I understood their feelings. It might be food that didn’t suit a delicately raised young lady’s palate.

By the way, had Marlene eaten? When I told them to go to the next house and bring Marlene over, Musen said.

“Miss Marlene will come a bit later.”

“Really?”

“She said she’d be a little late making cookies.”

Eating meat and then drinking delicious cookies and tea would be the best.

My mouth watered at the mention of cookies. The cookies Marlene made were truly delicious.

A short while later, Marlene came carrying a basket filled with cookies. Fazel and I ate the meat deliciously, then went into the room to drink tea. We ate cookies together too.

The first day passed without incident.

* * *

Aegis received and read the report. It contained what Fazel had presented today, standing in the auditorium as top student.

“Fazel Onyuran.”

He was the most outstanding child among the illegitimate children. No, he was the most useful among all the children he’d fathered.

And they said he had deep knowledge of magic.

“Did the sealed magic power break free?”

Children born into the Zieten ducal family had their magic power sealed from a young age. 

However, Fazel’s innate magic power was so strong that even with the seal, magic power seemed to flow out. Even just the magic power flowing from the seal was enough to shock everyone.

“Hmm.”

He thought of Nertian. The child born as the legitimate wife’s son who’d held the power of Young Duke.

At first, Nertian also had magic power. Since weak magic power could be felt even after sealing, he’d thought him suitable as heir.

But as Nertian aged, the balance in his body collapsed.

When he received external shocks, magic power leaked out. Of course, no one could sense this except Aegis, the Duke.

“Louelle Asnel.”

When she first came to visit, she spoke of the family’s secret.

She also informed him that Fazel, whose magic power was sealed, knew how to use magic.

After that, Aegis watched Fazel closely.

“Is the heir of this generation Fazel?”

There could be multiple heirs. If Fazel hadn’t existed, Nertian, though lacking, would have become the heir.

What Louelle couldn’t tell Fazel—the Zieten ducal family had a hidden secret.

That secret was that dragon blood flowed through the Zieten ducal family’s people.

Dragon blood contained magic power that humans couldn’t contain. It was fine when sealed in childhood, but as they grew and the seal broke, the children would be consumed by magic power, their body’s balance would break, and they’d waste away and die.

Then occasionally, a strong child who could withstand the magic power would be born.

So the ducal family had many children and had to choose an heir from among them.

Since one child was born per woman, the Dukes of Zieten had kept concubines and mistresses for generations. 

Nertian was born as the legitimate wife’s son with a body strong enough to withstand magic power. But usually only about one such child was born per generation—this time there were two.

Fazel and Nertian.

In bloodline and family, Nertian was better; in personal ability, Fazel was better.

Though his heart leaned toward Fazel, Louelle was by his side. There was a high possibility Louelle would oppose Fazel becoming Duke.

Louelle said to spare him since Fazel had the possibility of becoming heir, but she surely hadn’t said this hoping he would become Duke.

The family head had a duty to protect the children who would survive. At first, Aegis hadn’t spared Fazel, thinking of him as heir.

But the more he watched Fazel, the more he thought him suited to be heir.

‘Louelle is troublesome.’

What woman would like her husband coveting mistresses and bringing heirs from elsewhere?

Especially since Louelle knew the Zieten ducal family’s secret, she might feel that way even more.

What should he do?

He picked up his teacup.

For now, he hadn’t decided to completely abandon Nertian. There were many reasons not to make Louelle an enemy. Her godfathers, the Emperor, and even Count Asnel. Many powerful people surrounded Louelle.

What he needed to do was maintain an appropriate line while gaining benefits.

He drank tea in his office.

The tea was neither sweet nor bitter.

* * *

Though I’d learned that Fazel had no interest in Liliet, I didn’t let my guard down. I felt like something would happen.

As I expected, the connection between Fazel and Liliet was persistent. Liliet was in a class Fazel took. When I waited for Fazel, I saw her come out with him.

Fazel and I took history class together as a general education course. In the original story, Fazel liked history and took that class. Since there was no setting in the original that Liliet and Caslan took history class, I’d been relieved.

