Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ellie lunged toward me with a sharp cry. She closed distances as well as I would expect from someone who was receiving direct instruction from Mr. and Mrs. Walker. Her training may only have begun in earnest recently, but they had probably been preparing her for it for quite some time.

I almost smiled with joy in spite of myself when—

Whoops!

I retreated to evade Ellie’s knife hand strike, only to step on something...unusual. The next thing I knew, I could feel my left foot sink into the ground and my leg froze solid.

“You fell for it!” Tina cheered. “Today’s the day I finally beat you!”

“Y-You mean, today’s the day we beat him, Lady Tina!”

I was glad the two girls were such good friends, but I would have to deduct points from them for losing focus during combat. As they continued to banter, I used a temperature-control spell to melt the ice and escape. I then closed in on Ellie in an instant, seized her left hand, and hurled the startled maid skyward.

“Ellie!” I heard Tina shout as I kicked the ground and accelerated, weaving a spell as I went. “Th-This isn’t over! I haven’t lost yet!” She readied her training wand, and a beat later, a barrage of ice balls appeared. There were more than I could count, and they were barreling toward me.

Good. Just as I predicted.

I cast fire spells to intercept Tina’s projectiles in midair and simultaneously activated a water spell to cover the area in an artificial mist that obscured her vision.

“Huh? I-I can’t see anything in this...”

“L-Lady Tina?”

Both girls sounded confused; it seemed that they still relied on their eyes more than mana detection to track me. I would need to work with them on breaking that bad habit. As for me, I was able to sense them both clearly. Ellie had landed softly with the aid of a wind spell, while Tina was erecting a wall of ice in an attempt to shore up her defenses. Therefore...

“That’s cold!”

“Eek!”

“There,” I said plainly. “Tina, Ellie—you lose.”

After striking both Tina and Ellie on the forehead with a drop of water and declaring my victory, I dispersed the mist with a light clap of my hands. The shocked looks on their faces were so similar that they could have been mistaken for sisters. Once the girls realized what had happened, they hung their heads, letting out dejected groans as they approached me.

“Another defeat...”

“We lost again...”

“Tina—your trap was a good idea, and you managed to camouflage it well. You pass.”

“O-Of course I do.”

“Ellie—the speed at which you close distances in close-quarters combat is increasing by the day. You also used a wind spell when you landed, didn’t you? It was impressively silent.”

“Oh, um... Th-Thank you very much, sir...”

“However, you both need to maintain focus during battle. Also, you haven’t broken your bad habit of tracking me with your eyes. It can be difficult to track someone using mana when you’re not used to it, but it’s an essential skill, so keep trying. Oh, right—I hit you both with water droplets.”

I took a handkerchief out from my pocket and used it to wipe the girls’ foreheads. Please hold still... It’s harder to dry you off when you’re wriggling about like that.

“Why don’t I switch to painless wind shots next time?” I proposed. “You can stay dry that way, and—”

“Absolutely!”

“Not!”

“I-I see. Well then, let’s try one more round. But first, it appears to be time for tea.”

I had caught sight of Mrs. Walker and several other maids on the other side of the wall that enclosed the indoor training ground. They had recently taken to watching for opportunities to bring us tea, which came as a relief to me.

“Hmph! I’ve still got plenty of energy!” Tina declared. “And we don’t have many days left, so...”

“I-I’m fine too!” Ellie chimed in. “I-I can keep going!”

“I can see that, but it’s also important to take short breaks to consider and apply what you’ve just learned,” I replied. “Come along now. Your tea will get cold otherwise. Just look—you can see great big horns growing on Mrs. Walker’s head.”

“S-Sir!” Tina warned me, struggling to keep a straight face. “If Shelley hears you say that...” Her words trailed off as she burst into laughter.

“A-Allen, sir...” Ellie added nervously. “Grandma has, um, very good hearing...”

And, of course, the moment she said that...

“Mr. Allen. Might I have a word? Lady Tina, Ellie—your tea is ready.”

Oh dear. It appears I’ve attracted the wrong person’s attention.

As Mrs. Walker approached, I undid the top button of my shirt in preparation for the imminent storm. As usual, she exuded an intimidating air that belied her age.

“I hope you’ll show a little restraint this time,” I said.

“Of course, sir. I will confront you to the best of my abilities. And I assure you, I was showing restraint in the past.”

“That certainly isn’t what I wanted to hear...”

“I, Shelley Walker, have served the Ducal House of Howard for more than forty years, and I’m not in my dotage yet! Now, have at you!”

✽

That’s much better; I knew I couldn’t do without hydration after exercising.

I set my teacup down on its saucer with a clack. Across from me, the maids were tending to Mrs. Walker, who was slumped in her chair, exhausted.

“M-Mrs. Walker! A-Are you all right?!”

“Right as rain,” she answered, albeit after catching her breath. “I haven’t a scratch on me. I’m just a bit...tired. It’s been a long time since I seriously exerted myself.” She fell silent again, and then she added, “Don’t mind me. See to Mr. Allen instead.”

“Ah! Ma’am! I-Isn’t that stretcher here yet?!”

Oh, well...

To be frank, Mrs. Walker had astonished me. I had held back as much as I could, but still. Given the way she moved, plus the speed of and weight behind her strikes, she must have been an incredible fighter in her prime; it was only because I was so used to being on the receiving end of the albatross’s swordplay that I had managed to withstand our bout. And Mr. Walker was no slouch either. The whole family was incredible.

Well now... What have we here? The maids are surrounding me?

“Mr. Allen, allow me to wipe away your sweat.”

“Oh, no faaair! I was going to do that!”

“Allow me to refill your teacup, sir. You’re not hungry, are you?”

I shifted my gaze to Mrs. Walker and found that she was wearing a defiant grin. So, that’s how it is. You may have lost, but you won’t let me get off unscathed.

“Hey! You there! Stand aside! I’ll tend to my tutor!”

“Th-That’s right! The only one who should tend to Mr. Allen...is m-me!”

Sure enough, Tina and Ellie were back in action. They had been stiff as boards until a moment ago, unable to process what was happening...but now they pushed aside the deliberately overattentive maids and defensively barred them from reaching me. The two girls were playing right into their hands.

“That strikes me as rather tyrannical.”

“It does! Even Ellie’s joining innn!”

“Do you want him all to yourselves that badly?”

The smirking maids relentlessly taunted the girls; it appeared that the Howards’ maids found more time in their daily routines for antics than I’d imagined. I doubted they really meant any of it, but Tina and Ellie were still too young to realize that. The children were enmeshed in their snare.

“I-I do! He’s my tutor, after all!”

“N-Not only yours, Lady Tina! Mr. Allen...means a lot to me too...”

“Ooh, reeeally?” the maids chorused in response. “He means a lot to you, does he? But can you prove it?”

Tina and Ellie were momentarily speechless. The most they could do was let out furious groans.

I ought to give them pointers on how to deal with underhanded tactics like— No, that would be a terrible idea. Teaching them things like that would only lead to more anxiety for me. I want these girls to grow up to be as noble, honest, beautiful, and straightforward as possible.

“I-I slept in his bed not too long ago!” Tina blurted out.

“T-Tina?!” I spluttered.

“W-Well, I slept in Mr. Allen’s bed too!” Ellie added. “I even got him to comb my hair in the morning!”

“Ellie?” Tina pressed after a moment of silence. “I don’t remember that. Sir?”

“You were sound asleep, Lady Tina,” Ellie answered for me. “And drooling.”

Tina was now glaring at me. I forced an awkward laugh and decided it was high time we resumed the day’s lesson.

“This conversation isn’t over yet, sir. Do my hair too.”

“I’ll consider it. If the opportunity presents itself.”

“Opportunities don’t present themselves, sir; you have to make them. I’d like you to do my hair tonight, and every night thereafter.”

“A-Allen, sir...” Ellie added. “I’d, um...like you to do mine too...”

“Very well,” I said, my response causing both girls to widen their eyes. “But on one condition.”

“A condition, sir?”

“D-Do you mean...”

I exchanged a look with Mrs. Walker, who was now receiving the maids’ ministrations. Thank you very much. You’ve set an excellent example for these girls.

“If you can land one hit on me—be it a strike or a spell—then I’ll comb your hair, let you sleep next to me, or anything else you want. You have my word. Oh, but please keep it within reason.”

“I can get him to do my hair morning and evening. And then...”

“I-I’ll have him sleep next to me... Also, um...”

The girls were both off in their own worlds. It was something that seemed to be happening with increasing frequency of late, but if it motivated them, I welcomed it.

“Well then. Are you ready?” I asked them. “Try to take a few pointers from how you just saw Mrs. Walker move and use her spells.”

“Yes, sir!” the two girls answered.

✽

I closed the book I had been reading with a sigh; it contained no information about Frigid Crane either. I then reached for my black tea, which had cooled enough that it now tasted somewhat bitter. I had read nearly a thousand books since my arrival, but I had yet to discover a single one that could teach me anything. After finishing almost every promising work in the archive, I had recently moved on to the collection in Tina’s greenhouse room. It was too much trouble to lug books back to my room, so I had taken to spending my nights holed up in the greenhouse alone.

I had made no discoveries that were worthy of mention, but...something was a little odd. I could understand there being a dearth of material about the great spells in texts dating from the War of the Dark Lord—that was the point from which these spells had become legends at best and fairy tales at worst, so official documents were unlikely to attach much importance to accounts of them—but texts dating before the war were another story. The great spells were supposed to have been regarded as “fact” in those days—more so than they were now, at any rate—so why, after all my research, had I failed to turn up any new information on them? It was as if someone had thoroughly and deliberately concealed it.

The old royal capital was supposed to have housed a great library. If only it hadn’t been lost during the War of the Dark Lord...

At present, only two things about Frigid Crane were clear to me: First, that it was symbolic of the ice element and took the form of a crane with outspread wings when cast. Second, that it had supposedly been used to counteract the great fire spell Flaming Qilin in the decisive battle that had brought an end to the age of strife that once engulfed the entire continent. Legend had it that the two casters had met on the battlefield and that their confrontation had ended in a draw. Neither person’s name was preserved.

That was all the information I had.

The situation was much the same with regard to the other great spells. I could not in good faith deny that I was at an impasse. It was possible that the elders of the long-lived races—elves, dwarves, giants, and the like—might know something more, but it would be a struggle to get any information out of them, since the very subject was apparently “taboo.”

