand this has placed quite a burden on you.”

“N-not at all!” I blurted. “This isn’t something for Your Majesty to be worried about…!”

I hadn’t expected her to bring this up, let alone apologize.

Queen Euphyllia frowned slightly at my reaction, then gave me a faint smile. “I know my comments carry considerable weight, but I certainly didn’t expect them to be taken as heavily as they were. It was never my intention to burden you, Halphys.”

“Not at all…! The remarks that started all this were questionable at best…!”

“You can say that because you know Anis and me so well. But to anyone who doesn’t realize the depth of our relationship, the idea of my taking a consort to continue the royal line would be perfectly reasonable.”

“…Has it…been difficult for you, Your Majesty?”

“Difficult?”

“I mean, given Princess Anisphia’s unique position and the kingdom’s complicated legacy… It couldn’t be easy to consider taking on a consort. But I suppose it’s an unavoidable topic… I just wondered if it’s weighing on you…”

Queen Euphyllia glanced across at Lainie, her expression unreadable.

Lainie seemed to understand what she meant and glanced around at her surroundings before giving Queen Euphyllia a silent nod. They were able to communicate without words, it seemed.

A moment later, Lainie offered a polite bow and took her leave. After she was gone, Queen Euphyllia turned her gaze back to me.

“Do you mind if I speak plainly?” she asked.

“Uh? Oh. Um, of course…”

“There aren’t many I can truly confide in. I’m happy to share my thoughts with you, but I don’t want to burden you with unnecessary worry. Tell me if I should stop.”

“…Are you sure you’re all right telling me?”

“It’s only right that I should.”

“…I understand. Please, then, continue.”

“Thank you, Halphys. To be honest, this entire situation has been excruciating for me.”

“…That’s understandable.”

“But maybe not in the way you’re thinking.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean…?” I asked, tilting my head to one side.

Queen Euphyllia narrowed her eyes. “This is just between us, mind you.”

“O-of course.”

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the royal line.”

“Huh…?”

“It’s true. I’m not planning to take a royal consort or to bear a child for the crown. I intend to be the kingdom’s last ruling monarch.”

Those words were so shocking my eyes widened in disbelief.

…I’d had a feeling that might be the case, but I caught my breath and swallowed hard now that it had been laid out for me so plainly.

“Are you sure you want to tell me all this…?”

“I’m selective about who I share it with. I can’t let it be widely known, not with so many nobles likely to object. But I plan to bring this monarchy to an end eventually. So I want allies who will agree with me. I’ve had a feeling for a while now that you would be sympathetic. You must have suspected?”

“…I can’t deny that. But how long are you planning to stay on the throne…?”

“Well, let’s see… Until we have a system of government to replace me. I’m a spirit covenantor, so my lifetime is theoretically unlimited. I could wait for as long as it takes to set everything up.”

Just thinking about an unlimited lifespan made my head hurt. It was too far beyond the realm of what was normal.

But in that case, she could indeed continue reigning for as long as it took to ready an alternative…

“However, I don’t want to stain Anis’s revolution with blood and sorrow. I want to pass it on to the next generation as peacefully as possible…though there are times the idea leaves me cold.”

“How so…?”

“…Sometimes I wonder if there’s any point in protecting this country and its people at all.”

My cup almost slipped from my hands at this admission.

I managed to catch it before it could fall, but it was like all the heat had been drained from my body.

…She was being completely serious. I finally understood. She could well give up on the country entirely and abandon it if worse came to worst.

“This is bound to end up hurting Anis. It’s like I’ve forced a heavy responsibility onto her after taking the throne. I know it clouds her heart at times. I don’t like it, all these confrontations and incidents. I want to erase anyone who threatens her peace of mind, who mocks her, who gets in her way. Sometimes, I can barely control myself.”

“…”

“I have the power to do it, you know? It would be unforgivable, yes, but I could make them disappear. Would anyone else in the kingdom be able to stop me?”

“…Well…”

“Once they made it so I had no choice but to become queen, the crown’s survival became impossible. I’m a spirit covenantor, after all—almost a god in this country. And it’s the nobility who built that value system.”

“Queen Euphyllia…”

“I’ve caused Anis so much pain. For that reason alone, I could wipe this country off the map. But I didn’t, because it wasn’t what she wanted. I made my spirit covenant for her, after all.”

How close we’d come to the brink.

Her smile was so beautiful, but at the same time, so cold. I struggled just to maintain my gaze.

“The moment they cross a line I’m unable to forgive, I won’t hesitate to wipe them out. That’s the quickest way to deal with them. I chose this path because I didn’t want a bad future for Anis. But I can’t help but wonder—does the kingdom have any real value if it wouldn’t help someone like her…? I can’t be alone in thinking this way, can I?”

“…No.”

“Sometimes I frighten even myself. I have to remind myself that I should be frightened. Because if I’m not careful, even that feeling slips away,” she said, her expression hardening.

The hollow chill I felt from her a moment ago had vanished and was replaced by a warm smile, the same one she wore when she was watching Princess Anisphia.

