‘He keeps staring but doesn’t say anything. He must be very shy.’

He’s always been a good, quiet child, but apparently even more so among friends.

I found his gentle puppy-like demeanor cute, but as his guardian, it also worried me.

‘Being too nice and gentle isn’t always good…’

Can’t be helped. I’ll take good care of him. I approached Noah with an even kinder smile than I’d shown the other children.

“Hello?”

“……”

[‘Ferica’s’ current trust level with Noah: 0]

Despite seeing the number that hadn’t risen at all, I wasn’t worried. First meetings are always awkward, right? Especially with introverted children like Noah.

I deliberately spoke with energy.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Ferica. Duke Ortega is my sponsor.”

“He never mentioned that.”

“He’s not the type to go around talking about who he sponsors.”

“…Are there others?”

“Huh?”

“Other people the Duke sponsors.”

I didn’t expect him to ask about this. I rolled my eyes playfully.

“Well, probably? I don’t really know.”

“If you’re a sponsored child, why don’t you know?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“There’s no rule saying he can only sponsor one person, right? It’s up to the Duke how many people he wants to sponsor.”

Noah’s eyes widened slightly at that. He looked somewhat shocked.

‘What’s wrong?’

Was he surprised that someone could sponsor multiple children at once?

‘That makes sense. Usually people don’t keep sponsored children by their side and live with them like I do with Noah.’

He would have found this out eventually. I casually changed the subject and offered my hand.

“Anyway, both the Duke and Lady Calliphe talked about you the most. Nice to meet you!”

“…Lady Calliphe too?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Noah lowered his gaze diagonally, seemingly lost in thought.

“Um… my hand is getting tired?”

“……”

His green eyes looked back up at me.

Maybe he’s just shy? I tried to coax him gently.

“It’s okay. Don’t be shy. I just want to be friends with you.”

“I’m not shy.”

But Noah’s voice was cold. He spoke clearly and precisely with a chilly tone.

“I don’t want to be friends with you.”

“What…?”

Noah walked past me coldly.

Coming to my senses belatedly, I quickly blocked his path.

“W-wait. What did you just say?”

“Move aside.”

“You don’t want to be friends with me? Why?”

Noah let out a faint sigh. Though his expression remained blank, his annoyance was evident.

‘How can this be!’

Noah finding me annoying?!

“Why do we need to become friends?”

“What… huh?”

“Not everyone has to get along, right?”

“…!”

That was always my line!

I was incredibly surprised by this unfamiliar situation. I covered my gaping mouth with my hand.

Seeing my reaction, Noah finally showed a slight hint of remorse. He probably thought he’d hurt my feelings.

‘Hurt feelings? Not at all.’

My lips, hidden behind my hand, twitched into a smile.

‘I can’t believe he knows how to be this cold!’

I was surprised and fascinated. He wasn’t just a meek child after all, which was reassuring.

‘How admirable!’

Yes, it’s better to speak your mind firmly than to act naively wherever you go!

“A-ahem!”

I tried hard to suppress my delighted smile and asked:

“Then what if there’s a reason to become friends?”

“…What is it?”

“I heard you have a special sword.”

I lowered my voice so the others couldn’t hear.

“I heard it’s a sword that moves on its own. Lend it to me. Just during the martial tournament.”

“Are you planning to cheat?”

Noah frowned slightly.

Seeing his look of disgust, I quickly shook my head. I blinked my eyes as innocently as possible.

“N-no? Actually, I have no talent in swordsmanship or magic. I’m physically weak too, so I’ve never even had the chance to learn. But just once in my life, I want to participate in a martial tournament.”

“……”

“I want to feel what it’s like to be a swordsman, even just once. Please, I’m begging you. It’s my lifelong wish. I promise I’ll forfeit later!”

“……”

“I already talked to the Duke about it. He said it’s fine if the owner agrees. I just need your permission.”

Noah, who hadn’t budged until now, wavered at those words. After hesitating briefly, he reluctantly spoke.

“Only if Orti is okay with it.”

“Orti?”

“That’s my magic sword’s name.”

When did he give it a name?

‘The sound is somewhat similar. Could it be derived from Ortega?’

