Siana von Arpi. Evolaine had heard she attended the banquet that day, but she hadn’t seen her.

She’d left midway with Leopold, after all.

‘I saw her for the first time today.’

[I see. Don’t get close to her. Not from now on either.]

‘Why? What did she do?’

[It’s not that. It’s just…]

To the puzzled Evolaine, Basilica said he’d tell her later once he was certain, deflecting the question.

The sinister and ominous energy he’d sensed from Siana. He hoped it was just his imagination.

* * *

That evening. After the entrance ceremony ended, Evolaine and Cardel finished preparing to return home.

While the coachman brought the carriage around, Evolaine recalled what Basilica had said during the day.

‘Basilica wouldn’t say something like that for no reason.’

Had he sensed something from Siana?

‘He said Duke of Arpi’s family.’

On the day of the banquet the imperial family hosted to commemorate the duchess’s return, it was the Duke of Arpi’s family who had kidnapped Heron.

She didn’t know the details, but if they’d pull something like that, the relationship between the two ducal families clearly wasn’t good.

‘I should be careful like Basilica said.’

At the entrance ceremony, Siana’s gaze scanning her up and down had been persistent, like searching for prey.

Cardel had even glared at her like she was a nuisance.

Of course it was fleeting so it wasn’t too obvious, but either way, even Evolaine, who was insensitive to her surroundings, could tell Siana was interested in her.

“Evolaine.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“…Many people will approach you from now on.”

Those targeting Kelic. Those trying to use her, who received the Duchy of Radelica’s protection.

People with various purposes would target her.

“Learn to judge people. That’s how you’ll survive.”

“…”

She’d entered the Duchy of Radelica, joined the Lacrel Knights, and even became an escort knight for the direct family line.

This was both skill and luck.

If the people of the ducal family had been bad people, Evolaine might not be making good friends and enrolling in the academy right now, but instead become a slave having her Kelic exploited.

So that’s what Cardel was worried about.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Young Master.”

“You talk a good game.”

Cardel grumbled and turned his head back toward the window.

The capital’s night was splendid. Various lights illuminated the streets brightly, and delicious foods were cooked fresh and sold hot.

The scenery of the capital’s downtown district stretched long with fortune-telling shops catching the eyes of the bored, and clothing stores selling various designs.

Evolaine was so captivated by the scene that she didn’t even notice her cheek touching the window.

One year from entering the ducal family from the orphanage, receiving knight training, and enrolling in the academy.

During that time she’d had countless experiences and tasted a new world, but this was a first.

‘Is this what an ordinary life is like?’

If she weren’t a Kelic swordsman, if her parents had been ordinary people, would she have played and run around streets like this?

Then the carriage stopped abruptly.

“Let’s get off for a bit.”

“What? But… Madam told us to come early. If we’re any later, she might worry…”

“We won’t be late if we look around first. If we’re late… we can just eat and then go in, right?”

Cardel had already opened the door and was waiting outside.

“Take my hand.”

The slightly cold air coming from outside the carriage wrapped around her skin. The sounds from people’s lives gradually entered her ears.

“…Thank you.”

Evolaine took Cardel’s hand and stepped down from the carriage.

The street lights sparkled like stars placed in the night sky.

And the golden eyes containing those stars shone brightest, like the only light in darkness.

“Why are you staring like that? Do I have something on my face?”

“…No, just.”

A voice flowed out, not smooth, like her throat was locked.

What is this emotion I’m feeling right now?

A strangeness where her heart stung and swelled, and her body felt like it would creak like something broken.

“I was just looking.”

“What, how boring.”

She couldn’t hear Cardel’s voice well asking what she wanted to eat. More than his voice, more than the external noise, the pounding of her heart sounded louder.

Thump— Thump—

In that moment, she finally realized the name of an emotion she couldn’t label before.

‘I like… the Young Master.’

She liked him. She liked him, who noticed like a ghost whenever she was struggling and stayed by her side, who helped her solve the worries she had.

“Evolaine? What are you thinking about?”

“…Nothing.”

“Really? Then let’s go eat steak. I came with Lucia last time and it’s a taste you’ll like too.”

The hand holding hers was warm. She felt warmth, like warming cold hands by a fireplace.

“…Yes, I like that too.”

But why does my body feel so cold?