“This might sound strange coming from me, but I caution anyone against becoming a spirit covenantor. You’ll end up doing whatever it takes to achieve your goals, and nothing will be able to stop you. That’s who we are. Even if you think you’re acting for the country or someone you love, in the end, it will all boil down to your ego. That’s all there is for spirit covenantors. Nothing else holds any value.”

“It sounds terrifying.”

“It is. That’s why I want the Kingdom of Palettia to be a country that doesn’t need them. This isn’t just about fulfilling Anis’s wish. I know I’ve become something terrible, and that’s exactly why I don’t want to see it happen to anyone else,” she murmured in a flat voice as she gazed at her own hands. “If this world can only be saved by giving up our humanity, then what good is it? It’s distorted by its own mistakes.”

“…Yes…”

“So, Halphys—that’s why I’m counting on you.”

“Huh?”

What did she want from me?

Why would she say such a thing? I watched her closely, trying to make sense of what I was hearing.

“Objectively speaking, I can’t say you have great magical talent,” Queen Euphyllia continued. “However, that isn’t where your value lies. Your true worth is in your attitude, your perspective, and your ideas about magic. It’s not a dissimilar talent to Anis’s.”

“Y-you’re comparing me to Princess Anisphia…?”

“I’m not comparing your talent. You’re both incredible in your own right. If Anis gives us hope for new possibilities, you reassure us that we don’t have to hate magic.”

“Reassurance…?”

“It isn’t just about belief. Magic reveals all the things we take for granted. Anis is like a brilliant star in a far-off sky, but the light you bring, Halphys, is like a flame you can hold in your hands.”

Queen Euphyllia’s words stirred my heart.

I was happy, but this wasn’t the kind of compliment I could take at face value. No one had ever praised me like this before.

And I could hardly wrap my head around the fact that it was Queen Euphyllia, the kingdom’s most eminent magic user, who was saying all this.

“Thanks to you, there will be people who haven’t given up on magic. And they might go on to create new forms of magic themselves. You’re the one making what’s normal better than it was before.”

“…I’m honored.”

“Please don’t say that. The transformations that Anis and I are bringing about may be significant, but making changes won’t result in a stable country all by itself. When our revolution reaches its end, it will be magic users like you, Halphys, who will carry the torch. Which is why I pray for your success. I hope others will aspire to be like you and follow in your footsteps someday.”

“…Can I live up to those expectations, though?”

“I hope so. I believe you will.”

I felt a mix of joy and awe. It was like the ground beneath me had all of a sudden become wobbly and unreal.

As I sat there staring at my feet, unable to formulate a response, Queen Euphyllia continued. “Come to think of it, we’re the same age, aren’t we?”

“Huh? Ah. Y-yes, we are.”

“There are so few people I can really open up to. Perhaps that’s part of the reason I have such high hopes for you. I suppose this relationship is what you might call…a friendship?”

I looked up to see her flashing me a shy smile—exactly the kind of expression you would expect from someone her age.

Given her position, it wasn’t surprising she had few friends. Yet she was asking me to join that close circle.

My airy, aimless feelings began to settle, and a sense of calm washed over me.

“As you say, Your Majesty, we come from different factions, and we didn’t interact much at the Aristocratic Academy.”

“That’s certainly true.”

“I feel like you’ve moved beyond my reach since then. I admired you, but you were from a different world than me. And now here we are, having tea together. It feels so strange.”

I was sure of it—I was smiling, too, now.

The woman in front of me was the most revered figure in the entire kingdom. She was its greatest magic user, possessing such immense power that she commanded both fear and respect.

But she was still striving to remain human. She was looking for someone she could confide in.

If I hesitated now, I could never show my face to her for the rest of my life.

“If you think I’m enough for you, I’d be happy to be friends.”

“Thank you, Halphys,” she said with a sigh of relief.

She chuckled softly, smiling as the tension drained from her face. It was rare to see her so at ease.

“It’s a strange feeling, isn’t it?” she said. “Putting it into words really changes things.”

“Yes, I suppose it does.”

“…I hope you find true happiness, Halphys.”

“That’s very sudden.”

“I consider myself happy. But I don’t want those who follow me to aspire to the same happiness I have. Mine is inseparable from the misfortune Anis has experienced.”

“…! Th-that’s…!”

“I’ll do everything I can to make this world a place where people can find happiness without having to pay such a price. I want everyone to be able to go through life with the people they love, their bonds celebrated by those around them. Anis and I can’t fit into that framework. We chose this path knowing what it meant.”

“Queen Euphyllia…”

“Happiness doesn’t always have a name, but if you want others to understand, it’s best to seek their empathy. And empathy does require a name, wouldn’t you say?”

The question seemed very matter-of-fact to her, but I couldn’t come up with a response.

I could assure her I understood, but that didn’t mean others around us would.

We lived in a society that believed the spirits deserved to be honored, that the old spiritualist teachings were the way the world ought to be.

But Queen Euphyllia and Princess Anisphia were trying to build a new future, completely unlike what had existed before.

Of course people wouldn’t easily accept it. Any trailblazer would understand that and recognize they had to come to terms with it.

It had to be much more painful than anything I could imagine.

