* * *

It was time for training.

Deborah reluctantly headed to the western garden after checking the clock.

There was no better place to practice magic away from the watchful eyes of her father and grandfather.

But the problem was that she would inevitably run into Shailyn there.

“She’ll be there today too, won’t she?”

No matter how much Deborah tried to push her away, Shailyn shamelessly approached her.

Even though she had been harsh with her words yesterday, Shailyn, being brazen, would probably be standing on the balcony again.

However…

“Hoho, today’s training is quite peaceful. It feels strangely awkward.”

The elderly mage glanced at the empty balcony and smiled.

Today, Shailyn did not appear.

It seemed that Deborah wasn’t the only one who felt the emptiness when the regular cheers stopped.

The elderly mage, noticing Deborah’s distraction towards the balcony, casually remarked.

“Did you have a fight?”

“…We didn’t fight. I just told her not to come out.”

“Well, her voice was loud and noisy, so it was quite distracting. You did well.”

Even though he agreed with her, Deborah’s gaze became sharper.

“It wasn’t that noisy.”

At her quick retort, the elderly mage smiled warmly.

“Then tell her to come out again tomorrow. It’s not like she’s disrupting the training.”

“…….”

Deborah mumbled her lips, unable to say anything.

The elderly mage didn’t press further and resumed the training. Deborah absorbed her teachings like a sponge and grew rapidly.

She even received praise that she would pass the exam without any issues at this rate.

After the grueling training, Deborah, as always, sat down carelessly.

Originally, she hated such undignified behavior, but she had grown accustomed to it as she lacked the strength to stand after training.

And it wasn’t just that she had grown accustomed to.

“I’m thirsty…”

Feeling parched, she instinctively looked for Shailyn, then froze when she realized what she was doing.

She couldn’t believe she had gotten used to Shailyn’s presence just because she had been looking after her for a few days.

“How could you be so easy, Deborah Diart!”

She pulled at her well-groomed royal blonde hair in frustration.

“How could she really not come out just because of a few words!”

Even though she glared at the balcony with her usually gentle eyes, Shailyn did not appear.

She must have heard the training was over, yet she remained silent.

“And she calls herself a sister…”

Deborah’s plump lower lip jutted out.

In fact, when she was a child, she had two dreams.

One was to become a great mage, and the other was to have an older sister.

Dain was a kind brother, but he lacked sensitivity and was often indifferent, which made Deborah feel neglected.

Compared to him, Shailyn…

‘Tsk, I never wanted a sister like her.’

Shailyn wasn’t the kind, gentle, and accommodating sister Deborah had dreamed of.

But she was more interested in her than her real brother, was somewhat amusing, and was the first in the family to genuinely try to help her achieve her dreams.

Secretly, Deborah had some expectations.

When Shailyn said she wanted a younger sister, she thought they might get along well since she had always wanted a sister.

But she didn’t want to acknowledge that she felt such emotions.

‘She’s someone Dad brought in.’

She hated Benjamin Diart, her father, more than Shailyn.

Biting her lip, she looked up at Shailyn’s room, then eventually turned away.

* * *

“Why don’t you go out and watch these days?”

Carl asked as he saw me lounging leisurely on the bed.

“Hmm? Watch what?”

“You used to always watch Miss Deborah’s training. You haven’t been doing that recently.”

“Oh, she told me not to come out. With the exam coming up soon, I didn’t want to upset her and ruin things, so I’m just doing as she wishes.”

He narrowed his brows slightly and murmured softly.

“Judging by how she keeps looking up here, that doesn’t seem to be the case…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

I looked at Carl curiously, then noticed it was time for training to end and peeked my head out.

I secretly watched Deborah greeting the mage through the curtains.

It was time for Deborah’s training to end, so I peeked my head out.

“Hmm, she finished her training well today too.”

There’s a saying that when there’s a high school senior in the house, the whole family caters to their whims.

Deborah was like a student preparing for entrance exams to Seoul National University.

