‘These people!’
No—if you don’t like it, just say you don’t! Why force yourself to eat it?
“Ha.”
Camilla wore a look that said she was utterly speechless.
****
KNOCK KNOCK.
“Brother.”
Pushing the door open a crack and stepping in, she saw Ludville toweling his wet hair.
He seemed to have just finished training and washed up.
“May I come in?”
“Mm.”
He rose and finished opening the half-closed door for her.
“...”
Then his gaze naturally dropped to the plate in Camilla’s hands. As always, she had brought a snack.
Except...
“Looks good, doesn’t it?”
What caught Ludville’s eye was a very dark mass. Even untouched, the thick scent of chocolate pricked straight up his nose.
“Today I made a very sweet chocolate cake. I even poured in lots of chocolate syrup just for you.”
“...I see.”
“I also brought a banana smoothie loaded with sugar. Banana and chocolate pair surprisingly well.”
It wavered.
Seeing that indifferent man’s eyes waver for an instant, Camilla laughed inwardly.
So the Duke of Sephra had been right. Ludville also disliked sweets—and it was actually true.
‘How did I miss it?’
Had he been polishing off the snacks not because they were tasty, but from a single-minded resolve to get something he disliked over with quickly?
“Please, eat.”
“...Mm.”
With the faintest flicker in his eyes, he picked up his fork as always to eat the cake—at which Camilla gave a tiny, helpless shake of her head.
“Not that—this.”
Drawing the chocolate cake toward herself, Camilla handed him a small dish that had been hidden by the big cake’s bulk.
“It’s a pudding made with black tea. There’s no sweetness at all, but the bitter note is rather nice.”
“...”
“Why? Do you prefer the chocolate cake? Shall I switch it back?”
“No.”
The answer came faster than ever.
Camilla did her best to hide her smile and tasted the chocolate cake. She did not particularly dislike sweets herself; it suited her palate well enough.
Of course, with a sweetness that made her head ring, she would pass after one slice too.
KNOCK KNOCK.
Just then, with the sound of knocking, the door eased open.
“Um...”
It was Rania.
“Oh! Camilla! You’re here.”
Seeing her, Rania looked startled.
“I didn’t realize you’d come back. I’m sorry.”
Camilla looked past her, to the rear.
Someone had followed Rania into the room. It was Ferrol, the chef ghost.
[Didn’t realize, my foot! She watched you slip out of the kitchen in secret. And she came because she already knew you’d brought a snack to Ludville.]
“I lost track of time talking about magic with Lord Ravi.”
“Magic?”
“Yes! I’ve been learning magic from Lord Ravi lately! He’s so kind, you have no idea. He keeps praising me, saying I’ve got talent.”
Ravi? Kind? That Ravi, of all people?
Camilla barely swallowed the snort that wanted out. Was Rania hoping for a jealous reaction?
If so, she had picked the wrong target. The Ravi Camilla knew never showed overt kindness.
‘He is physiologically incapable of mouthing cloying lines.’
Even if he gave you a gift, he’d say he picked it up on the way. And now what—he’s showering her with praise about her talent?
“What brings you here?”
“Ah! I thought you might be peckish after training, so I brought something.”
A small plate sat in Rania’s hands, holding what looked like a homemade snack.
It was a pancake, still wafting warm steam as if fresh off the griddle.
[The moment she heard you’d brought a snack, she rushed to make that.]
“You need to eat it while it’s warm.”
Rania subtly slid aside the plate Camilla had brought and set her own in its place.
“I guarantee the taste! Jellard helped me.”
Camilla stood at once. She had no intention of interrupting the two of them.
She could see the tricks Rania kept working behind the scenes, and she disliked them, but she had no intention of obstructing family relationships.
It wasn’t about refusing to yield this place gracefully—what use would there be in wrecking their bonds?
Above all...
‘He’s my blood brother.’
Mightn’t Rania be feeling toward Ludville what Camilla felt toward Ravi?
Someone you hadn’t known your entire life, and yet—just the fact of shared blood made you care...
“I’ll be going.”
“I’ll see you out.”
“Pardon?”
But Ludville rose as well.
‘No—if you escort me now, what’s that supposed to look like?’
Left awkward and alone, Rania had no choice but to scramble to her feet as well.
“You really should eat it while it’s warm...”