After class started, Fazel and I sat in adjacent seats. Just then, Caslan and Liliet, who’d arrived late, appeared.

They quickly entered and sat down, glancing at Fazel and me once each.

Of course, since we were top and second place, them looking wasn’t such a big deal. But unease bloomed in my heart.

“First time seeing this.”

The history professor had brown hair and a handsome face. Father said he was the most handsome at the Academy and very popular.

His name was Kalchiren.

Professor Kalchiren pushed up his glasses slightly and looked at Fazel and me. Then he looked at Liliet and Caslan and smiled.

“For the entrance exam’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place students to take the same class simultaneously—this is a first.”

For a moment, a strange emotion lingered in his eyes.

“This assignment is a group project. Fazel, Louelle, Liliet, and Caslan should form one group and do it together. I’m curious what results your combination will produce.”

At Professor Kalchiren’s words, the students laughed too. But I, the actual party involved, couldn’t do that.

‘Just this once.’

It would just be this one subject.

I thought that, but even in a class where we drew lots to decide groups, we became the same group.

Being tied together like this in three classes, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the original story’s influence.

As I came out after class with Fazel, I shouted inwardly at the sky.

‘Even if you interfere with me, I won’t yield!’

If I couldn’t change the fate of them being tied together, I just needed to use that fate.

When I smiled, Fazel glanced at me.

“Louelle, is something wrong? Why are you smiling so scary?”

Did I do that?

“Don’t you like the group project?”

I nodded.

“Yeah, exactly!”

More than the group project, I didn’t like Liliet and Caslan becoming the same group. But I couldn’t show that.

* * *

Fazel was quietly reading a book. But since he couldn’t concentrate, he closed the book and sighed.

Feelings he couldn’t tell anyone about were stirring.

Caslan and Liliet.

Louelle got tense whenever these two appeared. She especially paid a lot of attention to Liliet.

Before, her interest had been focused solely on him, but now it went to Liliet.

Why was that?

“Does she need people?”

Fazel recalled Louelle’s behavior. While doing three group projects together this time, Liliet and Louelle met frequently. Each time, Louelle spoke to Liliet in a friendly manner.

The two whispered together, laughed, and seemed to get along well. But before, even when spending time with friends, she’d taken care of him first—now that priority seemed pushed back.

“I shouldn’t be like this.”

Fazel thought he was being childish. He felt thirsty for Louelle’s affection and greedy to monopolize it.

To stay by Louelle’s side, he needed to abandon such greed. Since she treated him well, his heart had grown too large and he seemed to want too much.

For now, he gathered the materials he’d prepared.

Since he’d finished preparing all the materials assigned for this project, he had to go meet Caslan, Louelle, and Liliet.

* * *

I clenched my fists like someone preparing for a decisive battle. Marlene touched my hair from beside me and said.

“Miss, please come back victorious.”

“Of course.”

I’d made a list based on information I’d learned while getting close to Liliet during this time.

I gathered those things and put them in my bag. I planned to take them out at the cafe today.

“But Miss Louelle, you seem especially beautiful today.”

“You think so?”

“They say women in love are beautiful.”

“More than that, women fighting wars to claim love are beautiful.”

Marlene giggled. I smiled similarly, put on a hairpin, slung my bag over my shoulder, and put on my shoes.

I’d decided to go with Fazel. When I opened the front door and came out, Fazel was standing right there.

He wore clothes we’d bought together recently. Any clothes really suited Fazel.

Fazel looked at my bag and tilted his head slightly.

“I haven’t seen that bag before?”

“I have a lot of supplies today, so I took out a big one since I packed this and that.”

He even knew the bag I usually carried around. How admirable.

Fazel wasn’t unobservant.

“Looks like you put effort into dressing up?”

“Does it show? Obviously I have to dress up when going out with my fiancé.”

Actually, I was also conscious of Liliet.

I didn’t want to fall behind while going around with Liliet.

I didn’t want to hear that Liliet suited Fazel better.

“Switch bags with me.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Mine is lighter.”

