Chapter 3: Summer Break is Here!

The first summer break since I had enrolled into the academy arrived. While the summer breaks here were nowhere near as long as the ones I had taken in my previous life, what mattered was that the Academy of Magic actually had summer breaks in the first place.

Over the break, most students would return home. I, Katarina Claes, was no exception to this. I went back home to Claes manor, where I was once again free to refine my anti-Catastrophic Bad End strategies. Firstly, I teamed up with the head gardener, Grandpa Tom, to enhance the realism of my projectile snake toys. This would be important if Jeord ever came at me with his blade.

I also read many books on agricultural methodology and theory, once again working the fields with a renewed passion — just in case I ever got exiled from the kingdom, and had to make a living as a farmer. However...

“No matter how I think about it... ah. I really do need to see the real thing...” I muttered, unwittingly drawing the attention of my adopted brother, Keith, who had been next to me all this time.

“...Whatever are you up to this time, Big Sister...?”

“The fields, Keith! I want to see a real agricultural field!”

“...Fields? Whatever do you mean by real? But there is a field right here!” Keith said, pointing to my many small fields that had slowly started invading the Claes manor’s gardens, surprise written all over his face.

I had to set Keith straight about fields. “I mean real fields, Keith! Not these ones set up by hobbyists in some sort of garden! I want to see large, industrial-scale fields, run and owned by farming families!”

“...Why?”

“But of course, Keith! Should certain events ever come to pass, this would ensure that I would be able to live as a capable farmer!” I said, puffing my chest out with pride. Keith, however, simply held his head in his hands.

“...I no longer know where or what to start commenting on... where indeed...”

I continued extolling the virtues of having a look at “real, industrial scale fields of farming families” to a seemingly exhausted Keith. Soon enough, he gave in and agreed.

A few days after I Keith had agreed, he accompanied me as we sneaked out of the mansion, intending to go look at real agricultural fields... in disguise.

The reason we were in disguise was somewhat simple — if the daughter of a duke just showed up in the middle of some fields, the farmers who worked it would be shocked. My mother, in turn, would surely be angry at the developments. A disguise would help prevent this from happening!

And so I dressed up as the daughter of a merchant family. Now that no one knew I was a noble, I was able to take an educational tour of the fields without causing a ruckus.

“As expected... the fields of a real farming family are really something else! The scale, structure, systems... all so very different!” I said, staring out of the horse carriage we had borrowed from a merchant family after the tour had ended.

The scenery outside the carriage was quite enjoyable. For a while, only large fields rolled by as the carriage moved along. But then the scenery started to change, and we were soon able to spot buildings in the distance.

“Ah! What is that, Keith?”

“Oh... that is a small town, Big Sister.” Keith said, looking out of the same window I was.

“Wow, there’s a town in a place like this!” I had been far too excited on the way to my educational tour, and as a result, hadn’t noticed the town at all.

“Indeed. If memory serves, this happens to be Miss Maria Campbell’s hometown.”

“?!”

What?! To think that this place was Maria’s hometown! Come to think of it, she was indeed born in a small town some distance away from the capital, or so I had heard... but here, of all places? I was surprised at the coincidence.

I see... so this is Maria’s hometown... Hmm... now that I think about it...

“Then... wouldn’t Maria be in that town right now? She did say that she would be going back to her hometown for summer break...”

“Hmm... Indeed, Big Sister. I do recall her saying something like... It can’t be! You don’t mean to—”

“Let’s go visit, Keith!”

“...I knew it...”

Although Keith claimed that “We would be a bother, we should really refrain, Big Sister...” I insisted that “We would visit only for a while!” Eventually, I managed to convince him, so Keith and I both headed for Maria’s hometown.

The town was a short distance away from the capital. It did indeed turn out to be small — just as I had heard from Maria. Although we had come all the way here in a great hurry, I realized that I didn’t quite know where Maria lived. Undeterred, I asked some of the townsfolk we passed by, and we were soon pointed in the direction of her house. I supposed this town was like the rural boonies that I had lived in in my previous life, where everyone knew each other’s faces and names.

