Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"I have contacted the Mage Tower for the time being, but..."

"Hmm."

At lunch, Cecilia was eating with Chloe, so I was having lunch with her escort, Rushe, in her place.

"By the way, did you truly see it? That haze of mana around the Sage’s disciple, like the young lady did? A sign of a rampage?"

"Yes."

"It is remarkable that you noticed it."

"I was trained to see what others cannot."

"Ah, the training of the Baron Boliven family must have—"

"Do not mention it."

"..."

"It gives me PTSD."

Seeing the hand holding my fork tremble, Rushe silently nodded.

"Ahem. In any case, the Mage Tower will surely take measures soon enough."

"Keep sending them notices."

"Pardon? But—"

"How much work do you think is piled up at the Mage Tower?"

"An enormous amount?"

"That is why you should keep sending them."

The Mage Tower was the sort of organization that dawdled and refused to work unless you became an obnoxious complainant.

"Yes, yes. But, Your Grace."

"What?"

"I have been hearing a rumor lately..."

"What rumor?"

"That the Northern Grand Duke has been courting three women..."

"Pfft!!!"

I spat out my food onto the floor before I had even finished chewing it.

"What kind of insane rumor is that?"

"Well, there is Princess Luisilla, who sits beside you..."

All I remembered was her thanking me for listening to her worries and praising Cecilia and me as an ideal engaged couple.

I had thought there was not a single normal person in the imperial family, but Luisilla seemed different.

"And Elysia, the second-year special admission student..."

"She is a calamity."

"Pardon?"

"Think of all the men that woman has trailing after her. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

"Well, that is true."

"And."

"Yes?"

"There is one more."

"Ah, naturally, the young lady."

"Hmph. That one is obvious."

Cecilia and I had shown the Academy students just how ideal an engagement could be. Naturally, rumors should spread.

Still, a corner of my heart ached.

I may have personal feelings involved, but Cecilia... Hmm.

Whenever I saw how earnestly she tried, I felt grateful—and bitter at the same time.

"Your Grace."

"What?"

"You looked terribly gloomy, so I called out to you."

"It is nothing."

"..."

"What?"

"I was just thinking that if your father and mother were here, this would be the sort of situation where they would be grinning from ear to ear."

"Your pay is being docked."

"Nooo..."

After finishing lunch, we were on our way to the next classroom when a group stepped in front of me.

"What is this?"

"Are you Grand Duke Viktor Walterheim?"

"..."

The male student who appeared to be their leader was Ryan von Meyer, son of the Imperial Knights’ commander and one of the male leads responsible for swordsmanship.

"I am. You are from the House of Count Meyer..."

"Ryan von Meyer."

"So what is the meaning of this?"

"Pardon?"

"You have come in a group to harass one person. The name of a knight must be weeping."

"Tch."

At Ryan’s gesture, his followers frowned and began to retreat.

"My apologies for the discourtesy. I merely wished to speak with you for a moment, but it seems I caused an unintended misunderstanding..."

"Enough."

"..."

"Say whatever you came to say quickly. It is quite a distance to the next classroom."

"Understood. I will get straight to the point."

Ryan, who had maintained a calm air until moments ago, began glaring at me with murderous eyes.

"Do not approach Elysia again."

"..."

"You have been warned."

As Ryan finished saying his piece and turned to leave, I spoke to his back.

"Why are you complaining to me when she is the one who approaches first?"

"Ghk!!!"

He glared at me as though he might draw the sword at his waist at any moment.

"Are you going to draw it?"

"..."

"There is a saying: if you cannot bite, do not bark."

I smiled faintly and gave Ryan’s shoulder a couple of light pats.

"I do not bark."

"What..."

"I bite immediately."

"..."

"Keep a close watch on the young lady you—no, all of you—adore. My patience has reached its limit."

If Cecilia had not been beside me, I would have flattened them long ago. Elysia and her men ought to bow every night in the direction where Cecilia was.

"Good day."

Leaving Ryan glaring after me, I hurried toward the classroom where my next lecture would be held.

...Boris and that fellow alike. They have the look of men who will cause trouble soon enough.

With a sigh, I looked to the side and saw that a swordsmanship class was already in full swing.

"They carry swords around, so who would complain if I carried a bow and arrows?"

**

Cecilia felt a sense of omnipotence unlike anything she had ever experienced. She could feel the mana flowing through her body more clearly than ever.

Back in her first year, it had felt as though she were running down an unpaved road.

Now, I can clearly feel the flow of mana inside my body—the path it takes.

"Student Cecilia."

"Yes."

"Excellent. Your mana control is excellent."

"..."

"It seems you worked very hard over the winter."

No. I trained in the same way as always. The only difference is...

"Tch."

Watching Baron click his tongue at the professor praising her, Cecilia felt her emotions cool completely.

...On the day you discarded me at the end of our first year, I twisted more fiercely than ever before. But not anymore.

Neither seeing him nor seeing Elysia, clinging tightly to his side and basking in his favor, stirred her in the slightest.

I see. This, too... is because Viktor has protected me.

"...Lady Cecilia Roienthal."

"Yes."

Cecilia turned toward the voice calling her. There stood a handsome red-haired young man, Boris Pinel, with his wand aimed at her.

"I challenge you to a one-on-one duel."

"..."

"Will you accept?"