Lania repeated herself, eyes going sad like an abandoned puppy.
“You don’t need to strain yourself making things like this from now on.”
Looking at her in silence for a moment, Ludville spoke quietly.
“Camilla makes them for me.”
With that, he set off at a calm pace.
The smile vanished completely from Rania’s face as she watched Ludville lead Camilla out.
Chapter. Addiction
“Hello, Priest Sera.”
“Oh my! Come in, Rania.”
Entering a small temple at the edge of the capital, Rania offered a bright greeting.
The woman addressed as Priest Sera rose with a radiant smile and came quickly to meet her.
“I heard the news. You found your father?”
“Yes!”
“That’s wonderful. It’s the grace of our Lord Midrad.”
“Thank you.”
“Priest Daniel is waiting, as it happens.”
“Yes, I’m here at his summons.”
“Priest Daniel was very pleased as well—at the fact you’ve gained family, Rania.”
“I’m so happy too.”
“Go on in that way.”
“Yes.”
Bobbing her head, Rania went where Priest Sera indicated. It was where the faithful secretly confessed their sins or troubles to clergy.
“Sir Daniel.”
“You’ve come.”
Opening the door revealed a small, dim space lit by a single, faint light.
A man in clerical garb, early thirties, sat there.
“I’m relieved you weren’t thrown out of the house.”
“Of course not.”
At Rania’s confident tone, Daniel gave a small, dismissive shake of his head.
“However, progress seems slower than expected.”
“It’s just...”
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue.
“Have I not told you the Order accepts no excuses.”
“...I’m sorry.”
“I explained how important the role entrusted to you is.”
“...I know.”
“Do you really?”
Rising, he stepped close to Rania and set his hand on her shoulder, lowering his voice.
“The fact that I entrusted this body to you means expectations were high.”
“...Yes.”
Her shoulder, under his hand, trembled slightly.
“I hear you haven’t even been properly acknowledged as a daughter yet.”
“The Duke of Sorpel is more suspicious than I thought...”
“Another excuse?”
Rania shut her mouth at once.
“Time is not abundant.”
Daniel’s sighing voice knifed into Rania’s ear.
“You must secure your place before the Guardian fully awakens. Do not forget this is the only chance to plant a person of the doctrine within a guardian house.”
“I’ll bear it in mind.”
Nodding deeply to show she understood, Rania glanced up at him and spoke carefully.
“But I think there needs to be a trigger.”
“A trigger?”
“Yes—something that would allow him to recognize me as his daughter.”
“Hm...”
After a moment’s thought, Priest Daniel nodded.
“We will handle that. We’ll prepare a stage where you can fully display your ability.”
“Thank you!”
“We had word from above recently.”
“A-Above?”
“Lord Alberto’s interest is very great.”
Rania went pale in an instant. She shivered and bowed her head on instinct.
As if Alberto stood right before her, she could not easily raise her eyes.
The deepening smile at Priest Daniel’s lips made it clear he liked what he saw.
“My expectations are high as well.”
“I—I’ll keep that in mind.”
Rising quickly, Rania added one last request.
“For now, I’ll win over the easiest party.”
“The easiest party...”
“Could the Order provide more of the magic texts it holds?”
“Understood.”
****
“Wow, it’s really big.”
Even as Rania kept exclaiming in wonder upon entering the Academy, Camilla made no particular reply.
“That I get to attend a place like this! I’m so happy!”
Starting today, Rania would be attending the Academy as well.
“I’m glad you like it.”
At present, Camilla was leading her to the building that housed the Department of Magic—Rania’s choice upon transfer.
“This way.”
“Ah, yes!”
After peering around nonstop, Rania hurried to Camilla’s side.
“Oh my.”
“Look over there.”
“Is that...?”
“It is! That’s the one we saw at the party!”
“Really?”
As expected, gazes flew at them the whole way. Many present had attended the party that day; everyone recognized Rania’s face.
“There are so many people.”
To ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ those stares, Rania sent her trademark pretty smile and delighted in it. People showed even greater interest in return.
“Here.”
“Ah! Here it is.”
“Then, take care.”
Arriving at the Magic building a moment later, Camilla turned to leave at once.
“You’re going?”
“Mm.”
Her part ended here.
Just as she pivoted—
“Camilla?”
—she ran into someone.