Once we had the relevant information in hand, I charged all the way up to Maria’s house with Keith.

“Yes, and... who might you be...?” The woman who appeared in the doorway of the home was considerably beautiful — and resembled Maria strongly. I guessed that they must be related.

“Ah. I am Katarina Claes, a friend of Maria’s. Would Maria happen to be available?” Although I had greeted the woman with a cheerful smile and upbeat tone, she seemed terribly surprised — enough for it to show on her face.

“...Maria is... momentarily out. I think she will return soon... If you would like, would you prefer to wait inside?” With that, the woman invited Keith and I into her home. Although the Campbells lived in a normal house, one that most of the common citizens lived in, it was noticeably clean and tidy.

The woman introduced herself simply: “I am Maria’s mother,” she said.

A-ha. Related by blood, as I thought.

Even so... the more I looked at her, the more I felt like she was much prettier than my mother, although she also had a bit of an ephemeral feeling about her. At the very least, Maria’s mother didn’t seem like she was capable of giving her daughter a terrifying villainess face, even if there was somehow a mistake in the works.

Maria’s mother invited us to take a seat at a table — the Campbell’s dining table, presumably — and then presented us with tea and snacks.

“Are these Maria’s homemade snacks, too?” I asked, looking at the snacks that she had given us.

Maria’s mother, however, seemed even more surprised at this. “...No, I purchased them from a bakery in town. If I may ask... is she still baking snacks?”

“Yep! Maria is really good at what she does, I always ask if she can make them for me!”

“...You’ve been eating the snacks that... my girl makes?”

“Yes, all the time! They’re always so delicious!”

For some reason, Maria’s mother turned her gaze towards the ground at my words, before murmuring a response in a somewhat weak voice. “I... see...”

Shortly after the door opened, and in came Maria, holding bags of groceries in her arms. While she was shocked to see the two of us seated at her dining table, her surprise didn’t last long.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you over this summer break, Lady Katarina... but I am so glad that we were able to meet,” she said, seemingly pleased at the sight of Keith and me.

After that we spent hour after hour talking about one thing or another with Maria. Before I knew it, the sun had started to set, and we quickly made to leave the Campbell home.

As we had been in disguise for most of today, the horse carriage that we arrived in did not belong to us — it had been loaned to us by a merchant family we knew. Even so, we couldn’t just have a carriage stop outside a commoner’s house for such a long time, as it would draw a lot of attention. As a result, we had the coachman wait in the carriage at a plaza some distance away.

“I really should walk you to your carriage, Lady Katarina...” Maria said.

But I convinced her that she didn’t have to go through the trouble. “This is just fine, Maria.” After all, it would soon be time for dinner — Keith and myself aside, Maria would surely be busy with the preparations.

“Lady Katarina, Master Keith... Thank you very much for coming all the way here today.”

“No, not at all! In fact, I should apologize for suddenly showing up at your door, Maria...”

“That’s right, Big Sister. I do apologize that she hardly thinks these things through. I will ensure that word is sent ahead of time on our next visit.”

After that short exchange, we turned and made to leave — and it was then that Maria’s mother, who was silent with her head bowed for almost the entire time, approached us. And then...

“...If I may... please. I humbly leave my daughter in your care...” Maria’s mother said, bowing to us deeply. The sight of Maria’s beautiful mother, who Maria so closely resembled, bowing to us with such a serious expression was enough to make me a little nervous.

“Of course! I hope that we get along from here on out, too.” I replied, bowing accordingly.

And with that, we turned once more, walking towards the parked horse carriage with quickened pace.

★★★★★★★★★

I was born in a small town, a short distance away from the capital. I was said to be the most beautiful girl in the town, and all the townsfolk were kind to me.

When I came of age, I was engaged to the most courageous, dependable, and popular man in the town. After we wed, I took on the Campbell name. We received the blessings of all the townsfolk, and had a wonderful wedding. A few years later, my daughter was born to us — she resembled me closely.

