Witch. Perhaps because of what happened with Ilion, the word ‘witch’ suddenly took on a different meaning.

“Come to think of it, you bought the book ‘The Origin of Witches,’ didn’t you? How was it?”

“Hmm. It wasn’t an interesting book.”

Alice nodded, saying she thought as much.

“Well, it wasn’t entirely nonsensical though.”

Alice had judged her to be a ridiculous dreamer, but she didn’t seem to be a mere fantasist.

If you only considered the content, the information about Kasiel was detailed enough to suggest that the author might have lived in the same era as jer, and Kasiel’s writings were indeed kept in the forbidden library as he had said.

“If you liked the book, shall I recommend some others?”

I shook my head at Alice’s suggestion. Regardless of how credible the author’s words were, the book he wrote was truly uninteresting.

“Anyway, I don’t think you need to worry too much about that rumor. I don’t think witches exist either.”

There were only humans trying to take advantage using the name of witches. This incident would probably be similar. The rumors would die down soon.

After a short chat with Alice, I returned to the mansion to find everyone waiting for dinner.

“Oh, everyone’s gathered here.”

Since everyone was together, I unpacked the bundles in both hands and distributed them one by one.

“Here you go. It’s a gift.”

“…A gift?”

Spinel, who received the box, asked.

“Yes. It’s a gift I bought with money I earned myself. Well, it’s not anything too fancy.”

When you get your first paycheck from a new job, don’t you usually gift underwear to your family members?

In my previous life, I didn’t have a family to share such joy with, so I had always envied that atmosphere.

So even though it wasn’t much money, I wanted to prepare small gifts for everyone.

“Here you go. I bought one for you too, Duke.”

After distributing one to everyone, I finally handed one to Ilion, who received the box with a slightly surprised expression.

“It’s gloves!”

Spinel, who had opened her gift faster than anyone else, was already trying on the gloves. Judging by her expression, she seemed to like them.

Lily and Sebastian also expressed their gratitude, saying thank you.

However, Ilion alone was somehow frowning with his lips tightly pressed together.

“…Do you not like it?”

Embarrassed, I scratched the back of my neck and asked.

Well, compared to the things Ilion usually used, it was ridiculously cheap.

I thought the gift might not have been good enough, but Ilion covered his eyes with one hand and muttered painfully.

“It’s not that. I think… I might break the window.”

“B-Break the window?”

Why on earth? If you don’t like it that much, just say so. Why break the window?

While I was bewildered, staring at Ilion, Sebastian chimed in from behind.

“You can wear them when you go on your date tomorrow, Master.”

And with those words, a crack really formed in the window.

Sebastian, shouldn’t we seriously consider this by now? That there might be an evil spirit living in this house!

***

The next morning. I jumped out of bed like a child waiting for a picnic, and opened the window in a refreshing mood.

“The weather is perfect for an outing…”

Like a princess in a fairy tale, I opened the window, but quickly locked it again when a blast of frost hit my face mercilessly.

“What is this.”

Under the weather that chased away all sleepiness, I rubbed my eyes and looked down outside to see over 10cm of snow piled up.

“Miss, you’re awake?”

“Lily, the snow…”

I looked at Lily, who had just entered, with an expression of utter despair. Lily, seeming to understand my feelings without words, nodded with a regretful expression.

“Yes. It snowed.”

“So we can’t go today?”

“…Probably not.”

It seemed the carriage wouldn’t even move because of the heavy snow. It had been sunny all along, why did it have to snow heavily today of all days.

No matter how I thought about it, I was clearly hated by the gods.

As I was trudging towards the dining room with my expectations mercilessly crushed, I found Ilion looking out the window.

“Good morning, Duke.”

“Ah, Ravenne.”

“I guess we can’t go today, can we?”

When I asked, looking at the piled-up snow, Ilion nodded. It seemed he thought so too.

Even if there was a way to get there, it didn’t seem likely they would open on a day like this…

“You must have wanted to go, I’m sorry.”

What did Ilion have to be sorry for? It’s not like he made it snow.

“…Well, we can go flower viewing after the snow melts.”

While I was trying to console myself, it seemed Ilion was just as disappointed.

Although it was unfortunate that our outing was canceled, it seemed a waste to just let the day go by.

After quietly looking at the snow piled up outside the window, I asked Ilion.

“It might not be a substitute for flower viewing, but since you’ve already cleared your schedule for the day, would you like to share some of that time with me?”

