The dinner held in honor of my parents ended in yet another round of praise.
Arcus and Father Alan both said in unison, "It's nothing special," but that was hardly true.The meat of a high-ranking demonic beast was something one could boast about anywhere.
I still remember my own surprise the first time I tasted it.
Unfortunately, raw meat was difficult to preserve, and since only Arcus himself could hunt such beasts, it was a phantom delicacy—one eaten only within the mansion.
Even so, it seemed that surplus meat was occasionally distributed to the people of the territory. Perhaps that was why people endured living in land with thin soil and little prospect of wealth.
In any case, there was no doubt that this rare meat was enough to satisfy even my father.
After the banquet, we were shown to the guest room and enjoyed a long-overdue moment together as a family.
We spoke of—
The academy.The current state of our household.My own situation.This journey.
The conversation felt endless… until, in a brief lull—
"Still," my father murmured, "he's quite an interesting young man."
...He was clearly thinking of Arcus.
Mother nodded in agreement.
"To treat Steel Lion like children… and yet to have such proper principles."
I was surprised.
Father was laughing cheerfully, but I had rarely—if ever—seen him praise someone so highly.Not even His Highness, who excelled in both scholarship and martial arts, had received such words.
Perhaps the last time had been my elder brother, whom Father had once called a genius.
But I didn't know anymore.
Today alone, I had revised my evaluation of Arcus countless times.
He arranged this meeting with my parents.He saw through my lies, yet treated me the same as always.And when I finally met my parents again, I vented my frustration on him like a child—overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all.
Just thinking about it now made me cringe.
Even so, I couldn't thank him enough—for indulging my tantrum, and for giving me a place to speak honestly with my parents.
And then there was that.
I hadn't known what was happening at the time.
When I heard Arcus's booming voice, I rushed out to the courtyard with my parents and Alan—only to see Arcus holding what looked like a massive log.
When he faced the adventurer, Alan muttered, "I'll stop him," but Father stopped him instead.
"Well, isn't it fine?" Father said.
Apparently, during the journey here, the driver—Mr. Harrison—had spoken at length about Arcus's exploits.
That was why Father had been curious whether the stories of his martial prowess were true.
As for me—I was worried.
I knew Arcus was strong. I'd seen it before.But the adventurer before him was someone entrusted with my father's escort.
There was no doubt he was formidable.
Facing such a man with nothing but a log…
I was holding my breath when Mr. Harrison gave the signal.
And then—
It was over in an instant.
"—Huh?"
The sound escaped my lips before I could stop myself.
Both Father and Mother were wearing the exact same stunned expressions.
I hadn't seen Arcus move at all.
One moment, it felt like something had exploded—the next, the log had stopped just inches from the adventurer's face.
That was all.
And that alone was enough to decide the match.
I wasn't especially knowledgeable about swordplay, but I had seen real bouts before.
Last year, I had observed a gladiatorial tournament held at the academy.His Highness had been participating, so I watched from the stands as was my duty as his fiancée.
Even though it was only an internal competition, I'd heard that even knights with long service histories were impressed.
And indeed, it had been a fierce battle.
Though I didn't understand swordsmanship, I could still follow the exchanges with my own eyes.
But today?
I couldn't see Arcus at all—not his body, not his movement—not even the swing of the log.
Even Eleonora was in high spirits, saying:
"As expected of a little boy. If he's going to be my second servant, he'd better be this strong."
The business negotiations afterward were just as astonishing.
He didn't yield an inch to my father.He secured the maximum benefit we desired.And yet, he negotiated in a way that satisfied the other party.
At the very end, he casually listed idea after idea.
Arcus said they would all have occurred to him even without me—
—but I hadn't thought of any of them.
"Because," he'd said with a smile,"the driving force is simply solving inconveniences."
Those words made me painfully aware of how sheltered I had been.
"Is this what 'a hidden dragon lying in wait' means?" Father murmured.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
He smiled gently and explained.
It referred to a great or promising man who remained hidden in the wilderness, awaiting his chance.