I named my beloved daughter “Maria.” I had a wonderful husband and a sweet, wonderful daughter. My days were filled with happiness and joy.

That happiness, however, was all shattered the day magic manifested in my daughter.

“Magical aptitude” was a rare thing amongst the people of this kingdom. However, most of those who wielded magic were nobles. Few commoners would ever find themselves with magical aptitude.

Due to the rarity of a commoner wielding magical powers, rumors spread that Maria was a child born out of an affair with a noble. Nothing but rumors, of course. I had never once betrayed my husband, and Maria was undoubtedly our daughter. However, talk of my supposed unfaithfulness spread like wildfire throughout the town.

My husband reassured me at first. “Don’t worry. I don’t suspect you of anything,” he would say. However, the rumors became inflated over time, and perhaps it was all too much for him. Before I knew it, my husband stopped coming home altogether.

Even the townsfolk, whom we had gotten along with so well all this time, started distancing themselves from me. Before long, I had become fearful of their gazes, and started turning my eyes to the ground.

We were so blessed and happy before... Why did it all come to this? If only my daughter didn’t have any magical aptitude... If only I never had such a child... I caught myself with such thoughts. It surprised me to realize that I had started resenting my daughter.

Maria had done nothing wrong. Even though I understood that logically, I couldn’t quite control how I felt. As a result, I did all I could to avoid my daughter’s gaze.

Even though I did next to nothing for my daughter, Maria excelled in spite of her circumstances. She was able to perfectly carry out her household chores and errands, and also scored high grades at the local school she attended.

Although everyone praised my daughter for being special, there were hidden barbs in their words. They meant that Maria was “special” because she was the love-child of myself and a noble, or that she had cheated at her tests with the aid of magic.

There were also many who offered to adopt Maria. If I accept one of those offers... perhaps everything would work out. I had such thoughts often, but in the end, I found myself unable to accept those offers.

I was a terrible mother, continuing to avert my eyes from Maria. My daughter, however, merely kept smiling — as if her life depended on it. Even though she knew that I was a fool of a mother, Maria did not wish to let go of my hand.

To be honest, I had long since noticed. Although Maria was praised as a genius, or as a special child, I noticed... I knew. I knew more than anyone that Maria worked hard, that she did her absolute best...

At the sight of that, I felt my resentment towards Maria slowly evaporating. However, I continued to avert my gaze from my daughter, because I feared what I would see should I look at her once more.

Maybe... just maybe. My daughter would no longer forgive me. Perhaps she could no longer overlook my transgressions. Perhaps her eyes would be filled with distaste, disgust... or even scorn and disdain.

Our eyes continued to avoid each other, and eventually my daughter came of age — she was fifteen, and left for the Academy of Magic. The house became quiet and incredibly lonely without Maria.

A few days ago, Maria had returned home, apparently now on summer break. She now had a much brighter, cheerful expression on her face, especially when compared with how she was when she had left.

What exactly happened to my daughter across these few months? I would come face to face with the answer a few days later.

“Yes, and... who might you be...?”

It was a little after noontime when I heard the knocks. Upon opening the door, I found a young lady and youth, both about the same age as Maria. Although they were dressed in clothing that children of merchant families often wore, there was something different about them. They carried themselves with a regal aura.

“Ah. I am Katarina Claes, a friend of Maria’s. Would Maria happen to be available?” the brown haired-girl said, as the youth next to her bowed politely.

Maria’s... friends? I was shocked at these words. After all, Maria had been treated as an abnormality and oddity ever since her magic had manifested... as far as I knew, Maria had little in the way of friends.

“...Maria is... momentarily out. I think she will return soon... If you would like, would you prefer to wait inside?” From the way she stood and the dignified air about her, I assumed that this girl and her companion would hardly want to enter a house like this. Maria’s friends, however, didn’t seem to mind.

Our house was small and cramped — we didn’t even have a guest parlor. I had no choice but to seat them at the family dining table. The girl and her companion, however, didn’t display the slightest hint of dismay at this.