"Student Boris Pinel, you are the Sage’s disciple. To duel a student like Cecilia, who has only just entered her second year—"

"I accept."

"Student Cecilia!"

The professor in charge tried to stop Cecilia in alarm, but her demeanor was resolute.

"Oh?"

"If I win this duel, do not ever appear before Viktor and me again."

"Ha!"

"Do you accept?"

"Fine. But if I win, cancel every class related to magic."

"Very well."

The professor rubbed his face wearily as he looked between the two of them.

"Understood. Cecilia will choose the method of the duel."

"I do not care. Anything is fine."

Pretending not to know what to do, Elysia clung tightly to Baron’s side.

"What should we do... Baron, Boris is..."

"Do not worry, Elysia. In every form of duel thus far, Boris has never lost to anyone except the Sage. Besides."

Baron wore a nasty smile as he continued, looking at his former fiancée.

"With the magic of a woman who could rampage at any moment, she will not even be able to put a scratch on Boris."

Of course! Do you have any idea how much I have invested in Boris?!

Suppressing a laugh that threatened to burst out, Elysia began to well up with tears as though the situation were truly heartbreaking.

"Boris!! Please stop... Lady Cecilia and I have made up, so..."

"Do not worry, Elysia. I will win and offer that victory to my beloved muse."

"Boris..."

"Hmph."

At Baron’s jealous click of the tongue, Elysia began trembling with excitement, unable to conceal it.

Hehe... Yes, compete madly for me like that... It is so wonderful to watch, ahng...

Cecilia tied her hair into a single strand and walked toward Boris.

"The method of the duel will be rapid casting."

"What? Hahahaha!!!"

Boris burst into laughter at the method Cecilia had named.

"Are you serious? Rapid casting is what you struggle with most, since your mana paths become tangled and cause rampages—"

"Are you refusing?"

"...Hah."

Watching Cecilia stare at him with icy eyes, Boris ground his teeth.

I will crush you thoroughly, you damned ugly bitch...

"The method of the duel is rapid casting. Both parties, take your positions."

The two stood at opposite ends of the circular arena where the duel would take place. Unlike Boris, who watched the professor and waited for the signal, Cecilia closed her eyes.

...Viktor.

Her heart tingled, her heart pounded, her spirits rose. The mana paths flowing through her body felt like living creatures.

Cecilia.

"...Yes."

I love you.

"Then, both sides may begin their incantations—"

Whoosh!

Just as Boris raised his wand and began chanting the first verse of his spell,

"Arrow."

"Huh?"

Booom!!!!

A magical arrow shot from Cecilia’s wand struck Boris’s body. At the same time,

"Ghk!!"

Boris floated in the air for a moment before flying out of bounds and rolling across the ground.

"..."

"..."

"Huh?"

"What... was that?"

Everyone watching the duel was unable to process what had just unfolded before their eyes.

Boris lay sprawled outside the arena, while Cecilia retrieved her wand and untied her hair ribbon and necktie.

"How stifling."

"Ah... the winner of the duel is Student Cecilia."

With the professor’s declaration, Cecilia gave the fallen Boris a slight bow and left the classroom.

I won. But...

She did not feel good.

How strange. I beat the person who drove me into a corner last year, yet rather than feeling happy...

She felt empty. The mana that had been surging only moments ago settled quietly and became still. A crushing weariness washed over her.

"Cecilia Roienthal!!"

"..."

A voice sounded from behind her. Cecilia turned to identify its owner.

"What is it?"

"H-how did you defeat Boris?! Wh-what did you do?!"

"...Ha."

Rather than Baron, who was pointing at her and demanding answers, Cecilia smiled at the pink-haired woman beside him, whose face was full of shock. It was not a smile born of pleasure. It was simply...

Pathetic.

Yes. It was a self-mocking smile at the fact that she had endured such humiliation that day over something so absurd.

"D-did you just smile?"

"My apologies. I used too much mana, so controlling my emotions is somewhat..."

"Y-Your Highness, it is dangerous. Lady Cecilia cannot properly control her mana right now—"

"Ghk. A mana rampage!!!"

Ha...

She really did have a lot to say. Even beneath Cecilia’s sharp gaze, Elysia’s little mouth did not stop, continuing to slander and insult her.

Should I just... truly do as she says?

Just as Cecilia frowned and moved to place a hand on her wand,

"Cecilia."

"...Ah."

A red light in a world filled with gray. At the sight of its owner, Cecilia’s stopped heart began to beat again. Light returned to her eyes, which had been clouded by dark haze.

"Are you all right?"

Again. Once again, you are worried about me. Because it is a contract. Cowardly, you use that as a shield to draw a line between us.

It was cowardly, yet at the same time, it reassured Cecilia.

If I did not have even that shield right now, I might...

She might have been unable to control these emotions and crossed the line.

"Viktor."

"..."

Viktor’s gaze turned to Baron and Elysia. Baron swallowed dryly. This was different. It was rage on an entirely different level from anything before. Viktor looked ready to charge at them at once, but—

"Viktor."

"..."

"Let us go."

"But."

"I won the duel."

"Yes."

"I want to... brag about it. Just the two of us."

"..."

"Let us go."

Cecilia looked coldly at Baron and Elysia. Her gaze carried the resolve not to let such filth touch the eyes of the person precious to her.

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