It was that obvious.

But just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean he has to help me.

Well, Lerrhagen doing incomprehensible things wasn’t anything new. From the first time we met—

“Actually, I’ve been curious about something.”

“……”

“Back then, why did you want to take me as your disciple?”

At my question, Lerrhagen slightly furrowed his brow.

“I don’t know. I don’t remember. It might have been a whim, or perhaps you resembled someone I knew.”

“Who would that be?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking then. I’m just saying it’s possible.”

“……”

“When you live a life close to immortality, it’s best to discard useless memories.”

“Useless……”

Seriously, this dragon keeps treating people like ants crawling on the street.

I sighed deeply.

Right, to a dragon living such a long life, I might be treated like an ant—

“If you forget about helping me too, I really won’t let it slide.”

—or not. No matter how powerful he was, my pride wouldn’t allow it.

I warned him in a cold voice.

Lerrhagen glanced at me and opened his mouth.

“I’ll try.”

In the end, I brazenly reminded Lerrhagen about ten times that he needed to actively help me from now on.

I also told him that Sever would be coming in a few days and asked for his cooperation before focusing on practice for a while longer.

Lerrhagen didn’t particularly refuse my request.

* * *

Thanks to the weapon Lerrhagen gave me, I practically lived in the garden for a while.

Whenever I had time, I practiced controlling magic power in the training ground in the garden, and I even tried to use magic power in my daily life.

Lerrhagen didn’t particularly interfere with what I was doing.

He just watched me practice from a tree, and only when I asked for help did he leisurely approach to assist me. Of course, afterward he would climb back up the tree.

It was actually Hasis who became my practice partner.

He made a somewhat strange face when he saw the magic weapon Lerrhagen had given me.

Then, hearing that I needed a practice partner, he drew his sword with a reluctant expression.

Swoosh—

Once again, the whip coiled in the air. The tip of the whip, which had drawn three large circles, precisely wrapped around Hasis’s sword.

Hasis quickly pulled his sword.

In the past, I would have been dragged along, but I curled the corners of my mouth and swung the whip once more.

“Ugh.”

At that moment, Hasis grimaced in pain.

Though the movement wasn’t large, it was clearly an attack infused with magic power.

I raised my arm and retracted the whip.

Seeing my triumphant face, Hasis slightly grabbed his arm.

“You never go easy on anyone, do you?”

“You didn’t go easy on me when we first met either.”

“That was because I didn’t know you well back then.”

“We’re not particularly close now either, are we?”

I exhaled slightly, catching my breath.

Although it was still burdensome to use my body, it was much better than before.

I looked up at Lerrhagen.

His calm, wall-like eyes gazed at me before turning away.

Naturally, I also turned my gaze and frowned slightly when I saw someone entering the garden.

“What? Why are you here again?”

“Ah. Oh my, little miss. Did I interrupt? I’m sorry.”

The one who appeared was none other than Ilian.

He still wore the same slick smile from the day we first met.

Unlike then, when he had been grimy, he was now clean, with his curly platinum hair tied up, wearing a neat shirt and pants.

He was definitely handsome.

I had thought most alchemists were frail from being cooped up in their labs, looking like they might die tomorrow, but Ilian wasn’t like that.

Now that I think about it, Sela did mention a few days ago that my newly arrived first brother was really handsome.

Ilian approached us.

Hasis blocked my front with a wary face.

He still seemed displeased with Ilian.

However, Ilian didn’t seem to mind and spoke with a gentle smile.

“Ah, I didn’t come here to harm anyone.”

“You don’t look like you’d have the courage to try.”

“I just wanted to ask the little miss something.”

Despite Hasis’s cold attitude, Ilian responded pleasantly.

At his mention of a request, I tilted my head slightly and asked, “What is it?”

“Will I die if I leave this palace?”

Ah.

So he’d been quietly staying in his room for days but was getting restless.

I understood, but it was ridiculous. I frowned and opened my mouth.

“Of course. You just stay and play by yourself in this palace.”

“That’s harsh, my little miss.”

“And stop calling me ‘little miss.’ Address me properly.”

