Lydia was talking volubly about Ray when another knock sounded at the mansion door.
Carla went to the entrance to answer it, and upon seeing the visitors, she immediately invited them inside.
“Yoo-hoo~☆ I’ve come to visit, Lydia-chan!”
“Excuse me.”
The newcomers were Carol and Abby. Neither of them had an appointment; they had simply dropped by because they were bored.
“Oh? Lise-chan is here too!”
“Carol-senpai, Abby-senpai. It has been a long time.”
Carol rushed over and pulled Lieselotte into a tight hug.
“Lise-chan! It’s been so long since that time, hasn’t it?~”
“It has.”
“The mood wasn’t really right for physical affection back then, but it’s okay now, right?~☆”
“Yes. I do not mind.”
Carol began affectionately patting and stroking Lieselotte’s head. Lieselotte didn’t even change her expression, simply letting Carol do as she pleased.
Abby watched the scene with a sigh before settling into an empty chair.
“Lydia. Are we intruding?”
“No. Lise just showed up unannounced as well.”
“I see. Even so, this is a rare sight.”
“Well… I suppose you would think that.”
As their gazes turned toward Lieselotte, she simply stated the facts.
“I have had a change of heart. Am I in the way?”
“No, it’s fine. You are our junior, after all.”
Abby had shared a bit of social contact with Lieselotte during their student days. They hadn't been particularly close; they had merely spoken a few times. In truth, they had conversed more often during their time as soldiers.
Abby didn’t dislike Lieselotte, nor did she feel uncomfortable around her. Regarding the situation with Evan Bernstein and Rebecca Bradley—even if Abby wasn't entirely satisfied that it was the best outcome—she acknowledged Lieselotte’s talent.
However, being one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers didn't guarantee happiness. Abby had sensed a certain fragility in Lieselotte since their military days.
Aloof and isolated.
She had kept everyone at a distance, constantly assuming the identity of others. There had been almost no opportunities to see her true self.
But now, she was revealing that form here.
Abby felt a flicker of relief at the change. She knew she could be a bit of a busybody, but seeing a junior grow like this inevitably made her happy.
“Hey, Lise-chan.”
“What is it, Carol-senpai?”
Carol’s voice turned serious.
“Lise-chan, you’ve changed a bit, haven’t you?”
“Have I…?”
“Yeah. That’s why you came to Lydia-chan’s place, right?”
“I believe so.”
“You never would have come here before, and you definitely wouldn't have shown your true face like this, right?”
“Yes.”
Carol felt the same way as Abby. She had been worried about Lieselotte for a long time. Though she usually seemed flighty, Carol was an adult. More than that, she was exceptionally observant of those around her. One might say she was highly sensitive to the subtleties of emotion.
“Did you find something?” Carol asked, her voice gentle and warm.
Hearing it, Lieselotte decided to speak honestly about her feelings.
“After killing Evan, I realized that I loved him. I have finally come to understand human emotions, if only a little.”
“Mm-hm.”
“So from now on, instead of becoming others and thinking their thoughts… I want to face myself more. That is what I believe.”
“I see. That’s wonderful, Lise-chan.”
Suddenly, Carol sprang to her feet.
“Right! In that case, I’m going to cut your hair to celebrate the new Lise-chan!”
“““Eh?”””
The voices of Lydia, Abby, and Lieselotte overlapped in surprise.
It was only natural. To be told so abruptly that one's hair was about to be cut was bound to be a shock.
“Hey, Idiot Pink. How did you get to that conclusion?”
“Heh-heh! Lydia-chan, you just don’t get it!☆ When a girl wants to change her life, she cuts her hair!”
“Is that so, Abby?”
“Well, I think it depends on the person…”
“So, Caro-caro is going to give you a special cut!~”
Carol rummaged through her small bag and pulled a comb and a pair of scissors from a pouch.
“Is that truly alright, Carol-senpai?”
“Of course! Or did you not want to, Lise-chan?”
“No. I have no particular attachment to my hairstyle. I have spent so much time as other people that I have rarely thought about myself. But, well…”
Lieselotte looked down slightly. However, her desire to change was genuine. Just as Carol said, there was nothing wrong with starting with her physical appearance.