The only remaining unread document in my possession was that diary, but its cipher had proven to be harder than I’d anticipated. I doubted that I would be able to decrypt it any time soon. I had managed to decipher just a little bit of the first page after my initial attempt, but...the contents launched abruptly into a torrent of complaints, seemingly written by a young woman.

I doubted I would know whether the diary was truly of value until I had read it cover to cover. This was a task I would much rather have foisted on—my apologies, entrusted to the professor and his fellow specialists.

Tina’s spells were activating without issue, and I hadn’t sensed “it” since her outburst. That said, whatever it was definitely existed, and preparing a method to keep it under control was certainly wise. Only a small part of it had escaped during that incident, and that blizzard had been the result. If it were to manifest completely...

I still wasn’t certain that it could be controlled, but the safety of my student hung in the balance.

Just as I was about to fetch my next book, I heard the door open. “I thought I’d find you here, sir,” spoke a familiar voice. “I could see the light from outside.”

“Oh? And what do you want me for at this hour of the night?”

Tina stepped into the room, dressed in her nightgown and clutching Anko in her arms; the familiar had recently taken to sleeping with her rather than Ellie. She trotted over to me, pulled up a chair next to mine, and then sunk into it as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Anko curled up on the table.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Tina answered. “I suppose I’m a little nervous, and I was hoping that my plants would lend me their support.”

“I see. Oh, you’ll catch a cold dressed like that.”

I took the coat I had hung over the back of my chair and draped it around her. It was too large for her, and it must have tickled, because she squirmed so much she appeared to be swimming.

“Thank you very much. Um...sir?”

“Yes?”

Tina paused for a beat before continuing. “If we fail tomorrow, does that mean we won’t get to go to the royal capital?”

“Well...I suppose it is possible, depending on the outcome. Still, I’m confident that it won’t come to that. Even if the duke does by some chance forbid you to go, there’s no need to worry—I’ll talk him round. You and Ellie will be fine.”

“Do you really mean that?”

“I do.”

“Does that mean you believe in me—in us?”

“Of course it does. I’m your tutor, after all, and what kind of tutor doesn’t have faith in his students?”

“I’m glad,” she replied after a moment. “So glad...”

She rested her small head on my shoulder. That would ordinarily be my cue to tease her a little, but I supposed she couldn’t help it that day. If my shoulder could do anything to relieve her tension, she was welcome to it.

“Would you mind my telling you something, sir? It won’t take long.”

“Not unless you mind my hearing it.”

“I don’t mind, sir. You’re the only one I’d tell.”

“Thank you very much. I’m honored.”

Tina raised her head to meet my gaze. She was just a little teary-eyed, and she looked somewhat bashful as she began to speak.

“It’s about my mother.”

✽

I think I’ve already told you that my mother passed away when I was very young. Father tells me she fell ill from unknown causes after I was born. She was in excellent health before then—I’m told that she’d never been ill a day in her life—but...

In my memories, mother is always in bed, with a hefty book in her hands and several more piled on her bedside table. Tee hee. Just like you are now, sir.

I loved having mother read to me, whether from picture books or grown-up ones, and I remember that I was always begging her to read me more. I just wanted to talk to her. My favorites, even though they frightened me, were the stories of the great heroes—and the great spells they wielded.

There was Blazing Qilin, with which an imperial countess was said to have reduced the eastern capital to ashes; Frigid Crane, which froze battlefields solid alongside the Lady of Ice, a hero of the kingdom; Tempest Kingfisher, which traveled the world with its wielder and healed the scars left after the heroes’ passing...

Those were the only three mother told me about, but... Ever since I can remember, I’ve been unable to cast spells—I’ve been held in contempt and called “the Howards’ cursed child.” I think my memories of mother reading me those stories are the reason I never lost hope.

People may mock me for it, but I believe that the great spells do exist. That’s why I want to go to the royal capital and the Royal Academy, even if my father disapproves. Those stories are mementos of my mother; I want to prove that they’re true.

...You’re the first person I’ve told this to, sir. Thank you for listening to me.

✽

I see...

“Huh? S-Sir?”

It seemed that Tina’s mother had been even more impressive than I’d given her credit for. I seemed to recall hearing that she and the duke had met at the Royal Academy. Still, I wished that I could have met her in person. How in the world had she collected stories about the great spells—stories that couldn’t be found even in the Royal Library? And why hadn’t she left them behind her?

“S-Sir, um...”

Were they written in that diary? No, that wouldn’t make sense. It was much too old.

I had found a number of bookmarks in the pages of volumes Tina’s mother had left behind. Judging by their locations, it was just possible...that she had known the cause of her beloved daughter’s magical impairment.

“S-Sir!”

I looked curiously at Tina. Her gaze was downcast and she was blushing furiously, as though she were finding something difficult to bear.

What have we here?

I checked the position of my right hand to discover that I had been rubbing her head without realizing it. I withdrew my hand immediately, conscious that I had succumbed to my bad habit once again.

“Ah...”

“Pardon me; I must have startled you. I rubbed your head without thinking.”

“Y-You did startle me,” Tina stammered, her voice beginning to dwindle, “but...I didn’t mind it. In fact...you could keep...”

“That was a fascinating story, Tina. Your mother must have truly loved you.”

“Hmph. I wouldn’t know. I mean, I was so young.”

“What? Oh, I see. You haven’t realized. Would you take a look at this?”

I picked up one of the books arranged beside the table and showed a bookmarked page to the nonplussed girl sitting beside me. The page contained the basic formula for an ice spell, above which were meticulous notes in a woman’s hand.

“This is... Sir, do you think...?”

“I’ve had the pleasure of reading a fair number of the books here in these past three months.”

“You call that ‘a fair number’? I bet it would take an ordinary person a decade to read as much as you have since you arrived.”

“Flattery won’t earn you any head pats.”

“I’m being serious. Jeez.”

“A number of the books I’ve read contain bookmarks, and the marked pages have one thing in common—they all concern the basic elements of ice magic. Every marked book also has the same personal bookplate on the final page. I’m sorry to say that there were no traces of anyone having read them before I did. I suspect she had no opportunity to relay the details before she...” I allowed my words to trail off. “Were the books in this room taken from the archive, by any chance?”

“Yes, they were. But what does that—”

“I don’t know your mother personally, but I can tell that she must have been concerned about how her children would fare after her passing. The notes she left in these books make that much obvious.” I chuckled. “To tell the truth, the ice spells I’ve taught you came from these books, albeit with some improvements of my own. In other words—”

Tina threw her arms around me, and I felt something warm dripping onto my chest. I gently patted her back. We must have stayed like that for some time before Tina raised her head, looked at me, and said, “Sir, I’m going to win tomorrow. I’m going to win and go to the royal capital and then to the Royal Academy.”

“That’s the spirit. Don’t worry—I guarantee that you and Ellie can do it. If you’re ever feeling nervous, then...”

“Then what, sir?”

“Then remember our secret.”

“I will.”

Later, while I was escorting Tina to her room, we ran into Ellie. She didn’t so much as hesitate to try to cast a spell. I stopped and attempted to pacify her, with some success...but then Tina started goading her on, spurring Ellie to try once again. We repeated the whole cycle several times over. They did remember that their final exam was the next day, didn’t they?

How strange... I thought I’d arranged their education so that they wouldn’t turn out like this. Oh well. The best-laid plans often go awry, especially when girls are concerned.

✽

The next morning was sunny for a change. I was glad for a glimpse of the sun; thick clouds had been obscuring it for some time. It seemed that I did prefer warm weather after all.

After my regular morning practice, I toweled myself off and headed to breakfast. On my way, I greeted the maids and apprentice butlers whom I had come to know and like over the past three months. It pained me to think that I would soon be saying goodbye to these people as well.

Still...I wondered why some of them had jokingly taken to calling me “the future master of the house.” I seemed to recall the Leinster maids making similar remarks when I’d been abducted and forced to spend the summer on the Leinster estate—in fact, I half-suspected that they had dedicated their lives to having fun at our expense. My assumption had been that the Howard servants were quite sober in comparison.

The pleasant aroma of soup greeted me as I reached the dining hall. The meal, as usual, was simple yet delicious. I’d gotten them to teach me the recipe, and I made a mental note that I ought to try making it for myself sometime.

“Good morning, Mr. Allen,” Mr. Walker greeted me near the entrance.

“And to you, Mr. Walker. What of Duke Walter?”

“He says that he ‘will not fraternize with the enemy who aims to steal his daughter away until all is said and done.’”

“Oh, I see. In that case, may I ask you to deliver a message?”

“Yes, sir. By all means.”

“Tell him, ‘Your daughter shall be mine.’”

“Very well, sir. Mr. Allen?”

“Yes?”

“Might I convince you to take Ellie?”

I almost goggled at the head butler in spite of myself. Where in the world had that come from? This was the same man who had been challenging me to battles alongside his wife until just recently, wasn’t it?

“Merely a joke, sir.”

“Oh. Y-Yes, of course.” I forced a laugh. “That’s just like you, Mr. Walker; I couldn’t help but wonder what you meant for a moment there.”

“I’ll need you to defeat me first, at the very least.”

“Huh? Wh-What do you mean by—”

The door slammed open, cutting off my question, and a pair of voices greeted me as energetically as ever.

“Oh, sir! Jeez! Didn’t I tell you to wait for us?!”

“Good morning, Allen, sir.”

Tina and Ellie approached me, looking refreshed. Tina wore the same deep blue dress I had first seen her in and had a pure white ribbon in her hair. Ellie was dressed in her usual maid’s uniform; she apparently intended to take the test as normal.

Good. They should have no trouble now.

“Good morning,” I greeted them. “I take it you’re both fully prepared?”

“Yes, sir!” came two replies.

“Excellent. But don’t forget to eat a proper breakfast first.”

“We won’t.”

I sat down, and the girls took the seats on either side of me. Meals were always like this lately. The nearby maids smirked, and the apprentice butlers and gardeners glared at me as though I had killed their parents. I hadn’t made my peace with the situation, but I decided to accept it without complaint.

It was then that I felt a tug on my left sleeve.

“Allen, sir.”

“Yes?”

“Do you like the soup?”

“It’s delicious,” I answered after a brief pause to consider.

Ellie giggled. “I’m glad. I’m the one who made it today. I just had to cook for you, sir.”

“Then you’re a good cook on top of everything else, Ellie. That’s splendid.”