“It must have been difficult for you, Halphys. You were born a noble, but the way society treats those with a weaker command of magic leaves much to be desired. Yes, things are changing—but the future I hope for is still a long way off. Yet you’ve found love, and the people around you recognize your worth. I hope everyone can find the happiness you have. And I hope you’ll be the one to lead the way.”

What great expectations she was placing on me!

It was so overwhelming that I wanted to run from them. Deep down, I was terrified I wasn’t up to the task.

But at the same time, another feeling was emerging within me.

Just before my fear and anxiety could spill over, a single tear rolled down my cheek. As I realized why, it hit me all at once.

I was feeling joy—at having my efforts and my love for Marion be acknowledged.

Then, I realized this happiness was something Queen Euphyllia couldn’t allow herself.

That was why she wanted the best for us. She hoped this happiness would become commonplace for those who followed after us.

This path they had chosen was so wonderful and yet so painful—and these two would not stray from it.

Those wishes and prayers were more than I could bear, but still, I didn’t want to let them slip away.

And so I wiped away my tears, took a deep breath, and exhaled. Then I looked Queen Euphyllia in the eye.

I would not look away. I would not waver. I wanted to convey my thoughts with my head held high.

“Your Majesty. I have a dream. When I fulfill that dream, I’m sure I’ll find greater happiness than I have now. So please, keep watching over me. I promise to be someone’s inspiration.”

So don’t worry.

I couldn’t say that last part out loud, though.

I hoped that someday people would understand her more, too—and that her own happiness would grow.

I carved those wishes deep into my heart.

After a long moment, Queen Euphyllia gave me a soft smile. “I know you will, Halphys… Ah, speaking of expectations, there’s one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“I’d appreciate if you could relax a little more around me. We’re friends now, aren’t we?”

“…I’ll do my best,” I answered with an awkward smile.

Queen Euphyllia apparently found my expression amusing, and her laughter was completely genuine.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, the day of my wedding with Marion had arrived.

After our last discussion, it was decided to push the wedding along and to have a modest ceremony. We could always throw a larger reception later when some of the dust had settled.

I thought I wouldn’t be so nervous, but when the day came, my mind went completely blank.

I flowed through the preparations until I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror. My makeup was so exquisite, my wedding gown so mesmerizing, that I hardly recognized my own reflection.

Seeing myself, I wondered if I was in a dream. Was this real? Was I actually going to marry Marion today…?

Perhaps drawn in to my hazy, surreal mood, my parents called out to me with teary eyes.

Since they were crying, I managed to stop myself from shedding tears of my own, though I still felt distant from reality.

“Halphys?”

“…Princess Anisphia?!”

Yes, it was Anisphia herself who pulled me out of my daze.

“Congratulations! I’m sorry you had to schedule your wedding right when we’re so busy.”

“There’s no need for you to apologize!”

“I’m sure you’ve been under stress, what with all the work I dumped on you… I’m sorry you had to settle for such a modest ceremony…”

“No, I never wanted anything too dramatic to begin with…”

“Humility is a virtue, Halphys, but you do tend to follow it too much. You’re going to be Countess Antti soon. You need to hold your head up high.”

Countess Antti. The title still didn’t quite feel real to me.

What should I do? I couldn’t remain in this haze forever, but I couldn’t seem to bring myself back to reality.

Ah, I couldn’t go on like this. I should have told Queen Euphyllia as much.

“You’re so beautiful, Halphys. I’m sure Marion will be pleased to see you.”

“…I suppose. It doesn’t feel real yet.”

“Well, I understand. When someone tells you to be happy, you end up asking yourself if you deserve it. Right?”

I looked up at Anisphia, and her eyes were warm.

My heart skipped a beat.

“You deserve to be happy, Halphys,” she, said, pointing to my chest. “Absolutely. Plenty of people think so.”

“…Yes.”

“I may not know you as well as Marion, but I’ve learned a lot about you over the years, Halphys. I want you to be happy. I mean, you’re marrying the man you love, right? You’ve got to enjoy the moment!”

My heart throbbed, and indescribable feelings welled up inside me. I tried to force them down, but they only spilled out as tears.

I never cried, not even when talking with my parents. So why was I crying now?

“H-Halphys?! Y-you can’t! You’ll ruin your makeup!”

“…Can I ask you something?”

“O-of course. Wh-what is it?”

“Are you happy?”

I myself didn’t know why I asked her that. The question simply left my mouth.

Princess Anisphia’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she smiled gently with a small nod.

“I am happy. You’re getting married, after all. You’ve done so much for me, and I want to keep working with you. This is a big step, and you’re someone I care about.”

Those words were enough to carry my heart far away.

All at once, my vision cleared, and the feeling in my chest hit me like a powerful breath of life.

“Princess Anisphia…”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t want to give up, but part of me did want to let go. It’s hard, chasing after a wish that can’t come true. There were times when I wanted to throw it all away and find some semblance of peace.”

The social gap between me and Marion. My magical skills, which I simply couldn’t improve. The jealousy telling me I had received more than I could possibly deserve.