I quickly moved to prepare the best tea we had, in addition to laying out the best snacks the bakeries in this town had to offer. And then...

“Are these Maria’s homemade snacks, too?” the girl suddenly asked.

“...No, I purchased them from a bakery in town. If I may ask... is she still baking snacks?”

“Yep! Maria is really good at what she does, I always ask if she can make them for me!”

“...You’ve been eating the snacks that... my girl makes?”

“Yes, all the time! They’re always so delicious!” the girl said with a smile.

A few years ago, Maria had brought the snacks that she practiced so hard to make to school. That evening, however, she returned with reddened eyes. Ever since, I had never seen her bring her homemade snacks to anyone, or anywhere.

My daughter, who would always force herself to smile in my presence, often cried alone, trying her best to not make a sound. I was a failure of a mother, who never did a thing for her. Yet, in spite of all this, you’ve finally found friends... who will eat the snacks that you put so much love into.

After a while, Maria returned from her errands. Upon seeing the two seated at the table, she immediately broke into a bright smile. It was a smile that I had not seen for years — one of true happiness.

In these few months, my daughter had made such good friends, and was now able to happily smile once more. If my daughter changed... I had to change, too. I could not simply remain like this forever. If all I did was look at the ground and continue averting my eyes from Maria... perhaps one day I would be left behind. I had to change.

As the sun started to set, the girl and her companion turned to leave. It was then that I chased after them as quickly as I could.

“...If I may... please. I humbly leave my daughter in your care...” I bowed deeply.

The girl, however, merely smiled kindly. “But of course! I hope that we get along from here on out, too,” she said, bowing in reciprocation.

Watching them walk into the distance, I finally turned, only for my gaze to meet with my daughter’s. How many years had it been since I had met Maria’s gaze? Her eyes were glistening with tears. And soon I found my vision distorting, too.

There was not a touch of distaste, disgust, disdain... or even scorn in her eyes. Instead, reflected in her eyes was surprisingly... happiness. While we would not be able to return to how we were just overnight... perhaps, with time, we could both regain our lost days...

I approached Maria where she stood as the tears continued welling up in my eyes, before holding her shivering body in a tight embrace. Maria, who was just a little girl before, had already become as tall as I was.

★★★★★★★★★

After I unexpectedly met Maria and her beautiful mother, who looked all too similar to her daughter, I was in quite a good mood all the way until the horse-carriage we had borrowed arrived at the Claes manor. I hummed a tune as I skipped straight through the manor’s front doors.

“Big Sister, if you go through the main doors with those clothes still on...” Keith seemed to be muttering something, but I couldn’t hear him over my humming and skipping.

And then, as soon as I turned a corner in the manor’s hallways... I ran into none other than my villainess-faced mother, whom I unfortunately resembled. With her upwards-slanting, almond-shaped eyes, she stood in the hallway, like some sort of indomitable sentry.

“...A-Ahh... Mother...”

“Welcome back, Katarina,” Mother said, smiling. But her eyes weren’t smiling in the slightest. Almost immediately, an uneasy atmosphere filled the air. “Why, aren’t you dressed in quite the strange attire?”

“Ah... Um. This is...” I panicked, only realizing now that I still had my merchant clothing on.

“Well, my questions on the clothing can wait. We can have a good discussion about it later... But Katarina, today while attending a tea-party at a woman’s association I frequent... I heard the strangest, strangest rumors. Rumors regarding the Academy of Magic, of course. Would you happen to know anything about that...?”

“...Strange... rumors?”

“But of course, Katarina. Very strange rumors, if I do say so myself. Of a certain individual who has set up a crop field in an isolated corner of the venerable Academy of Magic...”

“...”

“In addition, it would seem that this person was a student at the academy! I do wonder, though. Would such an individual exist, Katarina? A student, the child of a noble family... working in a field?”

“...”

“Isn’t it the funniest thing you’ve ever heard, Katarina? But of course, no matter how I thought about it — about a noble child who would work in a field at the Academy of Magic, I mean — only a certain individual comes to mind. Perhaps we should have a... talk in my room, Katarina.”