“Y-Yessir! Th-Thank you very much, shir...” The maid stared at me and fidgeted. “S-So, um, I mean... If you let me stay with you, I’m sure I’d... Well, I’d cause you lots of trouble, but...but I...”

She was simply ador— Ow. That’s cold. Ice crystals fluttered around us like blossoms, and someone pinched my right hand. Say no to violence!

“Sir, we’re in the middle of a meal,” Tina reprimanded me. “Ellie, that was improper of you as well. Our final exam is today; do you think we have time to waste on merrymaking? I certainly don’t.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“As long as you understand. By the way, sir...”

“Yes?”

After a moment of silence, Tina said, “I suppose you think a girl ought to know how to cook.”

“No, not especially.”

“Y-You mean it, sir?!” she asked, all of a sudden eagerly leaning forward.

“L-Lady Tina! We’re in the middle of breakfast!”

This time, Ellie was the one admonishing Tina, a hint of anxiety in her eyes. Her Highness, however, refused to stop.

“Do you really, truly mean it, sir?!”

“I never lie. I’m sorry to say that, of the few girls in my social orbit, just about the only one who knows how to cook...is Ellie.”

Upon hearing this, Ellie looked at me with wide eyes.

Tina groaned. “Th-That makes me feel a bit conflicted in its own right... Maybe I’d better learn to cook after all...”

“Y-You’re fine just the way you are, Lady Tina!” Ellie interjected. “Um, I mean, cooking is my job. Sewing and cleaning too!”

“You’re only saying that to make yourself look better, aren’t you?” Tina asked her maid pointedly. “Since when have you been such a crafty little schemer?”

“G-Grandma told me that ‘if you can win over a gentleman’s stomach, you’ll most likely crush the competition’!”

That took Tina aback for a moment. “How could Shelley...?” she murmured. “And why won’t anyone else teach me to cook either? Do you all hate me? Is that it?”

The onlookers’ gazes shifted nervously. Even Mr. Walker shook his head with a wry smile.

I see...

It was then that Mrs. Walker entered. “My lady! What is the meaning of this unbecoming behavior?!” she exclaimed. “I could hear you out in the hallway! Sitting next to Mr. Allen is no excuse to forget that you are a daughter of the House of Howard.”

The scene made it obvious whose granddaughter Ellie was.

“Shelley,” Tina addressed the head maid with a smile, rising to her feet after a brief silence.

“Wh-What is it, my lady?”

Tina waited another moment before making her demand. “Teach me to cook too.”

“My humble apologies; I’ve just remembered that I’ve neglected absolutely all of my duties. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

The Howards’ head maid moved like a shot. She attempted to flee so quickly that I wondered if she might be a little too spry for her age. Nevertheless, creepers of ice instantly restrained her, causing a stir to run through the onlookers.

“Magnificently done,” Mr. Walker praised Tina’s handiwork.

Mrs. Walker appeared overcome with emotion. “My lady...” she said. “I never dreamed that you had come so far...”

“Ellie, it looks as though you’d better not activate that spell,” I warned the maid beside me.

“Y-Yessir.”

Ellie obediently abandoned the spell she had been preparing. I doubted that anyone aside from myself and Mr. Walker had noticed it. As I had already noted during our practice sessions, Ellie’s spells were extremely silent prior to activation; by the time she grew up, she would be able to fire them off without anyone being able to see them coming. It was a little pleasing to see that her style somewhat resembled my own.

As I reflected on Ellie’s talents, Tina continued her threats—ahem, demands—from her position beside me. “Now, Shelley—promise to teach me how to cook,” she said.

“Th-That... That is the one request I cannot grant...not even for you, my lady!”

“Oh, is that so?” Tina answered after a tense pause.

“M-My lady!” Genuine panic entered Mrs. Walker’s voice—a rare occurrence. “C-Casting a spell of that magnitude here would be...!”

The nearby maids each readied defensive spells, but none of them made any move to leave.

...Are you certain you’re not enjoying this? Oh, they’re using any apprentice butlers who failed to escape in time as shields. Perhaps that could be the start of a romantic— No? I see. This has been a somewhat unpleasant display of the power dynamics between the sexes.

I snapped my fingers, collapsing the advanced spell Tina had been constructing and dispelling the vines of ice, at which point Mrs. Walker ran off as fast as her legs would carry her. Could she be lying about her age after— Oh, this vegetable soup certainly is delicious.

Tina was beside me, glaring resentfully. “Sir, why did you get in my way? What will you do if my inability to cook leaves me unable to find a husband? Are you planning to take responsibility for that outcome?”

“Please don’t bring up such serious subjects so casually. Now, say ‘aah.’”

“Huh? Aah...”

I brought a spoon to Tina’s mouth. At that moment, I knew just how a mother bird felt feeding her chicks.

The maid on the other side of me leapt to her feet with a wordless scream.

“Do you like it?” I asked Tina.

“It’s delicious,” she admitted after a pause, “but also frustrating. I could never make soup as good as this.”

“That’s because you haven’t devoted any time to cooking. But...” I smiled at the sulking girl. Ellie, there’s no need to panic. “All that means is that you can still learn, like how you learned magic. Am I wrong?”

“Like with magic, sir?”

“That’s right.”

Tina giggled. “I was a bit mean to Shelley. I’m told that students take after their teachers, so that’s your fault, sir. May I ask you to take responsibility for that too?”

“Here, Ellie. Say ‘aah.’”

“Huh? Oh, uh, um... A-Aah.”

I fed a spoonful of soup to the maid, who was struggling to keep up with the situation. I knew she was a nice girl... I started to muse, but I was pulled from my thoughts by a blast of cold air and a frustrated outburst.

“You’re always, always, always like this, sir! Jeez! Jeez, I say! Jeez!”

“I can’t help it, Tina—your and Ellie’s reactions are just so fun—uh, charming. Please forgive me. I can see that there’s nothing the matter with either of you.”

“I-If you think I’ll stop being upset just because you called me ‘charming,’ well...I will. I’m totally fine; that long talk we had yesterday really lifted my spirits!”

“Ch-Char-Charming... I’m charming...”

“Come back to us, Ellie,” I said.

“Y-Yessir!” the maid hastily replied. “I-I’m fine. I went over everything with Lady Tina this morning.”

“Well done. I’m impressed.”

Ellie let out a startled little cry as I rubbed her head.

“Sir,” Tina complained after a moment, “you always give Ellie special— Ah.”

I rubbed her head as well, running my fingers along her ribbon as I did so.

I’m sure they’ll be fine. If the duke isn’t satisfied with these girls now...then he never had any intention of allowing them to go to the academy. Be that as it may, I’m going to make certain they win. I hope that they never have to use this, but my father taught me that “preparation is the most important part of any undertaking.” So, I’ll just—

“Sir.”

“Allen, sir.”

Two slightly anxious faces met my eyes. I flashed them a smile.

“Don’t worry. You’re going to win today.”

✽

After breakfast, I escorted the girls to their final exam.

Thanks to Tina’s insistence that “this is an emergency stress-relief measure!” and Ellie’s stammered agreement, the two of them were clinging to my arms. If it would do even a little to help them relax, I wouldn’t complain that day.

Now, Anko, why are you on my head and not my shoulder? It makes it easier for you to see? Well, I suppose I can’t argue with that.

Our group of three humans and one familiar headed past the main house and detached building to the indoor training ground. It was plain to look at, as one might expect from the Howards with their emphasis on hardy simplicity, but the thickness of its pillars and the outer wall that encircled it spoke to the intensity of the training that took place within.

We entered the circular structure and found Mrs. Walker waiting for us, holding a cloth-wrapped object. A plethora of maids accompanied her. A large man was already standing in the center of the training ground with his arms crossed and his back to the entrance; his hair was the same pale, bluish color as Tina’s. Mr. Walker, the apprentice butlers, and the gardeners were gathered on the opposite side of the arena.

I see... The household is divided into those in favor and those opposed. I’m sure Mr. Walker followed the dictates of loyalty.

Mrs. Walker stopped me not long after we had arrived, still clutching the cloth-wrapped object in both hands. “This way, Mr. Allen. You’re not to interfere,” she said. “Lady Tina, Ellie.”

“Right!” Both girls nodded and let go of my arms.

Oh, that’s right—I almost forgot something important. “Mrs. Walker, would you provide Tina with a training wand?” I asked.

“That won’t be necessary,” Mrs. Walker replied. “Lady Tina, this is for you.”

With that, Mrs. Walker removed the cloth and handed Tina a rod topped with a beautiful azure crystal. I could sense powerful mana resembling Tina’s emanating from the rod itself.

“Sh-Shelley...” Tina stammered. “Th-This is...”

“This rod belonged to the mistress—to Duchess Rosa. She left it in my keeping and wished me to pass it on to you when you learned magic. Please pardon me...for not delivering it to you until today.”

“Mother’s! Thank you. I’ve nothing to fear now!” Tina declared, her eyes now ignited with fighting spirit.

Mrs. Walker started sobbing soon after handing over the rod—this whole exchange must have been hard on her as well. Ellie grasped her weeping grandmother by the hand in an attempt to comfort her.

Ah, how wonderful.

“All right!” Tina exclaimed. “Let’s go, Ellie! Watch us, won’t you, sir?”

“Yes, Lady Tina!” Ellie responded. “We’ll hit this man with everything Mr. Allen taught us!”

“Good luck, you two!” I told them.

“Yes, sir!”

And with that, both girls stepped forward into the circle of the inner walls.

I was right; Rosa had never stopped worrying about the daughters she would leave behind. But wait... I thought as I lowered myself into one of the spectator seats arranged along the outer rim of the arena. In that case, what about Ellie’s parents?

Mrs. Walker took the seat next to mine and, without missing a beat, addressed the very question on my mind. “I suppose you’re wondering why I didn’t give anything to Ellie, sir,” she said.

“To be honest, I am.”

“Because,” she answered after a longer pause, “those children left nothing behind. Nothing but Ellie.”

“What do you mean?”

She turned her attention to the arena. “It’s beginning.”

The two girls confronted the large man standing with his back to them in the center of the training ground. Between them, Mr. Walker, who was acting as judge, indicated the man with a hand gesture.

“Lady Tina, Ellie, this gentleman will be your opponent today. Circumstances compel him to conceal his face and voice, but...he is every bit the champion that the master is.”

“Please face us,” Tina addressed the man, raising her voice. “Our exam can’t begin like this.”