Ilion looked at me, wondering if I had something in mind.

“It snowed! So we should go out and play!”

***

Contrary to their expectation that she would be depressed about the canceled plans, Ravenne was full of energy today as well.

As soon as she finished breakfast, she started gathering people, and even called over the knights who were clearing the snow, resulting in more than a dozen people gathering in the garden.

“A snowball fight, it brings back memories.”

Lucas muttered, looking at the excited Ravenne. Ilion’s gaze, which had been glancing at him, fixed on Lucas’s hands.

“Those gloves…”

“Ah, you mean these? Miss gave them to me as a gift.”

Lucas answered, scratching his head. It was unclear why he was being shy about it.

It seemed that not only Sebastian and Spinel, but even Lucas had received a gift.

Although it was Ravenne’s choice to give gifts to whoever she wanted, Ilion didn’t like being put on the same level as Lucas.

Ilion tried to ignore his own childish jealousy by turning his head away.

“I’ll pass it down as a family heirloom for generations!”

Lucas, oblivious to these subtle emotional changes, innocently added a comment that further fueled Ilion’s jealousy.

“Here, Duke, please draw one. You too, Sir Lucas.”

Ravenne, who had been chattering from afar, approached and held out lots. Without thinking, Ilion drew one and looked at it, then Spinel approached with an unpleasant expression.

“Am I on the same team as you again?”

Who are you to say that? Ilion lightly ignored Spinel’s provocation and looked at Ravenne. It seemed she was on the same team as Lucas again. Why did every draw turn out like this?

“It’s a revenge match, Sir Lucas!”

Watching Ravenne burn with fighting spirit, saying she would defeat him and Spinel this time, Ilion swallowed his dissatisfaction.

Although it was disappointing that he couldn’t monopolize Ravenne, what could he do when she was so happy?

“Oh, you’re not asking to switch teams this time?”

Ravenne asked curiously, looking at him and Spinel who were unusually quiet.

Ilion answered with a slight smile.

“Let’s just keep it this way. More importantly, what will you grant if we win this time?”

As expected, from the moment the teams were formed, the combination of Ilion and Spinel was strong.

Despite adding a rule prohibiting the use of magic, Ravenne’s team fell one after another to the snowballs of the opposing team.

“…Phew, Sir Lucas. This won’t do.”

Ravenne, having lost half of her forces, looked at Lucas with a grave expression.

“You’re not planning to bribe the referee again, are you?”

“I won’t do such a thing.”

When asked, Ravenne shook her head firmly, remembering the last time, and said.

“Then…”

She whispered her strategy into Lucas’s ear. Lucas’s expression seemed somewhat dubious after hearing the plan.

“Do we really have to do that?”

“What’s wrong with it? If we can’t stop those two, we’ll lose again!”

“……”

Seeing Ravenne’s competitiveness that was second to none, Lucas nodded. He only hoped he wouldn’t incur Ilion’s wrath.

After hiding in the bushes for a while, Ravenne peeked out her head. Then she suddenly started charging towards the enemy camp.

Carrying a large snowball, she immediately became a target, and a considerable number of snowballs came flying. Just when it seemed she was dodging them quite well,

“Kyaah–!”

With a scream of death, she was hit on the head by a snowball from somewhere and collapsed right there.

Although she fell quite dramatically, it didn’t seem like she was hit that hard, so he thought she would just get up and dust herself off. However, for some reason, Ravenne couldn’t move easily.

Did she hit her head and faint? Seeing that Ravenne’s condition seemed strange, Ilion was the first to run over and check on her.

“Ravenne, are you alright?”

“Duke…”

Ravenne barely opened her eyes and looked at Ilion.

“Are you conscious? Can you stand…”

Thud.

As he was worriedly trying to lift her body, wondering if she might be hurt, a white snowball hit his face and shattered.

“Ra…venne?”

“Pfft. Duke, you’re out.”

After saying that, she quickly escaped from his arms and returned to her own camp. Only then realizing he had been tricked, Ilion stared blankly at Ravenne.

“If you fell after being hit by snow, shouldn’t you be out!”

Spinel, who had also been fooled by Ravenne’s strategy, raised his voice in protest.

“Snowballs thrown by the same team don’t count!”

Ravenne laughed gleefully as she said that while sticking out her tongue. They had truly been beautifully deceived.