With that, I was forcibly dragged into Mother’s room, before being harshly lectured for three hours. From then on, I was forbidden from going outdoors during summer break, no longer allowed to have snacks, and no longer allowed to work in the fields.

I did, however, receive assistance from Keith immediately after — he managed to convince Mother that I was growing a field of flowers at the academy. With that, she reluctantly withdrew the punishments that she had doled out to me.

But still... what an eventful start to the summer.

It had been a few days since my visit to Maria’s. I was relaxing and not doing anything in particular at Claes manor — quite the fulfilling time, in my opinion — when all of a sudden Jeord invited me on a hike.

“It is quite hot, Katarina, no? Perhaps we should go dipping in the cool waters of a nearby lake.”

It was as he said. With the summer heat at its peak, going swimming in a lake sounded wonderful. It just so happened that Keith was away for some social gathering of young noble lords, and I was free either way. So I agreed to Jeord’s proposal and started getting ready to go.

Under Jeord’s recommendation, I ended up in the same horse carriage as him, and soon we were on our way to the lake. For some reason, it felt like Jeord had moved strangely close to me while we were in the carriage. Perhaps it was just me overthinking things. But just as I had arrived at this conclusion, the carriage came to a sudden stop.

Eh? What’s this? A malfunction of some sort? I thought, surprised, only for the door of the carriage to slam loudly open. There, wheezing and breathless, was none other than my adopted brother, Keith.

“Haa... Haa... Big Sister, are you all right?” Keith said, gasping for air between breaths. What’s that supposed to mean?

“What are you talking about, Keith? I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong, I was just following Prince Jeord to the lake for a swim.”

“...But... that is precisely where the danger is...”

“Hmm? More importantly, Keith. Weren’t you away for that gathering of young noble lords today? Whatever are you doing here?”

Yes, Keith had left early in the morning. Why would he suddenly show up halfway on the road to the lake? Upon closer inspection, I recognized the silhouette of a familiar vehicle, the Claes carriage was a short distance behind him. I hadn’t asked Keith where exactly this gathering was held — maybe it was somewhere close to here? I posed the question to Keith.

“Well, not quite, Big Sister... in fact, it was held in a completely different location. I just so happened to run into Prince Alan before the gathering started. I heard from him that Prince Jeord had chosen to skip this gathering, and that he was here himself. That left me with a lingering feeling of dread... and I rushed back to the manor on gut instinct. As expected, Prince Jeord had left the grounds with you, Big Sister... All I could do was chase after you in a panic.”

Oh, I see! In other words... Hmm. I suppose Keith really did want to go out and have fun with Jeord and me. He must have been lonely, being left to his own devices like that! And here I was thinking he was already quite the adult... I suppose my brother still had a childish side to him. Fu fu fu.

“I understand, Keith. You were upset at having been excluded from this activity, yes? Well then, let us go together.”

“...Ugh, you really do not quite understand, do you Big Sister? In any case... I will be coming along too, Prince Jeord.”

“...To think that I had specifically chosen this time, and even brought her all the way out here... I really am surprised at your dedication, Keith. But it is quite the pointless thing you have done, you fool of a brother...”

Following this, there was a short discussion about if I should switch to the Claes carriage Keith had taken here. In the end, for some inexplicable reason, the three of us found ourselves seated in Jeord’s carriage.

Jeord and Keith sat next to each other, once again speaking enthusiastically, both with wide smiles on their faces. I, on the other hand, was left out of the conversation again, and instead decided to entertain myself by gazing at the passing scenery.

When we finally arrived at the lake, I was impressed by the cool and and grand beauty of it all. Before I knew it, I was running this way and that, taking in the sights. But as expected, all that running soon tired me out, and I eventually wandered back to the carriage to fall asleep on the comfortable upholstery.

“Truly, she is ever so defenseless, is she not? Tell me, Keith. How exactly has the Claes family raised her?”

“To my knowledge, she was raised just as any noble lady should be...”

