That’s right.

“Miss, have you forgotten what day it is?”

“What is it?”

“It’s that day. The one where…”

This was what Lina had reminded Calliphe before she went out.

“It’s the death anniversary of your mother, Lady Porsche Offensa.”

Apparently, they held memorial services until last year. After all, Marquis Offensa deeply cherished his daughter Porsche.

“Since the Marquis is gravely ill this time… Young Marquis Caiman said he wouldn’t hold it.”

It was understandable that such news reached Calliphe late. She had always skipped the memorial services, spending her mother’s death anniversary alone.

Lynen’s eyes widened.

He knew that the Marquis Offensa’s only daughter and heir had died in an accident.

And that her young daughter was the sole survivor of that accident.

But he hadn’t known this.

“…Was the day of the accident your birthday?”

“Yes. It’s also the day I became magic-intolerant.”

Calliphe’s face had become drowsily sleepy.

“It’s also the day I suddenly couldn’t feel my innate magic anymore. Birthdays are horrible.”

“…Then the prayer you just made wasn’t for a wish either.”

“A wish?”

Calliphe’s shoulders shook like it was a funny story.

“This cake isn’t for me. It’s for mother’s memorial altar.”

“……”

Calliphe’s eyelids grew heavy and blinked slowly.

As her head started to droop toward the cake, Lynen supported her forehead to stop it.

“Get up.”

“Ugh……”

Calliphe weakly straightened her back, swaying side to side.

Then suddenly, she rested her head against Lynen’s chest.

“…!”

Startled, Lynen reflexively pushed her away and.

Thunk, Calliphe hit the back of her head on the ground and curled up with a groan.

If she had been in her right mind, she would have immediately lashed out…

But now she just looked pitiful.

Lynen clenched and unclenched his fist before letting out a long sigh through his teeth.

“…Why am I even doing this?”

Since I pushed her, I should at least help her lie down properly.

Though he had finally made up his mind, he floundered for a moment.

It was due to the confusion about where it would be appropriate to touch a sleeping woman, and the shock of having such concerns about Calliphe Offensa of all people!

Though he held a knight’s title and had served as a knight order member, he happened to be a holy knight who had never once escorted a lady, making this situation feel even more difficult.

After a while, he laid Calliphe down properly, using his leg as a pillow.

Calliphe squirmed.

“Too hard.”

“…Then get up.”

Gritting his teeth, Lynen picked up his outer coat that had fallen to the ground.

Ah. He should have used that as a pillow.

As he pondered this belated thought.

Calliphe mumbled.

“My way of making amends is to reclaim my mother’s position.”

Lynen paused as he was folding his coat thickly.

“Reclaim it.”

Could it be that her fixation on being the direct heir was for this reason?

“But now I don’t really want it anymore. I don’t care who becomes the Marquis as long as it’s not Young Marquis Caiman.”

Clouded red eyes looked up at Lynen.

“Am I an unfilial daughter?”

“……”

Lynen remained silent.

For her question was one that no one could answer carelessly.

So there was only one thing he could say.

“I’ve seen the child you sponsor.”

“Oh? When did you see…”

“They were introverted and seemed to have some shadows.”

Just as Calliphe’s face was about to turn gloomy, Lynen continued.

“But when they looked at you, they shone brightly.”

“……”

“Honestly, I wonder if they’re being deceived by you.”

Lynen’s gaze deepened as he recalled the child in his memory.

“But it seems clear that you’re making the child happy.”

Indifferent eyes looked down at Calliphe.

“So at least for that child, you could be called a decent guardian. But whether you’re an unfilial daughter or not, figure that out yourself.”

“…Hmph.”

After staring at him intently, Calliphe turned to lie on her side.

“I didn’t know the silver-haired man was such a good talker.”

“Don’t give me strange nicknames as you please.”

“Still much better than the stuffy Duke Ortega.”

“…What?”

“That person is handsome but kind of an old fogy.”

“Old… fogy?”

“Anyway, that’s not what’s important.”

“It’s not important?”

“It just confirms that my choice wasn’t wrong.”

The conversation wasn’t making sense due to the lingering effects of alcohol.

Calliphe turned back and looked up at the silver-haired man who had become strangely curt.

