On top of that, the glasses she only wore when reading were somehow captivating to look at, so his gaze kept drifting toward Jeanne rather than his book.

“……Is it interesting?”

“I don’t read spellbooks for fun. But there’s a certain pleasure in learning new information.”

“Oh my, Miss Nova, I think we’d get along well.”

At the sudden voice, both of them turned in that direction. A woman they hadn’t even noticed enter was standing behind them with a grin. The door hadn’t opened, so how had she come in?

“Rebecca. You used magic again.”

“That’s right. I snuck in using magic. I wanted to surprise you, but neither of you seems surprised.”

She answered Ruhir with a playful smile, then turned to look at Jeanne.

“I’m Rebecca Noers. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard about you from Ruhir.”

“I’m Jeanne Nova. I’ve always heard a great deal about you, Miss Rebecca Noers.”

“I’m two years younger than Jeanne. You can speak casually with me.”

“……Alright. I will.”

When Jeanne took Rebecca’s outstretched hand, they shook lightly. Jeanne was well acquainted with information about her. Being the daughter of a great mage, she had a natural gift for magic. If they had been in the same year, it was clear Jeanne would not have been able to claim first place in magical studies.

It’s strange that they’re close despite being different ages.

“I came to pick up something I left behind, but I found the two of you here. I was also curious about Ruhir’s lover, so I wanted to see for myself.”

Her cat-like eyes curved as she smiled. Then she sat down beside Jeanne and looked at the book she was reading.

“You’re reading this book? Are you particularly interested in magical studies?”

“Ah, y-yeah. I want to build up a lot of knowledge on the magic side of things.”

“……I like that. The people who come to the hideout aren’t all that interested in magic.”

Rebecca’s eyes lit up, and she jumped to her feet and brought several books over from the stacks.

“You won’t be able to read all of these at once, so return them within a month.”

“My, these rare books?”

“You’re not going to sell them somewhere, are you?”

“Hm? Of course not.”

At that, Rebecca patted Jeanne on the shoulder.

“I knew you wouldn’t. That’s why I offered to lend them.”

“Thank you. For lending them to me.”

“Don’t mention it. If anything, I’m glad to have someone to talk about them with. If you have any questions after reading, ask me anything.”

“Would that really be alright?”

“Yes. And if I don’t know the answer, I’ll ask my father.”

Is it really fine to ask the great mage like that? Rebecca even gave her her dormitory room number, telling her to reach out whenever she had questions. Since each year had a different building, they wouldn’t have been able to meet easily otherwise.

After spending a good while recommending books to Jeanne, Rebecca rose from her seat.

“I’d love to keep talking since we’re getting along so well, but it looks like a date, so I should go.”

“You don’t have to leave.”

“I’d like to stay too, but Ruhir’s glare is sharp. Ooh, sharp, sharp.”

Not the least bit frightened, Rebecca grinned cheekily and left the hideout just like that. The lively atmosphere inside fell quiet in an instant, and Jeanne looked through the books Rebecca had recommended. They’re so complex, I’ll have to spend the whole month poring over them.

Normally she had barely enough time for studying and no room to read other books, but this year it seemed like she would have time to spare.

If I build up my mana and accumulate knowledge, maybe I can find traces of Mother sooner.

As her belief that she would somehow find traces of her mother grew stronger, a smile formed on her lips without her realizing it.

“……”

Just then, Ruhir, who had been sitting on the sofa across from her, rose from his seat. She thought he might be going to look at other books, but he came and sat carefully beside Jeanne. Then he looked at her, her eyes reluctant to leave the page.

“Do you like the hideout?”

“Yes. I like that there’s so much to look at.”

But perhaps because she had been reading for several hours, she felt her eyes growing dry. She took off her glasses and closed her eyes, about to press on them, when he reached out and cupped both her cheeks in his hands.

Being so close was a little embarrassing, but Ruhir let go right away and headed to the bathroom. There was a clattering sound, and soon he came back out holding a steaming warm towel.

Then he sat back down on the sofa and had Jeanne lie down with her head on his lap. Was he going to place it over her eyes?

She carefully closed her eyes, and the warm towel was laid over them. Her eyes had been aching from reading so much, but the throbbing eased and it felt good.