More than once, I felt like giving up. I had even come close to hating the spirits, which were supposed to be important objects of faith.

Looking back, my life had been filled with shame. I shouldn’t have been wishing for happiness beyond what I deserved, not when I was this ordinary. That was what I’d always believed, deep down.

But still, here I was, at the moment I had long been waiting for. If there was any one person I owed this to, it was her.

She brought change to this country, rising above more adversity than I had ever experienced.

She could have given up on it all, yet she showed me a beacon of hope, refusing to surrender.

“Thanks to you, I was able to reach for my dreams,” I told her.

“Halphys…”

“I’ll stand tall with the hope you’ve given me. I’ll take my share of happiness.”

If that was what would make her happy, then I would proudly declare my own happiness.

I was only here because of her, because she supported me, and because she never gave up. I would thank her until my voice went hoarse if I had to.

“Thank you, Princess Anisphia.”

Without saying a word, she raised a hand to her face to cover her eyes.

Then, she took a deep breath and pulled her hand away to reveal a beaming smile, her eyes only slightly moist.

“Don’t make me cry, too, Halphys!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Look, it’s almost time to go. Marion will be waiting for you!”

“Yes. Please watch over us.”

I wanted to cherish these moments of joy and hold tight to the hope she had given me. I had gained so much because of her. I hoped she realized just how valuable that was to me.

Even now, I felt floaty, as if my feet weren’t completely touching the ground. But I decided to press on with all my strength.

If everything I had gained was too much for the likes of me, then I would work harder until I was worthy of it. Even if that goal seemed beyond my reach, I would keep pushing forward until I could hold it in my hands.

What I sought wasn’t an illusion. As long as I didn’t give up, I would take hold of it one day.

So I couldn’t cry. Not yet. Not until the moment I wished for finally came true.

Because I was walking toward people who loved me.

“Anis? There’s something I want to discuss.”

“You want to talk? Okay… But why do you look so serious?”

“I don’t think you’ll like what I have to say…”

“Oh…”

One day, Euphie approached me without warning, apparently having made up her mind about something. I braced myself. Had something bad happened?

But I never could have anticipated what she said next.

“I’m embarrassed to ask this, Anis… But could you put up with having a few dresses made?”

“Huh? Dresses…? Like, what kind?”

“Dress dresses.”

“…Who for? Me…?”

“Yes.”

There must have been question marks hovering right over my head.

A dress sounded so simple. But judging from Euphie’s expression, something told me it wouldn’t be.

It wasn’t as bad as I feared, but her request certainly raised questions. Why on earth was she asking this?

“I guess I’m not too fond of dresses… Why do I need one all of a sudden?”

“I received a petition today.”

“…A petition?”

From where? This situation was so unexpected I couldn’t be sure what emotions my face was showing.

Euphie didn’t look too bothered by my confusion. In fact, she seemed to have anticipated it.

“I know you don’t like showing up to events or wearing fancy dresses. But I’ve received a plea for all members of the royal family to dress appropriately for their status…”

“From whom…? Some noble trying to stir up trouble?”

The various possibilities flashed through my mind. Maybe that was why Euphie had such a mixed reaction. No wonder she was expecting a hassle.

Yet the next moment, she gave her head a quiet shake. Perhaps I didn’t need to worry after all?

But what did that even mean? Why would someone submit a royal petition about my clothing?

At last, Euphie gave me the answer. “Anis. It was the dressmakers who submitted the petition.”

“Huh…? Why would they do that?”

“Because of the royal robes.”

“The royal robes?”

“Turning articles of clothing into magical tools got people thinking. Everyone is talking about the technology. It’s probably too early to let it become too widespread, but I don’t think it will be long before we start seeing other products being sold.”

“Right. I have a few ideas myself.”

“So, they’re looking toward the future… And it’s all thanks to you, Anis. They want to repay you for everything you’ve done.”

“What does that have to do with making me a dress?”

The royal robes had certainly become a sensation. If clothing could be turned into magical tools, it wasn’t hard to imagine the wealth of possibilities.

I was happy to hear I had provided some inspiration, and I was grateful they wanted to do something for me. But I couldn’t see why that had taken the form of a petition to make me a dress.

“From the people’s point of view, you’ve always been disparaged for your inability to use magic, and you’ve been excluded from royal events. But now, your achievements are blazing a new path for the kingdom.”

“Y-yes…”

“They know how hard you’ve been working, so there’s a strong desire to support you on the public stage. You could say this request is part of that.”

“I—I see… It’s kind of embarrassing, though…”

“That’s why they want you to dress in a way everyone can admire. They want to see you shine brilliantly as the kingdom’s most important figure. After all, you hardly ever make public appearances, and you don’t have many opportunities to wear beautiful dresses. Do you?”

“I guess not…”

I had never been good with flashy events. Ever since taking the throne, Euphie had been handling all the social niceties for the both of us.

I wasn’t entirely antisocial, but I liked to stick to small gatherings—which meant I hadn’t had to go out of my way to buy a new dress lately.

“It isn’t a complete substitute, but I had some extra dresses made for myself… But they’re insisting they want to make some for you as well.”