Noah brought the magic sword and had a brief conversation with it.

The magic sword and I had already discussed everything the night before. Naturally, the answer was predetermined.

“…Orti says it’s okay.”

“Hehe, thank you!”

I received the magic sword Orti from the disgruntled Noah.

“I’ll use it well and return it. Here’s a token of my gratitude. A lemon candy.”

I placed the candy I had received earlier from Lynen onto Noah’s hand.

“I got it from Duke Ortega.”

“……”

“Well, I have an appointment with the Duke, so I’ll be going now!”

“…What?”

Noah suddenly raised his head.

But his voice was so quiet that I didn’t hear him properly and left.

* * *

Noah glared at the lemon candy with a frown.

That child called Ferica.

She clearly said she had often heard about him from Lady Calliphe and the Duke.

‘…But I’ve never heard about her.’

Why hadn’t they told him about another sponsored child? Why had they only told her?

In truth, he hadn’t wanted to lend Orti either.

‘…Why is she going out alone with the Duke?’

Why wasn’t I invited?

‘And Lady Calliphe suddenly went on a business trip…’

Before introducing Ferica, Duke Ortega had said:

Calliphe had urgent matters to attend to and would be away briefly. She would return soon after finishing her business trip, so there was no need to worry.

Until then, everything had been fine. Lady Calliphe was busy. Sometimes she left without saying where she was going beforehand.

But at least I was Lady Calliphe’s only sponsored child.

Then that girl Ferica said:

There could be more than one sponsored child.

That made him anxious.

‘There might be another sponsored child who’s more impressive than me.’

Remembering his humiliating defeat to Dillen, his heart tightened.

“That Ferica kid, she’s a bit strange, isn’t she?”

Mihail approached and asked.

Noah handed the candy he received from Ferica to Mihail, almost pushing it away.

“I don’t like her.”

“Huh? You just met her today.”

“I still don’t like her. I wish she would leave.”

* * *

[Noah’s trust level -2]

‘N-Noah?!’

Why did his trust level drop? Why?

“Calliphe. Are you listening?”

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

Calliphe hurriedly closed her gaping mouth. Lynen, sitting across from her, was looking at her quizzically.

“What did you say again?”

“I said Dillen visited an apothecary in the Sack District.”

After hearing about the future Calliphe had seen in the Mirror of Truth, Lynen had instructed his special unit members.

He ordered them to report immediately if Viscount Gallard’s sponsored child Dillen and his servants showed any suspicious movements.

Leaving minimal personnel to watch the imperial palace just in case, the special unit members monitored Dillen.

And now.

Having received this information, Calliphe and Lynen were heading to the place Dillen had visited.

“He operates as an apothecary, but works as an alchemist behind the scenes.”

“A secretive second profession. He’s not selling legitimate goods, I assume.”

“I would think not.”

Setting aside the trust level drop for now, Calliphe focused on the immediate matter.

She wore a lace dress with a bright yellow bonnet adorned with ribbons. A yellow cape matching the bonnet fluttered over her frilly skirt, giving her an adorable appearance.

“If we catch him and interrogate him, we can find out what trick they’re planning to use on Noah. I won’t let them get away with it.”

“……”

Lynen, who had been watching, quietly reached out. As he untied Calliphe’s crooked bonnet ribbon and retied it neatly, he asked, “How did the children react? I imagine Noah was worried since you suddenly disappeared.”

“Hmm, he didn’t seem concerned.”

It had been a time to discover Noah’s prickly side that she hadn’t known before.

“But Noah seems to dislike me already. I don’t understand why…”

Lynen smiled at her dejected response.

“Only Noah could make you this gloomy.”

“Don’t tease me. I’m serious.”

“You’re worrying unnecessarily. Noah’s awkwardness isn’t because he dislikes you. So relax and try talking to him.”

Lynen, you didn’t see it.

‘The Noah we knew was just the tip of the iceberg.’

When the carriage stopped, Lynen got out first and took Calliphe’s hand.

Holding his hand, Calliphe hopped down and looked up at the shabby apothecary shop before them.

Why Noah had been ridiculed by the audience. Why he had given up his sword.

They would find out here.