It was the first time she had lain with her head in someone’s lap other than her mother’s, so it felt a little strange. Lying with my head in the lap of someone I’m seeing feels somehow new. I suppose it’s something only possible because we’re a couple.

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“……No. It’s just right.”

“We’ve only been together for a month, but I’ve noticed a habit of yours. When Jeanne reads, she furrows her brow slightly.”

“Ah, y-yeah. It’s sort of become a habit.”

“That might be why your eyes get more tired. From now on, I’ll do this warm compress for you.”

Doing it alone was a bother, so she had never bothered, but if he was offering to do it for her. She slowly nodded, and as if reassured, she heard a low laugh. The feeling of being looked after made her chest feel strangely warm.

Soon she felt a soft brush combing through her hair. The gentle strokes, careful not to hurt her, made sleep impossible to resist.

Is he trying to put me to sleep?

“You’re very natural at combing hair.”

“Ah. I think it became a habit from combing my older sister’s and younger sister’s hair since I was young.”

As they talked, drowsiness crept over her. She had been reading continuously since waking up, so fatigue had been building as well.

Her eyes were warm, the blanket draped over her was cozy, and the lap pillow was comfortable. She sank into sleep in no time at all.

‘Mother.’

Whenever Jeanne dreamed of her mother, she could tell it was a dream. If only she couldn’t tell, she might have been able to feel her mother’s warmth to the fullest.

Young Jeanne was sitting in front of her mother. Her mother was diligently combing her hair. She was someone with very little dexterity, so she had already tied and undone Jeanne’s hair several times over.

Each time she failed, she would pull Jeanne into a hug, press her cheek against hers and say sorry, and Jeanne loved that feeling. Even just a long braid, or simply being combed through, was enough to make her happy.

Perhaps because her aunt’s daughter always had elaborate hairstyles, her mother was always ambitious about it. When she asked her aunt for help, her aunt would smile with a look of resignation and braid Jeanne’s hair for her.

Jeanne’s mother had no husband, but there were many people who cherished and loved the mother and daughter, so they were never lonely. Jeanne had no father either, but she had never felt lonely or left out.

‘My darling.’

‘Mm.’

‘Mother will practice harder.’

‘Even a simple braid looks pretty.’

‘Still, I want to do a heart hairstyle for you, like Alice’s.’

‘A heart hairstyle is too fancy…….’

At that, her mother laughed and pulled young Jeanne into her arms, laughing with her. She loved that warmth and wanted to keep feeling it, but she knew she would wake from the dream soon.

She slowly opened her eyes, and the tired feeling had lifted considerably. The towel that had been over her eyes was gone, and there was a pillow under her head.

She groggily pushed herself up, and the blanket that had been neatly tucked over her slipped down slightly. Still half-asleep and unable to wake up all at once, she sat there in a daze before realizing that Ruhir was gone.

Looking out the window, it was already dark outside; it was six-thirty in the evening. She had only meant to rest her eyes for a moment. How much time had passed? Even if he had gone back, she would have understood.

She was tidying her disheveled hair to head back to the dormitory when she heard the sound of the door opening and looked over.

“You’re awake?”

He was standing there with a tray, smiling. He walked over in long strides and set the tray down on the table.

On it sat what looked like a delicious soup and a sandwich.

“……Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

He arranged the spoon and fork neatly so she could eat comfortably. Normally meals were only to be eaten in the dining hall, but on weekends one could take them to the dormitory or elsewhere. You just had to return the dishes and tray properly by the next day. It struck her as curious that even a prince used that system.

Perhaps because she had slept well before eating, the food went down easily. After eating heartily, she tidied the tray and stood up.

“I’ll return it.”

“No. Let’s go together.”

“You were the one who brought it, so it makes sense for me to return it.”

“……I want to be with you until you head back.”

Jeanne was impressed. This guy has never dated anyone, and yet he knows exactly how to make a person’s heart flutter?

If she hadn’t known any better, she might have felt something.

After leaving the tray at the return counter in the darkened dining hall, the two of them went back to the hideout and headed out with the books. They were quite heavy, so the two of them had to split the load.

“Is it too heavy?”

“No. It’s manageable.”