“I am about to test you. If you are unable to convince me, Duke Howard will not permit you to apply to the Royal Academy. Hold nothing back; challenge me with all your body and soul!”

The man turned around. A silver mask concealed his face, and he was magically altering his voice. Still, given his build and mana...

I see. He did say that he had “one condition.”

Tina seemed to have realized as well. “You’re... I understand! I’ll make you acknowledge me, and I won’t hold back!” she declared.

“I-I’ll do my best!” Ellie chimed in.

“Step back to your lines.”

At Mr. Walker’s direction, both sides withdrew to lines drawn on the ground on their respective sides of the arena.

“Now...begin!” Mr. Walker shouted, shooting his arm up into the air.

At last, the main event!

✽

The girls readied themselves, Ellie taking up a position as the vanguard with Tina supporting her from behind. Meanwhile, the man in the silver mask remained standing with his arms folded, not moving a muscle. He must have been trying to tell them to make the opening move—to show him what they were capable of. I thought that was a poor move.

Ellie shot forward and tested him with a knife hand strike by way of greeting.

The masked man let out an exclamation of approbation. “Impressive. But too slow!” He evaded each blow with ease, moving no more than he absolutely needed to. It was clear to see that he was a close-quarters fighter, and he appeared to be quite confident in his mastery of hand-to-hand combat...which made him all the easier to deceive.

The man seized Ellie’s right wrist and tossed her into the air. “You’re helpless in midair,” he declared. “Now, withstand this!”

He tried to deploy an ice spell, but no sooner had he begun than his legs sunk into the ground and froze solid, trapping him in place.

“Water, earth, and...ice?!” he exclaimed in consternation. “Wh-When did she—”

“I don’t think you can afford to get distracted.”

The man’s attention snapped to Tina, who deployed countless ice shots around her simultaneously and then loosed them! She hadn’t managed to control that many during practice; her rod must have been made for an ice spellcaster.

I suspected that, beneath his mask, the man’s expression was twisted in shock...but he must have been delighted too. After all, his dear daughter, who had so recently lacked any magical ability whatsoever, was now displaying a level of technical skill far beyond the average sorcerer.

A white cloud obscured my view as one ice shot after another struck home. A cheer went up from the onlookers; they were apparently surprised that the girls had made so much progress.

“Mr. Allen.” Mrs. Walker addressed me from her seat, her gaze still fixed on the arena. She spoke in a tone that I had never heard from her before. “Please, don’t look away, but listen. I will tell you about Ellie’s parents and about Duchess Rosa.”

I’d suspected as much. There were things I needed to ask her as well.

In the arena, Ellie and Tina were diligently weaving spells without breaking formation. But whatever happened, it would take more than that for them to finish this fight.

“I believe Ellie has told you something about them herself,” Mrs. Walker continued, “but I’ve never spoken of this to her or to Lady Tina.”

“Then why tell me?” I asked after a brief silence.

The man in the silver mask suddenly came back into view, having torn through the field of white. He was unsurprisingly unscathed—it appeared that he had struck every shot out of the air. Tina intercepted him with vines of ice, aiming to halt his advance, but...

“That won’t work!”

The man was ripping through one creeper after another. He was a straightforward close-quarters-combat specialist, which meant that the girls’ next move would be—

Tina continued weaving spells as Ellie scooped her up in her arms and fell back.

“You’ll have to do more than run away!” the masked man called out. He continued his pursuit, but then he abruptly stopped short. “Hmph. A trap to seal my vision, I take it.” After a pause, he added, “Magic. Surely she can’t have mastered that much.”

What a shame. If you’d taken one more step forward, the girls would have gained a sudden advantage... I’m guessing that’s what you’re thinking.

The man in the silver mask inadvertently stepped forward, pushed by a sudden gust from behind. Darkness coiled around his body, hindering his movements and depriving him of his vision.

He let out a loud grunt of shock. “H-How?! Why couldn’t I detect your spell?!”

Yes, Ellie has a talent for that. She also has far more mana than I do. That girl will no doubt become a force to be reckoned with.

“Her parents were similarly gifted,” Mrs. Walker began to explain, almost as if she were talking to herself. There was a deep sorrow in her eyes. “They were able to cast spells quickly and without a sound, and, much like Ellie, they were wholehearted in everything they did. But...it was that earnestness that claimed their lives. They escaped the royal capital once, you know—to leave Ellie with us. Then, they went back there...and never returned. They were convinced they would make it back again, so they left nothing for Ellie. Even their bodies were incinerated, like all the others back then. Not even their ashes remained.”

Mrs. Walker paused for a moment before she continued. “As much as ‘a physician’s duty’ has a nice ring to it, Graham and I never cared much about it; instead, we had wanted them to flee. The deaths of our daughter and a man we thought of as a son were tough to bear.” She fell silent again, and then she added, “It was shortly after that Duchess Rosa passed away.”

Ellie unleashed multiple fire tornadoes to overwhelm the ensnared man.

“Magnificent,” the man muttered as the flames engulfed him. “So she’s mastered fire, water, wind, earth, darkness, and ice. I never dreamed...”

I’d say the real battle begins now.

“Mr. Allen,” Mrs. Walker resumed, “how much do you know about Duchess Rosa?”

“Only the basic facts, but I do have several questions about her.”

“About the great spells, sir?”

“How do you know that?!”

I turned to stare at Mrs. Walker in spite of myself when a thunderous roar came from the arena. I hurriedly turned back to look and saw that a massive block of ice had materialized in front of the masked man, freezing the surrounding area.

“I thought so,” Mrs. Walker said. “Something about you reminds me of my mistress, sir. She was conducting her own research into the great spells as well. I have no way of knowing how much progress she made, but...”

“Do you know why she was researching them?”

“I asked, but she only laughed and dodged the question. Even when pressed for an answer, the most she would tell me was that she was doing it for her little girl.”

Myriad thoughts flashed through my mind. Does that mean Tina’s mother foresaw that her daughter would be involved with the great spells in some way? How?

“Let’s focus on the competition for now,” I eventually said, pulling myself out of my own head. “It seems as though the waiting and watching is over.”

“Your ability is impressive!” the man in the silver mask bellowed. “But can you withstand this?!”

He summoned two massive icicles at once, their scale leaving no doubt that he had cast an advanced spell. Stopping the attack head-on would be somewhat of a tall order for the girls—although in a few more years, it would be no cause for concern.

Ellie was standing in front of Tina and weaving more than ten intermediate fire spells, just as I had taught her. Most current students at the Royal Academy and University would be astonished to learn that she was just fourteen and not even attending school; formulating even two or three spells simultaneously would ordinarily be cause for praise.

However...the difference between the spells would be unfortunately difficult to overcome.

Over the past three months, I had thoroughly drilled Ellie in intermediate magic, and I was confident that she had reached a level that could withstand real combat with every element except lightning and light, with which she still struggled. But that approach had also meant neglecting the powerful advanced spells that could have served as her ace in the hole. The same went for Tina, with whom I’d had to prioritize control above all else. Intermediate spells would be more than enough to earn them admission to the Royal Academy, but...

Both girls glanced at me, broad smiles on their faces.

Of course. I almost forgot. Who will believe in them if not me?

“Tina! Ellie! You can do it!” I shouted. It was frustrating that I was forbidden from giving them directions, but no one had told me not to cheer them on.

No sooner had Ellie heard my voice than she doubled the number of spells she was weaving. Then, she began firing one after another with a rapidity that would be inconceivable using conventional magic.

“That won’t save you!” the man in the silver mask roared as he activated his spell. “This is the advanced ice spell Twin Icicle Pillars! Block it if you can!”

The two gargantuan icicles flew toward the girls. Ellie’s spells burst against them one after another in an effort to impede their progress...but that wouldn’t be enough to stop them. That was when Tina swung her rod and whispered:

“Twin Icicle Pillars.”

Two slightly smaller icicles emerged from beneath the oncoming spell, intercepting it from an unexpected angle. The two advanced spells canceled each other out, shattering to dust and scattering shards of ice across the whole arena. Shouts and screams rose from the spectators. I decided to eliminate any dangerous fragments that looked as though they might reach the maids by intercepting them with fire spells.

I hadn’t taught Tina that spell—but then again, she was an avid reader too. I was happy to see that she had made use of the method that had been described in that book, which allowed for activating ice spells from below the ground.

Tina waved her rod again, and its jeweled tip let off a beautiful glow.

“Swift Ice Lances.”

Innumerable ice spears materialized, encircling the masked man and leaving him with no escape as they assaulted him all at once.

Mrs. Walker let out an exclamation of astonishment. “How can she activate offensive spells like that?! She did the same with that advanced spell!”

If even someone as skilled as her was shocked, then the girls’ opponent must have been all the more so—or perhaps he was smiling beneath his silver mask.

In conventional magic, offensive spells were generally deployed and activated forward; the very concept of an attack from all sides was almost unheard of. Even combining spells of different elements, as Ellie had done when attempting to freeze the man’s legs in place using water and earth magic, was the province of experienced fighters. I suspected that was a drawback of the current state of magic—anyone could cast spells, but their application and development was limited. Painfully few people even made improvements to their spell formulae. Take a spell that launches a firebolt straight ahead, for instance—it was true that anyone could cast it if they memorized the formula and possessed enough mana...but that was all they could do. Once you knew what to expect, it was possible to counteract it, some variation in power notwithstanding.

I had started the girls’ education by teaching them existing spells, but I then moved on to formulae I had rewritten to increase the amount of “blank space.” And as a result...

The man in the silver mask grunted with exertion and retreated a few steps as he smashed the ice spears speeding toward him with skilled punches. How was he able to intercept spells with his bare hands?! His mastery of unarmed combat was astounding. And was that azure mana covering his fists?

I see. So, that’s the secret of the Howards I’ve read so much about—the Azure Fists.

The underlying principle appeared similar to the Leinsters’ Scarlet Sword. Perhaps the secret arts of the Four Great Dukedoms all stemmed from the same source. It was supposedly forbidden to teach or display them outside of the family, so few people had ever seen them. Considered in that light, I supposed I was fortunate to have been given the opportunity to observe two of the four. Of course, that was probably just a coincidence.

Still, I bet I could imitate this. I’d love to try teaching it to Ellie if the duke would allow it.

Tina was every bit the typical rear-line fighter she appeared to be, so close-quarters combat techniques beyond basic self-defense would potentially serve only as a hindrance to her. That said, her curiosity was boundless, so...

