Lillian made her way to the arena. Hand-to-hand combat was compulsory for all Copper Star students—they needed to be able to fight bare-handed if the situation ever demanded it. Other martial disciplines were electives, but this one wasn't; everyone was ranked in hand-to-hand combat, with no exceptions.
And Lillian had been called here to provide medical assistance.
She hadn't seen Theodore in days. Apparently, he'd barricaded himself in his room again. Nero, ever diligent, had gone to check on him—only to report hearing eerie, unhinged laughter echoing from behind the door. The kind that made it impossible to tell whether he was on the verge of a breakthrough… or if he'd already crossed into madness.
At this point, Lillian wasn't sure she could call herself a medical officer's assistant with a straight face. No, the assistant medical officer was far more accurate. Theodore had abandoned every duty the moment she arrived, leaving her to handle all the practical work while he disappeared into the abyss of his research.
Research was all well and good, but completely handing off the infirmary to her? Absolutely unacceptable.
And yet, every evening, he somehow emerged from his lair just long enough to deliver her an exquisitely made cake—fluffy, sweet, dusted perfectly with sugar—like a wordless apology he wasn't brave enough to voice. He treated her kindly. Gently.
And that somehow made it even more infuriating.
I'm not forgiving you. Not a chance. Even if that cheesecake was heavenly.
"Lily~!"
Lillianna and Lucia—rumoured Alcott twins and Lillian's cousins—waved and hurried toward her. Ever since they'd met Caroline, the pair had been almost overly protective of Lillian.
Lillian understood why; they'd been worried about her ever since Count Devilla's decision affected her so deeply. But she couldn't help feeling a spark of sympathy for Caroline. Lucas Alcott, the second son of Marquis Lannister, was slender and well-built, with more than enough charm to make women of all ages sigh after him. And his strength was undeniable. His twin sister, Lillianna Alcott, was equally accomplished—both as a young noblewoman and as a cadet. Many had tried to recruit her the moment they saw her performance during the entrance exams.
The twins wore long-sleeved cotton shirts and pants—simple, practical, and easy to wash. The sort of thing sold in any average clothing shop… Except these were reinforced with Lillianna's defensive magic.
As they chatted, Lillian noticed a girl with short hair watching Lillianna. Catching her gaze, Lillianna grinned and introduced her.
"Lily, this is my sweetheart, Alma. Alma, this is my older cousin I told you about."
"N-Nice to meet you, ma'am. And Anna—cut it out with that nickname!"
"Fufu~ Nice to meet you too. Please, call me Lily. Since Anna and I have similar names, nicknames make things easier." Lillian paused, then added, "But if you'd feel uncomfortable because of your family, you can just call me by my job title."
"Why?" Lillianna blinked.
Lucas answered for her. "Lady Alma is the only daughter of the McGregor family. Unlike the House Alcott, which produces officers for the army and navy, the McGregor family is a family of knights. The current head of their house is the commander of the Imperial Guards."
"T-That doesn't matter!" Alma insisted, cheeks flushing. "It would be embarrassing if you used a title for me but not for Anna—and she's way stronger than I am!"
"If you say so."
But Alma's family name tugged at Lillian's memory. McGregor… Imperial Guard…
She gave Alma a thoughtful look. Yellow-green hair. Tall and well-built. Caramel eyes.
"Lady Alma… This is just a wild guess, but do you have a brother who's prideful, stupidly tall, loves spears and the imperial family—and looks like you?"
"I have three older brothers who are prideful, stupidly tall, and obsessed with spears and the imperial family. But the one with the same hair colour as me is over there."
Lillian and her cousins followed her line of sight to a familiar—yet not identical—face. A young man who looked like Alma, only larger, was glaring condescendingly at Lillianna.
"Oh. You're twins, too."
"Yeah. His name is Adrian."
"Sorry," Lillianna sighed. "Even though he's not in our class, I have a feeling he'll pick a fight with me anyway."
It was clear that many male students in the Copper Star faculty didn't approve of women joining their ranks.
The bell rang, and everyone snapped to attention. A man with a scar across his cheek, red hair, and unsettling sanpaku eyes stepped forward. The students collectively paled.
