Chapter 15

[I heard spring flowers have bloomed in the royal capital. As there are large temperature differences between day and night in spring, please take care of your health.]

[The time has come when all the Luzel flowers in the royal capital have fallen. You asked me to tell you about the north in your reply to my previous letter, so I’m letting you know. The north has had its final snow of the year.]

[The days are getting hotter. I worry whether you’re suffering from the heat.]

[You mentioned Leo is taking the entrance exam for the Royal Academy’s Swordsmanship Department. If he does as he was taught, surely he will safely……]

***

Today, again, a falcon from the far north knocked on my window early in the morning.

I hurriedly gave water to the falcon, which showed clear signs of exhaustion, and only then did I check the brief letter tied to the bird’s ankle.

Sir Cherry’s letter was still short and simple.

He’s naturally not good with words so I understand, but the problem was the messenger birds dying in transit because he sends these greeting letters like social media messages.

To think that special express messenger birds, supposedly used only for emergencies, were being used to deliver such nutritionally deficient greetings.

“You’ve got a bad master, poor thing.”

With impeccable timing, as if to agree, the messenger bird paused from drinking water and let out a sorrowful cry.

Knock, knock, knock.

Three rhythmic knocks on the door.

I moved the falcon to its perch and spoke.

“Come in, Leo.”

As soon as permission was granted, the door opened slightly and Leo poked his head in, blinking his eyes as he asked.

“How did you know it was me?”

“I have my ways.”

I can distinguish whether it’s Leo or not just by the sound of footsteps beyond the door, so identifying him by his knock is hardly difficult.

Soon, Leo revealed the body he had been hiding behind the door and said to me with a face mixed with tension and excitement.

“Um, I’m all ready.”

Immediately, a system window appeared before my eyes announcing the completion of a quest.

[[Quest] ‘All Swords of the Kingdom Come from Bilhern Academy’ Completed

‘Star of Heroes’ has passed the entrance exam for Bilhern Royal Academy’s Swordsmanship Department and is attending his first day.

You have received ‘Quest Reward: 100 Coins’ as a reward.]

This spring, Leo not only passed the Bilhern Academy entrance exam safely but also achieved the remarkable feat of entering with the highest score.

‘Sir Cherry may not be good with words, but he certainly raised his disciple well.’

With affectionate hands, I fixed Leo’s tie on his academy uniform and asked kindly.

“Leo, what did I tell you to do at the academy?”

“To make lots of friends.”

“That’s right, so you only need to study moderately hard. Instead, meet many people and try everything you want to do. Understand?”

“Yes!”

As I was making a final adjustment to his uniform collar, I noticed a star-shaped birthmark the size of a fingernail on the upper part of his neck.

It was the mark of the Star of Heroes.

When I was playing the game, I thought the protagonist was born with this mark.

‘Special adoption papers imbued with power’ made me realize when I became Leo’s official guardian.

[The mark of the ‘Star of Heroes’ is engraved on the ‘Star of Heroes’.]

The mark of the Star of Heroes appears when one receives recognition from the system window.

What could be the purpose of such a mark?

‘It’s almost as if it’s preparing for when the protagonist’s specialness needs to be proven to others.’

With a strange uneasiness, I gently rubbed the mark as if erasing watercolor paint, causing Leo to shrug his shoulders and burst into laughter like a sneeze.

“Pfft, that tickles, Lady Belinda!”

“……You seem to have finally relaxed a bit.”

Only then did I remove my hand from Leo’s neck and went downstairs with the child.

In front of the annex where the carriage was waiting, Ian Rechel, the son of the Rechel family head who had also been accepted into the academy with Leo, was standing with his usual sullen expression.

“I greet the head of House Blanche.”

He also gave a slight eye greeting to Leo, but that was all.

Despite Ian visiting Blanche Manor several times over sponsorship issues and encountering Leo multiple times, contrary to my wish for them to become friends, the two remained distant.

“Then I’ll be going!”

The carriage carrying Leo and Ian, who had said their goodbyes energetically, departed, and I couldn’t leave my spot until the carriage disappeared from sight.

Terry, putting a parasol over me, asked.

“Are you worried?”

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t worried.

I’m extremely concerned that Leo might hear harsh words somewhere and suffer alone, silently shedding tears.

After all, the younger the child, the more cruel the words they can speak, weaponizing their ignorance.

If I could, I’d like to send people to the academy to ensure that no one dares to touch even a strand of our Leo’s hair, but!

“Ratchet is a strong child. I believe that trusting him is also what’s best for him.”

As some impertinent man once said, sometimes trusting is what’s best for Leo.

“I’m not worried.”

“Yes, unlike Master, Ratchet has social skills, so he’ll quickly adapt to academy life and bring lots of friends to the mansion.”

What’s this? Is she indirectly criticizing me for having no social skills or friends?

When my gaze turned cold, Terry quickly added.

“Since Ratchet has seen how Master makes friends, he’ll do well at the academy too.”

At those words, I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks again.

“……Do we look like friends?”

“Aren’t you? I thought you got along well with Miss Ophelia since you meet her every week. You also seemed to be enjoying yourself.”

Well, it is enjoyable when we meet.

Our values align surprisingly well, and we communicate so well that sometimes I get so absorbed in conversation that I forget my original purpose.

Sensing my complicated feelings, Terry, who had now become quite the competent assistant, carefully asked.

“Would you like to cancel your afternoon tea appointment with Miss Ophelia today?”

“……No, that’s not necessary.”

I shook my head.

It seemed like it was about time to make a judgment about who Ophelia Bermang really was.

***

Two months ago, I never expected that my meetings with Ophelia, which began with her wanting to apologize for a misunderstanding, would continue for so long.

“I’m really sorry. Being overly meddlesome is my weakness, and I try to fix it, but before I know it, my body moves first……”

“Do you know any excellent patisseries you could recommend in the royal capital?”

“I remembered you mentioning that Leo likes lemon-flavored desserts, so I made some lemon charlotte. Would you accept it if you don’t mind?”

At first, my intention was clearly to find out what kind of person Ophelia was.

I couldn’t predict how Ophelia, who wasn’t Leo’s official guardian, would factor into things, and perhaps… she might be possessed by someone like me.

“And then suddenly he told me to marry a man I didn’t even know! I wanted a love marriage!”

“Love marriage, that’s nice.”

” I knew it! I knew Your Ladyship would understand.”

But before I realized it, I was quite enjoying the tea times I had with Ophelia once or twice a week.

Ophelia, seemingly delighted to have found someone who sympathized with her thoughts, raised her voice with her pink eyes sparkling.

“That’s why I came to this kingdom to escape an arranged marriage. To live my one and only life according to my own will!”

I fully agreed with her words as I brought the teacup to my lips.

Given that personality differences are the number one reason for divorce, how could one marry someone they don’t even know properly…

“So, when does Your Ladyship plan to get married?”

“Cough, cough.”

The sudden question caught me off guard, causing me to choke.