The next day. Leaving behind the nagging she’d gotten for coming home late last night, Evolaine dragged her tired body and fumbled into her uniform.

At the academy, each department wore differently designed uniforms.

For example, the Chemistry Department wore lab coats over regular uniforms that researchers might wear, and the Diplomacy Department wore the most neat and weighty uniforms.

Generally they were designs modified from the basic uniform, but the Swordsmanship Department was different.

Since the department’s purpose was knight training from the start, everyone wore uniforms as basic attire, and during active classes like sparring, they wore functional clothes that could be worn in actual combat.

Also, rather than the academy providing clothes, each family brought them individually—this was to display family affiliation.

After putting on her clothes and hurrying out of the dormitory, Cardel, who had finished preparing first, was waiting in front of the carriage.

“I really don’t understand why we have to display affiliation. Yesterday they said it was a place unrelated to status or rank.”

“Tell me about it.”

Cardel wore a black uniform with a blue cloak. Near his left chest, the ducal family’s crest was engraved.

Evolaine wore the opposite—a white uniform. Over it she wore a purple cloak, representing the color of her Kelic.

“I wanted to wear a black uniform too.”

“Marchi members originally wear white uniforms. Even if you don’t like it, deal with it.”

“Fiiine.”

Evolaine climbed into the carriage sulking and let out a deep sigh.

Going to the academy like this would be like advertising ‘I’m the Kelic swordsman,’ and thinking about the attention she’d receive already made her uncomfortable.

“How does it feel to become a celebrity at the academy the moment you enrolled?”

“Can you really talk? Do you know how many people were looking at you at yesterday’s entrance ceremony?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

Cardel shrugged and added.

“I’m used to lots of people looking at me.”

“Wow…”

‘What a show-off!’

To blatantly say he’s great. She’d argued for nothing and couldn’t even break even.

“That’s right, there’s probably no one greater than you, Young Master.”

“Your words have no soul in them.”

“No they don’t.”

She grumbled outwardly but inwardly felt different.

Him being famous meant he was that capable and his position was solid.

Having enrolled in the academy with such a person, rather than jealousy, she felt more pleased that she could hold her shoulders high.

‘Because I must get revenge this time.’

If she could present those who made her die with a bleakness where they couldn’t see even an inch ahead, like darkness, that would be the best revenge.

‘I wonder if that woman… is doing well.’

The strange woman she’d met at the imperial palace had settled uncomfortably in a corner of Evolaine’s heart ever since.

Why did she think of her as someone she missed, even though it was their first meeting?

A woman who was gaunt and frail, yet whose eyes alone were alive.

‘If I meet her again, I must ask.’

Who the family she misses is. And who she is.

“Young Master, Dame. We’ve arrived at the academy.”

“Let’s get off.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Cardel got off first, and the moment Evolaine was about to follow, he extended his hand.

“…?”

“Take it.”

“What? Yes…”

Why is he doing something he didn’t do before? Drawing question marks in her head, Evolaine got off, and the carriage left the academy’s main gate.

“Oh, and from now on, call me by name.”

“…What?”

“Try it now. Say ‘Cardel.’”

A proposal that came bewilderingly. Was this a step to narrow the distance between them?

“Why by name…?”

“It seems cold. We’ll be stuck together for life, so isn’t it better to get used to it in advance?”

The word ‘life’ was never light. It was heavy and big.

Was the ‘life’ Cardel thought of the relationship between lord and escort knight?

Or…

“Evolaine?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“Really? Then call me.”

As he, a head taller, approached closely, a lavender scent wafted over.

The smell of lavender always placed in his room and office had soaked in deeply, and now it brushed past her nose intensely, like it had become his unique body scent.

“Cardel…”

Evolaine still wasn’t certain.

Whether this was an emotion a young girl would feel fleetingly.

Or a terrible emotion that would make her heart ache for a long time.

“Well done.”

Behind his brightly smiling face, sunlight shone.

His smile rode the light the sun emitted and was imprinted in her eyes.

“…Let’s go in quickly.”

“Hm? Let’s go together, Evolaine!”

It’s hot. Too hot.

Her head was hot and dizzy.

When she didn’t know much, someone had said.

Love is a magical emotion that absolutely prevents rational judgment.

‘How foolish.’

Why was she deeply relating to those words now?

Evolaine had no way of knowing.