“But it’s strange to call my younger sister ‘Your Highness,’ and if someone hears me calling you ‘Your Majesty,’ I’ll die.”

“So you do value your life.”

“I do. That’s why I made the covenant, isn’t it?”

I shook my head.

I had felt it since we first met, but he had a strangely cunning side.

Lerrhagen’s excessive indifference was a problem, but this guy’s slickness was even worse.

In the end, Ilian returned to his room after being told he could only go out when accompanied by Hasis or me.

Given Hasis’s personality, he would never go out with that guy, and since I was in this state, I had no intention of leaving the palace, so it was essentially useless.

After Ilian left, Hasis frowned and spoke.

“Isn’t that guy suspicious?”

“After making such a scene when he first appeared, it would be stranger if he wasn’t suspicious.”

“That’s true, but I just feel oddly uncomfortable whenever I see him.”

“Is there anyone you feel comfortable seeing?”

I asked with subtle mockery.

Hasis looked incredulous at my retort.

But soon, he smiled crookedly and said to me, “There is. You.”

“Have you finally lost your mind?”

“It’s fun watching something the size of a bean hopping around.”

“What?”

When I opened my eyes wide and got upset, Hasis chuckled and nodded.

I soon realized how childish I was being and exhaled deeply.

“Fine. I won’t fight with you. What’s the point of fighting with someone younger than me? It’s not mature.”

Hasis made a subtle smile at my words and then laughed again.

After always seeing his cold or irritated face, it felt strange to suddenly see him laugh.

‘Is he making fun of me?’

While I was thinking this, Hasis erased his smile and spoke.

“Anyway, I have the Eye of Truth. Although the bloodline has thinned now, making it difficult to identify cases unlike yours where the body actually shrinks, still, it’s not a simple matter when I say I feel uncomfortable.”

“I know. Me too.”

Yes, I know.

In fact, even without Hasis’s warning, I never thought Ilian would truly be bound by the covenant and remain under my surveillance forever.

The reason I kept him by my side was, first, because killing him wouldn’t deal any significant blow to my enemies anyway, and second, because killing him would mean losing an important clue.

Moreover,

“He has his uses if we keep him.”

“What uses?”

“Who knows? That’s for him to prove, isn’t it?”

I said with a slight smile.

* * *

The room, reflecting its owner’s character, was immaculate without a trace of disorder and filled with silence.

Despite the elaborate craftsmanship and expensive decorations, it was luxurious without being vulgar, displaying dignity.

Duke Kelliard’s bedroom, permitted only to those inherently noble and wealthy, had to bid farewell to its owner for a while after today.

“Your Grace, the preparations are complete.”

At the voice of the butler who entered after knocking, Sever, who was standing by the window, turned his head slightly.

His neat black hair swayed gently in the breeze, revealing a cool, sculptured face.

Unlike usual, his shirt was slightly unbuttoned, revealing a firm neckline, and his broad shoulders and sturdy physique were clearly those of a knight.

“Did you pack everything I instructed?”

“Yes, all your belongings have been completely moved to the mansion in the capital. Now, if Your Grace warps to the mansion in the capital, Madam Kelson, the head maid, says she will take care of the rest.”

“I understand.”

Click. The door closed.

In the returning silence, Sever turned his head again to look at what he had been holding.

It was a red velvet ribbon.

The color had faded slightly, suggesting quite some time had passed, but it was without blemish, showing it had been carefully preserved for these years.

Staring at it, Sever clenched his fist, his thoughts unknown.

The velvet crumpled slightly under his grip, and his red eyes grew cold.

After some time, he spoke.

“Estria.”

He suddenly traced a lingering image in his mind.

The final image was of a woman with rather cold eyes staring at him.

“Back then, I shouldn’t have done that.”

The muttering of unclear meaning echoed in the room.

But with that, there was no further response.

It was a thing of the past.

Something that could never be undone.

* * *

Sever Kelliard’s audience was held privately as planned.

However, in a situation where everyone already knew about his return to the capital, holding just the audience in private couldn’t stop the rumors.

Proving this, Sela entered my room in the morning with a face burning with determination.