The next day, I was safely discharged from the hospital. Even though I was "hospitalized," it was merely to stay overnight for a series of examinations, so it didn't take much of my time.
My next destination was the Bradley estate. Lord Bruno had invited me, and so I found myself standing before the mansion once again.
It was currently 8:30 PM, and the sun had long since vanished below the horizon.
At the end of summer vacation, I had parted ways with Rebecca-senpai at these very gates. Unlike that time, however, there was no lingering sense of melancholy in the air.
I knocked on the mansion’s front door, and it slowly swung open.
"I am Ray White."
"We have been expecting you. Please, come this way."
A maid guided me through the halls to a private room.
"Excuse me."
After a polite bow, I stepped inside.
Waiting there was Lord Bruno Bradley. When we had met previously, he had looked haggard and worn, sporting unkempt stubble. Today, however, he was perfectly groomed. He had shaved his beard, and his hollow cheeks had regained some of their color.
"It has been a long time, Ray White-kun."
"Lord Bruno. Thank you for your help the other day."
"First, please, take a seat."
"Thank you. Pardon me."
I sat on the sofa across from Lord Bruno. Two cups of tea had already been placed on the table, steam still rising from the freshly brewed leaves.
"Regarding this entire matter... I am truly sorry for what I did to my daughter."
He lowered his head. It was a bow so deep that it looked as though he might touch the floor.
Everything he had done had been for the sake of Rebecca-senpai. Knowing that, I couldn't bring myself to blame him. I understood the desperate urge to protect someone precious all too well.
"Please, raise your head. I only did what needed to be done."
"...I see. No, truly, I am in your debt. If not for you, Rebecca would surely have... broken, eventually."
"If you are referring to the Magic Area Overheat, she should be fine now. Her control is firmly established."
"I am grateful... truly."
Once again, Lord Bruno bowed his head. I accepted the gesture.
Until now, I had lost more things than I had ever managed to protect. But this time, I had succeeded in saving someone dear to me. That alone was enough to satisfy me.
"Now then. Regarding a reward... please, tell me anything you wish. I will do my utmost to fulfill it."
"No, that's quite alright. I didn't save my senior for the sake of a reward."
"But..."
"It’s fine. You did your best for your daughter, and I did my best for the senior I respect and admire. As long as that truth remains, I am content. I require nothing else."
"...You are a remarkable young man."
"No. I am still just a man of shallow learning."
I took a breath, and Lord Bruno gave a faint, fleeting smile. It was a gentle, genuine expression.
"As for Rebecca... thanks to you, she appears to be free of any abnormalities and has been discharged. She is here at the house—would you like to see her?"
"Is that all right?"
"Of course. I’m sure my daughter wishes for it as well."
His expression shifted, becoming suddenly serious as he began to speak.
"Shall I tell you a bit of a story from the past? Their older brother is much older, so he didn't have much influence on the girls. But Rebecca and Maria were different. The two were so close... and yet, they were constantly being compared."
"..."
"I didn't know what to do. I had no idea how to interact with my daughters. While I was lost in my own hesitation, Rebecca grew into a proper lady... and Maria became rebellious. I always believed I had to be a strict father whenever I stood before them, and so I became harsh. Hahaha... I am a clumsy man."
"No. I don't think that's the case."
It was surely because of love. He didn't know how to handle his daughters, yet as the head of one of the Three Great Noble Families, he felt he had to maintain a facade of strict authority. Lord Bruno had likely been lost in the narrow gap between being a father and being a lord.
"When I learned about Rebecca's condition, I was distraught. I never dreamed that my own daughter would end up like that. So, although it was sudden, I requested the Sorcerer of Fiction's help, which led to you being dragged into this."
"I... see."
"Rebecca is a capable girl. Truly, I have done nothing for her. I only wish for my children to be healthy and happy. That is all I want for them."
"I'm sure they will understand that someday."
"Haha. I hope you're right."
There was a certain warmth in his bitter smile. I could sense his deep love for his children in every subtle gesture.
"What will happen with the engagement?"