As I flitted in and out of my dreams, it almost seemed like I heard Jeord and Keith both give out loud, exasperated sighs.

A few days after our enjoyable and fun hiking trip, I found myself attending one of Prince Alan’s performances with Mary.

Alan was going to be playing the piano for the entirety of his performance today. The crowds his concerts drew were truly remarkable. The older noble ladies in attendance, in particular, were impressive in their own right. Although they quietly listened during the performance, the sheer volume of their cheers after he finished a piece was reminiscent of the idol concerts I’d attended in my previous life.

Amidst the thunderous applause, the performance ended — and soon, Mary had joined Alan, making the rounds as they accepted bouquets from the audience.

“Prince Alan, it was a wonderful performance, as always!”

“Yeah. Thanks.” Alan’s brusque response was in stark contrast to how he was during his performances. Whenever he was performing, there was always a more mature aura about him — sometimes it almost seemed like he was gleaming in the spotlight. What a pity that the performance was over!

“Come to think of it... that last song in your performance today — it’s the first time I’ve heard it. The cheers and applause were something else altogether... what exactly was that song, Prince Alan?”

The applause after that one piece had been significantly louder than the rest. In fact, thinking back on it, some of the audience sounded like they were literally wailing... and that one older noble lady seated behind me had her cheeks flushed red, saying softly “Th-That song is...” as she started fidgeting and whispering excitedly.

“It’s the first time I’ve chosen to play that song, see. It’s called... ‘For you, my beloved.’”

Ah, I see. It’s a love song. Considering that Alan’s repertoire didn’t usually feature songs like this, it was evident why the audience was riled up. Even so...

“I see... ‘For you, my beloved,’ was it, Prince Alan? So were you thinking of someone you liked as you were performing the piece?”

Perhaps it was his fiancée Mary — or maybe even the protagonist Maria. Maybe even the childish Alan had become more of an adult. It was with those thoughts in mind that I had asked the question, even throwing in a faint smile for good measure.

“Eh? Someone I like? Wh-What’s that supposed to mean...”

“Hmm? But isn’t it that sort of song, Prince Alan? The sort of song that you play while thinking of the person you love, I mean.”

“M-Maybe that is the case... but i-it’s not like I have anyone I like...”

Oooh. This reaction means that Alan did indeed have someone in mind as he played! Maybe it was Mary, or even Maria — whatever the case, Alan walking the road to adulthood was a good thing.

“I-I... not really...” An intense blush had come over Alan’s features — he seemed to be muttering something to himself.

“Prince Alan, the ladies are waiting for you. Perhaps it would be best if we greeted them posthaste,” Mary said, sending Alan off to address the crowds, all the while flashing a few glances in my direction. Her expression seemed a little forced, and I couldn’t help but feel a little worried for her.

In the original setting of Fortune Lover, Mary had loved Alan greatly. I could not feel a shred of that looking at Mary now, however — it didn’t seem like she loved Alan very much at all. Or perhaps she just wasn’t interested in seeing the ladies in the audience fuss over him. Either way...

“...Um, Mary?” I supposed I should say something to her in this situation.

“...Oh, that was most dangerous. He was a sliver away from becoming aware... To think that I’ve made so many preparations across the years to ensure that he would not notice... This calls for additional measures of obfuscation afterwards... I simply cannot have any more enemies surface at this stage...” Mary stood, muttering to herself, a serious expression on her face as she did so.

As expected, Mary does like Alan more than she lets on after all! And in spite of the haphazard way she usually treats Alan... Perhaps there’s another side to her love? Or maybe this is how she shows it? With those thoughts in mind, I silently prayed that the individual Alan had thought about while playing that love song was indeed Mary, and not Maria.

The day after the performance, I found myself heading out on a shopping trip with Sophia. Although my summer break was not quite as long as the ones I had in my previous life, I found them incredibly fulfilling. In fact, I had all but forgotten about the homework issued to us over the summer. Those thoughts had long since sailed into the event horizon.

