“Didn’t you say you went to see that young lady before?”
“Y-Yes.”
“You weren’t mistaken, right?”
“W-Well...”
Countess Lucia faltered under her husband’s questioning. There was no way she could admit that she had gone there only to be cursed at and driven out in humiliation.
Who could have guessed that a woman running a shabby stew shop would be close to Grand Duke Persia?
“Mother...”
The mood around them shifted instantly. The smile disappeared from Christine’s face.
Just moments ago, she had been the center of attention, but now, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Julia standing beside Grand Duke Persia.
Christine’s expression twisted in displeasure.
***
“So Ellie set off for her grandmother’s house on an errand for her mother.”
As expected of an academy sponsored by the Imperial Family, even the auditorium used for the children’s performance was incredibly grand.
The story itself was simple, but the costumes and stage props were well-made enough to make the play entertaining to watch.
Once the child narrator finished speaking, Julia stepped into the center of the stage in a pretty cape and began her lines.
“Grandma’s house is beyond that mountain, right?”
“She’s incredible.”
“What?”
“Isn’t Julia a genius at acting? Maybe I should let her keep doing this.”
“......”
Ceres couldn’t stop praising Julia as she watched the performance. Kainel, who had been quietly watching her instead, almost said something before pressing his lips shut.
It wasn’t like he had never seen a play before. Yes, he had spent years shut away inside the Grand Duchy, but even so, this was still nothing more than a children’s school performance at best.
Julia did look adorable running around in her cape, but calling her a genius felt like a stretch.
“Her pronunciation is so clear too.”
“The other children pronounce their lines clearly as well.”
“And how is she this cute?”
...She really wasn’t listening at all. In the end, Kainel gave up trying to reason with her and simply listened quietly to Ceres continue doting on Julia.
“And then, a terrifying wolf appeared before Ellie!”
“You there! What’s in that basket? Hand it over if you want to pass!”
...So she’s the wolf?
Ceres held back her laugh as Christine appeared wearing a wolf costume.
Earlier, she had kept glancing at Christine while the girl stood beside Countess Lucia. Christine had been dressed up so extravagantly from head to toe that Ceres assumed she must be playing some sort of princess role.
But she turned out to be the wolf?
She was supposed to be wearing [N O V E L I G H T] wolf ears, so why did she spend so much effort styling her hair? It looked like she had spent hours on it.
Ceres silently shook her head.
“You can’t have this! I have to bring it to my grandmother!”
“Then you’re not getting through here!”
Christine shoved both arms toward Julia with all her strength.
Smack!
“Huh...?”
The scene had only called for a light push, but Julia lost her balance from the force and stumbled backward.
The problem was that she had been standing with her back toward the edge of the stage.
Still reeling, Julia fell off the tall stage.
“Julia!”
At that moment, two people shot out of their seats simultaneously. Ceres and Kainel rushed toward the child without hesitation, both reaching out for her.
Wooooong!
“Huh...? W-What?”
A faint light wrapped around Julia’s body. She slowly floated into the air before being gently placed back onto the stage.
“...?”
Relieved that Julia was unharmed, Ceres quickly turned around. That was definitely magic.
Could it be...?
“Wow. Are academy plays always this dangerous?”
It was Cheion, the Tower Master. After confirming that Julia was safe, he smiled and gave the child a wave.
“Cheion?”
“Yeah. I came to vi—Ceres?”
Cheion was about to greet her cheerfully, only for his expression to go blank the moment he saw her properly.
“Who are you?”
“Stop messing around. Why are you here?”
“...Ceres?”
For a while, Cheion could only stare at her. It was the first time he had ever seen Ceres dressed up.
“I asked how you got here.”
“Me? I was bored, so I came to have a look around.”
...Did you two rehearse that answer together or something?
Ceres chuckled as Cheion gave the exact same reply Kainel had earlier. Since when did academy festivals become places people dropped by out of boredom?
“Hey, isn’t that...?”
“Yeah! It is, right?”
“Right?”
The murmuring around them grew louder. Excited whispers began spreading from the group of children nearby.
“Magic!”
Someone suddenly shouted.