"...I will annul it as soon as she graduates, using whatever excuses I can find. It was Fiction's idea in the first place. It was a painful choice for me... but now, it is the only path forward."
"I suppose so."
"Now then. That's enough talk from an old man. I'll have the maid guide you to my daughter's room."
"Understood. Please excuse me."
As I stood up to leave, Lord Bruno looked as though he wanted to say one last thing.
"Ray White-kun. If it is all right with you... no, I suppose I should leave this to the individuals involved. It's nothing. I look forward to meeting you again someday."
"Yes. Until then. Excuse me."
I gave a polite bow and followed the maid waiting at the door toward the senior's room.
"It is this room, sir."
"Thank you very much."
I was about to knock when I heard Rebecca-senpai and Maria’s voices coming from inside.
"I’m tell—ing—you! I said this one is better, didn't I?!"
"Maria, you're always so selfish! I want this one!"
"Even though you're the one who asked for my opinion! Then don't ask in the first place!"
"Other people's opinions are important, but Maria, our sensibilities just don't match!"
"Fine then!"
The door swung open with a bang, and Maria stared at me with a stunned expression.
"Ah... right. Ray, you were coming over, weren't you?"
"Yeah. Was that a fight?"
"Listen to this! Big Sister said she wanted my opinion on her manga, but when I gave it, she just snapped at me!"
"Wait, Maria! Don't say such strange things to Ray-san!"
Their relationship had changed—and surely for the better. Rebecca-senpai and Maria were finally able to speak their true feelings to one another. There was no doubt that they were now the kind of sisters who were closer because they could afford to bicker.
"Well, I'll take my leave now, Big Sister."
"W-What?"
"I'm just in the way here, so I'll excuse myself."
"Honestly! Stop teasing me!"
Waving her hand casually, Maria sauntered away. As I watched her go, my gaze met with Rebecca-senpai's.
"Ah... um. Would you like to come in?"
"Yes. Excuse me."
I entered the room and sat in a chair, facing her once again.
"Um... about this whole incident."
"Yes."
"Thank you so very much."
Rebecca-senpai bowed her head deeply. I was happy to be thanked, but I couldn't help but feel that I had wounded her heart, even if it was for her own sake. I found it difficult to accept her gratitude so easily.
"No... I ended up hurting you, so..."
"It was necessary, wasn't it? I heard everything from my father."
"...I see. Even so, the fact remains that I caused you pain."
When I said that, weighted by my own guilt, she responded with an unexpected question.
"Then, will you... take responsibility?"
She looked up at me, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush. There was something almost bewitching about her expression—a side of Rebecca-senpai I had never seen before.
"Responsibility?"
"Yes."
"What exactly should I do...?"
"Let's see. Shall we go to the Academy right now?"
"To the Academy... now? But it's already quite dark."
"That's exactly the point."
Accepting her proposal, we immediately headed for the school.
Today was a makeup holiday for the Cultural Festival. Because I had adjusted my schedule to meet with Lord Bruno, it was quite late—though still not yet 9:00 PM.
The two of us walked up the slope leading to the Academy, reminiscing about the Cultural Festival. Rebecca-senpai happily shared her memories. Apparently, she was still a bit cross about the Miss Contest; I suspected Dina-senpai was in for a scolding later, but even that felt like a positive change.
Finally, we reached the Academy. The school grounds showed no remaining traces of the post-festival party. If I had one regret, it was that I hadn't been able to attend it.
As that thought crossed my mind, she reached out her hand toward me.
"Senpai?"
"We didn't get to attend the post-festival party, did we?"
"No. It was a pity."
"That's why we'll have our own party here, just the two of us."
She gave a bright smile. Illuminated by the moonlight, Rebecca-senpai looked as radiant as ever.
"And what shall we do specifically?"
"Let's dance."
"Dance?"
"Yes. Can you?"
"Well... to an average degree, I suppose."
"That's good. Then, your hand."
"Yes."
I took her hand, firmly grasping her slender, soft fingers.
And so, we danced on the dark school grounds, without music or artificial light. All that existed was the same beautiful moonlight as always. Matching our steps, I held her hand as we spun round and round.
