In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times to recruit him as his military strategist.

Despite being ignored, he persisted quietly, three times. And Zhuge Liang was 21 years younger than him, merely a green youth.

Three times to a thatched cottage in the mountains, in an era without trains or cars.

“So the Crown Princess has it much easier.”

She arrives each time in a luxurious carriage surrounded by attendants.

“M-miss, is this really the time to be so casual?”

The muscular but soft-hearted head maid Lina wore a tearful expression.

“Please consider us too—our hearts pound every time we escort Her Highness!”

“What’s so difficult? I’m not even offering tea or meals.”

“That’s exactly what’s difficult! When you say nothing is needed, we feel so awkward!”

Lina glanced out the window.

The Crown Princess had placed a chair right in front of my annex and sat there.

She stared intently, waiting for me to come out.

“She’s been doing this every time she visits for three days now. I feel like I’m going to die.”

“You look fine to me.”

“No, I mean I literally feel like I’m going to die!”

I tossed Lina a diamond necklace and ring set with gold decorations from among the boxes I’d received from the Crown Princess.

“Bonus.”

“Miss! I’m not complaining because I want money!”

“Here’s another set.”

Lina stopped huffing and snatched the jewelry set. Then she hugged it preciously to her chest.

“I must have been training my muscles for this day, Miss.”

Lina retreated with extreme politeness.

I leisurely moved a chess piece.

Noah, sitting across from me, watched the Crown Princess through the window.

A gentle smile graced his face.

[Filial Piety Quest Complete!]

[You made the Crown Princess acknowledge your skills. Noah is proud of you.]

[Achieved 30+ Likability with Lucilia.]

[Reward: Gain 5 Filial Piety points.]

[Current Filial Piety: 38]

‘He seems satisfied.’

And another quest that was in progress also completed.

[Quest Complete!]

[You’ve turned a future obstacle who was going to hinder you at every turn into an ally.]

[Lucilia: ♥ 51]

[Additional Completion: Achieved Crown Princess’s likability beyond the target. Now Crown Princess Lucilia actively supports your actions. Also, the support rate from House Offensa’s retainers toward you has increased.]

Oh. When did her likability surpass 50?

When I was demonstrating griffin riding, Lucilia’s likability was -33.

After resolving the incident, when I met Lucilia again at the shopping district, it had risen to 30.

It seems her likability has been jumping up each time she’s come to see me since then.

‘Why?’

She appeared to suffer while waiting for my acceptance, motionless like a stone statue. Was she secretly enjoying it?

But others who didn’t know this fact felt sorry for the Crown Princess.

Noah, too, now showed concern instead of a smile.

“Lady Calliphe.”

“Yes?”

“It’s raining outside.”

“So it is.”

“Her Highness is getting rained on.”

“So she is.”

“…Should we invite her in?”

“No.”

Noah became more anxious.

“…Do you dislike Her Highness?”

“No.”

“Then why… won’t you accept her?”

I smiled sweetly.

“She doesn’t have the proper attitude to be a disciple.”

“Huh?”

Noah seemed puzzled, but I said nothing more.

I’d dropped a hint, so now the little ones would take action.

* * *

Noah tiptoed to the top floor of the annex.

When he turned a small statue on one wall, the ceiling opened with a click and a ladder came down.

The ladder automatically pulled him up when he grabbed and climbed onto it.

He arrived at an attic hidden under the roof.

“What did she say?”

It was the hideout where Mihail, Imelen, and Noah gathered whenever they had secret discussions (disguised as snack parties).

In response to Mihail’s question, Noah muttered with a slightly puzzled expression.

“She said the attitude isn’t right.”

“What attitude?”

“The attitude to be a disciple.”

The Crown Princess’s daily visits to the annex and claiming a spot there made the little ones uncomfortable too.

It interfered with their training.

And they also felt sorry for the Crown Princess who waited all day in one position, seemingly being punished.

Hearing Noah’s words, Mihail crossed his arms and pondered.

“Is it because she doesn’t kneel? Maybe she should bow her head to the ground, but instead she sits on a chair with a carpet.”

“…It would cause a scandal if we made the Crown Princess do that.”

Imelen shook her head.

Noah also thought carefully.

“What if she shows that she’s training hard?”

“You want her to bring the griffin without permission and train?”

Yvonne II was under Calliphe’s temporary protection. Only the Emperor could take her without Calliphe’s permission.

“Then what does the Holy Lady think?”

“Hmph.”

The capybara puffed her nostrils proudly.

“Follow me.”

The capybara flattened herself against the ladder. Then the ladder smoothly lowered Imelen down like a slide.

Mihail whispered to Noah.

“The Holy Lady seems to show off sometimes. Don’t you think?”

“She’s the smartest among us.”

“What? Smarter than me?”

“……”

Noah, after staring at Mihail for a moment, silently went down the ladder.

Mihail followed, chattering behind him.

“Hey! Why aren’t you answering? I asked if she’s smarter than me?”

* * *

“Rejected again today…”

The sun was already setting.

Lucilia sighed and rose from her seat. Her body felt strange after sitting in one position for so long without moving.

‘This is the first time anyone has made me wait like this. How vexing.’

Do you think I’ll give up because of this?

You’re mine…

‘But what if this ruins the Harvest Festival opening ceremony?’

Even if it did, she was determined to gain a mentor. That was her resolve, but she couldn’t help worrying.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Just when she was bitterly watching her attendants pack up, it happened.

“Oink.”

A capybara with rabbit ears approached, leading two little children.

Then, before Lucilia could react, it spoke.

“Want to know how to be a proper disciple?”

“A pig is talking…!”

Lucilia, startled for a moment, quickly apologized to the offended capybara. She knew its identity.

“I-I’m sorry, Spirit. I heard later that you’re the incarnation of the Light Spirit, but, well, seeing you in person, it’s hard to make the connection.”

“……”

“If you help me become Lady Offensa’s disciple, I will certainly repay your kindness.”

“…Fine. But there’s a condition.”

“Anything I can do for you.”

The capybara, finally satisfied, gave her hints about the “disciple’s attitude.”

After taking this to heart, Lucilia followed the Light Spirit’s advice the next day.

The entourage and carriages accompanying the Crown Princess turned back at the entrance to the marquis’s residence.

Lucilia appeared alone at Calliphe’s annex.

Dressed not in luxurious formal attire but in comfortable clothes that could get dirty, Lucilia bowed her head to Calliphe.

“I promise that here, where my teacher resides, I will be Lucilia the disciple, not the Crown Princess.”

“……”

“Please accept me as your disciple!”

Her manner of speech and posture had both changed.

Now she finally accepted the change in their relationship.

At last, Calliphe snapped her fluttering fan shut and smiled.

“Shall we begin the lesson right away?”

“Yes!”

Lucilia beamed brightly.

The little ones felt proud inside seeing this scene.

The news that Calliphe had finally become the Crown Princess’s mentor spread quickly.

It also reached the ears of Viscount Gallard, who was staying at the marquis’s residence.