“The quarterfinals for the youth division should be over by now. They say they’ll proceed to the semifinals.”

“…”

Butler Noh leisurely filled an empty cup with tea.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go watch, Baron?”

“Why would I?”

Dietrich responded indifferently while reviewing Calliphe’s white spirit stone business documents. Since becoming Noah’s Imperial language teacher, letters weren’t as intimidating as before. He still couldn’t read as quickly as others, but it was manageable.

His mind was more at ease than when he had been struggling under Young Marquis Caiman.

Was it because of Calliphe, his golden lifeline?

But that was beside the point.

“Why would someone like me go watch children’s performances?”

“Because your one and only disciple is participating, Baron.”

“Dis-ciple?”

Dietrich snorted.

“Teaching someone letters hardly makes them my disciple. I couldn’t care less about what happens to that little kid.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Butler Noh smiled gently.

“I’ll be going out briefly to order your new clothes. Do you have any special requests?”

“None. Just do whatever you usually do.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, old man.”

“Yes?”

“How’s that wheezing grandson of yours? Still hanging in there?”

Butler Noh smiled warmly. His eyes reflected profound gratitude toward Dietrich.

“There happens to be an anonymous benefactor, you see.”

“That kid’s got a tough life thread.”

After Dietrich waved his hand dismissively, Butler Noh bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Dietrich lifted his eyes from the documents to look out the window. He watched as the carriage carrying Butler Noh left the mansion.

The moment he confirmed this—

Leap!

Dietrich hastily put on his coat and rushed down to the entrance.

“Oh no, I forgot that thing. Hey! Bring me that thing from my room!”

“Th-that thing? I’m not sure what you mean…”

“The shopping bag on my desk! Are you that dense? Are you stealing wages?”

“Eek, I’m sorry! Here, I-I brought it!”

“If the old man returns, tell him I went out on business. Understand?”

After giving these strict instructions, Dietrich boarded the carriage and immediately kicked the wall separating him from the driver.

“Step on it. Hurry!”

“Yes, sir!”

The carriage sped away at a frightening pace.

Dietrich anxiously looked out the window while jiggling one leg.

“D*mn, I hope I’m not too late.”

He checked the contents of the shopping bag he had secretly purchased yesterday. It was a tonic widely sold in the black market.

The essence of folk remedies that parents desperately buy before their children’s important tests.

“I hope he doesn’t collapse before taking this.”

How grateful would Calliphe be if she knew he was looking after Noah like this? The kid needed to hang in there.

But the fast-moving carriage suddenly stopped.

A plain carriage was blocking the way ahead.

“Oh, come on! The match will be over at this rate. Tell them to move the carriage. I’m Baron Rotten!”

The driver hurriedly approached the other carriage. However, a man with his face covered came toward them with the driver.

Thinking this was convenient, Dietrich opened the carriage window and barked at the man.

“You b*stard, are you going to take responsibility if I miss my disciple’s match because of you, huh?”

“Disciple?”

An amused tone. The man slightly lifted the hood concealing his face, revealing his identity.

Allen was smiling like a spring breeze.

“I’m suddenly envious. I wanted Noah as my disciple too, but I’ve been holding back to avoid interfering with the Harvest Festival preparations. I wasn’t sure if I had the right…”

“…”

“But to think someone who uses such bold language is Noah’s teacher.”

“…”

“How annoying…” he muttered, still smiling like spring.

Did I hear that correctly?

Feeling a chill, Dietrich shuddered. He quietly exited the carriage.

Standing to one side, he gestured inward with both hands, ushering someone in.

“Shall we ride together, revered Saint?”

* * *

Calliphe won her first semifinal match. Thanks to an opponent who fled by forfeiting, she had a lucky bye.

But the audience’s attention was focused solely on Dillen and Noah.

‘Ferica’ wasn’t getting any attention at all. However, Calliphe was actually pleased about this.

‘Now Noah can finally shed his stigma.’

When ‘Calliphe’ first brought Noah as a sponsored child, it wasn’t just Calliphe who was criticized for being hypocritical. Noah, who was merely chosen, also became a target of contempt.

For two reasons.

Being an orphan of unknown origin.

But the most important reason was that his sponsor happened to be Calliphe.

‘They all gossiped that any child sponsored by Calliphe would obviously be subpar.’

Only now, as the child’s true value gradually emerged, were these prejudiced views beginning to change.

“…Heh. Heheh.”

Calliphe elegantly covered her twitching lips with the back of her hand.

‘I need to brag to Lynen about this!’

Calliphe quickly scanned the audience.

‘He said he’d send something this morning to counter Dillen’s tricks, but there’s been no word from him.’

She needed to confront him properly.

But something was strange. Lynen was nowhere to be seen. Even Raul wasn’t there.

“Huh…?”

Even after rubbing her eyes and looking again, nothing changed. She had naturally assumed he would come to watch Noah’s match.

“What’s this about? Going silent when I urgently need something for tomorrow?”

Her anger gradually mounted. But the fury rising to her crown soon veered sideways.

‘But Lynen isn’t the type to break promises carelessly. Could he be having problems with his mana deficiency? I thought I provided enough ability before the Harvest Festival, but was it insufficient? Or did something suddenly happen? Is he badly hurt?’

All sorts of possibilities crossed her mind, making her anxious. She didn’t even notice Noah standing beside her.

“Ferica. Why are you pacing around like that?”

“…This won’t do.”

“Huh?”

Calliphe quickly left the arena. She was so preoccupied that she couldn’t even hear Noah calling after her.

“Why is she acting like that…”

Noah gazed regretfully at the spot where Ferica had disappeared.

‘I wanted to tell her something.’

Subtly, Noah’s gaze shifted toward the nobles’ seating area.

Listening carefully, they were frequently mentioning another person besides Noah and Dillen.

“I know that Dillen kid well since he won the last Harvest Festival… but which family does this Noah child belong to? I should build connections early.”

“He’s not a noble but a sponsored child. Lady Offensa’s.”

“What? That orphan Lady Offensa took in is him? But why is he so well-mannered?”

“If he wins, wouldn’t he be the youngest champion ever? Even runner-up at that age is exceptional. How did Lady Offensa manage to…”

“Lady Offensa also previously…”

“Lady Offensa…”

The more Noah listened, the more his lips curved upward.

‘Ferica seems to know Lady Calliphe well too, so she would have been happy to hear this.’

As he swallowed his disappointment and glanced casually at the royal family’s seats, that’s when he saw it.

Next to Crown Princess Lucilia, who was primly nodding, apparently enjoying the match.

“…”

A silver-haired man with deep, dark eyes appeared.

‘The person who met Lady Calliphe at the flower shop before…’

Prince Blaine, was it?

He seemed to have been observing Noah for some time. When their eyes met, he gave Noah a faint smile.

His eyes sparkled peculiarly, discovering an unexpected gem.

“…?”

Noah awkwardly bowed his head in greeting.

But when he looked up, Prince Blaine had already left.

‘I’m not sure about that person.’

Even the recent smile was confusing—whether it was meant as praise or something else.

As Noah tilted his head and left the arena:

“Participant Noah.”

A tournament official approached Noah as he was heading back to his quarters.

“There are family members here to see you. Would you like to meet them?”

“Family? Really?!”

Noah’s ears perked up. He followed the guide to the reception room.

‘It must be Lady Calliphe and the Duke!’

Hooray!

Not knowing who was actually waiting in the reception room, Noah hopped along like an excited rabbit.