Liliana brought her forehead to Lilith’s.

“Lilith, do you think it will rain tomorrow or not?”

“Huh?”

Lilith lifted her head to look at the sky. It was clear, but thick clouds were scattered here and there.

“It might rain…”

“Really? Then we need to prepare quickly. We must make sure no one goes outside. What if lightning strikes and people get hurt?”

“…Huh?”

“There are lightning rods, but they’re not entirely reliable. There are too many variables in the world. So, we should issue a travel ban, don’t you think? But then, what if lightning strikes through the chimneys, Lilith? Should we order all the chimneys to be sealed?”

Lilith was at a loss for words in response to Liliana’s uncharacteristically extreme suggestions. Her small lips simply opened and closed in silence.

Liliana found Lilith’s reaction so endearing that she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lilith, no one in the world can prevent all misfortunes. If your brother were to get hurt, it would break my heart. That’s why I’ll surround him with guards to the point where he’ll feel embarrassed. But even then, I still wouldn’t be able to protect him from a lightning strike that could come at any moment.”

“…I see.”

When Lilith nodded, Liliana continued speaking.

“I want you to learn how to live happily, Lilith. Bad things and scary things happen to everyone, but those who overcome them are the ones who find happiness.”

Liliana hugged Lilith tightly, bringing her lips to her small ear and whispering,

“Don’t let an uncertain future take control of your life, Lilith.”

* * *

From that day on, Lilith no longer insisted on making a contract with the Spirit King or begged to follow Carl to the academy.

Two seasons passed in this strange peace, and the day arrived for Carl to leave for the academy to be assigned his dormitory before the entrance ceremony.

Having held back for so long, Lilith finally burst into tears in Carl’s arms.

“Brother! Waaaah! I—I told Aria! Every time it rains! To go check on you!”

“Huh? Lilith, what do you mean? Aria…? Do you mean the Spirit King of Water?”

“Aria always knows when it’s raining! Hic! Right away! Waaah!”

Carl tried his best to remain composed, but with his little sister sobbing and spouting incomprehensible words, he could only stand there with a blank expression.

Lilith was crying, Carl was tilting his head in confusion, and the Spirit Kings were circling around, trying to console her, making for a rather comical farewell.

Even Helio found the situation amusing and covered his mouth, chuckling.

When Liliana nudged his side, he leaned toward her and whispered,

“I thought you convinced her?”

“Well, she tried her best… at least she’s not acting on her worries.”

A younger sibling’s concern for their older brother was also a sign of love.

As long as that concern didn’t ruin their lives, perhaps it wasn’t right to forcefully suppress their affection for family.

Liliana smiled, feeling as though she had learned something new from her child.

As Helio and Liliana exchanged amused glances, Carl was busy wiping Lilith’s tears and trying to calm her down.

“Alright, Lilith. I’ll be careful of lightning, careful of wild animals, and careful of bad people. But you have to be careful too, okay?”

“And colds! Be careful of colds too!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll be careful not to catch a cold. Lilith, you will too, right?”

“Yes!”

After Carl reassured her multiple times, Lilith finally started to calm down.

Helio patted Carl’s head and spoke warmly.

“Carl, I’ll see you at the entrance ceremony. Stay healthy until then.”

“Yes, Father.”

Carl hugged both Helio and Liliana before climbing into the carriage.

Lilith, reluctant to part with him, waved her arms wildly until the carriage disappeared from view.

Watching her, Helio suddenly lifted her into his arms.

“Lilith, if you want to enter the academy two years early like your brother, you’ll have to study hard.”

Even though Helio knew full well that Lilith was already more than capable of entering the Imperial Academy, he teased her playfully.

But Lilith shook her head firmly, as if it had nothing to do with her.

“I don’t want to go to the Imperial Academy.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to go to the academy Mom built! Rhenia Academy! You can enroll at Rhenia Academy from the age of eight, right?”

Liliana blinked in surprise at Lilith’s declaration.

Rhenia Academy was open to everyone. However, to most nobles, it was perceived as merely a “gathering place for somewhat intelligent commoners.”

Yet Lilith had confidently declared her intention to enroll there.

Liliana approached her daughter, who was still in Helio’s arms, and asked,

“Didn’t you want to follow Carl?”