Wait, what am I thinking?! I’m only their private tutor until they enter the Royal Academy—anything after that is still up in the air.

Such was my contract, and I had no intention of prolonging it. I could already hear the albatross lecturing me. “You’re too nice for your own good. If you think that you can save absolutely everyone then you’re conceited. So just focus on the people right in front of you.”

Yes, I know... I really do. These girls are good kids—very good kids—and they’ll grow up just fine without my help.

The girls had finally driven the masked man back against the wall. Tina was still maintaining her spell while Ellie wove intermediate spells to block his escape.

She’s making those visible on purpose; she’s actually betting on something el— Oh, her fists are red. I can’t believe she’s already attempting what I wanted to experiment with. Should I call it the “Scarlet Fists”? Still, I’m impressed. It might not take her long to surpass me.

Tina thrust her rod forward and declared, “This battle is over! I take it you’ll acknowledge our right to apply to the Royal Academy now?”

“Uh, um...” Ellie stammered. “Any further resistance is p-pointless! Please surrender unconditionally at once!”

I would need to lecture Ellie later. She seemed to have acquired a questionable vocabulary, perhaps due to the influence of her rambunctious young mistress.

“I recognize that rod,” the masked man muttered to himself. “Of course. So, Shelley was still holding on to it...” He allowed his words to trail off and then shouted, “In that case, I can’t hold back either! That’s not what the owner of that rod would want!”

He brought his fists together with an audible crash and started shaping incredibly potent mana. He wasn’t even trying to hide his spell formula—he must have wanted the girls to see it.

Ellie took a step forward in an attempt to close distance, but Tina shot her a glance to stop her. The two of them were planning to confront the man’s full power. I wondered who they got that from.

“Oh no! Everyone, evacuate!” Mrs. Walker shouted to the maids, a note of urgency in her voice. “That spell is no laughing matter!”

“Mr. Walker!” I alerted the head butler. “You’ll be caught in it where you’re standing!”

“But the contest hasn’t been settled,” he protested.

“Don’t worry. Mrs. Walker, please look after Anko.”

“Mr. Allen?!”

I placed Anko, who had been sitting on my head, in Mrs. Walker’s care and descended into the arena with a short grunt of exertion. I approached the hesitating head butler and initiated a whispered conversation.

“I’ll take your place as judge. I’m sure he won’t complain after all he’s seen—especially considering that he’s so obviously trying to lose. Of course, holding back doesn’t appear to be his strong suit.”

“You do realize it will be dangerous, don’t you, sir?” Mr. Walker whispered back after a pause.

“I’m used to it, for better or worse.”

A cold gust blew through the arena, bringing snow with it. What followed was a bestial howl—inaudible to the ear but still clearly perceptible—and a potent wave of mana. The entire training ground was becoming blanketed in white as the man in the silver mask dispassionately stated:

“Foolish girls. Didn’t your instructor teach you to pressure your opponent when they show you an opening?”

“Th-This is...” Tina faltered. “B-But I—we—aren’t going to lose! We’re going to win and go to the Royal Academy! Oh, and don’t make fun of our teacher!”

Ellie groaned and stammered, “H-How are we supposed to stop this? But...! But Lady Tina and I won’t lose. After all, we’re Mr. Allen’s students!”

Tina and Ellie trembled as a colossal ice wolf started taking shape, shrouded in pure white snow. This was the pride of the Ducal House of Howard—the supreme spell Blizzard Wolf. As the white beast charged forward, it left nothing but a world of snow and ice in its wake. The masked man was reining it in, but its presence was still overwhelming.

“Please hurry,” I pressed Mr. Walker again in a whisper. “Gather up all the military ice-resistant barriers that the professor sent and erect them outside. If worse comes to worst, I’ll escape with the girls. I’m counting on you.”

After a moment of silence, Mr. Walker whispered back, “My humble apologies. They are in your hands.”

“Graham!” Mrs. Walker called out as her husband started crossing the inner wall. “Graham, why are you...?”

“I will entrust everything to Mr. Allen.”

“I see. Very well.” She went quiet, and then she added, “This is also Duchess Rosa’s...”

The spectators completed their evacuation, with Mr. and Mrs. Walker being the last to leave. The girls were startled by my sudden appearance, and I winked at them as if to say, “You’ve done a great job so far.”

Now, I have a question for this gentleman...

“Before the final clash, would you tell me just one thing?” I asked.

“What?” the masked man responded.

“Why is Duke Walter so set against allowing these two to go to the Royal Academy? Are they still not strong enough to satisfy him?”

The question hung in the air for a long moment before the man answered, “I doubt he feels that way.”

“Then why?”

“...I cannot say. Talk can wait until we’ve settled this!”

At those words, the man’s Blizzard Wolf gave another inaudible howl.

Here it comes!

“Tina, Ellie,” I said.

“We’ll be fine, sir. Please watch us!”

“W-We won’t lose!”

The girls’ responses were reassuring. In that case, I’ll watch this play out, I thought as I distanced myself from the trio.

“Prepare yourselves.”

In an instant, the man in the silver mask unleashed his Blizzard Wolf. Tina and Ellie bombarded it with spells, but...every single one of them was freezing solid—even the fire spells.

“Once it begins its charge, it stops for nothing!” the man declared. “Especially not for ordinary magic!”

“I-In that case...!” Tina touched the ferrule of her rod to the ground and cast Twin Icicle Pillars over and over. They all found their target, striking the Blizzard Wolf...and vanished.

“It’s totally immune to ice magic. If you want to contend with it, you’d better unleash a supreme spell of your own.”

Tina gritted her teeth. Ellie, in contrast, ran forward to strike the main body of the spell directly. She thrust a bright red fist at the wolf—and then immediately retreated. The mana in her hand had vanished.

“A wise choice,” the masked man remarked. “Blizzard Wolf transforms the area around it into a freezing hellscape. A reckless charge toward it would be the last move you ever make.”

The girls let out exclamations of shock and alarm as panic began to show on their faces. They had been trying all sorts of spells as they retreated, but they had yet to find one that had any effect.

What will you do now?

All of a sudden, Tina and Ellie shouted an urgent warning.

“Sir! You’re in danger!”

“Allen, sir! Look out! Please run!”

The wolf was charging toward me, ignoring the girls entirely. Had it changed targets? But why would it? Even a supreme spell was still just a spell—it went where its caster intended it to. And this spell had been cast by a master. A misfire was inconceivable.

“No!” Tina and Ellie screamed again.

Whoops. I shouldn’t drag this out any longer; the girls will worry.

“Thank you,” I told them, “but don’t worry; I’m used to this.”

An instant before the wolf’s fangs would have impaled me, I retreated to where the girls were standing while nullifying its freezing aura. At the same time, I pinned its paws to the ground with spears of dark magic, which was ordinarily impervious to freezing.

Huh? This shouldn’t be this effective. It feels like...

I looked at the man in the silver mask, who then returned a slight nod.

“Tina, Ellie,” I called to the stunned girls.

“Y-Yes, sir!” they answered.

“You’ve done well so far—I really mean that. But it’s impossible to stop a supreme spell with ordinary magic.”

“L-Liar!” Tina objected. “I mean, you’re stopping one right now!”

“Th-That’s amazing, Allen, sir!” Ellie added.

“Let’s just leave it at that,” I said after a brief pause. “That said, if we’re going to fight, what do you say we give our opponent a surprise and win? Tina.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Were you able to see the formula to cast Blizzard Wolf?”

“I was, but...”

“Well then, you won’t have time to practice, but I suggest you take this opportunity to try it. Ellie.”

“Y-Yessir!”

“Please help Tina. You have better control than she does.”

“A-All right.” Ellie was noticeably startled, while Tina looked indignant.

“Of course, everything depends on Tina’s memory,” I added.

“I-I know that,” Tina said as she began deploying the formula to cast Blizzard Wolf. After a brief silence, she added, “Stupid meanie.”

It was rarely practical to deploy such a large spell formula in midair because doing so normally increased the risk of enemy interference. That, however, was the least of the girls’ concerns as they struggled frantically to draw the formula.

“Um... I think it went...”

“Lady Tina, y-you can shorten this bit. See?”

“Oh, you’re right.”

Wonderful. What beautiful cooperation. But...

“You’re too slow,” the masked man declared. “It’s time I put an end to this.”

The spears of darkness that had been restraining the Blizzard Wolf disintegrated. Even dark magic, which was far removed from the concept of “freezing,” was meaningless in the face of a supreme spell. But what exactly had just frozen? That was one of the mysteries of magic, in my opinion.

At almost the same time, two lively shouts rang out.

“Don’t worry!”

“W-We managed it somehow!”

The spell formula for Blizzard Wolf that the girls had constructed together activated. Their spell collided with the oncoming wolf, covering even more of the surrounding area in white. And yet...

“W-We’re being driven back?” Tina shouted. “Wh-Why?!”

Ellie babbled incoherently.

Tina and Ellie’s spell was being slowly but steadily overwhelmed. I was impressed that they had managed to cast a supreme spell for the first time in such desperate circumstances, especially after having seen it only once. It was so unbelievable that it reminded me of a certain spoiled noblewoman I knew well. Nevertheless, their spell was rough and incomplete.

I suppose this is their limit. I’d hate for them to get hurt, so—

Just as I was about to step forward, the girls grasped me by the hands.

“Not yet, sir,” Tina said. “This isn’t over! We can keep going!”

“Allen, sir, do you mind if I hold your hand?” Ellie added. “I’m sure I can keep going if I do.”

“But...” I went to protest, but there was clear determination in their eyes. I suppose I have no choice. I am their tutor, after all. I squeezed their hands. Don’t worry. You can do this!

Tina and Ellie began constructing another spell with much greater speed and precision than they had shown in their last one. Their first Blizzard Wolf had been defeated and was disintegrating into ice and snow, but at almost the same moment, their second emerged.

There was another clash in the center of the arena. The inner wall had already frozen solid, and parts of it were even beginning to crumble. A clash between supreme spells was a sight to behold.

While the girls’ wolf wasn’t immediately overpowered this time, it was still at a disadvantage. They might be able to win if they deployed multiple wolves at once, but...they seemed to have their hands full controlling and maintaining one.

Tina and Ellie let out strained groans.

“What’s wrong?!” the masked man bellowed. “Is this the best you can do?! I’ll commend you for casting a supreme spell, albeit a sloppy one. Well done! But it will take more than that to beat me! Give up!”