“O-oh…”

“Apparently, word has even reached your mother about it.”

“Gah!” My voice sounded like a crushed frog’s.

This had reached my mother’s ears?! That was just asking for trouble!

“She has always thought you should dress and behave like royalty. And this time, it isn’t just about royal dignity—there’s an economic angle. So she came to me, asking me to bring you around to the idea.”

“U-ugh…! Of course she would do that…”

I could easily imagine my mother applying pressure with a beaming smile. That image sent a shudder down my spine.

“…It’s just one?”

“Ha-ha-ha.”

“…What’s so funny?”

“That was a joke, wasn’t it?”

“Oh…”

I had tried to hold on to a glimmer of hope, but it looked like this wouldn’t be so easy. If it were, Euphie would have just told me all the details in the first place.

“Um, so how many dresses do they want to make…?”

“More than I can imagine.”

“That many?!”

“They’re very motivated.”

“Ugh… They could pour their energies into something else, couldn’t they?!”

I would be able to cheer them on if their passion was directed at anyone else but me…

“Anis. I don’t want you to force yourself. If you really don’t want to do it, just tell me.”

“…It’s true that I’m not really looking forward to this.”

“Why? Can you tell me?” she asked, looking me in the eye.

Honestly, I felt like I should just nod along here. Euphie knew I didn’t like fancy events, and she had already forgiven me for that.

But that didn’t mean I could afford to sit on my laurels. I was a member of the royal family, and my reputation was on the mend, so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad getting involved in a few more social activities.

Euphie must have thought the same; otherwise she wouldn’t have brought this up.

“There might have been issues with your public appearances before, but now that I’m queen, society recognizes your accomplishments. And you’ve attended a small number of parties and events, haven’t you?”

“Yes…”

“I don’t blame you for not liking them. But do you still hate them so much? I need to know.”

“I mean, I’m not very good at them… I’m always scared of making mistakes in front of a crowd.”

“So you can’t afford to fail?”

“People will think my failure is bigger than just me. That’s why I struggle with it.”

I wasn’t completely antisocial, but the events I attended mostly related to magicology or magical tools, where I could focus on theories or scientific principles. Outside of that, I tended to struggle. Especially with grasping the relationships among various nobles or gauging their ulterior motives.

That had led to a compulsion in me to not fail.

“You’re right, there is a social aspect to it,” Euphie said. “Considering what has happened in the past, it’s understandable you don’t want to take part in all that glamor. But you do realize that isn’t the whole picture, don’t you?”

“Yeah…”

“There are people who want you to command attention in a fancy dress. They want you to command respect for your royal status. You aren’t surrounded by enemies anymore, so you should put in a little more effort.”

Euphie was always kind. I could feel how much she cared about me. It warmed my heart to hear her say all that, and when she told me to push myself, I wanted to try.

Still, I was frightened. Probably because of my past experiences.

I knew I couldn’t stay stuck in the past forever, though. So I needed to step up and give it my all.

“If you’re willing to go that far, Euphie, I’ll give it a shot…”

“I see. Thank you, Anis. That’s a huge relief. It looks like I’ll finally be able to deliver some good news.”

“…Why do you look like you’re enjoying this?”

“Does it upset you that I want to see a different side of you?”

“…You’re a sly one.”

She really was sneaky, always cornering me until I couldn’t refuse.

It tickled me to know she understood me that well. But she was mean at times.

“At the very least, I want them to make a few dresses you would actually be comfortable wearing.”

“Ugh… Dresses don’t really make sense to me, though… Wouldn’t it be better just to leave it to someone who knows what they’re doing?”

“I can’t deny that… But how would you feel if you were asked to make a magical tool and had no direction on what kind of tool to make?”

“Ugh… I guess that would be a problem…”

“While knowledge is important, there are people who value your feelings just as much as any new discovery, Anis.”

“…Fine. A dress, then… Or a bunch of dresses…”

“Making a dress for a royal princess is an incredible honor, you know? I’m thinking we’ll order a few, so you won’t have to worry about any more for a while.”

“Hmm…”

I had found dresses overwhelming in the past. Maybe that was why I had such an aversion to them.

This was an honor, I knew. But I was the one who would have to wear the things.

“I can’t think of many dresses I would actually want to wear… Can I really not just let the professionals decide?”

“Anis. These dresses are being made especially for you.”

“I know…”

“Don’t you ever think about wanting to look pretty?”

“Wh-where did that come from…?” I blushed.

Was this another of Euphie’s sneak attacks?!

Would I still hate dresses if I took socializing out of the equation? Maybe not…

“…How do you see me, Euphie?” I asked.

“…? What do you mean?”

“Am I…er…cute? Pretty? What kind of impression do you have of me…?”

The second the words left my mouth, a wave of embarrassment washed over me. I shouldn’t have said anything.

Euphie furrowed her brow as if this was a particularly perplexing challenge. Was my question really so complicated?

After a moment, she let out a low groan.

“I don’t think my opinion will be very useful…,” she answered in a strained voice.

“Huh…?”