“It’s not hard!”
The other children immediately chimed in.
“That’s the wizard from the book!”
“Waaah!”
Before long, the children had completely surrounded Cheion.
“Mister, you really are a wizard, right?”
“I have that book too!”
“Me too!”
Cheion looked briefly flustered by the children’s excitement, but before long, he folded his arms proudly and lifted his chin as if he had expected this all along.
“That’s right. I’m the great wizard who wrote that amazing book.”
“Waaah!”
“So? Do you all want to become wizards too?”
“No.”
“...What?”
“I don’t really want to.”
“...You kids are Julia’s friends, aren’t you?”
Why did they all talk the same way?
With a resigned expression, Cheion remained trapped among the children for quite a while.
After once again realizing that the Tower Master seemed strangely popular only with children, Ceres left him behind and turned her gaze back toward the stage.
She had clearly seen Christine shove Julia with all her strength earlier. No matter how young they were, it wasn’t something she could just overlook.
But when Ceres looked at Christine standing stiffly on stage, she clicked her tongue softly.
“...Tsk.”
Christine looked even more frightened than Julia, who had nearly fallen.
“Christine, are you okay?”
“I-I... I just...”
Ironically, it was Julia who looked worried as she checked Christine’s expression.
“It’s okay. I’m not hurt.”
Christine stared blankly at Julia, who smiled brightly as though nothing had happened. A moment later, her eyes began to redden. Tears welled up as she spoke in a trembling voice.
“...No.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry... I just... sniff... I was jealous because you were the main character... ngh...”
She had never imagined Julia would actually fall off the stage. She only thought the girl would stumble a little.
“Ngh... hng...”
A small hand landed gently on Christine’s head as the girl struggled to stop crying.
Pat, pat.
Julia patted Christine’s head, copying the way Ceres always comforted her.
“I like wolves too. Being all bratty and mean suits you really well.”
“Ugh... I’m sorry... sniff...”
Watching the two children, Ceres smiled in satisfaction.
“My Julia even knows how to comfort her friends now. She’s really grown up.”
Then, sensing a stare from beside her, she turned her head to find Kainel looking at her with an expression full of unspoken thoughts.
“...What?”
“Does that really sound comforting to you?”
“If it’s not comforting, then what is it? Why are you asking something so obvious?”
“...I was wondering who the child took after.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kainel just shook his head without another word.
A little later, an academy staff member stepped onto the stage to settle the earlier commotion.
“We’ll resume the play after a short intermission.”
After watching Julia lead the still-sniffling Christine offstage, Ceres returned to her seat and waited for the play to begin again.
***
“So, what are you actually doing here?”
As the performance resumed, their group grew larger. Lowering her voice, Ceres asked Cheion, who had taken the seat beside her.
“I stopped by the shop and heard you were here.”
“You went to the shop?”
“Yeah. This guy said he never got to try the food there last time.”
After he finished speaking, a bright, smiling face suddenly popped out from beside him and waved enthusiastically. It was Cheion’s younger brother, Alex.
“It’s nice seeing you again.”
“It is.”
He’s still absurdly pretty.
One beautiful face was already enough to draw attention, but putting two together made the effect almost ridiculous. It honestly felt like the space around them was glowing. Even the people nearby couldn’t stop staring.
Besides...
Ceres glanced sideways at the man seated next to her. Kainel was handsome too. Her Kai definitely wasn’t lacking in looks.
“What are you staring at?”
...Maybe his personality is the problem.
“If you want to look, stop sneaking glances and just stare openly.”
...No, not maybe. It definitely is.
Was he always this shameless?
She was certain he wasn’t like this before. Whatever happened to her pure and innocent Kai?
“No, no! Lord Kainel was always like that! You know perfectly well he only pretended to behave himself in front of you, Lady Grace! Why are you saying such terrible things?!”
...Was he?
For some reason, she could practically hear her disciple screaming in outrage.
“Ceres, do you want to switch seats with me?”
Cheion frowned slightly, clearly displeased by how close Kainel was leaning toward Ceres as they talked.
“No, it’s fine.”
The two of you sitting together would bother me even more.
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