So I should cater to her whims too.

Everything was going smoothly.

At least until the last day of training.

“Should I go out and say hello today?”

Tomorrow was the big day of the Magic Tower exam. I planned to just pat Deborah on the shoulder and come back.

But there was already a guest in the garden before me.

“Deborah, how many times have I told you that magic is dangerous and you shouldn’t do it!”

Duke Diart was holding Deborah’s shoulders and scolding her fiercely.

Oh, damn…

Who brought the Duke here?

I looked at Dain, who was caught between the Duke and Deborah. He noticed my gaze and looked at me.

‘Help.’

He requested silently. I mouthed back to him.

‘Did you tell him?’

Dain shook his head.

‘We got caught.’

Yet, he pointed at himself with his finger and made a distressed face, indicating that it was because of him that they got caught.

I pinched my forehead and calmly approached the tense father-daughter pair.

Alright, everyone. Let’s calm down…

“Why can’t I do what I want just because you’re my dad? Does being a dad mean you can control your child like this?”

Deborah glared at the Duke and retorted defiantly.

Oh, my goodness.

I was taken aback by her disregard for Confucian values.

Is it okay for a K-romance character made in Korea to act like this…?

Is she made in China?

But Confucianism exists in China too!

“Deborah, as a parent, I have the duty to protect you. It’s not control; it’s for your safety!”

“I hate it! I don’t need your protection, so stop interfering in my life!”

“Even if you hate it, there’s nothing you can do! I’m your dad. That won’t change even if I die.”

“Ha, that’s funny. You tried so hard to get a stepmother after Mom died. Does a dad never change, but a mom does when she dies?”

“Deborah, you really…!”

The conversation was escalating.

Dain stood beside me with a resigned look. I just watched the father-daughter fight in a daze.

The Duke ran his hand through his hair roughly and sighed deeply, then called out to the maid standing far away.

“Emma! Come and take Deborah away. And forbid her from going out until I give permission.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

The maid carefully wrapped her arms around Deborah’s shoulders.

Deborah, who resisted leaving, eventually left with tears streaming down her resentful face.

Watching her leave, I whispered to Dain.

“What do we do now?”

“We run away.”

He replied quietly.

But before we could escape, the Duke moved first.

“Dain, Shailyn.”

His voice, low and steady, called us accurately.

Ah, I shouldn’t have come out.

Swallowing my late regret, Dain and I hesitantly stood before the Duke.

“I heard you two helped Deborah learn magic.”

“……”

“Especially you, Shailyn, I heard you even donated to the Magic Tower.”

The Duke sent a cold, piercing gaze through his glasses.

It had been a while since I last saw him since the first day, and it seemed his favorability towards me had plummeted.

“I thought you were old enough to know better, but I guess I was mistaken.”

“……”

“Don’t meddle unnecessarily in our family matters from now on.”

The Duke coldly warned, then turned to reprimand Dain.

“Dain. If Shailyn makes a mistake, you should stop her, not foolishly go along with it.”

“I’m sorry, Father.”

“I hope both of you reflect on this. I’m greatly disappointed by this incident.”

After the Duke left, it felt like a storm had swept through.

Dain scratched the back of his head and apologized to me.

“Sorry, Shailyn. I came to pay for Deb’s lessons and got caught by Father. He must have found it strange that I suddenly went to the western garden.”

He tried to be clever, but the Duke had been sharper than expected, which was the mistake.

“Not only did I get caught because of my mistake, but you also got scolded.”

“No, actually, it was something I started, and you got caught up in it, Dain. I’m sorry for getting you into trouble.”

Dain gave a light smile as if to say it was okay, then sighed softly and gestured.

I followed him to a bench in the garden.

A cool breeze brushed past us. Dain’s face, now devoid of its usual smile, looked unfamiliar and shadowed.

“Shailyn, do you know why my mom died?”

“I only heard she died in an accident.”

“In truth, she died because of a mage.”

Dain calmly explained the circumstances of the Duchess’s death.