[Using the ‘Villainess’s Parenting Method’ on target ‘Noah’ ■■■■■.]

The error that had appeared previously showed up again.

[On target ‘Noah’, ■■■ ■■■…]

[……]

[This target is inaccessible for your ‘Hidden Ending’.]

[■■ the Hidden Ending.]

[■■ the Hidden Ending.]

‘What is this?’

While Calliphe’s attention was drawn to the somewhat eerie message…

Slap!

Noah pushed away her comforting hand. Then he forcefully shoved the dessert box back at her.

“I really don’t like you.”

Noah’s eyes were welling up with tears.

“Don’t come near me.”

“…!”

Before she knew it, Calliphe found herself expelled from Noah’s room.

The door slammed shut in her face.

[‘Ferica’s’ current trust level with Noah: -20]

“This is bad…”

Noah really dislikes her.

Though Noah trying to hold back tears was adorable, this wasn’t the time to simply admire the sight.

In the days that followed, Calliphe tried to befriend Noah with Lynen’s help. However, Noah would either silently run away or ignore her completely.

And so, with the trust level stuck in negative territory…

“Let the 376th Harvest Festival begin!”

The Harvest Festival officially opened.

* * *

“Your Highness. It’s your turn to make your entrance.”

“I understand.”

Lucilia took a deep breath and straightened her posture.

The crowd cheered when the Crown Princess appeared.

Waaah—

Lucilia casually raised her hand to them while glancing at the VIP seats.

She could see the children she had befriended at the annex and Duke Lynen Ortega. The annoying Noah was visible too.

‘My teacher… still isn’t here.’

Though disappointed, she didn’t let it show on her face.

“Squeak!”

A large griffin was circling above the arena. It was Yvonne II.

“A-a griffin!”

“Isn’t that one of the dangerous magical creatures? What if it attacks us?”

The crowd murmured anxiously, shrinking back.

Ignoring the tense atmosphere, the griffin flapped its wings powerfully. Lucilia began running in the direction of its flight.

Just as she had practiced countless times at the annex, Lucilia threw the reins she was holding.

The magical reins wrapped neatly around the griffin’s neck and beak.

“Rawr!”

The griffin soared upward, struggling to shake off the reins. Lucilia’s small body was lifted up as she held onto the end of the reins.

“D-dangerous!”

“Crown Princess!”

The spectators held their breath in tension.

But this too was part of the plan.

After sufficiently demonstrating the griffin’s majesty through this tense situation, Lucilia swiftly mounted the creature’s back.

It was thanks to Yvonne II skillfully adjusting its posture to create an opening.

“Hiyah!”

And so, controlling the magical beast known as the king of the skies, Lucilia soared upward powerfully.

Right on cue, the imperial mages created pillars of flame and whirlwinds. Dazzling and magnificent flames captured the audience’s attention.

“Rawr!”

Lucilia and the griffin skillfully raced through the gaps between the unrestrained pillars of flame.

Each time they did, brilliant fireworks exploded across the blue sky.

“Wooaah!”

The thrilling sight of the empire’s heir taming a magical creature at the top of the food chain!

The citizens of the empire, their hearts swelling with pride, rose to their feet and cheered.

“Long live Crown Princess!”

“Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!”

Lucilia, atop Yvonne II, gracefully acknowledged their enthusiasm.

Then she discreetly checked her family’s reactions.

The Emperor and her mother, seated in the place of honor, wore satisfied smiles.

And so did her brother Blaine.

Though his smile was as subtle as usual, he kept his eyes fixed on her.

‘When my teacher returns, I’ll tell her she missed something amazing!’

Lucilia smiled brightly, her face flushed with excitement.

Now that the opening ceremony was over, there was no longer any reason to visit Calliphe’s annex. There was no need to continue the teacher-student relationship either.

‘But I can always create subjects that need to be learned.’

Lucilia had no intention of letting her teacher go.

Calliphe had already become someone Lucilia wanted to emulate. And she wanted to continue visiting the annex that had become a comfortable place for her.

“Nothing threatens the Clerance Empire. We are people who do not yield even to opponents others avoid out of fear, and ultimately take the reins and rise above!”

Lucilia’s powerful voice echoed throughout the arena.

“This Harvest Festival will be a stage where everyone confirms that you are the pillars of the empire. I hope you will make the festival shine with brilliant performances!”

“Waaah!”

After the performance, doubts about Lucilia being too weak to become heir noticeably diminished.

It was a successful official debut event for the empire’s future successor.

* * *

‘Well done, Lucilia.’

Calliphe applauded along with the audience.

Now that she had achieved her original purpose, Lucilia probably wouldn’t visit the annex anymore. The feeling was bittersweet.

The youth division of the martial arts tournament was scheduled to begin on the first day of the Harvest Festival.

While preparations for the competition were being made, spectators chatted about the Crown Princess’s griffin riding.

“That was truly amazing. Who would have thought she could tame a griffin!”

“I heard there was an accident with a griffin before. Honestly, I thought she was causing unnecessary trouble then…”

The topic naturally shifted to the woman whom the Crown Princess had taken as her teacher after three rejections.

“Calliphe Offensa, right? Direct descendant of House Offensa, a magical family.”

“Yeah. Even I’ve memorized her name now.”

“I heard before that she wouldn’t inherit the family… but at this rate, could she really become the head?”

Both commoners and nobles were having similar conversations.

These words naturally reached Viscount Gallard’s ears as well.

‘I absolutely cannot allow that!’

He forced a smile at Young Marquis Caiman sitting in the same section.

“Don’t worry, Young Marquis. Calliphe Offensa will be utterly humiliated because of her sponsored child.”

“I look forward to it.”

Young Marquis Caiman responded with a strangely relaxed attitude. He didn’t seem particularly interested in whatever scheme Viscount Gallard had concocted.

‘He must have prepared another plan already. But if I achieve results, he’ll have no choice but to acknowledge me.’

Just then, preparations were completed, and the youth division of the martial arts tournament began.

Viscount Gallard shot an intense look at Dillen as he stepped into the arena.

“Defeat them all, Dillen! No one will be a match for you!”

A confident shout.

As the matches progressed one after another, the spectators began to share Viscount Gallard’s confidence.

Tweeet—

“Match over! The winner is… Dillen!”

Waaah!

The early matches of the tournament were conducted quickly to filter out the skilled participants.

Usually, the names of noteworthy contestants would only begin to circulate around the second day of the competition.

However, Dillen’s name was already on everyone’s lips.

“That participant called Dillen hasn’t had a match last more than a minute. All quick victories!”

“Impressive, isn’t he? Is he really a child?”

“Dillen will definitely win this tournament. I’m certain of it.”

Murmurs everywhere.

Dillen’s name was mentioned throughout the venue.

The same was true among the children waiting to participate in the tournament.

Each time Dillen’s name pierced his eardrums, Noah clenched his fists tightly. So tightly that his knuckles turned white.

At that moment, a small, warm hand wrapped around Noah’s pale fist.

“…!”

For a brief moment, he felt touched. Surprised, Noah turned his head to see who it was.

Ferica was curling one corner of her lip like a villain.

“Scared already?”

A warm hand with a not-so-warm, mocking smile.