“I mean, I love everything about you. I love the sparkle in your eyes when you’re chasing after your dreams, and you’re so cute when you try to run away from me. But then, when you get serious, you’re so dignified. And then there’s—”

“Stop! That’s enough!”

“I thought you would say that.”

“Then why did you keep going?!”

She was always too direct with these displays of affection! I wished she could understand how they made me feel!

My face was burning with embarrassment. I waved my hands to try to cool down, and she asked me a question. “Anis. Isn’t it more about whether you want to be cute or pretty? It shouldn’t matter what other people think.”

“…”

“…Anis?”

“Honestly, I wonder if I’m really all that beautiful. I’m not so sure…”

Come to think about it, it was rare for someone to praise my looks.

Hmm. Maybe I had been called good-looking a few times? But to the kingdom’s nobility, a pretty face meant very little when you couldn’t use magic.

Huh? How many people had actually commended my looks? I tried to think back to people’s reactions toward my appearance, but no memories really stood out.

In fact, Ilia sometimes treated me like a dirty dog when I came home all muddy, and my father would lecture me the second he saw my face. As for my mother, she would always assume I was up to some sort of mischief.

…Maybe I hadn’t received many compliments over the years?

“…Haaahhh…” For some reason, Euphie scowled, breathing a deep sigh as she rubbed her forehead.

“Euphie…? What was that for?”

“I thought you were improving, but now I see the problem is deeply rooted… I wish I could go back in time and give you a great big hug.”

“…Huh? Why don’t you just hug me now?”

“I think I shall,” she said, wrapping her arms around me so tightly it was hard to breathe.

Euphie was taller than me, and her hugs were almost smothering sometimes.

Ironically, that gave me an overwhelming sense of security and comfort. I wanted to close my eyes and surrender myself to her.

She held me tight for a long moment. “Anis,” she said. “I take back what I said before about my own opinion not being reliable enough.”

“Huh?”

“You’re cute. And you have a strong side, too. If some people don’t like your looks, that only means they have different preferences. Okay? You’re definitely cute.”

“O-okay…?”

She was complimenting me now? First came surprise, then confusion. But she wasn’t finished.

“So please, don’t tell yourself you’re not good enough. There will always be people who refuse to see your worth no matter how perfectly dressed you are. Some people will always put you down for other reasons…like being a princess who can’t use magic.”

“…You say that like you’ve heard it just recently.”

“Ignore those people. They can’t imagine anything different.”

With that, she let go and stared straight at me. Her gaze was so intense I wanted to look away.

But I couldn’t. It was like I was being drawn in by the gravitational pull of her eyes and couldn’t escape.

“You’re an attractive person, Anis. You can dress however you like. So wear something beautiful, be the most stunning version of yourself you can. That’s what I wish for.”

“…Euphie.”

“If anyone complains, ignore them. Take your place next to me with pride. I’ll protect you.”

“All right…”

Every time she came out with that promise, it filled me with equal parts joy and guilt.

I wished she didn’t need to burden herself for my sake. I knew she would just scold me if I voiced that thought, but I still couldn’t shake it off.

Lately, however, that lingering tension was beginning to settle, and I could accept her assurances without questioning them.

She had stood by me through thick and thin.

To be honest, there were still times I was too scared to hope. But it wasn’t as bad as it used to be. Little by little, I was starting to accept what people were offering me.

I was beyond grateful for her. Grateful didn’t begin to express it.

“Um, thanks, Euphie.”

“It’s no problem at all.”

“You know, that gives me a little idea…”

“Do tell.”

My joy was being with her—and looking back, it always had been.

No one was more precious to me than her, but I wanted to make people smile and give them happiness.

And I wanted to share my dreams and joys with her.

So I wanted tangible proof. She had given me the opportunity to make my aspirations real.

“Well, you see…”

“A matching dress?” Tilty asked, looking just as grumpy as she sounded.

Seeing her in such a bad mood, I couldn’t help but feel pretty good about myself. And so, with a broad smile, I let her negativity pass right over me.

“Yes! Our dresses will be the same design, but we’ll mix the colors up to match our personalities. It’ll be great, don’t you think?”

“Hmm… I suppose it isn’t such a bad idea,” Tilty said at last. Her body was trembling slightly, until at last she forced herself to look up, pointing at me. “But why are you dragging me into this?!”

“Tilty. Marquis Claret kindly agreed to assist in this matter,” Euphie said.

“Why don’t you ask him, then?! What on earth is he even doing?!”

Naturally, Euphie was referring to Tilty’s father. Apparently, he had been in frequent contact with my own father lately—at least according to my mother.

Since abdicating, my father had been using his time to study plants. As part of that research, he was looking for ways to increase crop yields.

Somehow, Marquis Claret found out about my father’s research, and the two had been corresponding ever since. Both about the research and personal matters.

In any event, Marquis Claret somehow learned of our plan to have matching dresses made, and he decided to involve Tilty in the discussion.

I was all for it, but Tilty was understandably furious at the surprise.

“Well, you don’t like dresses, either,” I remarked.

“That’s because I don’t have any opportunities to wear any.”

“Marquis Claret wants you to make an appearance at a gala, though he doesn’t want to pressure you. But he did indicate he would like to see you shine at least once…,” Euphie noted.