The plan for today was simple — we were to visit various bookstores in town. Romance novels usually started trending in towns like this one, so we might even find a few diamonds in the rough if we tried.

Sophia, in an effort to be less conspicuous, braided her hair and tucked it into her hat. Nicol was with us as an escort as usual — a normal occurrence, considering how much he loved his sister. However, between Sophia’s hair and Nicol’s ravishing appearance, the siblings stood out whether they liked it or not. In fact, I could already feel the passionate gazes of both men and women around us... truly impressive.

I, however, had lived my daily life surrounded by these beautiful people. I soon forgot about the passionate gazes of the townsfolk, and was instead preoccupied with taking in the town’s sights and sounds, zipping around here and there.

Although we had originally intended to only look at bookstores, we ended up visiting cute general stores, and even stopped at patisseries and candy stores, taken in by their delicious display stands.

Sophia, however, was not quite used to the town in general, and ended up being dragged here and there. Before I knew it, it was time for Sophia to return home, and for me to return to the Claes manor.

“Haa! Today was so much fun!” I said, armed with bags of snacks and various trinkets in both my hands — proof of my conquests.

Sophia agreed earnestly. “Yes... It is the first time I’ve enjoyed myself... so much, while walking about in town...” she said, a healthy shade of crimson creeping into her features.

Given that I had dragged Sophia all over town today, I was almost ready to think that she would no longer want to go on such trips with me, saying something like “I... don’t want to come here with her anymore...” So Sophia’s statement brought a much-needed sense of relief to my heart.

Soon enough, it was time for us to return by carriage.

“Ah! Lady Katarina... I enjoyed myself so much that I had forgotten... th-the most important thing I needed to do today!”

“Eh? What is it all of a sudden, Sophia?”

Sophia seemed to have been overcome by a sudden realization.

“Ah, I, um... I f-forgot to purchase the one thing I... really wanted. I will quickly... go and fetch it.”

Ah, she’s forgotten to buy something, I see. “In that case, I’ll come too!” I offered.

“N-No. Some of my servants will come with me... I’ll be fine! Please wait here with my brother, Lady Katarina... Um. Do your best, brother!” With a strangely suggestive smile, Sophia turned, before rushing off in the general direction of the shops.

After that, I found myself alone with Nicol. “Ah, off she goes...” I murmured.

“It does appear so.”

And that, as usual, ended my conversation with Nicol. But it would be a little awkward if we stayed quiet forever, so I, Katarina Claes, decided to rack my brain for a suitable topic of conversation. Before I could speak, however, Nicol broke the silence first — a rare occurrence indeed.

“Thank you very much for today. It is the first time I have seen Sophia this happy on a trip to town.”

“Oh, it was nothing. I had quite a bit of fun too!” To be precise, I felt that I was the one who had the most fun on this trip — so much so that I should tell Nicol that I would love to come on such a trip with the two of them again—

“Katarina Claes.” For some reason, Nicol was now looking straight at me with burning flames of passion in his jet-black eyes. I felt my heart skip a beat — it was like my entire being was trapped in his dark irises.

“My sister and I... are truly fortunate to have met you.”

“Ah? Um, Master Nicol?” I stuttered, feeling myself slowly being sucked into his gaze. To make things worse, Nicol was now speaking in a such a honeyed fashion...! Frozen to the spot, I could only watch as Nicol extended a single hand to my cheek.

“I know that an eternity is too much to ask. So... just for this moment. Please let me be by your side.”

Nicol’s almost-whispered words hit the circuitry of my mind with overwhelming force. I could feel my mind shorting out. I could no longer understand his words — I could only feel my head spinning from the sheer force of the Alluring Count’s devilish charms.

Sometime during my mental short-circuit, Sophia returned. And so we boarded the carriage and set off on our journey home... But I had been done in by the devilish powers of the Alluring Count, and couldn’t come up with a single topic of conversation I could have with Nicol on the way back.