He held out the bag he’d been carrying. I ended up switching bags with Fazel.

“Why is this so heavy?”

“I’ll carry it.”

“It’s fine. I’m more comfortable with this kind.”

He got on the carriage carrying my heavy bag. I was flustered seeing his changed behavior.

‘It’s just like lovers.’

Wasn’t this a situation I’d only seen in novels? I recalled scenes of boyfriends carrying heavy bags and grumbling.

Could Fazel possibly…?

Thinking that, I quickly shook my head. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed. And I didn’t want to pressure Fazel out of impatience either.

“Let’s go.”

I boarded the carriage. Fazel sat in the seat across from me and placed the bag on his lap.

“Can I look at what’s in the bag?”

At Fazel’s question, I nodded.

“Of course.”

Since there were no suspicious items, it was fine. Fazel slowly opened the bag and checked what was inside.

Seeing the accessories and tea, he frowned.

“Earrings, necklaces, and even tea leaves. This isn’t like you, who usually packs simply. Is today some special day?”

I smiled.

“Today is a special day.”

“A special day?”

“It’s Liliet’s birthday. When we met at the cafe last time for the assignment, Liliet mentioned it.”

So I packed things Liliet would like.

I’d decided to become close with Liliet to use fate.

Fazel’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you scheming?”

“What? I just bought gifts because I want to get along well with Liliet.”

I played innocent. Then Fazel looked at me like he couldn’t believe it.

“You suddenly moving without any purpose? You’ve been conscious of Liliet and Caslan, so you’re acting like this!”

He even knew that.

No, it was strange that Fazel didn’t know.

He was more sensitive than anyone.

“It’s a secret.”

But I couldn’t tell him.

I only smiled without revealing my heart.

The cafe wasn’t very far from the Academy. Thinking of Liliet and Caslan living in the dormitory, I’d set the meeting place near school.

After Fazel and I got off the carriage, we walked. Fazel seemed curious about my feelings but didn’t pry.

He seemed to sense I wouldn’t tell him.

At the cafe entrance, stones were placed creating a unique atmosphere. Passing through the entrance where short trees and stones were prettily arranged, a building appeared. Entering the white, square building, I looked for Caslan and Liliet who were already there.

Having placed their belongings on wooden chairs and sofas, they spotted us and waved.

Liliet in particular welcomed me. Though I’d also approached her in a friendly way.

Actually, Liliet lived alone in the dormitory without a roommate. They said since she had the best grades among the girls who entered the dormitory, she was assigned a single room, but she said it was disappointing not having opportunities to socialize with other kids.

It was still early in the semester, and most students were awkward with each other. Since there were many cases of not knowing other students, professors assigned group projects. So students could use this as an opportunity to interact and get along well.

But in Liliet’s case, she wasn’t doing group projects with other kids, only with us. So as a woman, I was naturally welcome.

She hadn’t become close with anyone besides me yet.

“Louelle, come sit next to me.”

I gave Fazel his bag and took mine. Then I sat in the seat next to Liliet.

“Liliet, happy birthday.”

“You remembered my birthday?”

“Of course.”

I spoke like it was natural.

Since she was a commoner, I didn’t know how much I’d struggled to make Liliet, who tried to be formal with me, speak casually and call me by name.

Honestly, if she hadn’t been tied to Fazel, I wouldn’t have been wary of Liliet and would have become friends. Liliet was a kinder and more righteous girl than anyone.

I smiled and took out accessories and tea from my bag.

“They’re gifts.”

There were three accessories and four containers of tea. Then Liliet’s eyes widened.

“Are these all gifts?”

“Yeah, I didn’t know what you’d like so I picked them out. Of course, you can leave out anything here that’s not to your taste.”

But would there really be anything that wasn’t?

As a wealthy merchant’s daughter, Liliet had considerable knowledge of accessories. Her parents made their name as jewelers.

“Wow, they’re really pretty. I was envious of the accessories you wear, Louelle.”

“Someone who runs a workshop in our territory is very skilled. I ordered these from there.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, next year I’ll order something just for you, Liliet. This year I bought things that were already made.”