I thought it fit Arcus perfectly.
"But it's strange," Mother tilted her head."Arcus should be studying at the Royal Academy, shouldn't he?"
I nodded.
Until recently, we should have been attending the same place.Yet I had never heard rumors of him.
What little gossip there was—
Tall.Red hair.Unadorned.The lowest noble rank in the principality.Unfit for the academy.
Nothing but shallow criticism.
Whenever I saw him, he was always quiet, tucked away in a corner.
That reserved demeanor—so mismatched with his build—was probably what gave rise to such rumors.
"He's a strange child," Father said.
"Yes," Mother agreed brightly."But I'll give him a passing mark."
Clapping her hands, she turned to Father with a grin.
"He looks fine, and he has talent you recognize, don't you?"
"Hmph. I'd say it's still too early," Father snorted.
"Oh?" Mother smiled mischievously.
To be honest, I didn't fully understand what they were implying.
Then Mother leaned closer and said—
"Especially when he said, 'I don't intend to use Lady Catherine as a tool.' That was rather nice."
...She winked.
It had been shocking.I had always believed my role was to live as a noble's daughter—as a tool.
"But that's just—"
"Oh? Your father's proposal was quite similar," Mother interrupted.'Flora, I love you not as a political tool, but as a woman.'
Father turned bright red and looked away.
Seeing that reaction made my own face heat up as well.
Still—
"Mother, please stop teasing."
I stood and turned back to them.
"By the way, I'm planning a port construction project on the edge of the territory. If you don't mind, I'd like your opinion."
They both smiled gently.
Using that smile as cover, I quickly left the drawing room and hurried to my room.
As I walked, Eleonora's voice echoed in my head.
You should be honest.I'm not lying.That boy is quite a catch, don't you think?That's not what I—
Startled by my own rising voice, I looked around.
No one was there.
I exhaled in relief.
"Arcus is someone who will spread his wings far from now on," I muttered."And…"
And?
"He'll be returning to the academy soon."
At that thought, my chest felt inexplicably heavy.
I would have to part from him soon.Even if only temporarily—why did it feel so lonely?
"If people at the academy learn of Arcus's talent, no one will leave him alone. And surely there will be many far more suitable than a disgraced former noblewoman."
Saying it myself made my heart ache.
But this was reality.
"…If that's the case, then it's fine."
Eleonora's voice softened.
You've fallen in love, haven't you?
"…In love?"
I didn't know the answer.
In the first place, I didn't truly understand what it meant to love someone.
"…More importantly, I need to focus on the port construction."
When I reached my room, I grabbed what I needed and turned on my heel.
This pain in my chest—surely, with time, I would get used to it.
☆☆☆
After Catherine left the drawing room—
"Flora, wasn't that a bit much?" Lucian asked.
"It's fine," Lady Flora replied."That child has endured far too much until now."
Puffing out her cheeks, she gazed at her reflection in the window.
"As her mother, I just want her to be happy.If she can live freely—then I want her to live freely."
Lucian let out a long breath.
"…You're right."
A knock sounded at the door.
Catherine returned.
That night—the first the three of them had shared in a long time—continued quietly.
☆☆☆
Late at night, just before the day turned—
Arcus had finally begun preparing for bed when a visitor arrived.
"…You really shouldn't come to a man's room at this hour."
Frowning, he found Eleonora, dressed in a nightgown.
"And Keith's there too… is that Rita? You brought witnesses?"
Sensing the two presences beyond the door, Arcus shot her a stunned look.
"Hm? You can tell by their presence? How convenient."
Laughing, Eleonora only worsened his headache.
"Staying up late is bad for your skin. You don't want Lady Catherine getting angry."
"No problem. My little girl is already asleep."
"I don't mean that…"
Eleonora smiled slyly.
"You'll be returning to the academy soon, won't you?"
"I'm about to sleep, so please get to the point."
She grinned.
"I want to attend the academy too."
"…Huh?"
A massive question mark floated through the quiet mansion night.