With this, the fearsome power of the Count was once again made fresh in my mind. From what Nicol had told me during my birthday party last year, I had deduced that Nicol’s love interest was a married woman, or perhaps a man. Given his terrifying powers, I felt like there was no one alive who could withstand his advances...

All I could do was pray that Nicol does not go astray as he walked his path of forbidden love.

Over summer break, I found myself at a dance party organized by some noble house, and it was there that I ran into the student council president. The president was very popular at the academy — it perhaps goes without saying that he was popular at the dance party too.

In particular, he was often approached by noble ladies around his age. Apparently, the president had not yet formally announced a wedding engagement. A rare thing, given that he was the oldest son of a Marquis, and that he was seventeen years of age.

Ah, but of course, the Claes family had someone like that too — my adopted brother, who still hadn’t issued a formal declaration of engagement.

The president, much like Keith, would immediately deflect any talk of potential partners and engagements... I suppose some people have that luxury.

Or perhaps the members of his fanclub were similar to the fans of the Alluring Count, who, through surveillance and interference, placed immense pressure on anyone who dared approach Nicol. Of course, they would all have to give up eventually...

Curious, I greeted the president, deciding to find out why exactly he refused all those noble ladies. “Perhaps you aren’t very interested in marriage proposals and engagements, President?”

Upon hearing my question, a somewhat troubled expression came over his lovable face. “Ah, it is not quite like that... You see, everyone is so wonderful. It is very difficult to decide.”

Oh! So the president’s case was less like that of Nicol’s, and more like Keith’s... being unable to decide, they just keep refusing everyone who asks. If that is the case...

“Perhaps there is someone that you already have in mind...?”

It did seem like Keith, at least, already had someone in mind. Come to think of it, I had that feeling for quite a while now — ever since way back then. Although I had originally assumed that his love interest was Maria, I realized that that couldn’t be right, as he had seemed that way even before meeting her. Was it someone else, then...? But yet, he was now obsessed over Maria — or at least it seemed that way? Hmm. I didn’t really get it.

Was the President rejecting all potential partners because he already had someone in mind? Curious, I asked once again.

“Someone I have... in mind?” For an instant, the President assumed a somewhat harsh expression. In that moment, he seemed very different from his usual self. I started to panic — perhaps I had upset him with my apparently rude questions.

“Ah, um, I...”

“No one.”

“...Eh...?”

“It’s as I said. I have no one in mind,” the president said, as his sharp gaze — as sharp as his words, met with my own. I felt an involuntary shiver go down my spine.

“U-Um... President...?”

The President had become markedly different from his usual, calm self. I found myself unable to relax at the sight of this.

“Yes. The dance begins soon, Lady Katarina. Your partner, Prince Jeord, is already waiting for you in that corner over there,” the president said, once again with his usual smile and calm air.

What? Did I imagine all that? Although there were still some questions left in my mind, I ended up lost in a passionate conversation about romance novels with Sophia and Maria — and I forgot all about that strange conversation we just had.

My short but fulfilling summer vacation eventually came to a rapid end. But...

“Keith, please! I still haven’t finished this... and this... and that!”

“...Big Sister. What exactly have you been doing for the entirety of this break...? You have not done any of your homework or assignments! How many times have I reminded you, Big Sister? How many times have you said ‘I promise it will be done’? And in the end you have not even touched a single... question. Whatever will you do? We are already slated to return to the academy tomorrow...”

“B-But! I’ve done a little bit...! Just a little!”

“And by a bit... would you happen to mean these few words, written in this one book?”

“...I’m sorry, Keith...”

“In any case... I suppose I do have to take responsibility for taking your words at face value, Big Sister...”

My words at what value now...? Ugh... how could you, my brother...!

“We have no other choice! We will have to ensure that it is done before we return to the academy! I will help, Big Sister.”

“...All right...”

That was why I ended up staying up all night just two days before we returned to the academy, doing my utmost best to complete the assignments I was given. I felt like my head was swirling, my thoughts shrouded by a severe lack of sleep.

Come to think of it, however, this was how I finished my summertime assignments in my previous life, too. Ah... how nostalgic.