“So?! Why doesn’t he tell me that to my face?!”

“You would only turn him down, wouldn’t you?”

“You’re all just trying to force my hand here!” Tilty huffed, shooting Euphie an annoyed glare.

Euphie, however, remained unperturbed—which only served to irritate Tilty more.

Ignoring them both, Lainie flashed me an apologetic look. “Lady Anis? Are you sure you want to order dresses for me and Lady Ilia as well?”

“Yes! I mean, I’m supposed to commission quite a few! And it would be nice if we had some for you and Ilia! Neither of you have had many opportunities to dress up, have you?”

“That’s true…,” Ilia answered.

Standing next to Lainie, she looked a little uncertain. Did she really dislike the idea that much?

“You don’t approve, Ilia?” I asked.

“It isn’t that. I’m just in awe. I’m your maid, after all.”

“It is a little daunting…,” Lainie added, nodding in agreement.

They said that, but Ilia was a nobleman’s daughter, and while Lainie had been brought up as a commoner, her current position left her no room to complain about being overdressed.

I couldn’t help wondering if it was really okay to be so caught up in work all the time. But I kept my mouth shut. I knew exactly what would happen if I spoke those words aloud. Like you’re one to talk, they would fire right back.

“You don’t need to hold back! You two have done so much for me! I’m just making a selfish request!”

“Wow. That has to be the worst excuse to argue against,” said Tilty, thoroughly exasperated.

How long had she been listening? And what gave her any right to complain?!

Even if Ilia and Lainie tried to back out, there was no way I was letting her off the hook!

“Obviously, you’re coming, too, Tilty! Your parents already gave permission!”

“…I think I’m starting to resent my father.”

“You really hate this that much?”

“It’s not that I hate it. It’s just a hassle.”

Was there a difference?

But before I could press further, she turned to Euphie. “More importantly, are you okay with this?”

“With what, Tilty?”

“You and Lady Anis having matching dress. You could just have one made for yourself.”

“But Anis wants matching dresses for everyone. That’s reason enough to make them. This isn’t a choice I can selfishly make.”

“You say that… But if you wanted to, you could.”

“Wanting to do something and actually doing it are two very different things.”

Euphie smiled—a dazzling, breathtaking smile.

Why did it feel like there was an unspoken weight behind it?

“Besides, these are the dresses Anis wants, even if there are strings attached. If I can do something to make that happen, I will.”

“…Tch. There’s no way to talk you out of this, is there?”

“You say it’s a hassle, but deep down, you’re just embarrassed. Aren’t you?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“So I was right, then?”

“Argh! Shut up! Stop looking at me like that!”

Euphie chuckled as she teased Tilty, who finally realized she was just digging herself into a deeper hole. She fell silent with a sulky pout.

“Even putting Anis’s wishes aside, I think the idea of matching dresses might be fun. So there’s no need to limit it to just me and Anis. It would be a great way to show off our close relationship. If anything, we could go even further and coordinate everyone’s clothes.”

“Like matching family outfits!” I suggested. “That way, you could tell who’s in the same family! I’m sure some kids would love to dress like their parents!”

“There’s an old tradition of tailoring dresses to match your partner’s eye color… But this could introduce a whole new cultural element.”

“Exactly!”

“If we sell them as magical tools, as enchanted garments, they could even become family heirlooms, passed down through the generations.”

A new tradition, huh? When it came to traditions, I couldn’t help but think of Lang from the Ministry of the Arcane. How would he react if we told him about this? Would he be open to it? Or would he think I was just stirring up more unnecessary trouble?

“Tilty,” Euphie continued, “if you wore a matching dress with Anis, it could serve as a public declaration that she’s your patron and supporter.”

“You really think this counts as support?”

“That’s very rude.”

“You know perfectly well what I mean!”

“I suppose I can’t deny it…”

“Now, now,” Euphie interceded. “I want your contributions to be properly recognized as well, Tilty. You might not have been as unfortunate as Anis, but you’ve seen your share of unfair treatment.”

“Tch. Like that matters now,” Tilty scoffed.

Over the years, she had made incredible strides in researching and unraveling various curses.

But those accomplishments had never been properly acknowledged—because back then, the old Ministry of the Arcane had refused to accept unorthodox findings.

Unlike me, she wasn’t completely unable to use magic, but she still didn’t fit into their mold of the model magic user.

And yet I had found a place for myself. Why shouldn’t she have that chance, too? Though perhaps this was just my own selfish thinking.

Euphie, I was sure, felt much the same way. That was why she had agreed to invite Tilty to join us.

“The kingdom will change, Tilty. Anis and I are going to make sure of that. I want you to be at our side, watching it happen. You’ve helped us so much, and it’s only right we return the favor.”

“You’re sure this isn’t just revenge disguised as kindness?”

“If you really don’t want to, then by all means, try dissuading Anis.”

Euphie’s beaming smile effortlessly shot down Tilty’s feeble resistance.

With an exaggerated sigh, she finally raised her hands in surrender. “Uggghhh… Fine. I suppose.”