She looked up and bowed to Carol.
“Then… please, if you would.”
“Heh-heh! Caro-caro is a professional! Leave it to me!”
Carol asked Carla for some paper to cover the girl's neck, then stood behind the seated Lieselotte. Lydia and Abby watched the scene with smiles.
“Wow… your white hair is so beautiful.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah! If we style this, you’ll look even better!~☆”
“I look forward to it.”
“Is there a style you want?”
“I leave it to you.”
“In that case, Caro-caro is going to make you as cute as can be!”
Carol began to snip. Her movements were practiced and smooth.
Lieselotte’s hair was long, reaching all the way to her waist. Carol unhesitatingly lopped it off straight across, bringing it up to shoulder length in one go.
Lydia and Abby were familiar with Carol’s skill—indeed, they both had their hair cut by her frequently—but even they were startled by her decisiveness.
“Whoa… she really went for it.”
“Lydia, didn't you do the same thing after the Far East Campaign?”
“Ah… now that you mention it, I did.”
The two reminisced as Carol’s scissors moved rhythmically.
“Hmm~ Do you prefer it curled outward or inward?~☆”
“Please do whichever you think is cute, Carol-senpai.”
“Roger that!”
Considering Lieselotte’s features and personality, Carol had originally intended to style it with outward-facing flicks. However, she also felt a desire to see a "new" version of her junior. A fresh start, so to speak.
Ultimately, Carol decided to go with an inward-curled bob to bring her cuteness to the forefront. Lieselotte had exquisite features, like a porcelain doll; a cute style was bound to suit her.
Carol began the fine tuning, thinning the inner layers while leaving the outer layer heavier to make it curl inward naturally. Her skill was beyond professional; when it came to hair, she was likely better than any expert.
She refused to compromise on beauty. That conviction was what had driven her to master the art of hair cutting. It also stemmed from her military days, when she had taken charge of cutting the hair of squad members who were too busy to visit a barber.
“There! That should do it!”
The girl who stood before them was a completely reborn Lieselotte.
Previously, she had worn her pure-white hair in long, straight locks. Reaching her waist, it had been beautiful but somewhat doll-like, primarily because she never maintained it and simply let it grow.
But now, she looked like a fashionable young woman found in the city. Her hair was styled in a chic bob, neatly curled inward.
Carol brushed away the loose strands and handed Lieselotte a mirror.
“How is it? Cute, right?~☆”
Carol’s voice was full of confidence, and her work was flawless.
“…Yes. I am transformed.”
Lieselotte had always just hacked at her hair with scissors herself whenever it got too long. Now, she had a completely different look. It felt mature, yet undeniably cute. She marveled at how much a simple hairstyle could change a person’s appearance.
“Oh. It suits you quite well.”
“Yeah. Excellent work, Carol.”
Lydia and Abby both offered their praise. Even in their experienced eyes, the result was stunning.
“Now, let’s change your clothes too! Lydia-chan, I’m going to raid your closet!~”
“H-Hey!”
Ignoring Lydia’s protest, Carol began rummaging through the house and dressing Lieselotte in Lydia’s clothes. Lydia eventually gave a reluctant sigh of permission.
Carol chose a deep blue flare skirt paired with a pale pink blouse and brown loafers. Combined with the bob, Lieselotte looked like an ordinary girl from town. Her otherworldly hair and eye color couldn't be helped, however.
Lieselotte checked herself in the full-length mirror. Usually expressionless, she widened her eyes in genuine shock.
“Th-This is incredible… I look like someone else entirely.”
“See?~ Leave the fashion to Caro-caro!☆”
Lieselotte gave Carol another polite bow.
“Thank you very much, Carol-senpai.”
“You’re very welcome!~ Just say the word when you want another trim!”
Lieselotte nodded slowly.
Until now, she had never tried to connect with others. She had simply wandered through life, searching for a purpose. But she had learned that the moment she chose to act for herself, the world changed.
She would continue to move forward. From now on, she would surely come to know many more emotions.