"T-That red hair… The scar from fighting a Fenrir… It's the Red Devil of Turin!" someone whispered.
While the other students panicked over his identity, Lillian tried not to roll her eyes.
Red Devil?
He's more like a teddy bear.
A drunk teddy bear, but still.
She kept her thoughts to herself—for now.
"So," the man began, "I'm Kiser, your fieldwork instructor for all three years. Four years of military service, six in academia, and a Gold Plate from Turin's Adventurer Guild. Any questions?"
Lillian had many questions, starting with Why are you here?, but kept quiet.
Kiser exhaled sharply. "All right. Gather up! First-years will be sparring today. No weapons, no magic. A match ends when someone gives up or gets knocked down. I won't give directions—go all out. Lillianna, you're up first from Class 1. Who's volunteering from Class 2?"
"I'll go." Adrian stepped forward with pompous confidence.
Lillian leaned toward her cousin. "Anna. No killing."
"I know…" she groaned. Then she turned to Alma. "Sorry. I'm super sleepy today. I might not be able to restrain myself."
"I told you, don't worry!" Alma beamed, unbothered and proud.
"Girls are scary…" Lucas muttered.
Lillianna ignored him and walked to the centre of the court. Adrian stood opposite her, smirking. He had Alma's features, but none of her charm. And the fact that he was wearing nicer clothes than his own twin sister irritated her even more.
She'd fix that later. Alma needed better outfits to match hers.
Lillianna didn't actually hate Adrian—but she fully intended to crush him. Thoroughly. He would think twice before ever looking down on her again. This was for her own safety, after all…
The whistle blew.
Lillianna launched herself upward—far above Adrian's impressive height. Then she accelerated downward, heel angled precisely—
—and drove her foot into the top of Adrian's head.
He hit the ground so hard the flooring dented.
Landing lightly, Lillianna grabbed his hair, turned his limp head, and checked his pulse.
"He's alive."
"Match over!" Kiser barked. "Officer, he's yours. Lillianna—nice restraint. The rest of you get the idea? Keep it going! Next!"
Lillian loaded Adrian onto a stretcher and walked beside her cousin, examining him.
"That was impressive restraint," she said dryly.
"I guess," Lillianna muttered. "But it hurt just seeing his face."
"Don't worry. You have my sympathy. And Kiser probably sent you first to shut up anyone questioning your ability."
Lillianna smiled softly at that.
The sparring dragged on longer than expected, so each student managed only one match. Alma was as strong as Lillian had expected—she knocked out her opponent with a single, clean strike to the back of the neck. Too linear in her movements, but she had enormous room for growth.
Lucas performed as flawlessly as ever—dodging every attack for three minutes straight before ending the match with a single precise punch to the chin.
"Weren't you bored doing nothing but the basics?" Lillian asked.
"I wanted to prove I can do the basics too!"
By the end, Lillianna, Alma, and Lucas all ranked comfortably in the winning half of the sparring order. No one would be questioning the presence of girls in the Copper Star program now.
After the students dispersed, Lillian approached Kiser. "You're surprisingly considerate today, Mr Kiser."
"...Greetings, Miss. Have you been well?"
Despite his intimidating appearance, the so-called Red Devil stood stiffly polite in front of her. His expression alone told Lillian that he had heard all about the incident with Caroline.
"I'm fine. It's nothing compared to facing a black dragon without backup," she replied, as if discussing the weather. "Anyway, did Papa force you to become an instructor here? Sorry about that."
"Please don't worry about it, Miss," he said immediately. "It's true, Master asked me to take the post, but...I'm nearing thirty. I need to learn desk work eventually. I can't be running around the wilderness forever."
"I'm honestly glad you're Anna and Cas's teacher. You've always looked out for them—me too—in little ways ever since we met." She smirked. "When I saw you walk in earlier, I thought, Oh. They got me."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Anyway, what was the deal with the McGregor twins?"
Kiser shrugged slightly. "You already know, don't you? Alma was raised in a traditional noble environment with...let's say, outdated attitudes. She worked her absolute hardest to get into Copper Star, only for Lady Lillianna—who appears weak and has powerful social ties—to be named class representative. Alma pegged her as a rival immediately. So, yesterday, I had them arm wrestle so she could acknowledge Lady Lillianna's strength. And today I dealt with the boys who were complaining. There are only two girls in this entire freshman year; I wanted to straighten out misunderstandings before they turned into problems."