“A-ha! That means you lose, Tilty!” I shouted.

“Why are you acting so smug?! You peculiar princess!”

“Wow! It’s been ages since you called me that!”

“All right, you two,” Euphie interjected with a weary smile. “Enough messing around. Let’s get to work on the dress designs.”

Tilty let out a huff, clearly unimpressed. But then, as if something had just crossed her mind, she said, “Wait. Are these dresses going to be enchanted like the royal robes?”

“Yes. But they won’t be that elaborate. It’ll just be a subtle effect—something that’ll be nice to have.”

“Hah… Looks like we’ll be drawing attention to ourselves, then…”

“You’re already rather famous, Tilty.”

“Not the good kind of famous, though.”

“Which is exactly why we’re doing this—to change that,” Euphie commented.

“You’re relentless, Tilty,” I said. “What about the design? Should we keep it close to my usual image?”

“What? If we designed a dress around you, there’s no way it would suit me.”

“Why not?!”

“Because we’re completely different!”

“That’s the fun part! It’s time to break new ground! You’re always wearing black, so let’s go with white to shake things up!”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then how about I match your usual style instead?”

“…That sounds like a reasonable compromise.”

Compromise? Why was this a compromise?! Yes, our aesthetics were completely different, but still!

“If it’s for Lady Anis and Lainie, perhaps we should go for something cute?” Ilia suggested.

“Huh?!” Lainie squeaked.

“Agreed,” Euphie said with a nod. “We might as well embrace that about them.”

“Lady Ilia?! Lady Euphyllia?!” Lainie cried. “What are you suggesting?!”

“I mean, a cute dress would be perfect for you, Lainie! It just makes sense!” I remarked.

“U-ugh…! Then what about you, Lady Ilia?!”

“My style is simple and modest, so something elegant and understated should do.”

“Oh, no, no! I won’t allow it! If I have to go through this, so do you! If you’re making me dress up, Lady Anis, then you have to be strict with Lady Ilia, too!”

“Calm down, Lainie… Though you do have a point. Ilia is always so plain, which is exactly why we should spare no effort!”

Ilia, who had been quietly trying to weasel her way out of the conversation, stiffened as Lainie glared at her with renewed determination.

Well, I wanted to see Ilia dressed up as well. I wasn’t about to let her escape.

“Right, Lady Anis?” Lainie pressed. “But that goes for you, too, you know!”

“Ugh…!”

“You’re like two peas in a pod,” Tilty remarked.

“I’m honored to be compared to Lady Anisphia, Lady Tilty,” said Ilia. “But that’s far too much. Unlike her, I’m not a total disaster.”

“Did you just call me a disaster?!”

“My apologies. Would you prefer lazy instead?”

“That’s no better!”

Once the conversation picked up pace, everyone else naturally joined in, and the room was growing livelier by the second.

That was when I noticed Euphie watching us with a soft smile. Come to think of it, she hadn’t said much for a while now.

“Don’t just sit there enjoying all this, Euphyllia. Don’t you have anything to say?” Tilty asked.

“I already had a general idea of what I wanted to ask Anis, so I thought I would let everyone else work out their ideas first.”

“Huh? You’ve already decided what you want?”

“I have, yes.”

“And what are you going to ask this fool?” Tilty said.

“Don’t call me that?” I shot back.

“Hee-hee. It’s nothing complicated. I just want Anis to wear a dress in a color of my choosing,” Euphie answered.

“You do?” I repeated.

Euphie gave me a knowing look, then tapped just below her eye. Almost like she was telling me to pay attention.

No, wait… Her eyes…

“You want me to wear a dress the same color as your eyes?”

“Correct. So long as we can agree to that, I’m happy to let you handle the rest.”

“…Wow. No wonder you were keeping quiet,” Tilty said. “You act all sweet and innocent, and then suddenly this.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Have you already forgotten what she said earlier? Matching your partner’s eye color with your dress is a major romantic statement.”

“Ah.”

Tilty raised her eyebrows as she pointed this out, and it suddenly hit me.

Ilia widened her eyes, as if to say Oh my, while Lainie just smiled at the two of us like we were the cutest thing in the world.

Euphie herself, meanwhile, seemed perfectly unperturbed. And she said it so casually. Come on…!

“You’d better make sure you have a say in your own outfit, Anis. Otherwise you’ll be letting her decide everything for you.”

“Eeep…!”

“Don’t scare her like that, Tilty. It’s unkind. I do have a sense of common decency, you realize?”

“Not five minutes ago, you said there was a world of difference between being able to do something and actually doing it.”

Euphie flashed her an angelic smile, and Tilty scrunched up her face to keep from groaning out loud.

Ah… She wasn’t saying she wanted to monopolize me, but she did want to make it clear that I was hers.

“I’m looking forward to it, Anis,” she murmured, suddenly leaning in close. “I can’t wait to design our paired dresses together.”

Her whisper tickled my ear, sending a jolt down my spine. My face felt like it was on fire. I could never let my guard down with her, could I?!

I needed to make sure I had a say in this dress design! If I left it all to Euphie, there was no telling what kind of ridiculous outfit I would end up in!