I bet he’s grinning like a madman behind that mask...

The Four Great Dukedoms had always received special treatment in the kingdom due to their history, but their maintenance of military might in the form of supreme magic was also an extremely important factor. Even so, every house’s magic had been gradually weakening in recent years, and the ducal houses were surely struggling to pass on their spells. A number of the Leinsters had mastered supreme magic, at least to some extent, but they were the exception. I suspected that the House of Howard, whose supreme spell remained only in the hands of its leader, was now the norm.

The girls’ spell was being slowly but steadily driven back. If this kept up, they would be overcome. Just in case, I continued my preparations to intervene. I had studied a great number of ice spells in the past three months and even created some of my own, so I was confident that I could manage, even though I had never seen this one before.

Still, it’s a real shame... Now that they’ve come so far, I’d like for them to win, but...this difference is insurmountable. This is my fault for not being a good enough teacher. I might have been able to help them put up a better fight if only I’d had another six—or even three—months with them.

“Sir! Don’t look so gloomy! Don’t you know? ‘Always save the best for last.’”

Tina let go of my hand, untied her snow-white hair ribbon, and confidently wrapped it around her rod. No sooner had she done so than the rod began to pulse and shine. The spell control formula I had slipped into it earlier by way of a good-luck charm was deploying.

“What?!” I exclaimed in shock. “Y-You noticed that, Tina?”

“Wow,” Ellie marveled. “It’s so pretty...”

Tina grasped my hand again and whispered in my ear, “It was in the stories mother told me about the Lady of Ice. She always used to say that and tie her ribbon around her staff when she really meant business. I thought it would at least be worth a try, but...it looks like things are going to work out.”

I was stunned. The Lady of Ice? D-Does she mean the one...who was supposed to have mastered Frigid Crane?

Tina and Ellie’s Blizzard Wolf was suddenly gaining force and starting to turn the tables on its opponent. As it did so, all that remained of the inner wall was reduced to ice and snow, and the corridor and outer walls began to freeze as well.

Oh no. If this keeps up, the whole building will come down.

The man in the silver mask let out a loud roar as he poured mana into his spell, apparently intent on settling things. The girls tightened their grips on my hands as they put everything they had into controlling and maintaining their spell. They had rallied once, but now they were slowly being driven back.

Just when I thought my moment had arrived, I heard the voice.

“USE MY POWER. THE KEY IS IN YOUR HANDS.”

It was the same voice I had heard before, and this time, it seemed that Tina had heard it too—there was a startled look on her face as she asked me, “S-Sir, what was...?”

“I’m not sure either, but...I don’t think it means harm. If it’s asking for you to use it, then you might as well try.”

“R-Right!”

“L-Lady Tina!” Ellie interjected with urgency in her voice. “I-I’m at my limit!”

The girls’ Blizzard Wolf had finally succumbed, and their opponent’s was charging straight toward us.

“Ellie, get behind me!” I ordered.

“Y-Yessir!”

“Tina. I hate to say this, but it would be against the rules for me to help you.”

“Don’t worry, sir! As long as you’re with me, I’ve got absolutely nothing to fear!” Tina declared. Then, she held out her rod in front of her and whispered, “Please, give me strength.”

The jeweled tip of her rod flickered with light and powerful mana swirled around it. A spell formula I had never seen before was rapidly deploying of its own accord.

Is Tina not in control of this...?

Then, it materialized in front of us, spread its tiny wings, and took flight—leaving nothing but whiteness in its wake.

My memories of what happened next were hazy—the shock had been too great. The masked man’s startled cry, the jolt as Tina hugged my right arm, and Ellie’s warmth on my left as dozens of military ice-resistant barriers enclosed the training ground. The building itself was frozen and crumbling around us. But as I shielded the girls from the ferocious blizzard that was blotting out my view, I was certain I heard its wordless cry:

A song of lamentation.

✽

That evening, when it was all over, I knocked on the heavy door of the duke’s study. “Enter,” his voice commanded.

“Excuse me.”

Inside, I found Duke Walter sitting in an armchair and sipping a glass of wine. He was covered in bandages, and Anko, who really did seem to get everywhere, was on his lap.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Oh, these are just scratches. I only bothered bandaging them because Graham insisted. Now, Allen...”

“Yes?”

The duke set his wineglass on a table and bowed deeply to me. “I cannot possibly thank you enough for helping those girls to grow so much. It seems that, once again, you have carved out a future for the House of Howard.”

“Are you referring to the supreme spell?”

“Yes, I am. As I’ve told you before, of all those in my extended family, I am the only master of Blizzard Wolf. There was little hope for my eldest daughter, and until recently, Tina was... You understand. But now that she has learned the spell, a weight has been lifted off my family’s minds. That final ice spell she cast was magnificent as well; even I don’t know of anything like it.”

“Her Highness deserves the credit. I’m sorry about your training ground, and I’ll tell you about that final spell later, but first...might I ask you to continue the story that you left incomplete the other day?”

It wasn’t in the duke’s nature to be jealous of his daughter’s progress; in fact, much to the contrary, he was brimming with unadulterated joy. So why had he so vehemently opposed her going to the royal capital?

“Very well. But please, don’t breathe a word of this to anyone else—not even to Tina.”

“I understand.”

“My wife, Rosa, was a talented sorceress. We met at the Royal Academy and were drawn to each other at once. It wasn’t long after that we married and were blessed with two precious daughters. But one day—I believe it was while she was pregnant with Tina—she suddenly lost all of her magical ability. I frantically assembled renowned physicians from throughout the kingdom.” The duke took a breath. “Of course, we never discovered the cause.”

“But that’s...”

...Just like Tina.

“It was a slow process, but Rosa soon began to waste away. I wept when she safely gave birth to Tina. She was practically bedridden for a year afterward.”

It took me a moment to process that, and only when I had regained myself did I pose the question on my mind. “Was she ill...?”

“No. Her doctors insisted that there was nothing wrong with her physically.”

“What do you mean?”

At first, Duke Walter said nothing. It was clear that something was tormenting him, but eventually—and with much reluctance—he began to speak.

“I believe that Rosa was assassinated, most likely with a curse. I continue my investigation even to this day, but I still have no idea who did it or why. It may have been due to the magical research she was conducting, although nothing I found among her effects seemed worth killing for.”

The duke fell silent for a moment before he continued. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Tina cast a spell; she was the spitting image of her mother. The way she held her rod, the way she wove her spells, the way she courageously tried her best and refused to give up—they were identical in every way! After hearing this much, I’m sure you realize why I wanted to keep her here with me. I was frightened. Frightened that Rosa’s fate might befall our daughter as well. But I was also well aware that that greenhouse was no longer big enough for my growing young sapling. That being the case, it’s my duty as her father to send her out into a new world and watch over her—I’m certain that’s what Rosa wants as well.”

✽

Dear Lydia,

I’m writing to you as promised. See? I’m a man of my word.

We’re about to leave for the royal capital. It makes me a little lonely to think that I’ll be saying goodbye to this land of ice and snow, although I still don’t handle the cold well. I would never admit this to anyone but you, but I think I was feeling a bit hopeless three months ago. Becoming a court sorcerer had been my goal for years, and...I had just a little faith in my ability to achieve it.

Still, I’m lucky to have gotten to tutor these girls. Teaching is fun, and it also takes courage—just like when I tutored you. These girls helped me to remember those feelings, and I’m grateful to them for it.

The professor (or to be precise, Anko, who is sitting on my shoulder as I write this) told me that you took first place in the court sorcerer exam and that you’ll be graduating from the Royal University at the head of our class. Congratulations!

That said, I can’t approve of your declaration that you’re going to boycott the graduation ceremony. I’m not sure what to do about the sobbing teachers begging for my help with it either. I had no idea what was happening when I received four letters by griffin in one day.

It’s only natural that I won’t be attending—failing the court sorcerer exam despite being expected to graduate the university second in our class is an unprecedented disgrace, after all. But you’re different. You should attend with your head held high. Isn’t that how Her Highness, Lady Lydia Leinster, “the Lady of the Sword,” ought to act?

Also, about what I wrote in my last letter... I’ve decided to cancel my trip home for now. Of course, I don’t intend to continue as these girls’ private tutor either; they deserve better than me. For the moment, my plan is to speak with the professor and see whether he has any jobs available. You don’t have to worry about me.

Let me reiterate: go to the Royal University graduation ceremony. Everyone might start a riot if you don’t. Well then, see you in the capital.

Yours truly,

Allen

(An honor student turned delinquent private tutor.)

✽

The cityscape visible from the station platform was still blanketed in white, and the train before me was likewise spotted with accumulated snow. It would supposedly be another month or more before spring arrived in the north and even longer before people packed away their coats and winter clothing.

Three months previously, I had disembarked at this station alone. Now, I was alone again—Anko, who was perched on my shoulder, notwithstanding—as I waited for the train to finish its preparations for its journey to the royal capital. A lot had happened, but I thought that my days had been well spent. At the very least, the part of me that had secretly been a little hurt over failing the court sorcerer exam was gone. I was grateful for that. Once I got back, I would have to explain things properly to my parents and my younger sister, to whom I had only given a brief outline of—

“Sir!”

“Allen, sir.”

Tina and Ellie raced over to me, bundled up in warm-looking coats and scarves. Oh, Tina was wearing my scarf; I still needed to ask her to return that. The sight gave me a feeling of déjà vu—I couldn’t count how many times I had seen it now.

“Thank you for waiting, sir.”

Tina was the first to arrive.

“I h-hope we didn’t keep you lo— Eek!”

She was followed shortly by Ellie, who lost her footing as usual and would have fallen over had I not caught her.

“Whoa there,” I said. “Be careful—the road is still frozen in places.”

“Y-Yessir. Th-Thank you very much...”

“You’re quite welcome.”

I gave the happy-looking maid a pat on the head and felt a sudden biting cold on my cheek.

“Sir, Ellie?” Tina suggested a moment later. “Don’t you think it’s time you separated?”

“You heard her,” I told the maid.

“I-I don’t want to,” Ellie objected. “In fact, would you, um...hug me tighter?”

“Ellie!” Tina exclaimed.

“It’s not fair, Lady Tina,” Ellie replied after a sullen pause. “You got to sit on Mr. Allen’s lap the whole journey here.”

“Th-That was just because the car was cramped,” Tina protested. “I had no choice but to—”

“There was room in the back seat.”