"Anna, a weak-looking girl?" Lillian blinked. "Alma looks more harmless than Anna. I mean, she even has those gigantic books going for her."
"...Well, I can't deny that—"
She kicked him in the shin.
"Ow—! Anyway," he continued, limping only a little, "Lady Lillianna is small. And because she's an Alcott, people jump to conclusions."
"I see..." Lillian nodded thoughtfully. Then: "Oh—did Papa give you any other orders?"
Kiser drew in a slow breath. "...He asked me to be there for you. Should you ever need help, my lady. Tanya and Zen are strong, but it never hurts to be careful."
Lillian sighed, dipped her head in acknowledgement, waved a small goodbye and began walking toward the school building. Kiser watched her go and murmured under his breath--too softly for her to hear:
"A job change is nothing...as long as it keeps our lady alive."
....................
After finishing dinner, Lillina returned to her room and sat down on her bed.
"I'm so tired...but I should change..."
Sluggishly, she got back up to her feet, removed her coat and smoothed out the wrinkles before hanging it up. Then she put on a soft, loose blue terry cloth tunic that reached to her knees, and she also had on loose pants that came just below the knee. Basically, she was wearing the platonic ideal of PJs. Lillina made the pattern herself since floor-length negligees weren't comfortable to sleep in. Lillian also put her hair down and pulled them back in a matching hairband.
A moment later, there was a clattering at the window--Nero. After coming into the room, he politely used his front paw to close the window behind him.
"Good work today, Lillina."
He jumped onto Lillina's back as she lay facedown on the bed and pressed his front paws onto her shoulder blades. The pressure was a little weak for a massage, but the squish of his soft paws felt good. Absorbed in the situation, Lillian closed her eyes and breathed a sigh.
"How did your day go?" he asked.
"Uncle dumped all his responsibilities on me once again...And Lord Ashley has yet to realise that I'm the one he met that night in the lake."
"Ashley? Oh, I remember now. That chilly guy who's always near the prince, yelling at everyone, right? Who never stops leaking ice mana? I know all about the prince and everyone around him! Amazing, right?"
"...But not their names?"
"I'm awful at remembering human names. So, anyway, he's still looking for you? Are you following that chilly guy, Lillian?"
Evidently, Nero had no intention of learning anyone's name aside from Lillina's. "I am not...besides, it would be unprofessional of me to develop romantic feelings for someone while I'm on a mission. Mr Louis would most likely scold me if it affected my work."
"What is that guy, a demon?"
Cyril's speaking style was harsh and exhausting, but his instructions had been cordial. He'd made a list of everything others need, and when they don't understand something, he takes the time to explain it. Compared with him, Louis is...She remembered those nightmarish days under his instruction and instantly deflated. But then she heard a knocking sound from the window.
She craned her neck up toward the window. A tiny bird sat perched on the sill, its feathers a delicate blend of yellow and green, like sunlight filtering through leaves. For a moment, Lillian wondered if it belonged to some noble household—an ornamental pet that had escaped its gilded cage.
The little creature tapped insistently at the glass with its beak, completely unfazed even when Nero padded closer to the window. On a hunch, Lillian unlatched the frame. The bird darted inside, made a quick loop around the room, then settled neatly on the floorboards.
Light shimmered around it—tiny, drifting motes like particles of magic—and the bird's form stretched, blurred, and reshaped into that of a young woman dressed in a maid's uniform.
"You're… um… Louis's…" Lillian stammered.
The maid pinched her skirt and dipped into a perfectly executed curtsey. In a flat, emotionless voice, she declared:
"It is I, Rynzbelfeid, contracted spirit of the Barrier Mage Louis Miller. You may call me Ryn."
Lillian involuntarily straightened. They had just been discussing Louis possibly being a demon, of all things, and now his spirit was here in the room.
He must have sent Ryn to check on their progress.
"Um… you want a report on the mission, right?" Lillian asked.
"Yes. But first, I have a pressing message to deliver from Lord Louis."
