After Calliphe’s group left, Marcel pulled the blanket over the Marquis.

“Hmm?”

Did his complexion… look slightly better?

“Or not?”

After tilting his head in confusion, he soon dismissed it as his imagination and left the sick room.

He headed to another reception room, where a distinguished guest who had arrived before Calliphe’s group waited.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

The distinguished guest occupied the seat of honor typically reserved for the Archmage or Vice Archmage.

A girl in her early teens, swinging her short crossed legs.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

The Empire’s Crown Princess and little tyrant, Lucilia Manu Clerance.

“You said you’d be right back, but it took quite a while?”

“My apologies. The conversation unexpectedly went long.”

Any visitor to the Magic Tower, even royalty, shouldn’t arbitrarily take the seat of honor.

But Marcel didn’t point out the young royal’s mistake and sat in an empty seat.

Lucilia snorted derisively.

“…Must have been a good conversation? Seeing how you’re smiling.”

“Ah, was I?”

Only then realizing it, Marcel awkwardly rubbed his cheek.

“Have you really marked Lady Offensa as the next Archmage?”

“What? Haha… so that’s what you came to ask about, Your Highness.”

“Just answer the question.”

Marcel shook his head with a smile.

“We haven’t decided yet who will take that position.”

“…So that woman has no connection to the Magic Tower?”

“Not yet, at least.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Lucilia grinned.

Her curved lips made the baby fat still remaining on her cheeks puff out.

In truth, Lucilia secretly held a grudge against Calliphe Offensa.

‘To think she hasn’t even come to greet me once when she’s the fiancée of Duke Ortega, my biggest supporter.’

If she was going to live as the Duchess Ortega, she should have come to bow her head first.

Unless she really planned to become the Marchioness Offensa, or was thinking of breaking up with Duke Ortega.

‘But that’s unlikely.’

After the blessing ceremony, Lucilia had looked into Calliphe Offensa.

And her conclusion was clear.

‘An arrogant noble who doesn’t know her place.’

She heard that even after becoming mana-incompatible due to an accident, she caused trouble while denying reality.

She bragged about being the direct line of the family while only causing harm to the house.

Moreover, her history of one-sidedly pursuing Duke Ortega was so famous that even the young Crown Princess couldn’t help but know about it.

‘So irresponsible. Just irresponsible.’

Yet suddenly her reputation was changing. All after getting engaged to Duke Ortega.

‘Of course it’s all thanks to the Duke. I know well how diligent a person the Duke is.’

Lucilia had heard countless dismissive comments about herself.

That she was too young, that she was a woman, that she became the heir only through favoritism when there was a grown prince. Endless doubts about her qualifications.

So she worked hard. To be worthy as a legitimate royal, she had to make secret efforts.

Yet this troublemaker Calliphe Offensa was just riding on the Duke’s coattails!

Even her half-brother Blaine had spoken well of Lady Offensa after returning from his outing.

‘To receive praise from my brother, which even I rarely get.’

From such a woman!

Everyone must be fooled.

‘I’ll prove it.’

That Calliphe Offensa is still just an irresponsible troublemaker without Duke Ortega.

The first step was to meet Calliphe Offensa in person. Of course! She should come to visit first.

“I’ve finished my business, so I’ll be going now.”

“What? But we just brought milk and cookies, won’t you stay for a bit?”

Lucilia fixed Marcel with a stern gaze.

“I am the Crown Princess. Not some child.”

After sharply retorting, Lucilia left the Magic Tower.

Upon climbing into her carriage using the footstool quickly provided by her attendant, she asked her head maid.

“You properly handled Lady Offensa’s harvest festival application form, right?”

“Of course, Your Highness. We also switched the prizes for the adult and youth divisions.”

“Good.”

She didn’t know why Calliphe Offensa had applied for the adult division of the harvest festival.

But all participants in the harvest festival had one common goal.

‘The winner’s prize.’

By interfering with that, the message should have been clearly delivered by now.

‘Come and bow your head to ask for favors, Calliphe Offensa.’

I’ll show you exactly what your true nature is.

Lucilia grinned while anticipating that day.

* * *

“Yaaawn.”

On an afternoon when a capybara with rabbit ears stretched out a long yawn.

“Ding!”

When Imelen rang the bell with her front paw, Noah and Mihail, whose postures had momentarily relaxed, instantly tensed up.

“Ah, we weren’t resting!”

Nod nod!

Noah and Mihail vigorously swung their swords down again.

“488… 489…”

It was currently Lynen’s swordsmanship lesson time.

Lynen, who had assigned the task of five hundred downward strikes, was temporarily away after receiving a communication request from Heron.

Imelen was supervising the training in his place.

Noah’s sword-wielding arm trembled.

‘But it’s trembling less than before.’

It took less strength too.

It was manageable.

Feeling the change made even the hard training enjoyable.

“…500!”

Thump! Mihail collapsed upon reaching the count.

But Noah continued his movements.

501, 502…

Then Noah’s invisible swordsmanship ability increased a bit faster.

[Noah’s swordsmanship increased by 2.]

[Noah’s swordsmanship increased by 3.]

[Noah’s swordsmanship ability: 107]

550, 551…

[Swordsmanship ability will not increase due to excessive stamina consumption.]

But Noah’s arm didn’t stop.

‘Something’s lacking.’

He mindlessly swung his sword with unfocused green eyes.

“Meow meow.”

Finally, when Imelen lightly bumped her head against Noah’s side, his training stopped.

Mihail stuck out his tongue.

“The Saint was right. Rest is also needed for training to be effective.”

“…”

Noah looked down at his reddened palms while catching his breath.

“I want to do more.”

“If it’s practice, do it after resting a bit.”

“That’s not it… I just feel like I need to do something more.”

Noah felt frustrated by the sensation he couldn’t explain well.

At that moment, the answer came from behind.

“You’ve hit a ‘wall.'”

It was Lynen.

Beside him were the sturdy maid Lina who had brought drinks for the children, and Calliphe.

Calliphe too had changed into light exercise clothes to prepare for the harvest festival.

Seeing this, Noah realized what he needed.

“Ca-Calliphe.”

“No.”

Gasp. Noah’s eyes widened.

“You were going to ask about participating in the harvest festival, right?”

Noah’s eyes wavered. How did she know?

“You can participate next year. It’s too difficult to participate now.”

“But…”

“My answer is already final.”

Calliphe said casually while checking her fists.

She couldn’t participate directly in the harvest festival due to mana incompatibility. That’s why she had brought a substitute from the Magic Tower yesterday.

‘I’ll have to raise the ability scores intensely with my power.’

Since the adult division prize was the goal, there was no need for Noah to step up.

‘His swordsmanship ability has already exceeded 100 even though the game hasn’t even started yet. This level of achievement is enough.’

She didn’t want to pressure him that he must have high ability scores no matter what.

She especially didn’t want the child getting hurt in the harvest festival.

‘What I want is for Noah to grow up healthy and happy, not to become a sword genius.’

Lynen seemed to share the same thoughts.

“That’s right. No need to rush. There will be opportunities next year too.”

“…”

At this moment, Heron muttered through Lynen’s communication stone that hadn’t been disconnected yet.

―My lord, you always told the territory’s youth that only pursuing safety means giving up on development.

Click. Lynen quickly cut off the communication.

“My lady.”

Just then.

The annex’s butler brought a letter on a tray. A letter from the imperial palace with gold trim.

It was the harvest festival application confirmation.

However, Calliphe’s eyes narrowed as she opened the letter.

“…The application was rejected?”