Tina groaned, at a loss for a counterargument; Ellie had recently learned to speak her mind, even to her mistress. I certainly approved of the trend. That said, it wouldn’t do for the two of them to quarrel here, so I stepped away from the maid.

“You two, are the others here yet?” I asked.

“They’ll be a little— Oh, there they are.”

I turned to see Duke Walter, traces of frostbite still visible on his cheeks; Mr. Walker, who was carrying the luggage; and Mrs. Walker, who was directing several maids. Even outside, the women were still in their uniforms. Weren’t they cold?

“Hello there, Allen,” the duke greeted me. “Thank you for waiting.”

“Please, don’t mention it. I wouldn’t have had time to buy souvenirs otherwise.”

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear it. I hate to ask, but would you look after Tina for me? I’ll come along on a later train.”

“Ellie, be sure to listen to Mr. Allen,” Mr. Walker instructed his granddaughter. “Did you remember to pack medicine? If you run out of spending money, just—”

“Dear, I’ll be going with them,” Mrs. Walker chided her husband. It was a rare occurrence, to say the least.

Yes, both girls had passed the duke’s final exam with flying colors.

What followed had been rapid. It appeared that arrangements for personnel had been made well in advance—Mrs. Walker and several maids would be permanently stationed in the royal capital during and after the girls’ entrance exams. Tina’s older sister apparently lived in the Royal Academy’s dormitory, but that was unusual for a member of a ducal house; Tina and Ellie would instead be commuting from the Howard mansion in the capital once they enrolled. Of course, that meant they would need a staff to manage it for them. Duke Walter and Mr. Walker had wanted to go to the royal capital themselves, or so I’d heard, but Mrs. Walker’s martial prowess—ahem, persuasive arguments—had convinced them to give up on the idea. I thought it was a good solution—I could hardly become a butler, after all.

A steam whistle screeched.

“Well then, I’ll be waiting for you in the royal capital,” I said, bobbing my head to the two men.

“Good.”

“Please take good care of my granddaughter, Mr. Allen.”

“I will. Please expect good news.”

As I exchanged firm handshakes with Duke Walter and Mr. Walker, two thoughts ran through my mind: Both of my hands hurt. Also, you’re getting a little too close for comfort...

“Allen,” the duke said. “I trust you—I do—but if you think you can lay a hand on my darling little girl just because I’m in the north, then...”

“Mr. Allen,” Mr. Walker added. “I know that you would never dream of such a thing, but...if, by any chance, you dare lay a hand on my dear Ellie while I’m not around, then...”

I forced a laugh; they were so overprotective.

You have nothing to worry about, I assure you—Tina and Ellie are still only children. Once they’re in the Royal Academy, they’ll meet any number of nice, handsome boys. I think your time would be better spent worrying about them.

As soon as the handshakes were over, soft little hands seized mine. “Tina? Ellie?” I asked. “What’s gotten into you?”

“I was just thinking that I’d like to hold hands all the way to the royal capital.”

“Um, well... So would I. I-Is that all right?”

“Of course.”

In an instant, I could feel the cold, intimidating eyes of two parents lock onto me. But how could I shake off the girls when they were looking at me so hopefully? Truly, what was I to do...?

“But Duke Walter and Mr. Walker disapprove, so...”

The two men’s eyes widened.

“Father.”

“Grandpa.”

They both groaned and hung their heads.

You just can’t beat them, can you? I know the feeling... I thought. A moment later, the steam whistle blew a second time. We’d better get on board. Oh, speaking of which...

“Duke Walter.”

“Yes?” The duke took a moment to respond.

“It’s about that diary.” I spoke in a deliberately low voice; I could hardly let Tina or Ellie overhear. “Are you certain you don’t mind leaving it in my care? I have no doubt that it’s a valuable document. Also, may I show it to others I can trust?”

“I don’t mind,” the duke whispered in response. “I’m not much of a reader, and there will be even fewer booklovers around with Tina and Ellie gone, so it ought to go to someone who needs it. Oh, and... Tell me if you learn anything about the great spells.”

That gave me one less cause for worry, although the road ahead wasn’t going to be an easy one by any means.

“Thank you very much. And yes, I’ll be sure to.”

“I am deeply in your debt. Now, you ought to be going.”

“Indeed. Tina, Ellie.”

“Right, father. I’m leaving,” Tina told the duke. “Take care of my plants for me.”

“I know,” her father replied. “Don’t worry; I’ll be joining you in the royal capital soon.”

“I-I’m going now, grandpa,” Ellie said to Mr. Walker.

“Calm down,” the head butler reassured her. “Contact me at once if you have any trouble.”

I found the scene pleasant...and just a little envy-inspiring.

“It’s time, everyone,” Mrs. Walker urged us. “Please get on board.”

Oh dear. I made a slight bow, took the girls’ hands, and then boarded the train. Mrs. Walker and the maids followed close behind us. We were riding in a deluxe car this time—one that was even more extravagant than first class. I’d never imagined that train cars this luxurious even existed.

The steam whistle blew for a third time, and after the sound of closing doors, the train slowly began to move. I opened the window by my seat and shouted:

“Duke Walter, Mr. Walker, thank you!”

“I’ll be waiting for you in the capital, father!” Tina added.

“Grandpa!” Ellie chimed in. “I’ll come home as much as I can over the long vacations!”

I couldn’t hear the men’s voices anymore, but they kept watching and waving to us until they vanished from sight.

✽

“Are you warm enough, sir?” Tina asked from the seat beside me.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

She laughed bashfully. “This is all thanks to you, sir.”

Ellie seemed frustrated, but I opted to pretend not to notice. Anko, you don’t have to curl up on my lap. There are seats available for— Oh, you’d rather stay here? Very well.

We were in the middle of a little review—controlling the temperature inside our train car. Following her final exam, Tina had managed to learn to cast elementary spells of elements other than ice. I suspected that the final spell she’d cast had something to do with that. No one who experienced her temperature control would believe that she hadn’t been able to cast a single spell just two months ago.

“Well done, my lady,” Mrs. Walker praised Tina.

“That was incredible,” Ellie chimed in, “but I think you ought to have allowed me to do it.”

“You got a compliment from our teacher this morning. It’s my turn,” Tina countered.

“B-But you got compliments from Mr. Allen yesterday and the day before that, Lady Tina! It’s my turn today!”

“Let’s discuss this later, among ourselves,” Tina suggested after a brief pause.

“Th-That suits me just fine!”

For better or worse, Tina had stopped holding back—at least when I was involved. I had investigated and considered a variety of theories, but the only thing I had been able to discover about her loss of control was that it had its origins in the excessive self-restraint she had been practicing. Therefore, after her final exam, I had told her that she “need not practice restraint or keep anything bottled up where I was concerned.” Of course, I would need to do something to rectify her too frequent demands for hugs. It seemed that Lydia was already entertaining bizarre suspicions about me, and besides, she was—

Tina prodded me with her finger. “Sir.”

I quizzically turned to look at her.

“What did you pick out as a souvenir for Lady Lydia?” she asked.

“Oh. I decided on this little guy.”

“Wow! That’s so cute!” she exclaimed. “But won’t she be upset?”

“Why would she be?” I answered. “Lydia generally adores cute things. In fact, she’d incinerate me if I told her I’d decided against buying it.”

“I-Incinerate?”

“A-Allen, sir, what do you mean?”

“Precisely what I said,” I explained. “When something displeases her, she’s quick to slice it up or incinerate it, and... Well, she’s quite a handful.”

Lydia was probably ready and waiting for me in the capital. I could picture the scene, and given the sequence of events thus far...she was likely more furious than ever before. In all honesty, I wanted to flee, but she would pursue me anywhere I went, even to the ends of the earth.

“Should the opportunity present itself, I’ll arrange for you to meet her in the capital,” I said. “Please prepare yourselves.”

“I-I’ll be fine,” Tina declared. “I’ll defeat her!”

“I-I’ll do my best!” Ellie added.

I hope they don’t add fuel to the fire... And I can see you laughing, Mrs. Walker. Please desist; this is a matter of life and death for me.

✽

It was early morning at the Howard Mansion in the royal capital, where I had been staying for the past several days.

I was getting ready in my room when there came the pitter-patter of quick footsteps, which grew steadily louder until, out of nowhere, Tina burst through the door. She was wearing a blue and white dress decorated with fine embroidery, and in her hair was the snow-white ribbon she had worn on the day I’d first met her, and again on the day of her final exam. Clutched in her right hand was Rosa’s rod, although that was to be expected, given that she was going to be competing that day.

Tina stopped in front of me and spun around once with a look on her face that was an equal mix of unease and anticipation. “Sir! Sir! How do I look? I don’t look strange, do I?” she asked.

“You look fine, Tina. As usual, you’re...”

“I’m...?”

“Amusing.”

“You’re supposed to say ‘pretty’! Jeez!”

We shared a laugh; I was glad to see that she had grown so much more cheerful. Although she had been full of energy three months prior, she had also been putting on a bold front. Just when I was about to compliment her, however, another girl rushed into the room. She was dressed not in her usual maid uniform but in an ordinary long skirt. It was a fresh sight, to be sure. Now that I thought about it, I had never gotten the opportunity to see her in anything but her work clothes during my stay at the mansion.

“L-Lady Tina! You were the one who was so insistent on us waiting our turns!” she shouted. A beat later, she stammered in a lower voice, “A-Allen, sir, do I... Um, I mean...”

“What have we here? I see you aren’t wearing your uniform today, Ellie,” I remarked. “You look very...”

“V-Very what?”

“Charming. That outfit really suits you.”

Ellie babbled in embarrassment. “Th-Thank you bery— Eek!”

“Whoa there.”

I seized Ellie by the hand and pulled her behind me as dancing ice crystals filled the room.

“Sir,” Tina said, “only complimenting Ellie isn’t fair. In fact, it’s wrong. Compliment me too.”

She was preparing to unleash a Blizzard Wolf at any moment. I shrugged and lightly wrapped my arms around Ellie, bringing a look of consternation to Tina’s face.

“Uh, um, well...” Ellie began to stammer, flustered.

“Sir! Ellie! Separate. At. Once!” Tina demanded.

“Oh? Don’t you want to join us, Tina?” I asked, causing her eyes to widen in surprise. “I believe there’s room for one more, but...I suppose you’re not interested. What a shame.”

“Meanie,” Tina muttered after a disgruntled silence. She then hurried into my arms, albeit with a reproachful glare.