“Brother has plenty of guards with him, and Aria is with him too, so there’s nothing to worry about. I’ve wanted to go to Rhenia Academy for a long time.”

“Why? Because I built it?”

“That too, but… it just seems more fun! The Imperial Academy doesn’t seem much different from learning at the palace.”

It wasn’t that Rhenia Academy lacked educational quality. Liliana, as its founder, was confident in that.

However, for a royal to integrate and study alongside commoners wouldn’t be an easy feat in many ways.

As Liliana pondered over this, Helio nodded his head.

“Alright. If you still feel the same way when you turn eight, I’ll send you to Rhenia Academy. But you’ll still have to study hard to pass the entrance exam.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

Liliana was still a little worried, but she believed that Lilith would do well.

Perhaps this experience would help Lilith broaden her perspective.

More than anything, if a member of the royal family enrolled in Rhenia Academy, the nobles’ opposition might disappear, creating an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to study together.

Watching Lilith smile brightly in Helio’s arms, Liliana felt a renewed desire to build a better world.

***

Side Story 2: You Can Have Both

In the autumn of the year Lilith turned eight, just as she had declared at five, she enrolled in Rhenia Academy.

To celebrate, Liliana, Helio, and even Carl gathered at Rhenia Academy. Perhaps because four members of the royal family were present, the academy’s auditorium was more lavishly decorated than ever.

Liliana sat in the seat reserved for the academy’s founder, overlooking the auditorium.

“Carl, it’s been a while since you last saw Lilith, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. But we’ve exchanged letters frequently.”

Now eleven years old, Carl had become noticeably more composed. He resembled a young Helio so much that it was hard to believe Helio had ever been this way himself. Even at his young age, Carl was already popular at the academy.

Liliana glanced between Helio and Carl before covering her mouth with a chuckle.

‘If he had inherited Helio’s personality as well, people would have been terrified of him.’

Since Carl had been calm and poised from a young age, it seemed to make him even more well-liked.

As Liliana fondly brushed Carl’s handsome forehead, she noticed someone approaching and exchanged a silent greeting.

Seeing this, the newcomers quickened their pace and bowed in greeting.

“Marquis Vilum and my family pay their respects to Your Majesties. Have you been well, Your Highness, Prince Carl?”

It was Sergei, Runiel, and their son, Klein.

The Vilum family had been significant supporters of Rhenia Academy, and since the daughter of a close friend was entering as the top student this year, they had come to offer their congratulations.

Liliana shifted her gaze slightly toward Klein.

He was a boy with jet-black hair, as dark as the night sky, resembling his father, Sergei.

At ten years old, he had already gained early admission to the Imperial Academy and was in his second year—an exceptional talent.

‘Before the world reset, this was the boy who had a crush on Lilith.’

Liliana couldn’t help but wonder if Klein would end up liking Lilith again this time.

“It’s good to see you here, Klein.”

“Klein of House Vilum greets Your Highness, the Prince.”

Carl and Klein, seemingly familiar from their time at the academy, exchanged friendly greetings.

However, Klein kept glancing toward the crowded auditorium, his gaze searching for something.

Finding his behavior curious, Liliana casually spoke up.

“Young Marquis, this must be your first time at Rhenia Academy. What do you think of it?”

“Ah, Your Majesty the Empress! It is an honor to finally visit this place I have only heard about. I think it is a very beautiful institution. And I am very pleased to celebrate Her Highness, Princess Lilith’s, enrollment. And also… very excited….”

Klein used the word “very” three times in a row—he must have been incredibly nervous.

Behind him, Runiel, the Marchioness of Vilum, was trying to suppress her laughter by feigning distraction.

While Liliana was conversing with the anxious Klein, an announcement echoed through the auditorium, signaling the start of the entrance ceremony.

After the academy’s headmaster welcomed the students, the freshman representative, Lilith, stepped onto the stage.

It wasn’t because of her status. It wasn’t even because of her talent as a spirit wielder.

Lilith had worked hard to become the top student among the new entrants.

In history, economics, politics, and languages, she had achieved results that were almost unbelievable for an eight-year-old.

‘Since it’s the academy my mother built, wouldn’t it be amazing if I became the freshman representative?’

Remembering how Lilith had said that, Liliana felt a wave of emotion swell in her chest.