“I’ll save you.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense.”

Calliphe smiled slightly.

It was a soft face touched by intoxication and drowsiness.

“I’m saying I like you.”

Calliphe yawned, feeling tired, and this time fell truly asleep.

Leaving Lynen frozen in shock.

“……”

After staring at Calliphe’s face for a long while, he let out a long breath and rubbed his face.

To speak as she pleased and fall asleep as she pleased.

She really was an impossible woman.

He propped his elbow on his raised knee and gazed at the sky turning indigo.

Unlike his unsettled and uncomfortable expression, the view overlooking countless rooftops was nothing but peaceful.

* * *

“Baron Rotten. A letter has arrived from Imperial Hall.”

Just as he was about to leave the room, Dietrich responded irritably to the butler’s words.

“Didn’t I say grandfather should read and handle all letters?”

“B-but it seems to be about coordinating the details of the banquet. Since you’re putting effort into this banquet, you should know directly…”

“Then just summarize it! Are you too old for even that much thinking? Huh?”

“I-I’m sorry…!”

When he hunched his tall frame threateningly, the timid butler trembled.

Tch. Dietrich snatched the letter from the butler.

‘D*mn it. Whenever I look at letters, the words scatter and overlap before my eyes. No matter what I try, it only gets worse instead of better.’

Because of this, he would become more sensitive than usual when reports like this came up.

But it couldn’t be helped.

To maintain at least the appearance of a noble, he had to pretend to read.

Dietrich opened the letter with a foul mood.

“…Huh?”

But then.

“Is, is there some problem, Baron?”

“The content.”

“Yes?”

Dietrich’s eyes widened.

‘I can read it properly!?’

The letters that had been dancing like encrypted code suddenly appeared neat. The words and sentences, their context, could be understood, albeit slowly.

‘Does this mean I’m getting better?’

Every time he looked at letters, it felt like being lost in fog. Was the fog finally thinning?

Dietrich’s lips twitched before breaking into laughter.

“Ha, haha! Uhahaha!”

Right, how much had I struggled all this time!

I knew I could overcome this. I knew I could do it!

In high spirits, he patted the butler’s shoulder.

“Old man, you’ve worked hard. I’ll handle this myself, so you can go.”

“P-pardon?”  

“Ha, now that I look, you’ve gotten more gray hair. Why make yourself upset like this? After the banquet, I’ll give you money for a vacation.”

“What?!”

“Remember that. Good work.”

Leaving behind the shocked butler.

Dietrich left the room humming.

“It’ll keep getting better from now on. At this rate, I’ll be completely cured soon!”

…While shouting this.

After checking the letter, he immediately went down to the mansion’s basement.

“Who knew Imperial Hall would have usable beast cages too. This is perfect.”

Imperial Hall was the venue Dietrich had rented for his marriage announcement banquet.

With hundreds of years of history, the place was popular among nobles for its antique and splendid atmosphere.

Apparently, magical beast fighting used to be popular, and it seemed Imperial Hall still had such places remaining.

“This will make the banquet even more impressive.”

In the basement, large and small cages were covered with cloth.

Grrrr…..

“That’s right, are you hungry?”

Dietrich approached the cage at the sound of the starving beast.

Then suddenly.

Kaaang!!

The magical beast inside lunged at Dietrich.

“Ughk!”

Startled, Dietrich jumped back.

Feeling embarrassed belatedly, he looked around. Fortunately, no one was there.

He kicked the bars.

“How dare you not recognize your master!”

Grrrr!

The magical beast kept banging against the bars violently.

Each time, something like thin handcuffs could be glimpsed among its thick fur.

Dietrich grinned.

“Disappear quietly.”

Grrr……!

The moment those words left Dietrich’s mouth, the handcuffs tightened further around the beast’s limbs.

Finally.

Kuung!

The rampaging beast collapsed to the side, all strength leaving its body. Only its boiling breath made gurgling sounds.

Dietrich looked down at it triumphantly with his hands in his pockets.

“Let’s see you make your savior that gangster you’ve been dismissing, Calliphe Offensa.”

He couldn’t wait to see the sight of the noble, and the only direct descendant of House Offensa at that, bowing her head to him.