"Ray-san."
"What is it?"
Rebecca-senpai spoke to me in the middle of our dance.
"You really are a very mysterious... and more than anyone, a kind person."
"I am honored."
"And the fact that you were the Ice Sword Sorcerer... that truly surprised me."
"...Yes. I suppose it would."
"If, hypothetically..."
She looked down for a moment before meeting my gaze again. Her eyes were slightly moist, and she seemed more mature than usual.
"If anything ever happens to me again, will you save me?"
Her eyes seemed to be searching for something deep within me. Of course, my answer was already decided.
"Naturally. You are a person I respect and admire, after all."
"..."
She looked down and mumbled something, but I couldn't catch it.
"I'm sorry. What did you just say?"
"...It's nothing! Come on, let's dance more!"
"Whoa!"
Led by Rebecca-senpai, we continued to spin. Round and round we went under the silver moon.
The world continued to turn. And we turned with it, as if tracing the winding path of this wonderful life.
"Ah. Rebecca-senpai. Good morning."
Amelia bowed her head. She had arrived at school early today for classroom duty and happened to run into Rebecca.
The senior was watering the flowers in the bed Ray had built when he first joined the Gardening Club.
"Amelia-san. Good morning."
She’s as beautiful as ever, Amelia thought as she watched Rebecca standing in the morning sun.
"I'm on watering duty today. I've been tending to them since early this morning."
"I see."
"Yes. This is the flowerbed Ray-san made, after all."
"Heeh... Ray really can do anything, can't he?"
"Fufu. He certainly can. He..."
Rebecca began to share her memories of Ray with Amelia. As she spoke, Amelia’s expression began to shift.
"H-Heeh~. I've thought this for a while, but you two are really close, aren't you~?"
"Not at all. I can't compare to you, Amelia-san. Truly."
"No, no. There's no need for modesty."
Both were smiling, but Amelia realized that Rebecca’s eyes weren't reaching her smile at all.
"Ah. But actually, last night... I spent the evening alone with Ray-san."
"What!?"
"Fufu. We held hands and enjoyed a dance together. It was very lovely, you know?"
Rebecca wore her usual kind, approachable smile. But her eyes remained cold and calculating. It was a warning—a declaration. The battle between maidens had already begun.
"W-Well, I've also...! During the Magics Chevalier, he gave me a hug, you know?! And he told me we should live together?!"
"I see, I see. That is a truly wonderful friendship."
Amelia was not so slow-witted that she missed the emphasis placed on the word "friendship." She narrowed her eyes at the senior.
"...You're going to have a hard time, you know. Ray is surprisingly popular."
"Yes. But isn't the capacity to accept that what truly matters?"
They glared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Amelia reached out her right hand.
"I won't lose."
"Neither will I. I happen to be quite the sore loser."
They exchanged a firm handshake. It wasn't that they disliked one another; rather, they both understood that from this point forward, they were rivals in love.
Both Amelia and Rebecca looked remarkably refreshed. Amelia bowed once more before departing.
"Well then, excuse me."
"Yes. Good day to you."
The battle over Ray had quietly raised its curtain. There was no doubt that it would eventually lead to a great deal of trouble.
Autumn.
The season had truly arrived. The uniforms had switched from summer to winter versions, and the air had grown crisp and cold. The autumn leaves were at their peak, and I was considering going for a walk to enjoy them soon.
The trees were shedding their leaves, and my days were filled with the sound of them crunching beneath my feet. I found this Kingdom, where one could so clearly feel the turn of the seasons, to be truly beautiful.
After school one day, as I was heading back to the dormitory after club activities, I saw a familiar figure standing alone at the main gate.
Her long platinum hair was tied back in a ponytail. It was a refreshing look for her.
"Ariane. What are you doing here?"
"Ray! I have been waiting for you!"
"Do you have business with me?"
"Strictly speaking, it is for both you and Amelia."
"And what might that be?"
At my question, Ariane spoke with a triumphant ring in her voice.
"I want you to participate in the Magics War with me!"
"...The Magics War?"
Once again, new days were about to begin.