A pressing message? Lillian and Nero held their breaths.
Ryn opened her mouth, expression perfectly blank.
"I, Louis Miller, am about to—"
"About to…?" Lillian echoed.
"…become a dad."
Lillian was speechless.
"WHO CARES?!" Nero exploded. "Why is that important?! That's a personal message!"
He began slamming his paw against the floor in outrage. Ryn remained utterly unmoved.
"Yes. The mistress is pregnant, and Lord Louis is quite the happy feller."
"…F-feller?" Lillian repeated. The word sounded like it had wandered in from an ntirely wrong sentence.
"Yes. A happy feller," Ryn said, face solemn. "It is a term used in the western regions of the empire to describe a man who is overflowing with cheer."
"I… I see…"
"I have wished to use this term ever since encountering it in a book. Today, I was granted that opportunity. I am deeply moved."
Her tone was as flat as ever. Lillian could never tell if Ryn was being serious or making some sort of cosmic joke.
"Um… well… please tell Mr Louis and his wife… congratulations," Lillian said shyly.
"This is your chance to get ANGRY, Lillian!" Nero shouted, hopping up and down. "That wicked mage gave you this impossible mission, and now he's off having a nice life! Go on! Get mad!"
But she couldn't. She liked Rosalie far too much for that. Louis's wife had been so kind during Lillian's stay.
"I shall inform them," Ryn said. She produced a sheet of paper from somewhereLillian was not certain she wanted to know where, and laid it on the desk. "Now that the main issue is handled, I—"
"WAIT! That was the main issue?!" Nero howled.
Ignoring him entirely, Ryn unfolded the paper. Louis's handwriting sprawled across it.
"Dear Silent Witch,
I am well aware of my contracted spirits' incompetence regarding giving oral reports. Please record any important information on this sheet and return it to Ryn."
Lillian winced. He knew them too well. If she had to give a verbal report, a spirit like Ryn, who is indifferent to most human matters,smight rereallyorget half of it.
"For the duration of this mission," Ryn continued, "I shall serve as your messenger pigeon. Any messages or reports for Lord Louis should be written here. I will deliver them promptly."
"What if there's nothing in particular to report?" Lillian asked.
"Then I will remain here until there is."
"I—I'll start writing right away!"
Flustered, Lillian dragged her lamp closer and dipped her pen in ink. Thankfully, she actually had quite a lot to report—the flowerpot incident, her unexpected appointment to the student council… important developments, surely worthy of being written down.
Oh, and—
And also—
And maybe—
More and more details bubbled up as she organised her thoughts.
Nero's whiskers twitched. He turned suddenly toward the window.
"Hey, Lillian… there's something chilly behind the boys' dorm."
"…Huh?" Lillian paused mid-sentence.
Ryn's head tilted. "I am detecting ice mana behind the boys' dormitory. It appears to be an uncontrolled overflow rather than deliberate magecraft."
A shiver ran straight down Lillian's spine. Ice mana made her immediately think of the student council's vice president, Cyril Ashley.
"…Ryn," she whispered, "you said it's coming from outside the dorm, right? Not inside?"
"Yes. Outside. Slowly moving farther away."
Had Cyril snuck out late at night? That didn't suit him at all. Whatever the case, as the second prince's bodyguard, she couldn't ignore abnormalities near the boys' dorm.
"— 'll go check…" she said, rising.
"Wait, Lillian. How are you planning to get out of the girls' dorm?" Nero reminded her.
"Ack!"
As she stared helplessly out the window, Ryn stepped forward.
"In that case, you may leave it to me," she said calmly. "As a wind spirit, flight magecraft is my speciality."
Lillian's eyes sparkled. Ryn had carried her and Louis safely various times in the past. Spirits really were amazing…
"One matter remains," Ryn said, already lifting a foot onto the window frame. "I have recently devised a new landing technique called a hurricane landing. It offers a thrilling opportunity to experience the wonders of centrifugal force with your entire body. I recommend it."
"Th-that's… You're… joking, right?" Lillian squeaked.
"..."
Ryn stared at her, expression smooth as glass.
Monica's heart froze. Clutching Nero to her chest, she shrieked:
"PLEASE JUST MAKE IT SAFE!"