“Listen to me—you’re going to be fine,” I encouraged the girls. “You have nothing to worry about. Just have faith in yourselves and you’ll get results.”

“I understand, sir,” Tina answered. “I believe in you, and you taught me, so I believe in myself too.”

“Y-Yessir!” Ellie added. “I’m not very good at having faith in myself yet, but I do have faith in you, Allen, sir.”

“Best of luck,” I told them both. “Mrs. Walker.”

“Yes, sir?”

I released the girls into the care of the Howards’ head maid, who had entered the room unannounced. “Please take good care of them.”

“Won’t you accompany us, Mr. Allen?” Mrs. Walker asked.

I took a breath before answering. “I can’t, else I might start sobbing that it’s still too soon. I’ve also promised to drop in at a friend’s house, so the rest is in your hands.”

“I understand, sir,” Mrs. Walker replied sympathetically after taking a breath herself. “May fortune favor you.”

“Thank you very much.”

Mrs. Walker was right—I would need all the luck I could get. Now, as for my students...

“Sir.”

“Allen, sir.”

The girls began separately before stating in unison: “Infidelity is wrong!”

What were they talking about? Lydia and I weren’t in that kind of relationship. Then again...there were some unusual circumstances between us.

✽

The first sight that met my eyes after one of the Leinster maids ushered me into the magnificent inner courtyard, replete with early spring flowers in full bloom...was a terrible flaming bird bearing down on me, its massive wings outspread.

Oh dear. If that hits me, I quite honestly might die.

I quickly negated the spell; after all, this was her usual greeting.

“Whatever your reasons, I can’t approve of a Firebird the instant we meet,” I grumbled to the beautiful girl, who was sitting in a luxurious chair and resting her chin on one hand as she sipped her tea. There was a small pocket watch resting on the table before her. “As I mentioned in my letter, I’m heartbroken, even though I may not show it, so I wish you’d offer me at least a little sympathy. I even arrived on time.”

“It’s your duty to be seated before I am—that’s just common sense. Besides, I don’t want to hear that from someone who can negate my Firebird so easily. Let yourself get incinerated next time so I can have some fun for once. There’s no way my magic would work on you anyway, and you could stop it ahead of time if you really tried. The next time you spout nonsense like that, I’ll slice you up without an ounce of restraint.”

“I’d rather you didn’t. I don’t stand a chance of beating you at swordplay, in this life or any other.”

“You should have started with that,” the girl declared after a brief pause.

This obviously disgruntled young lady was Lydia Leinster, the eldest daughter of the Ducal House of Leinster, the overlords of the south, and the albatross around my neck for the past four years. In other words, she, like Tina, was the daughter of a duke. She was also one of the finest swordswomen in the kingdom, an achievement that had earned her the moniker, “the Lady of the Sword.”

Interactions with Lydia demanded caution—the mere thought of calling her “Your Highness” would see me dropped into deciding between being sliced up by her uncompromising sword strokes or being scorched by her instantaneous Firebird. In that case, there was a very real risk that I wouldn’t live to see the next sunrise. I did occasionally use her title to tease her, though.

Lydia normally preferred clothing that was easier to move in, but on this occasion, she was unusually dressed-up. I couldn’t stop my heart from racing when I looked straight at her—the scarlet dress that matched the shade of her gorgeous long hair and set off her flawless, fair skin became her too well for my eyes to bear. She was a mind-boggling beauty...at least until she opened her mouth. Indeed, it was a truth that had deceived countless victims. This beautiful rose concealed thorns that were all too sharp—sharp enough to run me through rather than prick my finger. But I was in the wrong on this occasion, so I would willingly accept the injury.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, scratching my cheek.

Lydia allowed my words to hang in the air for a moment. “And what are you sorry for?” she asked. “Spell it out.”

“For going to the Howards and taking a tutoring job without consulting you.”

“And...?”

“For not writing you many letters, not coming to see you until today, and...not telling you why I failed the court sorcerer exam.”

Lydia gave a small, satisfied grunt and then held out her hands to me without rising from her seat. I was a little hesitant, but I supposed I had no choice. Not this time, at least. I set the bag containing her souvenir on the table and wrapped the young woman in a gentle embrace. She was as dainty as ever. It was hard to believe that she was one of the foremost swordswomen and sorceresses in the kingdom when—

Hey, don’t squeeze me so hard. It’s really quite painful.

“I was really lonely, you know?” Lydia murmured, burying her face in my chest.

“Sorry.”

She waited a beat before she added, “Never go somewhere far away without telling me ever again. And if you do go somewhere, take me with you.”

“I’ll do my best to— Ow! That hurts! Don’t dig your nails into me!”

“That was your cue to say, ‘Yes, mistress. My humblest apologies. I’ll never do it again.’”

“Since when are you my ‘mistress’? But...I’m sorry.”

“Dummy.” That was her only response after another short pause.

I’ll never reveal how much time passed before the charming young noblewoman released me. A familiar maid waited for her to calm down before serving us tea.

What is that vaguely concerned gaze for...? Please don’t mouth things to tease me. “I suppose I’m a third wheel here,” my foot. I’m certain you’re carrying a concealed video orb, and I fully intend to confiscate it later.

The maid in question definitely had one—that, or she was getting one of her subordinates to film us. She lived for anything that might make her exclaim, “Oh, darling Lady Lydia, how wonderful you are!” Everyone in the Leinster household loved this young noblewoman; she seemed audacious at first glance, but there was something about her that demanded sympathy.

Lydia, who had so recently been in an extremity of displeasure, was now happily seated beside me on my chair, resting her head on my shoulder.

Hey, don’t dangle your legs like that.

“So, what do you think?” she asked me.

“About what?”

“About the entrance exams, of course.”

Yes, it was the day of the Royal Academy entrance exams. I had been so busy with Tina and Ellie’s final preparations since my arrival in the royal capital that I’d had no time to visit Lydia. Naturally, I had kept her informed, but that hadn’t spared me her fiery greeting. How many times would I have to tell her how fatal that would be to any normal person before she learned? I realized that she was only playing around, but if she were ever in earnest, there would be nothing the likes of me could do.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this,” I answered the grinning Lydia, “but Tina is going to take first place. Ellie is sure to place highly as well.”

“Oh really?” Lydia responded. “It’s rare to hear you sounding so confident. Don’t forget about my little sister, whom I’ve spent the past three months training nonstop. First place might be a little much to hope for.”

“You would normally think so, but...”

“But?”

“Tina is unquestionably a genius; your sister won’t be a match for her. She cast something on par with an advanced spell the day after she learned to use magic, and I only know of two people who have done that.”

“Hmm...” Lydia fell into thought. “Well, I suppose that’s life.”

“What’s gotten into you?” I asked. “You wouldn’t normally give in so easily.”

Lydia really doted on her younger sister, and they were very close, so this was usually where she would lose her temper and snap at me. She hadn’t even asked me how Tina had learned to use magic.

“I mean, my little sister’s working with a handicap,” Lydia explained. “Unlike your girl, she didn’t have the benefit of three months with a certain somebody. Of course she’s going to lose! Isn’t that right?”

“Hang on. You wrote in your letter that you were better than— Wait. I’m sorry. A Firebird at this close range really is no laughing matter.”

“A real man doesn’t quibble about every little thing,” Lydia noted. She then changed her tone and added, “Oh well. It’s time, so let’s get started. You can tell me all the details afterward.”

I shot her a puzzled look. “What do you— Ah!”

I knew it!

I could sense numerous people surrounding us. I tried to make a break for it, but my right arm was held fast.

T-Talk about an iron grip! Where in those slender arms is she hiding all that power?!

Smiling maids emerged from their hiding places and sped over to us. They were holding full-length mirrors and what looked like dressing implements.

Oh, I have a bad feeling about this...

“The exams should be ending any moment now,” Lydia remarked from beside me as she checked her pocket watch. She sounded as though she was enjoying this with all her heart. “My sister will be home soon, and what kind of brother-in-law would you be if you greeted her in such a shabby outfit?”

“Since when am I her brother-in— O-Ow! Y-You’re going to break my arm! I can hear my bones creaking!”

“She’s my sister. That makes her your sister-in-law,” Lydia explained. “Isn’t that just common sense?”

“Wh-What kind of ‘sense’ does that— A-All right! I said, all right! I told you just now, and I’ll tell you again as many times as it takes: don’t try to cast Firebird at such close range!” I paused for a beat and then gave in. “Fine. Do as you please.”

“You should have said so in the first place. You’re just so obstinate. Is everything ready?”

“Yes, my lady! All is prepared and in perfect order.” The maid who had served us tea earlier—she was the head maid and served Lydia personally—beamed and curtsied. Where had she come from?

“Are you prepared, Mr. Allen?”

“I’m in your hands,” I told her after a moment of silence.

“How commendable, sir. I would expect no less of you. Oh, how adorable my lady has been these past three months, Mr. Allen, and all thanks to you. Every day was simply heavenly. She waited for your letters on tenterhooks. When one failed to arrive, she would groan, ‘Should I not have written that in my last letter?’ or ‘If he ends up hating me, then, then... Oh, what should I do?’ And when she did receive one! Oh, you should have seen my lady huff and declare, ‘I really don’t care if he writes to me, you know? I mean it. Now, take this and mail it by the fastest griffin!’ I assure you, the Leinster Maid Corps could soldier on all this year on that alone! And words cannot describe her loveliness when she received word that you would be calling on her today. Why, just to pick out that dress, she agonized and agonized and then finally called on every maid in the house to vote on—”

“How much time are you going to waste on this chitchat?” Lydia interjected, her attention focused on her talkative head maid. “I take it you won’t mind working the rest of your life without pay?”

“...I beg your pardon, my lady.”

My hair, clothes, and every other aspect of my appearance were subsequently arranged to perfection by the Leinster maids. Um... Why do these clothes fit me perfectly?

I was totally exhausted, both mentally and physically. Only a few things stuck in my memory. There was the dazzling smile on Lydia’s face the moment I was dressed, when she’d hugged me so tightly that I’d thought my bones might break, and the cute round eyes of the snow-white souvenir wolf doll clutched in her hand. There was also the ring of maids that had been recording us and the shock when Lydia’s sister had returned—accompanied by Tina and Ellie, for some reason—and the three had immediately leapt at me. Last of all, there was the way the trio had started frolicking in the inner courtyard following a trivial argument.

One week later, the Royal Academy announced that year’s new admittees.